Myfanwy to host Carmarthenshire conference on building a sustainable economy

Dr Myfanwy Davies, Plaid’s Llanelli Westminster candidate and Plaid regional AM, Nerys Evans will host a high-profile national conference on saving jobs and preparing for a green economy. The event which will be held at the Botanic Gardens near Llandeilo will explore how to protect local jobs and businesses from the effects of the recession while building an economy that is sustainable and where decisions are made by local people.

The ‘Sustainable Spring’ conference will focus in particular on developing sustainable food and energy production and improving infrastructure like roads, rail and telecommunications. It is expected that around 150 people will attend including experts and representatives from the environmental sector, industry and the farming unions. With figures recently released showing dramatic differences in the effects of the recession across the UK, the conference will explore why the recession has hit Wales - and particularly West Wales - so much harder than other parts of the UK.

Speaking from her campaign office in Llanelli, Myfanwy said:
“The economic crisis and the environmental crises are closely related. The Brown boom of the last few years was based on consumption that nobody could afford. But once again, it is our communities in Llanelli and Carmarthen that are suffering while Brown protects the bankers.

“The conference is about taking a hard look at the policies that got us here – looking at transport, education and how we use our natural resources – using the powers that we have in the Assembly, Westminster, Europe and our councils to create a stronger, greener economy.

“We will see Wales through but it will be a different economy that comes out of this recession. It will be an economy that puts people ahead of profits and that is sustainable and locally-based. We can offer that change and the conference is about establishing how we can work with experts, environmentalists and industry to deliver that change”.

Nerys Evans AM added:
“We have always believed in developing a sustainable economy in Wales. It is proof of the seriousness with which we take the economic and environmental crises that so many of our front line politicians will meet with representatives from the field for a day to develop an integrated approach to living sustainably. We will see Wales through the crisis but now is the time to make sure we are world-leaders in living and working sustainably."