This Changes Things
By Mark Kirkwood Callingham
17 September, 2014
Countercurrents.org
Written by Naomi Klein, Rebecca Tarbotton, Malcolm X, Joe Strummer, Mick Jones, David Wolf, George Monbiot, Chief Si'ahl, Art Solomon, M K C
A MANIFESTO REMIX
“Our economic model is at war with life on Earth.
We can't change the laws of nature, but we can change our broken economy.
And that's why climate change isn't just a disaster. It's also our best chance to demand—and build—a better world.”
- Naomi Klein , writer, speaker, activist extraordinaire
Yes. And there exists a practical way to take charge of our prospects in a peaceful manner.
“The project of our time is bigger even than climate change. We need to be setting our sights higher and deeper. What we're really talking about, if we're honest with ourselves, is transforming everything about the way we live on this planet, really. We're talking about re-embedding the economy within the limits of nature, that's the project and it's a really long term one, it's transformational.”
- Rebecca Tarbotton , Rainforest Action Network leader
The Project for a New Economic Century (PNEC) has not been endorsed by RAN or Naomi Klein or any other established voice. This proposal arose in 2010 using independent, experiential and spiritual means. The project calls for well-respected progressives to gather with grassroots workers from the global south along with some honest conservatives, libertarians, renowned musicians, recognized artists, leading minds from many fields plus a whole bunch of regular folks. Together they would form three common ground committees (cgc s ) who would co-develop a brand new monetary system with a code of ethics that is owned by the public.
A people's currency that strongly invests in sensible, worthy deeds & limits or ends selfish, illogical financial activities the vast majority of us no longer desired or required.
Each committee would heed on-line voices + votes submitted globally by people using their real identity on a trustworthy & awesome website. Banks, corporations and governments are of course invited to share their beliefs about a bold plan for humanity's well-being & duty on this remarkable sphere. Representatives from these three organizations would each have a seat at the round table.
PNEC sets a stage where the opinions of a master would be of equal importance to developing money with principles as the views of a farmer, a veteran, a parent, a prostitute, an ordinary person. Facts, research, problems, solutions and possibilities would be presented to the three cgc s and shared with the masses. The unfolding of this revolutionary saga which includes celebrities from around the world would surely be carried by the net and networks. Project for a New Economic Century offers a concrete platform to reach what Rebecca strove for and countless others wish for. If acted upon PNEC could radically transform things for the better on a global level in less than ten years.
“I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they'll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.
xxx
I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.”
- Malcolm X , Nation of Islam leader
The author of Project for a New Economic Century believes in those words and highly respects much of what Malcolm X and the other surprise guest contributors of this article have to say or achieved. Messengers would certainly be listened to during the course of the project. Jesus Christ, George Carlin, Jeanne d'Arc, Abraham, Muhammad, Marley, Confucius, Gandhi, Lennon and Ken Saro-Wiwa are but a few who grace our times, bless ‘em all.
The author does realize all prophets are human and therefore bound to be wrong sometimes. Everyone except a liar is guilty of mistakes and broken promises. No one can always do right or be right; ‘tis part of our God * given nature. Yet, by working together humans can overcome blunders and achieve wonders.
“As every cell in Chile will tell
The cries of the tortured men
Remember Allende, and the days before,
Before the army came
Please remember Victor Jara,
In the Santiago Stadium,
Es verdad - those Washington Bullets again”
- The Clash , band with balls
The economic theories of Milton Friedman, Keynes, Marx, Piketty and others would be studied in the initial stages of PNEC . Every aspect of constructing a digital/physical currency system with shared values would be discussed and decided upon by a more informed population. In all likelihood the final economic model will be a combination of different schools of thought satisfying the everlasting dreams, needs and concerns of a majority. The project will most certainly look at concepts beyond the economy, money and crypto-currencies; perhaps beginning with the Seven Teachings .
“Thanks Jeff. Right now as the world darkens we have to see through national identity, race, religion and ideology and just see people who are united by what bonds us. I'm an Australian from an Anglican background who quickly adopted my immediate family's religion of atheism. Amusingly, I married an Iranian woman who was religious to a point. Unfortunately, she died in a traffic accident caused by a drunk driver. I remember we used to laugh at how prickly things got between her mother and mine because in spite of both of them coming from the opposite poles on EVERYTHING they didn't get on because they were identical. I realised then that our very survival depends on every one of us seeing what binds us rather than what divides us. We need to see ourselves in others.”
