Earth Spirit, Glastonbury, Somerset, UK

6th and 7th November 2010

Exploring 10,000 years of human economic activity and its impacts using the farm and the ancient landscape of the Somerset levels as examples. This year we will feature the ecology, physical changes and their impacts on economics as well as the impacts of human economic activity on the environment.

Focus on Green Economics Solutions to social and environmental justice and a focus on the developing world : exploring the cases of South Africa, Nigeria and Nepal, Pakistan This is a relaxed and reflective weekend based on the practical and physical aspects of economic well being, with field excursions to the Peat Moors Centre and Sweet Track the oldest road in Europe

Speaker sessions Last years retreat- typical programme example:

Dr Susan Canney Oxford University Biodiversity and Ecosystem Specialist, leads a wildlife walk and an interactive session on Experiencing Value, recent experiences in Uganda.

Shifting perspective: from mechanism to holism

This session will focus on Earth system/Gaian science to explore the shift from a mechanistic, reductionistic world-view to more holistic approaches; and what this means to us in the here and now of our every-day lives, both individually and as members of human and planetary societies and using Green Economics as a model to guide us. The greater part of this session will be spent outside taking a walk in nature from the perspective of the Earth system, or Gaia.

Dr Jeff Turk Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and Green Economics Institute, formerly a particle physicist at CERN.

Green Economics as a reflexive social science, and exploring the boundaries of green economics

Dr Magnus Chidi Onuaha Green Economics Institute, Nigeria

Dr Nkem Ononiwu Director, Ministry of the Environment Nigeria, Greenworld Sahara Project

Ben Haworth Gemserv and Birkbeck College, London University Energy Specialist and Green Economist

Interactive session: How does energy fit into a green economy What has energy meant to human existence in the past and what might it mean in the future?

Miriam Kennet, Founder and Director of The Green Economics Institute,Oxford University, Editor of International Journal of Green Economics,

Introduction to learning from the archaeology of local civilisations of the last 10 000 years and how we can reclaim economics for ourselves and for all species and the planet

Clive Lord Could the Citizens' Income be relevant to the banking crisis?

Maret Merisaar Green MP from Estonia, Energy in Estonia

Dr David Jacobi Pollution Control Expert and Chemical Engineer, Environment Agency Environmental Wake Up Calls,10 000 years of human threats to our own well being. Exploring our responses to climate change, biodiversity extinctions and the current economics credit crunch. An interactive workshop, the cases of Japan, the UK, the US and Israel

Volker Heinemann, Kiel, Goettingen University, Founder and Director Green Economics Institute

Discussion on macroeconomics

Sarah Skinner South African and UK electrification and green economics analysis: examining the economics and costs of using solar

Ian Chambers Director Orange Uk, Australia and UK, Author of Gower management Book, Developing our Plan for the Planet Book

Patricia Lustig Managing Director, LASA Development and Executive Fellow at Henley Management College Discussion on how we can empower ourselves to make change possible, with experiences of living in Nepal

Elaine Brooks The Gaia Partnership Introduction to local economies and experiences of living in Nepal and its community economy

Sophie Henstridge Cambridge University, Intern with Green Economics Institute, Discussion on the importance of physical geography in economics analysis ( subject to confirmation )

Dr Jeff Turk Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts Green Economics Institute, Formerly a particle physicist at CERN, Green economist as a reflexive social science - exploration of the boundaries of green economics

Michele Gale Chicago Specialist in Institutional Economics and International Relations, Richmond University, Kensington.

Other Sessions may include:

Economics explorations, wellbeing, Psychological well being, Happiness, Behavioural economics, Critique of rationale choice theory,

Discussion and participatory workshops: co-operation or competition, which is inherently the human style? The importance of understanding the real world and physical world in Economics theory, campaigning and practise Interactive sessions on community mobilisation, value, and 10 000 years of human energy use

This conference must be pre-booked, pre-registered and pre-paid. It is fine to come for part of the weekend.

Programme

Friday Night 19.30 - late

Welcome, evening meal, bar

Introduction to the Green Economics Institute and discussion, with views of what needs to change

Saturday 10.00am till late and Sunday 9.00am - 17.30

Green Economics setting the scene:Miriam Kennet and Volker Heinemann

The importance of the physical world in Economics theory and practise

Wildlife and biodiversity talk

Economics of domestic food of Pakistan

Wildlife and biodiversity walk - Ground nesting birds and reptiles conservation,

Forests and woodland,

Saving a rainforest

Ecological system -mammals

Wildlife walks

Economics methodology talk

Reclaiming Economics for all people everywhere, the biosphere- other species, the planet and its systems

Local environments and local visits

Visit to the Peat Moors Centre in Glastonbury

Archaeological visit to the Sweet Track,the oldest walking road in Europe

Local Guided wildlife walk in the Shapwick Heath Nature Reserve

Finding solutions

Economic methods for empowerment and well being

Understanding civilisation and economics in the overall context of the human's place on earth.

Creating the economics we would like to have.

Future Proofing your well being and your career during a recession or credit crunch

Provisioning for the needs of people and the planet

Reclaiming a green economics: for comfort and well

Admission fees are:

All day including lunch and dinner £100 per day including all refreshment

Concessions available - please enquire at the address below.

Accommodation is not included in above fees and is available and extremely good value- from £10 a night upwards, to suit all tastes and pockets, either in the venue, from en suite on site accommodation, to camping, caravans, shared dormitory, en suite to local B&B and hotels. Please email for details and assistance in making your booking.

For further details please email

greeneconomicsevents@yahoo.co.uk