Community
Ecological Resistance and the Politics of Regeneration in Kurdistan
Across Kurdistan, the village has not been just a place of settlement; it has been a living ecological system, a web of deep interconnections among people, land, seeds, animals, water, and culture. Today, industrial agriculture drives urban expansion and centuries of political violence continue to weaken rural life. Yet a growing grassroots movement is regenerating…
Read MoreWe Are in a Crisis – How to Build Communities that Can Respond
Oligarchies concentrating power The world is in a systemic crisis of historic proportions, in the sense that its political systems are increasingly failing to respond either to immediate challenges or more deeply rooted problems out of which those challenges rise. The immediate challenge is the rise of right-wing demagogues, and in the US from where…
Read MoreLiving Connected to Place and Why It Matters Now
Over time, I’ve come to realize that downturns in my mood are often related to feeling disconnected. Maybe I’ve been working hard and not paying as much attention to my family or not seeing friends. I may be talking with others on Zoom, but it’s not the same felt sense of connection as being together…
Read MoreRooted in Place
What Farmers’ Markets Teach Us About Relocalization, Food Sovereignty, and Public Spaces The Broken Food System We’re Facing The longer I work in the local food world, the less I mince my words. From farmers to consumers, the globalized industrial food system is failing many of the people it’s meant to serve. The author posing…
Read MoreJune 21 – World Localization Day
Ever since 2020, a global organization called Local Futures has been organizing events in dozens of countries on June 21, when the planet’s northern hemisphere enters the summer solstice. There are films, webinars, and local events happening everywhere around the globe. And it’s a moment when all of us who feel isolated in our localist…
Read MoreLocal, Vernacular, and Alive
Local landscapes were once powerful forces in their own right, shaping how people lived, farmed, traded, and made sense of the world. The land created people, and as people worked, they changed the land. Over time a shared identity and distinctive culture emerged. Again and again, people have made their patch of the earth feel…
Read MoreCelebrating the Life of Stephan Harding, Gaian Scientist and Friend of Local Futures, 1953-2024
The much-loved and respected Gaian scientist and Head of Holistic Science at Schumacher College, Stephan Harding, passed away on September 2nd at the age of 71. Stephan was a cherished friend and a close collaborator over three decades. I met Stephan when I was teaching at Schumacher College just after it opened in 1990. We…
Read MoreA Revival of Natural Building in Ladakh
In Ladakh and elsewhere in India, the built environment is increasingly dominated by structures that required unsustainable construction methods and non-renewable materials. Meanwhile, older traditional buildings are usually marginalized and neglected. A primary feature of this shift involves the use of concrete, “the most destructive material on Earth”, rather than locally-sourced wood, straw, and earthen…
Read MoreRevitalizing Indigenous Ecosystems
Oaxaca, one of the most biodiverse and culturally rich states in Mexico has, over the last two decades, rapidly exploded into a booming tourist destination. Visitors find themselves lost in the beauty of its diverse cultures, artisan crafts, vibrant cuisine, and its most famous beverage – mezcal. Tequila and mezcal have witnessed a remarkable surge…
Read MoreHin Lad Nai: A Successful Model of Indigenous Resistance
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of spending a couple of days with an Indigenous hillside tribe here in Thailand called Hin Lad Nai, and I wanted to share some of that story with you today. It’s the story of a small community who, when faced with a multitude of challenges to their…
Read More