Now Is The Time
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Peace, a healthy environment, safety and prosperity for everyone,
a rich culture and sustainability of life, are goals that are
dear to all of us. At the same time, we know in more or less
detail about the state our world is in. Many concerned and
courageous people work for nature, peace and human rights. We
invest money, time and skill to improve things. But all these
sincere attempts can only relieve symptoms for a while.
Persistant changes for the better will only be
accomplished when we start dealing with the real causes. These
causes lie within the economic framework. A few thousand years
ago, a tiny minority set up some rules. Up to this day they are
governing the monetary system and the (re-)distribution of the
riches of the world (nature's gifts). And they do this in a
way that leads the biosphere right to the verge of
destruction.
Now it is time to talk about these deeply internalized
rules, and then let us decide together on new, better rules.
We need a global framework that makes a sustainable economy and
sustainable peace possible.
Many people know about these complex problems. Most of us do
not want to think about it, because they do not know what to
do about it. The Bible, the Koran, Marxism and the blood
terror of the nazis have not succeeded in overcoming this
age-old tradition of redistribution from poor to rich. We are
going for it once again, because we love Mother Earth.
Now we have 1. the possibility of global networking, 2. good
understanding of the mechanisms at work, 3. an improved model
for the monetary system, 4. a step by step plan for
implementation, and 5. love as our motivation. Below we will
shortly explain these points. In detail you con find it an the
WWW-pages at: http://www.comlink.apc.org/lav/now/
1. Networking:
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This is a global problem. Thus we have to start talking about
the connection between the monetary system and the global
crisis in the whole world stimultaneously. The WWW offers us
the possibility to concert this decentralized process and
inform ourselves even in case of a media boycott. Chances are
that we can start to develop the collective sense of being ONE
humanity.
2. The existing monetary system and the consequences:
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Because of the structure of the financial system, it cannot
help but lead to reoccuring cycles of booming economy (along
with exploitation of nature) alternating with ecomonic
breakdown, depression and wars.
Why? Well, we can look upon our monetary system as a closed
system. Any technician knows, that in any closed system no
single parameter can grow indefinately without leading to
self-destruction of the system. Any person with any ecological
common sense knows that natural systems can only exist in
dynamic balance. Unchecked growth of any part will destabilize
any system until it collapses.
Now, in the existing monetary system there is a parameter
that is constantly growing with increasing speed:
money credits. This is caused by interest. It is strange, but
most economists cannot accept the fact that continuous growth
of credit HAS to destabilize our whole economy again and again
right through to breakdown.
Since the the division in economic, ecologic and social
realms is not realy existant, the consquences are far-reaching:
Worldwide 95% of humanity work for the interest gains of 2%.
More than half of this flow of interest goes to only a small
part of the superrich: a few families and organisations
control about half of all money credits in this world. The
problem is this: due to interest these already unimaginably
rich have to accumulate more and more.
PLEASE NOTE: not only he who is personally in debt is paying
interest, but ALL PRICES CONTAIN ABOUT 30% INTEREST. We pay
this with every purchase. And the interest part of the prices
grows over all proportion. Thus everyone has to continuously work
more or become poorer, or some of both. Naturally
this affects the economicly weak in this world the most.
Because of lacking understanding of the true connections
potentially violent political tendencies are growing. In
reality nobody is "guilty" for this situation, neither the
wellfare-suckers, nor the immigrants, nor today's rich. But we
are all responsible for it if we do not change such a system.
And we can only accomplish change if we all work together.
Then the environment: in order to earn and pay the
evergrowing load of interest the economy has to constantly
grow, with growing turnovers by any and all means, burning up
resources and polluting the environment. If growth slows down
(because we are approaching the natural limitations) it is
artificially enhanced. Enterprises do this with massive
manipulation (commercial advertisement), to induce a demand
for the unnecessary. Governments do it by increasing the cash
amount and through artificial demand for things that nobody
needs: armament, space projects, nuclear industry and many
other huge projects that always go along with pressure on the
environment. This is accepted because zero-growth of the
economy threatens the functioning of the monetary system. In
the current form of specialized society this could have really
serious consequences. Depression and wars are announcing
themselves if we try to avoid ecologic breakdown. So we can
see that some major changes of the system are on history's
agenda, one way or the other.
3. An improved System:
++++++++++++++++++
Basic requirements in order to accomplish sustainable peace,
healthy environs, prosperity, a rich culture and stable
continuation of life are a new money system and a new way of
dealing with real estate. Following is a brief explanation,
details through our Homepage:
Possibilities to control the money supply do exist. With
this it can be regulated in a way that the inflation is a
stable 0%. Money circulation can be ensured through a royalty
rather than by interest. With a credit fee we can disconnect
the debit interest and the credit interest. Thus the debit
interest (the price of money) can regulate itself through
supply and demand, while the credit interest is kept at zero.
