In his closing remarks at the 2007 Building Sustainable Local Economies Seminar, Chuck Turner spoke of the economic models presented, and being implemented throughout the world, as the beginning of a change in our mode of thinking. They embed a more appropriate way of relating to each other and to the natural world. As the old paradigm of materialism that is causing social, ecological, and economic injustices crumbles, it is essential to consciously participate in the shaping of a new paradigm. Communities that are evolving place-based institutions for land, labor, and capital will be the support for this new system.

Turner closed by saying that the beginning lies with the seminar participants. Each has the power to start a local project that will be a root for developing an entirely new consciousness. All we must do is start.

Chuck Turner will again be a member of the core faculty for the Building Sustainable Local Economies, May 21st to May 25th, joining Eric Harris-Braun, Elizabeth Keen, Chris Lindstrom, Joseph Stanislaw, Alex Thorp, and Susan Witt.

Turner's 2007 E. F. Schumacher Lecture "What about Us––The Earth's People?" has just been published. You can find the complete text or order it in pamphlet form at www.smallisbeautiful.org.

Renewing America's Food Traditions

The E. F. Schumacher Society and the Orion Society are co-sponsoring a talk by Professor and MacArthur Foundation "genius grant" recipient Gary Paul Nabhan. He is the co-founder of Native Seeds/Search and a leading voice for conserving and renovating native plant agricultures. His books include Renewing America's Foor Traditions and Coming Home to Eat: the Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods.

The event is free and will be Friday, April 18th at 7pm at the Berkshire South Auditorium, 15 Crissey Road, Great Barrington, MA

Schumacher Events

Simon Trace. Monday, April 7th 7:00 pm at the Kellogg Music Center on the Simon's Rock campus in Great Barrington, MA. Simon Trace is Chief Executive Officer of Practical Action, an United Kingdom organization that develops intermediate technology for the developing world. Practical Action, formerly the Intermediate Technology Development Group was founded in 1966 by E. F. Schumacher to bring real and sustainable improvements to people's lives. Tickets are 3 BerkShares, available at the door. This event is co-sponsored by the E. F. Schumacher Society, Simon's Rock College course on Globalization and Community Ecology, and the Center for Ecological Technology.

Susan Witt. Friday, April 11th 7:30 pm at The First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, MA. Susan Witt, Executive Director of the E. F. Schumacher Society, will give a talk entitled Conscious Economics: The Intimacy and Complexity of Local Production and Exchange for Think OutWord Think OutWord is a peer-led training in social entrepreneurship for young adults loosely situated in the northeastern United States. It is grounded in, though not limited to, an understanding of the threefold nature of the human being and of society, primarily as it was articulated by the early 20th century philosopher, Rudolf Steiner.

Michael Gordon. Monday, April 14th 9:00 am at the Latham Community Baptist Church in Latham, NY. Michael Gordon, outreach coordinator for the E. F. Schumacher Society, will present an overview of the E. F. Schumacher Society and Schumacher's philosophy of Small Is Beautiful for the Interfaith Alliance of New York State.

Gary Nabhan. Friday, April 18th 7 pm at the Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington, MA. A talk entitled Renewing America's Food Traditions: Endangered Diversity in Our Hands and Mouths. Author Gary Paul Nabhan, a professor and the recipient of a MacArthur "genius grant," has been the primary shaper of the local and indigenous foods movement in the U.S. He's an expert in local foods and indigenous foods and an advocate for their preservation. His books include Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods; Arab/American: Landscape, Culture, and Cuisine in Two Great Deserts; and, coming in May, Renewing America's Food Traditions. This event is co-sponsored by the E. F. Schumacher Society and the Orion Society.

Cathrine Sneed. Tuesday April 29th 7:00 pm, location to be announced. Cathrine Sneed is the founder of the Garden Project in San Francisco, CA will be speaking about her experience of innovatively empowering both former offenders and at-risk youth through training and education while transforming the urban environment.

Joseph Stanislaw. Thursday, May 22nd 7:30 pm at The First Congregational Church in Great Barrington, MA. Joseph Stanislaw is founder of the international advisory firm JA Stanislaw Group, LLC, specializing in strategic thinking, sustainability, and environmentally sound investment in energy and technology. He will lead the audience through an examination of a new locally-scaled energy economy.