Closing Session – Towards a Wellbeing Economy for Ireland: June 25

In the conference’s closing session, Frances Rayner from the Wellbeing Economy Alliance’s global amp team offered a message of hope, describing the huge evolution that has been occurring over the past 6 years, with ideas about economic system change and getting beyond economic growth moving into the mainstream narrative. She also gave a call to action, to get the message out onto the streets.

Davie Phillip introduced the conference’s graphic recording team, Chris Chapman, Helen O’Keefe and Vicky Donnelly, who shared some of the insights and thoughts about obstacles that had been gathered on cards and on Mentimeter throughout the conference. These covered a range of subjects, including the need to recognise a crisis of narration in addition to a crisis of imagination; the challenge of addressing power imbalances; the difficulties of trying to create something new within the current system; and the need to create inclusive spaces and structures.

Peter Doran shared a few reflections on the conference, emphasising that the WEAll Ireland Hub intends to offer an invitation, and that we want to build a movement that touches us. He also spoke about the need to regard nature as a relative, and to include future generations. He referred back to Bayo Akomolafe’s warning (on Day 1) to avoid anthropocentrism and to critically reflect on who ‘we’ are.

Caroline Whyte expressed appreciation for the work of the conference’s organising committee (who came up on stage) and the conference funders. Nuala McKeever then shared some final thoughts on the need for non-binary thinking, to rethink our relationship to other species, and to allow space for reflection.

Finally, Saoirse Exton pointed out that the current wars and the problems that young people are facing are caused by older people, and that they are facing an epidemic of poverty and loneliness. She spoke about the need for inclusion of young peoples’ voices, and urged us to take action as well as talk.