Topic: Municipal Governance

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[ Episode #53 // Without Growth ]

Nov 22 2012

Mini Episode

The global economy is searching for growth and choosing austerity when it can't be found. Is it possible to manage an economy, obtain full employment, and provide social equity without economic growth? Can we develop a dialogue about our economy that recognizes the human enterprise as a subset of biophysical processes?

In Extraenvironmentalist #53 we speak with Peter Victor about his book Managing Without Growth: Slower by Design, Not Disaster which describes why our obsession with GDP isn't necessary. Peter describes the field of Ecological Economics and how it differs from other disciplines of economic thought. We ask if there are some first steps we could take to start building a society that doesn't need GDP expansion. Then, we speak with Dave Gardner [85m] about how he's built a dialogue on the diminishing returns of economic growth with his film Growthbusters. Dave tells us about his run for city council in Colorado Springs, CO.

// Music (in order of appearance)

Kate Bush - Running Up That Hill (Louis La Roche Remix) via Soundcloud
Talking Heads - This Must Be The Place (Psychemagic Remix) via Youtube
Broke for Free - The Gold Lining via The Music Ninja
Isley Brothers - Prize Posession (Follow Me Remix) via Et Musique Pour Tous
Chaundon - El Mariachi (Instrumental) via Mixcloud

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)

[Break] - 35m

Gar Alperovitz - Green Party Keynote via Democracy Now

[Second Break] - 107m

Glenn Beck, yes, we actually used a clip from Glenn Beck, I know, I'm shocked too.

[End]

Uruguay's President

// Production Credits

Kevin via Sustainable Guidance Youtube Channel

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[ Episode #29 // Creating Wealth ]

Nov 22 2011

Mini Episode

Occupy Wall Street has directed our attention to the extreme concentration of wealth resulting from decades of policy designed to trickle down prosperity. Through using a single type of bank debt currency, we allocate our labor and resources to benefit a global elite instead of our communities. Can we engage our local leaders and municipal governments to break this currency monoculture? Can global examples of currency ecology provide a map for improving educational experiences, enhancing the arts and building resilience to the fragility of central bank finance mechanisms?

In Extraenvironmentalist #29 we speak with Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer about Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, their recent book on how to implement complimentary currency systems while creating intentional cities with money ecosystems. We cover examples of complimentary currencies in Brazil (saber), the United States (time banking), Switzerland (WIR), Belgium, Lithuania and Uruguay (C3) to demonstrate how alternative forms of money can help to enhance our education, business and sense of community. Could the WIR be the reason for Switzerland's stability? Are there ways to retool education funding that could help us realize our dreams?

Note: Justin's poor understanding of French led to him mis-speaking Bernard's last name, it should be said Liet-ya instead of Liet-air


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
John Lee Hooker - (Money) That's What I Want
The J's - The Sound of Money via WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Sharon Jones - Money via This is Real Music
The Drums - Money (Chad Valley Remix) via Niteversions
Mr. Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Cry Wolf Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
Debt Diets and Riots: Euro Lose Lose via RT
Greeks Abandon Cash Resort to Bartering via RT
Annie Leonard - Story of Broke
Enslaved to banks US students drawn to join Occupy
Chris Hedges Speaking at OWS

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