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Writing & Films
Helena is the author of several books, including the international best-seller ‘Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh’, a moving portrait of tradition and change in Ladakh, or “Little Tibet,”. Ancient Futures challenges us to redefine what a healthy society means and to find ways to carry centuries-old wisdom into our future. Ancient Futures has been translated into more than 40 languages, and sold half a million copies worldwide.
Her most recent book ‘Local is Our Future: Steps to an Economics of Happiness’ connects the dots between our social, economic, ecological and spiritual crises revealing how a systemic shift from global to local can address these seemingly disparate problems simultaneously. Distilling the wisdom gleaned from four decades of activism and experience, Helena deconstructs the old narrative of 'progress' through technological advance and corporate growth, while presenting a concise and compelling case for economic localisation.
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Helena is also the producer of the award-winning films that explore the social, spiritual, and ecological costs of today’s global economy while highlighting the multiple benefits of economic localisation. These films also showcase the steps people are already taking worldwide to rebuild their local economies and communities.
Films
Closer to Home
We live in a time of multiple crises, from climate chaos, poverty and war to skyrocketing costs of living. It can seem overwhelming – until we realise that we have the power to change things.
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‘Closer to Home’ brings together an extraordinary array of thinkers, writers and activists from every continent to make a simple but revolutionary argument: by reducing the scale of the economy, we can not only stop the rush towards social and ecological breakdown, but restore damaged ecosystems and increase our own personal well-being. It’s a message of hope that the world cannot afford to ignore.
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Translated into 16 languages.
Planet Local
Away from the screens of the mainstream media, the crude ‘bigger is better’ narrative that has dominated economic thinking for centuries is being challenged. As people work to protect and restore their local economies, their communities and the natural world, countless diverse initiatives are demonstrating a new path forward for humanity. It’s a path that localizes rather than globalizes, connects rather than separates, and shows us that human beings need not be the problem – we can be the solution.
The Economics of Happiness
This award-winning film spells out the social, spiritual, and ecological costs of today’s global economy while highlighting the multiple benefits of economic localization. The film showcases the steps people are already taking worldwide to rebuild their local economies and communities. Featuring Vandana Shiva, Bill McKibben, David Korten, Samdhong Rinpoche, and other inspiring thinkers and activists.
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Localization is the best way to repair our ecosystems, our societies and ourselves. Watch the film free below.
“What’s our favourite documentary of all time? The one film we wish everyone could see? Hands down, this is it. It is truly one of the most important and useful films for inspiring change that has been made in a generation.” – Films for Action
Ancient Futures: Learning from Ladakh
The award-winning film based on the book was produced and narrated in 1993 by Local Futures’ Programs Director, John Page. Ancient Futures is much more than a film about Ladakh. The breakdown of Ladakh's culture and environment forces us to re-examine what we really mean by 'progress' - not only in the 'developing' parts of the world, but in the industrialized world as well. The story of Ladakh teaches us about the root causes of environmental, social and psychological problems, and provides valuable guidelines for our own future.
Writing
Ancient Futures
Ancient Futures, now translated into more than 40 languages, is Helena Norberg-Hodge’s moving portrait of tradition and change in Ladakh (or “Little Tibet”), a scathing critique of the global economy, and a rallying call for economic localization. Originally published in 1991, the updated 2016 edition contains a new preface by the author, as well as the original foreword by H.H. the Dalai Lama.
In a new preface, she presents a kaleidoscope of projects around the world that are pointing the way to both human and ecological well-being. These initiatives are the manifestation of a rapidly growing localization movement, which works to
rebuild place-based cultures—strengthening community and our connection with nature. Ancient Futures challenges us to redefine what a healthy society means and to find ways to carry centuries-old wisdom into our future.
“Everyone who cares about the future of this planet and their children’s future should read this book.”
~ The Guardian
“Some books provide insights into our problems; others offer guidelines for a different future. Ancient Futures does both, brilliantly. A true classic.”
~ Bill McKibben
“Ancient Futures was a critical early warning about the social, spiritual and ecological costs of exporting ‘Western’ lifestyles to every corner of the globe.”
~ Naomi Klein
Local is Our Future
Local is Our Future connects the dots between our social, economic, ecological and spiritual crises, revealing how a systemic shift from global to local can address these seemingly disparate problems simultaneously. Distilling the wisdom gleaned from four decades of activism and direct experience in both the global North and South, Helena lucidly deconstructs the old narrative of ‘progress’ through technological advance and corporate growth, while presenting a concise and compelling case for economic localization.
