The program is stunning, so diverse and provocative. I am very proud to be part of it--will pay close attention and tailor my presentation to the end, referring to the other presentations whenever possible and raising, what I hope will be provocative questions that maybe some might like to pursue in the final session. Harvard Professor about the July 2010 Oxford University Green Economics Institute Annual Conference
I just wanted to say thank you for the Green Economics Institute special conference on climate change policies, Preparing for Copenhagen COP 15 on November 2009 at the Oxford University Club, Oxford University last week: it was absolutely fantastic and had such an interesting dynamic I really really enjoyed it.
Dear Miriam, I would like to thank you for coming to the Conference at the University in Leuven, Belgium by train during the chaos of the volcanic eruption and for your presentation during the workshop on critical realism and biographical research methodology. Both your presentation and your comments introduced an important dimension to our discussions, the dimension which is still often missing in the analysis of social dialogue, namely the issue of how to combine social, economic and environmental objectives. I hope this can be developed further in our future cooperation! Dr Adam Mrozowicki, Institute of Sociology,University of Wroclaw Poland.April 2010
I also wanted to wish you all good luck in Copenhagen , I am very hopeful of an outcome that the world will benefit from!
All the best,
Kate Campbell December 2009
A huge thank you to you, Paul, Volker and the rest of your team for such an inspirational and enjoyable conference and weekend.
Dear Michelle, It was great meeting You I enjoyed Your very interesting lecture at the University in Skopje Macedonia and hope will have an opportunity to present at such an event again.Igor Petrusevski November 2009
Thank you again for the opportunity to speak at the conference on Saturday. This proved most useful; you managed to convene a wonderful audience, congratulations! I look forward to participating in discussions in the future.
Nicolas Bertrand Nicolas
Economic Affairs Officer at United Nations Environment Programme Geneva
I believe this year's GEI Annual conference was a roaring success and you & all others involved should be duely congratulated & proud of your efforts. Needless to say, I'm happy I was able to attend and appreciated having the opportunity to contribute and present at the event.Dr Anusha Mahendran Institute of Labour Market Policy, New South Wales Australia August 2009.
Many thanks, and congratulations on organising a very successful conference August 2009
Best wishes,
Peter Burt Nuclear Information Service Reading Berkshire
I really had a good time at the conference - apart from the presentations, just meeting quite a diverse bunch of people with similar interests was wonderful!Professor Wolfgang Hoerschele USA
All the best, Wolfgang Hi Miriam
May i on behalf of Green Economics Nigeria congratulate you and Volker and indeed
all the staff and management of Green Economics Institute U.K on the remendous success recorded at this years Annual Conference.
Green Economics Nigeria was represented at the conference and we are trying to lay a strong foundation here in Nigeria and indeed Africa. I do hope that when you will visit Nigeria and indeed Africa you will be amazed at our advocacy drive towards promoting a low carbon,resource-efficient economy.
Once again congratulations and keep me posted of the Institutes time table and the retreat as well.Dr Chidi Magnus Onahua Green Economics Institute Nigeria
Dear Green Economics Institute
Many thanks for an excellent conference.
Many thanks Rosamond Stock LSE
Dear Miriam, Volker and the rest of the team,
The conference was wonderful
Besmir Geziqui August 2009 Albania
"La conferencia de Green Economics ha sido un espacio de diálogo caracterizado por la calidez y amplitud de miras del grupo humano.
Este elemento es fundamental a la hora de construir redes de trabajo de cara a compartir y discutir temas de interés común como lo es la economía verde. "Daniel Coq and Sandra Nunez August 2009
Thanks for a lovely conference. I have never felt such an intense positive energy floating in the air. The minute the event took off I knew that was it - this was the group, the people and the topics that I identify with. Although coming from far away, I felt actually like coming home - really blending with the rest of the participants which were from as many as 19 countries as we counted then J.Maybe it is the variety of people, the mixture of cultures and ideas that contributes to the uniqueness of the event. It was an enormous honor to address the main panel and have the presentations at the panel sessions and imagine all that in one of the oldest colleges in Oxford. That is something unforgettable for me.
