An open space format is used to allow participation to name topics and ideas and to connect with others interested in joining them in discussion and planning. This format is designed to nurture people and organizations in the Portland area who are working for social change. Topics from earlier meetings have included a project to establish a part-time labor exchange, a discussion of societal economic rights and responsibilities, and a project to establish a set of local community indicators of economic and social health.
As the community becomes more aware of these meetings, organizers hope that the format will be helpful in connecting people in productive partnerships to advance the important community work that is taking place.
This project began with the October, 2007 appearance of Riane Eisler in Portland to speak about her new book, "The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics." Eisler promotes the economics of household, community and the natural environment as equal in importance to the market economy on which our society is focused. Other writers such as David Korten and Paul Hawkens also write about the current local movements toward change most broadly characterized as "The Great Turning" or the uprising of a movement for greater social justice and ecological health.
"Caring and Sharing Economics is a new project to fill a local need - to connect people who are doing this societal change work of such great importance. There are people out there everywhere in Portland working seriously for a better world and our role is to make these efforts visible to others. We hope our community marketplace meetings can serve as a format for important connections to be made," states Marcia Meyers, one of the project organizers.
For more information, call 503-475-7509 or www.RealWealthPDX.com
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