WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.730 Melanie Bush: And we do have interpretation right now, so please, as you see in the chat. 2 00:00:07.900 --> 00:00:16.719 Melanie Bush: The session, will be interpreted, and you just go to the globe and select which language you would like to hear. 3 00:00:16.840 --> 00:00:24.970 Melanie Bush: So, we're gonna get moving because, and, look forward to the… the, 4 00:00:27.710 --> 00:00:32.499 Melanie Bush: look forward to the presentations and the sharing from Amira and Helvest. 5 00:00:32.729 --> 00:00:46.610 Melanie Bush: And some conversation later. And so, we're going to, as we get started, please do put in the chat your name, introduce yourself, and, 6 00:00:47.970 --> 00:00:54.000 Melanie Bush: Any words that come to mind about what does economy mean to you? 7 00:00:54.300 --> 00:01:05.280 Melanie Bush: So, just so you are familiar with what our plan is for our time, we will start with, 8 00:01:05.590 --> 00:01:20.840 Melanie Bush: I just will say a couple things, and then we'll move immediately over to Amira from Wellbeing Economy Alliance to talk both about well-being Economy and Reclaim the Economy Week. 9 00:01:21.080 --> 00:01:40.919 Melanie Bush: After that, Hao West will give a brief overview around Solidarity economy, and then we open with some questions for discussion. I will do my best to post the questions in English and Spanish in the chat, so that, 10 00:01:41.080 --> 00:01:46.690 Melanie Bush: We have the greatest opportunity for participation. 11 00:01:46.850 --> 00:02:05.110 Melanie Bush: So, as we gather here today, the music selected was both very somber, but also, knowing that our being together represents the very power that will bring the world we want and need to be. 12 00:02:05.230 --> 00:02:25.169 Melanie Bush: And, we want to acknowledge that, in so many regions around the world, there is, so much suffering and violence, but to uplift in this conversation many different examples of 13 00:02:25.290 --> 00:02:37.129 Melanie Bush: Actually building and living the world, as we know, it can be, deeply, embedded in love. 14 00:02:38.300 --> 00:02:42.369 Melanie Bush: And care, and comfort, for all beings. 15 00:02:43.390 --> 00:02:46.850 Melanie Bush: So, I am going to… 16 00:02:46.970 --> 00:03:02.449 Melanie Bush: just say, my name is Melanie Bush. The background for the Global Tapestry Alternative Solidarity Economy, Thematic Group, was founded at the last in-person, assembly in Kenya. 17 00:03:02.490 --> 00:03:25.189 Melanie Bush: And we've been meeting on and off. If you are not, engaged in our work, and you would like to participate, and our focus this year is on building collaborations, please, I'll put, Al West and my emails in the chat. Feel free to contact us. I also post, 18 00:03:25.310 --> 00:03:31.070 Melanie Bush: our WhatsApp group, And, ongoing notes, so you can see where we've… 19 00:03:31.530 --> 00:03:36.680 Melanie Bush: Entered this, where we've been traveling in the last couple years. 20 00:03:36.700 --> 00:03:50.410 Melanie Bush: And that said, I'm going to, because I'm excited to hear, both the presentations and the discussion, I'm going to pass to Amira, and if you can first introduce yourself briefly. 21 00:03:50.410 --> 00:04:00.090 Melanie Bush: So we're situated, and, I… and let me know when you would like me to post the, 22 00:04:00.090 --> 00:04:01.100 Melanie Bush: Slideshow. 23 00:04:03.370 --> 00:04:18.599 Aamirah -WEAll: Amazing. Thank you so much, Melanie. Hi, everyone. It's lovely to see some mainly new faces or names on the screen today, and so please do keep the engagement coming in the chat in terms of 24 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:33.409 Aamirah -WEAll: what words come to mind when you think of economy. We'll kind of keep a lookout for those, as… as the session continues. So my name's Amira, I'm the Engagement Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance. 25 00:04:33.410 --> 00:04:58.000 Aamirah -WEAll: And I basically work on, accessibility, around how, different ideas around a new or a next economy, intersect with, kind of, lots of different, movements and themes. So, some of that is we… I run a health working group that 26 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:17.160 Aamirah -WEAll: Really looks at the intersection of health and an economy, and what a thriving economy could look like, when… what health in a thriving, and different economic system could look like, as well as looking after, the… 27 00:05:17.300 --> 00:05:20.180 Aamirah -WEAll: regions that I, 28 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:37.849 Aamirah -WEAll: that I am based in, so I'm based in Morocco, and I look after our Middle East and North Africa members, and kind of engagement, and also some of our Asia engagement, where we have hubs, so I'll get into a little bit more of, kind of, our structure a little bit later on in the presentation. 29 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:46.610 Aamirah -WEAll: But, today we'll kind of go through a little bit around, like, you know, where does… what is well-being economy framing? What are well-being economies? 30 00:05:46.870 --> 00:06:08.660 Aamirah -WEAll: A couple of examples of really great, grassroots action that's been taking place in different parts of the world over January through, our first Reclaim the Economy week, which was an opportunity for lots of people to, start conversations or continue conversations about. 31 00:06:08.660 --> 00:06:15.050 Aamirah -WEAll: How, how we can reclaim the economy so that it is one that serves 32 00:06:15.050 --> 00:06:25.679 Aamirah -WEAll: people and planet, first and foremost, and social justice. So, Melanie, if you're happy to share the slides, we can, kick off now. 33 00:06:39.930 --> 00:06:41.330 Aamirah -WEAll: Thank you so much. 34 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:57.139 Aamirah -WEAll: Okay, so when we're talking about, you know, an alternative economy and well-being economies, we're talking about an economy that's in service of life, right? So this is recognizing that the current economic system under capitalism, you know, 35 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:19.889 Aamirah -WEAll: has meant that there are a lot of activities which are not only invisible, but are not accounted for. This can come from, you know, things like care for the environment, care for people, you know, things like labor and profit, visibility of private ownership, and, 36 00:07:19.890 --> 00:07:26.150 Aamirah -WEAll: the Welby Economy Alliance is… An alliance of movements, and, 37 00:07:26.150 --> 00:07:43.389 Aamirah -WEAll: and individuals working towards economic systems change. So, you know, it's quite broad, it's quite encompassing in the approach, and often we're talking about multiple approaches coming under the banner of, of well-being economies. 38 00:07:43.390 --> 00:07:45.960 Aamirah -WEAll: And so, as you can see in this diagram. 39 00:07:46.170 --> 00:08:10.299 Aamirah -WEAll: So many of the individuals that… and organizations that we work with come from completely different sectors, so we have those who are very much focused on, on, ecology, and as you know, there is an intrinsic link between ecology and economy, right? The root of the word economy does come from the Greek, word for, 40 00:08:10.300 --> 00:08:23.390 Aamirah -WEAll: for home, right? And so, in a lot of ways, we're talking about the home that we're living in, the home that, that we're responsible for creating. And often when we talk about the economic system. 41 00:08:23.390 --> 00:08:37.520 Aamirah -WEAll: because of the way the current economic system stands, you know, we often think we have no agency, or, you know… but I think, you know, for a lot of us now, it's integral that actually we do drive, 42 00:08:37.520 --> 00:08:46.089 Aamirah -WEAll: The way in which our home exists, and the way in which, the intersection of both planet and people come together in… in… 43 00:08:46.090 --> 00:08:49.289 Aamirah -WEAll: In the way that we live. And so… 44 00:08:49.290 --> 00:09:14.100 Aamirah -WEAll: When we're talking about wellbeing, we're not necessarily just talking about health and wellbeing, so you can see that kind of on the left side, we're talking about health and medical care and care work, but then also things like governance structures and transportation and, renewable energy and education, as well as, core principles. 45 00:09:14.280 --> 00:09:32.369 Aamirah -WEAll: around community ownership and social enterprises. So this is kind of the mix of individuals and organizations that are part of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance, and, you know, we'll often describe it as we are in service of the movement, as opposed to, kind of, 46 00:09:32.380 --> 00:09:34.640 Aamirah -WEAll: a… a… 47 00:09:35.050 --> 00:09:45.220 Aamirah -WEAll: the… a theory around how the economic system should change. It's more so that we're here to serve the movement, and the different types of, systems change that 48 00:09:45.220 --> 00:10:07.950 Aamirah -WEAll: is being advocated for in a lot of places around the world, many of which are new and a lot of which are not, right? When we talk about things, we're talking about Indigenous ways of being and doing, often, you know, being brought back to the front and center as well as, you know, what people often deem as new ways of engaging with, with nature and people. 