Introducing Next Okanagan

There is a story emerging in our world that is not being told by our media. It is the story of the relocalization process that is being precipitated both by necessity and by possibility. This transition represents the end of an era of economic and population growth stimulated by an abundant supply of cheap fossil fuels. It also represents the beginning of a change towards a more balanced and thoughtful approach to the business of life, and the life of business. Together we face a convergence of interrelated global challenges that are forcing us to find better ways of doing things and making our communities work. We are changing our attitudes toward - and relationship with - energy, climate, food, economics, health, waste, and the environment. At the same time, we are establishing new norms for how we communicate, work, live our lives, and ensure that the goods and services we need are sustainably produced and available from reliable local sources where possible. Next Okanagan covers the story the extraordinary challenges and opportunities that we face, and the story of the emergence of a new culture of local resilience. It provides perspective on the primary challenges, and spotlights inspiring and visionary signs of people rising to the occasion - whether as individuals, neighborhoods, communities, institutions, companies or organizations.

It gives coverage to issues of relocalization, food quality and security, healthy and sustainable business practices, and social responsibility and social justice, and efforts to deal locally with the challenges and opportunities of change, developing food, energy and economic alternatives, and building community. No place has as much potential for developing a self-reliant economy than the Okanagan, and it is ideally located to create a cultural identity that is true to place. Next Okanagan is for people who want to be told different stories than the ones they hear every day. It brings these stories in the form of long-form in-depth analysis as well of short bursts of practical information readers can act on. Next Okanagan is a collaboration between the Okanagan Network for the Environment and the Okanagan Institute, both organizations that have deep roots in the region. Between them they reach a broad swath of the population through their connections to environmental, arts and culture, and social justice groups. Their combined reach of thousands of individuals and dozens of related groups makes their association, and Next Okanagan, one of the most potent local forces promoting positive change through resilience, common sense, regeneration and creativity.

Making Sense of Change: Table of Contents

INVOCATION The Real Challenge DISPATCHES The Damage Report | Donella H. Meadows First Things First A Forest of Blue | Pew Charitable Trusts Conflict Water | Hannah Askew Transits: Walking into Wilderness | Don Gayton Voxpop: Stewardship | Don Elzer Consuming Green Servitude Defined | Housekeeping Monthly Rise and Spread | Worldwatch Institute A Charter of Care | Karen Armstrong PAPERCUTS Growing Illusion | Dave Pollard The Terminator Bug | Andrew Nikoforuk Sustainable Seafood | Jane Moody Underdog Inventors | Tyler Hamilton Reclaiming Childhood

FEATURES The Territories of Hope | Robert MacDonald The Green Grass of Home | Karin Wilson A Creative Revolution | Don Elzer Only the Poets Can Save Us Now | Richard Reese Caraway and Pippens | Harold Rhenisch INSERTS The Discovery of Wet Lands | Wetlands Alliance Sage-ing: A Journal of the Arts and Aging PRACTICA Bee Here Now | Elnora Larder On Mind Bending The Diaper Dilemma | Shelly Hebert Getting a Green Job | Don Chivas Urban Hen 101 | Karin Wilson Making a Difference | Robin Broad and John Cavanagh Why Local is Logical EPIPHONIES Butterfly Dreams | Karin Wilson

Where You Can Get Your Copies

Next Okanagan is available for sale at the following retail locations: OSOYOOS First Choice Health Foods The Dusty Bookshelf Feathered Frog OKANAGAN FALLS IGA KALEDEN Kaleden Restaurant PENTICTON Nature's Fare Marke Hooked on Books Whole Foods Market Tumbleweed Gallery Grooveyard The Book Shop Okanagan College Bookstore

KELOWNA Mosaic Books Nature's Fare Market Town Centre Postal Services Okanagan Text Book Exchange Earth Whimsy Kelowna Health Centre D & D Books Green Cannopy Okanagan College Bookstore VERNON Bookland Nature's Fare Market Bean Scene Coffee House Boutique Canadiana Okanagan College Bookstore

ARMSTRONG The Village Cheese Company Askew's Foods Shamrock Books & Beyond ENDERBY The Gypsy Bazaar SALMON ARM Hidden Gems Bookstore Nutter's Bulk & Natural Foods Bookingham Palace Bookstore Pharmasave With more to come. If you want to be a distributor of Next Okanagan at your location, please Contact Us.

The Okanagan Media Alliance

The Okanagan Media Alliance is dedicated to bringing together those working to create a resilient society. We also produce guides to the good things in life: organic agriculture, sustainability, conscious consumerism, fair commerce, the creative arts - anything that helps you live a good life that also happens to be good for others, and good for our planet. Next Okanagan is published by the Okanagan Media Alliance in association with the Okanagan Institute and the Okanagan Network for the Enviroment executive director: Deb Thorneycraft publisher, editor, designer: Robert MacDonald Paperback, 8 x 11 inches, 128 pages isbn 978-0-9868663-7-1, $8

A recession is when your neighbour has to tighten his belt. A depression is when you have to tighten your own belt. And a panic is when you have no belt to tighten and your pants fall down. We should never, never be afraid or ashamed about dreams. The dreams won't all come true; we won't always make it; but where there is no vision a people perish. Where people have no dreams and no hopes and aspirations, life becomes dull and a meaningless wilderness. - Tommy Douglas The artist picks up the message of cultural and technical challenge decades before its transforming impact occurs. He then builds models for noah's arks for facing the change that is ahead. - Marshall McLuhan