Steve Raney Palo Alto May 13, 2008 0:44 am

Book: Worldwatch State of the World 2008 Chapter 11. Engaging Communities for a Sustainable World By Erik Assadourian, Worldwatch Institute "Citizens disempowered by economic decisions made far away are discovering that building local economies and sustainable communities offers viable alternatives to globalization. Case studies illuminate whats possible in creating sustainability at the grassroots." Chapter 11 link (free download, 15 pages): http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/SOW08_chapter_11.pdf

*"community-level programs may prove indispensable in providing better models and the leadership to drive global-level change."

*"sharing within a community helps to establish a different cultural norm, one based in cooperation instead of conspicuous consumption and competition."

"Keeping up with the Joneses" translates into competition over who has the smallest ecological footprint.

Topics include:

*Los Angeles Ecovillage

*Lydney (UK) Community Energy Club (115 members have introdced 550 efficiency measures to save 3,865 tons CO2/yr)

*Findhorn Ecovillage, Scotland (half the ecological footprint of the rest of UK)

*Sieben Linden Ecovillage (Germany) has 28% of avg German CO2

*385 ecovillages + 500 cohousing projects worldwide

*Phinney Ridge, Seattle.

*Social capital theory per Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone)

*Sharing of cars, major appliances, tools. Sharing of services: babysitting, etc.

*Study of ecovillage/cohousing residents with $15K annual income found life satisfaction equal to Burlington VT residents with twice their income.

*Green Caf Network has owners use their spaces to mainstream sustainability with educational programs, etc. http://www.greencafenetwork.org/

*4300 farmers markets in the US. Patrons have 10X more social interactions than normal grocery shopping.

*In WWII, US citizens set up 20M home and community gardens, producing 40% of civilian fresh veggies.

*21 Transition Towns in the UK, http://www.transitiontowns.org/

*http://www.gaiauniversity.org/

*Project Laundry List

*Smart Growth

*UKs sustainable communities act.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/681480.pdf

I pinged the author re cbsm.com.

- Steve Raney,
Cities21, Palo Alto, CA