As we face a looming financial crisis, what are the threats and opportunities to social and environmental movements?

How do we break the 'business as usual' model? How do we 'bail out' the planet? This convergence seeks to bring together people from across Melbourne to start to develop a pathway through the recession to a sustainable economy. What would this look like and how we would we get there? What about livelihood and good work, what about community resilience? What about our place in the world? How do we respond effectively to the looming crisis of climate change? And what does this mean for the social and environmental movements in the short term?

This one day forum will look at the opportunities and threats connected to the economic downturn – political, financial, cultural. We will look at hope and fear (and how we can speak in frames not of opposition but of hope and determination), sketch out pathways to a better future, and how we could get to a safe climate economy in 10 years.

We will also consider how we could make Melbourne a sustainable city – one that is compact, people friendly, based on public transport, renewable energy, biodiversity and food production

There will be a session for workshops – you are welcome to send proposals in before the conference

WHEN
saturday February 14, 9am – 5pm

WHERE
Northcote High School, St Georges road, Northcote
Take tram line 112 towards West Preston, stop 26

COST
Low income - $15
Waged - $25 (no one excluded through lack of funds)

REGISTER
Please pre-register so we have a sense of numbers (you can still just show up on the day). Email your details (name, address, organisation if relevant) to Cam (details below). If you felt like pre-paying, that would be welcome, please send a cheque made out to Friends of the Earth to sustainability convergence, c/- FoE, Box 222, Fitzroy, 3065.

FOOD
we will provide morning and afternoon tea. There will be lunch available for sale on the day at a reasonable price. You are also welcome to BYO or else there are a fair number of food stores a 10 minute walk away on St Georges road in North Fitzroy.

CHILDCARE
If you require childcare please let us know as soon as possible. We will provide free childcare if we have notice of at least one week before the convergence.

STALLS
Community groups are welcome to hold a stall. Please let us know and include some basic details on your group so we can include in the convergence handbook. There will be tables available at the school. We ask groups to contribute $10 for the day.

further information:
Cam at FoE: 03 9419 8700,

VOLUNTEERS
We need people to help with this event. If you can help with any of these tasks please get in touch with Cam.

* rego/ greeting people on the day
* set up break out rooms
* organise tea and coffee
* organise the food
* help with childcare
* act as the stall co-ordinator
* open space manager
* help with pack up
* we also need a designer for the booklet