We’re a study/action group meeting every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at LARC (62 Fieldgate Street) in Whitechapel. We’re examining genuine democratic alternatives to capitalism, such as libertarian socialism, communalism, social anarchism and participatory economics. As well as wanting a more just society we feel that it is impossible to tackle ecological issues while ignoring the social context that created them. For more information on what we believe, see here. We’ve also posted an interview with Murray Bookchin which gives a good summary of his personal vision of Social Ecology. Each week, we discuss articles or chapters from a book, plan for events and social activities, share snacks and carry on discussions in the pub afterwards.
The group has been running in its current form since April 2006. A list of texts we have read is available here, and provides links to pages on the individual texts.
Please feel free to leave comments, or email us directly for details of meetings or to be put on our mailing list
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Glad to come across your group. I am not London based but would love to be kept in touch with what you are doing. I am heavily influenced by social ecology & would definitely support moves towards a wider network, a periodical or events under this banner.
fraternally,
Paul
Comment by Paul Jennings December 22, 2006 @ 11:57 amI stumbled upon your group doing a Google search for social ecology, along with other related searches like ecopsychology, environmental sociology, architectural psychology etc.
I am an American, from Texas no less, who has been obsessed with these related domains for a number of years. I run an architecture firm, and first became interested in these area over a decade ago merely as a response to repetitive difficulties we were having with getting accurate criteria from our clients, emotional and value based criteria it turned out.
As I am not an academic, merely a lay enthusiast with a practical bent, I set about to do something about my problem.
This process led to the creation of a web-based software that combines psychological testing with architectural programming. We are just now getting it off the ground at ourtruehome.com.
The automated exercises will start coming out one at a time in the next 2-3 weeks, and before we introduce any of this the general public, we are hoping for comment and critique from folks like you who have some expertise and interest in the area.
If any of you have time to check it out, we would be honored by your comments. Right now, all that is up are the user pages…and what would be particularly useful would be critique of our actual testing tools.
As I noted, they will not be out for a few more weeks. We have a rough schedule for the launch of our exercises on the site.
Thanks, and keep up the good work. When you get to the point of having a subscription blog or on-line discussion group, I would certainly be interested in participating.
Comment by Christopher Travis December 25, 2006 @ 5:30 pmHi all,
I am web editor for Blue and for the European Social Ecology Institute. The latter is undergoing review – a major update is overdue! 2007 looks busy for us, and we are not based in London, instead having collective members in Suffolk, Sussex, Ireland, Zagreb, etc. However, I should be able to swing an occasional visit to your meetings.
We hope to get an office / shop / centre up and running in 2007. I am in negotiation with several parties, including Island magazine and Ireland From Below website, Tim Boon Books, GenerationV and others for a site, input, and ideas.
Hope to see you around, and keep in touch! I will be swinging by Angel Alley during the next week. It is unlikely to be Thursday and if it is I will have my 7 year-old with me and a tight schedule for trains, but if possible I’ll at least show my face.
The March date looks more likely.
Hope all proceeds well with your plans!
Tim Barton
Tim
Comment by Tim January 1, 2007 @ 12:32 pmHi you all,
nice to see your website. Hope you have some very interesting discussions in your study group. I believe what you are doing is a corner stone in radical education and invaluable for creating a popular movement and communalist organization. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to see you in March.
Sveinung from Democratic Alternative in Oslo, Norway
Comment by Sveinung Legard January 11, 2007 @ 12:35 pmTo whom it may concern,
I am scientific attaché at the Science and Technology Department of the French Embassy in London.
As part of the “Anglo-French scientific discussion seminars” spanning all domains of science, I am pleased to announce the seminar “Microgeneration and energy savings could make your building autonomous” opened to all and held at The Novartis Foundation in London on Tuesday 15th February 2007 at 6pm.
I thought that your members might be interested in attending this seminar and I was wondering if maybe you could circulate the information among them (the seminar is free, you just need to register at science_event@ambascience.co.uk). Would it be for instance possible to mention the event in one of your electronic newsletters?
Many thanks in advance for your help with this.
See the advert on our Website:
http://www.ambascience.co.uk/article.php3?id_article=1080
Kind regards,
François-Xavier
Comment by François-Xavier February 1, 2007 @ 11:42 amI just posted the infromation about the meeting in London on our site. Good luck to you all!
