Helena Norberg-Hodge

Local Futures ~ Now

Localism and the upcoming Economics of Happiness Conference

We are honored to have Author and filmmaker Helena Norberg-Hodge As our guest on Thinking Outside of the Box this week. Helena is a pioneer of the new economy movement. She is a widely respected analyst of the impact of the global economy and international development on local communities and local economies. She spoke to us from Byron Bay, Australia. One half hour is hardly time to do justice to a woman of such varied skills, so this time we just focused on a short bio, and then a peek at the itinerary for the upcoming Economics of Happiness conference in Portland Oregon.

It is hard to believe the list of accomplishments this lady has left in her wake. She brings a breath of fresh air to us folks in a world which has seemingly run amok with global marketing, the philosophy of the dominant class and consumer consciousness.

She paints a clear picture of how living a simple life and supporting our local communities make sense on all Levels. Economically, ecologically and socially it is a win-win situation not just for individuals but also for society as a whole.

Ladakh India

Helena shares with us her experiences in Ladakh which were crucial in enabling her to understand the impact of conventional development and globalisation on people and the environment.

Ladakh is also known as Little Tibet, it is a remote region on the Tibetan plateau. Although it is politically part of India, it has more in common culturally with Tibet. Helena first went to Ladakh in 1975 as part of a film crew. Over the years she experienced first hand how globalisation (including government sponsored subsidization) led to a steady decline in the quality of life for these people.

Her project in Ladakh has now grown into the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC). This is also known as Local Futures, which works internationally, in both the North and South to encourage more decentralized land-based ways of living.

A shortened but very impressive biography: Helena Norberg Hodge is the founder and director of the Local Futures/ International Society for Ecology and Culture; founding member of the International Commission on the Future of Food and Agriculture and co founder of both the International Forum on Globalization and the Global Ecovillage Network. She is also the author of Ancient Futures and the producer and co-director of the award winning film: The Economics of Happiness. In 2012, she was the recipient of the Goi Peace Prize.

In this brief interview, she paints a clear picture of how living a simple life and supporting our local communities makes sense on all Levels – economically, ecologically, and socially. It is her belief that we can create a win-win situation for ourselves and for society as a whole.

Please take time to help promote this event! Follow the link below and add the power of your voice to the Thunderclap campaign

https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/20678-eoh-conference-portland

We invite you to join us in Portland on February 27, 2015 when Helena and the leaders of the new economy will share their vision and possibilities that define the Economics of Happiness. Here are the links to the trailer of last year’s conference and information on registration for the upcoming event.

The Economics of Happiness Conference, Portland OR.

Video Gallery for a past Conference

http://www.localfutures.org/

Listen to the Episode Below