The big question
There are “greening of society” and “better world is possible” projects that have tangible goals and a fairly clear program for achievement (like: election of a candidate or passage of a piece of legislation or shutdown of a pipeline or establishment of an ecovillage). But I’m in groups where the objective is both long-range and kind of general in nature (like: re-localizing, bioregionalizing, transitioning) and in those situations there is constant discussion of the question: “What, specifically, should be done next?” (or even: “What, specifically should be done” at all!).
Localfutures.org has put out a guide to help answer (or, at least, help us think about) that question.
Here is their announcement:
What to do? In the face of mounting social and ecological crises, this is the big question that plagues anyone concerned with the wellbeing of people and planet. For the localizers among us, the question is arguably even bigger: How can we — as individuals and small communities — go up against the global techno-economic juggernaut?
We are delighted to present an answer. 146 answers, to be exact.
Introducing the Localization Action Guide
The Localization Action Guide details 146 ways for individuals, communities and policymakers to make a real, hands-on difference in their local areas. It points to key resources, networks and examples to inform and inspire actions with a systemic impact, including:
. Join or start a community garden
. Set up a farmers’ market
. Implement participatory budgeting where you live
. Reclaim your community’s electrical grid
. Join or start a food policy council
. Oppose “free-trade” agreements
. Set up a local investing group
. Campaign for policies that support small businesses
. . . and much more.
Browse the guide: https://actionguide.localfutures.org/
The guide includes suggestions for individuals, as well as community groups and policymakers. It points to key networks and inspiring examples across the globe — from rural India to the center of Boston. That said, it is primarily aimed at sparking action in industrialized, English-speaking countries, where radical shifts in consumption and lifeways are most urgently needed.
Can local actions really make a difference? We think so. Although they are often small in scale, taken together, they are vital to recapturing economic democracy from global corporations. They provide venues for connecting with like-minded people and strengthening the bonds of interdependence. They provide opportunities to reject the consumer monoculture, which is destroying the wondrous diversity of our planet. And they create “lifeboats” — living hubs of social health, human and ecological wellbeing, and economic resilience — to carry us through the turbulence of the coming decades.
Launch event: On Thursday, October 21, 2pm EDT join authors Carly Gayle, Steve Gorelick, and Alex Jensen, along with Anja Lyngbaek, for a conversation about how and why we created this guide, how to use it, the joys and struggles of figuring out how to make a dent in the corporate juggernaut and build flourishing local economies, and more. The event is free, and will run for one hour. Bring your questions!
https://events.humanitix.com/localization-action-guide-launch