I would like to finish with a famous quote from a more famous movie for the most famous people I have met - "Well, Louis I believe this is a beginning of a wonderful friendship".
Daniela Kostadinova Petrovic
GTZ German Technical Cooperation
p.s. Info for the young folks - that's Casablanca's movie last line.
Hello Miriam, Volker, Interns and my new friends,
Thank you for allowing me to participate in your conference. I had a wonderful time and got to meet some fantastic people. Its clear from the number of questions I had that the link between Green and technology is upmost in people's minds. So let's keep the interaction going and let me know how I can further support you.
Kindest Regards
Rakesh
PS. People said such wonderful things about it - I think the Green Economics Institute brand is going to go far
Thank you all for making the gathering a great success.Nigel Miles August 2009
Dear Miriam,
I am writing to you to thank you and your team at the Green Economics Institute for organising such an inspiring event. Not only was the event very highly informative, providing insight into the way the environmental perspective is developing, but it was also very supportive, providing me with encouragement to continue with my own research into green economics. The event brought together not only people who have important roles in finance, energy and IT, but also new entrepreneurs, academics (known and unknown) and admirably humble people, who keep us connected with the practical. From economics to ecology, psychology to gardening, engineering to finance, the conference covered it all. I am certainly intending to come next year! Marek Zeremba Pike
It was lovely to meet you both on Friday and Saturday and real pleasure to be involved with your highly relevant and worthwhile event.
I am a real believer in what you are doing. I made some very good contacts at the event, and I learned a great deal. (.from ..)... your amazing and important institution. Steve P.
Hi Miriam It was lovely to meet you on Saturday. I so enjoyed the day and was very impressed and the inclusive nature of it all and how well that worked. it was very interesting and exciting.Dr Jean Bolton August 2009 UK
Dear Mrs. Kennet, Hope you are going well.
I've just arrive in Albania now.
It was a great pleasure and great honor for me being there and, meeting such kind persons as you are. I really enjoyed the conference, all were so kind and polite.
Oxford and Mansfield College was a dream for me.
I have to thank you from the heart, for your invitation.
You are welcomed in Albania. Hope one day i will be one of students whom can learn more from you.Besmir Geziqi
At each meeting with you and the Institute I always feel the most amazing uplift and a growing confidence about the future, not to mention the delight at the opportunity to be part of it. A huge thank you. Martin B.August 2009
It is amazing what you have achieved since that first meeting back in Reading; I haven't been for about two years. Yes, I enjoyed it, and I hope you can keep the wonderful blend of academic respectability with more oddball contributions.Brian Heatley
Each time I seem to grow a little, to learn a bit more about myself, not to mention my very beautiful and special wife.
A huge thank you. Martin B.August 2009
Thank you for your hospitality during the 4th annual Green Economics Institute Conference. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the conference. Extend my warn regards to all your team members, Mrs. Njoku Ifeoma Fidelia, Nigeria
Congrats on a great Conference. Went really well and lots of good people there! Professor Jack Reardon Economics, Hamline University USA. August 2009
Congratulations on another successful conference. We were enthused by it, and liked the conference and especially your talk late afternoon Saturday. VA August 2009.
I also found "Green Economics - Setting the scene" (International Journal of Green Economics, Published by Inderscience, M.Kennet and V.Heinemann ) absolutely wonderful: it felt as if all my activist-philosophy dreams were coming true in one go! O.B. July 2009
I really thoroughly enjoyed the Introduction to Green Economics course run by the Green Economics Institute, in Reading Berkshire on Saturday May 16th 2009. And found the topic areas prevalent and stimulating and more engaging than I had expected/hoped for! I hope you'll be interested to know I spent Sunday lunchtime with friends (who are "normal" economists), discussing the game theory and discount ratios! Many thanks,Kate
Prince Charles has also thanked us in September 2008 for the work in our journal and the article by Miriam Kennet and Volker Heinemann Vol 1 issue 1 /2 2006 Inderscience - International Journal of Green Economics.Kennet M., and Heinemann V., (2006) Green Economics Setting the Scene.
Dear Miriam,
The Empowering people, womens poverty and unequal pay conference was brilliant, I didnt want it to end and look forward to the next.
