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    Fair Trade posts

    How ‘chamas’ and mutual credit are changing Africa: Shaila Agha of the Sarafu Network

    Today I’m talking with Shaila Agha of the Sarafu Network about ‘chamas’ and mutual credit, and how they’re changing Africa. Read more

    What it’s like to work in a cooperative grocery store: Debbie Clarke of Unicorn Grocery, Part 1

    Today I’m talking with Debbie Clarke of Unicorn Grocery – a cooperative grocery store in Manchester; and the thing I’m particularly interested in about Unicorn Grocery is that instead of wanting to become a huge chain, they’ve got a toolkit called ‘Grow your own Grocery’ to help people set up cooperative grocery stores in their own towns. Read more

    New topic – ‘commoning’ – and why ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ is wrong

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 01-Dec-2019 | 0

    At university, back in the 80s, we were taught about ‘the Tragedy of the Commons’ – an essay by Garrett Hardin, about how common resources are always abused, because humans are basically selfish. It seemed plausible at the time, but has since been shown to be false. Read more

    How do we build a new, non-extractive economy? Dil Green of Lowimpact.org

    How can we build a new, non-extractive economy? Dave Darby interviews Lowimpact.org’s Dil Green to find out. Read more

    Announcing the launch of NonCorporate.org – how to move away from multinational corporations

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 07-Jun-2018 | 7

    We’re pleased to announce the launch of NonCorporate.org – our sister site, dedicated to helping people move away from multinational corporations (MNCs) for everything they need. Read more

    Why much criticism of the Fair Trade movement is invalid – designed to disguise corporate exploitation of small farmers

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 30-Jan-2018 | 3

    The Fair Trade movement was set up to secure better prices for struggling small farmers and craft producers in poor countries, and to provide funds for various improvements in their communities. It has, however, come in for some criticism for various reasons. Read more

    Buying green: is ethical consumerism a perfect distraction?

    Eco-consumption, ethical consumerism, sustainable shopping. Call it what we may, “buying green” has grown into something of a hot topic in the last decade. But is it the sustainable solution some claim it to be or is it in fact the perfect distraction? Lowimpact.org’s Sophie Paterson explores. Read more

    How we got olive oil from a small farm in Portugal brought over in a sailboat by a co-operative based in Brighton – and how you can do the same

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 07-Jan-2018 | 19

    I recently interviewed Dhara Thompson of the Sailboat Project for our new sailboats topic introduction. He told me that they are one of many new organisations that are working to bring back sailboats for cargo and passenger transport – using the power of the wind to move people and goods around the planet. Read more

    B-corporations – yes or no?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 25-Jun-2017 | 52

    What do you consider the correct approach towards multinational corporations – tame them, or start to get rid of them? And what do we mean by ‘tame’ exactly? And what are the problems with multinational corporations in the first place? Read more

    This is the best attempt I’ve seen at building a sustainable, democratic, (and inevitably moneyless) economy. It’s worth understanding what they’re saying

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 11-May-2017 | 20

    If you’ve got a sneaking suspicion that whatever we do, we’re not going to transition to a sustainable, democratic future with the current money and banking system, then I agree with you. Read more

    Companies like Fairphone, Ecotricity etc. are doing great things, but could easily be picked off by the corporate sector; why aren’t they co-ops?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 15-Dec-2016 | 6

    Body Shop, Green & Blacks, Ben & Jerry’s and Innocent Drinks represented a Brave New World when it came to doing business – Fair Trade, sustainable, (slightly) less hierarchical, informal, friendly. Read more

    Revisiting my old university economics textbook – how did I ever fall for this nonsense?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 08-Sep-2016 | 8

    I haven’t opened my old university economics textbook (Economics, by David Begg, Stanley Fischer and Rudiger Dornbusch) since the 1980s, so I was curious to see how I would respond to what I was taught 30 years ago. Read more

    Support the art of blockprinting fabrics – watch this fantastic video of how it’s done and we’re sure you’ll want to

    This hand block printed bed and table linen is made from organically grown cotton, certified by IMO, sourced by Hilary in India and printed at a small workshop in Rajasthan Read more

    New phone? Maybe it’s a Fairphone for you in 2015? Here’s why.

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 31-Dec-2014 | 1

    Dave of Lowimpact.org interviews Lucy Neal, Dave Mauger and Emily Oliver of Transition Town Tooting about Fairphone. Lowimpact.org is constantly looking for sustainable ways to provide the basic necessities of life Read more

    There’s a crash coming – a slap from Mother Nature. This isn’t pessimistic; it’s realistic.

    The human impact on nature and on each other is accelerating and needs systemic change to reverse.

    We’re not advocating poverty, or a hair-shirt existence. We advocate changes that will mean better lives for almost everyone.

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