After Capitalism

Advanced Prout training in Portugal

2011-11-08T05:27:00.000Z

An intensive Prout training course took place in Sintra, Portugal from October 28 to November 1, 2001. More than 45 Margiis from Portugal and Spain attended the four-day program which included an in depth analysis of the five fundamental principles of Prout, a review of the global economic crisis and the euro debacle, and two-days of small group planning. The three groups braistormed: 1) how to educate people about Prout, 2) how to create popular campaigns for the masses with immediate demands, and 3) how to develop practical models of Prout through master units, cooperatives and block-level planning. The PROUTugal Movement presented their successful campaigns during the previous six months and planned exactly what and how they would continue these initiatives during the next year. See www.proutugal.org

Listen to and Read Venezuela Prout Conference Presentations

2011-08-25T21:29:00.000Z

Dear friends, Namaskar.

We at the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela are just completing 2 months of tedious work to package the presentations made at the recent conference, “Building a Solidarity Economy based on Ethics and Ecology” we organized in Caracas in July 2011. We have:
1. Put all the audio recordings on www.youmicro.com
2. Transcribed all the 21 presentations and the question and answer sessions for each of the five panels, and uploaded them on our Spanish web page: www.priven.org.
3. Translated to English all the 21 presentations and five question and answer sessions and uploaded them on our English web page: www.priven.org.
4. We have nearly finished audio recording all the English translations and posting them on www.youmicro.com

THE GOALS OF THE CONFERENCE:
1. To popularize cooperatives, ecology and ethics.
2. To unite some of the best experts on cooperatives, ecology and ethics from Venezuela and other countries.
3. To share their presentations and ideas with the widest possible audience.
4. To share and explain what is the Prout model, which is based on cooperatives, ecology and ethics, and highlight its projects in Venezuela.

Personally, I find a profound depth of ideas and experiences in these talks about the solidarity eEconomy, ecology, community health, indigenous rights, cooperatives, women’s rights, and spiritual wisdom.

Today I am especially happy because the very popular and progressive web site, www.venezuelanalysis.com, posted the talk by Elvy Monzant about cooperatives. Their hardworking staff wrote, "We plan to review the other translations and post in the coming days/weeks."

Whereas about 400 people came to the conference at some point over the three days, many more around the world are now listening to it and reading about it.

In the struggle for Peace and Justice,
Dada Maheshvarananda

Global Prout Conference poster

2011-06-10T21:06:00.001Z

Amazing speakers at Prout Conference in Caracas July 7-9 2011

2011-05-26T11:53:00.005Z

"Building a Solidarity Economy based on Ethics and Ecology"

Confirmed speakers:
Nora Castañeda, president of Banmujer, the Women's Bank
Claudio Nascimento,(Brazil) Historian, activist, popular educator, author of several essays on self-management and the Solidarity Economy. Cabinet member of President Lula da Silva, member of the National Secretariat for Solidarity Economy of President Dilma Rousseff: "The Solidarity Economy and Self-Management: Principle of People's Power."
Luis Delgado Bello, former National Superintendent of Cooperatives and former project director of UNDP and ILO: “Diagnosis and Perspectives of the Social and Solidarity Economy of Venezuela: Where are we and where are we going?”
Frank Bracho, former Ambassador of Venezuela in India, ecologist and author: "Environment, Health and Happiness."
Prof. Carlos Molina Camacho, former National Superintendent of Cooperatives and Savings Banks, professor of cooperative law at UCV: "Simón Bolívar and Cooperativism."
Camila Piñeiro Harnecker: (Chile-Cuba) researcher and professor at the Center of Studies on the Cuban Economy, University of Havana: "Potentials and Risks of Cooperatives in Socialist Construction."
Lizeth Vargas and Dario Gonzalez, CECOSESOLA - Lara State Central Cooperative: “Building Here and Now the World that We Want.”
Dr. Benito Diaz, Editor of CAYAPA (Venezuelan Journal of Social Economy), Venezuela Board of CIRIEC, Professor at the Universidad de Los Andes - Trujillo: "Innovation in Organizations of the Social Economy."
Leopoldo Cook, former telecommunications chief of PDVSA, author and columnist: "The Awakening of Consciousness: Prout and Socialism, Face-to-face."
Adalberto Barreto, (Brazil) psychiatrist, anthropologist, theologian: "Community Therapy: Social Solidarity Networks for Life."
Jody Wright (Acharya Devanistha) (USA), Prout activist for 35 years, studied under P.R. Sarkar: "Sadvipra: Prout's vision of enlightened leaders."
Víctor "Vyasa" Landa, (Peru) founder of the School of Life, Shanti Yoga Center for Harmony in Bethesda, Maryland, USA: "Aparigraha: A New Economic Paradigm for a Culture of Peace."
Chelo Nogueira, architect, founder of the Turtle Foundation: “Objective Earth.”
Juan Sarmiento, psychologist, lecturer, business consultant, founder of the Will of Excellence Foundation: "The Importance of Ethics in Social Transformation."
Manuel Barroso, author of 10 books, business consultant in planning and strategic management and transformation of organizational cultures and change processes.
Simón Rondón, Coordinator of the ecological movement "Bolívar en Martí": “The Struggle Against Pesticides and the Construction of the Experimental Ecovillage Augusto Cesar Sandino.”
Dada Jinanananda, (Congo-Brazil) Yoga monk: "Spirituality and Social Change."
Didi Ananda Sadhana, (Netherlands-Venezuela) Director, Centro Madre, Barlovento, Venezuela: “The Importance of Cultural Identity to Empower People: The Example of Barlovento.”
Belkys Urbina, Ecologist, Masters in Tecnology Management and Risk Control, and Masters in Industrial Maintenance: “The Planet and Consciousness.”
Sandra Castillo Castro Delegada UCV to the Organization of American States, and member of the Economic Advisory Committee of AnimaNaturalis Internacional, and Luís Verdú Brito president of the Student Center of Economic Faculty of UCV: “Economic Tendencies Towards the Ethical Treatment of Animals.”
Roy Madron, (UK-Brazil) Resarcher, business consultant, Coauthor of Gaian Democracies: Redefining Globalisation and People-Power: “Can Latin America Save the World?”
Maya Shita, General Coordinator of the Warao Tribe, leader of the El Moriche indigenous community: "Living Together in One Single World."

Bringing Prout to the people in Venezuela

2011-05-12T01:38:00.000Z

Something very different is planned for the Global Prout Convention in Venezuela this July. Baba indicated that our duty is to inform the world about Prout, so that is the goal of this program.

First we are organizing a free public conference July 7, 8 and 9 in a major auditorium in the center of Caracas that seats 650 people. The title is "Building a Solidarity Economy based on Ethics and Ecology," so the focus will be cooperative enterprises, environmental protection and moral leadership. Each morning we host panels with prominent speakers on these different themes. Simultaneous workshops will take place each afternoon with music and theater performances. Approximately 20 speakers are confirmed, and though several are very sympathetic to our cause, we still need a few more good speakers to explain different aspects of Prout.

Unfortunately Venezuela is polarized between supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chávez, and the lack of dialog between the two groups is a tragic loss in the public debate. The opposition generally refuses to accept the positive social achievements of the Bolivarian Revolution, while chavistas generally refuse to admit the seriousness of problems such as corruption and crime. Our conference is not about this political argument, rather it aims to be constructive and positive, so we include speakers of both persuasions.

In the lead-up to the conference, we are also doing a publicity campaign throughout Caracas and some other cities. Prout posters, leaflets, bumper stickers, shopping bags and T-shirts are designed to raise awareness among the public. Interviews with conference speakers that will appear on radio, TV and in newspapers are designed to build momentum and share ideas about Prout.

The day after the public conference, Sunday July 10, is a free day for sightseeing and collective meditation in the botanical garden that Baba visited in 1979.

Then on July 11, 12 and 13 we host an intensive Prout seminar in the Prout Research Institute office for approximately 100 Proutists from Venezuela and overseas. The focus is how to create organizational networks, design appropriate Prout materials and do publicity campaigns in each city and country so that our support base grows. Our aim is practical capacity building and sharing to bring Prout's message to the world.

On July 14 we will visit the successful Master Unit, Centro Madre, and on July 15 the most successful cooperative network in the country.

When Baba visited Venezuela, he said “Prout will be accepted like hotcakes in Latin America.” We are trying to make that happen. We hope you can come.

For further information about the conference, visit: www.priven.org. For those willing to help as volunteers during the conference, we offer a big discount in the price.

The HERMIT!

2011-02-09T00:11:00.000Z

At the end of November I began intensively rewriting my earlier book, After Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World. Since then, I've been a recluse, sitting in front of my computer every day researching, writing and coordinating the translation into Spanish. About 70 percent of the text is new, and the total will be about 30 percent longer than the original. It is both inspiring and tedious. I am graced with a number of wonderful friends who are helping me proofread it and offering both ideas and copy editing. I hope to finish in another month (but I've been saying that since the beginning of December!). However there is not a more beautiful place on earth than the Quinta Prout in Caracas, Venezuela, and working in the vegetable garden is good therapy for me. If anyone is willing to assist me by reading a chapter or two, please send me a personal message.

