You're right: banks don't have a stake in social networking. But Vancity isn't a bank; it's a community-based financial institution that is as interested in making our community work as it is in making money. And these days, community is more and more about what happens online, which is why we thought we could play a role in helping use the Net as a tool to support community development in the Lower Mainland and Victoria.
For me there is no change until there is systemic change. As long as we have the corporate, fiat/fractional reserve monetary system we will only chase the horrible crashes (eco, economic, social) that are inevitable when everyone has a car (uses that systems). Our current economic ideological economic appartuses, which are predicated on exploitation, competition and greed will never imbue direct democracy, social justice and sustainability.
One of the problems with establishing dignity as a fundamental value is that everyone's idea of dignity is different. My friend Bob Fuller has been attempting to define it in the breach as the removal of rankism. Recently, I've been trying to supplement this abstract approach by enumerating specifics. As I jotted down images and ideas, a common theme emerged. I realized that the one thing I needed most to be able to maintain my sense of dignity in life was the ability to preserve my integrity. The idea that I put integrity first explains a lot in my life, and the constant pressure to sacrifice my integrity explains why I never feel like I'm living in dignity. I often feel like I've been asked to choose between integrity and survival: choosing the former threatens my survival, while choosing the latter guarantees my indignity.
I would like to change the rate I get on my savings account. I would like to change the fact that I have to go to workevery day. I would like to change the colour of my eyes.
I am a student of Computing Science at Simon Fraser University. Each day I go to class I am amazed to see only a handful of women. In some classes, less than 10%. So, I've decided to change that. Or, rather, help all the women who are already working towards that change.
SFU hosts an annual website design competition for young women in grades 9 and 10 called ChicTech (you can see the website at http://www.chictech.ca ). So, this year, I decided that the best way to create change was to commit to creating that change, and so, I'm co-chairing ChicTech.
I just discovered this Vancity blog site.... Hmmmm.... very nice but why would a financial institution put up a web site for bloggers....
Change - interesting theme considering people do not want to change, hate change and try to avoid change at all costs. Why does the credit union want me to change?
Looks like Vancity staff are the ones posting. I wonder if they do this while at work or on their own time. The truth is out there! Let's get to the bottom of it. peace