Local Futures

Local Futures originated in 1978 to counteract the influences eroding Ladakh's indigenous culture. As the efforts have expanded globally over the past Read more four decades, it remains dedicated to collaborating with local leaders to cultivate a brighter future for Ladakh and beyond. Local Futures, an international non-profit organization, is committed to revitalizing ecological and societal well-being by fortifying communities and local economies on a global scale. In essence, the organization strives to construct an economy centred on happiness. Apart from India, it has active operations in UK, USA, Spain, Australia, Thailand, Bhutan and Japan. Helena Norberg-Hodge, the founder and director, is a highly regarded analyst known for her profound insights into how the global economy impacts communities, local economies, and individual identities worldwide. Through an array of books, films, campaigns, educational tools for action, and global activist-driven events, it sheds light on and explores the fundamental root causes behind the current global crises. The focus is on addressing these root causes, not just the symptoms, to create a shared platform among activists, small-scale farmers, indigenous communities, local business owners, and all others involved. It advocates for economic localization—redirecting economies toward localized, human-centred activities—as a transformative strategy that simultaneously tackles multiple crises. The vision entails a future that is localized, where the majority of our food is sourced from nearby farmers who are integral parts of our communities, ensuring year-round food security. It envisions a system where money spent on everyday goods continually circulates within the local economy, fostering community prosperity. In this future, multinational corporations and banks conform to societal regulations, rather than the opposite scenario. It aspires to see local businesses thrive and multiply, providing meaningful livelihoods for everyone. Local Futures works with the mission of promoting localization through a systemic shift from globalization for ecological and social well-being. To achieve its objective, it works through three major programs - Global to Local, Ladakh Project and The Economics of Happiness.