First Global Prout Conference in Venezuela

2010-12-10T15:12:00.002Z

You are cordially invited to attend the First Global Prout Conference to be held in Venezuela. The first three days, July 7-9, 2011, will be a public conference in a Caracas auditorium: “Building a Solidarity Economy Based on Ethics and Ecology”. There will be two panel discussions each morning, and simultaneous workshops each afternoon. More than 50 progressive leaders, writers and activists will dialogue about how to practically build a local cooperative-based economy that is democratic, protective of the environment, and that offers a higher quality of life to everyone. Several hundred participants and media journalists are expected.

Sunday, July 10, will be “free day” of sightseeing and collective meditation in the Botanical Gardens which Baba visited in 1979. Then on July 11-13 will be an Intensive Prout Strategy Session in the Prout Research Institute for more than 100 active Proutists. Using “Open Space Technology”, we will focus on what impassions us about Prout and how to coordinate our efforts around the world for the greatest impact. Finally, on July 14 will be a visit to Centro Madre Master Unit, and on July 15-16 visits to very successful Venezuelan cooperatives and other social projects.

The cost for the conference, vegetarian food and simple dormitory-style accommodations in the Prout house or Ananda Marga kindergarten or jagrti will be as follows:

Economically developed countries: Pre-registration prior to May 15: US$30/day. Registration after May 15: US$35/day
Latin America, Africa, India, etc.: Pre-registration prior to May 15: US$20/day. Registration after May 15: US$25/day

Children up to 11 are free, 12-17 are half price. Online registration form will be available soon at: www.priven.org
Further information about climate, what to bring, and orientation aboutVenezuela are available there, too.

CALL FOR PAPERS

We would like to invite papers to be presented at the public conference, “Building a Solidarity Economy Based on Ethics and Ecology.” We accept papers on the following subjects: Prout, solidarity economy, cooperatives, ecology and ethics, ideally with a focus on Venezuela or Latin America. At least a one-page summary of your paper or presentation must reach the above email by May 15 to be considered for inclusion.

The author of each presentation that is accepted will have just 15 minutes to present it in summary to the entire plenary in a panel, plus a little time to respond to questions. We hope to publish the proceedings after the event, in which we can include full-length articles.

We also solicit proposals to lead 90-minute interactive workshops in the afternoons on the same themes. Five or more workshops will be held simultaneously in different rooms during each time slot, so participants will voluntarily choose which workshop to attend.

Even if you cannot attend the conference, you are invited to submit articles, videos or other presentations for consideration.

THE PROGRESSIVE UTILIZATION THEORY (PROUT): ALTERNATIVE ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL MODEL FOR THE WELFARE OF ALL

2010-03-28T22:07:00.004Z

by Dada Maheshvarananda and Mariah Branch

ABSTRACT

To envision our future, it is vitally important to ask: what kind of world do we want? Prout (the Progressive Utilization Theory) is a socioeconomic alternative model that promotes the welfare and development of every person, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This article provides a brief introduction to some of the economic and social concepts of Prout, including guaranteeing minimum necessities to all, the right to jobs, a three-tiered economy, including small-scale private enterprises, cooperatives, and large-scale publicly owned key industries, food sovereignty, sustainable agriculture, proper utilization of natural and human resources, and economic democracy. Prout promotes an ecological and spiritual perspective that is universal and nondogmatic. Prout's holistic model provides an overarching framework to effectively measure and compare policies for the greater good of all people, as well as the planet.

To download the full article (pdf file): http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/123324135/PDFSTART

BLAME IT ON THE PRESIDENT?

2010-03-08T01:25:00.005Z

[published in Correo del Orinoco English Edition, Nº 1, Friday, March 5, 2010]

The United States government advises opposition groups in countries with inconvenient governments that the best strategy to achieve "regime change" is to blame all problems in the country on the head of state. This personalizes everything, even very old, chronic problems such as inefficient bureaucracy, police corruption, pollution and poor garbage collection. By avoiding all the complexities of a very sophisticated modern society and economy, this simplistic, repeated finger-pointing gradually convinces some people that in fact all the problems in Venezuela must be because of President Hugo Chávez. Luckily they do not have to prove whether, in fact, all problems will be solved by a change in the presidency.

Such a tactic reaches absurd levels in the case of the current crisis currently affecting the country: a severe drought! The National Meteorological Institute of Venezuela (INAMEH) has evidenced that Venezuela is now experiencing the worst drought in 40 years due to lack of rainfall caused by the weather phenomenon El Niño. Not only does this impact agriculture and water consumption, but also energy production, because since the 1960s, government policy has been to reduce as much as possible the use of fossil fuels to allow the maximum export and sale of petroleum.

The main source of power in the country is hydroelectric, concentrated in four dams on the Caroní River in Guayana Region that generate 73 percent of the electricity of the country. The largest of these is the Gurí Dam with 10,200 MW of installed capacity, making it the third-largest hydroelectric plant in the world. Because the water level at Gurí and all the other reservoirs is dangerously low, only a fraction of this potential is being produced and the country is undergoing a severe shortfall of electricity.

According to official estimates from the Venezuelan Systems Operation Agency (OPSIS), the current level of water was 255.61 meters above sea level on February 21, 2010, only 15.61 meters above the point of system collapse at 240 meters when no more electricity can be produced. Every day the water level falls between nine and 11 centimeters. Without significant rainfall, this could take place in late June.

Venezuela has the highest energy consumption per capita of any country in Latin America. Its consumption is 40 percent higher than Argentina and more than double that of Brazil, according to the World Resources Institute for the year 2005.

Interestingly, the board of directors of the newly nationalized Edelca, the largest hydroelectric company in the the country, recently published a request to its workers to ask for God's help, which stated, “This Friday 12th of February, between 3 pm. and 4 pm., cry out to God for the national electricity sector.”

Despite the clear evidence of the causes of the energy crisis, countless editorials about electricity and water shortages in the Venezuelan private press continue to blame the President. For example, in an editorial by Nitu Pérez Osuna's editorial in the national daily El Universal on Feb. 17, titled, "Is there, or is there not an electrical crisis?", she claimed, "There is drought in all of the Americas, but only Cuba and Venezuela have rationing. How backwards!" And on January 17, an editorial in the same newspaper by opposition journalist Marta Colomina carried the title, "El Niño and Gurí are innocent, Chávez is guilty".

What the editorials do not mention is that a very similar crisis affected Brazil from 2001 to 2002. Reservoir levels fell so low that electricity could not be guaranteed for more than four months. The president at that time, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, was a conservative who supported the Washington Consensus. To avoid widespread blackouts, the government implemented compulsory rationing and blackouts and applied a quota system for every residential, industrial, and commercial consumer based on historical and target consumption level. Bonuses were paid to those who significantly reduced their monthly consumption, and stiff fines were leveled for those who over-consumed.["Implementing Power Rationing in a Sensible Way: Lessons Learned and International Best Practices", Joint UNDP / World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP) Report 305/05, August 2005] But in that case, when a right-wing president implemented many of the same measures the left-wing Venezuelan government is now considering, no one blamed the government for the crisis.

Brazil's goal of reducing national consumption of electricity by at least 20 percent for an eight-month period was successfully achieved, allowing for the crisis to be overcome. Yet every Brazilian remembers that time. Faced with dramatic increases in their utility bills, people bought compact fluorescent lamps to replace their traditional incandescent light bulbs, reducing 80 percent of energy consumption. Unfortunately Brazil did not have Mission“Energy Revolution,” like Venezuela, that has substituted more than 120 million lightbulbs in Venezuela since 2006, resulting in mass energy conservation nationwide. Brazilians unplugged their air conditioners, and at night their refrigerators. Yes, they complained a lot. But they didn't blame the drought and the low water reserves on the president.

Reimagining Society Project

2009-09-06T02:29:00.005Z

Last Sunday I spent a wonderful afternoon with my friend Greg Wilpert (head of the Venezuela Analysis web page) and Michael Albert (founder of Znet). They were finishing a frustrating week waiting for an interview with President Chavez that never happened. But during our two-hour conversation in their hotel lobey, Michael invited me to contribute an essay to his REIMAGINING SOCIETY PROJECT. I believe you will recognize some of the names of the other participants at http://www.zcommunications.org/resoc/participants

Actually very few people are discussing positive alternatives to global capitalism. I submitted an essay called "A New Social Paradigm Based On Spiritual Values" which you can see at: http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/22509

Two other Proutists now have essays up on this project: Michael Towsey's "The Science and Ethics of Cooperation" is at http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/22528 and Sohail Inayatullah's "P.R. Sarkar's Vision Of The Future" at http://www.zmag.org/znet/viewArticle/22516

Volunteers at Andanças Festival, Portugal

2009-09-04T21:23:00.002Z

Andanças 2009 - Restaurante Microvita from Ananda Marga Portugal on Vimeo.

