Journal of Humanitarian Affairs: Buy local, live green and promote your community

Carol Forsloff - Living a health-conscious life means making
choices daily that focus on local ecology, economy and culture. Experts tell us that buying local, living local, is the way to survive this recession.

Fresh produce at New Seasons in Oregon

It may mean any or all of the following:

Buy
food that is grown locally, and organically if possible. . Local groceries carry more
locally-grown food than the local WalMart.

Buy locally and avoid large
chain retailers in favor of locally owned stores.

Seek out products that have
been made in the local region and that are made from natural and
biodegradable materials. Choose companies that show a sense of
responsibility towards the environment and the community. By doing this
you learn what ingredients are used in various products and how they are
made.

Bank
with locally owned banks, especially ones that invest back in the
community. It is easier to get to know your local banker, which is
helpful when you need a loan or have an emergency.

Know the birds, animals,
trees, plants and weather patterns of your place, as well as land
features, soil types and other environmental features. Green thumbs love
to talk about pretty plants, but not many of us can name them nor do we
know their characteristics and composition.

Understand the human races,
religions and cultures that have occupied your area, the local history
of the area, and respect the diversity and ways of life of different
cultures. An emphasis on preservation as opposed to tearing down and
building up can do a lot to give individuals a sense of place and a
notion of continuity of the cultures.

Get to know your neighbors and look out for
each other. Some local neighborhood communities are vigilant about
issues in the community. Others are not. Still others will organize
around a problem but not around collectively improving an area or
watching out for those who need help. Get groups together who can help
individuals who no longer can help themselves, either with yard work or
physical security.

Seek out entertainment that originates in your area; support local
artists, musicians, theater companies, storytellers. Universities and
colleges have lots of cultural activities, some of which could be better
supported by the citizenry.

Watch less TV and spend more time with loved
ones or neighbors playing games, making music and having your own fun.
Another important diversion, and one that supports the local community,
is reading. Books are losing in popularity along with news magazines and
newspapers and being replaced with instant satisfaction of television
and videos. Lingering over a book can calm the mind, calm the body, and
if it is a locally-produced book, gives the reader that understanding of
the local community and its needs that is important to maintaining a
sense of continuity and shared ideas.

Know where your garbage goes and reduce
waste to a minimum. Squash cans, use paper rather than plastic bags.

Know where your drinking
water comes from and use water conservatively.

Know how and where your
electricity is generated and utilize sustainable energy sources, such as
solar power, whenever possible.

Vote in local elections and be involved in
political decision-making. Get to know people outside of your local
neighborhood in the town, outside of your church and social activities.
Vote for those who know what to do and are focused on helping others,
not just because they are friends or have done you a favor. Find
candidates who really care about the greater community, know its
problems and concerns and go beyond slogans to issues.

Be directly involved in your
children's education, whether they are in school or are home-schooled.
Schools throughout the country depend upon the whole community for
support. Even if you don’t have a child in school, you are involved in
education as it is the foundation for a strong, capable workforce that
maintains community needs.

Turn off the lights you aren’t using.
Preserve power. Preserve energy. Use florescent bulbs, alternative light
sources. Turn down the thermostat in winter and raise it in summer so
less heat is used in winter and less air conditioning in summer, thereby
preserving energy. Insulate windows and walls.

Walk whenever and wherever
you can. Take fewer trips to the grocery store and make stops along the
way for errands rather than driving frequently for small trips.