Sophie Christopher- Bowes Dip, RETA, A.M BESA, P.C. Assoc. UK, A.M. T.C.P.A, City & Guilds, Cert ED,
Eco Architecture Planning & Permaculture Design Consultants
It was a terrific presentation, and it told me more and showed me more than I had seen previously. Images of people in action and a nice powerpoint go a long way with me. Keep up the excellent work. You are an inspiration to us all and in these troubled times we need all the heroes we can get.Best wishes,Graeme, Green Accounting Specialist.
One of the best students of our Department, has recently attended the training organized by you and held in Berlin from 12 to16, December. She was very impressed and found the training very informative and effective. Let me thank you, and congratulate with the big success of the training course.Head of Economics in Armenia 2009
Compliment first published in Swedish by a participant in our Berlin training Yvla:
Financial crises and climate change? Climate crisis and financial change!
The negative part is that today's economic system is running us down to the bottom. The positive part is that we got the solutions everyone is searching for. At least if Miriam Kennet is right.
"What is economy?" Miriam Kennet asks rhetorically. "Is it this?" she says and shows a picture of a older gentleman wearing a dress suit, a bowler hat and a walking stick. "Or is it this?". Now she shows a photo of two African women collecting water from a well.
"The word economy means household management", Miriam continues. "But when we speak about economy it's not about family or the environment, it's rather about businesses. We talk about supply and demand but not about meeting needs. Economists are sitting in their offices calculating on their mathematical theories and figures everything is ok. Look around! Children are starving! There is a biological mass distinction going on! Everything is not ok! According to main stream economics the human, or "economic man" as we're called, is a rational man who is constantly calculating how to reach maximal, egoistic gain. What kind of human being is that? It's a psychopath! What we need is an economy built on the real world!"
These are words from the woman who founded the Green Economics Institute and the International Journal of Green Economics. In the 80thies when she as a young, green activist was campaigning for the party she realised that politics is all about economy. She decided to take one exam in environmental studies and one in economics. When she was going to take her PhD and chose the subject Green Economy it was difficult to find a supervisor since the subject didn't exist before. Finally she got a supervisor who was a political scientist.
Today she travels around the world teaching. Partly at universities, such as Brussels, London, Oxford and Cambridge. And partly teaching bureaucrats and politicians in the EU, UN and the UK government and treasury. She has also recently started a co-operation with the Federation of Young European Greens to teach there activists about economics. The magazine you are reading meet her at such a training.
"The world is longing for Green Economy. The UN, Barosso, well everybody wants the knowledge we possess. So we have to take the opportunity and not let others define what Green Economics is. My goal is to make Green Economics populist. At the same time the word "green" has to have a strict interpretation." Miriam is referring to some companies intention to "green wash" there image and declare that there doing Green Economics without actually solving any problems.
"Companies have got a lot to win by listening to us and really understand what Green Economics is all about. Look at Volvo, they wouldn't be in this difficult position today if they would have listened to the environmental movement instead of committing themselves to these oil eating SUVs."
What Green Economy really means is not yet a finished concept but something we must work on together according to Miriam. She does not believe in the idea of "one size fits all". She thinks that Green Economy should be a broad, diversified approach that looks at the complex reality and tries to find solutions to existing problems. Some of the key words are looong term, product chain analysis and the device Reuse, Reduce, Recycle and Repair.
"Don't trust economic experts and professors. They are lost in there theoretical world. Listen to yourself! What the economy needs is more common sense. So go to your parliament and bank and tell them. They are completely lost because they don't understand this financial crisis. They want all the advice they can get. I'm sure they will listen to you". That's what Miriam Kennet believes. A woman who inspires, engages and creates optimism.
