—Continued from page 39.
screenings of The Economics of Hap- piness, but also show up to plant food to feed the hungry and join Common- wealth Urban Farms work parties to feed neighborhoods using the prod- ucts of thriving urban farms on vacant city lots. Alig notes, “After events, we sometimes use Open Space Technol- ogy to talk about topics that people are passionate about and willing to invest their time in.”
The kind of society that makes for health, happiness, true prosperity and sustainability is one with strong local economies and flourishing com- munities that includes many activities provided by local nonprofits. It’s one characterized by:
n Local small businesses and banking n Farmers’ markets and urban gardens
n Urban designs that favor shared walks instead of isolated commutes n Public spaces for social interaction
n Circumstances in which buyers know sellers
n Businesspeople that sponsor and volunteer for local activities n Salary differences that are not vast
n Citizens building a better world together
We intuitively know what is re-
quired to create such a society, starting in our own community. What we need is the determination to make sure the economy serves us; rules that benefit all of the people; a commitment to wide- spread quality of life, social justice and sustainability; and the political will to make good change happen.
John de Graaf, media and outreach director for the Happiness Initiative, speaks nationally on overwork and overconsumption in America. He re- cently co-authored What’s the Econ- omy for, Anyway? – Why It’s Time to Stop Chasing Growth and Start Pursu- ing Happiness, with David Batker. He is also co-author of Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. Fifteen of his documentaries have aired on PBS.
Linda Sechrist writes and edits for Natural Awakenings.
40 Collier/Lee Counties T
oday, Americans can tap into one of the best bar- gains around by vot- ing to support our local and regional economies. By shifting our shopping to locally owned and operated retailers and service providers, we help create and retain area jobs, support community commerce and build valuable relationships and social connec- tions within our community. With every local purchase, we leave the store enriched, having deep- ened both community social capital and genuine wealth. Imagine the joy of know- ing that your purchase con- tributes to the dentist supply- ing braces for the local grocer’s kids, the local insurance agent’s mort- gage payment, the local banker’s roof repair and the local roofer’s dinner— all of them friends and neighbors. The list of benefits—from shoring up local home values to ensuring access to local produce—keeps expanding as your dollars continue to circulate within the community.
Yet, finding a fuller range of lo- cally made items at locally owned stores will continue to be challenging until shoppers demand it. One way to begin aligning purchases with your
swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
values is by patron- izing stores that offer socially responsible and fair trade items. Shaktari Belew,
author of Honoring All Life: A Practical Guide to Exploring a New Real-
ity, explains how purchas- ing goods and services can actually create local commu- nity wealth for all if they are specifically designed for that outcome. “When items are designed to be created and sold locally, everyone in- volved benefits, from the suppliers that obtain the raw materials through those that manufac- ture, sell and buy the finished item. Even the
environment benefits.”
Belew encourages our learning as much as possible about purchases. “Once people are aware of the two vital concepts of localization and design, they will be better able to scrutinize pur- chases,” advises this designer and whole- systems thinker who focuses on resilient community design. As a Transition
US.org workshop leader and one of the primary designers of the Commu- nity Engagement Process for Unified Field Corporation’s whole-systems/ quadruple bottom line financial model,
greenliving SHOP
Keep Dollars Working in Local Communities
by Linda Sechrist
SMART
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