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Principles for a Rural Movement

2007-11-04

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On April 26, 2005, over 75 people concerned about the future of rural America came together in Minneapolis to explore how they might work build a powerful movement that would reverse the decline of rural communities, re-invigorate the rural political voice and develop the inherent assets and natural resources to build strong rural economies.

It was agreed that work needed to happen at the local, regional and national level for this movement to succeed. To guide us in our various efforts we said we would adopt a set of principles against which we could check all our activities to ensure concurrence of purpose.

1. Principle of subsidiarity: Decisions should be made as closely as possible to the citizen and that action should secure greater freedoms for the individual.

2. Principle of working landscapes: Rural lands can and should perform multiple functions, including supporting viable rural economies, an appealing quality of life, clean air and water, wildlife habitat, and diverse economic opportunities for residents.

3. Principle of local control and self-reliance: Development of enterprises, landscapes and systems should be determined based upon local needs and assets and designed, owned and managed by local citizens and communities.

Retrieved from IATP.org Principles for a Rural Movement