Presented by Dr Gavin Putland

Thursday November 6th, 6.45pm

As the panic sets in and discussions about a new financial framework at the Bretton Woods 2 meeting grow, Dr Putland will measure up the trends that continue to lead us into asset bubbles.

What can be done to avoid them? What should the G20 countries be focusing on?

What can we do to build a knowledgebase so that it doesn’t happen again?

Gold coin donation to cover drinks, nibbles.
Venue: Level 1, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

RSVP essential

Short Course - 4 x Tuesdays starting Oct 14th*
6.15 - 8pm

Following last year’s highly successful Economics for Activists series, Karl Fitzgerald (3CR - Renegade Economists) returns to provide these gold coin sessions.

Investigate universal economic laws and how they influence our everyday lives as activists, advocates and solid citizens. Now more than ever activists and solid citizens alike need to know the principles guiding the behaviour of the big boys. We will join the dots so we can keep up.

The ins & outs of the bankers bailout, carbon trading, housing affordability, WTO/ IMF and resource speculation will be covered over the 4 sessions.

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.

Registration essential
Gold coins will cover nibbles, drinks
Level 1/ 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

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(Right Click)

Last year’s event

* we will have Melb Cup night off, with the last session on Tues Nov 11th

117th Henry George Annual Dinner
Tues Sept 2nd

Equal and Inalienable Rights to the Earth

– Ground, Water and Air: when and how should one allow Enclosing the Commons?

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This year we are fortunate to have Dr Terry Dwyer deliver the Commemorative Address. As a highly respected Resource Economist, Terry has chosen this year’s topic based on the omnipresence of resource privatisation. With water trading spreading in influence and Carbon Trading soon to be in operation, this address will be highly relevant to today’s hot topics.

Terry Dwyer is a visiting Fellow, National Centre for Development Studies, Asia Pacific School of Economics and Management, Australian National University. He is also a practicing lawyer.

This is a very special event on our calendar and has been held annually in Melbourne since 1897. Henry George was a highly influential economist at the turn of the 20th century who took the writings of Classical Economists to their logical conclusion: simplify business and community life by capturing most of the value the community and business create. He saw this value reflected in higher land values and controversially found that such land value appreciation could fund the abolition of all other taxes.

As this event is a Dinner, bookings in advance are important. We would like to have all bookings by Friday 29th August if possible via office at prosper.org.au. Price of the meal will be $15 which is paid when ordering. We will gather at around 6.30pm with meals preferably ordered by 6.45.

The venue that we have chosen for this event is the Pumphouse Hotel, 128 Nicholson St, Fitzroy. It is a very attractive venue, perfect for some deep rooted discussion. See this map for locational detail.

A kilogram of beef contains between 15,000 and 100,000 litres of embodied water. For every kilogram of wheat grown in Australia, seven kilograms of topsoil are lost. We give lip service to concerns about peak oil and greenhouse gases, yet our agricultural industry is utterly dependent on unsustainable quantities of polluting petrochemicals.

There’s no reason why this insanity can’t be quickly and effortlessly changed to a geoist system of economics which inherently recognises the true value of natural resources. The major obstacle to change actually lies with the peddlers of our current neoclassical economics. You can side with these peddlers and relax, ignore the food riots, have a beer and flick on the TV, or you can come and be prepared in the knowledge that will help in the transition away from the consequences of our dietary choices.

Speaker: Karl Williams (a.k.a. Mr. Ed)
Time: 7 pm, Friday August 1st
Venue: EarthSharing Australia, 1st Floor, 27 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

All welcome, light supper provided, gold coin donation,RSVP appreciated to Karl Fitzgerald or via 9670-2754

Tuesday July 22nd at 6.45pm for 7pm, Level 1/ 27 Hardware Lane, Melb

Join us for a warm night of films! See the Earthsharing Challenge film Who Owns Anglesea? This 10 minute short film shines a spotlight on housing affordability and how this effects the seaside town of Anglesea.

Following this will be legendary Australian cartoonist Bruce Petty’s inspiring new doco-animation, Global Haywire, a must see for those concerned about the plight of the world and wanting to see a refreshing, humorous documentary.

Beyond the typical critique of the Washington Consensus, Petty looks into the eyes of the Enlightenment and asks if we’ve stuffed it up? The development of systems and statehood, rationality and reason have been distorted. The multitude of inventions, the white goods revolution, computing and bio-technology have done little for genuine liberty. Read a review here.

The usual drinks and nibblies will follow. We haven’t seen you or so long, we hope to see you for a social night.