49 00:10:07.950 --> 00:10:09.930 Aamirah -WEAll: Collectively. 50 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:12.430 Aamirah -WEAll: So, on to the next slide, please. 51 00:10:18.530 --> 00:10:21.659 Aamirah -WEAll: We can skip this one, Melanie, sorry, thank you. 52 00:10:24.230 --> 00:10:39.910 Aamirah -WEAll: So, really, really integral, and I love this absolutely beautiful, image on the left-hand side. It often, you know, fills me with a lot of hope. But a wellbeing economy really is about delivering social justice on a healthy planet, and recognizing, you know. 53 00:10:39.910 --> 00:11:00.600 Aamirah -WEAll: before the economic system that has been the dominant economic system, you know, for not more than really 200 years, existed, you know, core elements of, our home and understanding our home, has been, nature, Mother Nature, right? And so, on the left, you can see. 54 00:11:02.060 --> 00:11:20.469 Aamirah -WEAll: This beautiful image, but also this reminder that, you know, any economy that can serve, us as humans needs to also be in reciprocity with a healthy planet and ensuring that we're caring for the planet as well as people. 55 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:22.489 Aamirah -WEAll: So, next slide, please. 56 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:43.109 Aamirah -WEAll: So one of the first things that, that took place when the Wellbeing Economy Alliance was formed about 5 years ago were workshops and consultations with members around 5 core goals or needs that, a wellbeing economy would be designed to deliver. So, 57 00:11:43.170 --> 00:12:02.239 Aamirah -WEAll: these are the five needs that, came up. So, dignity, as you can see on the bottom right. So, you know, the notion that everyone has enough to live in comfort, safety, and happiness. Nature, sort of restored and safe natural world for all life, 58 00:12:02.510 --> 00:12:18.969 Aamirah -WEAll: fairness, so justice in all its dimensions at the heart of economic systems, and also really the gap between the richest and the poorest, which is only growing in the world that we're living in. You know, they say, I think it's, 59 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:29.460 Aamirah -WEAll: there's a large percentage of the world's wealth that kind of sits with five families, right? And so… so, you know, really addressing this gap between, 60 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:46.579 Aamirah -WEAll: Those with a lot of wealth, those with… with not much wealth at all. Participation, so citizens being actively engaged, in their communities and locally rooted economies, and purpose. So, 61 00:12:46.580 --> 00:12:55.440 Aamirah -WEAll: For, everything to be designed to deliver, purpose, purpose-driven, action. 62 00:12:56.040 --> 00:12:57.440 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 63 00:12:58.890 --> 00:13:05.520 Aamirah -WEAll: And one of the other core principles that, kind of underpins well-being economies. 64 00:13:05.550 --> 00:13:21.599 Aamirah -WEAll: thinking is, the notion of the four P's. So, what we refer to as, pre-distribution, purpose, prevention, and people powered. And so, this is very much, 65 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:41.479 Aamirah -WEAll: connected to the kind of economy that we want to see, and in some ways, also, countering the dominant economic system as it stands, which does not, for example, pre-distribute power, wealth, time, and income, right? It's measured purely on, 66 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:49.490 Aamirah -WEAll: on, GDP, which, you know, is becoming more and more clear that, this doesn't represent, 67 00:13:49.490 --> 00:13:59.590 Aamirah -WEAll: so many other aspects of… of what is needed for us and for, other forms of life to live, well. So, 68 00:14:00.880 --> 00:14:12.480 Aamirah -WEAll: The idea of the four P's is it's a framework to shift economics focus from mere growth to human and planetary flourishing. So, 69 00:14:12.790 --> 00:14:31.220 Aamirah -WEAll: pre-distribution, designing the system… designing fairness into the system to… from the very beginning. So, to prevent inequality, rather than relying solely on distribution… redistribution through taxes and benefits, which is the current way the economic system, 70 00:14:31.220 --> 00:14:44.070 Aamirah -WEAll: you know, regards pre-distribution and focusing on fair wages and community wealth building. So, really, you know, thinking of designing ways in which, you know, we can 71 00:14:44.070 --> 00:14:47.860 Aamirah -WEAll: Pre-distribute power, wealth, time, and income. 72 00:14:48.090 --> 00:14:51.730 Aamirah -WEAll: The second one is purpose, so next slide, please. 73 00:14:52.430 --> 00:15:10.860 Aamirah -WEAll: So, purpose is very much focused on reorienting the economy, and institutions to serve the common good and deliver collective well-being. So, moving away from this notion of, you know, the only purpose of the economy is to increase GDP on a national level, 74 00:15:11.030 --> 00:15:21.760 Aamirah -WEAll: You know, measuring in new ways, what collective well-being looks like, and what collective human and ecological well-being looks like. 75 00:15:22.280 --> 00:15:44.079 Aamirah -WEAll: The third P is prevention. And so this is very much to do with how, you know, we need to be tackling issues at their root causes, and taking an upstream approach to prevent social and environmental damage, rather than managing symptoms. So what we see with the current system as it stands is, you know, a lot of, 76 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:56.540 Aamirah -WEAll: A lot of management and mitigation, you know, around, the damage that has been caused, as opposed to an acknowledgement that, you know, this needs to be looked at from its… 77 00:15:56.540 --> 00:16:03.290 Aamirah -WEAll: from the root. And in that, shifting the purpose of… 78 00:16:03.790 --> 00:16:17.609 Aamirah -WEAll: Of the economy to, prevention and more active ways of, tackling some of the issues that exist, including some of the massive climate risk that we're seeing, in the world today. 79 00:16:18.110 --> 00:16:20.479 Aamirah -WEAll: And then, next slide, please, Mindy. 80 00:16:29.370 --> 00:16:53.829 Aamirah -WEAll: Sorry, again, there we go, thank you. Finally, people-powered. So, placing people at the forefront of shaping economic systems, and what does this look like? So we're talking about so many different ways. There's democratic decision-making, as well as examples of citizens' assemblies, participatory budgeting in cases like Scotland we're seeing, and these are very much people-powered. 81 00:16:54.020 --> 00:17:09.979 Aamirah -WEAll: Decisions, that are being made around the economy, and really re-engaging communities and people to see themselves as in charge of making the decisions around what the economic system 82 00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:15.919 Aamirah -WEAll: That they live in looks like and feels like, and how it best serves them and the planet. 83 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:32.109 Aamirah -WEAll: Okay, so, move on to the next slide, and I think this is a really important, point to make. So, as I said, we're not advocating for one particular strategy. We all emerged, in a way that, 84 00:17:32.310 --> 00:17:56.729 Aamirah -WEAll: A lot of the work and individuals that were very much connected to the movement at the beginning were decision makers, or policy makers, or those who were interested in policy and shifting policy, in the current economic system, as it stands. Now, over time, this has evolved, and it looks different, so we have, you know, lots of different, individuals and organisations who are part of the alliance. 85 00:17:56.820 --> 00:18:21.000 Aamirah -WEAll: Including those focused on, like, food and regeneration, that, you know, would be… would be advocating for regenerative economy in terms of, you know, focusing on an economy that, mimics nature by regenerating the social and ecological, assets needed for well-being, for example. You know, those who are advocating for a circular economy. 86 00:18:21.040 --> 00:18:43.440 Aamirah -WEAll: Or those who are focused on community wealth building. So, you know, really looking at the current economic institutions, that have strong links to local economy, and really advocating for, bottom-up approaches when it comes to, to changes in, in, in the way that we, 87 00:18:43.550 --> 00:18:46.539 Aamirah -WEAll: In the way that we exchange. 