Vegan Sustainability Magazine - Autumn 2015

Documentary Review
But in the mid 1970’s Ladakh had a sudden
and rude awakening to the modern world as trucks
rolled in bringing cheap foreign imports of food
and other goods, exposing the people to Westernstyle
advertising and consumer culture. After a period
of about ten years their way of life had completely
changed and for the first time they experithe
Economics of Happiness
This is a documentary which was written, produced
and directed in 2011 by Helena Norberg-
Hodge, founder of ‘Local Futures’ and author of
the widely-acclaimed book ‘Ancient Futures: Lessons
from Ladakh for a Globalising World’. The
book is an account of her time spent with the people
of Ladakh in the Himalayas, and it is an experience
which forms the basis of the documentary.
Until recent times Ladakh was a small community,
isolated from the modern world. The people
sustained themselves through farming and regional
enced unemployment, depressive illnesses, a disconnection
from nature, pollution and a gap between
rich and poor.
The documentary is made up of two parts. The
first half of the documentary looks at the ways in
which globalisation is detrimental to communities,
the environment and livelihoods. The second half
looks at how localisation can enhance people’s
lives, regenerate communities, heal the planet and
generally make us happy.
The following statements are made regarding
globalisation:
trade. They were a close-knit community and
seemed happy and fulfilled, with lots of leisure
time, plentiful food and a strong sense of their own
identity.
Globalisation makes us unhappy - There is a rise
in the incidences of depression as a result of
globalisation. We are constantly exposed to
images of a lifestyle that we must measure up
to, and affluence tends to undermine community
which can leave people feeling isolated.
Globalisation breeds insecurity – Corporations are
dictating what our children want to buy and
what they should care about. People in a global
economy lose their own cultural identity starting
from childhood.
Globalisation wastes natural resources – Natural
resources are already stretched to breaking
point yet we are encouraged to buy more and
more.
Globalisation accelerates climate change – Food is
flown from one part of the world to another just
to be processed, then sent back again. Countries
routinely import and export identical quantities
of the same products. For example, the
U.S. imports 365,350 tons of potatoes and exports
324,544 tons of potatoes each year.
70,820 tons of sugar are imported and 83,083
tons are exported. Argentinian lemons fill the
shelves of supermarkets in Spain while local
lemons rot in the ground. Half of Europe’s
peas are grown in Kenya. The list is endless,
not to mention bizarre. (See graphic on the
next page).
Globalisation destroys livelihoods – Jobs are major
casualties of globalisation.
Globalisation increases conflicts – Small farmers
are pushed off the land. There is increased
competition for jobs and ethnic and other tensions
rise.
Globalisation is built on handouts to big business -
Government subsidies and rescue packages sup-
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