Saturday 24th April 2021: 4pm 5.30pm: London Futurists: The Future Starts Now
Thursday 22nd from 7pm to Sunday 25th April 2021: The COP26 Coalition hosts: From the Ground Up: Taking Action, our second Global Gathering for Climate Justice
Thursday 22nd April 2021: 6pm-7.30pm: Holos-Earth Project: with Sue Cooper of Self-Care World
Saturday 17th April 2021: 4pm-5.30pm: London Futurists: Thinking About the End of the World
Thursday 15th April 2021: 7pm-8pm: Globalnet21: Does Money Grow On Trees? – The New Economics
Tuesday 13th April 2021: 7pm-8pm: Globalnet21: Doughnuts, Economics & Sustainability
Tuesday 13th April 2021: 6pm-7pm: In Conversation with Vince Cable
Monday 12th April 2021: 7pm-8pm: Basic Income Conversation with Michael Tubbs – YouTube
Monday 12th April 2021: 7pm-8pm: Our Permaculture Hour
Sunday 11th April 2021:WISE Up Action – A Solidarity Network for Manning and Assange – 11:30am-12noon outside Ecuadorian Embassy, 1-1:30pm outside Westminster magistrates Court and 3-4pm outside Belmarsh prison: Protests to mark two years of imprisonment of Julian Assange
Saturday 10th April 2021: 4pm-5.30pm: London Futurists: We Have Always Been Cyborgs.
Friday 9th April 2021: 7pm-8.30pm – Seasteading Social: Monthly Meeting – “Governance”
Thursday 8th April 2021: 11am: Globalnet21 – with Alison Teal: Avoiding Ecological Disaster
Tuesday 6th April 2021: 6pm: The Action Network: Make Votes Matter: How to Speak with confidence about PR; www.actionnetwork.org
Thursday 1st April 2021: 6pm: CUSP (Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity): “Shift to a Wellbeing Economy” put the health of people and planet first – Petition Launch – chaired by Caroline Lucas: see video: www.cusp.ac.uk/themes/aetw/wellbeingeconomypetition/ –
Thursday 1st April 2021: Presencing Institute – Cultivating the Soil: two sessions: 2pm and 5pm: – full details and many other fascinating reports on: www.presencing.org
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Monday 29th June 2020:– 18.45 to 20.00: Cafe Diplo via Zoom: The Politics of Oil, Covid-19 & Climate Change: Opportunity or Threat?Money, Markets & Monarchies: Further details on the Friends of Le Monde Diplomatique website where you can see the future programme of events.
* Sunday 28th June 2020, 6-8pm: Meetup, 4th Sunday of the month, at Speaker’s Corner, hosted by Janos Abel, From “Something New Must Emerge” – due to lockdown, confirmation of next meeting will follow.
** Friday 6th June 2020: 7pm – Occupy Economics Working Group: previously 5-7pm in the corridor next to Cafe at Friends House,173-177 Euston Rd, London NW1 2BJ on Mondays & Fridays – for an experimental period, now meeting on Fridays. If you would like to join us, call John on 07950 996418 or Mary on 07966 216891 (in advance) • Occupy London Economics Working Group • www.co-operativesocialism.org
Friday 6th June 2020: 2pm: Online public meeting hosted by Global Justice Now: Why the US-UK trade deal will make us more vulnerable to crisis: With the US-UK trade negotiations starting again in the midst of the coronavirus crisis the issue of how international trade deals affect our economies, our environment and our government’s ability to respond to crises like Covid-19 is back on the agenda. For full details and booking, go to Global Justice Now events page:
Thursday 4th June 2020: Economics for Activists: formerly at the Italian Advice Centre, 124 Canonbury Road, London, N1 2UT, now ONLINE: The Islington Economics Discussion Group is reborn as Economics for Activists and meets on the first Thursday of the month. The new name is to reflect the urgency of the struggle facing us. We all know that next five years are going to be critical for life in Britain and even for the planet. It is essential that the neo-liberal ideology is defeated and replaced with a people’s narrative of justice, fairness and democracy, and to achieve this an understanding of the economic issues is crucial, for example, many people now find it impossible to even consider getting on the housing ladder. The next meeting topic is Covid 19, The Aftermath featuring Özlem Onaran, Professor of Economics at the University of Greenwich, who will speak on the demand and supply side effects of public investment in social and physical infrastructure to rebuild the economy in the aftermath of the Covid19 crisis, focusing on the interaction of gender, income and wealth inequalities, employment, productivity and output. For further information, to be added to the mailing list and get the zoom link for the meeting, please contact: Robert Doyle <ironbridgebob@gmail.com> • 07956 469 450.
