The Economics of Peace Conference
April 6, 2009
By John Bloom & Katrina Steffek
Along with Praxis Peace Institute, RSF Social Finance presents: The Economics of Peace Conference, October 18–23, 2009. This summit conference will bring together many of the leading practitioners and supporters of new economics to share current work and to develop collaborations toward an economics appropriate for the 21st century. These innovative practices aspire to heal society and the planet, and bring about peace. A second purpose is to raise broader public awareness of what is possible in changing the relationship to money, our current financial system, and fostering emerging new complementary systems.
In the midst of economic collapse, we are compelled to seek wiser systems of commerce and more equitable economic relationships. While it is imperative that we understand the history of our economic structures and what went wrong, it is equally important that we experience the outstanding examples of collaborative business practices that are changing the economic landscape today. Examples include cooperative businesses, complementary currencies, green business, green jobs, slow money, slow food, living wage initiatives, social finance, credit unions, BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), and more.
The challenge before us is to align the efforts and energies of the millions of individuals, businesses, and organizations that are working to transform our failing economy. “The Economics of Peace” Conference will provide a space for such independent networks and organizations to form deeper levels of collaboration and to begin describing the next economic paradigm. In essence, it will be a place for the imaginal cells of a movement to begin transforming economic relationships to better serve people and planet.
The Scope of the conference will include some of the following questions and conversations:
• Inquiry – What are the myths that define our economic environment and how do they influence our choices and limit our options? How can we demystify these beliefs and empower a new economic paradigm that works for everyone? How do we define economic relationships that serve Peace?
• Vision – Working collaboratively, we can create alternatives to failing economic patterns and practices. “The Economics of Peace” Conference will highlight some of the most successful business and economic models that incorporate collaboration, sustainable business practices, and respect for all workers.
• Tools for the New Economy – Practical and interactive workshops, daily discussion groups, and open space sessions will help define an economic vision for the 21st century.
Themes that will be addressed and developed over the 5-day Conference:
• The Economics of Social and Environmental Justice
• Transforming the Means of Exchange
• The Influence of Cultural Myths and Propaganda on Economic Policies
• Ownership: Ethics, Rights, and Responsibilities
• Economic Alchemy: From Self-Interest to Altruism
• Evolving the Policies of the New Economics
Keynote speakers and presenters already confirmed:
* U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
* U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA, Sonoma County District)
* Riane Eisler (eminent social scientist, attorney, and cultural historian)
* Sam Keen (noted author, philosopher and expert on propaganda and the roles myths play in our psyches and societies)
* David Korten (author, leader in the global resistance against corporate globalization, co-founder of the Positive Futures Network and Yes! Magazine)
* Mikel Lezamiz (educational director of the Mondragón Cooperatives Corporation)
* Jacob Needleman (professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University and serves as a consultant in the fields of psychology, medical ethics, philanthropy and business)
* Vandana Shiva (physicist, environmental activist and author)
* Judy Wicks (co-founder of the nationwide Business for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and a founder of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN))
The conference will be held in Sonoma, California, in the town center. It will utilize numerous public spaces including the town square, the community center, local businesses, an historic adobe, and a renovated former movie theater.
Co-sponsors (as of April 1, 2009): YES! Magazine, E.F. Schumacher Society, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Mother Jones Magazine, Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma County GoLocal Cooperative.
Updates and conference registration are available at: http://www.praxispeace.org/conference09.php.
John Bloom is the Director of Organizational Culture and Katrina Steffek is the Manager of Organizational Culture at RSF Social Finance.
- Published by John Bloom
- Categories: Economy, Local economies, Money, Social Finance
Hi John,
You may have seen my articles on money in New View. If not some of them are on our website for your interest. It might be valuable in terms of the dynamic of the conference to have a dialog about what is possible to transform within the current paradigm. I am speaking at Corporation 2020 this June from this perspective. I am also a fellow of Economists for Peace and Security which includes a number of Nobel Laureates. Jamie Galbraith heads it up. It might be good to invite him or, say, Paul Krugman to speak if not others from this group. It might do them as much good as it may help the conference. I am not an active member but may be able to get their attention if you want me to try. Sounds like a valuable event.
