Events
October 2011 Think-in-Kingston festival of ideas
We have two events in Think-in-Kingston, the annual festival of ideas, a month of events run by community groups. The festival includes a rich variety of events and discussions exploring the concepts of happiness, well-being, more... Are more equal societies happier? Why does the government want to measure wellbeing?
http://e-voice.org.uk/thinkinkingston
Thursday October 13th, 7.30 — 9.00pm, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road
Why is the government measuring wellbeing? What may/should result from this?
With Edward Davey MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat Minister for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs in the Coalition Government and
Charles Seaford, Head of Centre for Wellbeing at the New Economics Foundation (economics as if people and the planet matter) and member of the government's Measuring National Well-being Advisory Forum led by Office for National Statistics
The Prime Minister has said that measuring well-being could be the most ‘quietly radical’ thing his government does. Will it be? What would policymaking and the economy look like if their main aim were to promote well-being?
UK economic output has nearly doubled since 1973, but levels of happiness remain flat. Beyond a certain level, money has a negligible and even negative impact on quality of life.
Join in this important topical discussion
Thursday 13th, 7.30 — 9.00pm
Room 3002, John Galsworthy Building, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road KT1 2EE
More info: http://e-voice.org.uk/thinkinkingston/calendar/item/5749905 or 020 8399 6222
Thursday October 27th 7 – 9 pm at Surbiton YMCA, 49 Victoria Road
Spirit Level - "Does equality matter for a happier you and society?"
Presentation by Bill Kerry from The Equality Trust, followed by discussion
The 2009 book The Spirit Level concluded that the more unequal a society is the more ill health and social problems it has, and that inequality can be regarded as divisive and socially corrosive. Comparing life expectancy, mental health, levels of violence, teenage birth rates, drug abuse, child wellbeing, obesity rates, levels of trust, educational performance, or the strength of community life among rich countries, it is clear that societies which tend to do well on one of these tend to do well on all of them, and the ones which do badly, do badly on all of them. The key is the amount of inequality in each society. The picture is consistent, whether we compare rich countries or the 50 states of the USA. The more unequal a society is, the more ill health and social problems it has.
Given our Think in Kingston theme of happiness, can it also be said that the more unequal a society is the unhappier its people feel? Join the debate to explore whether addressing inequality can lead to greater wellbeing in society.
Thursday October 27th, 7 - 9 pm at Surbiton YMCA, 49 Victoria Road, Surbiton KT6 4NG
More info: http://e-voice.org.uk/thinkinkingston/calendar/item/5853509
...and in neighouring Richmond all October "How to be Happy" at the Orange Tree Theatre in the round. www.orangetreetheatre.co.uk/How-To-Be-Happy with most Thursday matinees followed by a discussion