by Mark Wadsworth
It would be foolish to describe the current situation in the UK housing market as a “crisis,” as this suggests some unforeseen events which suddenly come to a head and which the government has to deal with urgently. Far from it, the state of the housing market is the inevitable result of quite deliberate changes in UK government policy over the last thirty years or so, which we are feeling the full impact of now. Continue reading
by Lindy Davies
David Triggs’s career was as a water systems management engineer, and his long avocation was teaching political economy. It seems that he assumed the presidency of the IU with an eagerness to learn. Continue reading
In 1999, the Nigerian army responded to the killing of a dozen policemen by a gang of young men by razing the entire town of Odi. Virtually no buildings were left standing, and according to Earth Rights Watch, some 2,500 people were killed.
Despite its tragic history, Odi is no ghost town. Some 24,000 people live there today. And, it is the home of the Ogori Ba Uge, or Buffalo Festival, one of the region’s largest and most convivial annual gatherings.
Gordon Abiama, in partnership with the Georgist community, hopes to contribute to the hopeful rebirth of the Odi community by establishing an ecovillage “Living and Learning Center” there. He described the proposed project thus:
“Development in the region has to be sustainable, socially as well an environmentally. Young people don’t even know where to look for jobs, aside from working for the government. The ecovillage would show them the sort of sustainable businesses they could run, without concentrated capital. There is a great need for these opportunities, especially for young women. Various groups, who could use the Living-Learning Center’s facilities to run programs; we see the ecovillage as a local ecotourism destination.
“We have a four-acre site, on the major East-West road, which includes a pond for aquaculture. We need to do some re-clearing. We have refused offers to buy this land. Housing facilities at our ecovillage would be in demand for various uses. Over 100,000 people come to the festival in July. A great variety of activities and program draw young people from all over, and accommodations are always in short supply. We also plan to organize seminars in cooperation with the federal government’s bio-resource center, which is nearby — and needs housing for students who come there for training programs.
“It will provide a very good opportunity to promote the Georgist philosophy. And, there are great research opportunities in mapping the local land, which has not been done, and needs to be.
“We could get the center going with initial support of $25,000.”
Please help to make this urgently needed program a reality! The Henry George Institute will accept contributions earmarked for the Odi Ecovillage project. For more information, write to Gordon c/o the HGI. — L. D.
by Gordon Abiama
All who stand for truth and justice cannot but acknowledge that the greatest challenge facing mankind today is not political democracy but economic democracy. Continue reading
The quality of our consciousness and thinking profoundly impacts economics. Consciousness in its fulfilled, developed state will bring the ‘dismal science’ of economics to an evolved and higher level — to the status of Enlightened Economics. — Ron Robins
The Economics for Conscious Evolution conference will highlight key principles and policies to show how economics can align with the conscious purpose of furthering the well being of all life on earth. We will explore how to harmonize the needs of the individual and the community and design a cohesive strategy for next steps we can take to build a world that works for everyone. The conference is also designed to maximize participation of all attending.
Objectives of the conference: We will highlight key principles and policies for the emerging economics paradigm, showing how economics can align with and support the conscious evolution of human and other life on earth. We will explore a path beyond both left and right, one that meets the needs of both the individual and the community. Conference participants will design a cohesive strategy for next steps as individuals and as leaders of organizations.
— Alanna Hartzok
Key Sessions and Speakers
Land and Geo-Justice — Kamran Mofid (Globalisation and the Common Good Initiative) Peter Bowman (Head of Economics, School of Economic Science)
Sharing the Land, Rent, and Money Commons — Rajesh Makwana, Adam Parsons (Share the World’s Resources), Gary Flomenhoft (Gund Institute, University of Vermont)
The School of Economic Science
Sharing the Water, Fish, and Oil Commons — David Triggs (Land and Liberty), Aniol Esteban (New Economics Foundation), Bill Batt (Central Research Group), Alanna Hartzok (Earth Rights Institute)
Sharing the Land via Land Trusts and Ecovillages — Anthony Trowbridge on the Zulu Village in RSA, speakers from This Land is Ours and/or the Global Ecovillage Movement
Why Socializing Land Rent and Untaxing Production is Good for Labour — Presented by Labour Land Campaign: Dave Wetzel, Carol Wilcox, Heather Wetzel (Round Table Format)
Inequality, Climate Change and New Economics — Connecting the dots of money, land, energy, taxes and climate change for a big picture view. Caroline Lucas (UK Parliament) Gary Flomenhoft (Vermont Common Assets Model)
Geo-Justice Synergy Workshop — We will co-creatively utilize open space methodology, small groups, brainstorming and a few brief presentations to envision and develop ways to strengthen and harmonize our work together after the conference concludes.
London Tour Day — Exploring the economic history and influence of London through the ages. Charters, Declarations and Economic Human Rights from the Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest to the Declaration of Individual and Common Rights to Land. Bus tour and event at Speakers Corner.
by Dave and Heather Wetzel
A number of organisations and many individuals are involved in promoting an annual Land Value Tax (LVT) in the United Kingdom, and it seems our efforts are having some effect on economic and political thinking. Continue reading
by Bill Batt
Housing, Land and Social Inclusion
The 28th conference of the International Union for Land Value Taxation and Free Trade was held in Buenos Aires, May 15th to 18th. The conference theme was “Housing, Land and Social Inclusion: A Taxation System to Achieve it.” Continue reading
by George Morton
In 1994, in the prosperous city of Stuttgart, Germany, a rail project termed Stuttgart 21 (S21) was announced to replace the existing 16-track overground terminus station by an 8-track underground through station, in what would be Europe’s largest construction project. Continue reading
by Michael Hawes
The International Union’s Global Conference 2010 was held in a grand building in central London, just round the corner from the Wallace Collection, one of Europe’s finest collections of works of art, paintings and furniture. Continue reading
by Karry Skanda
Dr. Doom and Dr. Paradise Debate Wealth Under the “London Eye”
The conference site and the accommodations could not have been more felicitous: the South Bank Campus of King’s College, London University. Sleeping and living quarters were right across the street. London’s new impressive landmark, the London Eye, aka “Millennium Wheel”, sponsored by British Airways, can be spotted behind Victoria Station. Continue reading