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Audience Inspired By A Greener Vision For The Future

For those interested in a very different world economic model, the talk by Ross Jackson, author of Occupy World Street: A Roadmap for Economic and Political Reform, in Minehead recently was an inspiration.

Over 70 people attending the public meeting organised by the West Somerset Green Party heard Ross outline ways in which new global institutions could be created that support jobs and businesses operating within the limits of the planet's resources.

As an international finance expert and founder of the charity Gaia Trust, which supports many sustainability projects around the world, Mr Jackson (pictured) has a realistic understanding of the interconnections of global economics and politics.

He outlined how the current system predicated on continuous growth has, particularly in the past 30 to 40 years, led to the repeated financial crises, growing inequality and social problems and has stoked damaging climate change. Conventional economics does not count the disbenefits of growth such as worsening mental health and pollution; once counted, these factors offset hugely the apparent benefits. Humanity is already consuming resources at a rate that the planet simply cannot replace.  Sooner or later institutions such as the World Bank and the World Trade Organisation will have to be replaced by new global bodies with the mission of focussing on the wellbeing of the planet and humanity.

The talk provoked lively discussion about how change can be instigated, with Ross concluding that however difficult it is to effect the necessary changes "we must believe that things will get better".

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