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Speakers for Downshifting Downunder - Sydney 2005

The following speakers are expected at the Downshifting Downunder conference,

Clive Hamilton - What is the downshifting phenomenon all about?

Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia Institute, a prominent public-interest think tank which he founded in 1994. Trained as an economist, he previously held various positions at universities and in the Australian public service.

In 2003, The Australia Institute published a ground-beaking study of the downshifting phenomenon in Australia and followed-up with a paper examining the phenomenon in more depth in 2004. These papers brought the term ‘downshifting’ to Australia and prompted a widespread and continuing public debate about what makes life worthwhile.

Clive has published on a wide range of issues including measures of wellbeing, climate change policy and environmental economics. His latest book, Growth Fetish, was published by Allen & Unwin in 2003 and his next, entitled Affluenza (co-authored with Richard Denniss) is due to appear in June 2005.

Kali Wendorf - "Downshifting, optimal development and family life"

Kali Wendorf, BFA (hons) is the founder, editor and publisher of the nationally sold byronchild magazine, a magazine that addresses the social, cultural and political aspects of parenting and its larger effects to the planet and human evolution. byronchild is used as well as a platform to initiate social change and political reform. She is the founder and president of the Tyagarah Sustainable Community Alliance and sits on the network board of Community Learning and Innovation Centre Inc. (CLIC). Born and raised in New Mexico, USA, she has been a passionate environmentalist, human rights and animal rights activist since childhood. Her socio-political interests moved into the public arena where Kali now lectures, facilitates workshops and spearheads community campaigns along with her publishing business. She currently lives with her two children and husband in Northern New South Wales, Australia.

A large body of recognised research affirms that children under the age of three develop optimally through bonding and attachment, i.e. holding, touching and full term breastfeeding. This requires the constant presence of mother and also the father, although to a lesser degree. Quite literally, the civilisation we are becoming is established in those first three years. However social trends indicate that mothers and fathers are spending less time with their children, and more time at work. At the same time, children are being bought more toys, electronic games and visits to theme parks to compensate for parents guilt around their absence – even among lower income families. Downshifting is not only a lifestyle choice, it is a commitment towards the wellbeing of children, the kind of people they are growing up to be and therefore the society we are creating for the future.

Richard Eckersley - Downshifting and quality of life: from the personal to the planetary

Richard Eckersley is a fellow at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University, Canberra. His research explores issues to do with progress and wellbeing, and whether life is getting better or worse. This work has been brought together in a book, 'Well & Good: Morality, meaning and happiness' (Text, 2005). He is the co-author of a national index of subjective wellbeing, the first of its kind in the world. He is also a member of the board of Families Australia, a peak national body representing families; a member of the ACT Government's Community Inclusion Board; and a director of Australia 21, a non-profit company established to promote interdisciplinary and cross-institutional networks on important challenges facing Australia this century. His former positions include: ministerial consultant in two Commonwealth Government portfolios; principal issue analyst in the Office of the Chief Executive of CSIRO; senior analyst with the Australian Commission for the Future; head of the CSIRO Media Liaison Office; and science reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.

Richard will discuss his research work and his own story as a downshifter, now earning about a third of what he used to so he can work on what fascinates him: the subtle and complex relationships between global change and human happiness. A key theme of his talk will be the importance of telling and sharing personal stories in improving wellbeing and changing the world.

Stuart Hill - A Psychology of Money and Aquisition

Professor Stuart B. Hill is Foundation Chair of School of Ecology at the University of Western Sydney.

Prior to 1996 he was at McGill University, in Montreal, where in 1974 he established Ecological Agriculture Projects, Canada's leading resource centre for sustainable agriculture (www.eap.mcgill.ca). 

He has published over 350 papers and reports. His latest book (with Martin Mulligan) is Ecological Pioneers: A Social History of Australian Ecological Thought and Action, Cambridge UP, 2001. He is currently on the editorial board of four refereed journals and until 2004 represented professional environmental educators on the NSW Council on Environmental Education.

He has worked in agricultural and development projects in the West Indies, French West Africa, Indonesia, The Philippines, China, and the Seychelles, as well as in the UK, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. His background in chemical engineering, ecology, soil biology, entomology, agriculture, psychotherapy, education, policy development and international development, and his experience of working with change, have enabled him to be an effective facilitator in complex situations that demand both collaboration across difference and a long-term co-evolutionary approach to situation improvement.

Money is a tool that may be used to help us act on our values. Goods may be aquired to meet needs, and be given to support others meet their needs. Such relationships are associated with a sense of 'enough'. Both money and goods, however, may also be treated as ends (rather than means), and have compensatory qualities that substitute for deep, unmet psychological needs, particularly from the past. Institutional structures and processes may be designed and manged to support either of these functions. Whereas the former is likely to lead to personal, social and ecological wellbeing and peace, the latter is more likely to result in distress, patterned, addictive behaviours and processes (greed, consumerism, unlimited growth, etc), social injustice and violence. Downshifting may be one expression of choosing the former over the latter.

Ruth Ostrow - Less Is More

Ruth Ostrow is one of Australia's leading BodyMind Soul writers and keynote speakers, with her columns read by millions in The Australian newspaper each weekend, and a host of best-selling books to her credit in the areas of sexuality, human relations, money, and wellbeing. A former finance journalist in the Greed is Good 80s with The Financial Review, then controversial radio broadcaster in the 90s in the area of relationships, Ruth now focuses her speaking and writings on Wellbeing and Work Life Balance from her home in Byron Bay where she moved from Sydney at the end of the 90s.

Ruth will be talking about her years as a high-powered journalist and the "nervous breakthrough" which pushed her off the treadmill and helped her find true happiness and meaning in the simple things. A self-confessed workaholic, Ruth had been burning with ambition both as a leading finance journalist in the 80s and then as a highly controversial Sex & Relationships writer/ broadcaster in the 90s, but like many of the entrepreneurs she'd interviewed, she discovered first hand the true cost to heart & limb of rampant consumerism and unchecked ambition. As the new millennium dawned she moved her family to Byron Bay on a proverbial seachange/treechange where she is now a devotee of The Voluntary Simplicity movement and the mantra: "Less is More"

Richard and Maria Maguire - Your money or your life

We are partners in life and work, directors of Unfolding Futures Pty Ltd focusing on facilitation of groups and events. Originally from the USA and Germany, Australia is home since 1984. Professionally and as volunteers we have been involved in community, social justice and environmental care issues- locally, nationally and internationally, and the development of inner and spiritual resources. We are passionate about enabling our planet to live as one.

We appreciate the clarity, integrity and freedom that following the "Your Money or Your Life" approach and practises have given us since 1991 and have been passing it on to others through talks and courses. This method was developed by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin and published as a book, a bestseller in the US and translated in several languages, with all financial benefits serving local community projects worldwide (New Road Map Foundation). It enables ordinary citizens to become financially wise and independent in order to really do what they decide is important for their life. "Money or your Life" shows people how to find their point of "enough" in financial terms, covering all basic needs as well as some comforts and luxuries, and bringing satisfaction in alignment with their life purpose. Whatever financial position you are in, it puts you more in charge of your circumstances and encourages decisions that can free you from indebtedness or overspending, worrying or slavery to possibly unfulfilling jobs, roles or schemes so you can get on with what really matters. 

And a panel of downshifters to bring their own experiences. Participants to be announced later.

Posted by mitra at March 26, 2005 3:51 PM

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