Some ideas in development that I'm throwing out there. I'm not a scholar or expert but a public house philosopher. So here goes.... We need radical change so.... I've been keeping them to myself for some time and thought I'd share them now with the hope of getting help, advice and feedback. Please get involved!
I'm a dreamer, (and a synic). What can you do?
Capped Capitalism
OK. So I'm talking about changing the whole global economic model. Putting a cap on It gives those people who love money competition and having the goal of having more, - you can have a yacht if you work hard / get lucky / the heir... etc, but with limited resources, 7 billion of us on the planet and growing unrest*, there's a need to find a way to share what we have more fairly. So I'm proposing an asset and earnings ceiling. Say £2,000,000. You're reading this and thinking "there aint no way some people are giving up their 4 houses and grand a week cigar habit without a fight". I think so too. But the alternatives are hard thougts to swallow. It means if you want to build a skyscraper, you can, but you have to get 10,000 other people on board with you, buying into your idea.
Capped Capitalism is a kind of balance between global capitalism and socialism. Would be good for the environment and national security I think too.
For a better grasp of the resourses situation watch Chris Martenson's presentation here.
A website will be coming with more info.
*as far as I can tell the unrest is mainly due to the wealth divide, investment in education and a valid frustration at not being heard.
I was inspired when I visited a garden where there were no walls between neighbours. They each had a small plot outside their back door but the rest was given over too loads of space for their children to play and meet each other safely off the street. There was a tennis court, vegetable gardens and huge trees.
Think of the average British garden. A patiod or grassy walled in box where you can barely do anything. It's all 'yours' but...
DownWalls isn't yet live as a website but when it is may demonstrate and inspire a challenge to a community somewhere.
A project started by myself and Joe Hudson. A set of web tools that could effectively aid the sustainability and peace movement in a massive way.
We are amazed these tools don't already exist as we envision them & invite you to see for yourself and concider supporting the project.
There are many ways you can help!
www.pepol.cc
A pick of some other people's projects already out there. If you want to DO something - pick one and DO.
AVAAZ
If you haven't lready sign up to Avaaz and add your name to their campaigns!
Avaaz is an amazingly effective global web movement with a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have, and the world most people everywhere want.
Across the world, most people want stronger protections for the environment, greater respect for human rights, and concerted efforts to end poverty, corruption and war. Yet globalization faces a huge democratic deficit as international decisions are shaped by political elites and unaccountable corporations -- not the views and values of the world’s people.
The UN billion tree campaign
Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, organizations, business and industry, civil society and governments are being encouraged to plant trees and enter their tree planting pledges on this web site. The objective is to plant at least one billion trees worldwide each year.
Write to your MP made easy. Go for it.
Tell then you want it cleaned, green and more fun! Or what ever.
An international campaign dedicated to building a movement uniting the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that justice demand.
If you have any good suggestions or want to help or comment on the above projects please get in touch!