88 00:18:46.540 --> 00:19:10.800 Aamirah -WEAll: resources and managed resources, economic democracy, the common good economy, so, you know, those that are in alignment with values of dignity, social justice, environmental sustainability, and transparency. Obviously, as we're here today, the solidarity economy, so, I know many of you are already very well versed in 89 00:19:10.810 --> 00:19:27.529 Aamirah -WEAll: In the values that the solidarity economy is based around, including things like reciprocity, cooperation, and solidarity, as well as models like donor economics, for example, which, you know, are much more, 90 00:19:27.550 --> 00:19:38.749 Aamirah -WEAll: Much more around the design of economic systems, in kind of a very, yeah, a very clear, kind of… 91 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:57.750 Aamirah -WEAll: structured way, I guess. Foundational economy and the core economy. These are just some, so, someone's put in the chat, gift economies, yes, definitely. It would also be something that would… gift economies would be something that people have been discussing within the wellbeing economies. 92 00:19:57.750 --> 00:20:21.399 Aamirah -WEAll: network, and I'm sure we'll get into the solidarity economy a little bit more, in the second half of today's session as well. So, just to say, we often say it's a… it's, you know, when we're talking about Wellbeing Economy Alliance, often people think we're talking about one particular framework, when actually, you know, we're talking about many of these different approaches, the picnic blanket of approaches. 93 00:20:21.450 --> 00:20:37.850 Aamirah -WEAll: to, to seeing a new economic system. And… and in a lot of ways, some of our findings when we… when we brought together different facilitators around global, well-being economy, you know, really came back with. 94 00:20:37.850 --> 00:20:43.689 Aamirah -WEAll: we're talking about economies, right? We're talking about… if we're talking about a multitude of these approaches. 95 00:20:43.690 --> 00:20:55.200 Aamirah -WEAll: It's not one monolithic economy that we're, we're transitioning to, or we're beginning to shape, but rather, multiple economies, 96 00:20:55.260 --> 00:20:57.379 Aamirah -WEAll: Okay, next slide, please. 97 00:21:02.560 --> 00:21:25.729 Aamirah -WEAll: So, our theory of change, so we very much work around this tree, so, the tree… the, bottom… at the roots of the tree are knowledge and narrative, so promoting new and compelling narratives of what is possible, and also building accessible knowledge and evidence base around, like, what… what's working. 98 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:30.710 Aamirah -WEAll: And then, obviously, we see the trunk of the tree as… 99 00:21:30.710 --> 00:21:49.069 Aamirah -WEAll: Our power bases, and our power bases are those who are working on, changing the way that things are happening and synthesizing some of this shift in narrative and shift in… and knowledge gathering up and out into… into the… 100 00:21:49.120 --> 00:21:52.959 Aamirah -WEAll: Type of system, economic system, they would like to see. 101 00:21:53.250 --> 00:21:54.640 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 102 00:21:56.100 --> 00:22:14.550 Aamirah -WEAll: So those are our three pillars, knowledge, narrative, economic systems change. So what does this look like? So, we have about 18 hubs around the world that are kind of self-organizing, autonomous, often consisting of multiple organizations working together in their local context. 103 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:28.019 Aamirah -WEAll: 583 organizational members. There was, a big piece of work on national governments a couple of years ago, which has kind of… 104 00:22:28.170 --> 00:22:41.050 Aamirah -WEAll: dwindled down, and it was, it was six national governments in an alliance called WEGO. So these are governments that were actively pursuing the wellbeing economy agenda in their current policy, 105 00:22:41.050 --> 00:22:58.179 Aamirah -WEAll: And interestingly enough, a lot of those leaders have now stepped down, and were women, actually, in the countries that, joined this alliance. We have a policymakers network, so that's those who are particularly interested in shifting policy. 106 00:22:58.180 --> 00:23:11.519 Aamirah -WEAll: And, writing new policy, and I'm gonna give a few examples of what that looks like in a moment, as well as our individual members and our ambassadors and spokespeople. So… 107 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:36.010 Aamirah -WEAll: This is what the Alliance is kind of made up of when we're talking about the numbers and who we're referring to when we say the Wellbeing Economy Alliance. There's just a map on the next slide, which shows kind of where our hubs are located, and it's not up to date, because since then, we've had a hub emerge in Singapore and in India. 108 00:23:36.220 --> 00:23:40.920 Aamirah -WEAll: As well as a couple of other countries, so… 109 00:23:41.020 --> 00:23:55.739 Aamirah -WEAll: But this is kind of the geographical spread, and as you can see, there is quite a lot of concentration in Europe, which is something we're actively working on trying to, redress in terms of ensuring that 110 00:23:55.740 --> 00:24:02.339 Aamirah -WEAll: That perspectives from other parts of the world are more represented in the movement. 111 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.529 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 112 00:24:06.310 --> 00:24:13.329 Aamirah -WEAll: So… So, when we're looking at building power bases. 113 00:24:13.370 --> 00:24:25.760 Aamirah -WEAll: We're… and that trunk of the tree, that's when we're talking about membership, hubs, and movements. So, these different circles of influence that can drive economic… 114 00:24:25.760 --> 00:24:41.760 Aamirah -WEAll: that drive the economic transformation. So, you know, some of these are individuals, some of these are organizations, but it is kind of this reciprocity of this circle, on the… on the, slideshow that we're talking about when we're talking about these. 115 00:24:41.820 --> 00:24:44.450 Aamirah -WEAll: Three pillars of power bases. 116 00:24:44.930 --> 00:24:52.080 Aamirah -WEAll: So, and, for a lot of individuals, they may not be… 117 00:24:52.210 --> 00:25:15.360 Aamirah -WEAll: a hub, or they may not be part of the membership, but they're still kind of engaged in receiving content or sharing ideas with others in the network around kind of what's working where they are. And a big part of Reclaim the Economy Week was also, an opportunity to engage people, who wouldn't normally think of associating or connecting themselves 118 00:25:15.360 --> 00:25:17.750 Aamirah -WEAll: with the economy, 119 00:25:18.740 --> 00:25:39.269 Aamirah -WEAll: Okay, next slide, please. So, I'm just going to give a few examples of, kind of, like, what does this look like in practice, right? It's all well and good, we've got all these wonderful ideas around what a different economy needs to look like, but how does this look in practice? And so, the first example, is, 120 00:25:41.780 --> 00:25:51.869 Aamirah -WEAll: this one. So, it's an open letter campaign that, that was run in November 2022, and it was very much focused on, 121 00:25:51.870 --> 00:26:08.920 Aamirah -WEAll: on an environment where, the First Minister in Scotland was, somebody that could, was willing to be engaged with in terms of shifting policy around, the economy. And so, 122 00:26:08.970 --> 00:26:33.200 Aamirah -WEAll: a big part of the Scottish Hub's emergence was very much to do with engaging with the political landscape at the time, and over 200 organizations signed it, holding the government to account on commitments. And as a result, we had Nicola Sturgeon be a part of that kind of, alliance of governments working on, on wellbeing economies and what that looks like, in… 123 00:26:33.360 --> 00:26:52.349 Aamirah -WEAll: in kind of coalition with one another. As well as, some very clear changes around the institution of somebody who… who works on wellbeing economies in the government, for example, a commissioner who… whose job it is to work on this, 124 00:26:52.350 --> 00:26:57.860 Aamirah -WEAll: As well as, engaging lots of citizens in an active way. Thank you. 125 00:26:57.860 --> 00:26:59.509 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 126 00:27:04.320 --> 00:27:06.530 Aamirah -WEAll: Next one, again, sorry. 127 00:27:06.990 --> 00:27:08.370 Aamirah -WEAll: Gonna skip ahead. 128 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:14.709 Aamirah -WEAll: So these are some images from, the South Africa Hub, which is the African Liberation Hub. 129 00:27:14.710 --> 00:27:37.410 Aamirah -WEAll: And this was when they were initially, starting up, so they started out with some dinners. Most of the engagement has been in Johannesburg, and there's been some in Cape Town as well, with the members in Cape Town, but mainly in Joburg. And if you go to the next slide, so this particular hub began working with 130 00:27:37.410 --> 00:27:40.769 Aamirah -WEAll: There should be one before that, can I just check? Sorry. 131 00:27:41.610 --> 00:27:43.979 Aamirah -WEAll: No… okay, nevermind. 