The first meeting of the Bromsgrove Group was held in October 1997. Its purpose was to bring together, in loose association, people concerned about a variety of social, religious, environmental, academic, and ecological issues but who are united in a belief that the supply of money into the economy represents the root cause of their shared concerns. It is an opportunity to meet, network, discuss issues of vital importance based around reform of the money system, and to develop projects to promote our solutions.
Although we came together from many diverse viewpoints, we are united in realising that the supply of money into the economy is the big issue that governs all the issues and without a solution, all attempts at social and environmental reform are thwarted because governmental organs of influence and authority simply plead they have "no money".
Prosperity advocates that the solution to this admission of economic inadequacy is a switch from funding mechanisms based on debt to funding mechanisms based upon the availability of people, skills and materials. This can most readily be achieved by direct Government creation of the funds necessary to take up the shortfall between what is socially and environmentally desirable, and what is being achieved through the current practice of borrowing from the banking system and not only borrowing, but borrowing with interest added!
We are up against a powerful banking lobby which knows very well what wealth and prestige has been garnered from its monopoly in the creation of money, and which will resist with a vast array of financial and other resources, any attempt to dislodge it from its lofty pedestal. Therefore we must educate and mobilise the public. We must generate grass-roots demand. We must convince our fellow citizens that Government can, and should, create money on our behalf.
The third annual meeting of the Bromsgrove Group was held towards the end of October 99, and the following is a list of initiatives represented at this successful event :
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British Association for Monetary Reform
Campaign for Interest Free Money
Centre for Holistic Studies (Mumbai)
Christian Council for Monetary Justice
Christian Ecology Link
COMER (Committee on Monetary and Economic Reform)
Community for Reconciliation
Federation of Small Businesses
Forum for Christian Peace Groups
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Forum for Stable Currencies
Green Party Economics Policy Group
Independent Thinkers
Institute for Rational Economics
Islamic Party of Great Britain
Nascent Youth Group
Scottish Monetary Reform Society
Sustainable Economics Newsletter
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Two important ideas came out of Bromsgrove 99. Firstly, a call for a regular newsletter to keep everyone in touch
with what's happening in the movement. Prosperity answers that call. Secondly, the need for a Statement of Belief to represent the basis we associate upon and which respects our diversity. Look under Principles for the Bromsgrove Statement, intended to represent this common platform. It avoids talking about the Basic Income, or the Just Price, or any other policy which may become possible once the system has been changed, but which at present, different individuals and groups have various opinions on. It also seeks to avoid the technicalities of change which are open to debate and disagreement; the aim is to achieve consensus with clarity and concision. The Bromsgrove Conference has now been held every October since the first meeting in 1997.
It is expected that the statement may evolve within the principle that policies and technicalities are excluded. It
has been constructed by Alistair McConnachie with thanks to Mike Rowbotham, John Johansen-Berg, Peter
Challen, Jack Hornsby, Donald Martin, Robert Arnold, Edward Hamlyn, David Weston and James Gibb Stuart
for ideas provided. Feedback is invited.
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