The following goal descriptions are generally those that relate to a relocalized community and economy. This framework provides for a fiscally conservative, environmentally sound, and fundamentally safe and secure community.
Community food security is a condition in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes community self-reliance and social justice. From Mike Hamm and Anne Bellows of the Community Food Security Coalition (CFSC): http://www.foodsecurity.org/
The goal is to develop a sustainable supply of energy based on a predictable and efficient demand model. There are numerous ways in which to approach this and local weather and climate must be an important contributing factor.
See more information on local energy planning here
One key element in this step is to develop a comprehensive open space action plan that discusses the open space network or system in comprehensive terms. Another is a strong framework of environmental justice that asks the question: "If you don't want it in your neighborhood, should it be in anyone's neighborhood?"
Our relocalization strategy for economic development requires the creation of a policy document that clearly spells out the economic strategy for the community and/or organization. Such a policy will be based on a framework of sustainability at the local level. It may include consideration of programs like Buy Local or LETS.
Relocalization will shift the focus back to scales of movement that were predominant before the advent of the private car. Whether it be walking, biking, or traveling by train or streetcar, the city or town of the future will look and function conspicuously like one that history can reveal to us.
Relocalization theory posits that communities generate a specific plan for the reduction of household, commercial, and institutional wastes. This plan shall also identify useful means of dealing with the residual.
Entertainment and social interaction does not require electricity or batteries. Local theatre groups, book clubs, sports organizations, artists guilds, farmers markets, bridge clubs, and many other similar pursuits reflect what author Roburt Putnam refers to as social capital. Not only are these activities enjoyable but they also build or redevelop a deeper sense of community. Building community is the framework for localization.
The built environment should maximize opportunities for urban green spaces through green roofs, urban gardens, and edible landscapes. The urban pattern should be interesting and visually stimulating rather than drab, common, utilitarian, and corporate. It should foster connection, be safe and secure, and have a lively sense of community.
Is is fair to say that no new suburban style development should be pursued or approved. Zoning bylaws should reflect this by shifting focus to a neotraditional urban form.
Buildings are nowadays primarily built for utility with design often overlooked as a means to save a few dollars. In the long run, such canned and drab examples of development often deteriorate quicker and are of little value to preservationists or urban pioneers. Building design should inspire and uplift the spirit of the people who use or view them.
However, utility is still an important factor but more related to emergy efficiency and local and sustainable building materials. A focus on green design principles is a means to create an economical, efficient structure that will be affordable in the long run, not just in the short-term.
Under this rubric, historic preservation should take on a much larger role in moving toward sustainability not only due to the aesthetic and cultural aspects but also from an energy standpoint. Note that energy factors in not only current maintenance and heating/cooling but also the cost of extraction and procssing of materials for a new replacement building.
Local communities should develop a strong local economic base and develop a lively trade of essentials within this context. This should include a focus on "buying local", supporting local small businesses, and other measures.
However, municipal governance is not the only participatory tool needed for optimal relocalization. Community groups and volunteers are needed to fill gaps that municipal governance cannot or will not address. This includes groups like local conservationists, religious and spiritual groups, artist guilds, soup kitchens, and the like. Even loose groups like neighborhood watches and snow shoveling volunteers are important.
Kohr and Schumacher both argue that our governing institutions have grown too large and that as the size increases, they become less manageble and controllable. As such scales, no genuine democracy can flourish. It is important to reduce them in size so that citizens can influence and control them.
Due to the significant disconnect that many citizens have from each other, it's not surprising that faceless crime occurs. However, by reconnecting citizens with each other, it makes it more difficult to perpetrate a crime on a neighbor or fellow citizen that we often pass on the street.
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Organizing a local emergency preparedness function, whether it be through the local emergency management contact or similar, is a wise relocalization step. Preparation for winter storms, hurricanes, fuel shoratges, epidemics and pandemics, or other disasters should not rely solely on the federal or state response. This should begin with a good "shelter at home" program.
Planning for relocalization is a collaborative community effort at the local level and includes a community inventory, a resiliency assessment, goals and objectives, implementation, and regular evaluations of progress. It should be noted that relocalization and sustainability are moving targets that are in a constant state of flux and are perpetually evolving and redefining themselves. This shouldn’t be a turn-off but acknowledgement that life is in constant flux and more chaos than a mold. Finally, don't be afraid of redundancies of effort since these problems are not one's in which you want to risk leaving gaps.
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