Comment by Giorgio February 28, 2007 @ 4:06 pmGreat to see these issues being purused. We are planning a Social Ecology event in Glasgow later this year and will keep in touch for more collaboration.
in solidarity
Comment by Mike March 12, 2007 @ 4:07 pmMike
Keep up the good work, your group seems to be thriving! Would have been great to visit your group together with Sveinung and Eirik, but I guess there’ll be more occasions…
Erik / Democratic Alternative
Comment by Erik March 16, 2007 @ 8:20 amThanks a lot for a very interesting seminar last weekend. I came back to Norway more inspired than I was before leaving. I hope we can create an international communalist movement together in the years to come! Hope to see you again in a better future.
Sveinung Legard, Demokratisk Alternativ for Oslo
Comment by Sveinung Legard March 20, 2007 @ 11:27 amI’d like to echo the comments by Sveinung and others above – it was a great and educative day which I enjoyed very much. Well organised and very good food too! Hope there will be other days of this kind bringing people together to discuss and debate and then act towards the kind of society we wish to see!
Fiona
Comment by Fiona March 22, 2007 @ 10:14 amHi Jim. Photos i received. Thanks
Comment by Bill Compton June 4, 2007 @ 7:38 pmThis is an excellent website that I will spread the word about. does anyone have an recommended readings of books that they like about social ecology?
Comment by Wolfe June 11, 2007 @ 4:11 pmHey Wolfe,
I reckon a good reading is Murrey Bookchin’s “Anarchism, Marxism & the Future of the Left”. The long middle chapter is a bit trying though, a long refutation of Bookchin’s critics. Bless his cantankerous cotton socks.
Also, check out Communalism- International Journal for a Rational Society at http://www.communalism.org
Comment by Mark A. June 12, 2007 @ 6:22 pmStumbled on your group by accident and very grateful that I did.
Comment by Godbluff July 2, 2007 @ 8:02 pmAn alternative to the frenzied consumerism, celebrity adoration and apathy that pervades our society…it can’t come too soon.
Good luck,
Godbluff
Safety of what is now termed social housing in the UK and need for replacements of space energy systems and power systems. The UK government has promised direct funding for what is now termed social housing although some do call it unsocial housing. It would seem very sensible to go ahead and replace ineffiecient space heating systems and install new ones that would also be safer and similarly concerning power systems-combined heat and power systems. For vulnerable people with the cuts or squeeze on care and with stressed out friends and relatives surely this is the least that the UK government can do. Or are New Labour planning to work for the fire brigade in the form of enabling fires that kill people. Wake up New Labour or get out. Climate denial and care denial?
Comment by Stuart Black September 7, 2007 @ 6:05 pmWe just posted a piece about Murray Bookchin at our blog http://rockandecology.blogspot.com.
We hope that you will find it interesting.
With greetings from Greece
Comment by aigaiopelagitis October 25, 2007 @ 8:39 amCandiru & Aigaiopelagitis
Hi
Glad to find you, as a hippy generation person, now middle aged, I’m always complaining about the lack of utopian debate. Humanity has got to aim high. I’m involved in monetary reform which I personally believe is one the foundation blocks of radical change. I hope to come to a meeting soon.
Best regards Hugh Barnard
Comment by Hugh Barnard October 28, 2007 @ 10:10 amHi there
I would love to come along and join the group – though as I work on a rota system I may not be able to attend every week.
I’m interested in learning more about alternatives to Capitalism and your group sounds perfect as it uses text as a basis for discussion which is right up street – being an English Lit bod.
Could you please email me with the full details of the next meet…or do I just turn up next Tuesday?
I hope to hear from you soon and look forward to coming along in the very near future.
Best wishes
Sal
Comment by Sal October 30, 2007 @ 6:06 pmAre you meeting these days? I want to come join one of your sessions.
Comment by ian December 9, 2007 @ 8:13 pmPlease send me an email.
icfitzpatrick at gmail dot com
great! social ecology is a great idea!
Comment by mike April 28, 2008 @ 5:17 pmHi, this is excactly the kind of thing I am looking for. The world needs this so badly. I would like to know if you are still up and running? Do I just come along and attend your meetings? Please e-mail me… Thank you.
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Comment by Anonymous July 3, 2008 @ 12:34 pmI’m searching for a Tim Barton who worked at Berkus Group Architects in Washington, DC in the early 80’s. Could this possibly be you????
