Director Anna Brownfield won the first I Want to Live Here film competition. Standing room only saw a positive atmosphere as we listened to comedian Courtney Hocking, heard a few Earthsharing spiels and then saw some killer films. We were genuinely impressed with the quality and say a big thankyou to all those film makers who entered and made the top 10.
We will be uploading more films to the Earthsharing Youtube channel over the next few days.
Please Note: Whoops some technical issues at 3CR have scuttled our podcasting link. So we hope all you google aficionados find your way back to this crucial information.
To get our podcasts back online, copy this link into your Itunes:
http://podcast.3cr.org.au/podcast.php?cat=RenegadeEconomists
For more details on how exactly to do this.
Be warned, it may change again soon. Please join our podcast e-list so we can contact you – our dedicated podcasters – in case of any future changes. From what we hear, podcasting software does have a tempestuous reputation, no matter what software you’re with. So patience please…
Karl’s return from speaking to the Council of Chiefs for the Shepherd Islands (Vanuatu) reveals the new weapon of choice – land speculation. Interviews with locals tell the story that ugly aussie expats are leading. Film comp screening Wed Dec 3rd.
Vanuatu
Sovereignty – 1980
Land speculation the neo-colonial weapon of choice
89% Port Vila foreign owned
25% live on less than US$1 per day
Strong link to West Papuan freedom
Enclosure of the commons so fresh – connection to land is strong
The synopsis:
1. Land has not been valued in many areas since 1980
2. Property taxes on buildings only
3. Land taxes mysteriously reduced to under 1% in last few years
4. 2 people work in the Valuer Generals office
5. 4 people work in valuation for the Department of Lands
6. None of them have time to value land.
7. US Aid is building a sealed ring road around the main island of Effate.
8. There is very little internet access there
9. No free internet anywhere, even the library
10. 89% of land in capital city Port Vila is foreign owned
11. 99% medium to large biz foreign owned
12. Land speculation and land banking is rife.
1. 24% capital gains p.a over last 5 years.
2. Most by aussies. Society dominated by dodgy expat Oz conmen. Embarrassing ;(
The invisible chains of land speculation are threatening the freedoms of ni-Vanuatuan’s. Land monopolisation is just so dominant there could hardly be a better example of the perils of poor tax regimes.
‘We must turn off the tap to the magic money of land speculation’
‘Economic rent is the urban gold’
‘Foreign aid for foreign speculators’
Interviews –
Tommy: ni-Vanuautuan labourer, Port Villa
Chief Andrew Popovi…where’s my notepad….sorry
photo credit: vaschenko
This article appeared in counterpunch.
Reality had to raise its ugly head. Barack Obama was elected with overwhelming approval to inaugurate an era of change. And at his November 25 press conference, he said that his decisive victory gave him a mandate to change the direction in which America is moving. But his recent economic and foreign policy appointments make it clear that when he chose “change” as his campaign slogan, he was NOT referring to the financial, insurance and real estate (FIRE) sectors, nor to foreign policy. These are where the vested interests concentrate their wealth and power. And change already has been accelerating here. Unfortunately, its direction has been for the top 1% of America’s population to raise their share of in the returns to wealth from 37% ten years ago to 57% five years ago and an estimated nearly 70% today.
The change that Mr. Obama is talking about is largely marginal to this wealth, not touching its economic substance – or its direction. No doubt he will bring about a welcome change in race relations, environmental regulations, and a more civil rule of law. And he probably will give wage earners an income-tax break (thereby enabling them to keep on paying their bank debts, incidentally). As for the rich, they prefer not to earn income in the first place. Taxes need to be paid on income, so they take their returns in the form of capital gains. And simply avoiding losses is the order of the day in the present meltdown.
Read more
Why should land speculator’s make more in their sleep than we do sweating away over a lifetime? This trend has led to the financial meltdown but yet they are being bailed out….
The modern world’s problems demand the most accurate financial tools on our side. Here we sum up the problems and give an overview to a very important reform.
Ignorance of the economic advantage land has is driving the wealth gap, global warming and boom bust cycles. Why should renters pay double what past renters have just for the human right of a roof over our head? Forward this onto your networks!
Over a year in the making, we hope this is the first of many more youtube clips explaining our story in detail. Check the credits page to see who helped make it.
When: Wednesday 3 December 2008, 7pm to 9pm.
Where: The Order, Level 2, 401 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
Cost: Free.
The screening of The ‘I Want To Live Here’ short film competition will be an event of great importance. Here finally young people will be able to tell their story of the ludicrous situation that sees them paying more than any the generation in rent. Mainstream media ignores many of these issues.
The 10 finalists to be screened are challenging, humorous and sometimes risque. Whatever they are, they all make you think. The winner of the $3000 first prize will be announced on the night.
Along with these 10 fabulous films you have the chance to peruse and support the Melbourne Craft Cartel’s creative stalls set up on the night.
Get some Christmas shopping done and support local craft at the same time! It’ll give you a warm fuzzy knowing that you are helping local economies thrive, saving on consumer miles (goods flown around the world polluting) and putting your money where the sweatshops aint.
Comic stalwart Rod Quantock will also be featured on the night.
More details