At the beginning of August I spent a week doing volunteer work at the Andanças folk dance festival in Portugal. I believe this slide show of photos demonstrates how professional was the project, how inspired the team was and how happy the customers were with our food and service.

I felt the organization was superb. The design and construction of the kitchen and serving area was very efficient, and the teamwork, led by the leaders, worked very well. They fed tasty nutritious food to about 3,000 people each day -- that's a lot of food! And a sign at the front explained that everyone working there was a volunteer, contributing their time and hard work to benefit social service projects around the world. Of course we can always improve, and the success is in large part due to the contribution of everyone in trying to find better ways to serve.

I had a fairly minor role, teaching yoga and meditation class each afternoon to over 100 participants and helping in the bookstall, where we sold 1000 euros of books,

Finally I would like to express to everyone that it was a privilege and an honor to serve together with the talented and dedicated team of Ananda Marga volunteers at Andanças 2009.

Report from the 2009 PROUT Global Convention in Denmark

2009-07-30T07:04:00.003Z

This Global Prout Convention, held July 20-27 2009, was commemorative of the 50th anniversary of P.R. Sarkar's first introduction of Prout. From 27 countries and every continent, 240 participants came (including 42 Wholetimers). Attendees came from as far away as Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Australia, New Zealand, and large contingents came from Portugal and Syria. The proceedings can now be downloaded from http://www.proutworld.org/proceedings/

Planning this event began nearly a year before. Ole Brekke (Vishvashanti) and his family led other Danish Proutists in organizing the infrastructure. He sent more than 200 individual sponsor letters to help participants from economically undeveloped countries get visas to attend.

The venue was beautiful Ananda Gaorii Master Unit in the countryside, one hour from Copenhagen, with lawns and gardens, apple trees and wild cherries. Dada Ambareshvarananda coordinated renovations which were done by Dada Rudranath, Pavan, Ashutosh (Brazil), Pam'kaj (Australia) and Dominic (Poland). Improvements to the kitchen, dining and accommodation facilities, painting, remodeling and cleaning went on for months, transforming the site so it can host large events.

In the lead-up, there was widespread speculation as to the value and even the legitimacy of the convention, which generated a heightened sense of anticipation and exceedingly high attendance.

Travelers who had to stay overnight in Copenhagen also enjoyed a greatly enhanced Global Prout Office, which is almost unrecognizable after renovations supervised by Kamal. Designated cars made many dozens of trips to the local train station to provide free pickups and drop-offs throughout the convention. On arrival, each person received a 40-page souvenir booklet with Prout Action News, thought-provoking strategy articles, workshop topics and job openings in Prout projects.

In keeping with Prout's emphasis on cooperatives, all participants volunteered to join working co-ops that managed different operations of the convention including program, child care, meal preparation, cleaning, etc. The system worked exceedingly well and helped to make everyone feel that they were directly contributing to the success of the program. Despite the pressure of numbers – more than double the expected attendance – the cooperatives were able to make everyone feel alright.

Dada Krtashivananda gave one of the opening speeches as well as an inspiring workshop on spirituality. He reminded everyone of the great legacy of Dada Tadbhavananda who built Ananda Gaorii Master Unit. Dada Vandanananda gave the news of India along with Prout activist representatives from the Vidharba, Utkal and Koushal samajas. Informative presentations were given by the staff of the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela, Gurukula University, Prout College and the successful Prout cooperative café of Iceland. Community development work based on Prout was highlighted in Maharlika (Philippines), Ghana and Haiti. Jaya from Denmark explained about the plight of marginalized workers.

Proutists from all groups and affiliations were present, both young and old. The diversity of participants from throughout Europe and the world and the process of meeting old friends and making new ones created a wonderful family feeling. Blissful kiirtan and deep meditation balanced the burning desire to change the world with the need to be spiritually centered and calm.

Whereas previous Prout conventions usually focused on lectures and classes, this program was generated from the bottom up. “Open Space Technology” allowed everyone to first express their personal interests, and then form groups to discuss how to practically promote Prout to the public. For example, how to present Prout to Western secular audiences, how to utilize social networking tools for this (blogs, wikis, twitter, etc.), how to design exciting Prout training courses, how to use the tremendous opportunity of the global financial crisis, country-wide strategies, Samaj and block level planning, frequently asked questions, Prout in the arts and education, effective websites, and much more. A dozen specific email lists were set up so that groups can continue their efforts and monitor developments from home. Most participants made personal commitments.

Some of the workshops included Ideation, Public Speaking by Dada Pranakrsnananda, Block Level Planning by Ravi, Use of Art in Social Change by Vishvashanti and Jaya, Personal Development by Dada Lokeshananda and Prout's Policy on Drug Abuse by Omkarnath.

The cultural programs each night were amazing, with professional artists like Phil Marriott, Dada Nabhaniilananda and Sukhadev, Vasudeva, Dada Vedaprajinananda, Malinii and Susmita and Didi Ananda Ragamaya. There were also more informal presentations, with songs in different languages.

In the global strategy workshop, we collectively chose to focus this year on the following goals:

1.Modernize Prout website with activist corner to attract young people.
2.Reactivate the Global Times magazine in electronic version.
3.Create exciting Prout training courses in order to create many more Prout activists.
4.Define simple Prout slogans for the public in different languages.
5.Create a powerful Prout response to the global financial crisis.
6.Develop and implement strategies for generating income for Prout.
7.Develop and implement an internal global Prout communication strategy: newsletter, email list, and collecting and spreading good news of Prout activities.
8.Create a system to follow-up all the targets and resolutions made here.
9.Hold yearly Prout conventions here in Ananda Gaorii Master Unit, Denmark. The next one is scheduled for July 20-25, 2010. The next Global Prout Convention is scheduled for Venezuela in early 2011.
10.Further improve our facilities and accommodations here so that even Proutists blissfully enjoy this wonderful place. Please return and bring your friends.

Please contact us if you would like to help with any of these projects. The heart of the convention, all the proceedings, resolutions and valuable resources, will be available within a few days at www.proutworld.org/convention09.

To improve future events, the organizing committee invited feedback through an evaluation questionnaire. 80% of respondents said the spirit of the convention was excellent. Critique included: need to further venue upgrade to overcome the stresses of so many people living together and to reduce meal preparation time; improve communication about program details and changes; too many good workshops and programs running simultaneously. (Organizers are confident most critique received can be acted upon for next year - apart from reducing the number of good program choices!)

In the closing ceremony, two slogans won a popular vote of approval:
“Exploiters look out,
here comes Prout!”

“Without a doubt,
it's time for Prout!”

No convention or conference can change the world. However the dynamism, synergy and inspiration made every participant feel empowered with new ideas and effective tools to make Prout a reality in their local place, as part of a global movement. Together, nothing is impossible.

Global Prout Convention in Copenhagen

2009-04-28T02:41:00.001Z

"Revolution, Local Economy and Spirituality" Social Forum Plenary Speech

2009-04-16T05:45:00.005Z

I spoke at the Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum Keynote Panal on March 28th, 2009, in the White Plains High School near New York City. It was a magical moment with organizer Nada Khader, executive director of WESPAC Foundation, the leading force in Westchester County for peace and justice work for over three decades. The first two speakers were Freida Jacques of the Onondaga Nation and Monica Walker, Diversity Officer for Guilford County Schools, North Carolina and CORE trainer with The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond spoke on institutionalized racism.

The transcript of my talk:

I grew up in this country, and when I went to college I had a poster on my wall. Che Guevarra, the great revolutionary, said, "At the risk of sounding ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by feelings of love." I thought, that's what I want to be. I want to be a revolutionary guided by love.

Thirty-five years ago I learned yoga and meditation as a hobby. You know, reduce stress. It transformed my life. I didn't think I could feel so much strength and so much energy and so much passion and so much compassion. It inspired me to dedicate my life to humanity, and that's what this color orange that I wear means, that my life is dedicated to humanity. Many people confuse me with my twin brother from the Congo, Dada Gunamaya, who is also a monk and also dedicated to humanity. You'll notice the resemblance [laughter].

We try to teach revolution. We live in very interesting times right now. Starting about one year ago, there's an economic meltdown, that hasn't stopped. Every two months more than a million North Americans are losing their jobs. Trillions and trillions of dollars of "wealth" are disappearing every day. Financial institutions that are "too big to fail" are requesting the government to suddenly save them. But the government's not saving small business people, or small farmers or small houseowners, they're saving the big banks.

