The Ethics of Joy
In this crazy world we currently live in, we think ethics matter more than ever.
And increasingly, many conversations described as “political” don't feel particularly political to us. Whether people deserve equal rights, bodily autonomy, safety, dignity and freedom isn't the same kind of question as debating tax rates or transport policy.
So rather than pretending The Joy Bringers is completely neutral about everything, we'd rather tell you exactly where we stand.
You don't have to agree with us about everything to come here.
You do have to respect everyone who does.
Our Ethics Summary
Fcvk 1CE
Fcvk Trvmpism.
Fcvk Z10n1sm
Fcvk F@sc1sm
Fuck racism.
Fuck homophobia and transphobia.
Fuck antisemitism.
Fuck Islamophobia.
Fuck misogyny.
Fuck anyone who abuses, exploits or traffics another human being.
LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights.
Her body, her choice.
Black lives matter.
Free Palestine.
Free Congo.
Free Sudan.
Refugees are human beings.
Immigrants are not the enemy.
Climate change is science, not a conspiracy theory.
And yes:
Eat the rich…. Not literally…..Probably.
We Believe All Humans Are Equal
We believe people deserve equal dignity and respect regardless of their race, colour, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, language, immigration status or where they happened to be born.
That includes people whose governments we strongly oppose.
Jewish people are welcome here. Palestinians are welcome here. Israelis are welcome here. Muslims are welcome here. Christians are welcome here. Atheists are welcome here. People of every nationality, ethnicity and religion are welcome here.
Our opposition to a government, state policy, political movement or ideology is not opposition to people because of their nationality, ethnicity or religion.
There is an important difference.
Palestine, Israel & Zionism
We oppose Zionism as a political ideology.
We oppose the occupation and dispossession of Palestinians, the denial of equal rights and self-determination, and the killing and displacement of civilians.
We support the freedom, safety, dignity and equal human rights of Palestinians.
And none of that gives anybody permission to hate Jewish people, antisemitism is also incompatible with our values. Equally, criticism of Israel or Zionism should not automatically be treated as hostility towards Jewish people.
People are not their governments. People are not political movements. And no human being should be treated as less deserving of dignity because of where they were born.
Where We Spend Our Money Matters
Ethics aren't particularly useful if they disappear the moment we open our wallets. Where reasonably possible, we choose suppliers, products and services that better align with our values.
That means buying local, supporting independent businesses, reducing our reliance on enormous multinational corporations and thinking about who ultimately benefits from the money we spend.
We Do Not Support Isr@3li Companies
Because of our opposition to the actions of the Israeli state towards Palestinians, we have made a conscious effort to reduce and, where practical, eliminate our purchasing from Israeli companies.
That applies to our purchasing decisions as a business and as individuals.
It does not mean Israeli people are unwelcome at The Joy Bringers.
Those are two very different things.
If you know of a better ethical alternative to something we're using, tell us. We're always interested.
We Are Reducing Our Support of Un1ted Stat3s Companies
We're also reducing our reliance on large US corporations. We strongly oppose war, attacks on fundamental rights and many of the policies and actions associated with the Trump administration.
Where practical, we would rather support local, European, independent and values-aligned businesses.
Turns out escaping enormous American technology companies is considerably harder than writing a paragraph about escaping enormous American technology companies.
This one is very much a work in progress. But we're working on it.
Less Mega-Corporation. More Humans.
One of the most shocking discoveries we've made over the last few years is just how much of everyday life is controlled by and reliant on, a surprisingly small number of enormous Multi-National Corporations
Technology. Food. Toiletries. Clothes. Entertainment. Travel. Everything.
We're trying to change our own relationship with that. Where reasonably possible, we'd rather: shop local; support small businesses; buy independent; repair rather than replace; choose ethical suppliers; and give our money to people and organisations whose values don't make us want to scream into a pillow.
We're nowhere near perfect. This isn't an ethical-purity competition. It's about doing better when we can.
How We like to Operate
We exist to bring joy not just to our customers, but to our community and the world around us. Every decision we make should reflect kindness, fairness, and sustainability, this means:
Equality over hierarchy: We reject systems that concentrate wealth or power in the hands of a few. Everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and respect.
Giving back: We dedicate time and resources to causes that matter to us and initiatives that uplifts others.
Sustainability: We strive to reduce waste, support local suppliers, and continuously improve our environmental impact. We don’t claim perfection, but we commit to progress.
Kindness and respect: Every interaction — with customers, partners, or strangers — should reflect empathy and integrity.
Community first: We believe wealth and joy should circulate. Helping others isn’t charity; it’s how a healthy society works.
Our Vision: To build a business that sustains itself through compassion, transparency, and shared purpose — proving that ethical practice and joy can coexist beautifully.
We Believe in No K1ngs, No G0ds, and No B1llionnaires
No one needs or deserves that much money. Nobody needs a billion euros / dollars / pounds. We believe extreme concentrations of wealth and power are profoundly unhealthy for society.
We also don't accept the idea that immigrants, refugees, minorities or people struggling to survive are responsible for society's biggest problems while extraordinary concentrations of wealth and power somehow escape scrutiny.
