Global Ecovillage Network/Solution Library/Localisation-economics of happiness

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In today’s world, education and information - from schooling to the media - promote a global consumer monoculture; a vision of progress that encourages hyperindividualism, competition, speed, and ever-larger, global-scale enterprise. From cradle to grave, we are told that this path makes us happy, & now, through green-washing, we are told that this is the path to sustainability. Our challenge is to pierce the veil of misinformation and offer a different vision, grounded in real-world examples. Strengthening local economies worldwide is essential for both human and ecological wellbeing - for our very survival.

The answer lies in shifting away from economic globalization towards localization. Whereas the global economy demands monoculture, both human and ecological, localisation is a process that adapts economic activity to diversity, a fundamental principle of life. The worldwide localisation movement, including local food and finance, ecovillages, permaculture, and transition towns, demonstrates that local economies rebuild our connections to one another and to the natural world – connections that are essential not only for our wellbeing but also for our survival.

We need to make “education as activism” a priority to spread this vision.

• Diversity & Cohesion.
• Leadership & Governance.

• Planetary Boundaries.
• Sharing & Collaboration.

• Vision & Purpose.

• http://www.tikkun.org/nextgen/localization-the-economics-of-happiness