- David Wolf , Common Dreams reader + commentator
Over the years I've heard many solid philosophies delivered from barstools, warehouse floors & family get-togethers. Ideas that well-address our times in grand, simple and often humorous terms. These days one can discover a number of brilliant notions in books & internet forums. The System we have doesn't listen to the best ideas out there. The System we have shouts out what's best. The Project is about giving smart, creative, practical people a chance to be heard by much of the world and having the world answer back; making it honestly happen with a communal cash system that promotes the good and demolishes the bad. If successful PNEC would unleash the true power of democracy. God * help us all.
To establish an autonomous economic prototype crafted with equality and durability the short-term Project for a New Economic Century needs to be managed with a bit of a dictatorship. The three common ground committees would operate almost like community theatre productions. To get on board PNEC and play a prominent role in making money with morals people would go through an audition process and be approved by an ad-hoc group that wants to generate a better world. Once established each common ground committee would work with a director, a boss who guides the deliberations and decisions of the sitting committee members. Directors would not have the power to vote on the numerous elements necessary for establishing a wiser, healthier monetary system. Directors would be listeners/arrangers who may have a say in any matter or halt/reschedule a discussion for a future wrangle/poll. These weavers would have great freedom and command and be answerable to an accountable board of producers, a stage manager and the Artistic Director of the company.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing the death of both the theory and the practice of neoliberal capitalism. This is the doctrine which holds that the market can resolve almost all social, economic and political problems. It holds that people are best served, and their prosperity is best advanced, by the minimum of intervention and spending by the state. It contends that we can maximise the general social interest through the pursuit of self-interest.”
- George Monbiot fears “other people's cowardice”
Fundamentalists from all disciplines will vehemently oppose this economic evolution.
Everything from agriculture to Zionism involves money. The project is going to change what can be done with money. Project for a New Economic Century has deep respect for beliefs and behaviors that cause little or no harm to others. Monetary acts that seriously hurt others will be dealt with as humanely and intelligently as possible using financial options. Similar to what happens today only in this future the rules and consequences would be determined by the phenomenal people of our realm not the corporate shells of the past.
“This we know. The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to earth. This we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself… ”
- Chief Si'ahl of the Dkhw'Duw'Absh
First Nations people would have a prominent role to play in the Project for a New Economic Century. Aboriginals are the only minority group ( by Western standards ) who shall have guaranteed seats on each of the three common ground committees which will definitely be multicultural/sexual/spiritual/educational/financial and probably be another fellowship that's prominently Caucasian.
(Yep racist yet addresses the reality that the dominant socioeconomic system that's been destroying the biosphere is largely thanks to the exploits of white folks who thankfully also allow for many freedoms and opportunities not found everywhere in the world or anywhere in history so let's deal with it by using respectful and reasonable people from all races and places who really want to work together on a global project to heal a broken system.)
“Grandfather, Look at our brokenness. We know that in all creation only the human family has strayed from the sacred way. We know that we are the ones who are divided and we are the one who must come back together to walk in the sacred way. Grandfather, Sacred One, Teach us love, compassion and honor that we may heal the Earth and each other.”
- Art Solomon , Anishinaabe Elder
People of most faiths and understandings realize that we are screwed. We've been screwed repeatedly in the past. Judging by the look of things our children and theirs are destined to be really, really screwed. Feudalism, Communism, Capitalism, Corporatism and Fascism have screwed the living Yeehaw out of plenty. None of these invented ideologies are capable of soundly adapting to or stopping the monumental amount of loss… the transmutation now happening on the only living, breathing planet in the known universe. They will not save you and yours from bad weather or misfortune. Evidently, empathy and balance are not a big part of their manufactured natures.
Project for a New Economic Century aims to advance a truer game with a set of responsible laws and liberties. When PNEC is completed the populace of the free world will be able to continue being a part of the existing monetary & economic system (s) of their country or switch over to a fairer system; a people's currency that values life, the rarest thing in the cosmos.
(a k a) * A totally random yet completely cohesive combination of chemicals, equations, invisible forces and/or subatomic particles which somehow explains everything about Creation, Love and Shakespeare.
Mark Kirkwood Callingham is a co-parent who works for the kitchen of a homeless shelter in downtown Ottawa
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