Registration from 8.30am. Join us for a cuppa

9AM SESSION 1 | Setting the Scene

what is the crisis? How did it develop? How hard will it impact on us in Australia?
What will it mean for green and social justice organisations?

Speakers
* ground truthing and context: what is coming with climate change – what will it mean for Melbourne? How must we respond?
* Reportback from climate summit – what does this mean now
* where did the downturn come from and how bad could it get. [Kenneth Davidson, social commentator]
* what does the election of Barrack Obama mean for Australia
* remembering the past – how have previous recessions impacted on social movements in Melbourne

economic imperatives and opportunities: in a time of crisis, there is less funding available for destructive projects. Yet at the same time, there are always proposals to 'build our way' out of recession, meaning a flurry of crazy or ill-conceived and often destructive projects. What are these likely to be, and where. How can we respond and be ready for them? How do we stop thinking just as individual groups and start acting as a movement when it comes to these threats?

Speaker
* on likely size and locations of new developments (this will be especially in the north of Australia but include projects around the country)

Hope and fear. In a time of financial crisis, some people turn inward. They give less, are less active in the social realm, and become more conservative. On the other hand, others look for hope in social action, volunteerism, and visions of a better world. The notion of capitalism has been rocked by the crisis in the US and subsequent bailout. What visions do we have of a better future?

Speaker
* sketching out the social and political trends and highlight instances where alternative programs or visions are 'breaking through'
* followed by a quick session where people can briefly chat about their reaction and what it brings up for them

SESSION 2 | pathways to a better future

While the community wants action on climate change, the federal government won't move too far because of fear about the economy. Meanwhile we all live on the back of the minerals boom, which brings huge climate and ecological costs with it. We have an opportunity to break the current impasse we see in society. This will require a sense of urgency, a coherent vision of a better world, and a pathway for getting there.

Speakers
* going for a safe climate economy in 10 years: what is our preferred future, where we need to be in 2020, and what we must achieve in the next 2 years to get society onto the new path [Matthew Wright, Beyond Zero Emissions]
* Carbon Down and Business Up - how 'sustainable business thinking' can help NGOs and community groups prosper [Geoff Gourley, Turn Me Green]
* how can we speak in frames not of opposition but of hope and determination – of re-localisation, ecological sustainability, thriving communities, social justice, internationalism? What is our vision of a better world, and how would we get there? [Giselle Wilkinson ]
* Melbourne as a sustainable city – compact, people friendly, based on public transport, renewable energy, biodiversity and food production [Dr Michael Buxton, Associate Professor Environment and Planning, RMIT University]
* re-localised food production, transport & peak oil [Elliot Fishman, Institute for Sensible Transport]
* Getting ourelves in hot water - The ongoing and persistent effort to put not-for-profit manufacturing cooperatives, producing solar hot water units initially and then the full range of green technologies, into the Australian Economy; this will be the development of a new
social sector of the economy which will give us not just a new direction but the capacity for a rapid uptake of it [Dave Kerin]
* what does the downturn mean for us personally - what limits might we experience in our own lives that we currently take for granted – medicine? Cheap white goods, travel? [TBC]
* it appears that there is a growing gap between those who 'get it' and those who don't. What are the implications of this, how can we manage this situation and improve it so there isn't a future chasm between different parts of society over sustainability. [TBC]

SESSION 3

the practicalities. As money gets tighter, there is a good chance the 'movement' gets more cautious and that smaller groups will go under. How do we keep groups strong, active and visionary?

speakers
* 'recession proofing' your organisation [Cam Walker, FoE]
* new methods of organising – survival in difficult times – 'new frugalism' – gleaning, guerrilla gardening, community gardens, social and political opportunities, etc [Adam, Eat the Suburbs]

SESSION 4

workshops – open space

People are welcome to send ideas in before the conference
Some current proposals (see below for more details):

* Frame the debate: speak your climate-friendly narrative (Daniel Voronoff)
* Carbon trading: why the market can't fix global warming (Speaker Chris Breen, facilitated by Judy McVey)
* Holistic Sustainability, Are you yet competent? (Daniel Kiag)

SESSION 5

the aim is to send people out with a renewed sense of hope and opportunity, and clarity about how their local work ties into something bigger.

Speakers
* summary of the key themes that have arisen during the day
* sketching out some hopeful directions forward [Giselle Wilkinson, Michelle Isles]

Finish by 5pm