The difference as well as the royalty are public income and
can substitute for other taxes and be used for the healing of
the environmental destruction, better social structures,
health in the world or whatever.
A new real estate law will take account of the fact that
land is as necessary for survival as air or water. Thus it has
to be within the responsibility of the public (This does not
affect the quarteracre for privat use). If this will be state,
bio-regional council or local community is less important and
will certainly vary. The utilization of the land has to remain
private with longterm agreements, and with it the profit of
personal input (sensible landmanagement provided).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: we are not intending to get our way with
this suggestion. The point we want to make is this: there are
other, better ways to do this money thing, and there is a way
to REALLY get there. Once we are there, everyone will profit:
NATURE: becuse the economy is released from the obligation to
grow and more emphasis will be put on quality rather
than quantity.
WOMEN AND CHILDREN: because being the last link in the
chain they suffer the most.
THE POOR: this is obvious.
THE RICH: most of them would choose the cessation of
further growth of their mony assets if they realize
that this garantees a stable social system and prevents
full loss due to hyperinflation or other social crisis.
POLITICIANS: because they will no longer be held
responsible for problems that are beyond their power
(inflation, unimployment, ecological problems).
CHURCHES AND SPIRITUAL GROUPS: in the sense of justice.
WORKERS: by a stable worker market.
ENTERPRISES: mainly the small businesses and the housing-
and agricultural sector, being indebted the most. Big
enterprises will profit from an increase of longterm
investment in the stock market.
ARTISTS: by increasing demands for their works.
The least seems to be in it for the superrich and the
multinational corporations. But most of the superrich are very
capable people and in the top floors of the multis there are
also people with understanding and families. In order to avoid
any enemy images in case of them opposing the transition (in
the beginning), we should keep in mind the following: it they
in the beginning do resist the changes, they are not doing
this because they are friends of the devil and want to see us
all doomed. But they have a lot to loose and they are full of
fear that things get only worse. But hopefully they realize
that we are neither after their life nor after their money.
All we ask is their cooperation to stop this automatic process
of destruction of society and Mother Earth by workfree income.
4. Step by Step Plan for Implementation
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
STEP 1: this letter spreads throughout the world like a
wildfire (please help!)
STEP 2 (parallel to 1): numerous concerned people take the
issue into the publc, urging media and politicians to get
going (participate!)
STEP 3: after first results of step 2 we will go looking for
financially potent allies for step 4
STEP 4: according to success of step 3 will we start a
professional but honest and non-manipulative marketing
campaign to inform everyone about the threatening
connections, requirements of the times and possible
solutions
STEP 5: the dynamics of a bottom-up democratic process
5. Motivation:
++++++++++++
Love is the answer while enemy images lead to destruction.
Only global solidarity including the apparent beneficiaries of
the current state of affairs will qualify us for the future. A
global peaceful process for the restructuring of our economic
system (so that it serves ALL people and nature) can open up a
new dimension of being truly human.This is a historical
moment. 3000 years from now people will still look back onto
these days as the beginning of the new times. No longer are we
allowing fear, hypnotic obligations and outdated master-slave
structures to guide us to global self-destruction. We can
choose.
Maybe we are triggering the quantum leap of collective
consciousness. Let us be ready for the next step of evolution:
to experience and surrender ourselves consciously as executing
parts of a greater acting oneness without losing our
individuality, freedom of decision or ethical responsibility.
Next steps
+++++++++
Let us get going NOW. What could be the next steps?
** Copy this message and forward it to as many concerned
people as possible.
** Information/networking: on our WWW pageis a lot of
information and links concerning the subject waiting for you.
URL: http://www.comlink.apc.org/lav/
** Inform youself, copy it, distribute it in byte and
paper. Any feedback appreciated.
Let us urge politicians and media to take on this issue
because:
---> the existing monetary system destroys peace and future
---> the existing monetary system abuses human rights
---> the existing monetary system demands exploitation of
nature
---> the existing monetary system destroys quality of life
---> we do not want to continue like this!
---> now is the time for sincerety.
We have to be clear about the fact that now the basic
structures of the governing world economic order are about to
change. The necessary worldwide decentralized but concerted
action requires a lot of responsible people. We need you.
Please participate.
"To take from those that are in need
and give to those that have plenty,
this is the way of the suppressing man.
The way of heaven takes from those
that have more than enough
and gives to those that need."
(Tao Teh Ching, vers 77)
For a better World!
georg parlow
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Projekt Leben, Art und Vielfalt
lav@magnet.at
http://www.comlink.apc.org/lav/
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Permakultur Austria
Peter Jordan-Strasse 82
A-1190 Wien
Tel: ++43-1-47654/7231
Fax: ++43-1-47654/7229
e-mail: perma@mail.boku.ac.at
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