Simplicity Collective - Join the Simple Living Movement

Dec 13, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

An Invitation for Wildness

Jordan Osmond of Happen Films, with whom I co-produced A Simpler Way, has just released, in association with the Simplicity Institute, a new short film called ‘An Invitation for Wildness’, documenting a 23-year-old food forest. It’s a beautiful and uplifting production by one of the most promising documentary filmmakers on the scene today. Congratulations Jordan and thank you for your... read more

Nov 24, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Any Graphic Designers Out There? A Call Out for Collaborators

The Simplicity Institute is mobilising for a new ‘culture jamming’ project next year and we’ve started gathering a team of skilled graphic designers (and potentially visual artists more generally) to collaborate. If this sounds like you and you are keen to volunteer some of your time (a few hours or many hours) to creating striking images that challenge consumerism and the growth economy,... read more

Sep 29, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A revolution disguised as organic gardening: in memory of Bill Mollison

Yesterday I had the following short tribute to Bill Mollison, co-originator of the permaculture concept, published in The Conversation. It is with great sadness that I acknowledge the passing of Bill Mollison on Saturday, September 24 (1928-2016). He was one of the true pioneers of the modern environmental movement, not just in Australia but globally. Best known as co-originator of the “permaculture”... read more

Sep 18, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Euterra Rising: The Last Utopia

Somewhere it is written: “When all appeals to reason fail, tell a story.” Readers of this website will be familiar with the stimulating writings of Simplicity Institute Fellow, Mark A. Burch, whose earlier works include The Hidden Door: Mindful Sufficiency as an Alternative to Extinction and Stepping Lightly: Simplicity for People and Planet. Today I’m very happy to announce the publication of... read more

Sep 11, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Introduction to ‘Deface the Currency’

Below I have posted the table of contents and the introduction to my new book of dialogues, Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes. The book is available here. ACT I DIOGENES’ LANTERN ACT II THE EMPEROR AND THE BEGGAR ACT III PLATO AND THE REPUBLIC OF DIOGENES ACT IV THE NERVOUS OLIGARCHS ACT V THE RENEGADE ACT VI DIOGENES IN PRISON INTRODUCTION Diogenes of Sinope was a Greek... read more

Sep 9, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes

I’m happy to announce the publication of my new book – or, rather, my new ‘philosophical play’ in six acts – called Deface the Currency: The Lost Dialogues of Diogenes. Here is the advance praise the book received from Dr William Desmond, author of The Greek Praise of Poverty. “This is a creative re-enactment of the life, death and ideas of the most influential Cynic of... read more

Aug 22, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My Interview with Open Democracy UK on Decoupling and Green Growth

Last week I was interviewed by Ian Sinclair at Open Democracy UK about whether the ‘green growth’ strategy can solve climate change. I’ve posted the interview below and the original interview is here. Ian Sinclair: What is the thinking of those who herald ‘decoupling’ as a promising tool in stopping dangerous levels of climate change? Why do you think it has proven such a popular... read more

Aug 20, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

My article in Adbusters

I’ve had second short piece published in the culture-jamming magazine Adbusters. I’ve posted a screen-shot of my article below and the full magazine can be purchased in pdf here or in print at good magazine stores. (My first Adbusters article is also available here).... read more

Aug 17, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Wild Democracy: A Biodiversity of Resistance and Renewal

I’ve just published a new Simplicity Institute Report, called “Wild Democracy: Resistance and Renewal”. The introduction is available below and the full report is available here. With characteristic insight, the great American philosopher, John Dewey, once wrote: ‘Every generation has to accomplish democracy over again for itself.’ His point was that, at each moment in history,... read more

Aug 10, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Living Simply in a Tiny Off-Grid Cabin

Jordan Osmond, with whom I co-produced A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity, has released a new short film, ‘Living Simply in a Tiny Off-Grid Cabin‘. Not only does it address important issues, as always, Jordan has crafted the short film with characteristic beauty and charm. Another tip of the hat to you Jordan!... read more

Aug 6, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

A simple life can be a good life

A couple of days ago the following article appeared in the Weekly Times, written by journalist, Sarah Hudson. Photo credit: Chloe Smith THERE’S a radical revolution happening in Gippsland. But you won’t find any weapons or angry masses. Instead, on an 8ha property outside Moe, there’s a community peacefully trying to find solutions to problems that ail the planet. Called Wurruk’an and founded in... read more

Aug 4, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

David Spratt Interview on Climate Change

While co-producing A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity I interviewed one of Australia’s leading climate change activists, David Spratt. Excerpts from the interview were included in the documentary but my co-producer (Jordan Osmond) and I thought it would be a shame if the footage from the interviews we conducted were not published in full. So, we’ve been publishing some of the full interviews.... read more

Jul 18, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

The Third Age of Simplicity

I’m very happy to be posting a new essay by Simplicity Institute Fellow, Mark A. Burch. He’s been a bit quiet recently working away on some larger creative projects (more about those in due course) but below I’ve posted his new essay, ‘The Third Age of Simplicity.’ THE THIRD AGE OF SIMPLICITY, by Mark A. Burch The Third Age I propose that we think of our lives as passing... read more

Jul 8, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

From Finance to Farmer

I intended to post this a while back but got waylaid. Here is beautiful short film made by Jordan Osmond of Happen Films (with whom I co-produced ‘A Simpler Way: Crisis as Opportunity‘) telling the story of one financier who turned farmer. read more

Jun 28, 2016 Posted by Samuel Alexander

Residencies available at Wurruk’an ecovillage and permaculture farm (Victoria)

Wurruk’an is a small community of people living in West Gippsland, Victoria. For the last few years we have been trying to push the boundaries of environmental practice by exploring what it means to live in a deeply sustainable way. So far the community has built many demonstration “tiny houses” using a combination of reclaimed materials, cob, “Earthship style” rammed earth and super-adobe. As... read more

Invitation / Incitation

The Simplicity Collective is founded upon the idea that a 'simpler life' of reduced resource and energy consumption is a viable and desirable alternative to consumer culture.

Our position is that simple living will improve not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well as help save our planet from the environmental catastrophe towards which we are so enthusiastically marching.

We must not just fall in line, then, and continue the march ‘business as usual.’ We must explore alternative ways to live. We must experiment creatively, like the artist. We must be the poets of our own lives and of a new generation.