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From Larderello Exploring the ecological conversion

From Larderello Exploring the conversion Ecological

"A collective project is rooted in a territory as a place of community life and therefore to preserve and care for the good of all. Participation, implicit in the action, becomes "guardian" and "promoter" of the spirit of the place "(from" Short treatise on the decline serene, "by Serge Latouche)

Larderello is a fraction of Pomarance in the province of Pisa Metalliferous Hills at 390 meters above sea level. The village has 850 inhabitants and is partly owned by 'ENEL.
On 2 August jumped to the headlines the news of 'Operation Rebirth "Larderello. That day was the fact there is the conclusion of the first contract between ENEL and the buyers of 60 of the 110 apartments of one who, after almost sixty years after its construction, it is still considered one of the most successful experiments factory-village, a model of residential design and related services industry organization. Larderello, wanted the village in 1954 by "Larderello spa" at that time was running plants in the area borax in the Valley of Hell (later changed to ENEL), returns to revive after decades of 'abandonment and depopulation caused by the gradual automation of industrial processes. From 1200 employees (which also allowed employment to residents of surrounding areas), remained in 300 dwelling houses Larderello.
The homes of employees of the factory borax are sold, with the right option for people who still live there, at discounted prices. An apartment of 80 square feet, with basement and garage, it costs about 50,000 €. These apartments are district heating steam (with savings compared to traditional heating systems). And even young couples we would like to settle in these parts will be charged additional discounts. And it is also envisaged the possibility of renegotiation of the contract rent at low prices to 5 or 6 years. And within the overall transaction it is expected that the so-called social housing (gym, heated pool, sports, drama) to get back on hand to 'administration.
An operation that also provides local economic regeneration: all the works of redevelopment and rehabilitation were given to local companies and also the development of geothermal energy offers new employment opportunities.

Let's start with this example and from these ideas to suggest and propose experiments and some "concrete utopias is described" in our opinion necessary - as times of "transition" - to a change in our system and our development model for an ecological conversion and social Our company (coming to the necessary change the current relations and forces of production).

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Through the use of public funds (regional, national and European) the local AUTHORITIES should begin to develop a comprehensive strategy and long-term recovery, regeneration and repopulation of the villages and rural areas, more and more deserted and desertified. To counter the peripheralization urban policy produced by the company's growth, the solution would be to take the 'utopia' of the 'ecomunicipalizzazione.

The relocation occupies a central place in utopia and concrete can be declined immediately in the political agenda, combined with the decline to renew the old formula of ecologists: think globally, act locally. The size limit and should not be a problem but as a starting point certainly would agree, as a means of example, starting precisely from the small community. The conversion project
label includes two interdependent elements: innovation, economic policy autonomy (which implies that food and energy).
The political project will harness the resources and local differences, promoting processes of conscious and responsible autonomy, refusal of eterodirezione the single market, developing and promoting forms of mixed economies, surpassing the current system of capitalist regime based on the economics of profit and inequality.
What better opportunity to start from small communities, from "urban villages", fertile land to promote and develop economies of relationship, proximity and good neighborliness. Forms of economy of communion and solidarity that promote the transition from tangible goods and services and to that of (common areas for shared services - co-housing through a sense of community that develops according to a logic of "communal solidarity"). In this perspective, the
closed loop is not a microcosm, but the node in a network of cross virtuous and supportive, designed to try to strengthen democratic practices (including participatory budgeting) and social cohesion, making it possible to resist the liberal domain.

dwell on job opportunities potentially available if intraprendessimo a real ecological conversion, combining environmental policy with social policy, bearing in mind that meeting the needs of a lifestyle-friendly, sustainable and equitable for all can be achieved with a significant reduction working time required, since there are huge "reserves".
needed for this revolution Cultural able to "decolonize the 'imaginary', the establishment of 'utopian' and concrete experimentations lifestyles.

These sectors should be developed within a "Green Deal" - a plan for the ecological conversion - starting from the villages and small towns:

• development of renewable energy economy toward a "solar" (construction of wind turbines and their turbines, the production of photovoltaic cells, geothermal) and transition to local energy autonomy.
• sweet and sustainable development of mobility (bus, car sharing and car pooling, bicycles)
• organic farming and the spread of "social gardens"
• reforestation, land conservation, water purification and biodiversity management
• green tourism (promotion of local traditions and customs, often speak about towns and villages of great value historical - environment)
• small business, micro-enterprise projects and districts solidarity (GAS, time banks, etc.)
• waste management, reuse and recycling (Zero Waste)
• green building and ecological design for redevelopment, renovation and new EDIC eco-friendly.
• new occupations such as forestry expert, the ecoarchitetto; research and development in environmental
• recovery of ancient crafts and local
• community work and community service mandatory paid for the youngest

Imagine a young couple in a modern city living with the problems of insecurity and of intermittent work and is forced to borrow to buy a monoocale to 200,000 € and bring up their children from smog, pollution, expensive services and so on. Let's ask
as an alternative to buy an apartment of 80 sqm with garage and basement to 50,000 €, with mostly free services or shared with neighbors, clean air, green spaces and where to raise their children, cost of living cheaper and perhaps more so with employment potential.
Could this alternative from the decolonization of our imagination that contributes to this pattern of unsustainable development to 360 °?

Stefano Romboli

from the blog "decrescita.com"