The New Economy embodies the feeling experienced when viewing planet Earth from the moon, that everything is interconnected and addresses economic prosperity in balance with the well-being of people and the planet.

This Dinner Theme is reflected, among others, in the Earth Charter’s Principles 9 & 10: “Eradicate poverty as an ethical, social and environmental imperative.” “Ensure that economic activities and institutions at all levels promote human development in an equitable and sustainable manner.”

Guests

Naturally family and friends are invited and it also might be good to include others to broaden the conversations such as educators, local government officials, techies, artists, green collar workers, independent business owners and employees, community garden growers, etc.

Setting

Anywhere from Backyard Picnic to Kitchen Table to Community Center to Castle Dungeon.

Tablescape

Mock-Up of New Economy Board Game with game board that instead of Broadway and Park Place includes with spaces like Wind Turbine Farm in North Dakota, Downtown Community Garden, Local Currency Project, etc.

Placed on poster board game board are larger Paper Mache player tokens of windmill, child, tree, dollar sign, etc.

Chance & Opportunity Cards There is a Win-Win game strategy instead of Winner Takes All.

Art/Music

• “Side by Side Song” by Dianne Reeves || Click here for the lyrics!

Menu

Dishes should reflect aspects of New Economy—organic, local, etc. Sustainable Wines including U.S. and other countries.

Conversation Opener

“When was the fist time you opened a bank account, sold lemonade or did something else entrepreneurial?”

Questions to be Asked After One Glass of Wine

• Some people have handled the economic crisis by making personal lifestyle changes, often choosing to live more simply and to spend more time with friends and family. What are your thoughts about this? Are there steps you could take or are taking to do this?
• Advocates of the New Thrift say that people need to save more money and live more within their means. Agree? Disagree?
• What are your thoughts about consumer-oriented economics that have been driving the Gross Domestic Product? What would a GDP that considers the wellbeing of people and the planet include? For more info on GDP alternative indicators http://www.neweconomyworkinggroup.org/visions/living-wealth-indicators/historical-background-indicators
• What interconnections between health care reform, education, ending dependence on foreign oil/ alternative energy and the economy do you see?

Actions

• Living Simply means identifying what’s most important to you that you either spend money or time on and eliminating everything else. Brainstorm what this might mean for you. For more info, visit www.yourmoneyoryourlife.org or www.zenhabits.net
• Group Mock Exchange
  Just for fun and for the purpose of seeing where it goes, brainstorm any and all ideas about how each person in the group would contribute to a local exchange project. Think expansively about your talents, ideas, special interests, education, training and hobbies. Discuss how the identified talents, services, etc. can be exchanged. Explore the question: “What benefits would each member of the group derive if such an exchange existed?”
• Local Currency Project
  Local currency projects are seen as tools that foster an attitude of abundance, close-knit communities, meaningful employment, and environmental stability. The Ithaca Dollars project, created by Paul Glover, a community economist in Ithaca, New York, enables local currency participants to spend the Ithaca dollar on rent, plumbing, carpentry, car repair, chiropractic, food, childcare, and numerous other goods and services. The Ithaca Dollar is valued at $10, the approximate average hourly wage in the community. Community members become part of Ithaca Dollars by listing their own skills to share with others. There is an Ithaca Dollars Credit Union that issues loans using Ithaca transactions (more info). The kinds of services people share within a local currency project depends entirely on what their group or community needs. Edgar Kahn’s Time Dollars Institute also offers information on setting up a local currency project (more info). To get your toes wet, brainstorm what your “dollars” would be named and what faces would appear on your dollar bill, five-dollar bill, etc. and why?
• Communities are demonstrating that powerful ways to own and control assets are through local and shared ownership. While local ownership is broadly understood, shared ownership is an emerging, broad category of ownership designs that can take many forms. It can mean ownership is shared among individuals, as in cooperatives or employee-owned firms. It can mean ownership is shared between an individual and a collective entity like a land trust. Or it can mean a sharing of certain ownership duties – like marketing dairy goods or managing wind rights – while other aspects of property ownership remain in individual hands.For more information read Majorie Kelly (founder of Business Ethics Magazine, co-founder of Corporation 20/20 and consultant in alternative enterprise design at Tellus Institute in Boston) http://www.collinscenter.org/resource/resmgr/lori_economic_strategies/keeping_20wealth_20local.pdf.
• What ideas in this article would work in your community? Don’t limit yourself by thinking about obstacles that might exist–give free reign to your creativity.
• Move your money! For more information http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/the-growing-movement-for-publicly-owned-banks
• Start a Discussion Group on the New Economy with free Study Guide http://www.bkconnection.com/static/Agenda_Guide.pdf Based on David Korten’s book, “Agenda for the New Economy”.
• Join in the Development of New Economy Board Game TBD If interested in helping to develop, send email to operationbonappetit@gmail.com

Closing Toast

Let ours be a time remembered for the awakening of a new reverence for life, the firm resolve to achieve sustainability, the quickening of the struggle for justice and peace, and the joyful celebration of life.  (Earth Charter “The Way Forward”)