Expanding and Diversifying Conversations

Where are we going? How do we get there?

This is part of our session for the online day at Global Donut Days 2024. Please register here or to view recordings of any of the sessions.
These pages will remain online so we can continue the discussion in the comments.

Next we chose topical themes to connect abstract ideas and theory to everyday concerns that were being discussed in the media, in mainstream society, and as election issues.

We’ve done two now: Public transport and the 50c fare trial and Rethinking housing: affordability and sustainability. The next issue we are working on is Health.

Some of us wrote articles which we published on our own Substacks. Then we created a single Regen Brisbane combined article that connects them within a Doughnut Economics framework, and asks the sort of questions that inspire creative thinking about a better future. That aligns with our group’s shared purpose that we mentioned in Slide 1. 

What would it be like if the Greater Brisbane area transitioned to a Doughnut economy - staying within the planetary boundaries while meeting the needs of all the people within? What would that future look like? How might we contribute towards making that happen?

Min has also been part of this.

For the first one, she wrote an article based on her experience visiting Brisbane where she had to find ways to get around a car-dependent, low-density city with very patchy public transport.

And for the second, showing how our respective cultures place very different values on types of housing.

All of us have the task of reading and making comments.

Comments are what turns articles into conversations.

When we started this project, we could never have predicted Min’s contribution or planned to find someone to give a visitor’s viewpoint. Loose, incremental planning means you can adapt and include new assets and opportunities as they arise while staying true to your shared purpose.

This also illustrates how global connections can broaden and enrich your local actions and how we can all learn from each other. 

Through this activity, we have:

• increased our collaboration skills

• increased our Internet communication and writing skills

• developed our ideas on how Doughnut Economics could be a good framework to bring people together to transform our region

• created both individual and Regen Brisbane enduring public assets

• created a sense of momentum and activity to attract more people to join in

• increased trust and relationships within the group

It’s been just 5 months, but we think we’ve made a lot of progress.