By: Ylva Lundkvist Sweden 2009
I first learned of the Green Economic Institute in Frankfurt/Oder & Slubice @ the Green Summer University at the end of August. I immediately fell in love with the logic for social re-organisation which the Green Economy can offer. Hence it is my aim to implement such quantifiable logic as part of the Irish Governance of contemporary Social Economic Order.Niamh Beirne Ireland 2009
Thank you for the retreat in October, which I absolutely loved. It was fun, nourishing and the discussions hit the nail on the head of exactly what we need to survive this bizarre age we live in. Dr Sacha Norris Biodiversity Specialist,author and former BBC announcer. 2009
Young and Senior European Greens training workshop together in the heart of Berlin December 2008- feedback included : Comments from the participants included-
I got alot of motivation from the workshop, and :Thank you all for this excellent seminar, xxx participant from Austria
Generally very good from xxx participant from Czech Republic,
It was a nice atmosphere and lots of useful information, xxx from Sweden,
Very interesting excellent atmosphere and encouraged me to speak and explain my ideas- xxx from Belgium,
We need more like this - Spreading the idea of a green economy is necessary for improving awareness about the importance of ecology, I really liked it , a flow of information and experiences, xxx participant from Macedonia
It was fantastic, xxx from Armenia,I did enjoy it alot - xxx participant from Scotland.
Verrrry Good, I really enjoyed it. Amazing course and I would like to have one specially for senior greens! Congratulations,I was really surprised of the enthusiasm, and the knowledge of all these sympathetic Young Greensm - Go on - ! on more of these ! xxxx a participant from Belgium
Hi Miriam, Thanks a lot for al the hard work. You're someone with heart and mind on the right place, we need more people like you! Best regards, xxxx participant from Belgium.
Congrats on your speaking engagements. I am very proud of you and the Institute! As I said earlier I found an intellectual home. You should also be proud of the Institute.
My intellectual development since I met you has produced this new book and new Journal. Probably more than anyone else you have had the most influence on my accomplishments. The book and Journal owes much to you! Professor Jack Reardon USA,Professor of Economics USA. November 2008
Just to say a great event this year, as last - so glad I stumbled across your website last year! A plethora of fantastic sessions and speakers, and excellent networking - def the one event I would move mountains to attend in the year. As I said to Miriam - a veritable sweetshop for the green intellect! So fantastic to be amongst so many able, diverse, articulate, passionate and like-minded people with the rigour of excellent research and evidence behind them - makes it so much easier to make our case back on the ground. Thank you! Manda Brookman Director,CoaST: Cornwall Sustainable Tourism Project 2008 July
Our recent speech at eWorld Purchasing & Supply, September 2008 at the New Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London received excellent delegates' feedback, it was a very successful event with 92% of delegates rating the event as very good or excellent.Johnathan Essex delivered a speech from a joint text written with Miriam Kennet. We are delighted our material on Green Procurement and the Sustainable Supply Chain was so well received at a purchasing professionals event. EWorld Purchasing Team 2008
I've seen several references to your economic review of biodiversity in the BBC News web pages, especially in relation to the recent conservation conference in Barcelona. Well done! Hope it goes well - as with your many other projects! ECI should be very proud of you. Best wishes, Clive Hambler, Tutor, Oxford University, Environmental Change Institute: October 2008
How I wish I was still in England and able to come along to the Glastonbury event - it sounds brilliant! The Oxford conference was a great success in my view and I enjoyed the other speakers I had the opportunity to hear very much. David L. Page, Green Purchasing and Supply Expert, Australia 2008
I would suggest firstly that you use the potential dim light dawning in some people's minds and the dawning realisation that perhaps the markets will not fix everything, to investigate ways in which economic models can encourage pro-environmental and sustainable behaviour, rather than do precisely the opposite. A good contact for new thinking in what is sometimes referred to as "green economics" is Miriam Kennet, of the Green Economics Institute, working out of Oxford University . Their annual conference is small, highly informed and utterly compelling - try Miriam on greeneconomicsinstitute@yahoo.com - their thinking is a breath of fresh air and breaking new ground at an astonishing rate. Manda Brookman Email October 2008
hello, loved the conference - you are a rock star ! Dr Sacha Norris, Conservationist and former Television presenter
Great conference last week, and lots of contacts.Ian Chambers, Director, Orange Sales Projects
Dear Miriam, I enjoyed meeting you at the conference last week and have now had some time to digest the proceedings of the conference. It was a truly fascinating conference. I hope that we have an opportunity to remain in touch. If at any stage you would like to know more about work being done by Greenpeace please don't hesitate to get in touch.Robert De Bryn Greenpeace International.July 2008
It was a pleasure to present to and meet with your gathering - and being at Oxford was a pleasant bonus for me ! Your Green Economics Institute seems to have many parallels to our own GIST. Pavan Sukhdev, Managing Director Deutsche Bank, India, and Leader of TEEB Economics of Biodiversity and Ecosystems.
