What is it about a young child that seems to spark hope for the future?
Perhaps it is the spark of potential we see. The unbridled genius of their imagination combined with their non-judgmental, innocent heart. When that child can thrive in a prosperous, loving community to adulthood, the potential within them is incalculable – and something to live for.
Economic diversity
The main form of erosion occurring in society is our lack of economic diversity.
We frequently read about the impacts of the cost of real estate, which – locally – is forcing so many from our community out.
This region can’t just be sustained by wealthy multi-property owners who fly in and out from time to time.
All segments of society are required for the prosperity we all yearn for.
But how do we protect and preserve this social diversity? The localisation movement or ‘going local’ provides an encouraging alternative.
Localising is about bringing our purchasing dollars – our regional economy – back home so that our needs are met as locally as possible.
And if there’s one region that started doing this, and can do it again, surely it’s this one.
We’re not talking about ending all trade and going back to candle light.
We know from the 2022 floods and Covid, and how quickly the supermarket shelves emptied, how lacking in self-sufficiency we were.
True prosperity relies on community.
Backed by our community, we can take an honest look at the many issues we face – here and beyond – without feeling overwhelmed, insignificant, and powerless.
Local Prosperity Lab, to be held on Saturday, June 28, invites people to explore how we can co-create the region of our dreams.
This event is Byron’s celebration of World Localisation Day, a collection of localised actions by passionate people all around the world reconnecting with their communities and strengthening prosperous self-reliance.
World Localisation Day was founded by Helena Norberg-Hodge and Local Futures to celebrate examples of the economics of happiness around the world.
On Saturday, June 28, add your hopes, thoughts, ideas to not simply localise, but to relocalise, taking the best of what we love and bringing it into our progressive lives.
Tickets to the Local Prosperity Lab are at Humanitix.com or Relocalise.org.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
