On June 24, we concluded the RESOURCES film series with the Swedish documentary Outgrow the System. Once again, the cinema was packed, and afterwards, a lively discussion took place about alternative economic systems – including those relevant to our local context.
The film Outgrow the System, released in 2023, is directed by Cecilia Paulsson and Anders Nilsson and explores how our economic system can be made more sustainable. In the currently dominant capitalist model, the Earth’s natural resources are being exploited while large parts of the global population still lack access to basic needs like food and healthcare. Economic models such as Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics aim to address these issues and respond more realistically to the planet’s limits. The documentary also presents several other concepts – including Degrowth, Economic Democracy, and the Well-Being Economy – that aim to create a more sustainable and fair economy. The film demonstrates that many solutions for a more just world and economy already exist and are being implemented at various levels. For those who missed our screening, the film is also available to stream from home.
Our questionnaire once again gave the audience the opportunity to share their impressions of the film with us. During the lively post-film discussion with Thomas Heintz from KIT, Nick von Andrian from the KoWerk Learning Workshop at the University of Freiburg, and Dr. Eva Stegen from EWS Schönau, we explored possible avenues for local change. Several socially-organised cooperatives and community-based businesses in the region were introduced, and it was shown how supporting these initiatives can strengthen community spirit and social cohesion. The following day, the team from EWS Schönau hosted an engaging follow-up workshop on sustainability in the energy sector.
On Thursday, July 3rd, we will continue with our second workshop on Outgrow the System. In the event titled “KoWerk – Community-Driven Business Models,” Nick von Andrian will present business models that are not driven by market prices.
These events are part of VISIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY, an inter- and transdisciplinary research project funded by the Innovation Sustainability Campus (ICN), located at the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Non-university cooperation partners include Harmonie Kino, the Volkshochschule Freiburg and Greenmotions. The Freiburg environmental mayor Christine Buchheit has taken on the patronage of the project.