“The Tools of Sustainability” Tour Overview

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Frank De Jong – Tools of Sustainability Tour
July 13 – Aug 3
Melbourne – Sydney – Auckland – Full Tour Itinerary

Frank De Jong, leader of the Ontario Greens (Canada), will be touring to discuss and demonstrate the economic tools the planet so desperately needs. Frank has a long history of campaigning, having competed in 12 Canadian elections over 20 years. He is renowned in Canada for having coined the term ‘the invisible green hand’ of market forces.

Frank will bring to audiences a positive message on how we can stay ahead of the greenwashing brigade. What are the latest sustainability trends in the Northern Hemisphere? How can we lobby for more environmentally efficient economic policy? Isn’t that true conservatism?

Beyond economic theory, Frank loves getting his hands dirty, having led protests against the largest nuclear power station in North America (Darlington), been arrested in Northern Ontario’s old growth forests and cycled through much of Canada.

Frank is an engaging speaker, making economics easy to understand.





Itinerary:

Sat July 14th, National Greens Convention*
Tues 17th, “Speculating on the Earth’s Future”, Whitehorse Greens, Place: Meeting Room 1, Box Hill Library (Entrance just to left of main library entrance in Whitehorse Rd), 7.30pm
Wed 18th, “Costing the Earth”, Selby Community House, Wombalana Rd (Enter Charles St) MEL 75 K11, 7pm
Thurs 19th, “Return to the Source: Preventative Policy”, Federal Campaign launch for Priya Carey, Candidate for Batman, Northcote Townhall, High St, 7pm
Fri 20th, “The Invisible Green Hand versus the Time Famine”, True Cost Economics Forum, Swanston Hall (Melb Town Hall), corner Swanston & Collins St, 9.15 – 1pm
Fri 20th, “International Wedge Politics”, Melbourne Greens, CII Restaurant, 470 Little Collins St, Melb
Sun 22nd, “Campaigning on Climate Change: A Canadian Perspective”, Sydney Greens, Venue TBA, 2pm
Tues 24th, “Climate of Change – Warming to Green Economics”, Warnambool Greens, Regal Cafe, Timor St ($10 p/h for a curry plate), 6.30pm
Wed 25th, “Economic Rent – Where’s our Money spent?”, Earthsharing Australia, Level One, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 6.30pm
Thurs 26th, “Combatting Greenwash Locally – Is less bad good enough?” (PDF 93kb), VLGA, 60L Building, Leceister St, Carlton, 7-9pm
Mon 30th, “Will Carbon Trading save the day?”, Auckland Greens, Wellpark Naturopathic College, 7 Francis Street, NZ, 7.30pm

Frank’s Biography (PDF 420KB)

All talks are free, RSVP appreciated

*(Green Members only)

Unlocking the Riches to Oz – 15th June

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Unlocking the Riches of Oz – Fri June 15th, 7.15pm
The launch of Bryan Kavanagh’s (LVRG) groundbreaking report.

or

Unlocking the Riches of Oz – the Decision Makers presentation 10am, Thurs June 21st, Hardware Lane

A night of insight as Bryan takes us through his world leading statistics, analysing economic trends over the 34 years the report covers. Bryan is an experienced property valuer of 32 years. He is one of the world’s leading analysts on the inter-relationship between land and the economy. Did you know that Australia has probably the most accurate land value records in the world?

Hear how the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party has run amok with our tax system, costing rich and poor alike many millions.

How does the sharemarket affect the property market and vice versa? What should the true role of the Reserve Bank be?

Entry: Gold coin donation. Reports available at $10.
Level One, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, 7.15pm
RSVP essential for another capacity event

2007 True Cost Economics Forum

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Friday July 20th
“Economics – the fast track to Sustainability”
Free RSVP necessary

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True Cost Economics is an economic model that seeks to include the cost of negative externalities into the pricing of goods and services. Products and activities that directly or indirectly cause harmful consequences to living beings and/or the environment should be accordingly taxed to reflect the somewhat hidden costs.

Natural resources need to be at the centre of our thinking, not wriiten off as an ‘externality’ or mined for exorbitant profits.

