TRANSITION WORK. Dalla sostenibilità alla praticabilità del lavoro

TRANSITION WORK. From sustainability to practicability of work (Key words: work, transition, different economies, environmental) The extent to which we have undermined the environment and ecosystem services is generally recognised. Yet dominant economic models still assume continuing and endless growth and rest upon two paradoxes. The first is that, despite the improvements in the efficiency of throughput of materials, the consumption of resources continues to increase. The second paradox is that despite increasing personal wealth that allows us to consume more goods and services, individual and collective indicators of well-being and happiness are falling (Georgescu-Roegen N., Grinevald J., Shiva V.). Economy and work (including production) are factors that have major influence on the predatory flow of the limited environmental resources of the planet. Yet prevailing economic policies utilise ‘sustainability’ more as a ‘brand’ than as a meaningful demonstration of commitment to change: there is no hypothesis which establishes sustainability from the perspective of the planet as a central tenet. Yet there is growing evidence of alternative voices and experiences leading to new collective practices that demonstrate other possibilities (Gosetti G.). And these new practices are originated by workers (women and men) that are interested in their own recognition an identification with a new ethic of work (Fraser N., Honneth A, Illich I., La Rosa M.). Critical consumption practices that are founded upon principles of social justice and equity are spreading; where a new relationship with material thing is being experienced (de Cordova F.). Amongst organic farmers and food producers and even open source software designers, but also bicycle repairmen and physicians, there is a commitment to “work for life” and not simply for profit or for consumption. Such work practices might be regarded as highlighting a transition towards a different society in which there is a different economy; practices that illustrate social creation instead of capitalist production (De Vita A.), with the idea of market as part of society (Polanyi K., Bateson G., Méda D.). An idea, in short, where practicability of work and production takes the space of sustainability and is embodied through water, air, land, social creation and future generations. The research has been conducted using qualitative methods of social research, Case Study and Grounded Theory. The data analysis of Grounded Theory was made using the NVivo 10 software.