The Economics of Peace Conference: A ‘Stimulus Package’ for the New Economy John Bloom October 29, 2009 distinction between full employment and full engagement in Five days of intensive presentations, workshops, and coneconomic life in the Sarvodaya villages. versations focused on the elements of an economy for the 21st Jacob Needleman and Sam Keen, two noted philosocentury were at the heart of The Economics of Peace phers and authors, began the Monday sessions, Conference held in Sonoma, California, October 18with a deep dive into the psyche, mythology, 23, 2009. The conference was co-convened by archetypes and consciousness of money RSF Social Finance and Praxis Peace Institute. and economic activity from the view of the World-renowned speakers such as James inner human being. In the evening, David Galbraith and Vandana Shiva were keyKorten gave a fiery presentation outlining notes at the conference. Both of them the agenda for a new economy based upon explained the current state of economic overcoming the ills of the current one. crisis from the point of view of systemic Korten spoke about the value of re-localizinequity, and made recommendations for ing economies and exposing the abuses of how we can solve our economic problems Wall Street and large corporations. by taking a long-term view of what is needed Tuesday morning, Judy Wicks, the founder to restore the environment, have a more just, of White Dog Café in Philadelphia, spoke about non-vio“Creating a Non-Violent World through Local Living lent econoEconomies.” She discussed her decision to collaborate my, and stem with other local restaurants the disasters of climate to support local farmers, change. pay living wages to staff, and The concepts and remain sustainable. Out of this practices of local living decision, the Business Alliance economies were another for Local Living Economies central theme through(BALLE) was formed. Wicks out the conference, was followed by Stephanie Rearevidenced primarily by ick, who spoke on “Real World the innovative idea of Caring Economics: TimeBanksiting the conference in ing and Social Justice”. Rearick the local living economy is the leader of the Dane County of Sonoma. Conference International activist Vandana Shiva (WI) TimeBank, the most sucattendees made use of cessful TimeBank in the US. local restaurants, hotels and guest stays with local residents. She explained how time could Plenaries and workshops were held in the reconditioned Sebasbe used as a cur- Entrepreneur Judy Wicks tiani Theater, the Sonoma Community Center, and rency to support exchange activities that would other spaces connected with local businesses. not normally be funded by federal currency. Local musicians and artists performed at each of Ellen Brown, author of Web of Debt, then the events. presented ample evidence of why the issuance of The Sunday night opening ceremony included debt as money by banks has caused such enorthe Mayor of Sonoma reading a formal City mous economic hardship. Using the model of the Council Proclamation recognizing the importance successful Bank of North Dakota, a state-owned of the conference, followed by a brief presentabank, she proposed that it would be possible to tion from Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (who do the same in California and thus return ownerrepresents Sonoma). Don Shaffer, President and ship of the bank to the people that it serves. CEO of RSF, spoke briefly about the importance The focus on Wednesday was the practice of transforming the way the world works with of worker-owned cooperative businesses. Two money toward an economics of peace. Shaffer leaders from the Mondragon Cooperatives in was followed by A.T. Ariyaratne, founder and Spain, Mikel Lezamiz and Fred Freundlich, spoke president of the Sarvodaya Shramadana MoveEconomist James Galbraith at length about the founding and evolution of ment in Sri Lanka. Dr. Ariyaratne outlined the Mondragon, which has developed into the largest worker-owned values of Buddhist economics, the eight-fold path with a focus co-op in the world (with over 34,000 workers). Their activities on right livelihood. He spoke particularly about the important 22
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