Transition « Localise West Midlands

Cutting through ‘sustainababble’

By localise2, on May 24th, 2013%

Today we received news from America’s New Economics Institute – a partner of Britain’s nef – about the latest edition of Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World series. Their comment:

Every day, we are presented with a range of “sustainable” products and activities – from “green” cleaning supplies to carbon offsets – but . . . → Read More: Cutting through ‘sustainababble’

“Humanity is conducting a huge, uncontrolled and almost certainly irreversible climate experiment with the only home it is likely to have”: Financial Times

By localise2, on May 15th, 2013%

We summarise the thoughts of Martin Wolf, the FT’s chief economics commentator here, because Localise West Midlands’ aims and policies are designed with his ‘politically sellable vision of a prosperous low-carbon economy’ in mind. He wrote, yesterday:

“Last week the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was reported to have passed 400 parts . . . → Read More: “Humanity is conducting a huge, uncontrolled and almost certainly irreversible climate experiment with the only home it is likely to have”: Financial Times

Community currencies

By localise2, on May 10th, 2013%

There are local or community currencies in several British towns, including Bath, Stroud, Totnes, Calderdale, Bristol and Brixton – and in many countries around the world. The most recent reports have come from India and South Africa.

Jeremy Williams writes that with the financial system in disarray and the economic downturn, local currencies . . . → Read More: Community currencies

Is the priority to expand world trade or to build on the resilience of communities?

By localise2, on April 30th, 2013%

Fleming, second left, discussing the working of an experimental rocket stove – to capture heat with clean combustion – at Transition Town Louth, Lincolnshire (The Times)

In Lean Logic, David Fleming asks:

“Is the priority to expand world trade, to push ahead with the global market, or to build on the resilience of . . . → Read More: Is the priority to expand world trade or to build on the resilience of communities?

Co-op food retail: an organisation that has expanded in the wrong areas?

By localise2, on April 29th, 2013%

Gary Greenwood, analyst at Shore Capital comments on the Co-op Group’s food retailing: “It just looks like an organisation that has expanded in the wrong areas . . .“

Food sales were down 0.7% on a like-for-like basis. Overall, the group reported losses before payments to members, the equivalent of pre-tax profit for . . . → Read More: Co-op food retail: an organisation that has expanded in the wrong areas?

Needed: the revival of a genuinely local entrepreneurial culture

By localise2, on April 18th, 2013%

David Boyle of the New Economics Foundation writes: “What kind of entrepreneurial activity is most likely to bring local recovery and local resilience?

“The answer is probably not a chain store that competes in every market – the very opposite of an anchor store. It is going to be the revival of a genuinely . . . → Read More: Needed: the revival of a genuinely local entrepreneurial culture

Environmental, economic, social and ethical reasons for a different approach to waste disposal

By localise2, on April 12th, 2013%

In this country and abroad Veolia’s services are being dispensed with for environmental, economic, social and ethical reasons.

The City Council is considering what to do when its 25 year contract with waste giant Veolia expires in 2018.

John Newson (BFOE) writes:

“The Council will become in 2018 the owner . . . → Read More: Environmental, economic, social and ethical reasons for a different approach to waste disposal

Community Supported Industry

By localise2, on April 2nd, 2013%

Community Supported Agriculture (flourishing in Stroud) started in the USA in 1986 at Indian Line Farm in South Egremont, Massaschusetts, just a couple of miles down Jug End Road from the Library and offices of the Schumacher Center for a New Economics, a partner of the British New Economics Foundation.

Their projects have . . . → Read More: Community Supported Industry

Will this town centre community-owned shop regenerate the High Street?

By localise2, on March 27th, 2013%

A new community-owned bakery in Dunbar, East Lothian, has been hailed as a prototype for other towns looking to revive their high streets.

Well over 300 village shops and pubs have now been reopened or saved from closure and owned by members of the local community – as ‘one-off’ ventures – sometimes with help . . . → Read More: Will this town centre community-owned shop regenerate the High Street?

Plunkett Foundation forms partnership with Land Settlement Association

By localise2, on March 19th, 2013%

Horticulture smallholdings: a crucial contribution towards higher employment, a reliable, home-grown food supply and a diverse, more ecologically healthy countryside

The Plunkett Foundation newsletter reports a new partnership with the Land Settlement Association Charitable Trust. Plunkett hopes to identify ‘pioneering approaches to co-operative horticulture across the UK’ to ‘share and develop further’. Shaun Chamberlin . . . → Read More: Plunkett Foundation forms partnership with Land Settlement Association

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