Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps de l'actualité et un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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I have been buying smooth "Nuts to You" Almond Butter since I first discovered it, having been diagnosed with functional hypoglycemia in late 1981 and began shopping for what would help me manage my condition in 1982. At that time, so few people bought pure nut butters that the jars had been sitting long on the shelf and there was an inch of oil on top. It was very difficult to mix it up. Now, even large chain grocery stores sell good nut butters and I can always find it, no matter where I go.
I don't recall the name of the owner when they were in Paris ON, but he was very affable and receptive, and we had a great chat some 15 years ago. He informed me that they take care to purchase nuts that are just and equitable, that are not the fruit of exploitation, and that the purchase price goes to the growers. I hope that is still the case, despite the many challenges in our world dominated by rabid American style capitalism that cares only for the profits accruing to the handful of owners, who avoid taking their social responsibilities, and care nothing at all about the general population, or the environment, our common home, nor the common good.
Not all forms of capitalism are evil exploiters of the general population
Check out this link to Mondragon Corporation, a just and equitable form of capitalism that originated in the Basque country of Spain in the 1950's when all the people were unemployed and their priest suggested they create work for themselves; rather than wait for a rich capitalist to come create jobs for them. Since they built their first little company to make washing machines for their wives, Mondragon has grown into a multinational cooperative corporation.
To this day, the workers are the owners, and the upper management posts render accounts to the general assembly of workers regulary; where decisions are made. No one ever loses their job unless they don't want to work. 40% of profits go into the pension fund, another 40% is invested in the company to grow it and set up new companies, 10% goes into R & D, and 10% goes into education for all their children. They have their own university.
Everywhere they are, the society prospers because they take full responsibility for their place in society, and they pay their taxes; contrary to Western capitalists who for the most part avoid their responsibilities by moving their wealth to tax havens in the Caribbean. Mondragon is truly amazing.
Why is our environment going to hell? Why are our societies apparently paralyzed and doing little or nothing to stop runaway climate change? Why are our form of capitalism, technology, Webworld, politics, media, education, and all the other forces shaping our lives driving full speed ahead as if Planet Earth's resources were inexhaustible - which they are not - polluting the air, soil, and waters as if only quarterly profits matter?
It appears to be simply because those with wealth and power, for the most part, think only of themselves and the short term. They care nothing for our common home - often treating it like a toilet or garbage dump - and they care nothing for the other 95% of humanity, nor even for their own children and grandchildren, if they have any.
In the meantime, the rest of us can do all that is within our power to do. We can simplify our lifestyle, we can support all just and equitable ventures that seek to work for the common good, we can do all we can to care for our common home, and we can give thanks to our Creator for the beauty and abundance of life and the wondrous order and complexity of the universe.
See the 2015 film "Tomorrow" (also in French) or read the French book "Demain" by French journalists who went all over the world interviewing people making a difference and improving our common home. Seeing what other people are able to do is inspiring us to also come up with creative solutions to the many challenges before us all.
Please feel free to share widely this reflection.
Peace to you, all your colleagues, fellow students, fellow workers, friends, and families.
Dans ce JOURNAL je partage de temps en temps de l'actualité ou un aperçu de ma vie de chrétien catholique et de prêtre pour rejoindre d'autres qui désirent contribuer au bien commun et pour faire avancer l'ouverture personnelle à Dieu qui fait vivre toute l'humanité et veille sur nous. G.S.
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© 2004-2025 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal QC
© 2004-2025 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC
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