Localization, Sufficiency, Resilience
BALE (Building A Local Economy) sees its work, along with many other inspiring collaborators, as building new resilient models grounded in a new story of how we live on the Earth. We know we have so much to learn, and seeing that so much creativity is awakening in this time, we focus on such things as gratitude, conscious living and valuing what is important to the human spirit (which we know is not money… and not scarcity). Deep change awareness, grieving a broken world, facing our traumas, and being engaged in community with hands-on solutions.
Reservation for June 15 Program HERE Reservation for July 6 Program HERE
Hoodwinked in the Green(washed) Mountains
Why Vermont Gets Climate Action Wrong
In the past decade, we have seen a massive increase in activism to tackle the climate crisis. Indigenous Peoples’ resistance to destructive industrial projects – from stopping oil and gas pipelines to blocking mega-dams, has been on the rise world-wide. Young people have mobilized against the inaction of governments and farmers have rallied to stop policies that favor polluting corporations. More than ever before, the center-of-gravity of the climate movements have shifted to a climate justice narrative – where we do not distinguish between the global war on biodiversity waged by corporate greed and the wars waged against the cultures, cosmologies, communities and bodies of oppressed peoples world-wide.
The same is true here in Vermont, where false solutions are finally coming under grassroots scrutiny. A climate justice framework does not reduce the climate crisis to a puzzle simply focused on counting carbon. Grassroots, community-led movements around the world look across the economy – at the exploitation of land, labor and living systems, and not just those here in Vermont. We are all part of one Earth and we cannot create systems that exploit peoples and lands far away in order to benefit our lifestyles. That is the definition of a supremacist, colonized mind… and it must cease.
Regrettably, Vermont’s actions, so far, fail the essential climate justice framework and must be challenged. This series of 8-10 programs over the next five months will confront the greenwashing and false solutions that have been brought forward (some even enacted into law), so that we can begin to shift the public’s awareness of what is being done in their name. Vermont citizens have been hoodwinked and that, too, must stop.
Renewable Illusion
Thu., June 15 at 7 PM, BALE Commons, South Royalton
Kevin Jones PhD. Reservation HERE
While there is the perception that Vermont is a solar energy leader, is that true or is it an illusion? We will uncover the truth about Vermont’s renewable energy practices. Kevin Jones is Director of the Energy Clinic at Vermont Law & Graduate School.
Truth and Lies in a Climate Changing World
Thu., July 6 at 7 PM, BALE Commons, South Royalton
Rachel Smolker Reservation HERE
What is a false solution? How can we tell? Who is promoting them and why? Rachel Smolker is founder and Co-director of global climate organization, Biofuelwatch.
