Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/16/18
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

George Lakey, activist, sociologist, and author, will discuss “A Divided America: What Can We Learn from the Nordics?” According to Lakey, polarization may be as much an opportunity as it is dismaying. Sweden’s and Norway’s highly successful movements for economic democracy came out of a deep polarization in the 1920s and 1930s. Scandinavian countries have now out-performed the U.S. model for half a century, including virtually abolishing poverty; creating more equality, individual freedom, and economic innovation, including start-ups; and accelerating actions to achieve carbon neutrality and climate justice.

Lakey, a recently retired Swarthmore College professor, lived and worked in Norway, and, in 2017, was the keynote speaker at a conference of 300 Nordic economists. He has led over 1,500 social-change workshops on five continents and local, national, and international projects. His recent book, Viking Economics: How the Scandinavians Got It Right-and How We Can, Too will be sold at the talk by Phoenix Books.

The talk is free but donations are accepted; childcare is available if parents register for childcare by e-mailing Ruah Swennerfelt no later than March 5, giving the number of children and their ages.

Sponsored by: Transition Town Charlotte www.transitioncharlottevt.org. Co-sponsors: First UU Society of Burlington-Economic Justice Task Force, Vermont Interfaith Power & Light, Peace & Justice Center, Transition Town Jericho, Burlington Friends Meeting (Quakers), Vermonters for a New Economy, 350VT, and Transition Williston.