Building an Economics of Happiness: How - and why - our Future must be Local with Helena Norberg Hodge of Local Futures
Sep 25, 2024
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Helena Norberg-Hodge, a linguist, author, and founder of Local Futures, discusses the urgent need for local economies to counteract globalization. She shares insights from her nearly fifty-year journey advocating for localization and community well-being, emphasizing the detrimental effects of global trade on mental health. The conversation highlights the importance of reconnecting with local food systems and ecological practices, while calling for systemic changes to combat corporate dominance and foster resilience in communities.
The podcast highlights the urgent need to shift from global trade to localized economies that prioritize community sufficiency and sustainability.
A cultural awakening is underway as people recognize globalization's negative impacts, fostering a reconnection with nature and local ecosystems.
The discussion emphasizes the importance of grassroots movements and education in advocating for regulatory changes that support local economies over corporate interests.
Deep dives
The Need for Localization
The discussion highlights the urgent need to abandon global trade and the dominance of multinational corporations in favor of a localized economy focused on sufficiency. The speaker emphasizes that globalization has contributed significantly to economic disparities and environmental degradation. By moving toward localized systems, communities can create sustainable economies that prioritize local production and consumption. Emphasizing unity around a common narrative is crucial to achieving this transition and increasing the chances for success.
Cultural Awakening and Connection
The conversation reflects on a cultural awakening, where people are increasingly aware of the detrimental impacts of globalization and are seeking reconnection with nature and community. This shift is seen across several nations as communities work toward rejuvenating their ties to local ecosystems and addressing psychological, social, and ecological crises. The importance of community dialogue and healing processes, especially involving youth, is underlined as essential for fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. The speaker believes this cultural turning is a positive response to the challenges presented by global economic pressures.
Lessons from Ladakh
The speaker shares insights from Ladakh, where a traditional, community-oriented lifestyle starkly contrasted with the detrimental effects of globalization. Initially, the region thrived on local agriculture and cooperation, but modernization introduced economic competition and social fragmentation. This transition ultimately resulted in rising unemployment and mental health issues among the local youth—a significant shift from their previously harmonious existence. The speaker illustrates that globalization's impact is not only economic but also deeply rooted in cultural identity and social cohesion.
The Mechanisms of Change
The podcast raises the need for a coordinated, grassroots movement to challenge the power of global corporations and advocate for regulatory changes. Education is emphasized as a key to raising awareness about the negative impacts of global trade, while also fostering community-based initiatives to support local economies. The speaker argues for the establishment of a protective framework that prioritizes localized economies over global market demands. Collective action and solidarity are seen as essential to dismantling the structures that benefit corporate interests at the expense of local communities.
Creating the Future
The conversation concludes with a hopeful vision for a future characterized by diverse, localized economies that respect cultural and ecological systems. Instead of a uniform global economic structure, a patchwork of regional economies shaped by local needs is proposed. The emphasis will be on holistic approaches that nurture community bonds, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices. Ultimately, there is a belief that through shared values and unity, a transformation toward a more equitable and sustainable world is possible, notwithstanding the challenges that lie ahead.
How do we build the local futures we all know we need? What does it actually take to become a good enough ancestor? Or even the best ancestor we can be? Our guest this week, Helena Norberg-Hodge, has given her life to exploring the answers, and helping birth them into being.
Helena Norberg-Hodge is one of the Elders of our culture. She's a linguist, author and filmmaker, and the founder and director of the international non-profit group Local Futures, in which role, she has initiated localization movements on every continent, and has launched both the International Alliance for Localization (IAL) and World Localization Day (WLD).
She's a pioneer of the new economy movement and 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.” She is author of the inspirational classic Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh, and Local is Our Future (2019), and producer of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness.
Almost fifty years since her journey began in Ladakh, Helena is still collaborating with thought-leaders, activists and community groups across the globe which gives her a uniquely rounded insight into howour local futures could look and feel - and the routes to getting there.
I've known Helena since I was at Schumacher college - I rented a room in her house for a while, so we know each other well and I was able to press her in ways I wouldn't normally feel able to do with a podcast guest, so we could drill down into the details of her ideas for a different way of being. At heart, we need to get rid of global trade and move back to a localist economy based in sufficiency. The devil is in the detail, obviously, but if we have an idea of where we're going, we stand more chance of getting there.
So I hope this inspires you to action. Please do follow up some of the links - and definitely watch this new film: Closer to Home - the vision it offers of a generative, working local future is beautiful.
