Comments on
"Life, Money & Illusion"
discussions.
Since the book Life, Money &
Illusion was first printed in June of 2006, Mike Nickerson and Donna
Dillman have facilitated over 300 discussions
on the theme of the book and how we can shift the direction of society toward
sustainability.
Some participants have shared their comments with us. One wrote a review
of a full discussion.
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"The Dundas Sustainable Lifestyles Project evolved from the contacts
made between participants following a discussion facilitated by Mike Nickerson,
at our Old 99 Farm."
Ian Graham, Copetown, Ontario
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"This short note is just to thank you for your masterful presentation
to the Probus Club of Perth this month. You certainly demonstrate a firm
grasp of your subject, and present it in a compelling way."
Ian Doig, Perth ON
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"Student feedback (faculty feedback as well) was very positive both
in terms of the topic and insights as well as the engaging way of the presentation;
like myself, some students could have gone on for hours listening to you."
Thomas Mengal, Associate Professor, Leadership Education Renaissance
College, Fredericton, New Brunswick
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"I greatly admire your stellar efforts to bring attention to sustainability."
Dr. Lovaye Kajiura
Undergraduate Course Coordinator, Biology
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
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Comments on Life, Money & Illusion as
a course text.
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"I saw Mike when he spoke here about 2 years ago and was struck by
his message and great skills as a storyteller. This year, I'm involved with
organizing a conference for about 100 Millennium Scholarship holders (undergrads)
in South Western Ontario, and immediately thought of Mike as a potential
speaker."
Marena Brinkhurst, University of Guelph
Environmental Sciences student
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"On behalf of Probus Quinte, we would like to thank you for your address
on 19 February. You captured our imaginations and inspired us with your
insights and metaphors."
"More personally, thank you for a presentation that was intelligent,
articulate, and thoroughly professional. Yours was the finest presentation
we have heard at a Club meeting."
Gordon Fuller, Probus Quinte
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"Thank you for your speech - it was very illuminating and excellently
presented."
Len Cobb, Orleans Rotary
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"Your courage and commitment to a saner, fuller way of life is admirable,
and while pretty much ignored by the wishful thinking politicians and reporters,
it is slowly gaining recognition."
Al Farthing, New Glasgow, NS
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"I admire Mike Nickerson's work and I think of him as the "Al
Gore" of Canada."
Dr. Helen M. Diemert
Professor Emeritus, Fine Arts, University of Calgary
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My staff were so THRILLED to meet you; leaders in the movement. They were
particularly impressed that you had remained so positive after 30+ years
of fighting the good fight.
Susan Tanner
Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Network
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"It was intellectually invigorating and soulfully inspiring to be exposed
to your analysis and brave optimism. Thank you."
I. Turnsen, Wakefield, QC
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"Many of my classmates were there last year when you spoke in John
Milton's class and found you to be the most inspirational speaker we
listened to that semester, so if you are interested, we think you would
be the perfect speaker to open the symposium."
Brittany Boychuck, Carleton University
=====================
"Thanks for giving a great presentation. Besides the knowledge you
have worked to acquire and pass on, you have a gift for delivering it. Thank
you for sharing it with the world."
Marie Lorenzo
The Women's Healthy Environments Network
www.womenshealthyenvironments.ca
=====================
"I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for the talk you
gave in my Environmental Politics class at Carleton University in November.
The students were impressed both by your knowledge and your life-long dedication
to the cause of sustainability. You clearly left a strong impression. Aspects
of what you talked about, on the grow-or-die mentality, or approaches to
happiness that rely less on consumption and more on celebrating life, were
themes that students returned to in subsequent weeks as we debated a range
of environmental policy issues in Canada. I've even had students mention
that they have chosen to read your book when asked to write a book review
for other courses. So... on behalf of the students, thanks for the inspiration!"
Dr. Peter Andree
Department of Political Science, Carleton University
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"Mr. Nickerson presented himself as highly knowledgeable, with an engaging
and impassioned manner that was highly motivating. He easily held the attention
of attendees, numbering about fifty, despite being last on an agenda that
spanned more than two hours."
(full letter)
Ian MacNab, CAO, Kawartha Conservation
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Review of one discussion in Guelph,
Ontario.
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"Thank you for your talk at Rotary - I found it interesting and I quickly
went from despair to optimism in that I feel we can use the same ingenuity
and drive that got us to where we are today - to re-vector us on an even
more exciting and sustainable path."
Bill Hale, Rotary Club of Perth
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"As I learn more about the ways in which our reality is heaving into
change, there is a great and growing disconnect between what makes sense
to me and what people are doing. Sometimes it feels like a nightmare. It
gets lonely. Yesterday's discussion gave me great comfort and hope and most
of all, excited inspiration. Again. So I just want to thank you for all
your work, for your refreshingly good-humoured logic, for your courage to
continue and most of all, for your generosity of spirit."
Genevieve Jones, Killaloe, Ontario
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"I think your work is important, and always has been, to the 'Sustainability
Movement' in particular (broader of course than the environmental movement).
I also think that the David Suzuki Foundation would do well to factor you
in to some of their work/events if possible or at least promote your stuff
on their website - given you, well ahead of all others - including them
- have been working on sustainability-related issues and getting that on
the radar of the public for nigh 30 years now. They have a big Sustainability
initiative as you probably know, and frankly, when I read their stuff, I
get the impression they either talked or borrowed from you big-time at some
point, you being essentially a pioneer on this for so many years."
A.M. Sleeman, Vancouver, BC
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Comments on Life, Money & Illusion as a text.
1) The students found the process, that was initially outlined as a purpose
of the text, to be followed in order to meet our environmental challenges
(i.e. understanding the situation, internalizing the vision, planning and
taking action) very instructive. They grasped the need for this discipline
in order that they not end up living in denial or crippled with despair.
2) The illusive shift in purposes from "striving to produce and consume
ever more to enjoying life" and from "stimulating desire to finding
peace with enough" had a significant impact on the students. Many of
them initially perceived the loss of material goods as a win/lose scenario.
However, upon exploring further the simpler type of life that can be enjoyed,
and the peace that can be found via the life-based pursuits included in
chapter 3, most students tended to view the required transformation as more
of a win/win scenario. Their motivation to take actions towards environmental
responsibility seemed to increase as we got deeper into the text and became
more informed about the options available and the consequences of inaction.
Michael Longworth
"Business Ethics and Environment"
King Campus of Seneca College
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"You will be pleased to know that you made quite an impression on the
students. Many of the students -- I would say about three quarters of them
-- selected the question on the philosophy of environmental action, that
included the material you presented, for their final examination question.
Furthermore, they seemed to have actually paid attention to your talk as
most were able to summarise concisely and accurately your thoughts and arguments."
John Milton;
Environmental Studies, Carleton University
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Note: We have only begun to ask for comments on discussions. If you have
attended one of these events and would like to share your comments, please
write to Mike Nickerson at: sustain5 [ at ] web.ca