Marin Voice: Vast change is essential

Submitted by Anna on Tue, 12/29/2009 - 19:22

By Norman Solomon
Marin IJ
December 27, 2009

Localism, if carried to an extreme, can drift toward isolation rather than connectedness. A key insight of environmental awareness – that all of nature is interconnected – is liable to be squandered if we tune out the larger regions, jurisdictions and forces at work.

AN AILING ECONOMY and a warming climate have caused many people to become more skeptical of business as usual in such matters as food, energy, housing, water and the environment. The virtues of self-reliance are compelling – and in Marin County, more than ever, the hunt is on for local solutions.

There’s a lot of value in “go local” perspectives. Far too often, our communities are beset by cookie-cutter chain stores, centralized bureaucracies and impersonal, corporate-driven forces that take precedence over environmental concerns, employees’ rights and civic compassion.

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