Conference
Bangalore, India
Our third Economics of Happiness Conference took place at Nimhans Convention Centre in Bangalore on March 15th, 2014 and turned out to be a tremendous success. The conference drew almost a 1000 people and brought together key change-makers from Asia, Africa, Europe, USA and South America and India and followed on from our two successful international Economics of Happiness conferences held in Berkeley, USA in 2012 and in Byron Bay, Australia in 2013.
The conference program included inspiring & thought-provoking talks, presentations, discussions, workshops, as well as interactive spaces. A full report of the event will follow soon. Please click here to see photos from the gathering.
Read Helena Norberg-Hodge’s opening remarks.
The Economics of Happiness Conference 2014, was organized in close collaboration with Shikshantar (www.swaraj.org/shikshantar) & Bhoomi College (www.bhoomicollege.org).
We would like to give a special thanks to the Japan Foundation and the Ancient Futures Association of Japan for their sustained support.
Economics of Happiness Gathering with Indian grassroots groups
The public conference on the 15th was part of a three-day gathering aimed at examining the impacts of the global economy on diverse cultures and ecosystems, and exploring the multiple benefits of strengthening local economies, knowledge systems and cultures.
The gathering, organized in collaboration with Shikshantar, brought together key international change-makers and a 100 Indian leaders, activists and thinkers – representing more than 50 different focus-groups, ranging from: food, agriculture, land rights, alternative schooling, new economics, non-violence, climate and energy, holistic healthcare, eco-building, radical ecology, social and environmental justice amongst others.
By including representatives from a wide range of grassroots groups and initiatives from across the world, ISEC intended to deepen the dialogue between North and South and contribute to the advancement of a broad people’s movement in favor of localized sustainable alternatives to corporate globalization, in India and beyond.
Participating organizations included amongst others:
Economic Research Foundation, Goa Foundation, Lifelong Learning Foundation, Environment Support group, Watershed Organisation Trust, SSSIHMS, Shikshantar, Centre for Education & Voluntary Action Shanghai University, Syamantak, School-Without-Walls, Centre for Education & Documentation, Centre for Learning, Secunderabad, AIKANTHIKA, Kalpavriksh, Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, The Indigenous Partnership for Agrobiodiveristy and Food Sovereignty, Rome, Ekta Parishad, Restore Health Livelihoods and Nature, Chennai, Degrowth Movement, Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG), Peace Research Institue of Meiji Gakuin University, Peak Oil India, Leho-Ladakh Environment and Health Organisation, Navdanya Foods and more…..