Sustainable Community Development
Richmond, California is the latest municipality to recognize the need for locally anchored businesses to insure a vibrant local economy. After a trip to Mondragon the mayor has even signed a letter of intent with the co-op to foster worker co-ops in the Richmond area. Learn more about the Mondragon trip.
Janelle Orsi, a lawyer who focuses on sharing and mediation, recently wrote about the importance of legal infrastructure for sharing and cooperative practices. She points out as more people move to share resources–land, vehicles, food, even jobs–we’ll need laws to protect individuals and communities.
Looking to learn more about sustainable community development and the transition to a new economy? New Economics Foundation has developed a series of publications that can help.
Environment
In recent good news the Rainforest Action Network has successfully pushed General Mills to lead the food industry away from rainforest destruction. The company had been targeted for its involvement in palm oil as a source of rainforest destruction.
Many in the environmental movement are also preparing to respond to NEN member Bill McKibben and 350.org‘s call for action on October 10th. Check their website to find an action near you or get involved.
Economic Policy
Despite widespread acknowledgement that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest 1% aren’t stimulating the economy, there is still a threat they will be extended. Check out Sally Kohn’s funny videoblog for a welcome plainspoken analysis.
The SEC recently voted to award shareholders with greater power over corporate boards. The Wall Street Journal immediately decried it; the NY Times gives a more accurate depiction.
In other SEC news the NY Stock Exchange has asked the SEC to examine the role of proxy advisory firms to see whether they have too much power. This is especially important because many (if not most) institutional investors rely on such services.
Social Justice
As microfinance continues to grow as a field many industry professionals, advocates, and participants are wondering: Should microfinance profit from the poor?
Can working fewer hours provide greater employment opportunities, create sustainable economies, and increase our happiness? Juliet Schor thinks so.
On the subject of jobs, One Nation Working Together is calling for thousands of people to rally in DC this October 2nd to demand jobs and a recovery package that supports working families instead of corporations.
Democracy and Corporate Accountability
In the wake of the Citizens United decision corporate money is flowing into electoral politics. Some companies, like Target, haven’t had such a good experience so far–first they faced a boycott, and now they’re facing shareholder backlash.
Advocacy groups continue to push forward Fair Elections laws that would help to limit the control and influence corporations are able to buy from our elected officials. Fair Elections Now has developed a great video to explain why we need this law.
The Gates Foundation is again coming under fire for their recent investment in Monsanto–ostensibly profiting at the expense of the small African farmers they supposedly hope to help.
Editor’s Note
Each month NEN staff compile the newsletter as a sampling of what is happening in the new economy movement. If you have items you’d like to see here please send submissions to membership (at) neweconomynetwork (dot) org.
