In celebration and exploration of all things green, two bicyclists are on a year-long journey around the United States to share what they've learned about sustainable communities. They’ve traveled more than 6,000 miles to visit and film 100 sustainable communities of all types, working to capture in film the abundance of community-oriented solutions out there that are already working. The result of their effort will be "Within Reach," a feature-length documentary to be released in 2011.
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Can thousands of diverse, locally-rooted, grassroots economic projects form the basis for a viable democratic alternative to capitalism? It might seem unlikely that a motley array of initiatives such as worker, consumer, and housing cooperatives, community currencies, urban gardens, fair trade organizations, intentional communities, and neighborhood self-help associations could hold a candle to the capitalist economy. Could a process of horizontal networking, linking diverse democratic alternatives and social change organizations together in webs of mutual recognition and support, generate a social movement and economic vision capable of challenging the global capitalist order?
To these questions, economic activists around the world organizing under the banner of economía solidaria, or "solidarity economy," would answer a resounding "yes."
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Can people become so broken that truths of how they are being screwed do not “set them free” but instead further demoralize them? Has such a demoralization happened in the United States? Do some totalitarians actually want us to hear how we have been screwed because they know that humiliating passivity in the face of obvious oppression will demoralize us even further? What forces have created a demoralized, passive, disCouraged U.S. population? Can anything be done to turn this around?
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This is the text of an essay on the new Liberty Movement that has sprung up across the United States in response to the "socialist" policies of the current administration.
It is intended for distribution at gun shows, and the audience it hopes to reach is mainly white working class people.
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If the anarchists who populate Lawrence’s Solidarity! Revolutionary Center and Radical Library felt like rubbing it in, they might well stand on the roof and yell, “I TOLD YOU SO!!!”
But there’s much more to Solidarity than ideological opposition to the capitalist system. Solidarity volunteers also run community gardens, help the homeless, organize alternative libraries, publish newsletters and distribute then in prisons nationwide, screen independent films and host concerts, offer free Spanish classes, and generally get way more accomplished in a day than could be expected of the average American.
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Adbusters’ One Flag Design Competition is entering the final phase. We’ve sorted through more than 1,000 entries and come up with a short list of 32 flags. Our judging panel has made their choices. Now it’s your turn. Go to the flag gallery and vote for designs you like best. The vote will close on March 17, 2009.
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When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope
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Cedar Valley Iowa's "Buy Fresh/Buy Local" program has helped raise its local farm sales approximately 900% over the last ten years. The Northern Iowa Food and Farm Partnership discusses its plans to capture more of the local food dollar.
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Stinson Beach, Calif. - The success of the environmental movement in calling attention to the dangers of global warming has led to an ironic outcome: It's become easier for the public to adopt a passive approach as we wait on world leaders to sign emissions treaties or huge corporations to "go green." This Earth Day, stop waiting! There are new ways for you to fight climate change in your own backyard.
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Speaking to over 400 community media representatives in the Cuartel San Carlos Historical Museum, Andrés Izarra stressed the importance of using community media to struggle for the truth, "to generate consciousness that allows for the creation of a new culture," as well as to deal with the day to day issues faced by communities and to promote values of solidarity.
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Makiko Takahashi lives in the central Japanese city of Okazaki. But when her 80 year-old aunt on the other side of the country fell ill, she still managed to care for her from afar thanks to a revolutionary way of looking at money. “Fureai Kippu” literally means caring-friendship tickets. Under this system, people in Japan can accumulate credits for helping their neighbors with day-to-day tasks like shopping, preparing food or aiding with the ritual bath. Some save the credits for a future date when they may require a similar service. In Takahashi’s case, she transferred her credits to a group that sent two visitors to care for her aunt on her behalf.
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Tim Bennett and Sally Erickson, the writer-director-producer team of "What a Way to Go" will be in town to talk about the movie at 8:30 pm at the ECM. In addition to hearing the film-makers speak about the issues addressed in the film, this will be a great chance to gather with folks from the community to discuss ways we can take positive action here in Lawrence. We hope you can join us for this special event.
The ECM is located at 1204 Oread Ave, and the $5 suggested donation will go to help recoup the costs of making the film for the directors and to cover renting the venue. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, but of course any donation is appreciated. If you'd like to find out more about Tim and Sally you can go to www.whatawaytogomovie.com.
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