Hampden to PM: is all growth good?
Home » Blog » Hampden to PM: is all growth good?Why a tiny South Island community is challenging government to public debate on growth
The stage is set for a David vs Goliath Kiwi-style test match in Hampden, a tiny community in North Otago. The village has sent a challenge directly to John Key, asking him to defend the government's growth policy in a public debate.
The invitation is to assemble a team and take the affirmative in a celebrity charity debate on the topic: ‘Promoting continuous economic growth per se is a sound national stategy to secure our children’s future.’
The community has set a date, organised a dinner and assembled a celebrity panel: media personality and ‘sustainability experimenter’ Te Radar (Andrew Lumsden), journalist and national economics commentator Rod Oram, and Canterbury University associate professor Dr Susan Krumdieck.
Spokesman for the local group organising the meeting, Dugald MacTavish, says the debate is particularly important in the lead-up to December’s international climate summit in Copenhagen. “We hope the Government is brave enough to really question whether all growth is good, particularly in the light of the close relationship between growing economies and growing carbon emissions.”
Recent scientific reports suggest the climate is changing at rates much more rapid than previously thought. Leading scientists are suggesting the upcoming Copenhagen summit is the last chance for world governments to reach an agreement that will help us avoid dangerous climate change.
“Promoting economic growth currently underpins Government policy. Here in Hampden, with climate science telling us things need to change, continuous economic growth doesn’t seem like a sound strategy to secure our children’s future.But we’d love to hear the Government’s take on it—that’s why we’ve invited them south!” says Dugald.
The debate is planned for Saturday 21 November 2009 at the Hampden Hall, Hampden. The evening will commence with a dinner at 6pm, with the debate to follow. Tickets will be limited to about 100, with special invitations delivered to community leaders. Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton has offered to chair the debate, and all proceeds will go to the local school.
