Diversity of approaches

yunity is a movement. There is no single primary objective anymore. We have so many people identifying themselves as yuniteers, who are doing so different things, that it would be exclusive to define a primary objective.

We do have a vision though: A society based on self-determination, trust and cooperation which allows people to live to their full potential and to preserve ecosystems for all living beings.
And we have a mission: We encourage relationships where people can share their time, skills and resources, unconditionally. Through these connections and communities we prevent waste and raise awareness for a sustainable way of living.

The vision is meant to be achieved via the mission. The primary objective is the description of more concrete tasks and challenges that will be tackled to proceed with realizing the mission.
So how can we most effectively build up connections and communities and thus create relationships that support sustainable ways of living?

Some would say via WuppHaus projects, because there we can have a direct impact on the local people. We can integrate them into our daily endeavors and make them part of the sharing network, which is yunity. This approach presumes that the yuniteers themselves live the perfect sharing lifestyle and can thus lead by example.

Other would say via foodsaving worldwide, because saving food is the most direct way to get active against waste in general and distributing it builds connections almost automatically. We can simply show interested people all over Europe and beyond, that setting up foodsaving initiatives is not so hard after all and that they are not alone in this. We can spread the valuable information that was collected and produced by the German-speaking foodsharing communities and let others benefit from it. This approach presumes that yuniteers are travelers and ambassadors.

"What about permaculture and spirituality? Minimalism and general awareness?" some might say. For them the most effective way to create meaningful bonds and real human contact is via these topics, as they'd point out, that a community can never be really autonomous and sustainable if it doesn't grow its own food and cares for its members well-being. This approach presumes that yuniteers are gardeners, vegans and spiritual people.

Then there's also art, poetry, music and everything related to the senses. Even lamâsching could fit into this category... This approach presumes that yuniteers are sensual beings, who like to enjoy the benefits of being alive.

Probably everyone in yunity could pick at least two of the above-mentioned categories to be most important and it's important to point out that they don't contradict each other! They are perfectly compatible! But they're still different. And that's fine.

We started out with a big emphasis on the mantra 'No dogma!' and I think that is more important now than ever. yunity has become very diverse and a lot of different people came in and are willing to follow different paths. The vision still unites us all. And the ability to not only tolerate but rather appreciate the diversity of perspectives and ways to handle problems should be a prerequisite in every yuniteer, if you ask me...

If people want to do something, let them! You don't have to participate if it doesn't fit your own idea of what is most useful to bring forward the vision and mission of yunity, but if you can still believe, that the person you disagree with is acting on his or her own perception of yunity values, then just let them be! You can, of course, state your opposing view, but please don't automatically think that they are 'wrong' and maybe not even true to their own beliefs anymore. Be understanding, caring and patient, please. Or to say it with the most basic rule of doocracy: Be excellent to each other.