Hi Miriam Congratulations on organising such a fantastic conference -- Do keep me posted on any new events or developments,best wishes,Elaine Brooks,Gaia Partnership July 2008
Very much enjoyed the conference on Friday, a busy day but so much to listen to, many lovely people to meet and huge amounts to return home thinking about - I hope Saturday was just as successful!Kind regards,Rachel Curzon, Lecturer in Stakeholder Theory and Stakeholder Engagement, University of Birmingham July 2008
I would just like to thank you for putting on such an excellent conference, and I look forward to future discussions! Daniel W. O'Neill, Director of European Operations, Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy,
You should pat yourself on the back for the hard work you have done the past few years. Congratulations! Take a look where we were three years ago and where we are today. You have a lot to be proud of!! I am extremely glad to be part of Green Economics; I relish my role and hope I continue to contribute whatever is needed. Cheers! Professor Jack Reardon Physicist and Economist, USA. July 2008
Just wanted to say thanks for organising another great conference and good to see The Green Economics Institute moving forward Johnathan Essex Campaigner and Sustainability specialist, Bio regional company and Civil Engineer, Durham University.
"Congratulations on a really wonderful conference, I went to three conferences this month and this was the one that really spoke to me," Dr Jeff Turk begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting PHD Physics Yale- and European Economics,University of Sussex, based Slovenia and Brussels.
"Kudos again on a fantastic conference. For me, what makes a conference great is the people, and you really assembled a fine crew. BTW, it surprised me greatly to learn you had students - you looked like one yourself. Yet you've a hubby and kid!" Jeffrey Smith July 2008
"Your conferences are like an intellectual sweet shop!" Manda Brookman COAST Cornwall Action for Sustainable Tourism July 2008
" I really enjoyed your inspiring and cheering talk on Monday." Heather Rainbow, Chair person Hampshire Organic Gardening Group, HOGG is a member of Soil Association and Garden Organic, November 2007
" thanx for the training course at Oxford on November 10th 2007, it was a fruitful exchange of non-mainstream economic thinking, and it was very well organised, " Kurt Meyer Economist and academic author with the Policy Development and education Institute of the Austrian Greens in the Austrian Parliament.
"The training day Oxford University, November 2007, was a totally brilliant, totally excellent day, I am still buzzing from it. I think a lot of diverse themes in green economics are gelling and becoming more cohesive." Rose Bridger specialist in food supply chains and Freight equity.
Professor Peter Soderbaum (2008 ) forthcoming states that the people behind the Green Economics Instittue are an exemplary example of pluralist working
Professor Tony Lawson (2007) sugests that the Green Economics Institute is taking a lead in changing mainstream economics practice,methodology and ontology by example
. Professor Jack Reardon (2007) suggests that the Green Economics Institute have suceeded in creating a new discipline within economics
. Issayane Naicker (2008) forthcoming, suggests that the methodology proposed by Green Economics may just be what Africa needs
. I (2006) recently attended a really stimulating and challenging weekend 'retreat' on Green Economics. It was held at EarthSpirit, Compton Dundon in Somerset, near Glastonbury. This Centre consists of converted farm buildings in beautiful countryside. There were about 60 participants, including around 20 speakers or facilitators.
"It was a very exciting day - so full of stimulating ideas and new horizons. It was wonderful to be in a group people of such varied ages and backgrounds but all so vibrant, committed and involved. Very heartening. Your Institute has clearly resonated with people's deep need for a real sense of purpose, which they have found lacking elsewhere." A particpants letter thanking us for the training day March 2007 at Oxford University
The National Audit office sent its members to our Green Economics Training Day on March 10th 2007. They provided the following feedback:- I'd like to express my thanks to you and your colleagues at the GEI for what was a stimulating and enjoyable workshop on 10 March. We are very glad that we went along, and would be interested in future GEI events.
