History of SSAP
A precursor to SSAP was the INDIVIDUAL AND SOCIETY ACTION GROUP of the Philadelphia Futurists. On June 5, 1986 this group formulated a Preliminary guesstimate of necessary properties for an ideal community dedicated to sustainable living:
* About 50-100 people (so interaction reinforces group values)
* Living near each other (to maximize face-to-face interaction)
* Education program (to pass values to children and outside recruits)
* Economic base within group (for acceptable standard of living)
* Active Outreach (to build membership in the first phase)
* Religious philosophy and rituals (to build group commitment)
* Social & Recreational program (to prevent burnout and make it fun)
The Sustainable Society Action Project was organized in 1990 to help people in the Delaware Valley evolve a sustainable social economy on planet Earth. SSAP believes that sustainability should be built where we live, by the people themselves from the bottom up, not by government decrees. We can only ask others to develop their own patterns for sustainable living if we ourselves live it first. Building a Sustainable Society will involve deep culture change; a new social economy must be designed which makes the most important benefits of modern technology and industrialism available to humans in the foreseeable future. This process should be evolutionary, only as fast as people can adapt themselves to the new ways. It is important not to be elitist, which only results in losing contact with other people and communities. A sustainable society should meet all human needs, and therefore should consist of families living in communities. The needs of the present generation should be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We try to live our principles, not just talk them.
Philosophy
Evolving a sustainable social economy will probably require strong family and community structures. Pioneer communities will live a sustainable life style, within the larger society. Some individuals will be 'resident change agents' who reside in ordinary communities and inspire other people to change their patterns of living. This program will require major research in applied social science. SSAP aims to provide the philosophy and inspiration for this research.
Membership in SSAP does not require payment of dues, although contributions are appreciated. There are only two permanent positions: the Records Keeper and the Financial Officer. SSAP maintains a contact list, both email and postal service, of almost 600 names. Any member who comes to a steering committee meeting is eligible to vote. To join SSAP and its steering committee, phone 610*352-2689