Whilst our priority right now is to focus on the immediate needs of communities affected by the devastating weather events across the country, it is also food for thought for the future.
I’ve long been concerned about the trend towards centralised control in our governance, utilities, supply chains, media/communications and transportation. I won’t even start on education!
Imagine a country where everything is centrally owned, controlled and administered.
Imagine us all driving electric cars, when there is no electricity.
Imagine a cashless society, when cash machines aren’t working and banks are disappearing from rural areas.
Imagine being dependent on external sources for our food, when infrastructure is broken.
Imagine needing internet for comms when power sources are out.
Imagine if the whole country is impacted by an event. Who will get priority?
This is the direction we are heading and it makes us individually and collectively vulnerable.
That is why:
– we need to refocus on community decision-making, planning, problem solving and common sense
– we need to foster self-sufficiency in our building codes. If people want to live off grid in remote areas, then support them to do that, even at the cost of council control
– we need to have planning that includes community social and business hubs, not suburban monstrosities focused on profit at the cost of infrastructure
– we need to foster community and backyard gardens, and ensure we retain our most arable land for food production or native planting – not pine forests abandoned by overseas owners
– we need to ensure we have transportation that enables us to be mobile when we need to move quickly
– we need to look at alternative power sources
– we need to encourage battery radio, sirens, and satellite as means of communication – putting announcements out on Twitter when internet is down isn’t really helpful
– communication providers need to have operating standards that include robust backup plans
– we need to respect the needs of all ages and demographics in our planning
– we need to support local businesses, so they’re still there when our communities are cut off
– we need local media, telling local stories by local people, not promoting a central narrative
– list MP’s should have some form of local/electorate responsibility and accountability
– we need to foster face to face community connection through sport, groups, events, community meetings.
In short, we need to get back to community. Local control, central guidance, support and a network that connects us.
Yes, we absolutely want to contribute to our global family. But we can only do that by looking after our own health and sustainability first.
Luckily in most parts of NZ, we still have people who remember what community and common sense are. Let’s value them before we lose them.