We believe wealth should circulate. People who have more should help people who have less. That isn't radical to us.
It's community.
We Believe In Giving Back
Joy shouldn't stop at our front door.
We do everything we can, to give back as much time and money we can, to as many ventures that we can.
That has included volunteering with animal welfare organisations, supporting refugee organisations, helping at soup kitchens and donating to causes we believe are doing something worthwhile.
One reason we created The Joy Bringers was to build a life that gives us more freedom to do this.
If you have something you are passionately supporting, we would love to hear about it and potentially get involved too!
You might recruit two more humans.
We believe in Sustainability and Climate Change
Like most people, we are time AND cash poor! We also know that running a perfectly sustainable life and business is considerably easier to write about than actually achieve.
So we're not going to greenwash you. But we are trying very hard to do our bit, and we are trying even harder to get better at it every day.
We prioritise local suppliers where practical, try to reduce waste and unnecessary consumption, reconsider the products and companies we support, and keep looking for ways to improve the environmental impact of what we do.
When there's a realistic better option, we want to know about it.
What This Means When You Join our Retreats and Adventures
This is the really important part. You do not have to pass a political test to come to The Joy Bringers. We're not going to ask you who you vote for. We're not going to ask your religion. We're not going to ask whether you call yourself left-wing, right-wing, socialist, capitalist, Zionist, anti-Zionist or anything else. Your private beliefs are yours.
But retreats are small. You're living, eating, laughing, exploring and spending a week alongside other human beings, often people you've never met before. So everyone who comes here agrees to one basic rule:
Don't be a dick.
More formally, while participating in a Joy Bringers retreat, we expect you to treat every guest, host, supplier and member of the community as an equal human being deserving of dignity and respect.
That means no harassment, intimidation, bullying, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny or degrading treatment of another person. It means not advocating the inferiority, dehumanisation or removal of fundamental rights of another person or group. It means respecting people's boundaries.
And it means recognising that a retreat about rediscovering joy is not the venue for deliberately starting hostile political confrontations with the people sitting around the dinner table.
People can disagree. People can have fascinating conversations. People can challenge ideas. People can change their minds. That's human. But nobody should have to spend their retreat defending their right to exist, their identity or their basic human dignity.
Our Promise Goes Both Ways
These standards don't just apply to our guests. They apply to us too.
You are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect by The Joy Bringers regardless of your nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or other personal characteristic. You don't have to become us, you don't have to agree with everything written on this page, you don't even have to like our politics. But if you can treat the humans around you with kindness, curiosity and respect, we can probably get along just fine. Ultimately this business isn't about politics.
It's about Joy.
And there's already enough hate in the world without bringing it on your Retreat or Adventure with you.
The Joy Bringers Community Agreement
The Joy Bringers Retreats and Adventures are small, shared experiences. For a week, a handful of people live together, eat together, explore together and talk together. We want that space to feel safe, relaxed, joyful and respectful for everyone. You don’t need to share our politics or beliefs. You don’t need to agree with the other guests. You do need to respect the humans around you.
By joining a Joy Bringers Retreat or Adventure, you agree to the following:
1. Everyone Is Equal Here
Treat guests, hosts, team members, suppliers and locals with dignity and respect. Respect applies regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or any other personal characteristic.
2. No Hate. No Harassment. No Dehumanising People
Do not harass, intimidate, bully or threaten anyone. Do not demean or dehumanise people. Do not engage in racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny or similar behaviour.
3. Disagreement Is Allowed
Curiosity, discussion and different perspectives are welcome. Personal attacks and aggressive confrontation are not. Do not repeatedly drag people into arguments they do not want. Nobody should have to defend their identity or humanity during a retreat.
4. Respect People’s Boundaries
If someone says a conversation or behaviour is making them uncomfortable, stop. Consent applies to physical contact. No means no.
5. Let People Be Themselves
Nobody is required to disclose personal experiences or join every conversation. Nobody is required to drink alcohol or socialise constantly. Respect people’s privacy and their right to participate in a way that feels comfortable.
6. What Happens Here Doesn’t Automatically Belong Online
People may share personal things. Do not publish another guest’s private information, conversations, photos or videos without permission.
7. Don’t Be a Dick
Come with kindness and curiosity. Come prepared to laugh. Give people space when they need it. Accept that others may see the world differently. Do not deliberately make someone’s week miserable.
If Something Goes Wrong
If someone’s behaviour makes you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or seriously disrupts your retreat, tell us. You do not need to confront them yourself. We will listen and respond appropriately. Responses may include private conversations, setting boundaries, removing someone from an activity or, in serious cases, asking someone to leave. Immediate action may be taken for behaviour involving safety risks, threats, harassment, discriminatory abuse, illegal activity or similar misconduct. Decisions are based on conduct, not personal characteristics.
And This Applies to Us Too
The Joy Bringers team follows the same agreement. You have the right to be treated with dignity, respect and kindness.
The Short Version
Be kind. Respect boundaries. Don’t discriminate. Don’t start shit. Let people be themselves. Don’t be a dick. We’re here for the Joy. Let’s keep it that way.