If you're not familiar with them, Ted Talks are organized by a non-profit devoted to ideas worth spreading. Through their annual conferences, experts tackle some of the biggest and littlest ideas that could change the world. Their speakers are some of the most important thinkers, doers, researchers, and idea generators in the 21st Century. On a random side note, if you've never checked them out before, here are the 20 most watched Ted Talks thus far: http://blog.ted.com/the-20-most-watched-tedtalks-so-far/
You're welcome.
So what does this have to do with living local? I came across a Ted Talk right up Living Local New England's alley, discussing our economy of corporate consolidation and how it affects consumer choice. Sound depressing? Nah. It's also got a number of great statistics about the efficiency, necessity, and productivity of community-scaled enterprise (fancy word for small business) that hit the nail on the head.
While the speaker, Maine's own Stacy Mitchell from the Institute for Local Self Reliance and the Community-Scaled Economy Initiative, does not seem the most comfortable onstage, her talk sure is. It's worth a 15 minute listen for sure...
Why We Can't Shop Our Way to a Better Economy:
Want more of Stacy Mitchell's thoughts? Her book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses, has appeared on several top-ten lists. Described by Bill McKibben as “the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country,” it's a searing indictment of Big Box chains and an encouragement for returning to our local main street roots.