Your response would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
Comment by Melissa O'Connor July 19, 2008 @ 5:11 pmÉ a primeira vez que tenho contcto com esta página. E,como estou a fazer um trabalho de estratificação social /estratificação ecologica em Cabo Verde mais propiamente da cidade do Mindelo na ilha de S.Vicente, gostaria de ter mais informações vossas.
Comment by Maria Francisca Pinto August 1, 2008 @ 10:53 amHi Guys.
I’m looking for contacts with the Bookchin scene in London. Any advice you could give me would be great.
Comment by Jon @ Pluto October 16, 2008 @ 3:09 pmI am a student at the university of arts london studying documentary and stumbled upon Murray Bookchin when researching the environmental crisis and global warming, finding this group has been a huge inspiration that has inspired my work and effected my personal opinions on such modern issues.
I am at this time researching for a short documentary and trying to find examples of SOCIAL ECOLOGY IN ACTION. Bookchin’s insight to human behaviour our society’s effect on our environment is so extensive and inspiring that i would like to inspire others to learn more and understand as i continue.
If anybody has information or advice i would be extremely grateful. I attempted to attend a meeting last month but when i arrived early at the LARC centre i was unsure as to any life in the building and was left a little confused. What dates will they be held this month?
if anybody would like to contact me please do: r.t.glynn@gmail.com
Comment by Ronan Glynn November 10, 2008 @ 12:56 pm4_2forpost.txt;10;15
Comment by pzlWvxhYRi December 3, 2008 @ 10:14 amThis site rules
Comment by bob December 25, 2008 @ 6:07 pmwhats happened to the institute of social ecology.theres been nothing new on their web site for awhile?
Comment by Anonymous December 30, 2008 @ 1:48 pmJust been reading The Ecologist online. They made reference to the Sustainable Communities Act, which has been passed in Parliament to enable all citizens to be directly involved in their local government. What is the significance of this Act? What does it mean? How is it being developed? Any comments?
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Comment by polly April 9, 2009 @ 10:51 amI’d really like to come along to one of your meetings at larc, I would have emailed but can’t seem to get outlook to work and can’t find email address any other way. I came to a workshop of yours at the Anarchist bookfair last year and having just moved to london I’m keen to come and hear more about social ecology. Maybe you could send me an email and let me know if its okay to come along to a meeting (and when they are etc.)?
Cheers,
Polly
http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/21387
Comment by i May 7, 2009 @ 2:55 pmI happened upon your site whilst following links from researching Rudolf Rocker… in reply to a comment upon a comment I made recently on someone elses blog. The internet works in mysterious ways.
Anyway, an interesting site glad I got here I have bookmarked it for future reference.
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Comment by Asian London escorts August 17, 2009 @ 12:42 pmHi, I’m a french researcher in sociology. I intend to go to London in late october (2009). I would be interested in attending one of your meeting. Does the group still exist ?
Comment by Brugnot October 3, 2009 @ 4:48 pmthank you for your reply
Best wishes
Thomas Brugnot
hi all
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Comment by Online Car Insurance >> http://onlinecarinsuranceclaims.com/ November 23, 2009 @ 9:16 pmHi, sorry to take up your time, but, and I know this sounds a bit odd, I wondered if you’d be interested in looking at a teenage book about kids living in London after a nuclear accident, who are trying to stop nuclear wasted from being dumped at sea. Society is trying to rebuild itself to be better, kinder and greener, but does the government have the same ideals? It’s about democracy and about individuals living in balance with nature and has quire a lot of ecology.
Comment by JuenBirch January 27, 2010 @ 5:29 pmI’m flogging it off my own website at the moment, because I’m desperate to get things moving and a second imprint…It has been in Waterstone’s in the Science Museum etc. (they have been brilliant) but it takes months for the whole distribution thing to work.
The website is in Green Maven and it is genuinely solar powered. If you have a moment,could you look at it?..There is a fairly slow chapter to read, because of not giving the plot away, but it might give an idea.
My business address is on the website and the telephone number. Any comments gratefully received.
Very best wishes,
June
P.S. The Website is http://www.insideoutsider.co.uk
Comment by JuenBirch January 27, 2010 @ 5:55 pmThe book is Everyone Can be a herO, published by Inside Outsider Publications.
All the best,
June