Q&A: Helena Norberg-Hodge and 'The Economics of Happiness'

Jemima Roberts

2nd March, 2011

Filmmaker, campaigner and environmental pioneer Helena Norberg-Hodge talks to Jemima Roberts about her latest film - The Economics of Happiness - the damage globalisation is doing, and what can be done to counter it

Filmmaker and environmentalist, Helena Norberg-Hodge knows a thing or two about globalisation and the costs involved. One of the pioneers of the localism movement, her ecological career kicked off with a visit to the Ladakh people of Tibet in 1975. Ancient Futures, a book about her experiences was the result, along with the foundation of the International Society for Ecology and Culture [ISEC] to promote the concept of localism.

 

Her latest venture is the documentary, The Economics of Happiness, which premiered at the Royal Geographic Society last month. The Ecologist caught up with her to find out why the economics of happiness are so important for the environment.

Jemima Roberts: Helena, how would you introduce yourself and your work?
Helena Norberg-Hodge: ‘As an expert on the impact of the global economy: on culture and on agriculture.’

JR: Tell me about The Economics of Happiness and the impetus behind it?
HNH: ‘The film is an offshoot from the work that my organisation, ISEC, [International Society for Ecology and Culture] and I have been doing for more than three decades: raising awareness about the impact of the global economy and pointing out that localising, rather than globalising, can bring us back from the brink of environmental and social breakdown.’

JR: What are your hopes for the film?
HNH: ‘That we can contribute to the creation of a movement for economic change – helping social and environmental movements see the multiple benefits of linking hands to form a new movement for a new economy.‘

JR: You have been working on these issues for the last 35 years. Are you able to stand back from your work, with some distance and see positive changes?
HNH: ‘I definitely see movement, but unfortunately the movement is from ‘above’ – with lots of foreign funding for a fossil fuel-based, urban consumer culture – this is where I see the most movement.’

JR: How would you respond to the premise that the environmental/alternative economic movement as a whole is 'guilty' of talking more to each other than to wider society?
HNH: ‘I think it’s a fair criticism. There could definitely be more emphasis on getting the word out more widely. There has been too much emphasis on talking to government and big business and not enough on talking to ordinary citizens. I don’t think the problem is that society at large is keen to shirk responsibility. Even in America people have said again and again that they would be willing to sacrifice for a cleaner environment.’

JR: Do you think there is some truth in the charge that these 'issues' have become clouded by the issue of class in the context of the UK?
HNH: ‘I think this charge is unfair. Unfortunately, the most marginalised and impoverished people are not generally in a position to give the same amount of time and energy to movement building that middle class people can. I think we should focus more, rather than less, on mobilising the middle classes. They often have a bit of time and money to contribute to change.’

JR: Are we facing a crisis and if so, is it environmental, economic or moral?
HNH: ‘I think we are facing a crisis of ignorance and blindness to the bigger picture connections and underlying causes of our crises. Most of our crises are caused by the economic system, but there is little analysis of this connection.’

JR: You highlight the danger of homogenisation, that the Western model encourages competition, friction. But you also argue that we are not intrinsically greedy or competitive?
HNH: ‘At a deep psychological level, convincing young people that they will get the respect, admiration, love that they are looking for, through consumerism is a manipulation of a deep human instinct to want to belong. Advertising and the media reinforce this message, in the process, destroying the community structures that provided people with the affirmation that they need. We have evolved in groups – deeply interdependent and connected – the separation and competition of the modern world is antithetical to our deepest needs.’

Reposted from The Ecologist

Check out the film and trailer and where it will be shown in

Santa Barbara and

SLO: http://www.hopedance.org/events/icalrepeat.detail/2011/03/20/5161