In this way, the global consumer culture taps into the fundamental human need for love and twists it into insatiable greed. May 13, 2010 by Brian Emerson Leave a Comment. The use of a dangerous skin-lightening cream called “Fair and Lovely” became widespread, symbolising the newly-created need to imitate the distant role models – western, urban, blonde – provided by the media. The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. Too often these signs of breakdown are seen as ‘normal’: we assume that depression is a universal affliction, that children are by nature insecure about their appearance, that greed, acquisitiveness, and competition are innate to the human condition. This guide expands on the arguments made in the film, and points to a wealth of resources for further learning, reflection and action. Local is our Future & Dhontang: Food in Ladakh & Pluriverse: A Post Development Dictionary 19:00-19.30 MUSIC/DANCE LADAKHI PERFORMERS/CIBS The 21st International Economics of Happiness Conference, Ladakh FRIDAY 20TH OF SEPTEMBER happiness NOTE: THE CONFERENCE PROGRAMME IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. This book connects the dots between our social, economic, ecological and spiritual crises, revealing how a systemic shift from global to local can address these seemingly disparate problems simultaneously. A pioneer of the new economy movement, Local Futures has been raising … Our local partners help with the planning and running of our Economics of Happiness events The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Deemed to be University) The Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) (Deemed to be university) , formerly known as the School of Buddhist Philosophy, was founded in 1959 by H.E. Anja is an Associate Programmes Director of Local Futures and coordinator of the International Economics of Happiness Conferences Series. International Alliance for Localization (IAL), Sacred Activism in a Post-Trump World Webinar, People Power: Democracy and the Economy Webinar, Beyond Trump: The Path to Real Change Webinar, A World Without ‘Free’ Trade: What it would look like and how to get there, Beyond ‘Free Trade’ – Alternatives to Corporate Rule, Education: Promises, Myths & Realities Webinar, Debt and Speculation in the Global Economy Webinar, Animation: Going Local: the solution-multiplier, 1 – Introduction: The New Local Food Movement, 3 – Local Food Webs: Exploring Systems of Distribution, 4 – Local Food Processors: AKA Making Delicious Food, 6 – Ecovillages & Networks for New Farmers, 7 – And Finally… Here’s a Little More Inspiration, Unpacking Global Empire from an Indigenous Perspective with Tyson Yunkaporta & Helena Norberg-Hodge, Growing a Farmers Market from the Ground Up, Beautiful Places: A Conversation with Wendell Berry, Rebuilding Healthy Communities: The Growing Ecovillage Movement, Seeds of Resilience, Seeds of Sovereignty, Local Alternatives to Globalized Development: A View from India, How to Feed the World? He has worked with the organisation in India and Australia since 2015. A film by Local Futures. Witnessing the impact of the modern world on an ancient culture gave me insights into how economic globalisation creates feelings of inadequacy and inferiority, particularly in the young, and how those psychological pressures are helping to spread the global consumer culture. Local is our future : steps to an economics of happiness. Required fields are marked *. Our Future is Local “A new human story founded on connection and diversity is emerging. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Economic localisation means bringing economic activity closer to home – supporting local economies and communities rather than huge, distant corporations. Our History in Ladakh The foundation for our international work and our global-to-local perspective was laid in Ladakh in 1978, when Helena Norberg-Hodge and John Page started the Ladakh Project – the organization that would eventually grow to become Local Futures. Skyabje Ling Rinpoche – the senior tutor of H.H. The group argues that focusing on single issues – saving whales, blocking nuclear power plants, feeding the hungry, etc. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We can continue down the path of economic globalisation, which at the very least will create greater human suffering and environmental problems, and at worst, threatens our very survival. Find out how. All posts; Planet Local Series; About Us; Website; Progress and the modernization of Ladakh. When I first arrived in Ladakh or “Little Tibet”, a region high on the Tibetan plateau, it was still largely unaffected by either colonialism or the global economy. Please consider supporting our work by making a donation to the filmmakers, Local Futures here. * Produced by Helena Norberg-Hodge, 2011 (founder & director of Local Futures) * Written and directed by Steven Gorelick, John Page & Helena Norberg-Hodge * Narrated by John Page . Almost universally, research confirms that feeling connected to others is a fundamental human need. The film, which is based on Helena Norberg-Hodge's best-selling book, transports the viewer to Ladakh, or 'Little Tibet', a wildly beautiful desert land high in the Western Himalayas. Local Futures (formerly the International Society for Ecology and Culture) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness about what it identifies as the root causes of contemporary social, environmental, and economic crises.. The Economics of Happiness is an award-winning documentary film produced by Local Futures/International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). The Economics of Happiness is FREE TO WATCH below and on Vimeo and YouTube. A pioneer of the ‘new economy’ movement, she has been promoting an economics of personal, social and ecological well-being for more than thirty years. Over the past eight years we have run a series of International