$5 entry to cover the royalties.
RSVP appreciated

Diary Dates

• The True Cost of Food - Karl Williams presents on Fri August 1st, 7pm
• Economics for Activists - Karl Fitzgerald presents on Tuesdays nights 6.30 - 8pm, Aug 5 - 26th
• 117th Annual Henry George Dinner, Tues Sept 2nd, 6.30pm featuring Terry Dwyer (ANU) @ Pumphouse Hotel Function Room

Winter Film Night
Tuesday July 22nd at 6.45pm for 7pm sharp, Level 1/ 27 Hardware Lane, Melb

Join us for a warm night of films! See the premiere of the Earthsharing Challenge film Who Owns Anglesea, giving a Georgist perspective upon the problems society faces. The focus was on housing affordability and how this effects the seaside town of Anglesea.

Following this will be legendary Australian cartoonist Bruce Petty’s inspiring new doco-animation, Global Haywire, a must see for those concerned about the plight of the world and wanting to see a refreshing, humourous documentary.

Beyond the typical critique of the Washington Consensus, Petty looks into the eyes of the Enlightenment and asks if we’ve stuffed it up? The development of systems and statehood, rationality and reason have been distorted. The multitude of inventions, the white goods revolution, computing and bio-technology have done little to reduce the plight of the poor. Read a review here.

The usual drinks and nibblies will follow. We haven’t seen you or so long, we hope to see you for a social night.

$5 entry to cover the royalties.
RSVP appreciated

Fri Nov 30th, 7pm for 7.15pm, Hardware Lane
RSVP

***Due to popular demand we will be getting David to deliver this lively presentation again in mid 2008

To read about David’s extensive material on these topics, check his website

In need of some FREE comedy to get your year on the roll?

Start the year laughing at the tightrope we walk juggling our finances. Ever wondered why it’s so difficult? Internationally acclaimed comedian Ross Ashcroft will take the mickey out of the structural reasons for our trials and tribulations, helping us laugh at the big picture causes. Ever wanted to laugh at why the top 10% own 80% of the planet and how little we address this core issue?

Ross has performed at Edinburgh’s Comedy Festival and runs a comedy club in London. Must see, must laugh, must think!

Drinks and cheap eats available.

Free entry. See you there! Venue: Horses Bazaar, 397 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne (between Elizabeth & Queen). Melway reference (43 G7). For regulars, go the the northern end of Hardware Lane, turn left and it’s three doors up the hill on left.

***thanks to all who attended Frank de Jong’s highly successful ‘Tools of Sustainability’ Tour. Read about it and watch him in action.

The leader of the Ontario Greens, Frank de Jong, delivered 12 talks during his Australasian ‘Tools of Sustainability’ tour. Frank finished off with a bang in NZ with over 100 people hearing his talk in Auckland. Check his multimedia page here to see and hear some of his radio, TV and recorded speeches.

Frank was very strong at the True Cost Economics forum (TCE event report) on how the green tax shift can be used so that business does not face additional tax charges in the race to address climate change. An increase in carbon taxes must be counter-balanced by a decrease in payroll & consumption taxes.

At another speech Frank stated that “the perils of urban sprawl must be recognised and addressed. Unlimited land supply stretches community resources and adds how much carbon to the atmosphere? We need walkable communities linked by rail. Everyone loves visiting Venice or Amsterdam because you can walk everywhere. We need policies to fast-track this and Site Rental is our best chance for all-encompassing change, with the added bonus of reducing the wealth gap.”

His international experience gave some valuable insights into changes in the political landscape:

“Just 4 years ago the Ontario Greens had the typical Green Party policy platforms of renewable energy, coal phase out and the abolition of chemical pesticides. With the pace of Global Warming ringing true in Canada, the mainstream parties adopted all of our core policies in just one election cycle. This saw 800 wind turbines built, the commitment to build no more coal fired power plants and the abolition of pesticides. The same trends will no doubt occur in the southern hemisphere.

The Green Party must stay a step ahead by looking deep within the concept of Green economics. With that comes the acknowledgement that resources and the natural wealth they bestow must be shared amongst the community. A Resource Rentals system ensures nature’s gifts are used efficiently. At the same time we can find favour within business circles by reducing taxation on jobs and profits.”

Frank de Jong interviewed on RRR’s ‘The Word’ (13.9MB, 15 mins)

Watch:

NZ YouTube interview (5mins)

• Frank de Jong’s full speech ‘Combatting Greenwash Locally’ (VLGA, July 26th, 40mins)
• Combatting Greenwash Q & A session

Alternatively you can watch the VLGA speech via YouTube (in 6 parts)

Frank on Planet TV - NZ

Soon we will be releasing a multimedia highlights CD of recent events, including Frank & Alanna Hartzok’s recent tours & audio from Bryan Kavanagh’s groundbreaking presentation to his ‘Unlocking the Riches to Oz’ report.

Contact us if you would like a ‘best of’ collection of recent events and articles. A small charge will be required to cover postage and handling (appx $5).