Author, filmmaker and founder of Local Futures Helena Norberg-Hodge explains how adopting an economic strategy based on the wisdom of indigenous cultures and smaller communities could be the answer to human, societal and environmental issues.
‘Buy local’ campaigns have been prolific over the last couple of years, indicating a growing awareness of the need to support our local communities. But localisation, or more particularly economic localisation, actually goes much deeper than just buying what you need from your nearby and independent stores. Because as paradoxical as it might seem, opting for small, slow and local is a big-picture strategy that can address the root causes of the global environmental and social crises we’ve found ourselves in.
WHAT IS LOCALISATION?
By definition, localisation is a few things. It’s the removal of the supports that favour big corporations and banks, it’s reducing our dependence on export markets and it’s making a conscious effort to shorten the distance between producers and consumers.
In basic terms, localisation means putting the needs of the communities and ecosystems before the
