[ox-en] Venus Project / Zeitgeist movement
- From: Stefan Merten <smerten oekonux.de>
- Date: Sat, 26 Dec 2009 13:04:28 +0100
Hi list!
I have been pointed to the `Venus Project`_ and the `Zeitgeist
movement`_. I quickly read the respective about pages and find the
visions there quite interesting and rather compatible with visions
developed here.
.. _Venus Project: http://thevenusproject.com/
.. _Zeitgeist movement: http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/
Below I cited the text about a resource-based economy from the Venus
Project.
The problem I see, however, that at least in the about pages there is
no idea on how to get closer to these visions. What is thought in
Oekonux could be a good complement to these visions.
Grüße
Stefan
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A Resource-Based Economy is a system in which all goods and services
are available without the use of money, credits, barter or any other
system of debt or servitude. All resources become the common heritage
of all of the inhabitants, not just a select few. The premise upon
which this system is based is that the Earth is abundant with
plentiful resource; our practice of rationing resources through
monetary methods is irrelevant and counter productive to our survival.
Modern society has access to highly advanced technology and can make
available food, clothing, housing and medical care; update our
educational system; and develop a limitless supply of renewable,
non-contaminating energy. By supplying an efficiently designed
economy, everyone can enjoy a very high standard of living with all of
the amenities of a high technological society.
A resource-based economy would utilize existing resources from the
land and sea, physical equipment, industrial plants, etc. to enhance
the lives of the total population. In an economy based on resources
rather than money, we could easily produce all of the necessities of
life and provide a high standard of living for all.
Consider the following examples: At the beginning of World War II the
US had a mere 600 or so first-class fighting aircraft. We rapidly
overcame this short supply by turning out more than 90,000 planes a
year. The question at the start of World War II was: Do we have enough
funds to produce the required implements of war? The answer was No, we
did not have enough money, nor did we have enough gold; but we did
have more than enough resources. It was the available resources that
enabled the US to achieve the high production and efficiency required
to win the war. Unfortunately this is only considered in times of war.
In a resource-based economy all of the world's resources are held as
the common heritage of all of Earth's people, thus eventually
outgrowing the need for the artificial boundaries that separate
people. This is the unifying imperative.
We must emphasize that this approach to global governance has nothing
whatever in common with the present aims of an elite to form a world
government with themselves and large corporations at the helm, and the
vast majority of the world's population subservient to them. Our
vision of globalization empowers each and every person on the planet
to be the best they can be, not to live in abject subjugation to a
corporate governing body.
Our proposals would not only add to the well being of people, but they
would also provide the necessary information that would enable them to
participate in any area of their competence. The measure of success
would be based on the fulfilment of one's individual pursuits rather
than the acquisition of wealth, property and power.
At present, we have enough material resources to provide a very high
standard of living for all of Earth's inhabitants. Only when
population exceeds the carrying capacity of the land do many problems
such as greed, crime and violence emerge. By overcoming scarcity, most
of the crimes and even the prisons of today's society would no longer
be necessary.
A resource-based economy would make it possible to use technology to
overcome scarce resources by applying renewable sources of energy,
computerizing and automating manufacturing and inventory, designing
safe energy-efficient cities and advanced transportation systems,
providing universal health care and more relevant education, and most
of all by generating a new incentive system based on human and
environmental concern.
Many people believe that there is too much technology in the world
today, and that technology is the major cause of our environmental
pollution. This is not the case. It is the abuse and misuse of
technology that should be our major concern. In a more humane
civilization, instead of machines displacing people they would shorten
the workday, increase the availability of goods and services, and
lengthen vacation time. If we utilize new technology to raise the
standard of living for all people, then the infusion of machine
technology would no longer be a threat.
A resource-based world economy would also involve all-out efforts to
develop new, clean, and renewable sources of energy: geothermal;
controlled fusion; solar; photovoltaic; wind, wave, and tidal power;
and even fuel from the oceans. We would eventually be able to have
energy in unlimited quantity that could propel civilization for
thousands of years. A resource-based economy must also be committed to
the redesign of our cities, transportation systems, and industrial
plants, allowing them to be energy efficient, clean, and conveniently
serve the needs of all people.
What else would a resource-based economy mean? Technology
intelligently and efficiently applied, conserves energy, reduces
waste, and provides more leisure time. With automated inventory on a
global scale, we can maintain a balance between production and
distribution. Only nutritious and healthy food would be available and
planned obsolescence would be unnecessary and non-existent in a
resource-based economy.
As we outgrow the need for professions based on the monetary system,
for instance lawyers, bankers, insurance agents, marketing and
advertising personnel, salespersons, and stockbrokers, a considerable
amount of waste will be eliminated. Considerable amounts of energy
would also be saved by eliminating the duplication of competitive
products such as tools, eating utensils, pots, pans and vacuum
cleaners. Choice is good. But instead of hundreds of different
manufacturing plants and all the paperwork and personnel required to
turn out similar products, only a few of the highest quality would be
needed to serve the entire population. Our only shortage is the lack
of creative thought and intelligence in ourselves and our elected
leaders to solve these problems. The most valuable, untapped resource
today is human ingenuity.
With the elimination of debt, the fear of losing one's job will no
longer be a threat This assurance, combined with education on how to
relate to one another in a much more meaningful way, could
considerably reduce both mental and physical stress and leave us free
to explore and develop our abilities.
If the thought of eliminating money still troubles you, consider this:
If a group of people with gold, diamonds and money were stranded on an
island that had no resources such as food, clean air and water, their
wealth would be irrelevant to their survival. It is only when
resources are scarce that money can be used to control their
distribution. One could not, for example, sell the air we breathe or
water abundantly flowing down from a mountain stream. Although air and
water are valuable, in abundance they cannot be sold.
Money is only important in a society when certain resources for
survival must be rationed and the people accept money as an exchange
medium for the scarce resources. Money is a social convention, an
agreement if you will. It is neither a natural resource nor does it
represent one. It is not necessary for survival unless we have been
conditioned to accept it as such.
-- http://thevenusproject.com/a-new-social-design/resource-based-economy
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