Compassion at Oxford

It has been a turbo charged week for me and this is the post from Thursday as I attended a Compassion in Politics meeting in Oxford. The day was full of inspiring and stimulating talks with a real need for us all to rethink our politics and economies to meet the challenges of the 21st century especially with the added challenge of Climate change among the repeated mistakes of war conflict and economies that create huge gaps between the few rich and the many that are just about surviving in the world.  From my personal viewpoint it is time man matured up and evolved into peaceful beings with compassion for all creation and this amazing planet we live on.. So I loved being among the people on Thursday as like minds came together.   I am writing up some of the days sharing but will need to return time and time again as I continue the research reading this has generate in my desire to explore and know more. 

The venue was Somerville College Oxford when you follow the link to their website you see the motto - "if you want to change the world come to Somerville". This is never so true and in so much need now!  The Principal Janet Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon opened the day with a very touching inspirational speech on how we need compassion in politics... Which I echo... it is so true as all decisions should be made to enhance society and citizens not cause pain and feelings of life being ruined by lack of opportunity and dignity.  The day was filmed and when I get access to the link I will impregnate in this blog to share all the presentations. 

All the speakers gave good stimulating presentations George Manbiot “I love not man the less, but Nature more.”  He spoke a lot of sense how we need to work with nature not fight it or control it but work with it. You can get a feel of his work with this newspaper reference I have found published 2014 - how we needed to have listened then...!! Price a price on nature? We must stop this neoliberal capitalist road to ruin

There was a speaker Kate Raworth that totally captivated me and the audience with her energy, her style of presentation and the model of Doughnut Economics.. So impressed I have now got a copy of her book Doughnut Economics - Seven Ways to Think like a 21st-Century Economist.  Here is a link to her TED lecture A Healthy Economy should be designed to thrive not to grow... It was strange for me as only the day before I had attended a lecture at Brunel University where a company Biohm has put all that was being talked out by George and Kate into practice. I have link them up on Twitter. 

Then it was good to meet and listen to Guy Standing. I first became aware of Guy's work on the Precariat from my MP John McDonnell that referred to his work in a House of Commons speech.  I have the book and it all makes sense and another nudge for us to completely review our society, our workplaces, our economy.  Here is a link to one of his TED lectures I absolutely agree with the need for a  Basic Income for all to continue to have financial dignity when unable to work or no work.. To help rid of the fear of being jobless and no income at all. 

It is always a talk full of compassion from Rev Paul Nicholson, the founder of Tax Payers Against Poverty   His care for the plight of those on benefits; the homelessness and the failings of the present system is with his full heart and the practicality of the need to review Housing and Affordable Rents. 

I shall add to this blog post as I explore more of the work of the presenters and will add the link to the days filming when I have it. The day was full of lots of common sense and maturity to evolve into societies driven by Compassion in Politics for all citizens to thrive.... and feel secure as we all work together to care for one another and this one planet home.