THE ECONOMICS OF SUSTAINABILITY
Excellent teaching techniques - very effective.
This innovative and fascinating weekend course will examine the ways
that economics can be used to promote sustainable communities. Traditional
economics ignores the essential integration of social and ecological
concerns into economic development. Community workers, local and
international development organisations, small business owners and
students would all benefit immensely from this programme.
From the
development of co-operatives to the Fair Trade movement, from social
enterprises to community currency systems, an exciting array of
sustainable economics design, policy and activities will be examined to
inspire and empower participants to help reclaim their local economy.
COURSE OUTLINE
1300 onwards: arrival. Please ask at reception or in the restaurant for
directions to your room.
1430 Welcome, questions and warm-up activities.
1630 Sustainable economics, sustainable communities:
Limits to growth / growth imperative. System entropy: ecological and
economics systems require materials and energy inputs to function. What is
money? Debt-based economies. Real wealth, discussion of value.
Sustainable development? Energy and natural capital accounting and
evaluations - externalised costs.
1800 Supper in restaurant.
1900 Continued development vs energy descent:
Globalisation = global inequitable wealth distribution = fossil fuel
consumption. Consumption, population and energy; the energy crisis. Fossilfuel-
based agriculture. Peak Oil. Energy descent. Measuring progress and
indicators of sustainability. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) vs Genuine
Progress Indicator (GPI).
Day 2
0830 Breakfast in restaurant.
0930 Ecological economics:
Building a society of sustainability. Localisation vs globalisation.
Non-debtbased
money systems. Interlinking monetary and energy systems;
subordinating money and markets to social, environmental and political
values.
1100 Coffee in restaurant.
1130 Community currencies:
Monetary reform. Multiplier effect. Spending circles and inward channels.
Issuing your own currency. Complementary currencies - over 5000
worldwide. Time banks: Ithica, New York Times Bank (Ithica Health Fund),
Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS). Microfinance in the 'developing'
world.
1300 Lunch in restaurant.
1400 Popular education - activities and role play:
Participatory learning tools in action: plugging the leaks, making the most of
every pound. The money trail: measuring your impact on the local economy.
Time Bank card game. Offer and request Bulletin Board. Explosion of
interest. Barn Raising and Bartering.
1600 Tea in restaurant.
1630 Applying sustainable economics:
The social economy: the Solidarity Economy in the Global South. Fair Trade.
Community economic mapping. Community development finance. How do
you start your own community currency? Where to find sustainable
economic resources?
1800 Supper in restaurant.
1900 Case study: 'Bristol Good Wood Project' and discussion.
Day 3
0830 Breakfast in restaurant.
0930 Making it happen - social enterprise and co-operatives:
What are social enterprises? How do they work? Hill Holt Wood. Arts in
Newark. RenU Biomass, Nottinghamshire. How do workers' co-operatives
work? Mondragon in Spain. RED Comal, Honduras. Community-owned
energy co-operatives. Wind farms. Bro Dyfi Community Renewables. Arts
Factory. Baywind. Westmill Wind Farm.
1100 Tea in restaurant.
1130 Project presentations; group closing and feedback.
1300 Lunch in restaurant then depart.
COURSE TUTORS
Bryce Gilroy Scott, Green Economist. Environmental Architect, University of
Lincoln.
Molly Scott Cato, Green Economist, Aberystwyth.
WHAT TO BRING
Please bring sturdy shoes and warm, weatherproof clothes.
We provide bedding but you will need to bring a towel.
A torch is useful for moving between buildings at night.
