Collaboration for Change (CfC) formed in Derry 2018 with the aim of making visible and supporting the groundwork activism already happening under the radar of mainstream media and politicians – activism which was addressing and coming up with solutions for the civil rights issues of the 21st Century.
A particular focus of the CfC core team has always been learning, discussion and exploring possibilities about creating democratic money and economic systems. This is reflected in the two events group members are facilitating at the Imagine! Festival of Ideas and Politics 2025.
At this event, organised in partnership with the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action, CfC group Demystifying and Reimagining Economics is screening the documentary, ‘Finding the Money’ followed by a facilitated conversation with academic economist Tony Weekes.
In the film US economists explain how money is created and frame a different way of looking at the money tool, a way which offers hope. Knowing how governments and banks can create money doesn’t solve all our problems, but it does open up the possibility of doing things differently. Instead of being limited by not having enough money, the challenge is: ‘how do we organise our collective human and natural resources in democratic ways to allow humanity and the rest of the living world to thrive within planetary boundaries?’
Using the Nordic Countries as an inspiration for imagining a New Ireland, this event invites participants to a conversation about designing systems for health, food, education, energy, housing, transport and even democracy itself.
Lesley Riddoch the Scottish broadcaster and independence campaigner (who lived in Belfast until she was 13) will introduce her documentary Denmark, the latest in a series of films from the Nordic and Baltic countries made because she was inspired by these ‘pint-sized’ democracies where people seem to have the attitude of trying things out and getting them done rather than relying on experts.
Lesley will be joined in conversation by Claire Mitchell, writer, researcher and author along with Fearghail Mac Bhloscaidh, historian and author. Both contributed articles to CfC’s recent Answering Ireland’s Call series.
The CfC team are privileged to again take part in the Imagine! festival which reflects such a wide range of thinking and activism in our community. We are looking forward to the conversations, to strengthening connections, making new connections and planning our next steps.
