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Visiting speakers talk future of finance and sustainability

Transition Town sponsors conversation on practical solutions

Sustainable economic growth is a topic that has become more and more prominent in recent months in the Powell River region, but how does this community know whether the path it is on is sustainable?

City of Powell River council and other political leaders in the region are starting to incorporate this style of thinking in their decision-making due, in part, to the Sustainability Charter for Powell River and Region. At the same time, many residents are becoming more interested and involved in the local economy, evidenced by burgeoning sales of local food; Powell River Dollars designed to keep money flowing through local businesses and non-profits; and an ever-growing concern for land, water and air.

Transition Town Powell River will host two speakers currently on a North American tour to add to the dialogue of whether the path Powell River is currently on is sustainable, and if not, what challenges will be faced and what can be done.

Nicole Foss has an extensive background in peak oil research, energy policy and global finance. Together with her writing partner, she has been chronicling and interpreting the ongoing global credit crunch as being the most pressing aspect to today’s multifaceted predicament.

Laurence Boomert is one of New Zealand’s foremost proponents of complementary currencies and new trading systems. He is founder of the New Economics Party in New Zealand and has been actively involved in the Transition Town movement. He has also been an organic farmer and a television producer.

Together, Foss and Boomert will present Limits to Growth: Where Do We Go from Here? at 7 pm on Saturday, October 19 at Cranberry Seniors’ Centre. They describe a picture of where people stand today globally, how the human operating system functions, how and why it is acutely vulnerable and what people need to do about the current predicament. They will explain how the current crisis reflects an unprecedented opportunity to create a better future.

In a conversation that promises to be informative and oriented toward practical solutions, attendees will discover what to start work on right here, right now.

Transition Town Powell River was founded in 2010 in response to the need for action due to climate change, resource limits and economic instability. It raises awareness, encourages and kick-starts practical projects, takes part in planning and visioning for a different future with the city and other groups and organizes practical workshops on skills needed for a sustainable future.

Admission to the Foss and Boomert event is by donation. For more information, readers can contact David Parkinson at 604.485.7940.