Always the most boring part of the news has been the business news. They like it that way. They don't want you to care about the economics, they use esoteric language so you can't understand what's going on. But it affects every single one of us every day. So they're saying, a little help and it'll be business as usual.

We say no. We're not interested in business as usual. We're not interested in oppression as usual or exploitation as usual, repression as usual. No thank you. We want a fundamental transformation of our world, which is usally called revolution.

What kind of world do we want? I was in Brazil for the first, second and third world social forums. A phenomenal experience. Twenty thousand the first time, seventy thousand people the second time, over a hundred thousand the third and fourth and fifth times. I was in Caracas for th sixth one, and I've been in social forums in Finland and UK and all over the world. And every one of them have the same theme: another world is possible. Well that shared dream, that we can have a better world than we have today, we can give a better world to our kids than this horrible mess that we've got today, gives us a question as well. What kind of world do we want?

You have the right to ask us questions, I also have the right to ask you questions. So what kind of world do you want? Can I hear some responses please?

Without toxins...
Conflict-free...
Equality...
Peace-makers...
Communities...
Sharing of cultures...
Tolerance...
Human rights are guaranteed...
Multiple distribution of wealth, wealth for everybody...
Without exploitation, slavery, racism, sexism...
Where jobs are not outsourced, where everybody who wants a job has a job, a basic human right...
Where you can vote for your boss, choose your boss or be your own boss...
Human needs are primary...
Tolerance and respect...
Housing for everyone...
Stop people from teaching hatred, teach love to everybody...
Time's up, sorry.

I give talks like this in six continents of the world. Always the responses in Poland and Philippines and India and China are always the same. People want a world without injustice, poverty, hunger, sharing the world, with environmental protection for everybody. This is a basic human right. It's such a simple thing when we have the technology. You know to give everyone a house, an education, food, clothing and medical care who doesn't have it would be really expensive. It would cost about 15 percent of the annual budget for arms and military in the world. This is not rocket technology we're talking about to give everybody a house, a place to sleep at night. We can do that. The basic fundamental right that everybody needs is food, clothing, shelter, education and medical care.

So what would a local economy instead of a global economy look like? Instead of outsourcing everything, you make cooperatives. Cooperatives are are cooperatively owned. Make every region as self-reliant as possible.

Prout stands for the Progressive Utilization Theory. It's a model, it's principles that can be applied holistically by any people who like them. It's not anything to be imposed on anybody. But we desperately need alternatives. Noam Chomsky wrote the preface for my book, "After Capitalism", and he said that "Prout's cooperative model... sharing the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone, deserves our serious consideration."

I think from kindergarten to post-graduate, in schools at every level, kids should be asked, "What kind of world do you want?" It's such a basic question, to question the world we have and to question the world we want.

I also teach yoga and meditation because I believe that through meditation, peace of mind, silence can be attained. Meditation is in every culture of the world, it doesn't cost anything to try it. You can find that inner strength, that inner peace, you can find the spiritual base that is fundamental to all of us here. We are one human family. Everybody is brothers and sisters here. We have to save the plants and animals, who are also our brothers and sisters on this planet. And we have to build a better world. We can do it, it's absolutely necessary.

One small example, in Illinois, Chuck Paprocki has three acres of land and is providing fruits and vegetables to 100 families. He's part of a task force set up a year ago to try to help family farms. But during the last year suddenly this task force, "Local Food, Farms and Jobs" (www.foodfarmsjobs.org) created a report that was published three weeks ago. It states that in the state of Illinois, $45 billion was spent on food every year, and 98 percent of that was purchasing food from out of state. Environmentally this is a disaster, food is traveling 1,500 miles on average to get to your plate. They said, if we just gave 20 percent of all the food that our schools and hospitals serve every day to locally-grown food, it would create thousands of jobs in the state, it would keep money in the state, it would make much more healthy and nutritious food for everybody. I think every state should follow this example, and now it's passing the legislation there, where Democrats and Republicans both approve it.

I think everyone should follow the example of the Obama family: plant an organic vegetable garden in your backyard or on your rooftop or on your window sill. Everybody should do that. What a wonderful example. And we can live in a more holistic, in a better and healthier way, creating in effect a true human society for the first time in history. What an incredible, beautiful world that would be.

I would like to conclude by saying that one teaching of yoga and meditation is that every one of you has a potential, physical, mental and spiritual much more than you can possibly imagine. Become that potential. Become that pioneer. Let us work together, today and for the rest of our lives, to build a better world. To make a world for our children, for humanity, for everyone. Thank you very much.

Sea Change Radio interview

2009-03-11T13:55:00.003Z

By following this link you can hear an interview with me on the excellent Sea Change Radio program about Prout: http://www.cchange.net/2009/01/28/after-capitalism-prout-as-a-sustainable-democratic-economic-model/

3-week tour of NE USA

2009-03-07T19:57:00.005Z

My cell phone in USA (from March 15-April 7): (646) 812-7447

14-17 March, New York City (contact 1-718-898-1603)

19-21 March, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Forum on the Solidarity Economy, "Building Another World" www.populareconomics.org/ussen/?q=node/99 (contact: 1-413-585-0763). I am giving workshops on "Another Life is Possible: Cooperatives in Venezuela and PROUT Economics" Fri, 3-4:30pm and "BioPsychology of Cooperation", Sat. 1-2:30pm,

22 March, Rockville, MD 10:00am – 12:30pm – "Establishing PROUT on the Planet" workshop, AM Center, 2505 Lindley Terrace, Rockville, MD 20850, www.proutaction.org (Contact 571-232-5470) Prout Direct Action Network www.proutaction.org

23 - 24 March: Blacksburg, VA (contact 1-540-552-6910)

25 March, Asheville, NC, Prama Institute, 310 Panhandle Road, Marshall, NC 28753, (828) 649-9408 www.pramainstitute.org

26 March, Blacksburg, VA (contact 1-540-552-6910)

27-28 March, White Plains, NY Lower Hudson Valley Social Forum http://lhvsocialforum.org/ Panel speaker on "The Way Forward: Indigenous Wisdom, Racial Justice and an Alternative Economic Model" at 9:30am, and workshops "Solidarity economy and the worker cooperative movement in Venezuela" in the afternoon (contact 914-843-0874)

29-31 March, Boothbay Harbor, Maine (contact: 207-633-1042)

1-2 April Warren, Vermont (contact: 802-583-2204)

3 April travel

4 April Durham, NC (contact: 919-382-9483)

5 April Raleigh, NC, Cooperative Games workshop 1-3:30pm, Unity Church of the Triangle, 118 S. Person St., Raleigh, NC 27601, (919)832-8324 www.unitytriangle.org.

6 April Human Kindness Foundation Prison-Ashram Project, (contact: 919-383-5160)

7 April New York City (contact 1-718-898-1603)

8 April fly back to Caracas, Venezuela

The Economy of China: "The Socialist Syndicate"

2009-03-07T18:38:00.003Z

The Economy of the People’s Republic of China: “The Socialist Syndicate”

By Dr. Szu-chien Hsu (“Cidatma”), Ph.D., University of Columbia, New York. Assistant Research Fellow
at the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica (IPSAS), Taiwan. Areas of Specialization:
Comparative politics, international relations
, People's Republic of China. (Complete CV: http://www.ipsas.sinica.edu.tw/image/users/17/2.pdf

as told to Dada Maheshvarananda

The Communist Party state is the nucleus and the coordinator of the economy. The Party leaders have a very strong political will. They believe in nationalism, Communism, historical materialism and material power. These are the only powers they trust. Collectively they say they want to develop "general national power". However having many faces or “soft power”, a cultural image which they promote, is only a phase of material power.

The Party is very centralized, yet because the country is so vast and the population of over 1.3 billion people, some parts of the machine are out of control. The brain does not always know what the fingers are doing. This is a chronic problem, an internal dilemma. It is also a problem of quality, because agriculture and industry are produced by local, revenue-seeking enterprises.

There are presently 42 billionaires in China, according to Forbes Magazine, each one with an estimated wealth of from 1 to 7.4 billion dollars. There is tremendous energy in the economy, the world's fourth largest with a 6-fold increase of gross domestic product since 1978. The economy functions almost like a decentralized multinational corporation, or a “socialist syndicate”. Yet the Chinese capitalists have developed in a significantly different environment than have other capitalists.

During the last two years there was debate within the Communist Party asking how the very rich people got their wealth, from where did they get their “first barrel of gold”. The investigation revealed that in every case the origin of their wealth came from the Party.

Two years after the death of Mao Zedung in 1976, Premier Deng Xiaoping convinced the Party leaders to initiate market-oriented reforms in the economy. When everyone was poor, no one was motivated to work hard. So the Party leaders decided to allow some people to get rich while still maintaining rigid political control. Once a few got rich, their wealth quickly accumulated, creating a socialist market economy. The economy has fluctuating prices, but is socialist controlled. Their wealth originated from three waves of “rent-seeking”, meaning those with power have access to various resources and can charge rent for them.

