Why We Should Scrap Capitalism: In Conversation with Ted Trainer

Across Australia and around the world, more and more people are sensing that something is deeply wrong with our economic system. Rising inequality, growing ecological crises, housing stress, insecure work, and a general sense of strain leave many wondering: Is this really the best we can do?

For those who can see that our current system is unsustainable—but don’t yet know what a genuine alternative could look like—this conversation is for you.

Join us for an in-depth discussion with Ted Trainer, one of Australia’s most influential thinkers on post-capitalist futures. Ted is an academic, author, and lifelong advocate for economic degrowth, eco-anarchism, simple living, and what he calls “conserver” lifestyles. A retired lecturer from the University of New South Wales, he has spent decades examining why capitalism fails to meet human and planetary needs—and how we might build a better, fairer, more sustainable world.

Ted’s work is widely regarded as one of the most practically grounded and theoretically robust pathways beyond capitalism. He combines clear analysis with lived experience: he has written extensively on sustainability, economic alternatives, and system change, and he is the founder of Pigface Point, an alternative lifestyle educational site near Sydney where he demonstrates what a simpler, more self-sufficient future could look like in practice.

What to Expect

This live online conversation will explore:

• Why Ted argues that capitalism cannot be “fixed”

• How the system produces inequality, ecological destruction, and social strain

• Why economic growth can’t be decoupled from resource use

• What a different kind of economy—democratic, localised, cooperative, and sustainable—could look like

• How ordinary people can begin building these alternatives now

The conversation will be accessible, grounded, and welcoming to anyone curious about economic change—no prior knowledge needed.

Free Copy of Ted’s Book

All registered participants will receive a digital copy of Ted Trainer’s book, Capitalism: Why We Should Scrap It, ahead of the event so you can explore his arguments in more depth.

Who Should Attend

• People who feel uneasy about capitalism but aren’t sure what alternatives exist

• Community members interested in sustainability, equity, or economic justice

• Students, educators, activists, and researchers

• Anyone curious about how we might build a better economic system—together

About the Speaker

Ted (F.E.) Trainer (b. 1941) is an Australian academic, writer, and long-time advocate for degrowth, eco-anarchism, and simpler ways of living. He taught for many years in the School of Social Work at the University of New South Wales and has written numerous books and articles on sustainability, economic systems, and pathways to a more equitable and ecologically sound society. He is currently developing Pigface Point, an educational site demonstrating practical approaches to low-impact living.