132 00:27:44.390 --> 00:28:02.930 Aamirah -WEAll: So, yep, there we go. So, in 2024, so there was lots of, like, pre-gatherings and dinners, and a big part of the discussion around what a new economy and a different economy would look like in South Africa was very much rooted in, in particular 133 00:28:03.490 --> 00:28:16.829 Aamirah -WEAll: Sorry, thank you, right. So, was rooted in particular themes around land, liberation, and alternative economic paradigms, and a big part of that was, kind of. 134 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:18.430 Aamirah -WEAll: Going back to… 135 00:28:18.460 --> 00:28:41.900 Aamirah -WEAll: to pre-colonization in South Africa. So, a big part of what the African Liberations Hub work has involved around… has involved, is around new mediums of expression, and re… and allowing space for some of the, kind of, Indigenous ways of… of being and doing that existed pre-colonization. And so. 136 00:28:41.900 --> 00:28:59.320 Aamirah -WEAll: So there was a big gathering that brought together lots of thinkers with music and visual arts, and kind of, like, a reconnection with… with poetry and drumming, that was very much rooted in reclaiming the economy. And so… 137 00:28:59.600 --> 00:29:14.130 Aamirah -WEAll: As you can see, dependent on where you are in the world, and what is relevant to where individuals are in the world, the type of work and focus has been different. Should we go to the next slide, please? 138 00:29:16.650 --> 00:29:31.210 Aamirah -WEAll: Another example that I wanted to give was of, the ecocentric urban design in Curidabad, in Costa Rica. So the Sweet City program, which was awarded, 139 00:29:31.210 --> 00:29:45.810 Aamirah -WEAll: which was awarded and recognized for its regenerative approach to urban planning. So this is an example of where we can see wellbeing economy policy in practice on a citywide level, and this was very much focused around designing 140 00:29:45.810 --> 00:29:49.609 Aamirah -WEAll: the city, in harmony with 141 00:29:49.640 --> 00:30:00.419 Aamirah -WEAll: lots of, natures, organisms, and other life. So, for example, the… the… 142 00:30:01.800 --> 00:30:25.269 Aamirah -WEAll: sorry, the bees, the butterflies, the hummingbirds, the pollinators, the plants, and the trees being effectively recognized as citizens, and nature being placed at the center of urban design. And the success has been in creating green corridors and more urban vegetation, as well as more community coming together to plant flowers and trees. 143 00:30:25.310 --> 00:30:38.669 Aamirah -WEAll: And, working on wetland creation and management of ecosystem, disasters and climate adaptation. So, again, another very focused… 144 00:30:39.040 --> 00:30:45.499 Aamirah -WEAll: Another focused example of a wellbeing economy in practice on a citywide level. 145 00:30:45.990 --> 00:30:56.139 Aamirah -WEAll: And then I'm going to skip ahead, because we're close to out of time. So, there's a few wellbeing measurement frameworks… sorry, just go back one more, Melanie. 146 00:30:56.680 --> 00:31:20.740 Aamirah -WEAll: There's a few well-being measurement frameworks from around the world that you can look into if you're… if you're kind of interested on the policy side of things. So we have Bhutan's Gross National Happiness Framework, New Zealand's Living Standards Framework, Korea's Quality of Life Indicators, and Barcelona's City Donut, and Mexico's Federal Wellbeing Indicators. So these are all ways in which policy has been kind of shifted 147 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:26.119 Aamirah -WEAll: To reflect, a different economy, in… 148 00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:31.139 Aamirah -WEAll: governments that are kind of running at the moment. Next slide, please. 149 00:31:31.690 --> 00:31:52.420 Aamirah -WEAll: So I'm just going to finish on what happened in January, well, at the end of January this year, which was the first Global Week of Action for People on the planet called Reclaim the Economy. And there'll be an opportunity, we'll be running it annually, so I just wanted to show a little bit around, what took place. So there's some… next slide, please. 150 00:31:53.140 --> 00:32:08.820 Aamirah -WEAll: So, a big part of… of this was really to spark a week where all eyes are on redesigning our economies, right? So, what does this look like, starting this conversation, and, and… 151 00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:17.379 Aamirah -WEAll: starting to create, kind of, action, and the need for change across different places. Next slide, please. 152 00:32:18.390 --> 00:32:20.289 Aamirah -WEAll: Again, next slide, sorry. 153 00:32:21.110 --> 00:32:24.590 Aamirah -WEAll: Let's skip ahead. So, this is a map of… 154 00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:36.880 Aamirah -WEAll: back one, sorry. This is a map of, the different places around the world in which activities took place, so you can see, you know, there's different activities taking place with 155 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:48.359 Aamirah -WEAll: particular hubs, or with individuals or organizations, and what did this look like? Next slide. So we had, like, film screenings, forum panel discussions. 156 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:50.920 Aamirah -WEAll: Webinars and info sessions. 157 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:54.190 Aamirah -WEAll: There was a singing event, 158 00:32:54.190 --> 00:33:11.300 Aamirah -WEAll: online campaign, we had seed swaps and a communal walk, so different activities around the world, as to what suited, kind of a discussion or revival around, reclaiming the economy. Next slide. 159 00:33:12.250 --> 00:33:29.780 Aamirah -WEAll: So there should be some photos now. So these are some photos from the forest in Singapore, and a big part of their reclaiming the economy discussion was held in rethinking relationship between nature communities and future generations. 160 00:33:29.780 --> 00:33:36.750 Aamirah -WEAll: by spending time, in a historic forest and mangrove swamp in Singapore. 161 00:33:37.350 --> 00:33:39.130 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 162 00:33:41.010 --> 00:34:01.210 Aamirah -WEAll: In France and Sweden, we saw, a panel discussion around… and this was kind of more around, like, citizen engagement, but around policy advocacy, data reliability, and approaches to democratic organising, which… which was a really successful event. 163 00:34:01.430 --> 00:34:03.050 Aamirah -WEAll: Next slide, please. 164 00:34:05.130 --> 00:34:22.760 Aamirah -WEAll: the African Liberation Hub, which I mentioned earlier, kind of gathered to reflect and align and plan their strategy for Southern Africa, and as you can see, there was, like, a meal with lots of local food, and lots of colourful brainstorming. 165 00:34:23.060 --> 00:34:28.299 Aamirah -WEAll: And then the last image should be… Can we skip ahead again? Sorry. 166 00:34:28.949 --> 00:34:40.039 Aamirah -WEAll: So this was the songs for reclaiming the economy. So there was a singing session, with songs relevant to the idea of reclaiming the economy. 167 00:34:40.040 --> 00:34:52.869 Aamirah -WEAll: In Scotland, as you can see in the image on the right, too. So, different activities, around starting these conversations, and, 168 00:34:52.870 --> 00:34:54.380 Aamirah -WEAll: Hopefully, we're looking… 169 00:34:54.380 --> 00:35:14.189 Aamirah -WEAll: to run it again next year with more partners involved and more individuals involved, so that's one of the big things that can be taken away from today as well, in terms of, you know, if you are interested in starting a conversation where you live, or joining a conversation where you live, it's a really great opportunity to kind of get involved. 170 00:35:14.770 --> 00:35:21.890 Aamirah -WEAll: That's it from me. I don't know if there's any other questions in the chat. 171 00:35:21.890 --> 00:35:26.539 Melanie Bush: There's a… I see, first of all, Amira, thank you so much. 172 00:35:26.540 --> 00:35:30.450 Melanie Bush: What a beautiful, beautiful presentation that… 173 00:35:30.450 --> 00:35:49.479 Melanie Bush: It really makes me think we need a second follow-up, because we're going to be shortchanged for the discussion part that we… what we really want and need to have. So stay tuned for that, perhaps in May, after the GTA in-person assembly in Bandung. 174 00:35:49.510 --> 00:36:04.620 Melanie Bush: Yes, please do put your questions… feel free, I will do my best, and I apologize for my back and forth with the slides a little bit, but I was trying to check the chat. I will include the questions that you post. 175 00:36:04.620 --> 00:36:16.399 Melanie Bush: In our final set of questions, after Havest gives us a very brief overview of Solidarity economy, so we can really get to some, interaction. 176 00:36:16.490 --> 00:36:18.219 Melanie Bush: And, 177 00:36:19.750 --> 00:36:36.790 Melanie Bush: I will, turn it over to you. Hawess, please give us a couple sentences to situate you, and, I will momentarily, pull, pull up your presentation as well. 178 00:36:37.580 --> 00:36:54.020 Halwest Karim: Okay, thank you so much, Milani, and thank you so much, Amira, for a very informative, presentation. Hello, everyone. It's really nice to be here with you today. My name is Hal West. I'm co-facilitator of 179 00:36:54.620 --> 00:36:58.040 Halwest Karim: Solidarity Economy Thematic Group. 180 00:36:58.230 --> 00:36:59.720 Halwest Karim: GTA. 181 00:37:00.050 --> 00:37:09.049 Halwest Karim: As Milani mentioned, I'm going to give a really brief, presentation about, solidarity economy. 182 00:37:09.180 --> 00:37:21.739 Halwest Karim: And then, two slides about the connection and the difference between the solidarity economy and well-being economy, in order to kindly invite you to be part of the discussion. 