2010 Conference on The Future:
Energy, Economy & Environment
Friday, Nov. 12 - Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010
Prince Conference Center
Grand Rapids, Michigan
A conference on energy, economy, and environment; the interactions between these; a study of projections for the future; understanding, responding to, and preventing recessions, deflations and collapses; and achieving sustainability.
Featuring keynote talks by Nicole Foss (Stoneleigh of The Automatic Earth), Dr. Joe Tainter (author of "The Collapse of Complex Societies"), Steve Keen (author of "Debunking Economics" and winner of the Revere Award), Richard Douthwaite (author of "The Ecology of Money"), David Korowicz (director of the Risk/Resilience Network), Chris Bedford (president of the Center for Economic Security), and Aaron Wissner (president of Local Future).
Featured Speakers
Nicole Foss is senior editor for The Automatic Earth (where she writes as Stoneleigh) and former editor of The Oil Drum - Canada. Foss recently completed a speaking tour of North America and Europe where she described the interaction of peak oil and debt deflation. Foss also presents at the ASPO-USA conference and the European Biodiversity Conference in Brussels. Visit the "Nicole Foss Tour" page for a full bio.
Dr. Joseph Tainter is author of the book "The Collapse of Complex Societies: New Studies in Archaeology", professor in the department of Environment and Society at Utah State University, and author of an upcoming book on the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. He was recently featured on the Financial Sense News Hour with Jim Puplava.
Richard Douthwaite of the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability (FEASTA) in Ireland is the author of the book "The Ecology of Money", contributor to "Fleeing Vesuvius" and a fellow of the Post Carbon Institute. Mr. Douthwaite presents remotely via a live 2-way video.
Steve Keen is Associate Professor of Economics & Finance at the University of Western Sydney, Australia and author of the book "Debunking Economics". In 2010, Mr. Keen received the Revere Award from the Real World Economics Review for most cogently warned of the economic crisis, and whose work is most likely to prevent future crises.
David Korowicz of Ireland is a physicist and human systems ecologist, the director of The Risk/Resilience Network in Ireland, a board member of FEASTA, and contributor to the new upcoming book "Fleeing Vesuvius: Overcoming the Risks of Economic & Environmental Collapse" scheduled for November 2010 release.
Chris Bedford is President of the Center for Economic Security, President of the Sweetwater Local Foods Market, and a filmmaker whose recent movies include "The Next Industrial Revolution", "What Will We Eat?", "The Organic Opportunity", and "Coming Home: E. F. Schumacher & the Reinvention of the Local Economy"
Aaron Wissner is President of Local Future, a writer and speaker specializing in money and energy, and organizer of "The International Conference on Peak Oil & Climate Change: Paths to Sustainability", the 2008 & 2009 "Conference on Michigan's Future", and "The Conference on the Future: Energy, Economy and Environment"
Purpose & Goals
The purpose and goals of this conference are to:
1. Networking: Build and strengthen professional networks
2. Study: Study deflation, peak oil, collapse, resilience & sustainability
3. Risk analysis: Do a broad synthesis risk assessment
4. Framing: Frame emergency and risk mitigation planning
5. Planning: Create an emergency action plan and a risk mitigation plan
Assumptions
In contrast to an introductory survey style conference, this conference proceeds from several assumptions, for the benefit of the in-depth risk analysis study format:
1. Climate Change: human caused climate change is occurring,
2. Peak Oil: global peak oil has occurred, and
3. Debt Deflation: debt deflation is currently occurring.
Dates & Times
Start: Friday, Nov. 12, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. ET
End: Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. ET
Location
Prince Conference Center at Calvin College
1800 East Beltline Avenue Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI
49546-5951
1.616.526.7200 or 1.866.526.7200
www.Calvin.edu/Prince
Prince Conference Center features hotel rooms in the same building as the meeting rooms. Many additional lodging options are available within 10 minutes of the conference center.
The Prince Conference Center is conveniently located four miles from the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR). (Google Map)
Participants
Those people who should attend are those who are currently working on the above stated goals, and especially people in study of (or interested in) some or many of the following:
energy, economics, environment, peak oil, finance, sustainability, resilience, scenario analysis, strategic planning, risk assessment, risk mitigation, debt deflation, market bubbles, financial manias, local currencies, bank reform, monetary reform, permaculture, transition, bioregionalism, localism, relocalization, food security, ecology, ecosystems, education, history, the future, ethics, political philosophy, culture, civilization, forms of government, civics, leadership, community, self-sufficiency, liberty, rights, property law, sociology, psychology, motivation, decision making, and problem analysis.
Call for Papers & Speakers
Papers are invited for topics including those above and below, especially those focusing on sustainability and deflation in the context of energy, economy, and environment. For additional details on the call for papers, please visit Wiki CFP.
Submit papers and interests in speaking to: papers [at] localfuture.org
Registration
Early bird registration is now open and offers 50% off the regular registration rate. Early bird registration ends Friday, October 29 at 11:59 p.m.
All registrations feature:
- Full access to all conference keynotes & sessions for all three days
- Two lunches - hot plated lunches
- Two dinners - hot plated dinners
- Free parking
- 100% refundable through Sunday, November 7
Space and seating is limited. Register now via secure credit/debit card donation at the 50% off early bird rate by clicking Donate Now. Note: Paypal adds 3.14% for processing.
If the registrant is not the card holder, then, on the confirmation page in the "Special Instructions to Local Future" box, please enter their first & last name and email address of the registrant.
To register a second person, please return to this page, and make a second transaction.
Merit and need based discounts are available for students and low income individuals. To request an application, please email discountrequest [at] localfuture.org
Questions
For any questions or inquiries, please email conference organizer Aaron Wissner: organizer [at] localfuture.org
Sponsors and Partners
Local Future thanks the Prince Conference Center for their Gold Level Sponsorship.Sponsors provide tangible support, such as monetary and/or in-kind donations.Partners assist in communication and in finding participants. For details on opportunities, please email: sponsor@localfuture.org
Sponsorship Details
Sponsors receive prominent recognition at the conference. Sponsoring the conference is a prime opportunity to reach a new audience and to help establish your prominence in the movement toward local sustainability.
Local Future is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit educational organization and is not affiliated with any religion, political party, or other organization. For more information, including the IRS letter of determination, visit: LocalFuture.org/about
All sponsorship funds will be put to use to fund conference related expenses including but not limited to: contract payments to speakers and for speakers expenses; rental of conference facilities; personnel expenses including program management, event management, volunteer management, etc.; video & audio recording supplies, services and production; conference programs and supplies; refreshments; provided meals; additional printing expenses and advertising costs.
Expenses for the 2010 conference are projected at approximately $16,000.
