What kinds of local and local-through-to-global connection-building can help Villagers to better recognize, refine and fulfill their aspirations from the places where they live? You are invited to let us know about projects and share successes and challenges.

Projects

New Local “Currency” Systems by Edward Goldsmith and Perry Walker

Is there a way of stimulating the economy which doesn’t add to a nation’s debt? Is there a way of meeting needs that doesn’t cost the earth? Although published in 1995, this piece – with comments added by John Turmel – is well worth revisiting.

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Clare Cooper Marcus on “The Needs of Children in Contemporary Cities”

“I asked students to write what I call an ‘environmental autobiography.’ An important component of this exercise was to draw and describe their most fondly remembered childhood places…”

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Janine Benyus – Recognizing What Works: A Conscious Emulation of Life’s Genius

You find that all life is locally attuned and adapted, that it is diverse and resilient, that it builds from the bottom up…

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“Strong Sustainability” Excerpts

“Community is a global (connected to global communities via technology) network of networks. Technology enables active participation in local and national conversations and decision making.” From “Strong Sustainability for New Zealand: principles and scenarios”

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“Damage From Within” – a 7 minute film by Sylvia Button

Sylvia Button’s 7 minute film, “The Damage From Within” Sylvia says, “I created it to illustrate how healing ourselves is a prerequisite for being better equipped to care for our planet and all that surrounds us.”

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This is a spontaneous meeting space for Villagers - step onto the virtual Soap Box and share your top-of-brain notions and passions, opinions, knowledge or a story.
The brewing of ideas will help the whole Village to better understand itself and its possibilities.
It can also help generate everyday material and reality checks for academics and policymakers to collaborate in brokering robust solutions that the Villagers want.

The Soap Box

Framing coherent, flourishing community, economic and foreign policy

Awakening grassroots energy by Richard K Moore

The Emergence of Localism by Richard K Moore

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When down a hole, it is essential to distinguish a shovel from a ladder – one gets you out, one digs you in deeper. So too, with society’s opinion- and decision-makers. You are invited to nominate any of them for a Ladder or Shovel Award, explaining to fellow Villagers why they should endorse your Award.

Ladder and Shovel Awards

Ladder Award: Gareth Morgan for refreshing insights on welfare reform

Ladder Awards: Geoffrey Palmer & John Key re UN Gaza Inquiry

Ladder Awards: effective Restorative Justice and publicity

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Here Bloggers draw on an eclectic mix of news and comment from around the world to clarify contexts which can support, or impede, people building local connections that enable them to better understand and (sustainably) fulfill their aspirations, both within their localities and in relation to the wider world beyond them.

If you come across relevant items yourself, please send them in to share.

Happenings

Global economy – noticing there's an elephant in the room

Costs of modern violence at global and local levels

From an Iranian nuclear standoff to a nuclear free world

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