Why I joined The Wellbeing Economy AIIiance Aotearoa.
WEAll Aotearoa’s newest trustee Brett Anderson writes why he has joined the team.
There are several contributing factors behind my motivations for joining WEAII Aotearoa, not least of which, is a lifelong discontent for the many social and environmental failings of our modern societies. My discontent has grown over time as I have witnessed the rapid declines of our precious ecosystems, the evaporation of our economic opportunities and the unravelling of our social fabric, all amidst the constant failures of global leaders to mount any kind of meaningful response.
Underpinning these alarming trends has been an exponential rise in wealth inequality driven by a globalised and predatory form of capitalism that undermines our democracies, prevents the advancement of those who are struggling and consolidates wealth and power in the hands of global elites. This consolidated wealth has worked to sow disinformation and division, it has corrupted and undermined our democratic processes and stifled the efforts of everyday people to restore functionality, meaning and hope within their communities.
my passions for social and environmental justice and my aroha for my whakapapa, my whānau, and te taiao have made me determined to prove to myself, my future mokopuna and the rest of the world that this situation is not beyond repair.
It’s within this dismal context that my passions for social and environmental justice and my aroha for my whakapapa, my whānau, and te taiao have made me determined to prove to myself, my future mokopuna and the rest of the world that this situation is not beyond repair. I believe, that as long as we stay true to our innate human principles of caring for one another, caring for the environment and choosing intolerance towards injustice, we can remain the architects of our own destinies. Whilst the coming demise of our current system is now inevitable, the manner in which it proceeds is not. Whether it’s a violent and chaotic collapse, a partially managed yet turbulent retreat or an intentional and regenerative restructuring has yet to be determined.
Instilled with the desire to be an effective changemaker, I needed to understand how best to do that? If only it were as simple as heading down the road and applying for a job at the save the world factory, but unfortunately it is not. It takes a lot of time and effort to understand how we got here. Has this kind of thing happened before? If so why? what’s the same? What’s different? Why do civilisations collapse? Why are our ecosystems collapsing? What does the science say? How do our economic systems impact our ecosystems? What’s the relationship between our political economy and eco-systems? How does culture and psychology influence our political economy and vice-versa? What’s driving rising wealth inequality? What are the trends? Why do we keep failing to change?
After years of exploring these kinds of questions and learning from the extraordinary work carried out by thousands of highly talented and driven people, I have come to believe that all of our most pressing and complex global problems can be distilled down to one single major driver. A rotten foundation that gives rise to, and or exacerbates all the negative trends threatening society today. That is, wealth inequality, the excessive consolidation of capital amongst global elites and the lack of democratic oversight as to how that capital is consolidated and deployed. Acknowledging the pitfalls of over-simplifying complex problems, I believe reducing wealth inequality both within nations and between them is the single most effective intervention to begin the slowing and ultimately reversing of global environmental and socioeconomic decline.
WEAII unleashes the power of collaboration where individuals, organisations, sectors and movements can align their purpose and combine their influence to maximise their collective impacts.
So, what better place to devote my time and energy than to join The Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa, a network of individuals and organisations of likeminded people working towards systems change through economics. As a network, WEAII unleashes the power of collaboration where individuals, organisations, sectors and movements can align their purpose and combine their influence to maximise their collective impacts. As a global network, all participants have the opportunity to participate, not just at their local level, but at the national and global levels as well. On top of that, noting that the WEAII Aotearoa board consists of some really clever, creative and likeminded people, taking up the invitation to work alongside them was an easy decision and an opportunity I’m very grateful to have.
About Brett Anderson
Brett (Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Hāua, Ngāti Maru, Ngāpuhi) is currently a trustee and treasurer for Ngāti Hāua Iwi Trust where he is working towards finalising their Treaty settlement negotiations, promoting their Community Wealth Building Strategy and seeking to grow his Iwi’s capacity. Brett is also working part time for Ngā Tangata Tiaki, the Whanganui River post settlement governance entity where he assists the Mouri Tūroa team to deliver subsidised riparian fencing, waterway restoration and pest control for primarily Māori but also non-Moāri land owners within the Whanganui river catchment. Brett is passionate about environmental and social justice issues and is therefore a staunch advocate for systems change with a particular focus on alternative financial and economic models and political strategising.