09:15 – 09:30 Introduction Richard Glover
09:30 – 10:30 Just Housing Peter Holland and Nick Davies
"The authors speculate on the nature of housing should Economic Justice prevail, and compare this with our current situation, generally considered to be in crisis in a large part of the world. The causes of this are considered, how and why they are misrepresented by the media, some potential solutions offered, and practical steps being put in place in Ireland revealed."
Peter Holland studied Economics as a subsidiary at university and with SPES since graduating. His working life started with designing electronic systems in the communications industry and moved through product management and marketing to being responsible for a large part of Nortel Networks transmission business. On the way he became a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.
Nick Davies is a qualified accountant who is currently involved in the property market as part of the Irish Government’s initiatives to deal with the housing crisis. Previously working in the Irish bad bank entity and prior to that was a partner in two of the Top 6 accounting firms, in Ireland and Central Eastern Europe. Also currently the Chair of Common Purpose Ireland.
11:00 – 12:00 Housing, Land and Law Jon Lewis
"When we speak of the law of the land, normally we think of the law that comprises the use of the land, of housing, even of Nature itself. All these laws are part of the underlying Law that ensures the wellbeing of the people themselves. This Law can be understood as Dharma, comprising right action, good order, peace, harmony and justice for all."
Jon Lewis read Law at the University of Manchester, and has lectured on many areas of the subject, in schools, colleges and to businesses. He has been attending SPES classes since 1974.
13:15 – 14:15 House, Home and Family Anne and Peter Fennell
Housing philosophy. London parents fixate on two things: houses and schools. They soon discover that the better the school the smaller the catchment the higher the house prices. So it all comes down to the one central question: what house you can afford where. This is just one discovery in a series, one realisation of a more general philosophy. Get ahead. If the children don’t get into the good school they might get left behind. Is this just the way it is? The natural order? to wish things otherwise is for dreamers, drop-outs and communists? Maybe but at its heart the hidden essence of this philosophy of life is fear. Is there an alternative philosophy that faces the fear but without rejecting the world of practical affairs?
Peter and Anne Fennell live in an 3-generation home and had an unusual journey through family, housing and home-making. A conventional start in the private rental sector developed into what the Housing Act 1985 would call ‘overcrowding’ and Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights would call ‘inadequate’, a spell on the brink of homelessness and 4 years as nomads before eventually building their own house – with the help of child labour.
14:45 – 15:45 House and Garden, Hilda Crampton
Townley Hall Walled Garden: How by repurposing land, fostering community, embracing organic and regenerative practices, a garden can enhance environmental connectedness and social cohesion. Working together in a garden we can nurture and cooperate for the common good, and live in a respectful relationship in harmony with nature and one another while weaving a tapestry of care, connections, education and sustainability.
Townley Hall walled garden is a community growing space which started as a response to a plea from the charity FoodCloud for fresh produce to supplement foods that they rescue and re-distribute to charities.
Hilda Crampton lives and works on a small organically certified farm in Co. Wicklow, Ireland growing organic vegetables for the local area. She is currently leading the Townley Hall walled garden project in Co. Louth.
15:45 – 16:15 Panel Session
16:15 – 16:30 Closing remarks RG