The first wave of rent-seeking was the “double price track”. All businesses were originally state-owned, and each used to produce certain items. For example, a state-owned company produced watches. The Party set their production quota at say 100,000 per year, and allocated them coal, steel and other raw materials they needed to produce this. Because prices were fixed, the company paid very low prices for those raw materials. When economic reforms were implemented, the company was informed that as long as they continue produce to produce 100,000 watches per year, they could do whatever they wanted to become more efficient.

First the company manager asked to produce more watches, in order to get more raw materials. The extra raw materials he then sold on the open market for a much higher price. So the company earned enormous profits by the difference between the state-controlled prices and the fluctuating market prices for raw materials.

State-owned enterprises also no longer had to produce their quotas themselves. Instead they could go to the countryside, where 800 million people live and labor is very cheap, and contract others to produce for them. There is a large wealth disparity between the coastal regions and the remainder of the country. Many civilian companies started competing for these contracts. With the free market and free prices businesses, became more efficient, and production prices fell.

The second wave of rent-seeking was in the privatization of inefficient state-owned companies. Who did the Party sell them to? In many cases, they were sold to the managers themselves!

First the manager would ask or bribe the local government inspectors to under value it. Then they went to the local government-owned bank and applied for a business loan to expand. Then the manager would buy the under-valued company from the government with the loan money, so without spending any money, it became the manager’s. After that they were free to fire workers, making the company more efficient and profitable. They also bargained with local government officials how much taxes they have to pay. In all of these transactions with local officials, corruption was possible. All this made the economy livelier.

The third wave of rent-seeking was in competition between different privately-owned enterprises. Some fail, some succeed, the government doesn't care. The most precious, scarce resource in China is land, especially in the city or suburbs. There are two kinds of government-owned land: nation-owned, and collective owned. Nation-owned means the national government owns it. Collective-owned means, for example, 1000 villagers have house-hold ownership of land. City land is owned by the nation. But when a city wants to expand its territory by buying adjacent collective-owned rural land, the city government doesn’t bargain with the people, it just negotiates with the Party chief in the village. This system is rife with corruption. Old houses in the cities get torn down. Who develops this new land? Government-owned companies do.

In the city of Suzhou, the Singapore government was interested and bought a piece of land to the east of the city to start a joint-venture project in 1994, called the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (CS-SIP). The Singapore government owned a majority share, about 65%, and 35% by the local government. Singapore invested a lot in building infrastructure, internet, high tech access, roads and warehouses. But almost simultaneously the local government started a second industrial park, Suzhou New District (SND) on the other side of the city, and sold the lots to companies at much cheaper rates. So almost no company was buying lots in the Singapore-owned park.

After incurring almost US$90 million losses over five years, Singapore lowered its stake to 35 percent, raising the city government’s stake to 65 percent, and reducing the Singaporean share from a planned 70 sq. km. to just 8 sq. km. The manager of the competing SND became the new manager of the this project, and immediately everything changed. The city re-divided the park, so that factory lots were sold very cheaply around the periphery, while the center of the park was left undeveloped. Companies then moved there from the other park. Once the park was full of factories, the central area became very valuable and apartments were built there, which can be sold for much more than factory land. One year after Singapore lowered its share, the park made its first profit of $3.8 million.

In this example, one can see that the local government is trying to make profit from every layer of revenue they can get. Party leaders start with nothing, but they have total power over land and zoning. Nobody else in this world can relocate people like China can. The government can construct a subway in only one year. People in China who suffer have no voice. Those who benefit are multinational corporations.

So China attracts more and more international investment and gains access to the international market. China bargains for technology transfer.

The cost of land is free to the government. Labor is still very cheap, because labor unions are not allowed to organize. Strikes take place on a small scale, but each time they only ask for more money, nothing more. Workers come from the rural area, and they need money to send home to their families. So they are easy to manage. City people do services.

Rural people are very hard working, getting up at 4am to sell in the markets, for example. People travel and switch jobs.

Everyone in China has a household registration. In the countryside, this entitles you to a piece of land. You can always return to your own land and feed yourself. It might be less than 1 “mu” per person (a mu is a Chinese measurement of land that equals 650 square meters). So a small field and a house, that your one child will inherit. The “One-child Policy” is very strictly enforced in the countryside. If a family has a girl, to get a second child, they need to move to a city, where there are more job opportunities. But if they don't return to their village, they will lose their entitlement to their household registration. Usually every Chinese New Year they return to their village, and often they bring other people back with them to the city.

If you were not born in a city there is a price to pay to obtain city household registration, after which their children will be entitled to go to the city schools. Rural people who have moved to the city but don’t yet have household registration there set up their own unofficial “black” schools. Crimes are often blamed on rural workers, who are sometimes called "peasants", a very derogatory term. But often it is the city boys who do crime.

In China there is no health insurance or welfare system. Hospitals tend to charge very high fees. The cost and quality of treatment differs from city to city, depending on whether the local government has financial capability.

The huge poor population is a key source of wealth. In China, people say there is a "fourth world", that is easy to exploit.

It is a great honor to buy your membership into the Party. Getting opportunities from Party bosses, paying them. This corruption continuing.

The Party can decide to bankrupt you or execute you tomorrow. They control the courts, the media, everything. If injustice is done to you, who will you tell your story to? One businessman, Lai Changxing, fled to Canada in 1999 with his wife and children. He made a fortune by smuggling in the late 1990s. China is trying to extradite him. He knows too much. He operated a prostitution house and filmed officials visiting prostitutes. He also sold intelligence. He even did business with the People’s Liberation Army, using their naval ships to smuggle oil. Another 14 people who were involved in the smuggling operation have been executed. (More than 90 percent of the total executions in the world take place in China.) In February 2009 the Canadian Government granted Lai a work permit.

So the very rich are very scared. They can influence people as long as the Party allows them to do it. The rich capitalists have wealth and can influence and bribe officials, but as long as the government controls everything, they can never have their own voice. When one becomes too rich, the "red eye illness" can come, i.e. jealousy.

From the perspective of P.R. Sarkar’s Social Cycle, the ksattriyan military leaders are still firmly in charge in China. They have allowed capitalist vaeshyans to develop the economy and to gain significant wealth, but not to control the society.

THE HUMAN COSTS OF ECONOMIC MELTDOWN AND ITS ALTERNATIVE

2008-10-17T00:09:00.002Z

The New York Times editorial calls this “the scariest economic free fall the world has seen since 1929,” referring to the Great Depression that caused great suffering to millions. The sentiment is echoed by hundreds of leading economists, bankers and traders whose opinions are quoted daily, as they struggle to explain the economic fallout to the general public. Yet no one is able to confidently predict our economic future.

The US government first bailed out and then, following the lead set by Britain, France, Italy and Spain, began taking over some of the largest financial institutions. How many billions and trillions do they have? Of course the answer is that they already have more than 10 trillion dollars in national debt!

The Human Costs

The human costs of this economic meltdown are only beginning to be felt. More than a million US citizens have lost their homes in the past two years, and a million more are expected to lose their homes in the coming12 months. Yet the United States government continues to pay more of the mortgage costs of rich homeowners, through larger tax deductions, than of poorer homeowners.

United States citizens have lost two trillion dollars in retirement funds, representing about 20 percent of their value since last year, reducing the income of everyone and forcing many older working citizens to continue working even into their late sixties. Countless small investors are losing their savings.

The frozen credit market, which is much more serious than the severe stock market declines, will cause companies around the world, unable to borrow, to layoff workers and unemployment will rise.

The Russian stock market fell by about two-thirds since May. Thus, the global financial crisis has wiped out roughly a trillion dollars in wealth across the country.

The country of Iceland itself is failing. Prime Minister Geir Haarde warned of the threat of “national bankruptcy.” The government seized its three largest banks to prevent their failure, and the currency had already lost half its value before its trade was halted. The country is desperately seeking an emergency loan from Russia or from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However accepting the IMF harsh structural adjustment policies to restore fiscal and monetary stability will hurt everyone, an extraordinary reversal for the island's economy which has been quite affluent for the last decade.

Consumerism and Greed

Greed is the excessive and selfish pursuit of wealth or other material things, without concern whether one’s actions deprive others of necessities. Rather than controlling this instinct, unregulated capitalism encourages it. Some proponents of free market capitalism even go so far as to argue that greed should be considered a positive trait because the race to maximize profits propels the global economy. As the character Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street said, "Greed... is good!"

The meltdown has been caused in large part by corporations that spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising campaigns to make debt sound desirable and risk-free. Their sophisticated ad campaigns and direct mail programs are aimed at every age group, from young teenagers to the elderly. The largest credit card company launched a campaign “Life Takes Visa,” MasterCard did “Priceless” and Citibank taught “Live Richly.” The insidious goal of each of these campaigns was to eliminate negative feelings about going into debt. The creative director of MasterCard's campaign, Jonathan B. Cranin, explained, “One of the tricks in the credit card business is that people have an inherent guilt with spending. What you want is to have people feel good about their purchases.”

