John Papworth
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John Papworth (Born London 1921)
After being reared in an orphanage John Papworth has been at various times a baker, journalist, economist - London University graduate, ecologist, a self proclaimed 'futurist' & Church of England priest. Reverend Papworth was under licence to officiate from the Bishop of London until his remarks about the non-sinfulness of shoplifting in giant stores attracted global media attention and caused him to be sacked from his non-stipendary post. (He was he says "concerned with the way the giants were destroying local community life and argued Jesus taught we should love our neighbours - he had said nothing about loving Marks & Spencers").
With the help of 'Fritz' E.F. Schumacher & Sir Herbert Read he founded and edited Resurgence magazine (now edited by Satish Kumar). He has also been; parliamentary Labour candidate 1955; for nine years personal assistant to the then President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda; consultant to Greenpeace; associate editor for The Ecologist magazine; President of The Academic Inn (a debating society); founder of the Village Industry Service (Zambia); founder & editor of the Fourth World Review (for a world of "small nations, small communities & the inalienable sovereignty of the human spirit") a bi-monthly with an international circulation. In the Sixties he was imprisoned along with Bertrand Russell for anti-nuclear protests, and also was placed in Albany jail, Georgia USA, for Civil Rights activities
He has starred in two BBC documentaries entitled 'No Man is an Island' and 'Turbulent Priest'. He has written the following books: 'The Economics of Humanism', 'New Politics', 'Small is Powerful', & 'Shut up and Listen'. His latest book is called 'Village Democracy'. Papworth's main political inspiration being the Austrian philosopher Leopold Kohr.
His international lecture tours promoting radical alternatives to current institutional approaches, have drawn capacity audiences. His French-born wife Marcelle, died in 1995 and his children, Pierre, John-David & Marie live in London.
[edit] Quotes
- "Mass democracy is an oxymoron."
- "A civilisation that genuinely reflects all that human beings long for and aspire to can only be created on the basis of each person’s freely acknowledged power to decide on each of the many questions that affect his life."
- "Jesus taught we should love our neighbours - he had said nothing about loving Marks & Spencers"
- "We have created the first ugly civilisation, and also the first boring one."
- "Giantism, centralisation and excessive speed now represent a doomsday triumvirate that has become public enemy number one of the human race."
- "All power not only corrupts, it creates nothing but contempt in those over whom it is exercised."
