The Other Economic Summit
Encyclopedia
The Other Economic Summit (TOES), was a counter-summit to the annual G7 summits, first held in 1984 in London. It included diverse groups of economists, greens and community activists. TOES eventually became an umbrella term and similar meetings were organised around the world for the next two decades.
and the Right Livelihood Award
s, and was focussed on alternative development and environmental issues. The New Economics Foundation
, a UK-based think tank, had the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability".
The purpose of the summit was to highlight that the economy could be organised in other ways. TOES also challenged the right of the G7 leaders to speak for the world. TOES demanded that the system of global economic governance should be democratised. It was also suggested that the G7 Summits should be replaced by a representative World Economic Council within the UN system.
From 1985 to 1987 TOES was held in the UK, sending a delegation to the G-7 summit city. From 1988 onwards TOES convened every year in the city of the G-7 Summit. In 1988 TOES North America sponsored the TOES in Toronto which was part of a Citizens Summit. In 1989 TOES France held an alternative summit in Paris entitled "L'Autre Sommet Economique". The 1991 TOES was organized by the New Economics Foundation
, which organised TOES again in 1998 as part of a "Peoples' Summit" in Birmingham
.
Political scientist Andrew Vincent argues that an ecologically based
theory of economics underpins TOES, part of an emerging political ideology referred to by Vincent as ecologism.
, economists Paul Ekins
(initial director of TOES), David Fleming and James Robertson
, Alison Pritchard, a Schumacher Society Council member, Jakob von Uexkull
, founder of the Right Livelihood Award
and others helped to set up TOES and the new economics foundation
.
TOES summits
The Other Economic Summit (TOES) was the idea of Sally Willington (1931-2008), founder of AIMS and founder member of the British Green Party. The First TOES in 1984 was organised by the New Economics FoundationNew Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
and the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
s, and was focussed on alternative development and environmental issues. The New Economics Foundation
New Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
, a UK-based think tank, had the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability".
The purpose of the summit was to highlight that the economy could be organised in other ways. TOES also challenged the right of the G7 leaders to speak for the world. TOES demanded that the system of global economic governance should be democratised. It was also suggested that the G7 Summits should be replaced by a representative World Economic Council within the UN system.
From 1985 to 1987 TOES was held in the UK, sending a delegation to the G-7 summit city. From 1988 onwards TOES convened every year in the city of the G-7 Summit. In 1988 TOES North America sponsored the TOES in Toronto which was part of a Citizens Summit. In 1989 TOES France held an alternative summit in Paris entitled "L'Autre Sommet Economique". The 1991 TOES was organized by the New Economics Foundation
New Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
, which organised TOES again in 1998 as part of a "Peoples' Summit" in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
Political scientist Andrew Vincent argues that an ecologically based
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
theory of economics underpins TOES, part of an emerging political ideology referred to by Vincent as ecologism.
Founding
British environmentalist Jonathon PorrittJonathon Porritt
Jonathon Espie Porritt, CBE, is an English environmentalist and writer. Porritt appears frequently in the media, writing in magazines, newspapers and books, and appearing on radio and television regularly.-Early life and family background:...
, economists Paul Ekins
Paul Ekins
Paul Ekins is a prominent British academic in the field of sustainable economics. He is a former member of the Green Party.-Political career:...
(initial director of TOES), David Fleming and James Robertson
James Robertson (activist)
James Robertson , a British-born political and economic thinker and activist, became an independent writer and speaker in 1974 after an early career as a British civil servant....
, Alison Pritchard, a Schumacher Society Council member, Jakob von Uexkull
Jakob von Uexkull
Jakob von Uexkull is a writer, lecturer, philanthropist, activist and former politician. He served as a Member of the European Parliament 1987–1989, representing the German Green Party. In 1980, Uexkull founded the Right Livelihood Award, commonly known as the Alternative Nobel Prize, and in 2006,...
, founder of the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
and others helped to set up TOES and the new economics foundation
New Economics Foundation
The New Economics Foundation is a British think-tank.NEF was founded in 1986 by the leaders of The Other Economic Summit with the aim of working for a "new model of wealth creation, based on equality, diversity and economic stability"....
.