Utopian Dreams

Dear NvT,
My conception of nonviolence is that it is an holistic thing embracing all
aspects of how we live and who we are.

This presents me with a dilemma.

A big part of my life (and everyone's lives) is making a living - from
accepting the dole to earning a salary to running our own businesses.
Receiving the dole or earning a salary is problematic for me in terms of
nonviolent theory: that is, it is co-operating with a system full of
structural violence, participating in unethical, socially unjust hierarchies,
living in dependence... even if the job is a good one (socially and/or
environmentally positive). It is also spirit-tearing living with the
contradictions of doing this.

Some form of ethical livelihood and lifestyle, preferably within a
like-minded community, would not only solve these dilemmas but also
strengthen nonviolence by enabling activists to live closer to a wholly
nonviolent lifestyle including providing for themselves and the movement
without being forced to use means of making a living which contradict their
beliefs.

I know that there are ethical options out there, but they are few and far
between and seem to be pretty hard to find especially if you are relatively
new to activism.

I also know that it is not easy to do this within such huge global systems
which we didn't create and cannot change overnight and that many levels of
compromise are inevitable and acceptable according to our own consciences.

Has anyone else had similar thoughts and come up with ideas? 

I need visions of utopian lifestyles which include ethical livelihoods and
would appreciate discussion through NvT if appropriate.

I am hungry for big solutions even if they have to start small.
Thomas Driftwood