FTA launches Major New Project

We've just launched a new project to go with our new website. It's aimed at identifying the important changes likely to affect NZ society over the next twenty of so years, collect credible information on the changes, and open them up for member discussion.

Two months ago the Board approved the project to mark the occasion of FTA becoming a ‘virtual’ organisation.  The aim of the project is to:

Project Administration

The project is being managed and administered by a Steering Group drawn from FTA Board members; Jennifer Coote, Yvonne Curtis, Mike Gould (Convenor), and John Robinson who will report periodically to the Board.

The project will enable members to become involved through the interactivity provided on the new web site.  As well, updates on the project will appear in Future Times and a new  email newsletter to be launched soon for members only.

First Steps

To begin, the Steering Group has selected eight likely major change drivers:

1.    Energy – increasing oil prices
2.    Population dynamics
3.    Climate change
4.    The changing global economy
5.    Information; generation and dissemination
6.    Water shortages
7.    Social and economic inequalities
8.    Belief systems and multi-ethnic societies

Members of the Steering Group will write paragraphs on each of the above, explaining why they have been selected.  Members are encouraged to advance their selections, accompanied by a similar paragraph.  Periodic polls will be taken to get wider views on what people consider important.

As the project develops, each identified change-driver will be allocated its own Convenor and team of interested contributors.  The structure of project reporting will evolve as the project progresses.  Progress will of course depend on how much people are prepared to contribute their time and expertise. New material will be posted on the website as it becomes available.

It should be interesting and exciting.