183 00:37:22.150 --> 00:37:26.630 Halwest Karim: Milani, if you can share the presentation? 184 00:37:43.400 --> 00:37:45.380 Halwest Karim: Yes, thank you so much. 185 00:37:47.460 --> 00:37:48.240 Halwest Karim: Yes. 186 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:53.389 Halwest Karim: You can go to the next slide, please. 187 00:37:53.910 --> 00:38:03.610 Halwest Karim: Today we are living in… through multiple crises. At the same time, so… 188 00:38:04.230 --> 00:38:12.000 Halwest Karim: The economic inequality, climate, crisis and social injustice. 189 00:38:12.420 --> 00:38:25.209 Halwest Karim: The extreme, wealth concentrations show how the unequal how that… Inequal the system has become. 190 00:38:25.470 --> 00:38:41.079 Halwest Karim: At the same time, many communities are already responding. So, what we are calling solidarity economy, is not something new. It comes from long. 191 00:38:41.730 --> 00:38:54.790 Halwest Karim: stories of survival, resistance, and care, especially from Indigenous and marginalized community. So, we want to say that 192 00:38:55.480 --> 00:39:03.579 Halwest Karim: This, approach is not something new, but we are just would like to remembering you. 193 00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:08.079 Halwest Karim: Can you go to the next slide, please? 194 00:39:08.320 --> 00:39:19.310 Halwest Karim: When we are saying economy, it means… this word, eco, means home, and the economy, it means managing our home. 195 00:39:19.710 --> 00:39:37.040 Halwest Karim: But today, economy is reduced to money, market, and growth. So, and this ignores many essential activities, including care work, community support, substance practices. 196 00:39:37.300 --> 00:39:43.070 Halwest Karim: And those are often then done by women and my generalized group. 197 00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:46.839 Halwest Karim: But it remained invisible. 198 00:39:46.950 --> 00:39:56.769 Halwest Karim: So, for this, we need to understand or expand our understanding to the world of economy. 199 00:39:57.840 --> 00:40:12.140 Halwest Karim: In terms of… solidarity economy, Largely refers to the movement that builds upon long-standing practices 200 00:40:12.350 --> 00:40:26.809 Halwest Karim: Engaged by marginalized and oppressed communities. That being utilizing collective means of meeting needs, solving problems, and distributing power. 201 00:40:26.920 --> 00:40:44.299 Halwest Karim: So, this is a systematic framework that holds principle of intercedence, radical democracy, and justice being in right relation with nature and collective liberation at its core. 202 00:40:44.810 --> 00:40:58.140 Halwest Karim: In the way… in this way, solidarity economy principle and practices recognize that our individual struggle and well-being are bounded together. 203 00:41:00.050 --> 00:41:01.530 Halwest Karim: Next slide, please. 204 00:41:03.400 --> 00:41:09.130 Halwest Karim: So, there are many principles of solidarity economy. 205 00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:21.680 Halwest Karim: So the core principle that guides solidarity economy is interpretence and cooperation, community, work together. 206 00:41:21.900 --> 00:41:26.390 Halwest Karim: sharing resources, Knowledge and responsibility. 207 00:41:26.620 --> 00:41:31.529 Halwest Karim: Another key principle is democracy and participation. 208 00:41:32.030 --> 00:41:34.749 Halwest Karim: Decisions are made qualitatively. 209 00:41:35.050 --> 00:41:37.730 Halwest Karim: And everyone affect has a voice. 210 00:41:38.190 --> 00:41:48.439 Halwest Karim: Justice and equality are also central. Resources and opportunities are distributed fairly. 211 00:41:50.700 --> 00:41:54.490 Halwest Karim: With attention to marginalized groups. 212 00:41:55.070 --> 00:41:58.869 Halwest Karim: Such as women, youth, or ethnic minorities. 213 00:41:59.050 --> 00:42:09.689 Halwest Karim: Finally, ecological stewardship remains us that the humans are part of ecosystem, not above them, and that our economic 214 00:42:09.820 --> 00:42:13.170 Halwest Karim: Activity must be respect nature. 215 00:42:13.420 --> 00:42:18.680 Halwest Karim: All those principles need to be… 216 00:42:18.990 --> 00:42:31.480 Halwest Karim: showing an action. So, because principle becomes meaningful when… Applied in practices. 217 00:42:32.290 --> 00:42:37.030 Halwest Karim: For example, if we are sharing examples. 218 00:42:37.440 --> 00:42:41.629 Halwest Karim: We would like to look at interpretence. 219 00:42:41.790 --> 00:42:49.160 Halwest Karim: We can be seen and shading food, labor, or tools within community projects. 220 00:42:49.590 --> 00:43:00.839 Halwest Karim: Democracy appears, and cooperative governors, Open meeting, or conscience-based decision-making. Justice is reflected in program. 221 00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:08.199 Halwest Karim: That empower marginalized groups or redistribute resources fairly. 222 00:43:08.430 --> 00:43:16.119 Halwest Karim: Ecological stewardship is visible, initiatives like urban gardens. 223 00:43:16.890 --> 00:43:29.650 Halwest Karim: or renewable energy cooperatives. So, these practices demonstrate that solidarity economy is about Both value and actions. 224 00:43:29.810 --> 00:43:33.419 Halwest Karim: It guides community to live collectively. 225 00:43:33.610 --> 00:43:39.979 Halwest Karim: Care of each other, and maintain a healthy relationship with the environment. 226 00:43:40.410 --> 00:43:50.750 Halwest Karim: So, we would like to say here that the principles provide a framework, and the practices bring them to life in tangible ways. 227 00:43:51.650 --> 00:43:53.400 Halwest Karim: Next slide, please. 228 00:43:56.390 --> 00:43:58.850 Halwest Karim: So, 229 00:43:59.020 --> 00:44:07.129 Halwest Karim: Amira, she discussed… she talked about the well-being economy, and I gave a brief about the solidarity of economy. 230 00:44:07.210 --> 00:44:19.140 Halwest Karim: Hey, we would like to start our discussion by, what is the connection and the differences between those two approaches? 231 00:44:19.350 --> 00:44:27.020 Halwest Karim: A well-being economy focuses on relationship, or reshaping policies and economic system. 232 00:44:27.650 --> 00:44:36.070 Halwest Karim: So that successes and measured by human and ecological well-being, rather than GDP, And often. 233 00:44:36.290 --> 00:44:40.290 Halwest Karim: Engage with governments and institutions. 234 00:44:40.460 --> 00:44:57.830 Halwest Karim: In contrast, the solidarity economy emerged from grassroots practices like cooperative, mutual aid, and community networks, emphasized collective ownership, democratic control, and everyday economic alternative. 235 00:44:59.760 --> 00:45:01.209 Halwest Karim: Next slide, please. 236 00:45:02.950 --> 00:45:07.499 Halwest Karim: So, it means that both challenge the dominant 237 00:45:08.720 --> 00:45:14.739 Halwest Karim: Proof… proof of driving model, and center people, care and ecology. 238 00:45:15.270 --> 00:45:30.420 Halwest Karim: Both those approaches aim for justice, sustainability, and dignity, and both seek to redefine what the economy is for, shifting from growth to well-being and collective flourishing. 239 00:45:37.110 --> 00:45:41.270 Halwest Karim: So the… floor is… 240 00:45:41.720 --> 00:45:49.639 Halwest Karim: opening for discussion, we would like to hear from you, your thoughts, and any questions that you have. Thank you so much. 241 00:45:53.110 --> 00:46:01.910 Melanie Bush: Thank you also, Harvest, for a very hard task, which is to summarize a lot of things in a very quick moment. 242 00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:16.620 Melanie Bush: We came up with some questions, and I added the one about gift economies. Thank you for that. So I am putting these questions in the chat, and the floor is… 243 00:46:16.980 --> 00:46:24.820 Melanie Bush: open. I want to confirm things are okay for interpretation. Maria Cruz, everything is fine? 244 00:46:29.200 --> 00:46:30.609 Melanie Bush: Just let… 245 00:46:31.030 --> 00:46:40.649 Melanie Bush: Okay, beautiful. Just let me know if you run into anything, and thank you all. So, the floor is now open, and 246 00:46:40.950 --> 00:46:42.929 Melanie Bush: Thoughts? Questions? 247 00:46:44.790 --> 00:46:49.099 Melanie Bush: Perhaps as people, consider what… 248 00:46:49.360 --> 00:46:53.620 Melanie Bush: They might like to comment. It's also okay to make a comment. 249 00:46:53.640 --> 00:47:10.999 Melanie Bush: I, I don't know, Amira, and Ha West, there is this question, would gift economies come under solidarity economy or well-being economy, or is it not a format, supported? So, thank you for that question. 250 00:47:11.030 --> 00:47:17.590 Melanie Bush: And I don't know, while people are thinking about what they might like to offer or ask. 251 00:47:17.670 --> 00:47:20.980 Melanie Bush: Amira, how vest, would you like to… 252 00:47:21.160 --> 00:47:23.360 Melanie Bush: Have a brief response to that. 253 00:47:26.640 --> 00:47:31.050 Aamirah -WEAll: Yeah, I can address that one. So, yes, definitely, I said with wellbeing economies. 