Tuesday 2nd June: 6-7pm: Compass all-member call. This week we’ll be in conversation with Labour MP for Tottenham, shadow frontbencher, author, and activist David Lammy MP. From Windrush to Grenfell, and beyond, David is a notoriously dedicated and tireless campaigner for social justice. Now, as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, David is continuing to hold the government to account over the deep inequalities which run right through our society. David was also one of the 110 MPs and Peers who joined together in April to demand a Recovery Basic Income in response to the Coronavirus crisis. As if that wasn’t enough, he has recently written a brilliant book, Tribes: How Our Need to Belong Can Make or Break the Society. It’s a fascinating meditation and call-to-arms, thinking deeply about the benefits and dangers of identity and belonging, and what that means for society. We’re so excited to talk to David about all of this, and so much more. You can join and register for the call: https://action.compassonline.org.uk/june2
Thursday 9th April 2020: 6.30pm WEBINAR: Coronavirus, capitalism and global inequality series. A fortnightly series of online public meetings hosted by Global Justice Now: The coronavirus pandemic has not only shown us how unprepared our healthcare and food systems are in emergency situations but also how, in moments of real crisis, we can marshal extraordinary resources to solve problems facing society. It’s also shown us that while the wealthy get bailouts, the costs of fighting a crisis may fall on the most vulnerable and least responsible. When this crisis subsides, we will still face the continued crises of inequality, corporate greed and climate change which present an existential threat to global society. Now more than ever fighting these injustices must be a priority. Only very large-scale intervention in the markets, unprecedented debt cancellation, financial reform and massive bolstering of the public sector globally can both deal with these issues and restore employment in a post crisis financial downturn.
Join us for a series of debates and webinars about these issues and more. On Thursday 9 April we’ll be starting with…Business as usual isn’t good enough. Why neoliberalism won’t help the global south out of this crisis.
With Myriam Vander Stichele, The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations / SOMO (live from the Netherlands), Tim Jones, head of policy, Jubilee Debt Campaign, Daniel Willis, policy campaigner, Global Justice Now. Full details (as above) and joining link: Global Justice Events.
Thursday 2nd April 2020: Economics for Activists: formerly at the Italian Advice Centre, 124 Canonbury Road, London, N1 2UT, now ONLINE: The Islington Economics Discussion Group is reborn as Economics for Activists and meets on the first Thursday of the month. The new name is to reflect the urgency of the struggle facing us. We all know that next five years are going to be critical for life in Britain and even for the planet. It is essential that the neo-liberal ideology is defeated and replaced with a people’s narrative of justice, fairness and democracy, and to achieve this an understanding of the economic issues is crucial, for example, many people now find it impossible to even consider getting on the housing ladder. At our first online meeting we will be discussing some of the economic implications of the current Covid crisis. If you have time, please watch this interview with Yanis Varoufakis, in which he argues that the EU is making a category error by treating the economic crisis as a problem of liquidity when in fact it’s a problem of widespread bankruptcy: https://youtu.be/jelIraqya6o. You can join the meeting by clicking this link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/2846285138. – For further information contact: Robert Doyle <ironbridgebob@gmail.com> • 07956 469 450 • or Stephen Moorby <moorby@gmail.com>.
Thursday 26th March 2020: London Futurists: online webinar from 7pm: UBI: wise response or naive distraction, to Covid-19 and future disruptions? Is the concept of UBI – Universal Basic Income – a wise response, or a naive distraction, to the challenges posed by Covid-19 and likely future social disruptions? Are regular payments to every citizen in the country an appropriate solution to the fragility that the coronavirus pandemic is exposing in our economy and social safety net? When we consider potential additional crises that may boil over in the years ahead, does the case for UBI strengthen or weaken? And what are the alternatives to UBI? To address these questions, this online Zoom discussion will include a number of initial short talks. They will be followed by a group discussion in which all online attendees can participate. The event ran for two hours: the record should appear HERE.
