The Department of Environmental Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Masaryk University, Brno, in cooperation with the Economy and Society Trust and the Charles University Environment Center is pleased to invite you to the first conference on ethical finance in the Czech Republic … How Can Money Make Sense.
Venue: Faculty of Social Sciences, Joštova 10, Brno, Czech Republic
Date: September 12 – September 13, 2013
Language: Czech, English - simultaneously interpreted
Subject of the Conference and Its Aims
The Western world has been looking for ethical financial systems for the last several decades. These efforts have been made even more urgent in recent years by the onset of the economic and debt crisis. In the Czech Republic, the public is getting increasingly interested in opportunities to dispose of their money in a responsible, social, and environmentally sustainable way. There are, however, no such opportunities within the Czech bank and investment system. People have no other option but to entrust their money to conventional banks, which give little insight into what future they support with the accumulated funds.
The aim of the conference is therefore to initiate the process that could lead to the founding of a financial institution which would allow people in the Czech Republic to dispose of their financial assets ethically, socially, and in an environmentally sustainable way. The conference will introduce selected representatives of foreign ethical banks, along with all their experience and inspiration. Also attending will be local experts and active groups or individuals who care about the way how the money concentrated in banks influences the future of the country. We feel that bringing ethical saving and investment into the Czech Republic is an urgent and doable task.
Preliminary Programme
Thursday the 12th will be devoted to presentations by guests from the EU and the Czech Republic. The day will end with a panel discussion on the possibilities of establishing ethical financial institutions in the Czech Republic, followed by an informal social evening. On Friday 13th, participants will explore various ways to create an ethical financial institution in working groups. Conclusions from the working groups will then be presented in a final panel.
The following people have confirmed their attendance so far: Oskar Kjelberg – JAK non-interest bank (Sweden), Christophe Guene – social finance economist (Belgium), representative of Banka Etica (Italy), Hans-Florian Hoyer - GLS socially-ecological bank (Germany), Markus Stegfellner – Demokratische Bank Wien (Austria), Jaromír Hošek – Creditas credit co-operative (Czech Republic). Pending: Bank Spółdzielczy w Nakle cooperative bank (Poland), HITHIT crowdfunding web project (Czech republic), representative of Ministry of Finance of the Czech republic.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Friday, September 13, 2013
Evening buffet
Registration:
Participants can register for the conference through the following form. The deadline is 30 August. After filling in the form, participants will be asked to pay the registration fee which is either CZK 500 (if registered before 30 June) or CZK 700 (if registered after 30 June). The conference fee does not include accommoation. The registration is only valid after the fee has been paid. Participants willing to register after 30 August should discuss their attendance directly with the event organisers.
If you are interested in attending the conference email us at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be happy to get back to you with current information. Or follow us at: www.thinktank.cz.
You can download the conference flyer here.
Contact person:
Nikola Fousková
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +420 603 863 351
Environment Center, Charles University
Conference Venue:
Faculty of Social Studies
Masaryk university
Joštova 10,
602 00 Brno, Czech Republic