The Urgency of Community Self Reliance: Transforming Political Violence

The cure for political violence–as well as these other issues–is a system that helps people develop a sense that who they are matters.

Community self-reliance can create one such system. Timebanks show people that their skills are useful to others. Urban agriculture can teach people that they have the power and ability to sustain themselves and exist interdependently with others. Buy nothing groups show people that they can contribute to the lives of others and show them that they don’t have to depend solely on themselves or money for survival. Exchange based health clinics show people that they can receive medical care without money. Repair cafes show people that they can develop new skills and use them in service to others.