Green-Thinkers is reading is the bold and provocative ‘Prosperity without Growth‘ by Tim Jackson this spring.
You are invited to our second bookclub that will take place at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1RQ on 6th June 2013 at 6.30pm. To book email marek@green-thinkers.org by 29th May, and pay £5 on the door which includes room hire, chips and a sandwich (£3 for concessions).
This book will be an interesting contrast to our previous read by Mark Lynas. Jackson begins with the same premise that we are living beyond ecological limits but he goes on to say that ‘a world in which things simply go on (growing) as usual is inconceivable’ and that to achieve necessary carbon reduction targets the carbon content of each dollar has to be 130 times lower by 2050 than the average today. He also argues that beyond a certain point continued economic growth doesn’t advance human happiness, and that we are locked into an ‘iron cage’ of consumerism that is hell-bent on disaster. Later in the book he to proposes various ideas for what more sustainable economic structures might look like.
Do you agree with Jackson that the current economic structures are unsustainable and need reform? or do you side with George Osborne that the environment is a barrier to growth and there should be greater deregulation? What would a global economy look like that valued people as well as GDP? Would it be liberal or domineering? What does this mean to your community or organisation?
If these questions interest you then pick up a copy of Jackson’s book and join our next stimulating debate. As a taster you can watch Jackson’s TED Talk at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZsp_EdO2Xk
Prof Jackson was also at Newcastle in Nov 2011 to give public lecture on the book, so this is a great opportunity to follow up on that stimulating event. See Newcastle Institute for Research on Sustainability (NIReS) website here.
Please also forward this invitation onto anyone you know who may be interested.
green-thinkers 
Hi. Thanks for the link to our blog site. Just to note, our main website is at a slightly different address (www.ncl.ac.uk/sustainability) and the review of Professor Jackson’s lecture on that site can be found at http://www.ncl.ac.uk/sustainability/events/item/event-review-jack-jeffery-environment-and-sustainability-lecture.