It gets nastier, because lenders prey on people who urgently need loans to pay for health care and other necessities. To squeeze more profit from borrowers, US credit card companies have increased interest rates from 17.7 percent in 2005 to 19.1 percent last year, a difference that gives them billions of dollars in extra profits. Average late fees rose from less than $13 in 1994 to $35 in 2007, and fees charged when customers exceed their credit limits more than doubled to from $11 to $26 a month.

The lucrative lending practices of these merchants of debt have led millions of North Americans — young and old, rich and poor — to the brink. However in 2005 the bankruptcy laws were changed. This legislation, proposed by President Bush and driven through Congress by financial services firms, makes it much harder for consumers with modest incomes to escape from under their debt by filing for bankruptcy. The new laws encouraged more reckless lending on the part of lenders, because they could more easily force poor borrowers to repay.

Practices such as these that produced record profits for many banks have shaken the world's financial system to its foundation. As a growing number of people default on payments, banks are recording hundreds of billions in losses, devastating their shareholders. As each bank is realizing that it is holding many bad debts, an increasing distrust is taking place between the institutions, afraid of how many bad debts the other banks are holding.

Global economy vs. Local economy

The solution to the global economic meltdown should be the formation of local economies. The first crucial step of any humane economy is to provide the basic necessities of life to all: food and pure water, clothing, housing, education and medical care. Human beings require these in order to realize their individual potentialities, to develop culturally, to achieve inner fulfilment and self-realization, which many now consider as higher goals of life. What a wonderful world it will be when no one on the planet will have to worry about getting enough money to buy the food, clothes, housing, education and medical care needed for his or her family!

Second, the current centralized economies should be decentralized into economically self-reliant regions. The regions would be defined by geographic conditions, and by the inhabitants’ cultural legacy, language, economic problems and interests. These bioregions would decide their economic future from below, with planning emerging from the communities and supported by central government policies.

Third, each economic region should also be divided into smaller “blocks” or counties, which would provide the basic level of grassroots economic planning. The area of a county is small enough for the planners to understand all the problems of the area; local leaders would be able to solve the problems according to local priorities; planning would be more practical and effective and give quick, positive results.

Fourth, breaking the dependence on petroleum by rejuvenating local agriculture and achieving self-reliance in food, medicines and energy. The importance of rural employment and an adequate standard of living to reduce internal and external migrations is also important.

Each of these solutions is part of the Progressive Utilization Theory or Prout, which proposes a dynamic economy of the people, by the people and for the people. Rejecting profit-making as the goal of the economy, Prout bases its economic policy on consumption; that is, on meeting the actual needs of people. Prout proposes a three-tiered economic system to realize this.

To preserve the creative, innovative spirit of capitalism, but to avoid the destructive, exploiting impact of capital which disregards social costs and environmental degradation, private enterprises should be of small-scale.

The second tier of the Prout economy is formed by cooperatives. This guarantees economic democracy, a decrease in alienation and a more just distribution of wealth. The goal of cooperatives is not profit at any cost, but satisfying the real needs of the community and achieving everyone’s well-being. Members participate in decision making and determine their community’s economic future.

The final tier is industries which have strategic importance and which are too big or too complex to be efficiently managed by a cooperative. For example energy, steel, telecommunications, airlines, etc., should be state-owned and managed by elected boards in the public interest at the national or state levels. These key industries should be run on a no profit, no loss basis, serving all the people of the country.

The Central Bank of each country is such a key industry. However all the other banks should be cooperative credit unions, loaning savings to local businesses, cooperatives and home owners.

A local economy organized in this way would be human-based, resiliant to global market fluctuations and inflation, and able to achieve full employment. Isn't this the type of economy we want?

San Francisco Bay Area programs May 2008

2008-04-23T22:22:00.000Z

Thursday May 8, 6pm
Global Exchange
2017 Mission Street, 2nd Floor (16th & Mission)
San Francisco, CA 94110

THE VENEZUELAN REALITY AND PROUT'S CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

What are the social advances made by the "Bolivarian Revolution" since
the election of President Hugo Chavez in 1998? How does this affect
the poverty statistics, and how does it affect the actual lives of the
poor? What shortcomings and problems need to be overcome? How much
pressure can the U.S. government apply to change the government? How
can the principles of Prout assist in transforming society and ending
poverty?

Sponsored by: Global Exchange, www.GlobalExchange.org
Urban Alliance for Sustainability www.UAS.coop
Contact: Scott Stoller – Scott@wholehealing.net, 510.725.0159

------------------------------

----------------------------
Friday May 9, 12 noon
Holiday Inn Hotel
1740 1st St. and 101S
San Jose, CA 95112

The Bolivarian Revolution Of Venezuela: Successes, Failures and
Practical Solutions
What are the social advances made by the "Bolivarian Revolution" since
the election of President Hugo Chavez in 1998? How does this affect
the poverty statistics, and how does it affect the actual lives of the
poor? What shortcomings and problems need to be overcome? How much
pressure can the U.S. government apply to change the government? How
can the principles of Prout assist in transforming society and ending
poverty?

Sponsored by: Democratic Party of California, http://www.sccdp.org/
Contact: Arun – sociovision@gmail.com, 510.409.7989

----------------------------------------------------------
Friday May 9, 7pm
Residence of Saril Kumar
1061 Hickorynut Ct.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Another World Is Possible: Prout's New Vision
Dada will be sharing positive examples from around the world, pointing
out the need for a locally-based economy of cooperatives, sustainable
agriculture, ecology, economic self-reliance of every region,
community, participatory democracy, ethical leadership and universal
spiritual values. These are empowering ideas that unite people and
transform lives.

Sponsored by: Prout Research Institute, www.Priven.org
Contact: Saril Kumar – sarilkvp@gmail.com, 408.242.8631
=====================================================================

Saturday May 10, 7pm
Cooperative Grocery of Emeryville
1450 67th Street
Emeryville, CA 94608

Film: Another Life is Possible Cooperatives in Barlovento, Venezuela

Noted Author and Proutist, Dada Maheshvarananda , will facilitate the
discussion after the film screening. See his biography.

Venezuela is undergoing a transformation within its workplace. With
approximately 50,000 cooperatives in operation—the highest number of
any country in the hemisphere—will this economic democracy prove to be
a model for development throughout the region?

More than 40 cooperatives were surveyed in the impoverished rural
district of Barlovento to see just how cooperatives are transforming
people's lives. Workers from a variety of different sectors including
farming, fishing, hotel, restaurant, electrical and sewing co-ops tell
in their own words the stories of their problems, struggles and
successes.

24 minutes, NTSC, with English subtitles.

Sponsored by: The Cooperative Grocery of Emeryville www.TheCoG.org
Contact: Scott Stoller – Scott@WholeHealing.net, 510.725.0159

Radio Pacifica KPFA interview

2007-09-27T17:04:00.000Z

I gave a 30-min. interview on Radio Pacifica KPFA Morning Show in San Francisco. You can listen
by following the link, and then going to exactly the half-way point,
at 8:08: http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=22425

Accelerated speed in Venezuela!

2007-02-11T23:13:00.000Z

Our growth is accelerating! After four months of frustration we finally found a way to successfully connect to the Internet by buying a wireless modem with an alternative company, so now our four desktops and four laptops in the office are all connected.

Our volunteer “dream team” has four new members:
Hans van de Werfhorst (“Yogeshvar”), 56, from Netherlands, who has known Prout since 1974, and gave the first Prout lecture in Venezuela in 1978 when he was working in South America for three years as an “acarya” (spiritual teacher).
Taraka, 20, activist from Brazil
Dave Heighway, 35, from Canada, doing graduate studies in development and international relations in Denmark, is here full time until May.
Brian Landever, 24, high school teacher from USA

The work has changed dramatically, with daily morning meetings full of exciting ideas. In addition, several part-time volunteers are helping us, including university students.

Our current projects include:
1. Preparing an interview questionnaire that we will do with 50 cooperatives in the Barlovento area.
2. Preparing to give a series of Prout lectures at Caracas universities.
3. Preparing a project proposal to make an illustrated cooperative training manual.

Because we have so many volunteers now, we are doing several construction projects: renovating the bathroom (finished), building a sleeping loft, lockers, and more office furniture.

The Mondragón Cooperative Corporation in the Basque Country of Spain has accepted José Albarron (“Sarvajiit”), president of the PRIV Board of Directors, for a one-month scholarship training program in cooperatives. They will pay his air ticket, food, lodging and all expenses for this invaluable course during March.