The 2007 TCE Forum will feature Frank De Jong, leader of the Ontario Greens (Canada). He is an expert on environmental economics, having coined the term ‘the invisible green hand’ of market forces. Frank has over 20 years experience in Canadian elections and will bring a balance of political know-how and economic theory. As Frank says “Let the market do the hard work for us in changing our thinking towards environmental responsibility”.

Economics needs to direct the behaviour of consumers towards looking after the planet. Is Carbon Trading enough? A new economic paradigm is needed to ensure a liveable planet for future generations. It is time to discuss and plan for this evolution.

Frank De Jong will give his positive keynote “The Invisible Green Hand V the Time Famine”, then 3 panels will follow:
Policy Pathways: Carbon Trading v Carbon taxes. A crucial point in time demands we make the correct decision.
Cameron Neil (Fairtrade Labelling ANZ)
Amanda McKenzie (Australian Youth Climate Coalition)
Tom Curtis (Earthsharing Australia)

Policy Possibilities: What are the cutting edge policy options? Also, the practical examples of effective green economics at work.
David Spratt (Carbon Equity)
Donna Lorenz (Maunsell Engineering)
Adrian Whitehead (Beyond Zero Emissions)

Policy Makers: What do the politicians see as possible and pragmatic? Is it genuinely possible to make policy that will stop runaway climate change? Eg, co2 below 550eppm
Senator Lyn Allison – Leader of the Australian Democrats
Evan Thornley – Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier (ALP)
Dr Richard Di Natale – Lead Senate Candidate – The Greens

15 minutes question time will follow each panel.
The Venue:
Swanston Hall – Melbourne Town Hall (to the left of the main stairs, enter from Swanston St)

Time
9.15 – 1pm

Science is leading the way with the evidence of global warming. The rapidly increasing cost of insurance is alerting us of the dangers to ignoring nature’s law.

The true cost of avoiding a transition towards a responsible economic system is quickly becoming apparent. Let’s insure against the power of nature by following the money trail and scientifically re-directing it towards a profitable future for all generations.

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Free RSVP necessary

2007 Challenge

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The Earthsharing Challenge Camp Take 2

An action packed weekend learning the current issues from people who live with them daily. Record these stories on camera and let’s make it into our very own documentary!

Participants Attending the Camp:
• Approximately 20 students will be chosen.
• Students from years 8 to year 11 can apply.
• All students will undergo a free film training day in the Melbourne CBD before attending the camp.

What Will Happen on the Camp?
The weekend will involve a tour of Anglesea’s environmentally significant sites and people. The issues will include forestry, water and waste.

While gathering local footage and information, the Challenge participants will be based at the Angahook Holiday camp . While enjoying the calm, country air, students at Angahook will be involved in workshops, forums and fun stuff with guest speakers and local community thinkers.

The youth initiative is free for student participants and made possible through the support of the Anglesea community and Prosper Australia.

What About After the Camp?
The footage filmed will be compiled into a youth documentary for the young participants to take back to their schools and for teachers to use as an educational resource.

Opportunities for the film to be placed in competitions and shown across Victoria will also be explored. Watch the 2006 film here

So Apply Now – Camp Application Form (PDF 38KB)
Any questions?

The Earthsharing Team

Economics for Activists

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A highly successful event, stay tuned for further courses

Tuesday evenings in May, 6.15pm – 8pm, starting May 1st
Location: Level One, 27 Hardware Lane, CBD – between Bourke & Little Bourke Sts 9670 2754

Ever wanted to read between the lines of the newspaper? Arm yourself with the tools of modern warfare as Karl Fitzgerald takes you through the key understandings required to ‘follow the money’.

    Topics covered:

  • Economic terminology – the basic framework
  • Economic History via: The Classical – Neo-Classical – Neo-Liberal dichotomy
  • Wealth gap – why is it expanding?
  • Climate change – can economics address it?
  • Housing Affordability – why are we paying so much and what can we do about it?
  • International perspective – WTO/IMF

Interactive games and multimedia footage will complement the learning in an attempt to keep the sessions as upbeat and interactive as possible.

Ask yourself why we have it drilled into us that economics is ‘the dismal science’? If we spend our entire life chasing the ‘elusive dollar’ then it makes sense to understand the rules to that game.

The first session is the most important. If you miss another session that is understandable, but we will be building on the first session’s knowledgebase throughout the course.

Cost: Gold coin donation appreciated

Bookings essential