A hysterical fundamentalist Christian acquaintance of mine is worried we're living in "The End Times" while others are planning for climate change and "Peak Oil" -- the point where drilling becomes so expensive the oil-based infrastructure breaks down worldwide. Religious prophecy, science fiction, fantasy and reality seem to converge here, at least to some extent.
Developing out of Ireland, England, Scotland, and Wales, the "Transition Towns" movement is putting emphasis on local responses to global changes. The movement reminds me of anarcho-syndicalism, with planning and cooperation aiming for permaculture -- sustainable local development, local food production, local labor cooperation and local energy. Walking towns, common gardening areas, etc. (Plus bartering and/or use of local currency).
Some of these approaches came in handy during The Great Depression, and during the Second World War. But it's good to think ahead. Still, an over-emphasis on local control without checks and balances makes me think of the Dark Ages, Things to Come, Jonestown, "The Lottery," Children of the Corn, and all that spooky jive. Perhaps I'm too skeptical, but still . . .
If nothing else, it can't hurt to buy more local food, grow some stuff, "Think Globally / Act Locally." Even if I like movement and consider myself a citizen of the world first, and a local second.
Today's Rune: Defense.
8 comments:
In every age, there are some who believe they are living in the last one.
Reminds me of the boss who said I needed to have a Y2K Contingency plan. I said, "Yeah, I got one, it's called doing things the way we used to." I try not to get too overly excited about the sky falling; I'd rather it knock me out without warning.
During the summer we can buy locally at our village farmer's market. Once a week a local band plays, people of all ages sit on the hill and listen or mingle and buy veggies, baked goods, wines,cheeses. Kids play, grownups talk and there is a feeling of community in the air. There is a nice mix of farm folk and the people who commute to work at hi tech jobs etc. Mankinds imagination can run wild when life is especially challenged as it is today. My attitude is Que sera sera, what will be wil be.
During the summer we can buy locally at our village farmer's market. Once a week a local band plays, people of all ages sit on the hill and listen or mingle and buy veggies, baked goods, wines,cheeses. Kids play, grownups talk and there is a feeling of community in the air. There is a nice mix of farm folk and the people who commute to work at hi tech jobs etc. Mankinds imagination can run wild when life is especially challenged as it is today. My attitude is Que sera sera, what will be wil be.
Interesting concept. I'll have to tell Christine about those titles.
P.S. I loved Tina Fey's portrayal of Palin where she said: "We don't know what causes global warming. Maybe it's just a natural part of the End of Days."
*shrug* If it is the end of time then that would be bad because...?
If we quit growing grass on the front lawns and turned them to food production that would be bad because...?
If we step back and do for the local community before doing for the world community that would be bad because...?
If we engineer local initiatives on the neighborhood level to work on sustainable renewable power production that would be bad because...?
I see a lot of upside in foiling the WTO and all other initiatives to remove the separation of nations and cultures. I want the differences and the cultural uniqueness preserved. I don't want the world as a big ass melting pot where everything but topography is the same.
I have to admit, the downside to living so far out in the country is that we'd be totally screwed w/o a car. At least for now. The smallest extension of a single road & we'd have a shorter, bicycle-able back-road into town. Instead they're paving the main road in our neighborhood, though.
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