Best,
Ben
Comment by Ben Bingham — April 7, 2009 @ 10:07 am
John and Katrina, I am extremely excited about this conference design and I’m flowing delicious appreciation to you both. I do have one suggestion based on 6 months of research I did into the Economics of Peace. I found to my dismay that there was an ‘elephant in the living room’ regarding the strategy of the peace movement to achieve peace. That elephant is that the munitions industry dominates the global economy without people even being aware of the names of the leading munitions manufacturers. To create reorders of their products, there have to be wars…..and so we have them. There is also much information that such companies help instigate wars for this very reason. These companies have some of the largest gross revenues and they employ hundreds of thousands of employees. Until we can strategize their transformation into helping ‘peace in space’ or fielding peacekeepers instead of soldiers, we will not be addressing the economics of peace.
Hope these ideas were helpful. Blessings. Susan Davis
Comment by Susan Davis — April 7, 2009 @ 10:18 am
Hello Thomas McCarry here also go as Tommy Teeple. Search: Tommy Teeple And The Quantum Hitch Hitch Hikers.
I’m searching to live on land that is not enslaved by corporations, rent mortgage free, Will this topic be covered?
It looks to be a great event!
Thank u all 4 putting it on. I intend to make it!
Blessings,
Tommy Teeple…
Comment by Thomas McCarry — August 13, 2009 @ 8:43 pm
Hello John and Katrina – We have a mutual friend in John Steiner, who forwarded your most excellent peace conference information to me, some time ago. I trust this comment “forum” is still functioning, as you come down to the 11th hour prior to your conference. I wish I could join you. For years I’ve been holding a vision and an idea.. that I’ll offer you here: please introduce me to anyone who may be passionate (or at least interested) about collaborating with me on a project to bring balance to the amount of money the Pentagon spends on advertising, PR and marketing.
While we may agree that the presence of Obama certainly reduces the sense of urgency many people feel about diminishing the momentum of the military/industrial juggernaut. However, his actions of late suggest that the militarists influencing him may have effectively subverted his desire for peaceful solutions to conflict. The reality remains, we must fund alternatives that are long term and will last beyond one stimulus package or one administration. Yes, the Serve America Act is wonderful, yes, Michelle Obama’s announcement of the Social Innovation Fund is also wonderful.
I simply believe we must go farther and reach deeper to transform entrenched beliefs and attitudes that are fortified by unrelenting advertising to join the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. We must send young and old alike a new message. There are other ways to prove your patriotism and “serve” your country. In fact, we may be able to contribute to transcending the fierce “nation-state mentality” that keeps our world in conflict.
The idea that I would love to see gain significant traction is this: Let’s introduce a bill for public funding that will insure sufficient money for the production of compelling messages (all forms of media) to announce to young people that they have an alternative to military service and that they can indeed “be all they can be” by working for peace and justice.
Let’s secure 5, 10 or 25 cents on every dollar the Pentagon spends in their marketing and advertising budget. Of course, I would prefer to reach parity and match dollar for dollar the Defense Department’s advertising budget. I’m aware the true definition of Utopia is “no place”, so, my desire for a fair balance of the allocation of our resources between opposing paradigms (peace or war) may be too ambitious. If public funding support is not feasible, please introduce me to other resources and funding alternatives.
There are 27,000 Pentagon Employees in their promotional department. How many do we have designing and producing powerful messages and then managing the delivery and distribution of these “commercials”f for young people to engage in community service projects / social innovation / justice and peace initiatives?
Thanks for your help with this fragile seedling of an idea. I hope to hear from someone
Comment by Bud Wilson — October 16, 2009 @ 2:05 pm