I have briefly mentioned before the work I've been doing creating Street
Groups. The defining features of Street Groups are: a small well defined
area, and dense membership.
To get a Street Group running you need to knock every door. Getting
density is not easy.
We've discovered that the success of the group depends on having people
along the street who actually network across the fence and over the road.
You'll see from the Street Groups web site that we look at the many
global problems we face, and suggest that local groups working together
provide us with a practical way to change our lifestyles and to be more
supportive of each other.
If (when is probably better) we reach some future tipping point that
causes fundamental changes in how we live and what we can expect of our
government to control, better prepared communities are likely to cope
with less disruption.
I imagine very high oil prices severely limiting our usage.
Shortage of some other essential industrial input.
Climate change causing severe storms, floods, droughts and wildfires.
Financial system breakdown. Today's, recession becomes a trade war
leading to depression.
Epidemic disease with no readily available vaccine or effective treatment.
Those are five commonly suggested problems that might rapidly bring us
into a severe crisis. There are dozens of other possible events, that
might make governance, economic stability and social cohesion chaotic.
Here in New Zealand, at least, we've built communities where we hardly
need to know or interact with our neighbours. Some people like it that
way. I believe that if we get to know each other, if we can build a
level of cooperation and trust, we are much better placed to protect our
interests when some crisis occurs. You have to build defenses before you
need them.
While all the above is (I hope you agree) valid, that's not how to sell
the Street Groups idea.
Street Groups are practical and useful now. Sharing tools and swapping
garden produce across the fence is made much easier. Street BBQ's or
Garage Sales are popular. Some streets may be able to organise events
for kids. There may also be issues with the local City Council where the
ability to work together strengthens your case.
There is also a Neighbourhood Support aspect to Street Groups.
Monitoring street damage, thefts, damage to cars and other undesirable
events is a useful way to minimize the damage and protect your property.
However, people have to learn HOW to use their new Street Group. They
need a few people in the street who demonstrate good usage of the group.
It's much less effective is one person is doing all the posting.
http://www.streetgroups.co.nz/
Enjoy
John S Veitch
The Network Ambassador