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    Help Lowimpact.org become a wiki, to provide more (and more relevant) information for visitors

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 31-Jan-2021 | 8

    We’ve been liaising with Simon Grant, of the P2P Foundation Wiki, and making plans for turning Lowimpact.org into a wiki. We already have a network of specialists who provide information for our topics and respond to visitors’ queries. We want to expand this network, as well as the number of topics we cover. Read more

    Are power hierarchies inevitable in human society?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 25-Oct-2020 | 5

    Just to be clear, I’m only talking about institutional, power hierarchies here, not hierarchies based on beauty, knowledge, intelligence, ability, respect etc. Those hierarchies are inevitable, of course, and life would probably be quite boring without them. Read more

    Creating a national network of social care co-ops: Graham Mitchell of Co-operative Care Colne Valley

    Today I’m talking with Graham Mitchell, of Co-operative Care Colne Valley. He’s part of a group starting a social care co-op in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire, and they’re also building a toolkit / step-by-step guide for people to start a social care coop in their own community. I’m interested in how this toolkit can… Continue reading Creating a national network of social care co-ops: Graham Mitchell of Co-operative Care Colne Valley Read more

    Why we need social care co-ops: Graham Mitchell of Co-operative Care Colne Valley

    Today I’m talking with Graham Mitchell, of Co-operative Care Colne Valley. He’s part of a group starting a social care co-op in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire, and they’re also building a toolkit / step-by-step guide for people to start social care co-ops in their own community. I’m interested in how this toolkit can help… Continue reading Why we need social care co-ops: Graham Mitchell of Co-operative Care Colne Valley Read more

    Reflections on ‘Extinction: The Facts’ by Sir David Attenborough

    Hailed as ‘essential viewing’, ‘painful’ and ‘terrifying’ by viewers, Sophie Paterson shares her reflections on the hard-hitting BBC documentary Extinction: The Facts. Read more

    What post-Covid communities could look like, if enough of us want it

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 12-Jul-2020 | 7

    Here’s a little story for anyone who’s noticed that things aren’t going too well in our communities. Small businesses are going under, unemployment is on the rise and money’s becoming scarce. Read more

    The upside of lockdown: WWOOFing in Shropshire

    Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK | 13-May-2020 | 1

    When the coronavirus crisis hit, Imogen Lacey was volunteering through WWOOF UK, living and working on a smallholding in exchange for accommodation, food and a wealth of learning opportunities. Here she shares her personal experiences of WWOOFing in Shropshire under lockdown. Read more

    Post-corona: ‘getting back to normal’ is suicidal – here’s the alternative

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 19-Apr-2020 | 15

    “For those who dream of a return to “normalcy”: normalcy was standing on the tracks watching an oncoming train & arguing about how fast it was going. Something just banged into us & sent us sprawling. It hurt. A lot. Now let’s get up, but NOT get back on the tracks again.” – David Graeber Read more

    Post-corona: ‘getting back to normal’ is not just a bad idea – it’s suicidal

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 12-Apr-2020 | 14

    There’s been a lot of talk about ‘thanking’ coronavirus for giving us the breathing space to re-evaluate, and for giving nature some breathing space too. This isn’t one of those articles. I don’t find it compassionate to thank a virus that’s killing thousands of people, and closing millions of small businesses, allowing Amazon to hoover… Continue reading Post-corona: ‘getting back to normal’ is not just a bad idea – it’s suicidal Read more

    Surviving the Future: an online course for our times

    Our friend Shaun Chamberlin of Dark Optimism shares news of Surviving the Future: conversations for our time, an eight week online gathering which he will be co-facilitating on behalf of Sterling College, starting on Monday 6th April. Read more

    Starting from scratch: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 1

    Donald Trump recently derided Greta Thunberg and everyone pleading with government to heed environmental science as ‘doomsayers’. The more imminent peak oil or environmental collapse appear, the more intransigent our political system seems to be. Whatever the reasons for this, responsible citizens can only accomplish so much while the political and economic winds are blowing… Continue reading Starting from scratch: Matthew Slater, barefoot economist and Credit Commons co-designer, Part 1 Read more

    11 days left to support a collaborative new online ethical lifestyle toolkit

    We hear from our friends at the Permaculture Association about a new ethical lifestyle toolkit in the making alongside Ethical Consumer, and how you can help make it a reality by supporting their Crowdfunder campaign ahead of 26 January. We’re particularly excited about this one! It’s over to Jemma to tell us more… Read more

    Fancy joining the Pentiddy Woods family on an immersive 9 month internship?

    Ele Waters of Pentiddy | 09-May-2019 | 0

    Here’s your chance! We hear from Ele and Anthony at Pentiddy Woods about a unique learning opportunity on offer from October 2019. Read more

    Hartwyn free natural building course: 2019 applications now open

    Joe Duirwyn of Hartwyn | 04-Apr-2019 | 0

    We hear from Joe Duirwyn of Hartwyn about a fantastic free natural building learning opportunity running from June to September 2019. Read more

    Free online course: Toward Co-operative Common Wealth MOOC

    Calling all activists, practitioners and policy-makers! We share news of a masterclass in movement building in the form of a massive open online course (MOOC) starting on 25th March 2019. Read more

    A guide to WWOOFing: 10 top tips from Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK

    Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK | 12-Feb-2019 | 8

    Anybody considering going on a WWOOFing adventure for the first time will benefit enormously from these 10 tips compiled by Scarlett Penn of WWOOF UK. Read more

    Free learning with a Wholewoods community build camp in 2019

    Adrian Leaman of Wholewoods | 15-Jan-2019 | 3

    Wholewoods are continuing their fantastic work, offering volunteers on-site learning on a 2019 build camp to construct a roundhouse for OrganicLea. Adrian Leaman has all the details of how to get involved below. Read more

    Chagfood community market garden apprenticeships on offer in 2019

    Ed Hamer of Chagfood | 03-Jan-2019 | 0

    Could 2019 be the year you learn how to set up and run a community market garden? Chagfood, a CSA scheme based in Chagford, Devon, is offering two apprenticeship opportunities from April to October. Read more

    Are you ‘radical’, and if not, why not?

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 21-Oct-2018 | 0

    I’m using the original definition of the word, not its bastardisation that over the years has come to be used as a kind of insult in some circles. I’ve been called ‘too radical’, and I want to show why that’s an absurdity. Read more

    My mutual credit journey (and how you can join in the fun)

    Dave Darby of Lowimpact.org | 08-Aug-2018 | 3

    I often trawl the web just speculatively looking for new people or new ideas, clicking on links from interesting sites. TEDx talks are a favourite. A few years ago I came across an intriguing TEDx talk by Professor Jem Bendell called ‘the Money Myth’. 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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