Tuesday 17th March 2017: From Nudges to Catalysts: A New Approach to Policy for a New Decade: Online Meeting: by Promoting Economic Pluralism (PEP): Elinor Ostrom at her 2009 Nobel lecture said: “Designing institutions to force (or nudge) entirely self-interested individuals to achieve better outcomes has been the major goal posited by policy analysts for governments to accomplish for much of the past half century. Extensive empirical research leads me to argue that instead, a core goal of public policy should be to facilitate the development of institutions that bring out the best in humans.” As neo-liberalism dies, the one common denominator of emerging economic thinking is that Governments should be more activist. Governments are called on to be ‘Entrepreneurial’ by Mariana Mazzucato, to deliver Green New Deals by the environmental movement, build more social housing etc etc. And now we have a self-described ‘Brexity Hezza’ as both PM and effectively Chancellor it would seem – ‘Hezza’ being Michael Heseltine’ nickname famous back in the day for policy activism in Thatcher’s government. So how should Governments act if they took Ostrom’s finding seriously? What is the problem with ‘nudging’, forcing or even incentivising anyway? What would institutions look like that ‘bring out the best in humans’? And what, or rather who are catalysts?
Henry Leveson-Gower will seek to answer these questions and propose a new ‘catalytic’ approach to Government action which he believes has the potential to facilitate the type of system changes we so urgently need in this decade and beyond. This approach draws on institutional economics, practical innovations in cooperative design and his experience as a policy maker. Orit Gal, a complexity economist interested in decision making in complex systems, will open the discussion followed by general discussion.
Henry Leveson-Gower has over 25 years experience of applying a pluralist approach to economics to inform environmental policy in the UK and internationally. He is CEO and founder of PEP, editor of The Mint Magazineand a part-time senior policy adviser at Defra. This presentation draws particularly on his work as a research fellow at the Centre for Evaluating Complexity Across The Nexus at the University of Surrey in 2017. He is also a fellow of The RSA, has a degree in philosophy and is a qualified chartered accountant.
Dr Orit Gal is currently a Senior Lecturer for Strategy and Complexity at Regent’s University London, and Founder at Urbaniser app, Orit is a political economist with a deep curiosity for the inner workings of complex social systems. An expert generalist, she has worked in tech start-ups; corporate market research; peace-building NGOs; and innovative policy and military think-tanks. Having the opportunity to closely observe decision makers operating in messy, dynamic, and highly complex environments, she has focused her work on exploring the intersection between complexity science and effective operational design.
Wednesday 11th March 2020: 7pm to 9pm: Tower Hamlets Positive Money Group will host Ray Ripon Ray, founder of the Universal Credit Action Network, will be this evening’s guest speaker on managed migration to Universal Credit. Analysis by the Child Poverty Action Group of the impact of changes to tax credits and Universal Credit finds that families will lose on average £960 a year. Southwark and Croydon arrears were larger for those on Universal Credit than Housing Benefit: by week 20, UC tenants were on average £156 in arrears. Households moving onto receiving Universal Credit will have a minimum 6 week delay before receiving any income after claiming, meaning that many people are likely to fall into rent arrears, fuel and food poverty. We believe that significant reform of the system is needed so that Universal Credit pays enough money for people to live on and is designed in a way which works for everyone. All are welcome, come along to find out more and get involved! The meeting is held at The Minerva Community Centre, Bethnal Green E2 9EH (entrance via Treadwell Street):
Monday 17th February 2020: Cafe Diplo: “The Science of Motivation and its role in changing our lives” with Professor Robert West:Venue: 6.45-8.30pm: at the Gallery, 70/77 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ. Admission free, suggested donation £3 (£2 concession) at the door: organised by Friends of Le Monde Diplomatique – Full details: www.mondediplofriends.org.uk
Wednesday 12th February at 7pm: Tower Hamlets Positive Money Group will be screening “The Dirty War on the NHS”, a new important film by acclaimed journalist and film maker John Pilger, at The Minerva Community Centre, Bethnal Green E2 9EH (entrance via Treadwell Street): free filming (donations will be passed to film-makers): John Pilger’s new documentary, The Dirty War on the NHS, “goes to the heart of the struggle for democracy today”, he says. Britain’s National Health Service, the NHS, was the world’s first universal public health service. Designed to give millions of people “freedom from fear”, the NHS today is under threat of being sold off and converted to a free market model inspired by America’s disastrous health insurance system, which results in the death every year of an estimated 45,000 people. Now President Trump says the NHS is “on the table” in any future trade deal with America. Filmed in Britain and the United States, this timely, compelling documentary touches us all and reveals what may be the last battle to preserve the most fundamental human right. To view the trailer please visit https://www.dartmouthfilms.com/dirty-war-nhs. Poster: HERE.
