Helena Norberg-Hodge, an esteemed localization advocate and filmmaker, joins Morag Gamble to discuss pressing issues in permaculture and local economies. They emphasize the need for community-driven solutions to counteract global economic challenges. The conversation delves into the importance of grassroots movements, critiquing prevailing economic myths while advocating for sustainable practices. Helena also highlights the psychological effects of consumerism and the power of compassionate activism to inspire collective change, urging communities to prioritize local resilience.
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insights INSIGHT
Localization's Core Insight
The localization movement counters a global economic system that destroys local identities and economies.
It emphasizes biological and cultural diversity rooted in community and care for the Earth.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Experience Bridges Two Worlds
Many localization supporters have experienced both community-based living and urban consumer culture.
This dual experience offers valuable perspective on the benefits of slower, human-scale lifestyles.
insights INSIGHT
Permaculture's Role in Localization
Permaculture is a vital part of the localization movement focused on rebuilding land-based, local community connections.
Local food systems are the most strategic lever to restore biodiversity and food security.
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In this book, David Korten critiques the current methods of economic development led by institutions like the Bretton Woods organizations and argues against the dominance of multinational corporations. He advocates for a rebalancing of corporate power with concerns for environmental sustainability and 'people-centered development.' Korten proposes several radical changes, including the abrogation of corporate political rights, taxes on financial transactions, and the promotion of local economies. The book is a call to action against what Korten terms a 'suicide economy' that prioritizes profit over human and environmental well-being.
The overworked American
Juliet Schor
In 'The Overworked American', Juliet B. Schor examines the paradox of increased work hours despite rising productivity in the U.S. She argues that Americans are working more than ever, often exceeding their European counterparts by hundreds of hours annually. Schor attributes this trend to factors like consumer debt, upgraded household standards, and the structure of the labor market. The book offers insights into the societal pressures driving overwork and proposes reforms to improve work-life balance.
Local Is Our Future
Helena Norberg-Hodge
Local is Our Future builds upon the themes of Ancient Futures, further exploring the interconnectedness of local economies, culture, and the environment. Norberg-Hodge argues that globalization's homogenizing forces undermine local traditions and ecological balance. The book emphasizes the importance of supporting local producers, fostering community resilience, and prioritizing human well-being over economic growth. It offers practical strategies for creating more sustainable and fulfilling lives within local contexts. Local is Our Future provides a roadmap for building a more just and ecologically sound future.
Ancient futures
learning from Ladakh
Helena Norberg-Hodge
The book is divided into two parts. The first part describes the traditional life of the people in Ladakh before the influx of Western ideas and material goods, highlighting their high social status, strong family and community ties, and harmonious relationship with the environment. The second part documents the changes brought about by modernization, including environmental destruction, social disruption, and economic instability. Norberg-Hodge argues that the one-dimensional view of progress favored by economists and development experts has masked the negative impacts of economic growth and led to a misunderstanding of the situation of rural communities. The book ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that there is room for optimism and growth as people strive to preserve their cultural heritage in the face of globalization.
Small Is Beautiful
A Study of Economics As If People Mattered
E. F. Schumacher
Published in 1973, 'Small Is Beautiful' critiques mainstream economics by advocating for sustainable development, small-scale technologies, and community-centered economic policies. The book is divided into four parts: 'The Modern World', 'Resources', 'The Third World', and 'Organization and Ownership'. Schumacher argues that economic growth must be balanced with the needs of communities and the environment, and he introduces the concept of 'Buddhist economics', which emphasizes human needs and limitations. The book has been highly influential, inspiring movements such as 'Buy Local' and 'Fair Trade', and was ranked among the 100 most influential books since World War II by 'The Times Literary Supplement'.
Join Morag Gamble in a deep-dive conversation with Helena Norberg-Hodge - internationally acclaimed localization advocate, filmmaker and author.
Helena and Morag explore how we can grow the movement and foster ecological economies, thriving communities and healthy local food systems.
ABOUT HELENA NORBERG-HODGE Helena is the author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures, and Local is Our Future and the producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness. She is the founder of the International Alliance for Localisation, and a co-founder of the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network. Helena is a recipient of the Alternative Nobel Prize, the Arthur Morgan Award, and the Goi Peace Prize for contributing to “the revitalization of cultural and biological diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide.”
The Sense-Making in a Changing World Podcast invites you to join me in conversation with leading permaculture-related educators, thinkers, activists, authors, designers and practitioners to explore the kind of thinking AND ACTION we need to navigate a positive and regenerative way forward, to myceliate possibilities, and share ideas of what a thriving one-planet way of life could look like. My guests offer voices of clarity and common sense.
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