254 00:47:31.310 --> 00:47:44.640 Aamirah -WEAll: gift economies would, would definitely, come under… come under that, as well. I think, as, how West indicated, a lot of… 255 00:47:44.760 --> 00:48:02.280 Aamirah -WEAll: the… Examples that we… Often showcasing or, allowing… Giving space to, You know, are either… 256 00:48:02.750 --> 00:48:05.639 Aamirah -WEAll: More top-down, or, 257 00:48:05.970 --> 00:48:17.690 Aamirah -WEAll: a combination of, kind of, bottom… bottom-up approaches, that are led by… by communities, but I think, yeah, that distinction, between 258 00:48:18.050 --> 00:48:28.480 Aamirah -WEAll: activities like, you know, the running of cooperatives, or, labour rights, or, or… 259 00:48:28.640 --> 00:48:33.410 Aamirah -WEAll: all gift economies on a local level, I think… 260 00:48:34.490 --> 00:48:41.330 Aamirah -WEAll: That a lot of the discussion that we've often had with members is that, local… 261 00:48:41.480 --> 00:48:53.169 Aamirah -WEAll: Local alternatives are a big part of building what, you know, what capitalism would be replaced by, but it would also need to be in, 262 00:48:53.320 --> 00:48:57.269 Aamirah -WEAll: In conjunction with shifts in governance and in policy, and in… 263 00:48:57.290 --> 00:49:16.419 Aamirah -WEAll: And in decision making, essentially, which may not always occur on a local level, right? In the structures that we live in, in the highly globalized world that we live in, you know, this could exist on a regional level, or, on also through global institutions as well. So, just to address that kind of differentiation, I think. 264 00:49:18.490 --> 00:49:25.680 Melanie Bush: Thank you, Amira, and I see, Ashish and Steve, and, 265 00:49:26.240 --> 00:49:32.479 Melanie Bush: I would just say, one of the things that came up, and thank you so much, Isabel, for your questions. 266 00:49:32.480 --> 00:49:48.960 Melanie Bush: In our preparation was, thinking that the solidarity economy is more explicitly, oriented to challenging, capitalism, and, more anti-capitalist, post-capitalist, explicit. 267 00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:52.640 Melanie Bush: And more… a little bit more, in that sense, political. 268 00:49:52.650 --> 00:50:02.939 Melanie Bush: So, this is something we can tease out, and Amira made the point that, that's within the frame of, we all. 269 00:50:03.070 --> 00:50:09.840 Melanie Bush: It includes other traditions and frameworks. Ashish, Steve, go right ahead. 270 00:50:12.350 --> 00:50:14.270 Ashish Kothari: Thanks. Steve, were you before me? 271 00:50:17.040 --> 00:50:20.950 Steven Klees: I thought I'd wait and hear what you had to say before I talked. 272 00:50:21.080 --> 00:50:29.639 Ashish Kothari: Thank you, that's very kind of you, thanks. Thanks, Amira and, Always for those really, really great presentations. 273 00:50:29.710 --> 00:50:38.539 Ashish Kothari: I, certainly learned a lot from both of them. Amira, my question to you, and I think this also relates to what Melanie just said, two questions, actually. 274 00:50:38.590 --> 00:50:54.130 Ashish Kothari: One is that, you know, the whole gamut of approaches that come within well-being economy, do they all share this principle of being anti-capitalist or not? I just want to know what the Wellbeing Economy Alliance feels about that. 275 00:50:54.180 --> 00:51:04.089 Ashish Kothari: The reason I'm asking is because things like circular economy are very easily co-opted by the… by capitalists, as they have, in fact, it has happened already. 276 00:51:04.370 --> 00:51:08.899 Ashish Kothari: And then the parallel to that is, are they also anti-statist? 277 00:51:09.550 --> 00:51:24.560 Ashish Kothari: Now, in GTA, and I think also in the solidarity economy thing, we actually say that radical democracy is a very essential principle. Now, if you take Bhutan's cross-national happiness with all its fantastic elements, it nevertheless was very heavily centered on a king. 278 00:51:24.860 --> 00:51:35.190 Ashish Kothari: and or the Prime Minister who was being supported by the king until it happened, until there was a support, and then now that's kind of withdrawn, so it's become extremely weak. 279 00:51:35.470 --> 00:51:42.379 Ashish Kothari: And it's collapsing, but also when it was strong, It was not completely non-discriminatory. 280 00:51:42.400 --> 00:51:55.980 Ashish Kothari: Nepalis were kicked out. There was a lot of issues. Dams, big dam construction, supported by India was accepted as part of a gross national happiness, which I simply did not understand. 281 00:51:55.990 --> 00:52:10.120 Ashish Kothari: So, I think the principles of radical economic democracy that is controlled by communities and workers and so on, and radical political democracy in which communities have, you know, full decision-making powers. 282 00:52:10.670 --> 00:52:16.460 Ashish Kothari: Are those central to the well-being economy, or not? Because if they are, then I think one would have to question 283 00:52:16.910 --> 00:52:21.200 Ashish Kothari: Some of the approaches that seem to be within the purview of well-being economy. 284 00:52:21.670 --> 00:52:23.639 Ashish Kothari: So, yeah, thanks. 285 00:52:25.020 --> 00:52:46.089 Melanie Bush: So, why don't we see what other questions there are, and then perhaps do a… just a round of closeout. Our time goes very fast, and I think we will talk about a future conversation, including the collaboration for next year. I see Steve, and is there anyone else who wants to put a comment or question? 286 00:52:46.090 --> 00:52:50.199 Melanie Bush: And thank you, Ashish, that's a critical and essential… 287 00:52:50.280 --> 00:52:55.280 Melanie Bush: Conversation about these different frameworks and models. 288 00:52:56.350 --> 00:53:07.879 Melanie Bush: So I'll let Steve go right ahead, and then I'll ask one more time to see if there's other people who would like to put questions or comments on to the… 289 00:53:08.100 --> 00:53:09.060 Melanie Bush: Steve? 290 00:53:09.550 --> 00:53:10.660 Melanie Bush: Go ahead, Steve. 291 00:53:11.590 --> 00:53:23.549 Steven Klees: Thank you very much for this session. I was… I have been looking forward to it. I'm very much, involved with the Solidary Economy thematic group. 292 00:53:23.900 --> 00:53:32.120 Steven Klees: With Global Tapestry of Alternatives. I work with a group called the Alternatives Project. I've been… 293 00:53:32.250 --> 00:53:35.910 Steven Klees: associated with We All for many years now. 294 00:53:36.200 --> 00:53:43.970 Steven Klees: And the connections between the two, I think… 295 00:53:44.230 --> 00:53:47.079 Steven Klees: Need to be talked about a lot more. 296 00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:51.659 Steven Klees: I tried to put this in the chat, I mean. 297 00:53:51.810 --> 00:54:05.530 Steven Klees: At Global Tapestry of Alternatives, we've been talking about solidarity economies and radical democracy, which overlap considerably in many ways, and both are local. 298 00:54:05.870 --> 00:54:09.149 Steven Klees: Both depend on local human relations. 299 00:54:09.500 --> 00:54:13.810 Steven Klees: And we all has been working at a large scale. 300 00:54:14.130 --> 00:54:21.750 Steven Klees: Cities, states, countries… And as we've been talking about. 301 00:54:22.950 --> 00:54:31.380 Steven Klees: solidarity economies and radical democracy. The question for me has always been… a question for me has always been. 302 00:54:32.670 --> 00:54:35.690 Steven Klees: How do we work at larger scale levels? 303 00:54:36.060 --> 00:54:47.779 Steven Klees: what does solidarity economy mean at a city, state, or regional level? I mean, I know there's participatory budgeting, but that's a… 304 00:54:48.750 --> 00:54:50.569 Steven Klees: One intervention. 305 00:54:50.810 --> 00:54:55.689 Steven Klees: How do we make… Collective decisions on a larger scale. 306 00:54:55.920 --> 00:55:08.669 Steven Klees: And let me leave it at that, I know we don't have a lot of time. And I'm very interested in the answer to Ashish's question, too. I've probed we all over the years about its stance on capitalism. 307 00:55:09.630 --> 00:55:13.090 Steven Klees: And I've gotten different responses depending on who I talk to. 308 00:55:14.290 --> 00:55:15.679 Steven Klees: So thank you all. 309 00:55:16.930 --> 00:55:20.540 Melanie Bush: Thank you, Steve, for adding this question of 310 00:55:20.700 --> 00:55:36.610 Melanie Bush: hyperlocal, local, global, and how that plays into all of this. I see Portia, would you like to, say out loud your question and qualify, or clarify, or add anything? Or I can just read it? 311 00:55:37.730 --> 00:55:39.230 Melanie Bush: It's an invitation. 312 00:55:39.720 --> 00:55:47.359 Portia Allen-Kyle: Yes, sure. Yeah, I just would, like to hear more about, you know, thoughts on… 313 00:55:47.390 --> 00:56:09.849 Portia Allen-Kyle: While building alternative, you know, economies, like, there… there is that point in which, you know, transitioning and opting out of, what is happening on the day-to-day, and so wondering, in that transition work, you know, in that building, if, you can share more about what that has looked like, for folks in different places across the globe. 