The ‘impact’ we’re talking about is human impact on nature and on each other, which can be illustrated by comparing our high-impact culture with what we’d like to see instead.
Food
High-impact: Unhealthy, chemically-grown, processed, overpackaged food.
Low-impact: Healthy, local, organic food.
Energy
High-impact: Environmentally-destructive, fossil-fuel energy.
Low-impact: Renewable energy.
Shelter
High-impact: Identikit homes built by large developers, from bricks, cement and steel.
Low-impact: Unique homes made from local, natural materials.
Manufacturing
High-impact: Shoddy, mass-produced corporate goods, made in sweatshops & flown around the world.
Low-impact: Hand-made, quality, local craft goods that are made to last.
Transport
High-impact: Car-based gridlock.
Low-impact: Getting around sustainably.
Economy
High-impact: An economy dominated by a relatively small number of giant, multinational corporations.
Low-impact: A new economy comprised of a large number of small businesses, co-ops and sole traders.
Land
High-impact: Giant monoculture farms.
Low-impact: Land reform, smallholdings and small farms.
Trade
High-impact: Trade based on gambling and perpetual growth, to maximise returns for shareholders.
Low-impact: Trade based on local markets and stability, to maximise benefits for communities.
Alternatives to the debt trap 1
High-impact: Mortgage debt.
Low-impact: Self-build.
Alternatives to the debt trap 2
High-impact: Credit card debt.
Low-impact: Downshifting.
Money
High-impact: Banks.
Low-impact: Mutual credit.
Nature
High-impact: A degraded natural environment.
Low-impact: Pristine, biodiverse nature.
Opinions
High-impact: Thinking steered by corporate media.
Low-impact: Critical thinking.
