MAIN POINTS
(from interviews)

1. Once basic needs are met, people can embrace a spiritual purpose

2. Ability to follow more positive value system and have a
broader definition of a "successful" life

3. Hope for the future

4. People less susceptible to exploitation or manipulation from
negative aspects of organized religion

5. We could be introspective about our lives, our place in the world
and our relationship with nature

6. GLI is a way for people to show they value each another

SPIRITUALITY - Quotes

With a GLI we would have time to examine: What would be a meaningful, fulfilling way for me to contribute to the regeneration of the planet? Who am I?   Why am I here?   What is important to me?   What is spirituality?   What is sacred?   What is good for me - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? -Valerie

A GLI is a way for people to know that they are valued and that all of their labour [like unpaid work] is valued. It is telling people this is part of citizenship; people have a responsibility as citizens and they are valued as citizens. People would feel included.   -Claire

I think spirituality probably goes hand-in-hand with the little person and the mother developing a bond and that creative energy that they have. To me that is spiritual, because just for a child and a mother to understand what brought the two of them together, how they interact with the world, is so important. If mother and child were given that opportunity, society would be a lot healthier place to live. Women already know that everything really, really needs to stop. By creating a GLI, then children would grow up not so fast paced, and without the edge that society has right now. -Bernice

It breaks my heart to see people sleeping on the street. What happened that society does not even care about you? Everybody deserves opportunity to have dignity in their life. Offering them a GLI, however that looks-society can afford it. There's no way they can afford not to do it, but they choose not to. I think it is probably the most immoral thing that society can do to itself, short of wars. How do people sleep at night? -Bernice

Spirituality would be a positive process for women, for their children and for the community. If you are feeling happy, you usually feeling happy because you have a warm bed, warm clothes, nutritious food. You feel good in yourself and you want to give more to your community. -Rose

A GLI would most definitely help cultural and spiritual goals. With stress levels down, there would be more introspection to find out what your goals are.   -Suzanne

There would be more time for spiritual retreats. It would accommodate spiritual days and would nurture a well-rounded lifestyle. -Elizabeth

Yes, [with a GLI] there would be more time for exploring that and thinking about it. We don't have time to think about it cause we need to think about the almighty dollar. That is the spiritual life now. And it is not gratifying. It is instant gratification. But with real spirituality, that is gratifying. -Debie

You can't be grounded in spirit if you wonder if you will have a roof over your head or food to eat. Have you ever tried to pray or mediate when you wonder if everything is going down the drain? We've gone into separateness, become divided. Hello people! The wealth needs to be shared to come back to a sense of unity. Pockets of people are so rich it's sickening, then so many other people worth nothing. The GLI-people won't take it kindly, especially in high echelons, but what's the answer? If people can't get to that realization, we will not have a planet to worry about. What will they do when we run out of food because of what we are doing? Are they going to eat money? I don't think you can. -Olive