Solidarity And Green Economy Conference: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

[Matt Feinstein]

November 9-10, 2013 (Sat. 9-6 & Sun. 9-2)

At Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St, Worcester, MA

PROPOSALS DUE OCTOBER 31ST, 5PM FOR:

·      Panel and Workshop Proposals

·      Individually Submitted Proposals

·      Skill Sharing Proposals

·      Creative Performance Proposals

Do you believe there are alternatives to corporate greed? That we can
live with harmony with our community and our planet? That we can
create new economic and social relations that challenge oppression and
create justice?

SAGE is currently accepting ideas and content proposals for:

1. Whole conference discussions or activities that focus on
collective solution-making and can engage almost anyone interested in
the Green Solidarity Economy.

2. Break-out sessions that address a more specific or regional issue,
that can bring back next steps or a call to action to the larger
group.

3. Musicians, Artists, Story-tellers, and Performers of all types
whose work is relevant to the conference, especially performances that
engage or energize the audience.

For session presenters:

This conference is organized in the hope of generating a cohesive conversation around ideas, strategies and relationships that can help us create another world. The plenary session will characterize our current cultural, political, ecological and economic situation and how the principles of the green solidarity economy might address the many challenges we face.

We understand the green solidarity economy to be a movement to create a new world that puts people and the environment before profit. In our view, true ecological and social sustainability can only be achieved through a movement that effectively responds to the harms caused by the present economy as we use the principles of solidarity to build new social and economic foundations. Thus, we propose a green solidarity economy that effectively addresses social inequality and climate change requires action in three areas:

1. Alternative economics-initiatives, enterprises, trade and finance that privilege community and ecological well being over individual gain (e.g. worker cooperatives, community ownership, fair trade, time-banking, credit unions, community land trusts and commons management, and so on).
2. Resistance and reform- working against environmental degradation, social inequality, and poverty by improving policies around existing system (e.g. living wage ordinances, union contracts, immigration reform, energy policy, progressive taxation, environmental regulation, social welfare programs, and so on).
3. Social Inclusion- efforts to end racism, sexism and other forms of oppression and exclusion (affirmative action and hiring policies, popular education and workshops, and so on).