Meltdown: How to save jobs and the environment

Lately, Bluestocking has been discussing projects that explore positive community responses to the economic crisis. Hopefully we'll have something in the works soon, but until then we're going to try to keep you abreast of other events and projects that explore the issue. Meltdown is a forum run by Perth's Socialist Alliance:



MELTDOWN
How to save jobs and the environment

The economic crisis sweeping the globe raises the spectre of mass unemployment on a scale we haven’t seen for a long time. Already people are losing their jobs in WA. At the same time we face an environmental emergency that demands urgent action.

This forum will discuss pro-worker and pro-environment solutions.

Speakers:
Sam Wainwright (Socialist Alliance candidate for Fremantle)
Adele Carles (Greens candidate for Fremantle)

6.30pm Wed April 22
Fremantle Education Centre
Cantonment St (next to Clancy's)
Entry by donation.
Ph 0412 751 508 or fremantle@socialist-alliance.org

Images of the Recession

Slate has started Flickr group for readers to post photographs showing how the recession has affected them. There are some surprising and beautiful photos, not only of abandoned shopping malls (from senor miller):


the contents of evicted homes (from solodad300):


...but also of ways in which people are exploring positive responses to the crisis, like imericancrayon's new sewing project:


Bluestocking's VOICES project hopes to gather similar photos, as well as stories, essays, and artwork, looking at how the economic crisis is affecting people around the world.

The Age of Enterprise?

Just a short observation on the economic crisis. Does anyone else note the irony in the marketing opportunities generated by this crisis? It seems 'economic crisis' can be applied in all sorts of marketing/advertising applications.

Only tonight, I have driven past a local gourmet food store that has professionally produced (i.e. a proper banner not just a handwritten sign) roadside flag advertising the availability of 'economic crisis meals.'

I also have it on good authority that Optus are using this tactic in their adverstising in ads with clippings of Telstra price increases with the slogan "Not what Australians need right now" underneath.

Maybe we could start a thread for people to post examples of crisis advertising they have seen.