Let me draw your attention to two closely-related special days in September.
September 1 (the first Monday) is Labor Day in the United States. For a
Georgist look at that holiday and why Georgist justice belongs at the very
center of the pro-labor movement, I invite you to read a superb new article
by Dr. Fred Foldvary. It is available at
www.progress.org/2003/fold315.htm
If you like it, please email a copy to a non-Georgist friend.
Then on September 2, we note the 164th birthday of Henry George. To read an appreciation of George written by his granddaughter, choreographer Agnes deMille, visit www.schalkenbach.org/books/george.htm
Please send in your own ideas, reports, requests and remarks.
Deadline for our October issue: September 24.
You can always reach the Georgist News at gn@progress.org
CONTENTS: (to return here just click the headline)
GN Comments: Here is a new report from Professor Yoon-sang Kim.
The Henry George Association of Korea held the thirteenth Land School, an annual Georgist summer camp, from July 30th to August 2nd, at Jesus Abbey in Taebaek, a coal-mining town in the mountains, about five hours southeast from Seoul, South Korea.
This year's theme was Mission and Justice. Mission? Yes, mission, since most active Georgists in Korea are Christians, influenced by the late Rev. Archer Torrey, who built the Jesus Abbey in 1964. Last year's theme was Land Justice and Politics, with the nationwide local elections in June and presidential elections in December.
There were ten lectures, presentations and religious sessions. About 150 people interested in the Georgist movement and/or biblical justice stayed together through the four-day school, abiding by the strict dress and behavior code of the abbey. They also had hours for discussion and social activities in the beautiful environment of the abbey.
There was a video documentary show featuring the late Rev. Torrey and prominent Georgists demanding fundamental policies against land speculation. The video is a part of the documentary being produced by an expert team of the Association.
Korean Georgists are encouraged, since government is preparing a plan to levy heavier burdens on landowners under the leadership of Joung-woo Lee, the President's Chief Policy Advisor. Mr. Lee believes that land value tax is the best of all taxes and of all anti-speculation measures, and is the editor of the book published in 2002, "Henry George: Revisited 100 Years Later."
The Henry George Association of Korea holds, in addition to the annual Land School, regular chapter meetings, frequent education sessions, an annual leadership camp, and various campaigns including monthly picketing on the most visible street in Seoul, and nationwide signing-up on a petition for special legislation on Land Value Taxation.
GN Comments: Here is a new report from Paul Martin, director of the Instituto Henry George in Managua, Nicaragua.
Below are the headlines of recently uploaded news stories on the IHG website
at www.ibw.com.ni/~ihg
Enter and click on the "NEWS and Photos" link to get to the "IHG News as of
July 31, 2003" page and the following stories which include informative
news, IHG statistics and many interesting photos:
* 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th CE Economics Courses Graduate
* Nica "Nueva Era": Private Monopolies & Taxes, Taxes, Taxes
* Up and Coming IHG Projects Show Great Potential
You will also find photos of the complete set of the new full color visuals (approx. 25-30) used in the IHG's "Comprender La Economia" course linked to the summary of the CE/P&P argument (linked to the espanol text only, but the visuals are useful in any language). Note: These photos can be printed onto an 8 1/2" x 11" page in decent quality for immediate use in a Spanish language CE/P&P workshop.
Enjoy your visit to our website!
GN Comments: Here is a news bulletin from Karl Williams, editor of Progress magazine.
The Greens' star is on the rise in Australia - they have been receiving almost 10% of the primary vote in most elections of late, and their popularity is rising fast (preferential voting and proportional representation greatly assist the democratic process here). With the Greens becoming more savvy about environmental taxation, many Georgists here have seen the Greens as our natural allies, and connections have multiplied rapidly in the last few months. The recent visit of Jeff Smith certainly catalysed this association - onya, mate!
Now, we have something tangible to show for our efforts, with this economic policy statement on the verge of adoption by the Australian Greens:
2.3.18 'In the long-term, Greens tax policy aims to create a system of public finance that would strengthen and maximise environmental protection, fair distribution of wealth, provision of adequate government services and basic needs production. To do this the Greens will gradually move taxes away from labour and capital to taxes based on land sites according to land value, emissions into air, water or soil, ocean and freshwater resources, electromagnetic spectrum assets, and oils and minerals. Land based tax revenues are an efficient and sustainable source which can eventually replace countless other taxes which are both economically inefficient and inequitable.'
GN Comments: Here is an interesting item, noticed and sent in by Ed Dodson of the School of Cooperative Individualism.
As reported in The Economist (8/9-8/15/03):
"Who are these people? The mix has changed since the 1970s brought mostly Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. These days, they come from everywhere - though ... the proportion from high-income countries ... is relatively high.
"Immigrants are economically polarised. Compared with the locals, more have degrees ... They earn 19% more on average than locals, but that disguises some sharp variations. White immigrants, by and large, earn quite a bit more than locals. Brown and black ones earn less.
"The foreigners have helped drive London property prices further above those of the rest of the country. Over the past decade ... prices in London have risen more than half as fast again as those in the rest of Britain.
