Our Rationale

The Sisters of St. Joseph are organizing a public event that will bring four distinguished speakers to London to explore how the financial and economic crises can become stepping stones toward "an inclusive economy" that is both green and equitable.

What are the Sisters doing, talking about economics? These days it's hard not to talk about economics. It is clear that not one of us has escaped being impacted by the downturn in the economy. It impacts our relationships: families are suffering from job losses, cities are weakened by high unemployment, earth is pummeled by the environmental fall-out of our oil-addicted economy, and our sense of community is undermined by the growing gap between rich and poor.

The economy is not just about money or the GDP; it's about how we're in relationship with each other and, as such, it is about moral values and choices. Perhaps the most basic of human ethics is "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Although worded differently, the basic concept appears across the range of faith traditions. It reminds us that we are connected in one Earth Community, and so it is counterproductive to try to seek our own wellbeing at the expense of others. Economic life must be grounded in right relationship with each other and the earth.

With this in mind, we have organized a speaker series called "Beyond Tinkering: Growing an Inclusive Economy".