European Parliament 16 April 2009

http://www.clubofrome.at/2009/degrowth/index.html

Event in the European Parliament April 16th, 2009, 9.30-13.00

hosted by MEP Bart Staes,

The global economy has been growing for decades with a high speed, largely ignoring the warnings of "The Limits to Growth". But in a limited system, unlimited growth is impossible. It has to come to an end, the question is just when and how.

In spring 2008 a large international conference on degrowth was held in Paris. At that time, the economies were still growing. Meanwhile the situation has completely changed. The world economy has entered a recession and economic degrowth happens all over the World.

But instead of a planned and managed degrowth, there is now a deep crisis, a chaotic period of the global economy. Social imbalance might further increase.

Could we have done it better and can we do it better in the future? Is there a possibility of socially sustainable economic degrowth?

Which are the options for developed countries and how could developing countries (which still have to grow !) react to the situation?

These are some of the topics which the event in the European Parliament will discuss. You are cordially invited to participate and to contribute to the debate.