UNDER-USED RESOURCES

I was just reading of the economic woes in grass-roots England, where local Councils are feeling the tightening to the point where they are closing facilities we have taken for granted - such as the local Library.

Seems that donations and volunteers are just keeping some infrastructure afloat - but time is not on their side.
Too much is changing, and often all at once.

The thing is - there ARE solutions. We just need to think differently/creatively.
We have many things that are quite UNDER-utilised.
Take local schools, for example. They are only used approximately 1/3 of the time. The other 16 hours per day they do little more than pose a security cost.

Why not make them into a "profitable" centre? They have halls to hire, computer classes to hire, acres of roof space to generate solar elec and therefore excess to feed to others, woodworking/metalworking shops, art rooms with kilns etc, cinema screens, swimming pools .....getting the idea??
And for heavens sake - why aren't they already on the road to food self-sufficiency using some of the land? Selling the excess to the community??
What about saving the water they collect?
Everything that we do for ourselves means less money we have to find....

That's just schools - now extend that to all the assets and amenities that local government control.

Do it different - and do it better!! Do it for you and your neighbours.
Now how about stop reading and putting it into gear?? :)))

So many options, so much good can come of it, and have some fun on the way.....

Urban Positive Solutions.....

If you are living in the thick of it in an urban area when the fan gets hit, there are still a number of simple things that can be done to enhance your quality of Life.

Start growing food NOW !!!

On a balcony, up a wall, on a roof, in your backyard...no matter how small. It needn't take a huge amount of space. Climbing trellises save space. Ladder-style shelves against a fence have a small footprint. Grow vertically rather than in the traditional ways - get creative!!

More importantly, get to know your neighbours NOW !!!

Something I call "Meet the Street" would be a great self-help strategy. Start by firstly socialising and having FUN, as in street parties, street fairs, community venues, combined garage sales and community gardens in vacant land etc etc.

Then take it a step further after you are more used to each other - start a barter-type arrangement, as in a LETS system. Use a fictitious currency that has no value except among members, therefore your wealth and resources can't be "exported" out of your local precinct.

As trading grows, so too do friendships, and a sense of community follows.
This then has other benefits, with shared resources, enhanced security as people start looking out for their neighbours, and more employment for all.

I have experienced this, having established such a LETS system. In fact, it worked too well !! Members became so friendly that trades were no longer recorded, and sharing became a way of life. :)))

When one street makes it work, then those that look over the fence will also adopt it - until before long there is a wider community all gainfully involved, and making positive moves to improve the lot of all involved.

Unfortunately, we often do not implement such strategies until change is forced upon us. While it is never too late - certainly sooner is far better than later.

How about making it sooner??