March 2007
So many of us have been desperate for a new economics that puts people and planet first. We were therefore really thrilled to discover the recently formed Green Economics Institute which is gaining in authority and getting support from many mainstream economists. Theyare operating under the aegis of Mansfield College Oxford.
The Institute is seeking a new paradigm to provide a credible alternative to the neo-liberal economics which is killing the planet and undermining the heart and soul of its people. One of the Institue's basic principles if the participation of all stakeholders, not just the academics. I recently went to a Training Workshop in Oxford which they ran for anyone interested. It was one of the most life-enhancing experiences I have had for a long time. They are running a 2 Day Green Economics Conference on 2nd and 3rd of April at Mansfield College Oxford. If you are interested email Miriam Kennet(one of the Directors of the Institute) at :
greeneconomicsevents@yahoo.co.uk
www.greeneconomics.org.uk
Good luck. Regards Jill Gant
"An academic journal of the highest standards of research dealing with the reform of the dominant neo-liberal paradigm of economics and today's "business as usual" scenario is a very helpful step in solving the problems of the future, both environmental and social. This journal will provide a forum for such debate to inform academics, activists, campaigners, reformers and workers in the field of social and environmental change."Johnathan Porrit UK environmental campaigner
. Compliments about the Green Economics Retreat and Economics well being conference February 2006
I think you're doing really well getting all these people together and green economics needs to become a real discipline in its own right to which the GEI is contributing greatly. Xxx
Dear Miriam just to say what a lovely and very interesting week end it was Amazing to learn about money. There is always so much that is new to me at your meetings I do hope all future work of the Institute is as successful as the Weekend Xxx PhD FRSA, Professor of Childhood Studies, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, 18 Woburn Square, London WC1H ONR
Dear Miriam -- just to thank you for organising the conference in such an inclusive and loving way -- the result was a real feeling of connectedness and hope. Good luck with your future projects and hope to meet again similarly Dr xx MD MRCP FRCPsych UKCP Consultant Psychiatrist/psychotherapist Devon NHS Partnership Trust Professor of Psychological Therapies, University of Exeter, and Psychoanalysis Unit, University College London.
Firstly to say a big congratulations. you put so much effort and energy into the retreat and I thought it was wonderful. You spend a lot of time reminding other people of their gifts - please please take a few moments to reflect on what you just gave birth to at the weekend......THAT'S gifted......did you get that or do i need to repeat it? and by the way......do you know that putting forward a point in front of 50(?) people was BIG for me .....particularly without going red......and YOU enabled me to do it. xxxxxDance Movement Therapist
First of all many thanks for organising a wonderful conference over the weekend. It was a real pleasure to meet you too. Secondly, I would be delighted to be involved in the group, the conference and the journal issue. So count me in! Exeter University Philosopher
Hi Miriam and co, Thank you for putting it together and for all your work and enthusiasm which I was impressed by. The world needs your energy and ideas. I enjoyed William's session the most. For me it was stimulating and provocative of thought and feeling. When I answered his questions with a partner I went very quickly to an understanding and strong sense of how all the money I have been given in my life was a kind of gift. As well as receiving all that, I also have given, through my energy and efforts, and money is a symbol for all that exchange. A symbol that easily obscures a deeper reality that this is giving and receiving and in fact, at its heart, a form of love. This was a good realisation and I thank you. I would like to thank him too. I am a psychologist by profession, and I view the world through that lens much of the time. xxxx" Psycologist
"This is a marvellous article" from a Professor (2006) describing our editorial of the International Journal of Green Economics.
"This is a wonderful piece of writing,"(2007) from a reviewer describing one of our conference papers."
"I have at last found my intellectual home" (2006) from an economics Professor of note in the US on attending his first Green Economics Institute conference.
Hi Miriam thanks for arranging the conference. Maya and I enjoyed it very much and met some interesting people (some who live rather close to home). Best wishes Xxxx and xxxx Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
The April 2007 Annual Green Economics Institute Conference at Oxford University was excellent - every session I went to was brilliant
far better than most conferences I attend. From a Professor of social theory and education at the University of London
