Economic Localization

From CFI

Contents 1 What is Economic Localization? 1.1 The Challenge of Peak Oil 1.2 Responding to Peak Oil and Gas 2 Additional information 2.1 Mendocino County (California, USA) Groups 3 Introduction and Purpose

What is Economic Localization?

The Challenge of Peak Oil

Since the 1950’s geologists have warned that global oil production will peak in the early part of the 21st. century. Rather than heed the warning and prepare by manufacturing more energy efficient automobiles or by establishing renewable energy systems, the US has been relying on overseas sources to fill the ever increasing demand for oil in this country.

Experts such as Richard Heinberg, author of Power Down and The Party’s Over are urging us to make preparations now to alter our lifestyles to be less dependant on petroleum to provide for the basics of life. Food production and transportation, pharmaceuticals and the medical industry, the heating and cooling of our homes, the commute to our jobs; all of these and more are dependant on a fuel that is rapidly declining in availability while demand continues to increase.

Julian Darley, author of High Noon for Natural Gas, has pointed out that the fossil fuel crisis is not limited to oil, but includes depletion of natural gas supplies. For the North American gas market (Canada, Mexico, and the US) it may pose an even more immediate problem than petroleum. In addition to home heating, gas is crucial for industry and electric power generation.

See the first item on the discussion page for reason to believe that this may not be far off.

Responding to Peak Oil and Gas

There is an economic localization movement gaining momentum that is engaging us to take measures that will insure that we can provide for our own needs. CFI is encouraging bio-regions around the county to begin meeting regularly, to use what they can of the WELL model and to create economic localization movements of their own. We are offering the CFI Wiki website as a tool to post the results of each region's community meetings, inventories of their particular resources and to post information that could serve as a future online inter-regional goods and services exchange center.

Economic localization is a response to the urgent need to end our dependency on fossil fuel before it runs out. The Post Carbon Institute is at the forefront of the movement toward educating the public about the very real threat of peak oil and how it will change our lifestyles. We encourage you to purchase a copy of "The End Of Suburbia" video, an eye opening documentary that entertainingly presents a very uncomfortable future scenario.

Order "The End of Suburbia" here! and show it to your friends and family.

Additional information

Go to the following web sites:

http://www.greentransitions.org/WEL/WillitsEconLoc.htm -- Brian Corzelius, a member of the WELL Energy group has posted extensive research about energy use here as well as many other recent writings by Jason Bradford.

http://www.willitseconomiclocalization.org/ -- The present incarnation of WELL

http://www.communitysolution.org -- Community Service is dedicated to the development, growth and enhancement of small local communities.

http://www.postcarbon.org -- Julian Darley's organization, author of High Noon for Natural Gas

http://www.fromthewilderness.org -- Michael C. Ruppert's website, author of Crossing the Rubicon

http://www.museletter.org -- Richard Heinberg's website, author of "Powerdown" and "The Party's Over"

http://www.oilscenarios.info/ -- Five scenarios to help you start thinking.

http://www.wolfatthedoor.org.uk/ -- A British Peak Oil site which is quite realistic.

http://www.peakoil.net -- The Association for the Study of Peak Oil

http://www.theoildrum.com/ -- A blog frequented by some very perceptive people.

http://www.ecotrust.org -- Ecotrust's mission is to build Salmon Nation, a place where people and wild salmon thrive.

http://www.ssu.missouri.edu/faculty/jikerd/ -- Excellent information about sustainable agriculture and community

Click on the Calendar link in the navigation bar to see what is being scheduled locally.

Check the Willits News newspaper for articles.

http://www.globalpublicmedia.com -- on-line reports and recorded interviews and talks.

Listen to (or stream) Mendocino County community radio station KZYX, especially Jason Bradford's show, "The Party's Over", on alternate Monday mornings at 9am PT (1700 or 1800 GMT).

Listen to (or stream) Mendocino Environmental Center community radio station [http://www.kmecradio.org KMEC} especially Sumo's show, "Beyond the Limits", on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm PST.

Mendocino County (California, USA) Groups

MACBE Mendocino Alliance for a Community Based Economy

WELL Willits Economic Localization

GULP Greater Ukiah Localization Project

Potter Valley Community Planning

AVFSP Anderson Valley Foodshed Project

SL Sustainable Laytonville

CELL Coast Economic Localization

Cell South / South Coast Economic Localization

Introduction and Purpose

This statement of purpose was summarized by Jason Bradford for the WELL movement which began in the Fall of 2004. It is adapted as an explanation for all new comers. We refers to all of us willing to clean up now that the party's over.

Who are we?

We are citizens of Mendocino County, working together to plan for our future.

Why are we here?

Some of us are concerned about fossil fuel dependency, some of us are looking for a simpler lifestyle, some of us have ideas to share, and some of us are merely curious about what’s going on.

Why are we doing this?

We realize that key aspects of our current lifestyle are no longer sustainable or desirable. We have become dependent on a global economy that relies on depleting resources and damages ecological systems.

What should be done?

We need to create a local economy, based on sufficiency (not luxury), responsibility (not dependency), renewability (not wastefulness), and life promoting systems (not profit-making systems).

Ultimately, it is about ensuring clean water, high quality food, renewable energy sources, and ecological shelter. But this healthy environment only results from communities where the values of good work, tolerance, and shared responsibility are ingrained in the population. And these communities only result from individuals who realize they must become the change they want to see.

How can this be done?

By creating a time and place where those of us who are ready to make this individual change can join forces. Meet every other week to study our current lifestyles, envision a plan for our future, and empower our community to make this change. On alternate weeks a smaller group can meet to organize and plan the larger meetings.

How can I become involved?

We encourage you to start or join an economic localization movement where you live and help where you are the most affective. The research model suggested by Jason is explained on the WELL page. This CFI website is available for emerging groups in Mendocino County (and beyond) to use as a tool to document your own plans of action. We need people to help with the research, note taking, timekeeping, computer entry, gardening, event organizing, group process work.... the list goes on. We need to make contact with community leaders and gain supporters of all persuasions. We all need to spread the word.