“The Gothenburg conference has reached the conclusion that the prevailing development model must be reconsidered in its foundation. Together we need to develop new narratives that unite North and South, and that reunite mankind with nature”, reads the declaration signed by several Swedish social movements. The text is addressed to the government of that country and to all the people that will participate in the UN conference in Brazil.

FOEI’s Economic Justice – Resisting Neoliberalism Program Coordinator, Lucia Ortiz, was present at the pre-conference in Gothenburg and recorded several videos with the opinions of the participants. Real World Radio will be showing this audiovisual material as of today.

The first of these videos features Swedish activist Jackie Bergman. “I think it is really important to have in mind that our problematic economy is actually suffering from a malfunctioning platform, which is the monetary system, the way we issue money”, said Bergman. “At least here in Sweden, 90 per cent or more think that money is issued by the National Central Bank, when actually in all the Western world, money is created by private banks as debt with interests”, he added.

You can watch the interview with Jackie Bergman below.