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Think Local - building healthy, resilient communities.

The future of our communities increasingly lies in the hands of policy makers and administrators who seem detached from community life. There is a growing sentiment within communities that their voices are being overlooked.  In this increasingly uncertain environment, communities need to come together to devise their own solutions.  

The Think Local Conference brings together leading scientists, community leaders and experts to educate and exchange experiences, challenges and solutions on all aspects of true community sustainability.

Among the topics covered will be
* globalisation and its impact on local communities and economies
* self-sufficiency in food and farming with a focus on solutions
* the future role of money and community banking
* the role of technology and how it can be put to good use
* the importance of building networks of like-minded people in your community and neighbouring communities

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Caitriona on caitriona(@)thinklocal.ie 

SPEAKERS

Matthew Ehret: author, journalist, lecturer and founder of the Canadian Patriot Review and Director at the Rising Tide Foundation and Senior Fellow at the American University in Moscow.

Cynthia Chung: co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Rising Tide Foundation. She is contributing author to the book series "The Clash of the Two Americas," and a writer at the Strategic Culture Foundation.

Catherine Austin Fitts (remote) : president of Solari, Inc., publisher of the Solari Report, and managing member of Solari Investment Screens, LLC. Catherine served as managing director and member of the board of directors of the Wall Street investment bank Dillon, Read & Co. Inc., as Assistant Secretary of Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner at the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in the first Bush Administration.

Melissa Cuimmei: Private financial investor and public speaker, best known for her viral social media videos and interviews.  

Jim O'Brien: CSR/Energy Consultant, actively promoting industry sustainability through strategic, advisory and leadership support roles. Founder and Chair of the Climate Science Forum (ICSF, see www.ICSF.ie). The ICSF focuses on disseminating objective climate science to better inform national and international climate/energy policymaking.

Germaine Staley: Co-founder of Permaganics (www.championsofpermaculture.com). Passionate about permaculture, sustainability designer and aquaponics teacher. 

James Conway: Sligo farmer, business owner and activist. Passionate about economics and the politics, particularly in rural Ireland. 

...and more to come...

Accommodation

If you are looking for accommodation, please note that The Shearwater Hotel is filling up fast. These are some of the other hotels in the area: 

Ballinasloe Area

• Gullane's Hotel, Main Street, Ballinasloe - website: https://www.gullaneshotel.com/ tel:+353909642220
• Moycarn Lodge & Marina, Ballinasloe - website https://moycarnlodge.ie/, tel: +35390964505
• Athlone Springs Hotel, Athlone - website  https://www.athlonespringshotel.com/ tel: +3539064 44444

Within 30 mins drive 

• Hotels in Athlone and Loughrea.  

Distance from Airports

Galway Airport: 60 km, approx. 42 mins

Shannon Airport: 104km, approx. 1 hr 20 min drive time

Dublin Airport: 162km, approx. 1hr 55min drive time 

Cork Airport: 188km, approx.  2 hr 54 min drive time