“For a former diplomat like me, I found it confusing, I kept looking for a hierarchy, the singular leader, or signs of a government line, when, in fact, there was none; there were just groups. There was none of that stifling obedience to the party, or the obsequious deference to the “big man” — a form of government all too evident just across the borders, in the [surrounding Nation States]. The confident assertiveness of young people was striking.”
New York Times article 2015
“It started in 2010. Just a handful of friends driving around on mopeds talking to people about friendship. You don’t have to join at all but it is very attractive…”
Albert, a Finnish volunteer
And now, The network of groups is huge. But it still feels like a group of friends within the wider society.
In 2024 we went to chat with Bernard at his Civil Engineering company in the west part of the city. 2 years before he had joined The Network and so everyone else in The Network came to say hello, drink tea and imagine together. Projects started, groups offered their services and strong friendships formed. Bernard explains:
“Groups in The Network more-or-less live without money from then on. Other groups provide veg-boxes, car mechanics, diesel supplies and whatever anyone needs. Other groups help with accommodation and dealing with landlords and disputes”.
Bernard, The Acorn group
At some point one of the groups purchased 1000s of the same big white Hyundai people carriers and distributed them to The Network. You can see them all driving around in the evening to each others houses. Yet other groups deal with Import / Export and so on… but it is very dynamic as people start and end groups constantly re-grouping to achieve what their friends need in the constantly changing and evolving society. There is an enormous flow of friends through all the groups every day providing lots of critically important love, tea and friendship.
The Teal Diary 