June 21 - World Localization Day

V.3, N.33

Ever since 2020, a global organization called Local Futures has been organizing events in dozens of countries on June 21, when the planet’s northern hemisphere enters the summer solstice. There are films, webinars, and local events happening everywhere around the globe. And it’s a moment when all of us who feel isolated in our localist views can bond with thousands of colleagues worldwide.

Our featured interview this week is with Anja Lyngbaek, one of the principal organizers of these events. She has lots of suggestions on how you can participate.

I have one as well. Make a local investment today. I’ve had about $7,000 sitting in my solo 401(k) for a year, and I’ve decided to invest it in two funds focused on local businesses that I love and respect: Vermont Community Loan Fund and New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. Paying subscribers can find a complete list of funds open for their investment below.

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MS: Tell us a little about the history of World Localization Day. How did it start, and what was its mission?

AL: World Localization Day was launched in 2020 by Local Futures, an international nonprofit organization. It began as a one-off event to shine a light on localization as a powerful strategy for systemic change—especially at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighting the critical importance of strong communities and locally produced goods.

We brought together over 100 diverse voices from around the world—economists, farmers, activists, artists, writers, and more—for an online event calling for a global-to-local shift. The message was that we need to move away from a corporate-controlled global economy that serves the few, and toward place-based economies that serve people and the planet. The event resonated widely, drawing participation from 172 countries.

We were encouraged and decided to continue the campaign, inviting others to get involved. In 2021, more than 80 organizations across 30 countries joined forces to co-create a month-long program of online and in-person events focused on localization. Since then, World Localization Day has continued to grow, now including participants and partners in over 50 countries across six continents.

MS: World Localization Day is on June 21. Is there something especially “localist” about that date?

AL: June 21 marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere—a moment deeply connected to the land and the natural rhythms of life. For centuries, diverse cultures around the world have celebrated this day in unique and meaningful ways. It seemed only fitting to choose this date to honor and celebrate localization.

I should add that when we launched World Localization Day in 2020, it began as a one-day event. Since then, it has grown into a month-long celebration throughout June. This expansion has made it easier for groups and organizations to participate, allowing Local Futures to better highlight the wide range of inspiring activities taking place around the world.

A vibrant network of projects, organizations, and independent local businesses is working to build healthier, more resilient local economies and communities. These efforts span from local food movements and community-based renewable energy projects to business alliances and local investment initiatives. Despite their profound impact, many of these efforts remain largely invisible, ignored by mainstream media, and underrepresented in public discourse. The World Localization Day campaign helps raise their visibility. It shows that another world is not only possible but already happening.

MS: What kinds of events will happen this June? And how can The Main Street Journal readers get involved?

AL: As in previous years, there’s a huge diversity of events. For example: Mapping localization and the new economy in Australia; Danish organizations coming together to discuss a localized future; Japan Localization Day (5^th year in a row) which aims to strengthen the localization movement there; screening of the film Closer To Home and a local food feast in Thailand; Seed Fest in Scotland to foster seed sovereignty; a Local Community Day In Egg Harbor in the US; a Bioregional Festival celebrating land, people and culture in Transylvania, Romania; an agroecology workshop involving 200 farmers in Zimbabwe; a webinar about the power of local in Mexico, just to name a few.

I invite The Main Street Journal readers to join this growing movement by hosting an event/activity. For example, a local food feast, a community film screening (we have several films available), or something else with a focus on local. Readers can also join an existing event, and not least, tune in on June 21, when we will release a World Localization Day Podcast Special with changemakers from across the world.

MS: It’s like a 100-ring circus! One of the things I love about World Localization Day is that it amplifies voices from all over the world, including the Global South. Why, in your view, is the Global South so interested in localization?

AL: Many countries in the so-called Global South have retained a higher degree of cultural and biological diversity, largely as a result of later industrialization, compared to those in the Global North. These regions are often home to more artisans, independent businesses, and people engaged in rural and land-based livelihoods. We also see numerous examples of “localization in action” taking root across communities.

People in the Global South are also more acutely aware of the harmful impacts of the global economy. For decades, they have experienced firsthand the destructive consequences of corporate-led development: polluting extractive industries, toxic pesticide use, plastic dumping, exploitative labor practices, and trade agreements that undermine local economies and livelihoods.

As a result, there is, in my view, a deeper recognition of the need for a shift from global to local. At the same time, these communities possess a rich cultural heritage and a wealth of traditional knowledge and practices, which are valuable resources to draw upon in building more resilient, localized futures.

MS: You have a unique perch for observing innovations in localization, as you put these events together. What are the things you’ve seen this past year that most impress and excite you?

