What is more for?
Some friends were playing in a village quite small
When a spirit appeared in front of them all
It said “I’m the spirit known as Wendigo,
I can solve all your problems; you just have to grow!”
“Problems?” said Sofia “who said we had those”
“Oh sweet little girl, trust me, I just know”.
“Now see this field, let’s make it bigger,
If you sell more food you’ll get rich much quicker”
“But what about this forest next to the field”
“Definitely worth losing to increase your yield”
“What will happen to the tree where I have my swing?”
“We’ll turn it to timber and build better things,
Things you can play with and things you can sell”
“But why do I need to? my swing already swings well”
“oh silly girl, your questions do irk,
It’s so all your village can have decent work.
If we make a big mill we can give everyone jobs!
Build bigger houses with wood burning hobs!
Not just the men, women can work too,
to buy lots of stuff for them and for you!”
“But the village already works quite enough,
And where will we put all the new stuff?
The women also do too much already,
And if everyone’s working who’ll help us get ready?”
“oh simple child, you are quite funny!
It’s not really work if they’re not making money.
As for the stuff, your house can expand,
With all your new wealth you can buy lots of land!
And hire someone, to look after you,
help you grow big, so you can work too!”
“But if we only do things when we’re paid,
There’s no time for fun or art to be made,
And won’t all the burning release lots of smoke?
I’d like some air that won’t make me choke!
And won’t the all the soot make quite a mess!
Shouldn’t we try to burn a bit less?”
“No no, don’t worry, we’ll create something new,
That will clean this up later and much quicker too,
As for the art you can paint, draw or dance,
Then sell pieces or tickets to help you advance,
You can fund lots of exciting technology,
That will make life much better for you and for me!”
“How do you know the tech will be helpful?
Are they made to make money and or help us be healthful?
And what if my art is special to me?
I won’t want to sell it just for money
I think there are things more important than growth
How are you sure it will help us both?”
“A great question my child, growth brings benefits
More houses, more roads and more new outfits
More jobs and more money and even more swimming pools
And we can teach you be productive in some shiny new schools
You ask my friend, what is the growth for?
It’s all so you can have more, more, more, more!”
Sofia sat down, she thought for a while,
Her though were all jumbled, but then came a smile,
“Oh poor spirit” Sofia replied
“I think you’ve been missing a friend by your side.
A friend to tell you, you’ve got too much stuff,
You might not have the most, but you do have enough”
“If you grow forever you’ll consume everything,
And there’ll be nobody around to push you on your swing”
“Working all the time, you’ll miss important things,
like spending time with friends playing and laughing.
Watching tress grow tall, and rivers flowing free,
all the life inside them, only taking what we need.
When the growth has a purpose, that’s when it’s at its best,
So to make sure we don’t grow to much, I propose a test,
Ask yourself, before you take more, more, more, more…
Do I really need it, what is more for?”
Discussion questions for after the story:
Is there anything you think has grown too much or is too big?
What are some things you like that are small?
What do you think is more important than money?
Lots of very rich people aren’t very happy. What do you think you really need to be happy?
Resources for parents:
To learn more about the concept of developing economies that are not focused on endless growth, but living within the means of the planet watch these videos.
A shorter video that’s good for watching with your little ones when they’re not so little anymore:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MK6tuZ7Rws
A longer explainer detailing the problems with current models and more information on the doughnut model:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=talXb1wiEFY
For more on the origins around the Windigo legend and its meaning:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guiuXIMZ2vE
Story Book Version
Author: Shane
