GLOBAL CONFLICT OR HUMAN SCALE DEVELOPMENT?

In the last couple of years we have seen global conflict scale up to truly dangerous levels. It seems as though the interests of a small group of countries and companies are taking priority over the concerns of the rest of humanity. Unprecedented military technology is being used to assert political and economic power. Whilst it is desirable for tyrants to be removed, there is growing concern about the legitimacy of preventative warfare.
It is time that human scale development became incorporated into a new diverse world view. Drawing on the thought of E.F. Schumacher we are helping to develop new solutions. This year's Bristol Schumacher Lectures coincide with the 30th Anniversary of the publication of Small is Beautiful and the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Schumacher Society.

Michael Meacher was UK Minister of State for the Environment from May 1997 until he was replaced in the cabinet reshuffle of June this year. Many people think it was because of his increasing concerns over genetically modified food. He became a Labour MP in 1970 and since then his varied political appointments have included Chief Opposition Spokesman on Health and Social Security (83-87, 89-92), on Employment (87-89, 95-96) on Overseas Development (92-93), on Public Service and Citizen's Rights (93-94), on Transport (94-95) and on Environmental Protection (96-97). Currently he is a member of the Environmental Audit Committee. His many political interests include environmental protection, sustainable development and the reform of the machinery of government. In 1992 his book Diffusing Power: The Key to
Socialist Revival was published.

Ann Pettifor is editor of a new annual publication ­ Real World Economic Outlook (RWEO) - first published in September 2003 by Palgrave Macmillan. The mission of this radical survey of the global economy is to promote easy-to-understand economics, and to give consumers a real understanding of the frightening legacy of globalisation: debt-deflation. RWEO will also give activists the confidence, the data, and the analyses needed to challenge the orthodoxies of their governments, the IMF, and mainstream economists.
In 1996 Ms Pettifor co-founded in London the Jubilee 2000 movement for the cancellation of the debts of the poorest countries. In May 1998 she led a protest of more than 70,000 in Birmingham, at the G8 Summit. Jubilee 2000 mobilized the first-ever global petition of 24 million signatures and persuaded G8 leaders to cancel $100bn of debt - $36bn of which has been written off.

Peter Russell studied mathematics and theoretical physics at the University of Cambridge. Then, as he became increasingly fascinated by the nature of consciousness, he moved into experimental psychology. He then went to India, where he studied meditation and Eastern philosophy, and on his return took up research into the psychophysiology of meditation at the University of Bristol.

He was one of the first people to introduce human potential seminars into the corporate field, and for twenty years worked with major corporations on creativity, learning methods, stress management and personal development. His principal interest is the inner challenges of the times we are passing through. He has written ten books in this area, including The Awakening Earth, The White Hole in Time, and most recently, From Science to God: A Physicist's Journey into the Mystery of Consciousnes.

For availability of Transcripts please refer to the
Lecture Archive