"Rising property prices hurt those struggling to get on to the ladder. But for those already on it, they have been a boon. Home-owning Londoners have found themselves sitting on large piles of cash. That has allowed them to do what Londoners, traditionally, long to do: move out.
"Rising property prices have made it harder to recruit teachers and nurses. In London, 12% of teachers are unqualified or temporary ... Rich people, as a result, feel condemned to send their children to expensive private schools.
"While the drawbacks to living in London have increased, so those to living in the countryside have diminished ... So, fleeing poor public services, crime and congestion, and armed with the cash they have liberated from their homes, Londoners have been heading for the countryside in ever-larger numbers ... [A]reas farther afield have been growing faster recently. Farming's decline has helped the townies ... [N]early half the people who bought farms in the second quarter of this year were non-farmers."
Our British friends are invited to comment on how life in Britain is changing for them.
GN Comments: As you may already know, the state of California is in the midst of a wild and peculiar governor recall election. For a geoist perspective, you can find out all about this situation by reading these recent Progress Report items by Fred Foldvary:
Regardless of who is selected, California's governor has plenty of hard work ahead, to solve the state's fiscal mess. A set of sound approaches has been offered by the New Colonist, an urban-issues organization. One of their top recommendations is land value taxation.
For the Progress Report's coverage of this recommendation, see: www.progress.org/2003/urban03.htm
And for the full New Colonist document, see: www.newcolonist.com/caldev03.html
ALSO - a Georgist is running for Mayor of San Francisco, California. Please visit his web site at www.giesen-for-mayor.com/
Many of you attended the 2003 Council of Georgist Organizations conference in Bridgeport, Connecticut. If you have reactions to any or all of the conference events, send them in! If you made a presentation, send in a brief summary. To you, what were the two or three most important things that happened at the conference? Share with your fellow Georgist News readers. Our email address is gn@progress.org
GN Comments: Alanna Hartzok, director of the Earth Rights Institute, sends in this news item:
We will also have the opportunity for discussions and meetings concerning the Niger Delta Fund Initiative with Georgists and others. If you are interested in participating in any way, please call me at 717-264-0957.
GN Comments: For a recent review of the Niger Delta oil revenue crisis, see www.progress.org/2003/oil06.htm
Also, starting September 3 you will be able to find a new article on this topic by Lindy Davies, director of the Henry George Institute, at www.progress.org/2003/oil07.htm
Joe Casey sent us a message noting that the Lincoln Institute offers research fellowships of $20,000 to $40,000 per year up to 3 years - application by e-mail deadline is September 15, 2003.
For more information, please see www.lincolninst.edu/education/dcl_fellowships.asp
GN Comments: Here is a note from Sue Walton of the Council of Georgist Organizations:
GN Comments: Jeff Smith, president of the Geonomy Society, recently circulated this observation:
GN Comments: Ed Dodson recently found this quote from German economist Hans Eisenkolb:
"The price of land like as other prices of goods and services is governed by the law of supply and demand which means: Land without people is worthless and if more people need and want land and are willing to pay for it, then and only then will the price of land rise. Land as such has no intrinsic value but because it can't be increased it lends itself to blackmail by the owners. They know that other people are dependent on the use of it. Therefore a tax system that would tax away the unearned increase in price would be just."
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCES 2003
An International Forum Connecting People with Hands-On Solutions to World Poverty
Conference (October 1-4) For a lot more information: www.carebridge.info/sr2003/index.html
Alanna Hartzok writes: I intend to participate to network and educate about Georgist economics and to learn more about how our approach fits in with overall sustainable development directions. It would be good to have other Georgists participating as well. Anyone else interested?
GN Comments: You can reach Alanna Hartzok at earthrts@pa.net
CONFERENCE: Sustainable Communities in 2004
Communities need strategies that are sustainable, strategies that will increase their capacity to continue to meet their needs in the future. Sustainable development is no longer an academic exercise or a debate that is limited to improving environmental conditions. It's the central question for all of our communities today. Plan to attend "A Conference for Sustainable Communities: Principles, Process, & Practices" in Burlington, Vermont, July, 2004.
The conference will feature a variety of sessions and workshops that highlight the cutting edge of sustainability planning and implementation, everything from practical advice and hands-on problem solving to inspirational talks and conceptual models that can guide strategy development.
For more information contact Gwendolyn Hallsmith, Global Community
Initiatives, Plainfield, VT 05667
telephone (802)272-2684; e-mail:
ghs@global-community.biz
If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can
greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the
understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic.
- Hazel Henderson
The future depends entirely on what each of us does every day.
- Gloria Steinem
Learn the past, watch the present, and create the future.
- Jesse Conrad
The Georgist News is an email newsletter, sent free of charge. Its purpose is to keep you updated on the latest news, world events, projects, and initiatives of relevance to people who, like Henry George, seek a world free from special privilege and free from the causes of poverty.
The Georgist News on the WWW - www.georgist.com/