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This book explores the age-old theme of keeping close to the land and simple living, with the challenge of resisting new societal modes of being. Just as in the past people have fought against the introduction of the written word rather than aural storytelling - or against machinery and urban industrialisation, pulling people away from their handcrafts and rural areas - this book highlights current societal problems with a focus on technology and resulting reduced face-to-face contact and hand-based skills. It explores the effects these have on current social harms, with particular concern for the increasing levels of crime, violence and vandalism on our streets in the United Kingdom. Is there a connection between schools' focus on academic achievement, the massive rise in virtual rather than human-to human friends and 'obsession' with economic development with unsafe, unfriendly, alienating communities? The author is sure there is. As well as describing why, she suggests a wealth of practical steps we can all take to rebuild the essence of human relationships in our communities.
This book explores the age-old theme of keeping close to the land and simple living, with the challenge of resisting new societal modes of being. Just as in the past people have fought against the introduction of the written word rather than aural storytelling - or against machinery and urban industrialisation, pulling people away from their handcrafts and rural areas - this book highlights current societal problems with a focus on technology and resulting reduced face-to-face contact and hand-based skills. It explores the effects these have on current social harms, with particular concern for the increasing levels of crime, violence and vandalism on our streets in the United Kingdom. Is there a connection between schools' focus on academic achievement, the massive rise in virtual rather than human-to human friends and 'obsession' with economic development with unsafe, unfriendly, alienating communities? The author is sure there is. As well as describing why, she suggests a wealth of practical steps we can all take to rebuild the essence of human relationships in our communities.