For those of you who, like me, were concerned at President Hugo Chavez’s recent declaration of executive powers, I highly recommend reading the very thoughtful and balanced analysis by our friend, Gregory Wilpert, at: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/articles.php?artno=1953

VISIT TO MONDRAGÓN

2007-01-13T19:14:00.000Z

On the morning of January 3, 2007, when many people were still on holidays, Mikel Lezamiz, Director of Cooperative Dissemination, was waiting for us. Four of us had driven together eight hours through the fog to the city of Mondragón in the Basque Region of northern Spain. Mikel is like a living cooperative encyclopedia – ask him anything, and he remembers the facts.

This is the largest and most successful cooperative network in the world. Begun in the 1950s, today more than 50,000 workers are employed in 120 cooperatives, all of them part of the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation (MCC).

The Mondragón Cooperative Experience has ten basic principles, three more than the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA):

1. Open admission
2. Democratic organization
3. Sovereignity of labor
4. Instrumental and subordinate character of capital
5. Participatory management
6. Payment solidarity
7. Intercooperation
8. Social transformation
9. Universality
10. Education

Payment solidarity is not one of ICA’s stated goals. Mikel explained that the annual starting salary today in every co-op is €13,000-14,000 (approximately US$17,000). A one-to-three wage differential in worker salaries lasted more than 20 years. However in order to avoid losing their top management to private companies, they have raised the highest salaries to 4.5 times more than the minimum in most of the cooperatives, in the Caja Laboral Bank to 8 times more, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Mondragón Cooperative Corporation gets 9 times more, or €126,000 (US$164,000) per year.

All new workers in the Basque Country start with a six to twelve month trial period. If they demonstrate that they are good workers and accept the cooperative system, they can become a member by investing about one year's salary – they can get a bank loan to pay this over 36 months at 3.7% interest. But the benefits of being a cooperative member are impressive. For €30 per month, all members and their families get full health coverage. For €15 per month, members can send their children to the best private school, which is also run as a cooperative. There is subsidized housing, and, most important, they have job security for life! If for any reason their cooperative needs to layoff workers, they will be transferred to another cooperative. Of the 120 cooperatives, only 12 of them lost money last year, and a total of 110 workers had to be relocated to other co-ops.

Education, research and innovation have always been essential to MCC’s growth, and much profits are invested every year into the MCC University (with 4000 students), seven other cooperative schools, and 11 research and development cooperatives. The sophistication and high technology of the hundreds of products produced in cooperative factories make them very competitive throughout Spain and the world, earning the corporation €11 billion in total sales.

Each cooperative is responsible for its own marketing. Most of the cooperatives are industrial or in services – there are only four agricultural cooperatives, and some of some of those are very small. In the same way that the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation is not actively promoting cooperativism to local farmers, they also do not promote it in MCC factories and companies in the other regions of Spain or in 15 other countries; however the MCC board has finally passed a resolution to begin cooperative dissemination throughout their global network of companies. Women comprise 42% of the total cooperative members of Mondragón, but sadly they are elected to only 15% of management positions.

Every cooperative has a general assembly of all members which decides the general policies and strategies of the cooperative and appoints and removes by secret vote the members of its Governing Council and the Account Auditors. The Governing Council in turn appoints the managing director and other directors.

I asked whether they have had problems with dishonesty or corruption. Mikel said, “Each cooperative has both internal and external audits. In addition there is strong social control, meaning our Basque culture and the cooperative spirit that has developed for 50 years encourages group trust and solidarity. So far,” he said, knocking on wood, “there have only been three cases to my knowledge of members stealing from a cooperative. None of them were top managers, all of them were discovered relatively quickly, and all three were dismissed by the general assembly of their respective cooperatives.”

Last year 18 activists from the Brazilian Landless Peoples Movement trained for two months in Mondragon to learn how to start and manage co-ops effectively. This year a similar one-month course will begin in March; the Prout Research Institute is trying to convince SUNACOOP and other Venezuelan organizations to send participants.

We are committed to continuing our study of the very successful Mondragon Cooperative Experience, and we carried many books and materials when we left. Afterwards Mikel sent an email in which he wrote:

“I have been reading on the Internet about Prout, and I have been surprised by its clear and pragmatic ideas of the socio-economic development of communities. I believe that a lot of similarities exist between the philosophy of our Mondragón Cooperative Experience and that of Prout: for example, the importance of economic decentralization (in MCC each cooperative is independent and it maintains its own autonomy), participatory democracy, the balance between the social and the economic, etc. In general, I agree with all that appears in the Prout Study Guide.

“Allow me to make the following reflection. Perhaps the biggest difference that exists between you and us is that we have always avoided being too belligerent with the nearby economic systems (capitalist and communist) to avoid arousing suspicions and to make our own road, being pragmatic in the search for balance between the economic efficiency of our companies and the social development of the region. Our main mission is undoubtedly to generate wealth in the society. Another significant difference (allow me to say it) could be that our cooperativism is more directed at the level of labor. Outside of the company we are not too sensitive with spiritual life (although we do strive for social transformation toward a more fair, equal and united society). I believe that you are more spiritual than us and your philosophy of life and your practice of it is very consistent with the values that you propagate. I would say that you demonstrate cooperativism 24 hours a day, while we do so only during the eight working hours! Of course in our personal and family lives we also try to continue with solidarity and cooperative values, but without being very perfectionist.

“In conclusion I hope that we meet again and that in way or another it improves this world. With sincere cooperative greetings,
“Mikel Lezamiz, Director of Cooperative Diffusion MCC”

PROUT SHORT STORY CONTEST

2006-12-16T09:31:00.000Z

DEADLINE: March 31, 2007!

IMAGINE A SOCIETY IN WHICH...
...food, clothing, housing, education and medical care are guaranteed to everyone.
...most farms, banks, industries and services are run as cooperatives owned by the workers.
...there are no multinational corporations.
...different voices, languages and cultures are respected.
...there is self-sufficiency in food, medicines, clothing, housing, and local transport.
...the environment is protected and restored, all agriculture is organic, garbage is recycled and renewable energy is used.
...universal spirituality is valued, not religious dogmas or conflicts.
...leaders are selfless servants of the people.

STRUGGLE AND CONFLICT...
Naturally, such a society could never come about without great struggle. The richest one percent who control our world today would do anything to prevent it. They direct the multinational corporations and manipulate the US Empire, going to any length to neutralise such a progressive society. When it does come about, there will always be selfish people who would try to destroy it for their own personal benefit.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE IN A COMPELLING WAY...
...the people, the struggles, the sacrifices, the tragedies and the triumphs that would be needed to achieve such a society?
...in which part of the world such a society would first take root and what threats, opposition, and deceit that would be employed to undermine it?
...how living in such a society would affect people?

SHORT STORY COMPETITION DESCRIBING A FUTURE SOCIETY BASED ON PROUT!

Prout stands for the Progressive Utilization Theory, an alternative socio-economic model. In the words of Noam Chomsky, "Prout's cooperative model, sharing the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone, deserves our serious consideration." To know more about Prout’s socio-economic model and its policies, see www.prout.org and www.proutworld.org.

The Prout Research Institute of Venezuela is hosting a short story competition about a future Prout society and the struggles needed to bring it about. Stories may not exceed 5,000 words and must be previously unpublished. Entrants may be located anywhere on the planet, but each person may submit only one story written in English, Spanish, French or Portuguese. The stories will be judged on whether the future society portrayed correctly represents Prout, as well as on good writing and originality.

Judges: A committee of four panelists, led by the published writer Devashish Acosta (author of "When the Time Comes" and "The Ashram", available from www.amazon.com), will judge the contest. To ensure impartiality, all stories will be numbered and the authors’ names will be removed until the final decisions are made.

A Proutist who wishes to remain anonymous has generously donated funds so that we can offer the following cash prizes:

First prize: US$500
Second prize: US$300
Third prize: US$200
Five fourth prizes: US$100 each

(Winners in economically developed countries will receive a check or bank transfer. Winners in undeveloped countries will be sent an international postal money order.)

The winning stories will posted on the PRI-V web site: www.ve.prout.org. In addition, the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela reserves the right to publish the stories in an anthology and in a Prout magazine.

Deadline: midnight March 31, 2007 Venezuelan time (GMT minus 4 hours)
Winners will be announced May 15, 2007

All stories must be sent by email to shortstory@prout.org. There is no entrance fee. Stories that exceed 5,000 words, that arrive late or that do not describe the struggles to achieve or maintain a Prout society will be disqualified from the cash prizes. After June 15, 2007, all authors are free to submit their stories to other competitions or venues for publication.

News of the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela

2006-12-03T22:25:00.000Z

We have begun! We are renting 50 square meters of office space and 18 square meters of residence space, plus bathroom and a separate entrance area. This is part of the upstairs of a large house in Caracas with a kindergarten. We have successfully set up our office computer system with Linux and Ubuntu Open Office file server, and a full accounting system that generates monthly reports that are available on request.

