Eco-Local

So, the "eco" and "locally grown" movement continues its journey. The other day, Moderaterna presented a new radical proposal concerning a lower cap for the allowed consumption of car petrol.  Our new, green centralist-right wing has yet again provided evidence of there being a shift in opinion liaisons. The trend of combining and synergising profitable commerce with environmental actions is gradually reallocating the environment issue, from the "lumberjack-shirted left wing romantics", towards the modern, white, urban bourgeoisie. All of a sudden, we all have become locally sourcing, designer-clad ecology heroes.

Another sign of the academic middle-class retreating from its hyperopic focus on grand macro schemes and remote theories is Stockholms stad's new forum. Its purpose, is to revive forgotten and dying parts of the city. This additional tool for the densification of Stockholm is supposed to improve and add the possibilities of commerce and well-being in those "wasted spaces". I really like the idea of looking more at the factors that are close to us and have a direct impact on our everyday lives. The whole soundness of it makes for a realistic, bright future, I think.

The completely un-scientific profile is clear. White person between 20 and 40 years of age, urban lifestyle, trend and fad conscious, equal parts appearance and soul, implicit complex for not belonging to a cool minority ethnic group, definitely own a bicycle, listens to decently obscure music, likes locally grown veg., has decided upon a favourite charity cause, is an academic who communicates intensively with a whole lot of other similar people. These people, of which I am almost one, have quite an easy time making themselves heard, because they are viewn as credible. They also know how to manipulate most communication channels and have the time and incentives to bother. Generally, they have a potentially huge impact on decision makers. Because of these lobby activities within immediate environment and traffic (vehicles, not people or substances), the demands for transparency and continuous efforts within these fields have clearly increased dramatically over the last few years. All good!