314 00:56:11.590 --> 00:56:23.330 Melanie Bush: Thank you, and I know that… I know most of the folks who are here are deeply immersed in some form of building work, so if you haven't had a chance to… 315 00:56:23.580 --> 00:56:28.959 Melanie Bush: Share something, feel free in the chat, or this is the last call before we 316 00:56:29.080 --> 00:56:35.809 Melanie Bush: here, a minute or so from each, Amira Haweste, and then I'll do the closeout. 317 00:56:35.900 --> 00:56:44.869 Melanie Bush: And again, please do look forward to a continuation. So we have three, I think three key questions on the table. 318 00:56:44.870 --> 00:56:58.050 Melanie Bush: The issue of we all, and anti-capitalism, and anti-statism, radical democracy, about scale, and, which… 319 00:56:58.050 --> 00:57:12.840 Melanie Bush: which framework is particularly, applicable in more local versus more global, and how to navigate that. And this question, of, building 320 00:57:12.970 --> 00:57:14.609 Melanie Bush: in new models. 321 00:57:15.410 --> 00:57:20.020 Melanie Bush: So… Either of you, go right ahead. 322 00:57:25.540 --> 00:57:28.979 Aamirah -WEAll: Okay, how worse do you… are you happy for me to kick off? 323 00:57:29.450 --> 00:57:43.899 Halwest Karim: Okay, thank you so much. I think you, asked, many, important questions. Actually, as, Milani mentioned. 324 00:57:44.120 --> 00:57:50.710 Halwest Karim: The solidarity economy, this approach is anti-capitalist, anti-colonial. 325 00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:59.390 Halwest Karim: approach, and… and I think, solidarity, economy, scaling, 326 00:58:02.950 --> 00:58:21.899 Halwest Karim: Radical democracy challenges, to balance local community, with border coordination, and also at the larger level, within city, state, or, global. 327 00:58:22.030 --> 00:58:31.260 Halwest Karim: And, it may not be about centralizing decision, but about creating networks for local communities. 328 00:58:31.580 --> 00:58:43.539 Halwest Karim: That remain rooted in, community, human relationships, while collaborating across scales. So, 329 00:58:43.860 --> 00:58:52.789 Halwest Karim: The key for solidarity economy, could be building participatory and decentralized it. 330 00:58:53.020 --> 00:59:10.459 Halwest Karim: a structure that still allow collective decision-making without losing the local and rational sense of, well-being. So, I think all those, 331 00:59:11.130 --> 00:59:27.119 Halwest Karim: approach, is very important that… how we are, thinking about from which perspective. So, I didn't have, 332 00:59:27.180 --> 00:59:42.289 Halwest Karim: enough time to discuss more about… and sharing more information about the, solidarity economy, but I think, it's building from, community, it's grassroots movement, and it is anti-capital. 333 00:59:42.390 --> 00:59:46.269 Halwest Karim: And, colonial, system. 334 00:59:46.740 --> 00:59:54.599 Halwest Karim: I hope that… I, answered your question. Thank you. Over to you, Amira. 335 00:59:56.400 --> 01:00:21.359 Aamirah -WEAll: Yeah, so I think, the questions that were asked kind of all intersect with each other, and I think, Ashish, you brought up a really good point, which is often a point of division, not only within, the core team, of which we're only kind of 10 individuals, and, and the movement itself. So, you know, some would very clearly identify as anti-capitalists, and some would probably be a bit more reluctant and on the side 336 01:00:21.360 --> 01:00:36.059 Aamirah -WEAll: a bit more of still being engaged with current models, and I think a big part of when we emerged, the work was also in challenging those who are very embedded in the dominant and current economic paradigm. 337 01:00:36.060 --> 01:00:53.180 Aamirah -WEAll: And in… by default, I think in trying to shift policy in places where, you know, we're talking about systems of governments that are still made up of individuals, that, that, you know, you do have well-meaning, or, you know, those… 338 01:00:53.180 --> 01:00:59.449 Aamirah -WEAll: Who… who agree with a lot of principles, but are still embedded in the current governance systems. 339 01:00:59.450 --> 01:01:20.409 Aamirah -WEAll: That are in place, that prop up the capitalist system that we live in, right? So, and I think that has always been… that has continued to be a tension, and is even more of a tension now, given the state of the world and the state of the collapse of, you know, so much of the world order, which, you know, a lot of us would agree 340 01:01:20.410 --> 01:01:21.960 Aamirah -WEAll: M… is… 341 01:01:22.030 --> 01:01:40.320 Aamirah -WEAll: is needed, you know, for real dramatic shifts to take place. And I think touching on that, the question of, kind of, the global and the local, I think that's often, at least for me personally, I can't speak for everybody, because again, we're, you know, an alliance of movements and individuals. 342 01:01:40.320 --> 01:01:59.719 Aamirah -WEAll: And, you know, every person you speak to will have different ideas around this, but, you know, one of the biggest struggles I've often found is there's often these great local examples, but then how do we make those relatable, kind of, on a regional level, or make them more dominant and, 343 01:01:59.810 --> 01:02:02.790 Aamirah -WEAll: Even if… even if they, you know, the very… 344 01:02:02.810 --> 01:02:25.330 Aamirah -WEAll: the very creation of them in a particularly, free, anti-capitalist way means that, you know, they will never exist on an international or on a national scale, but how do we… how does that scaling up or that learning between communities expand, right? Because there's often such strong examples of 345 01:02:25.330 --> 01:02:38.140 Aamirah -WEAll: of local, you know, whether that's participatory governance, or cooperatives, or, you know… I'm often amazed by some of the examples that exist there, but kind of bridging that gap. 346 01:02:38.140 --> 01:02:44.260 Aamirah -WEAll: Between, between those examples that exist in particular places. 347 01:02:44.320 --> 01:02:48.779 Aamirah -WEAll: And how, you know, some of those 348 01:02:49.340 --> 01:03:13.509 Aamirah -WEAll: could be reflected more in, you know, in regional… on a regional level, or on… or across bioregions, for example, and seeing that shift. So, you know, I think there's… that's probably something even to explore a little bit more the next time we convene again, I hope, before, the end of the year, as both movements. But, yeah, I think there is a strong need 349 01:03:13.780 --> 01:03:37.950 Aamirah -WEAll: coming back to Portia's question, for both those who are advocating for the radical alternatives and those who may still be embedded in the current system, shifting their ways of doing and being. And for me personally, businesses, you know, big global businesses is not, you know… you know, I worked with big businesses for about 350 01:03:37.970 --> 01:04:00.319 Aamirah -WEAll: three years on this, and I was like, the shift isn't happening, and I don't believe it can happen, but I do think there are still, you know, a lot of very active people in our network are working directly on policy in their national context, and that would be where they see levers of change being possible for a new alternative. 351 01:04:00.320 --> 01:04:03.509 Aamirah -WEAll: So, not, not, 352 01:04:03.510 --> 01:04:09.219 Aamirah -WEAll: not a… not nearly a thorough enough answer, but I hope I've touched on some of… 353 01:04:09.280 --> 01:04:13.349 Aamirah -WEAll: Kind of those tensions that have emerged in the questions today. 354 01:04:15.580 --> 01:04:30.800 Melanie Bush: Thank you so much, both to Amira and to Heleste, and to each person who's offered a thought or a question. I do think that there are many possibilities for our next conversation. 355 01:04:30.800 --> 01:04:43.229 Melanie Bush: Helvest and I sat this year as one of building collaboration, and it's very exciting to be in this conversation with Amira and we all. 356 01:04:43.230 --> 01:04:52.919 Melanie Bush: And many people probably saw DiPolo, who was very much part of the core team of GTA in some of the photos. 357 01:04:52.940 --> 01:05:03.309 Melanie Bush: So, it, strikes me, we're now at the point of closing, and it strikes me that, the… 358 01:05:03.550 --> 01:05:14.509 Melanie Bush: point that… and I'm trying to find it in the chat, I was trying to put the links before we left, but it strikes me that, Portia's question 359 01:05:14.520 --> 01:05:34.389 Melanie Bush: about those opting out, each of us, I think, are in some ways involved in our regional spaces in that kind of process. And I invite any of you who would like to share about how you, in your work. 360 01:05:34.390 --> 01:05:42.779 Melanie Bush: are opting out of current models and building new ones, as part of our GTA SC series, 361 01:05:42.780 --> 01:05:54.830 Melanie Bush: do let Halvest and I know, because, it would be… we've done that in the past, we had, from the Philippines, we had from, Rojava, we had from India. 362 01:05:54.830 --> 01:06:05.080 Melanie Bush: And we would love to continue that, kind of presentation, and sharing, because we can learn so much and also draw inspiration. 363 01:06:05.080 --> 01:06:21.960 Melanie Bush: I also want to acknowledge that, there's a very interesting exchange taking place in the chat, and I think we will consider whether or not this actually is also another topic for us to explore together in the future. 