Moving Beyond Corporate Rule: The Economics of Happiness Conference, February 27, 2015

PORTLAND, Ore. - Feb. 25, 2015 - PRLog -- PORTLAND, Ore. February 27, 2015 – Today, the international NGO/think tank Local Futures LocalFutures is hosting a three-day conference, entitled The Economics of Happiness, at the Eliot Center in Portland The Economics of Happiness where cutting-edge thinkers, authors, economists, academics, and activists from four continents, along with more than 60 non-profit and corporate partners, are gathering to discuss alternatives to mainstream economic policy.  The focus will be on the multiple personal, social, and ecological benefits of strengthening local economies.

“The worldwide localization movement is already demonstrating that it is possible to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions while increasing real productivity and job opportunities,” says Local Futures’ Executive Director, Helena Norberg-Hodge.  The conference (the fourth in a series) will explore issues raised in Local Futures’ award-winning 2011 documentary, also entitled “The Economics of Happiness”.  The film vividly illustrates the impact of globalization around the world over the past 20 years and highlights the urgent need to shift from global to local economies.  The conference aims to translate understanding into action, and to build an international alliance for re-localizing economies. More than 23 leading international figures from the global-to-local movement will be making presentations.

“Localization is a win-win strategy that allows us to tackle the most urgent problems of our time – inequality, financial instability, climate change, and more – while at the same time increasing our own psychological well-being,” says Helena Norberg-Hodge.  Helena Norberg-Hodge is just one of the speakers in a line-up of cutting-edge thinkers, writers, and activists, including “Your Money or Your Life” author Vicki Robin, local finance expert Michael Shuman, education critic Manish Jain, Executive Director of Sustainable Economies Law Center Janelle Orsi, indigenous right activist Jihan Gearon, Nigerian poet and psychologist Bayo Akomolafe, former Portland mayoral candidate Cameron Whitten, globalization critic Jerry Mander, and “stand-up economist” Yoram Bauman.

The conference is being presented at The Eliot Center in the heart of Portland, Oregon – a city known for its thriving local economy and innovative grassroots organizing – and will include plenaries, panels, interactive workshops and other participatory sessions.  Among the wide range of inter-connected topics scheduled for discussion will be: local food, public policy, democracy, local business, the commons, cooperatives, local finance, spirituality, economic indicators, health, education, bridging the North-South divide, the new economy movement, climate justice, cultural diversity, biodiversity, environmental justice, income inequality, and the impact of the economy on our personal well-being.  About Local Futures: Local Futures' mission is to protect and renew ecological and social well being by promoting a systemic shift away from economic globalization towards localization.

Through its 'education for action' programs, Local Futures develops innovative models and tools to catalyze collaboration for strategic change at the community and international level. Visit www.localfutures.org for more information.