Economics of Happiness Conferences, with the aim of critically examining the global economy, exploring strategies for systemic change, and sharing local steps to a future that works for people and planet. A pioneer of the ‘new economy’ movement, Helena Norberg-Hodge has been promoting an economics of personal, social and ecological well-being for four decades. He helps to coordinate Local Futures’ projects in Ladakh, runs workshops on ‘The Economics of Happiness’ and ‘Big Picture activism’ and gives talks about localisation. Website and update. By contrast, working in the fields and providing for one’s own needs seemed backward and primitive. A pioneer of the ‘new economy’ movement, Helena Norberg-Hodge has been promoting an economics of personal, social and ecological well-being for four decades. Follow. Helena Norberg-Hodge’s 2019 book reveals the causes of – and solutions to – our many social, economic, ecological and spiritual crises. "Gandhi's critique of Western-style politics, however, extended to its underpinnings of political and economic liberalism, and its central assumption: that material progress and industrial expansion could continue without devastating political and environmental consequences." All posts; Planet Local Series; About Us; Website; Progress and the modernization of Ladakh. Pin code: 194101 Let's go local! *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm – an economics … The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. Author Richard Louv has even coined the expression ‘nature deficit disorder’ to describe what is happening to children deprived of contact with the living world. The two-day conference will look at different notions of ‘progress’, and discuss and explore the need for compassionate Despite the enormity of the crises we face, turning towards the more community-based, localised economies represents a powerful solution multiplier. Facebook. Today, more and more people are waking up to fact that, because of its environmental costs, an economic model based on endless consumption is simply unsustainable. The film showcases the steps people are already taking worldwide to rebuild their local economies and communities. Thirty-three years ago, I watched as a culture that had been sealed off from the rest of the world was suddenly thrown open to economic development. Romanticised impressions of the West gleaned from media, advertising and fleeting encounters with tourists had an immediate and profound impact on the Ladakhis. When I first arrived in Ladakh or “Little Tibet”, a region high on the Tibetan plateau, it was still largely unaffected by either colonialism or the global economy. Helena Norberg-Hodge on how corporate ‘free trade’ deals threaten local communities and economies worldwide; Our Work in Ladakh. Then in 1975, the Indian government abruptly opened Ladakh to imported food and consumer goods, to tourism and the global media, to western education and other trappings of the ‘development’ process. Local Futures — Economics of Happiness. This is a shortened version of the award-winning documentary film 'The Economics of Happiness'. Website and update. Local Futures works to renew ecological, social and spiritual well-being by promoting a systemic shift towards economic localization. Local Futures. Since 2012, Local Futures has been organizing and running a series of Economics of Happiness conferences in venues around the world, in collaboration with international thought leaders and local activists and organizations. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of … We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Our learning guides walk you through the impacts of the global economy, and spell out the many benefits of strengthening local economies. Local Futures. Economic localization is a solution-multiplier: It boosts employment and reweaves the fabric of community. Considering that over 31 million prescriptions for anti-depressants were handed out in the UK last year, this is a crucial finding. Once we realise that oil-dependent global growth is not only responsible for climate change and other environmental crises, but also for increased stress, anxiety and social breakdown, then it becomes clear that the steps we need to take to heal the planet are the same as those needed to heal ourselves: both require reducing the scale of the economy – in other words localising rather than continuing to globalise economic activity. The Economics of Happiness Film. The happiness of Americans peaked in 1956 and has been going downhill ever since. In virtually every industrialised country, including the US, UK, Australia, France and Japan, there is now what is described as an epidemic of depression. We found that it reconnects us with the people around us, it makes community a reality”. Or, through localisation, we can begin to rebuild our communities and local economies, the foundations of sustainability and happiness. The abridged, 20-minute version of the film can be viewed online for free on YouTube (below), on Vimeo, and on the Films for Action website. Twitter. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Our award-winning film, The Economics of Happiness, spells out the social, spiritual, and ecological costs of today’s global economy while highlighting the multiple benefits of economic localization. The Economics of Happiness. She is the Director of the non-profit Local Futures, producer and co-director of the award-winning documentary The Economics of Happiness, and the author of the inspirational classic, Ancient Futures. How to fix a food system that’s not designed to feed people, How the World Bank helped re-establish colonial plantations, How Industrial Food Makes Us More Vulnerable to COVID-19. Local Futures works to renew ecological, social, and spiritual well-being by promoting a systemic shift towards economic localization. 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