Conversations about what a New Economy looks lilke at Whitesburgs new bar, The Thirsty Heifer

A number of us have been working the past few weeks to pull together a series of events and activities to celebrate “New Economy Week” in our region.   This is a national effort to bring attention to the emerging ‘new economy’, that is, an economy that is more locally rooted, more democratic and participatory in nature, more just and more ecologically sustainable.  The New Economy Coalition (http://neweconomy.net/) sponsors the week.

Colleagues from Asheville, Whitesburg, Abingdon and neighboring communities have worked with me – on very short notice – to make something happen in our area.  Collectively we’re referring to our efforts as ANEW, the Appalachian New Economy Week.  It’s a modest beginning, one we hope to build on once the week is over and into the future.  We’d love to have many of you participate!

During the week, people will be encouraged to “Think before you buy” and then to focus any purchases they make on local businesses and more sustainably produced products.  Folks will be encouraged to post photos or thoughts about this to the ANEW Facebook page  www.facebook.com/aneweconomyweek/ .  This will be an option to encourage in all three communities.

Other activities related to the New Economy, like the launching of a new Buy Local card in Asheville, the next round of trainings of nature-based businesses through Accelerate Appalachia, the Solarize Abingdon meeting on November 10th, the new Bottom Up Economy website and You Tube (www.bottomupeconomy.org)  etc, will be mentioned and promoted as much as possible at the gatherings, on the Facebook page, etc