364 01:06:21.960 --> 01:06:25.989 Melanie Bush: So, as you see, 365 01:06:26.250 --> 01:06:41.360 Melanie Bush: I think, I'm gonna ask, Amir just to say, is the best thing to stay tuned around reclaiming the economy, and, that we will continue our, exchanges in our future meetings. 366 01:06:41.360 --> 01:06:50.270 Melanie Bush: building the collaboration between GTA and We All, or, Amira, perhaps you can just put that in the chat. 367 01:06:50.500 --> 01:07:04.919 Melanie Bush: And, I just wonder, in our last several minutes, two things. Well, a couple things. One thing is, at the link that you signed up for the Zoom link. 368 01:07:05.140 --> 01:07:21.670 Melanie Bush: That webpage will have this recording and, I believe some version, if not the exact version, of the slides that you saw, plus hopefully transcript and chat, so that you can go back and reflect. I always find I need to think 369 01:07:21.670 --> 01:07:32.220 Melanie Bush: When, there's so much, information shared. Also, if, you are part of another formation. 370 01:07:32.220 --> 01:07:48.009 Melanie Bush: outside of GTA, GTA has extraordinary examples of, building the new world, and I, I think Ashish, put, a little bit in the chat. I'm going through quickly. But, 371 01:07:48.440 --> 01:07:52.390 Melanie Bush: I look forward to hearing more. 372 01:07:52.550 --> 01:08:01.150 Melanie Bush: Secondly, I wonder if… and this… Ashish, this is usually your, your, ask? 373 01:08:01.150 --> 01:08:19.779 Melanie Bush: But if people are able to put their cameras on and we get a print screen of the beautiful faces that have been together during this time, I feel like moments are sacred and you can't get time back, and it's been a very rich and thoughtful question, time. 374 01:08:19.939 --> 01:08:35.019 Melanie Bush: And, I wonder if we could just do one quick go-round as we live in these complex times, of what is one thing that… what is one wish that you have? 375 01:08:35.899 --> 01:08:41.960 Melanie Bush: And so, if… has everyone who is able to put their camera on… put their camera on? 376 01:08:44.529 --> 01:08:48.739 Melanie Bush: I'll take that. Thank you. Okay, 377 01:08:51.180 --> 01:09:02.560 Melanie Bush: Okay, I got it. And, anyone want to start? A wish for all of us in this moment as we think about economy and home? 378 01:09:03.810 --> 01:09:05.580 Melanie Bush: And love, and peace. 379 01:09:07.830 --> 01:09:09.760 Melanie Bush: Anyone have an offering? 380 01:09:11.090 --> 01:09:12.489 Melanie Bush: Did us call it out? 381 01:09:21.020 --> 01:09:22.130 Melanie Bush: Allison. 382 01:09:22.330 --> 01:09:23.740 Melanie Bush: May I invite you? 383 01:09:24.220 --> 01:09:25.179 Melanie Bush: What's a wish. 384 01:09:25.189 --> 01:09:25.789 Alison Chopel: All of us. 385 01:09:25.790 --> 01:09:27.540 Melanie Bush: Until we meet again. 386 01:09:27.540 --> 01:09:35.590 Alison Chopel: Yeah, I just put peace, because I'm… whenever I think about the economy right now, it's really hard to think about the damage that all these 387 01:09:35.700 --> 01:09:42.979 Alison Chopel: wars are doing to us and our Earth and everything the economy's built on. So, my wishes for peace. 388 01:09:43.180 --> 01:09:44.619 Melanie Bush: Do you want a popcorn to someone? 389 01:09:45.450 --> 01:09:56.070 Alison Chopel: Oh, sure. I see in my, Diana Rincon Valguena, if maybe she's not able to speak. 390 01:09:59.130 --> 01:09:59.960 Melanie Bush: Oh, go ahead, Dad. 391 01:09:59.960 --> 01:10:00.510 Alison Chopel: Oh, God. 392 01:10:00.980 --> 01:10:16.110 Diana Rincon Valbuena: Hello! Okay, I'm going to speak in English. I don't know my camera, I think it's not working, so sorry for that. I don't know what happened. I think it's here, perhaps, no. Yes! 393 01:10:16.300 --> 01:10:17.790 Diana Rincon Valbuena: Hello! 394 01:10:17.930 --> 01:10:31.849 Diana Rincon Valbuena: Thank you. I think the reflections are very nice. I am studying my PhD focusing… trying to understand the social cause of the low-carbon production we need for this. 395 01:10:31.960 --> 01:10:47.130 Diana Rincon Valbuena: green transition, and basically, you know, it's a big dilemma between the economy, as well the impacts of the extraction, intensive extraction, especially in the Global South. 396 01:10:47.280 --> 01:10:56.449 Diana Rincon Valbuena: So, basically, for me, I think we are in a green capitalism, or a green transition, like, very materialistic. 397 01:10:56.450 --> 01:11:09.519 Diana Rincon Valbuena: So, basically, try to link in with the conference and the previous presentations. I think we need to rethink our economy. Basically, we need to avoid the quantity of materialistic 398 01:11:09.550 --> 01:11:22.879 Diana Rincon Valbuena: oppression by the Global North to the Global South. This inequality, I think it is important to reflect about this subject seriously, and also put pressure for rethink 399 01:11:22.960 --> 01:11:27.649 Diana Rincon Valbuena: More, for more use transition in this process. So, thank you. 400 01:11:29.960 --> 01:11:32.989 Melanie Bush: Would you like to call someone? Invite someone? 401 01:11:33.650 --> 01:11:41.679 Diana Rincon Valbuena: Oh my god, I want to check the list. Perhaps Natalie? Natalie. 402 01:11:47.220 --> 01:11:51.300 Nathalie Al-Zyoud, South Africa: Alzheut. What was the question? 403 01:11:52.170 --> 01:11:54.500 Melanie Bush: What's a wish that you have for us? 404 01:11:54.930 --> 01:11:56.560 Melanie Bush: Until we meet again. 405 01:11:57.460 --> 01:12:05.339 Nathalie Al-Zyoud, South Africa: Oh, I wish multiple connection, relationships, and fruitful discussion that lead to, collective change. 406 01:12:06.590 --> 01:12:10.180 Nathalie Al-Zyoud, South Africa: And I shall pick, Portia. 407 01:12:15.870 --> 01:12:21.300 Portia Allen-Kyle: Yes, I, put in the chat, but a wish for collective rest and ease. 408 01:12:24.580 --> 01:12:29.560 Portia Allen-Kyle: And I will pick, isabelle, did you go already? 409 01:12:30.320 --> 01:12:44.910 Isabel D'Mello: I just put it in the chat, and I actually have to drop off, but, I just put ongoing dialogue. I think it's been really rich and interesting to, hear from everybody's experiences, and points of view, so… 410 01:12:45.090 --> 01:12:46.840 Isabel D'Mello: And long may that continue. 411 01:12:47.490 --> 01:12:49.040 Melanie Bush: Would you like to call on someone? 412 01:12:49.210 --> 01:12:49.760 Melanie Bush: And vice versa. 413 01:12:49.760 --> 01:12:55.940 Isabel D'Mello: Someone? I will invite… 414 01:12:59.340 --> 01:13:02.880 Isabel D'Mello: Frederick? 415 01:13:04.290 --> 01:13:12.530 Friederike Habermann_((any))(NOW NET): Okay, thank you. Well, there would be so many, it's hard to choose, but since, without peace. 416 01:13:12.800 --> 01:13:15.519 Friederike Habermann_((any))(NOW NET): everything's nothing, I choose peace. 417 01:13:16.370 --> 01:13:22.280 Friederike Habermann_((any))(NOW NET): And I would like to invite… Karim? 418 01:13:22.840 --> 01:13:24.010 Friederike Habermann_((any))(NOW NET): A harvest? 419 01:13:28.950 --> 01:13:29.770 Halwest Karim: Yes. 420 01:13:30.260 --> 01:13:35.319 Halwest Karim: Thank you. Also, I hope for love and peace. 421 01:13:37.340 --> 01:13:38.689 Halwest Karim: Thank you. 422 01:13:42.950 --> 01:13:46.679 Halwest Karim: And I will invite… 423 01:13:52.290 --> 01:13:53.720 Halwest Karim: P-Persia? 424 01:13:57.080 --> 01:13:59.479 Halwest Karim: Sorry if I called your name wrong. 425 01:14:00.250 --> 01:14:07.670 Melanie Bush: I think, we have Ashish and Amira, Maria Cruz, and myself. 426 01:14:07.860 --> 01:14:09.730 Melanie Bush: Why don't we just go right ahead? 427 01:14:10.950 --> 01:14:15.789 Ashish Kothari: Thanks a lot. I think for me, the hope is that we keep hope alive. 428 01:14:16.220 --> 01:14:27.659 Ashish Kothari: And one way I do it is to pay attention to all the nature that's fruiting and flowering around me, and we're just getting into the mango season. That always keeps my hope alive. 429 01:14:29.250 --> 01:14:31.570 Ashish Kothari: Okay, Amita. 430 01:14:31.920 --> 01:14:32.670 Ashish Kothari: Huh? Nope. 431 01:14:32.670 --> 01:14:41.960 Melanie Bush: I think she had to leave. Maria Cruz, thank you so much for your hard work, and is there a hope that you would like… a wish that you would like to… 432 01:14:42.120 --> 01:14:43.309 Melanie Bush: Share with us? 433 01:14:58.420 --> 01:15:17.049 Melanie Bush: Beautiful. And my wish is that each of you know how important you are, and that in this moment of great transition and great tumult, like the flowers blooming, so are we, and that it is in community like this that, we… we will… we will see… see this time through. 434 01:15:17.050 --> 01:15:33.719 Melanie Bush: So thank you so much for joining us. We feel very grateful that you took time out of the many things you could have been doing, and stay tuned for more in the future. And thank you so much, Amira and our West. 435 01:15:33.960 --> 01:15:37.209 Melanie Bush: Actually, everyone, thank you. Bye-bye! 436 01:15:38.200 --> 01:15:39.369 Halwest Karim: Thank you so much. 437 01:15:46.150 --> 01:15:47.950 Diana Rincon Valbuena: Hi, thank you! 438 01:15:47.950 --> 01:15:49.360 Melanie Bush: Bye, Diana!