Economics of Happiness, Saturday

On Saturday, March 16, 2011, The Visionary Edge will present a sneak preview screening of The Economics of Happiness by Australian filmmaker Helena Norberg-Hodge. Ms. Hodge will be joining us via Skype to discuss her new film and answer questions from the audience.

Soon-to-be-released The Economics of Happiness describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, an unholy alliance of governments and big business continues to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, people all over the world are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future. Communities are coming together to re-build more human scale, ecological economies based on a new paradigm – an economics of localization.

Five years in production, The Economics of Happiness offers not only a big-picture analysis of globalization, but a powerful message of hope for the future. The thinkers and activists interviewed for the film come from every continent, and represent the interests of the great majority of people on the planet today. Their message is unambiguous: in order to respect and revitalize diversity, both cultural and biological, we need to localize economic activity. They argue that a systemic shift – away from globalizing economic activity and towards the local – is an almost magic formula that allows us to reduce our ecological footprint while increasing human well-being.

Doors open at 7:00pm, film at 7:30pm, Saturday March 26, 2011 at Community United Methodist Church, 777 Miramontes Street (at Johnston), Half Moon Bay. Suggested donation is $12 advance, $16 door. No one turned away for lack of funds. Call 650-207-3440 for information and tickets.

When people start connecting the dots between climate change, global economic instability and their own personal suffering – stress, loneliness, depression – there is the potential for a movement that will truly change the world. Featuring a wealth of diverse perspectives, the film illustrates these often hidden connections.  Going beyond the narrow analysis of the mainstream the film shows that antagonism between human needs and the needs of nature is not inevitable.

Resistance to further economic globalization has created powerful new alliances: deep ecologists linking hands with labor unionists, independent businessmen collaborating with small farmers. Now, at the grassroots, localization is also bridging divides in a completely new way – bringing people together across ethnic, religious, economic and even partisan divides.

According to Norberg-Hodge “We have found the process of making this film incredibly inspiring. Simply to see the multitude of grassroots movements afoot has been heartening – a testimony to human goodwill and resilience. We hope that The Economics of Happiness will bring the same inspiration to viewers around the world. It provides insight, hope, reassurance and above all, motivation to join in the growing localization movement. Bringing the economy closer to home can not only save us from environmental and economic catastrophe, it can help us to re-discover those essential relationships – both with the living world and with one another – that ultimately give our lives meaning and joy.”

Helena Norberg-Hodge is the founder and director of the International Society for Ecology and Culture (ISEC) and its predecessor, the Ladakh Project. She is the author of Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh and co-author of Bringing the Food Economy Home. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals such as The Ecologist, Resurgence, and YES! magazine. Norberg- Hodge’s ground-breaking work in the Himalayan region of Ladakh is internationally recognized, and earned her the Right Livelihood Award.

TheEconomics of Happiness is presented by The Visionary Edge. Sponsors include The UPS Store, Arrowhead Framing, San Mateo Coast Properties, and Community United Methodist Church.

Babysitting will be provided for the film with a 24 hour advance reservation. Call 650-207-3440.

Doors open at 7:00pm, film at 7:30pm, Saturday March 26, 2011 at Community United Methodist Church, 777 Miramontes Street (at Johnston), Half Moon Bay. Suggested donation is $12 advance, $16 door. No one turned away for lack of funds. Call 650-207-3440 for information and tickets.

Located in Half Moon Bay, The Visionary Edge produces events to inform, inspire, and empower us all to create a wiser, sustainable and more compassionate world.