In May this year the Ethos Foundation will host a visit to Australia by Judy Wicks, co-founder and director of the US Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE).

Judy's itinerary will take her to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Lismore, Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast.

A highlight of Judy's visit will be Going Local -- a three-day relocalisation convergence which Ethos will convene in Brisbane from 23rd-25th May in partnership with several other organisations including: Food Connect, SEED International, G-Whiz Car Share, Spiral Community Hub, Village Well, Local Power and the Sunshine Coast Energy Action Centre.

Going Local will offer those involved in relocalisation projects an opportunity to:

• Learn from the experiences of the many communities working to build local economic and social resilience
• Hear about the development of the relocalisation movement in other countries
• Share the insights and new questions emerging from your own projects
• Explore strategic priorities and directions for the period ahead
• Build learning networks and communities of practice with other groups and activists

The plenary sessions will explore:

• The Upside of Down : Opportunities for Renewal
• Building Resilience : Local Action on Globalisation
• Strategies for Transformation

The workshops will cover:

• Building Grower-Consumer Alliances
• Farming Urban Landscapes
• Place-based Planning & Management
• Community Share Mobility
• Energising Communities and Households
• Future Proofing Local Communities
• Relocalising Business
• Transition Town Strategies

There will be Open Space sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

A Call for Expressions of Interest in participating in Going Local has just be issued. More details and a registration form can be found on the Ethos Climate Change Leaders Network website: www.climateleadership.net.au

Registration of interest closes on April 10 and offers of places at Going Local will be sent out that week.