Gavin Tang from the Blue Mountains has been invited to give a talk on how we can create a grassroots economy that will incorporate all the key features that he believes is required in a national economy.

He will suggest alternative workable practices in taxation, banking, land ownership and land use.

“Many people know what is wrong and faulty about our economy; many people rail against the injustice, unsustainability and corruption of our political and economic arrangements; but suggestions for practical and workable alternatives are far and few between,” Gavin says.

Gavin claims in his website that these new measures can be practised through a grassroots project. In other words, the power and authority of the national government is not necessary to bring these measures into existence.

Gavin calls such a project a ‘fractal economy’.

“In a fractal, the part repeats exactly the same patterns and features of the whole. An example of a fractal can be seen in a fern leaf. When one breaks off a small branch of the fern leaf, that small branch exhibits exactly the same pattern as the original leaf, only on a smaller scale.”

Similarly, Gavin believes this grassroots project replicates what the national economy should be, but is not, doing.

Gavin has attempted such a project many years ago in Bellingen.

“It was organised by Nick Rose, a notable and active former resident of Bellingen,” Gavin says. “Unfortunately, mobile phone technology – which is critical to the success of this project – was not yet advanced enough to carry the project through, and it had to be relinquished.”

Through the enthusiasm and activity of a small number of people, but in particular local Bellingen resident Vicki Parkes, the town of Bellingen is revisiting this project.

People interested in coming can read up on Gavin’s ideas at www.fractaleconproject.org.

The meeting is at 7pm in the Uniting Church. The contact person is Vicki Parkes, 0457 331 190