AL: That is a difficult question, basically because there is so much going on that impresses me!

I cherish a mental image from last year’s European Ecovillage Gathering in Sweden, where I was invited to speak on the economy. To my surprise, hundreds of young people gathered from all over the world (mostly Europe), hungry to understand how the dominant economy works and what we can do to change it. They demonstrated enormous enthusiasm and creative energy to build alternatives. Their engagement gave me hope.

Another initiative that truly inspires me is Cecosesola in Lara State, Venezuela. It’s a network of 50 community organizations with 1,300 workers and 23,000 members, producing food and hygiene products sold through 22 local markets. By cutting out middlemen, prices are about 30% lower than average. Despite this, the markets generate a surplus that has funded the construction of a well-equipped community-owned hospital. They also run a funeral service and a local savings and investment scheme. It’s a powerful example of what collective action can achieve.

MS: Politically, the voices that support localization skew left, but not exclusively so. I was impressed, for example, that a conservative minister from the UK was featured in your last conference. How do you keep these voices politically balanced?

AL: More and more people—left, right, and center—see that today’s economy works for the one percent, not the rest. A tiny elite holds as much wealth as half the world, while the middle class sinks toward poverty. What used to be mainly a left-wing critique is now becoming common ground. As corporate power concentrates wealth and control, people across the spectrum see the need for change. This opens the door to reining in global giants and shifting taxes and subsidies to rebuild local economies and strengthen communities.

Traditionally, the political right (at least in Europe) has been more prone to support small businesses, farmers, and producers. That, too, is evolving. The local food movement, for example, is bridging divides—connecting rural and urban, young and old, left and right.

Local action cuts through national gridlock. The issues that polarize from a distance become practical and solvable when rooted in real communities.

MS: I see this happening in the United States—and it’s one of the few hopeful things in our political landscape. Big picture: How would you rate the health of the localization movement? Is it growing? If so, where especially?

AL: Yes, the localization movement is definitely growing. There’s been a big shift in awareness. In the past, many in the “Global North” were skeptical about the harms of globalization and saw local economies as a bit idealistic. At the same time, many in the Global South still believed in the promise of Western-style development. That’s changed. People are now much more aware of the damage caused by the global corporate economy and are actively looking for alternatives that support local communities and ecosystems.

What’s exciting is how much the movement has grown in just the last decade. We used to keep track of a few standout projects—now, we hear about new ones every day. Millions are involved, even if they don’t all call it “localization.” The local food movement is especially strong. It’s reconnecting people with where their food comes from, supporting farmers, improving health, and cutting pollution. In many ways, it’s leading the way for a broader shift toward more resilient local economies.

MS: You, personally, are Danish but live mostly in Mexico. How would you compare the way localization has emerged in those two countries?

AL: It’s challenging to make a direct comparison between Denmark and Mexico, as they differ significantly in scale and context. Denmark is a small country with around 6 million people and a single national language. In contrast, Mexico has a population of approximately 130 million, there are 69 recognized languages, and the country is about 46 times larger geographically.

In Mexico, there is a proportionally higher number of artisans, independent businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, and people engaged in rural and land-based livelihoods. There’s also a growing trend of young people moving away from large cities to pursue small-scale entrepreneurship in smaller towns, which is promising. There is a strong agroecology and food sovereignty movement, and many indigenous communities are defending their territories from mining companies, corporate land grabbing, and other threats to their autonomy and well-being.

In Denmark, localization efforts are primarily focused on food. There’s been a notable rise in small-scale food and beverage production, driven by consumer interest in healthy, authentic, and human-scale alternatives to industrial products. In Copenhagen, we’re starting to see public procurement policies aimed at supporting local farmers and food producers.

MS: What three actions do you encourage readers to prioritize on June 21?

AL: Okay…

• Tune in to listen to the World Localization Day Podcast Special.

• Celebrate with a local food feast/meal.

• Commit to taking action – check the Localization Action Guide for ideas or watch The Power of Local documentary for inspiration.

MS: Finally, do you invest locally yourself? If so, how?

AL: I live on a smallholding, and my investment is quite literally in the land beneath my feet. Twenty years ago, my husband and I moved to a piece of degraded pasture. We built eco-housing and, together with others, began practicing agroecology—planting native trees, creating diverse orchards, and developing organic gardens. Today, the land has transformed into a thriving ecosystem. Birds of prey, armadillos, badgers, raccoons, and coyotes have returned. We generate our own energy, harvest rainwater, and grow fresh food and coffee right here.

MS: When can I move in with you? Good luck with the events in June!

Read all of our past interviews here.