Economy; Target Community Target Community:

¶ … Economy; target community

Target community: Analysis

Bill McKibben's book Deep Economy is a radical challenge to the current environmental mindset that focuses on shifts in productivity rather than downsizing the modern lifestyle. Instead of stressing the ability of green technology to grow the economy, McKibben states in no uncertain terms that unchecked growth is simply not sustainable, and instead advocates a shift to a localized model of governance. "Think small" is the implication of his book.

Our small suburban community has a unique advantage in realizing some of the goals of McKibben's manifesto. We as a collective have enough funds, self-knowledge, and community resources to reduce our expenditures on fossil fuels and our overall carbon footprint. By transforming our community into a model community, we can set an example for our children and' do our part' in making the planet a greener and more wholesome inheritance.

While dependence on oil is a multifaceted problem, the first step of our local campaign is simple: reduce the use of automobiles in the community. We must provide other sources of transportation, given that the relatively small nature of our town makes walking and biking a feasible possibility for residents. We must repair sidewalks, build new bike racks and trails, and encourage biking to school and work, whenever possible. We can use police or parent volunteers ensure children have appropriate supervision on the way. After school, parents ferrying students to the same extracurriculars should carpool: no large SUV should only have one or two children within their confines! This will not only reduce the community's carbon footprint, it will save gas money and create new opportunities for residents to talk with one another as friends, something which people rarely do in their busy lives.