Designing for a Changing Future: Economic Stability Through Local Interdependence

People everywhere are seeking responses to the urgent problems of today--environmental degradation, growing scarcity of resources, especially oil, and an unregulated market economy that makes fabulous wealth for some and increasing financial and economic insecurity, if not poverty, for most. One response is the new emphasis on building a local economy--food and energy production and support for local businesses--to decrease the need for oil and production of CO2 and to increase community independence. But what can "independence" really mean in a world that relies on sophisticated technology, huge corporations to provide jobs and most consumer goods, and an educational system that prepares young people only to join the global economy?

This class will analyze this concept of "community independence." It will evaluate the essential needs of any community and then construct a framework within which these needs might be addressed through personal growth, creative thinking, investment, and cooperative work. It will offer specific ideas for evaluation in terms of their contribution to community independence.

Half of class time will be devoted to class discussion of ideas presented and ideas forthcoming from class.