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The Building Blocks: Local Post Carbon Groups

What are Local Post Carbon Groups?

Local Post Carbon Groups work, within their communities and in cooperation with local government and other community-based organizations, to put the concept of Relocalization into practice. The Groups work on projects such as cooperative transport and food networks, local renewable energy production, community assessment inventories and municipal action plans.

Local Post Carbon Groups are in fact experiments themselves; they can be an existing group that wants to take on peak energy response as a new program area or a completely new group. The key is action - we recommend that groups get started quickly with small projects, try things out and share what works. Local Post Carbon Groups develop knowledge, infrastructure, and working relationships that will be valuable in the post-carbon world. Projects focus on making immediate improvements to your community such as urban farming, car share, and local money. Groups also organize events such as conferences and End of Suburbia screenings to raise the awareness of oil peak and decline and build a local movement in their community.

Click here for an an interesting discussion about community and getting started, courtesy of Washington County Peak Oil

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What are the Benefits of Joining the Relocalization Network?

Don't re-invent the Wheel

We support Local Groups by developing valuable resources, toolkits and project support to facilitate successful Relocalization efforts based on the experiences and expertise of other Local Groups. As part of the Network, groups and individuals have access to an online repository of resources on www.relocalize.net as well as toolkits and other resources by the Relocalization Network team.

Opportunities to Network

Much of the value of the Relocalization Network is the connections that are created between Local Post Carbon Groups. It is through these connections that most of the information sharing, project collaboration, resource pooling and valuable working relationships develop. Being part of this Network of Local Groups gives people the sense of working together for a better future: you are not alone in your concerns and in your work.

Access to Web-based Communication Infrastructure

The Relocalization Network rests on a web-based communication system that allows Local Groups to share their ideas, information, experiences and best practices. Post Carbon Institute provides Local Groups with a suite of communication tools, including full access to customizable group websites hosted on www.relocalize.net, group email subscriptions, discussion forums, event calendars, community and personal blogging and events posting.

Mission

The Relocalization Network supports Local Post Carbon Groups as they work to develop and implement the strategy of Relocalization in their communities. The Relocalization Network Coordinators support the Network by providing on-line communication tools, developing valuable resources, facilitating meaningful and useful connections between Local Groups and cultivating a sense of working together globally on local responses.

Here are some of the main goals for the Relocalization Network program:

  • Bringing together a range of skills, ideas and resources
  • Creating a sense of community and interconnectedness
  • Providing a focus for debate, research and organization
  • Developing self-help skills
  • Working to improve local quality of life, both socially and environmentally
  • Facilitating direct action
  • Providing opportunities for local government and organizations to engage in public discussion with community members.


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