Real Wealth and Livelihoods group

 

This group is really buzzing at the moment.

 

Group contact is Chris Hart Email: eartheart@talktalk.net for more info.

See Whats On page for date and venue of next meeting -or drop Chris a line.

 

Provides a useful forum to discuss issuesand share ideas and knowledge, whilst also functioning as an entry point for people who are new to the subject matter.

Following on from the successful talks and workshop on Common Wealth by Martin Large from Transition Stroud

Projects discussed include:

  • Community Landtrusts – info about legal structures and the concept of community ownership in perpetuity, summary of the Riverview project, news that a CLT is underway in Lancaster.
  • Moor Hospital project summary
  • Local Currency
  • Participatory budgeting
  • Stoneleigh(Nicole Foss) – expert on global economy/energy/sustainability will be speaking in Lancaster on 5th April 2011, venue tbc.

 

  • Economics of Happiness film – the group have a copy of this film which is available to use by TCL, Dukes, PACT, or anyone else, also suggested whether it would be suitable to show in schools.
  • Greening the Workplace – group has contacted local NUT and Trades Council, CVS are running an event on this topic on 9th March 2011.

 

Background

We have made our main theme so far general education for the group. We have asked people to watch the Economics Crash Course http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse/chapter-1-three-beliefs

Slides covering Chris Martenson's presentations at conference are now available online, including UK data and a review of the similarities and differences between the US and the UK that exist in the Crash Course.

See:

http://www.chrismartenson.com/blog/transition-towns-conference-files/19811

where you will find the slideshown online. Some further suggested reading by members of the crash course can be found here.

 

Everyone who has watched this so far has found it clear, very informative, interesting and helpful. We will continue to discuss this presentation at our next meeting in April

.

Arising from our discussions the following ideas have emerged and we could hold discussion nights on issues such as:

  • Rising population and demand and supply

  • The future employment prospects in Lancaster which is a fairly non resilient employment area, largely dependent on public services; higher education, prisons and health

  • How to provide jobs and employment in a post carbon City

  • How do we create an ethos of resource sharing.

  • A talk about Calories in Calories out, or Energy in Energy out. For example, at present we use ten calories of energy to produce one calorie of food

  • Develop a localised Green/Sustainable New Deal. Maybe draw from this example: http://www.sheffieldgreenparty.org.uk/greennewdeal/vision.htm

  • Run a monetary information group

  • Encourage more people to become experts in the economy, we all work in and with it every day and need to take more power over what happens

  • Develop a network of locally owned businesses to provide backing for a local currency or local bond issue

 

Links

The film Economic Crash Course you can see it on the web at: http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse so please do watch this in advance if you'd like to come along and join in the discussion, it may even change your life.

Gaian Economics - winner of the green blog of the year - need I say more

www.tuc.org.uk/extras/gogreenatwork.pdf is a workplace manual specifically designed for Union Green Representatives. However, anyone could use it in their workplaceand has been sent to the Lancaster and Morecambe Trades council for discussion.

www.tuc.org.uk/touchstone/Justtransition/greenfuture.pdf is focussed on looking at the barriers to transforming industries and business from the perspective of employees - why they often see transformation as a threat.

Both the above are excellent documents produced by the TUC and I recommend reading them. The workplace produces more than 50% of carbon emissions in Britain. I think this is a core issue.