Local solutions needed for global crisis

November 28th, 2012
[by David Armstrong]

The present global financial system, along with our consumptive and growth-driven way of life, will collapse within five years, so we'd better start planning now, says Golden Bay planning strategist Laurence Boomert.

Speaking to an audience of 25 at the Community House last night, he gave a broad range of examples of communities which are using local initiatives to prepare them for such a future when the dollar is not supreme, fuel is short and food supplies are endangered.

The talk, titled "Community Solutions for Today", aimed to show how we can revitalise, reconnect and make resilient our community using the best social and economic models available.

Laurence Boomert has a long history in contingency planning, green business development and community initiatives. In the 1990s he founded the 500-member Environmental Business Network.

Most of last night's audience were associated with the Transition Town Motueka group, and so were already largely convinced by Laurence's view of the state of the world and its future, and the need for local solutions.

While some have a patient view of how communities may transition from a growth model to a sustainability model, others said what the world needs now is a huge shock somewhat like a revolution or environmental catastrophe to make people stop and think more seriously about the future.

Laurence said that this partly happened in 2008 when the Global Financial Crisis hit and the world's dollar-based economy almost collapsed. He is convinced that full collapse is inevitable and will take place within five years, and suggested that he would welcome that.

"It is a challenging and defining moment in our history," he said. "Everything is on the line, the unsustainable wheels are falling off the unsustainable cart.

"Yet at the same time this is the best of times with more social and technological tools than ever before to draw on. I set out to share stories of the smart, simple, creative and determined ways people are reinventing our world.

"In doing so, people are building communities that are more connected, healthier, more vibrant, feel safer, and better equipped to handle the future."

He gave numerous examples of community-based solutions such as local currency systems - Golden Bay's Hands currency is used by nearly 10 percent of Golden Bay residents, and Motueka has the Talents system. The audience did discuss, however, the difficulty of building such systems without dedicated and enthusiastic leaders to organise and promote them.

Other solutions discussed included timebanks, barter systems, community gardens, cooperatives, eco-villages, men's sheds, volunteers days and local environmental clean-up events.

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