Last weekend Australia had 2020 Summit, when they brought together 1,000 people to think of ideas to make Australia a better place by 2020.
I personally find it very inspiring, that the country, the government call for such an action. For me, coming from environment that everything is pretty much regulated and in Belarus they are back to working on industrial plans more or less in some areas, to see that the government basically asks their people, what do they want their country to be, is a truly inspiring act.
MORE INFO HERE
www.australia2020.gov.au
(and guess what? a couple of Sydney AIESECers were participants of youth part of the summit)
There were facilitators form all over the country, and a thousand people selected via essays or through their vocation, who worked in various groups over 2 days, defining their ambition and ideas for
Environment:
Ideas such as sustainable cities program, digital art, australian republic, government levels roles review were brought up and will be distilled to make up an action plan for the government.
Yes, not all was ideal - new tax or tax review is a funding strategy for most ideas; the summit is seen by opposition as kevinism; not all ideas are captured, and those that are, are generic etc.
But the whole idea that this kind of event and bringing together minds of people can happen in a country is a great one. I think it's a kind of thing that happens when a country at a particular state of development, and as per the pyramid of needs, after security, food and certain standard of living is secured, the next level is self realisation. Can you imagine Russia, or China, or Japan, or Egypt, running this kind of summit?..
This is an advantage of the country with no pressure of tradition (yes, I think there are some good things in not having a long history).
Feels great living in the country and under the government capable of such an initiative. I like Australia more and more :)
I personally find it very inspiring, that the country, the government call for such an action. For me, coming from environment that everything is pretty much regulated and in Belarus they are back to working on industrial plans more or less in some areas, to see that the government basically asks their people, what do they want their country to be, is a truly inspiring act.
MORE INFO HERE
www.australia2020.gov.au
(and guess what? a couple of Sydney AIESECers were participants of youth part of the summit)
There were facilitators form all over the country, and a thousand people selected via essays or through their vocation, who worked in various groups over 2 days, defining their ambition and ideas for
- Productivity
- Economy
- Environment
- Family&Community
- Indigenous
- Creative Australia
- Rural
- Health
- Governance
- Security
"Australia should be the best place in the world to live and do business. This will require urgent action to increase economic capacity through the creation of a truly national, efficient, sustainable and inclusive economy, supported by seamless regulation"
Environment:
"Our aspiration is that by 2020 Australia is the world's leading green and sustainable economy. That we will set time-bound targets and be on track to dramatically decrease our ecological footprint while continuing to grow our economy and improve our quality of life"
Ideas such as sustainable cities program, digital art, australian republic, government levels roles review were brought up and will be distilled to make up an action plan for the government.
Yes, not all was ideal - new tax or tax review is a funding strategy for most ideas; the summit is seen by opposition as kevinism; not all ideas are captured, and those that are, are generic etc.
But the whole idea that this kind of event and bringing together minds of people can happen in a country is a great one. I think it's a kind of thing that happens when a country at a particular state of development, and as per the pyramid of needs, after security, food and certain standard of living is secured, the next level is self realisation. Can you imagine Russia, or China, or Japan, or Egypt, running this kind of summit?..
This is an advantage of the country with no pressure of tradition (yes, I think there are some good things in not having a long history).
Feels great living in the country and under the government capable of such an initiative. I like Australia more and more :)
Labels: australia, inspiration
