“Bailout” Causes

After two years of activity promoting East Timorese social entrepreneurship initiatives abroad, Moving Cause is now back in Portugal and these are interesting times to be living in, despite the crisis.

While we see the politico-economic arena deteriorate with all its social contradictions, we feel it is now time to boost and move causes together with local movements. The “bailouts” are not for the people of Portugal, who are bearing the brunt of austerity measures. There is a democratic deficit and growing pent-up frustration, and few outlets for those who would like to create alternatives. The same applies to Greece and Ireland.

There is also a sense of disconnect between people in the core and periphery – this sense of “us” and “them” – when in fact, the Euro currency has unavoidably bound people’s economic futures together – including even non-Euro zone countries.

How can periphery countries be linked more effectively? What about core and periphery? Is there a sense of solidarity between these countries?

We want to find out by promoting bridge blogging, by developing concepts and packages of “bailout” tourism, and by moving new economies based on creativity and innovation. Stay tuned and step in!

Image adapted from the work by Thomas Hawk on Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).