Can you talk yourself into recession? With the 10th anniversary of the global financial crash upon us and the prospect of Brexit threatening to convulse economies in Europe, the R-word has been bandied about a lot of late.
But there is a school of thought that holds that the more you talk about recession, the more likely it is to transpire. Cause and effect may be hard to determine, but certainly the last two big economic downturns in the developed world, in the early 1990s and the 2008-09 period, were preceded by a spike in media usage of the word.
The same arguments are made with press coverage of far-right populists, school shooters, suicide bombers and size-zero models: that the more we talk about them, the more they proliferate.
Here at the Upside, we believe the converse may be true: that the more we talk about innovators, trailblazers, unsung heroes and social entrepreneurs – and the more you read about them – the more we encourage the kind of success stories the world needs. Virtuous circles instead of vicious circles.
So this week we highlight the amazing work of smallholders in a busy African capital who, in this great age of urbanisation, are going back to the farm – in the city.
We highlight the latest British effort to rescue town centres – and focus on a particularly bold Spanish experiment to do the same.
And we look at other ways to incentivise good behaviour. Short answer: more carrots, fewer sticks.
What we liked
A much-needed initiative in New York to arrest rising numbers of teen suicides. Also Laura Oliver’s piece for Positive News about constructing new buildings – out of old buildings.
What we heard
It would be great if you could cover the incredible change water retention landscapes could bring to the world. It has been proven to work, and with all the water problems the world has, it would really be interesting to get this solution out in the wider world
gordonB, in an email to theupside
I am also into urban farming. (But yet have to reach for my roof!) Apart from the cost savings, it is fun to connect with nature, and to better understand the processes underlying plant growth. And, last but not least, it is good for the environment, because it decreases the need to pack, cool, and transport veggies all the way from rural areas to the city. That is the least what I can do for future generations.
Reader Gardinan, commenting below the line in our piece from Uganda
Where was the upside?
In Issyk-Kul province of Kyrgyzstan, where the Women of the World Nomad Games took place.
Also in Pontevedra, a Spanish town that has banned cars from the city centre.
