Using GDP, smoking has traditionally been counted as a benefit to the economy. With a GPI, smoking is regarded as a cost.
There is another way... GPI - Genuine Progress Indicator When measuring a region's well being... Production and sales of goods isn't all that really counts.
http://www.gpiwellingtonregion.govt.nz/
Date: Mon May 22, 2006
Gosh, after the Big ICE storm of 05 in West Central Ohio, I lost 3 of
my beautiful Maple trees. I am on disability and did not have the
funds nor the physical ability to cut down and remove those
trees..(these were 75′ tall trees that fell) Insurance would only
allow $500 for removal, and estimates were way over that.
Once we got our electric back up (was without for 8 days) I went to
my group, posted an offer of those trees, stating you would have to
bring your own saws and such, I had 5 people show up, cut up the
trees, mulch up the small stuff, one guy even spread that lovely mulch
in my flower beds for me.. and hauled away that wood. One member
later came back and dug out the stumps for me. And all I did was post
a simple offer of trees for wood, you cut and haul post. No story
behind it..
Then later on that spring, another member stopped by and left me 2
replacement trees to plant to replace those 50 yr old trees..
I have no qualms about anyone posting trees, bushes, etc to come and
cut up, remove after my experience.
=================
This story demonstrates for me the incredible power, and
win-win-win-win nature of Freecycle.
There are a LOT of winners at a lot of levels in a story like this:
WIN – Home owner (offerer)
Got his large, 50 year old felled maple trees completely removed; got
his stumps removed; got some mulch from the cuttings; didn’t have to
make an insurance claim; got 2 replacement trees; felt good about his
neighbours and his community
WIN – Volunteer clean up crew
Got a large supply of maple hardwood firewood, just for the price of
cutting it up and removing it; Felt good about helping out a neighbour
in distress; created a good example of community!
WIN – Insurance company / policy holders
Didn’t have to administer and pay a claim; policy holders didn’t have
to face a premium increase to cover the cost of the claim.
WIN – Community
The win-win value of supporting your neighbours was demonstrated.
Everyone can feel good about this story! And, sharing it makes it
possible for others to copy the whole idea and experience. We probably
haven’t seen the last of ice storms!
Eric Snyder
Freecycle Success Story Collector
