Slow movement (culture)

The Slow movement is a cultural shift towards slowing down life's pace. The Slow movement proposes consciously seizing control of time rather than being dictated by it and finding a balance between using time-saving technology and taking the time to enjoy a walk or a meal with others. Proponents believe that while technology can speed up working, eating, dating, etc. the most important things in life should not be rushed.

History of the Slow movement

The Slow movement first began when a protest against the opening of a McDonald's restaurant in Piazza di Spagna, Rome sparked the creation of the Slow Food organisation.

The Slow philosophy

Even in the recent past in the West it was standard to have a day of relaxation because all shops were closed on Sundays. However, the current tendency in many parts of the world to operate at 24 hours a day has disrupted this tradition. Now, because people can do everything all the time, some feel they have to do things all the time. The Slow movement counteracts this by extolling the virtues of the enjoyment and savouring of living.

Contrary to assumptions associated with the term "slow", advocates of the Slow movement stress activity, rather than passivity. The focus, therefore, is on being selective in our activity, and fully appreciating how we spend our time.

The Slow movement

The Slow movement is not organized and controlled by a singular organization per se. A principal characteristic of the Slow movement is that it is propounded, and its momentum maintained, by individuals that constitute the expanding global community of Slow. Although it has existed in some form since the Industrial Revolution its popularity has grown considerably since the rise of Slow Food and Cittaslow in Europe, with Slow initiatives spreading as far as Australia and Japan.

Slow Food

Opposed to the culture of Fast Food the movement known as Slow Food seeks to encourage the enjoyment of regional produce, traditional foods, which are often grown organically and to enjoy these foods in the company of others. It aims to defend food and agricultural biodiversity.

The movement claims 83,000 members in 50 countries, which are organized into 800 Convivia or local chapters. Sometimes operating under a logo of a snail, the collective philosophy is to preserve and support traditional ways of life. Today, 42 states in the U.S. have their own convivium.

In 2004, representatives from food communities in more than 150 countries met in Turin under the umbrella of the Terra Madre (Mother Earth) network.

Cittaslow

The goals of the Cittaslow movement is to resist the homogenization and globalization of towns and cities and seeks to improve the quality and enjoyment of living by encouraging happiness and self-determination.

The Way of Slow

The Slow movement advises some ways of slowing down:

Get a Slow hobby, a leisurely pursuit like reading, writing, knitting, yoga, painting or gardening.
Spread out your chores; do one load each day instead of all your laundry at once, or dust one day and vacuum the next.
Stop watching the clock; on weekends try waking up to your body's natural rhythms rather than an alarm, and leave your watch at home
Shop at a farmers' market
Prepare a sit-down meal and savour it without watching TV, or reading. Enjoy the conversation if you're dining with others, or peaceful solitude if eating alone.
On vacation slow down; don't try to cram every sight into your must-see list. Visit "slow cities" with local restaurants where you can eat slow
Prune your to-do list; make time for the people and activities that you enjoy

External links

The below are some suggestions of sites demonstrating various flourishings of the Slow movement.

Slow Movement: Making a Connection - Slow Movement, Slow Cities, Slow Travel, Slow Food... Everything Slow
Cittaslow UK - How Slow is applied to towns in the United Kingdom
slowlondon - applying principles of Slowness to city dwelling and the travails of hectic urban life. Slow London is off line.
In Praise Of Slow - site of the book by Carl Honoré

Slow-related links:

SlowDownNow.org - The "almost" serious antidote to workaholism. Humorous Slow stories and a Slow Lifestyle Manifesto by Christopher Richards. Stories include How to Get Out of Bed - a philosophical approach and The Importance of the British Tea Break.
We Are What We Do - authors of Change The World For A Fiver
Slowness for Sustainability
Unconventional Ideas
Work Less Party of Canada
Slow Down to Enjoy Life by simplicity website Zen Habits
Slow Home