Back in June we asked you to help us to find and fund a new member of the team who would create videos that would explain our message in a simple, clear and entertaining way. Thanks for your help – it wouldn’t have been possible without you. Our new team member Henry has been working on a series of videos over last months and last week we released the first one:
“House Prices – Why are they so high?” [2 mins]
If we want to keep houses affordable for ordinary people, we have to make sure that enough people understand how banks really work and where the money for mortgages actually comes from. Spreading the word is crucial!
1. Help us spread the word…
a) You almost certainly have friends or family who have been priced out and are now facing high rents or unaffordable mortgages. Here’s some text that you can just copy and paste into a new email:
A campaign group that I am supporting has released a new video and I thought you would be interested to see it.
Did you know that in the ten years up to the start of the financial crisis, house prices rose by over 200%? Do you know why?
A common belief is that there are too many people, too much immigration, and too few houses to go around. But this is a myth.
This new video explains why houses have become so expensive and why millions of people are now priced out:
Please watch this 2 mins video: House Prices – Why are they so high?
You can find more about Positive Money campaign at the website: bsd.wpengine.com
b) And of course, you can help by sharing it on Facebook and Twitter! We’d be grateful for any support to get the word out.
c) Subscribe to our Youtube channel! To stay up to date with our latest videos, go here and click “Subscribe”.
d) If you have a blog, write a piece about this video. Here’s a generic article you can use.
2. Join the Video Team
We’re looking for volunteers who can work with Henry to produce videos and animations. It’s work that can be done evenings and weekends, and on a project by project basis. We need people with animation and/or motion graphics within After Effects, any familiarity with Trapcode Particular and Form plug-ins would be a bonus though not essential.
The videos themselves consist mostly of still vector elements being combined in After Effects compositions, so not much traditional animation (movement of characters, speech etc.) required. We’re also looking for anyone experienced in vector illustration within Adobe Illustrator, for the creation of the vector elements (all quite simple but within a consistent style).
All volunteers would need to be comfortable working within a pre-defined style, but with room for individual creative decision making.
If you’re interested in helping to make videos like the one above, or simpler educational presentations, please contact henry@positivemoney.org with your level of experience and ideally any examples of work you’ve already done.
3. Monetary Reform in Major German Newspapers
We’re happy to let you know that also our fellow money reformers from Germany and Switzerland have received great coverage in the mainstream media recently. The second largest newspaper Die Sueddeutsche Zeitung and some other big newspapers published articles that not only revealed the root cause of the financial crisis. i.e. the creation of money by private commercial banks as debt, but also presented their full reserve banking reform proposals and the benefits this would bring.
Read more: Major German Newspapers on Full Reserve Banking
4. It’s time to fix banking – 38 Degrees campaign:
The campaign group 38 Degrees has started a petition which urges the MPs to be tough on the banks. When you sign the petition, there’s a space provided for comments. You can help spread the message by suggesting that the campaign tackles the ‘privatisation-by-stealth’ of the power to create money here.
5. Events:
London, Wed 3rd Oct – Can radical new policies end the financial crisis?
London Hackney, Sat 6th Oct – A Credit Union Open Day
North East, Sat 6th – Mon 8th Oct – Christian Aid Tax Justice Bus Tour
Edinburgh, 11th Oct – Ragged Talks: Why the Financial Crisis and Starting a Technology Business
Kingston, Wed 17th Oct – Is Banking to Blame for Poverty & Debt? – Talk by Ben Dyson
Belfast, 18th Oct 2012 – Screening of the film “97% Owned”
London, Wed 24th Oct – Establishing an Economic System that protects the Commons
Lincoln, Fri 26th Oct 2012 – Screening of “97% Owned”
London, Mon 29th Oct 2 – “Socially Useful Banking?” with Andy Haldane (BoE)
Newcastle, Thu 8th Nov – Talk at Economic and Social Research Council’s Festival
Leicester, Thu 8th Nov 2012 – Screening of “97% Owned”