Monday 3rd February 2020: Cafe Diplo: “Voices of Resistance in the Gig Economy” with Dr Jamie Woodcock: Venue: 6.45-8.30pm: at the Gallery, 70/77 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ. Admission free, suggested donation £3 (£2 concession) at the door: organised by Friends of Le Monde Diplomatique – Full details: www.mondediplofriends.org.uk
Wednesday 29th January 2020: Positive Money Hammersmith: Film: The Dirty War on the NHS by John Pilger at the Grove Neighbourhood Centre, 7 Bradmore Park Road, Hammersmith, W6 0DT. Doors open at 6.45pm, film starts at 7pm, group feedback at 9pm, finish at 9.30pm. Cost: £8 (£5 concessions, £10 if you’re feeling generous!), all proceeds go to the independent film distributor and to the venue. John Pilger’s new documentary, The Dirty War on the NHS, “goes to the heart of the struggle for democracy today”, he says. Britain’s National Health Service, the NHS, was the world’s first universal public health service. Designed to give millions of people “freedom from fear”, the NHS today is under threat of being sold off and converted to a free market model inspired by America’s disastrous health insurance system, which results in the death every year of an estimated 45,000 people. Now President Trump says the NHS is “on the table” in any future trade deal with America. Filmed in Britain and the United States, this timely, compelling documentary touches us all and reveals what may be the last battle to preserve the most fundamental human right. To view the trailer please click HERE. We will be screening the film followed by a short group feedback round. Positive Money Hammersmith is a friendly group with many regulars. We always look forward to welcoming first timers and we hope to see you there! BOOKING LINK
Thursday 23rd January 2020: Positive Money Greenwich & Lewisham: Meeting will be at our usual venue of the Prince Public House, 72 Royal Hill, Greenwich, SE10 8RT. It will start at 1930hrs, and will see the launch of Ivo Mosley’s newly released book, “Bank Robbery”. Ivo has been a member of our group since its creation. Chapters from the book have been serialised by Positive money over the last couple of years, but we can now have access to the complete book. And a very interesting read it has turned out to be. The title is “Bank Robbery, the way we create money, and how it damages the world”. It is a most important and useful addition to books on money reform. Ivo has produce a comprehensive and meticulously researched summary of the legislation supporting our present system of money, and an analysis of how it damages our society. His suggestions for reform are realistic, and he acknowledges the difficulties reformers are likely to meet. Unlike Jackson and Dyson’s “Modernising Money”, Ivo does not suggest a reform programme. His book is more a resource to guide in the development of a reform programme. It is an important addition to the subject Money Reform.
Thursday 16th January 2020: 6.16pm to 9pm: Join My Fair London, The Equality Trust and Toynbee Hall in discussion with Professor Richard Wilkinson to discuss his latest book The Inner Level, co-written with Professor Kate Pickett. The Inner Level explains how economic inequality impacts on each of us as individuals; how we think, feel and behave. Richard will discuss the psychological effects of material inequalities, in particular, the epidemic of mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. Venue: Toynbee Hall – 28 Commercial Street – London E1 6LS – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/richard-wilkinson-the-inner-level-and-status-anxiety-tickets-85229286089
Thursday 16th January: What Happens Next in Politics: from 9.30am to 2pm at Somerville College in Oxford to hear from • George Monbiot, journalist • Kate Raworth, author of Doughnut Economics • Shaista Aziz, councillor and activist • Guy Standing, author of The Precariat • Danny Dorling, author of Peak Inequality • Jennifer Nadel, Co-Director of Compassion in Politics. After last week’s election result, many of us are wondering what can we do to ensure that climate justice, social progress, and compassion are at the forefront of British politics in the coming years? To help answer that question, we’re excited to have pulled together an amazing line-up of brilliant speakers. You can book your tickets here– and, as it is the festive season – if you’d like to gift one to a friend we can arrange to have it delivered to them. Email info@compassioninpolitics.com to tell us the details of who you have bought one for.
Wednesday 15th January 2020: A message of love (Luke 4:18): Why should we support Julian Assange? 6.00-8.00 pm – in the Church Hall at St James’s Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL (access from Church Place). FREE TALK AND DISCUSSION with Q & A • DEEPA GOVINDARAGAN DRIVER Lecturer in Governance, Regulation and Risk, Reading University • JOANNE MORRISON Christian activist • LISA LONGSTAFF Women Against Rape • MAXINE WALKER Committee to Defend Julian Assange: Click for full details HERE.
Friday 10th January 2020: Public Banking Institute: Coalition Conference Call: We invite you to join us and folks from around the country to discuss public banking the second Friday of the month – 12noon (US Eastern Time) = 5pm (UK time). This hour-long interactive conversation will give you a chance to ask questions of any sort about public banking, as well as find out about what’s going on in the movement, what problems are appearing and what developments are taking place. Instructions for joining this video and audio conference will be included in your registration confirmation. If you have questions, please contact the Administrator. We hope to see you then! Register HERE
