Chris Smaje is an author, small-scale farmer, social scientist, and food system analyst. His work explores the current moment of vast change, as the dynamics of climate, energy, politics and natural ecosystems upend familiar assumptions about how the world is supposed to work. He’s written two books – ‘A Small Farm Future’ and ‘Saying No to a Farm-free Future’ – which are both grounded his belief that we need to develop low-energy localisms that give people the means to make practical and sustainable livelihoods.
In this episode, Chris explains how the organisation of food systems is ultimately an energetic question; one that, in the modern era, has been answered by an over-reliance on cheap fossil fuels. He argues that, in a future of lesser energy abundance and mounting crises, localised food systems will be vital for survival. Chris encourages an embrace of agrarian localism not only to avoid chaotic disruption, but also to bring profound and immediate benefits to people and planet. Local Futures is an international non-profit organization, dedicated to renewing ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies.
To watch the video of this series, visit: Planet Local Voices interview series
The music for this series is ‘Pines and Violet’, by Sky Toes.
Suicidal growth & the future of sustainable economies – Andrew Simms
Mental health crisis: blame the system, not the individual – Eva Henje
Grassroots movements & initiatives are changing the world - Juan del Rio
Illusions of progress and their countertrends in Japan - Keibo Owia
Localization: learning from indigenous communities – Thais Mantovani
Car-free cities, corporate control and the power of people - Debra Efroymson
A World Yet To Come – Adebayo Akomolafe
Connecting to the land: paving the way for young farmers – Ele Saltmarsh
Reimagining education: from deadlihoods to alivelihoods - Manish Jain
Insights of an economic hitman “from a death to a life economy” - John Perkins
Alnoor Ladha – Courageous optimism
Iain McGilchrist – Rediscovering wisdom in a world gone mad
Episode 22 - Charles Eisenstein - Towards a new and ancient culture
Episode 21 - Vandana Shiva - The Power of People
Episode 20 - Mental Health in the Global Economy with Gabor Maté
Episode 19 - Jeremy Lent: Shifting Paradigms
Episode 18 - COP, carbon and high-tech: who is setting the agenda?
Episode 17 - Beyond Conspiracy: Framing Meaningful Activism
Episode 16 - Unpacking Global Empire from an Indigenous Perspective
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