WEB PAGE: We have finished composing and uploading 18 pages of text in English and Spanish (only 3 pages are ready in Portuguese – we need more volunteers to help). This includes collective mission, vision and values statements, photos and short bios of our personnel, intern advertisement, and other important statements that represent the institute. We are still trying to improve its appearance. Please view the site at www.ve.prout.org and send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS:

1. Staff member Andy Malinalco has written a 7-page introductory article on "Is Venezuela Heading Towards Prout?" This clearly presents Prout's perspective on the following four pillars of the Bolivarian Revolution and compares them with the actual results: 1) providing basic needs, 2) cooperatives, 3) economic self-reliance of the country, and 4) participatory democracy. The Spanish translation is now being checked. Gregory Wilpert has agreed to post it next week on the popular www.venezuelanalysis.org web site.

2. Associate researcher Ron M. Baseman in New York has written a 19-page article on "What Makes Co-ops Successful?" This is a survey of 175 success factors from 30 original articles. It is very insightful. Both articles are available on the web site.

STAFF: One of our advisors, Matt Oppenheim, teaches at U.S. universities has helped us write the intern advertisement and design the application procedure. He has agreed to post this on university mailing lists, convinced that it will attract many interested young people. Even before it has gone out, six volunteers have already confirmed they are coming from Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia and the United States.

VENEZUELAN BOARD OF DIRECTORS: They approved the Mission, Vision and Values Statements and the legal PRI-V Foundation Bylaws that are now being legally registered.

INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD: Twenty senior Proutists from five continents are actively guiding the PRI-V’s work through monthly teleconferences and regular email discussions.

NATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF COOPERATIVES (SUNACOOP): We have met several times the director and the director of training to discuss how the PRI-V can contribute to the training and coordination of cooperatives in Venezuela. Several members of our Board of Directors have taken one of the best cooperative courses offered by a private foundation. We believe that researching and designing appropriate co-op training courses is one of the most needed ways we can contribute to Venezuelan society at this time.

SHORT STORY COMPETITION: A Proutist who wishes to remain anonymous has donated prize money for PRI-V to host a short story competition about a future Prout society. This is not science fiction but "Prout fiction"! Stories may not exceed 5,000 words and must be previously unpublished. Entrants may be located anywhere on the planet. The stories will be judged according to whether the future society portrayed correctly represents Prout, as well as good writing and originality. Published writer Devashish Acosta (author of “When the Time Comes” and “The Ashram”) has agreed to judge the contest and will accept stories written in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Writer Roar Bjonnes will assist in judging the finalists. The winning stories will be translated and posted on the PRI-V web site. The contest announcement with all details and dates will be posted and circulated as widely as possible very soon.

PLANS: I am presently touring Europe for six weeks, giving Prout lectures in 16 cities in eight countries. During this time the other staff members are recording interviews with successful cooperatives, cooperative trainers, cooperative association leaders and other foundations. The Institute will be closed from Dec. 15 until Jan. 10, when I return to Venezuela to work permanently as director of the Institute.

Brotherly,

Dada Maheshvarananda

Director

News of the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela

2006-09-21T13:16:00.000Z

The effort to buy the perfect house for the PRI-V continues. In the meantime, we have rented temporary office space in the upstairs of the Ananda Marga Kindergarten. Last year a new roof was put on, and this week the bathroom is being repaired, the interior is being painted, two new doors are being hung, and office furniture is being purchased. The school telephone will be transferred to the PRI-V: 00-58-212-633-0131.

We have applied for broadband Internet connection, and the company has promised to install it within 10 days. (Of course things don’t move as quickly in Venezuela as in other countries!) For those who have visited Venezuela, you will realize how happy we are to have employed Diipanii to cook a delicious breakfast and lunch for the staff five days a week!

The first meeting of the Venezuelan Board of Directors has taken place. We are confirming the proposed legal constitution and bylaws of the Institute Foundation. Eight Venezuelan Proutists (Sarvajiit, Satyam, Manujesh, Mrtyunjaya, Tapas, Sulocana, Laksman, Krsna Priya) plus Didi Ananda Sadhana and myself will be members. We will also collectively decide on inviting some other professionals who are sympathizers to sit on the Board.

Eleven senior Proutists in other countries have so far agreed to be on the International Advisory Board of the PRI-V: Hiranmaya (US), Karma Rasa (US), Dharmadeva (Brazilian economist moving to NYC), Dhruva (US), Suprabhata (US), Nirainjana (Palestine/US), Dayabatii (US), Mayajiit (US), Citsvarupa (US), Aradhana (US), Shiva (PhDc Philippines), Jayanta Kumar (Australia). We are still waiting for confirmation from the others we have invited.

Our multi-lingual web site is under construction by professional web-designer Dada Unmantranandajii. We are finishing the various menu texts in English and Spanish, and we hope to have it ready in the first week of October.

Despite his university diploma, his former job as an architect and despite the apartment in Budapest that he owns, the US government refused to give a visa to our LFT Dharmapal so that he could transit in Miami Airport for 150 minutes. Now he is struggling to re-route his air ticket to avoid touching that country that is forbidden to him. Atideva, another excellent brother from Hungary will arrive here this week.

Fabio, in consultation with half a dozen IT experts in other countries, continues to develop the detailed plans for our computer system. The hardware infrastructure will be desktop computers and one (file) server. We will buy the expensive components in Miami and assemble them here. The system will run on Linux (Ubuntu) with Open Office which we are confident will fulfill our needs and be consistent with our ideological direction. The network will be secured via a firewall, and will operate on a RAID system, with two hard disks continually mirroring the stored information, so in case of a disk crash, the other disk can carry on operations seamlessly. Weekly backups on rewritable DVDs stored in different locations will prevent electronic knowledge loss even in catastrophe scenarios.

Asiima is researching about Venezuelan inflation, devaluation and other economic indicators. Other researchers in other countries have started looking into cooperatives as well.

Please send your suggestions and best wishes.

Prout Research Institute of Venezuela begins

2006-08-28T17:20:00.000Z

Namaskar from Caracas!

For me, the most exciting project of my life is just beginning. I have been permitted by Proutist Universal to work 50% of the time in Venezuela to open a Prout Research Institute, and 50% of the time in Europe. So I arrived here in Venezuela yesterday on a 3-month ticket. Dharmapal, an LFT from Hungary and an architect by training, was supposed to arrive the same day, but the one-year ticket he bought had a 2-and-a-half-hour layover in Miami, and he was not allowed to board his flight because he didn’t have a US visa for those 150 minutes! He is now struggling in Lisbon to overcome this political obstacle!

Instead of renting an office and residence, we are buying a house, which we should be able to completely pay off with four years of rent money. More news on that in the coming days after the contract is signed. Simultaneously we will legally register PRI as a foundation. We have started constructing a web site at: http://www.ve.prout.org/

For the first three months we will create a team of from five to ten full time volunteer interns, some from abroad, some from Venezuela. The focus of our research will be on cooperatives. We believe this is the most valuable practical contribution that Prout can make in Venezuela at this time, due to the extraordinary number of 120,000 co-ops that have been started, and the insufficient training, evaluation and support of them. Our plan will include:

*
Review national and international research on cooperatives and cooperative training programs.
*
Study Sarkar’s writings and those of other Proutists to compile a clear Prout model for ideal cooperatives.
*
Implement a needs assessment of cooperatives and related public institutions that would examine current conditions of cooperatives.
*
Analyze available public and private documents in the country, including statistical analysis of quantitative data.
*
Interview and consult with key leaders in the cooperative movement in Venezuela, in both public and private organizations, to discuss their experience and opinions.
*
Make a representative sample of Venezuelan cooperatives randomly chosen that include different sizes (both large and small numbers of members), different duration (years of operation), different locations (large city, small city and rural), different sectors (transport, handicrafts, agricultural, food production, manufacturing, etc.).
*
Set up focus group meetings with cooperative and community members
*
Design a survey questionnaire to get a representative view of the challenges and needs of Venezuelan cooperatives, and also to assist in the categorization of cooperatives for analysis purposes.
*
Analyze and triangulate data from diverse sources in order to determine precise needs and perspectives of public agencies, cooperative members, and affected communities.
*
Consult with cooperative experts in Venezuela and in other countries to discuss the analysis of data and identify effective and culturally-sensitive components of a cooperative training and evaluation program.

During the fourth month the following “deliverables” will be produced in both Spanish and English:

1. A press release announcing the opening of the PRI Venezuela and its initial projects.
2. A “Frequently Asked Questions” with short replies to the above questions.
3. An academic article submitted for publication to university journals outlining the reality of Venezuelan cooperatives and recommendations.
4. A popular article on the same subject submitted to progressive magazines and newspapers.
5. A project proposal to develop a cooperative training program for Venezuela that can be submitted to various foundations and government bodies to request funding.

I would like to invite interested people to join this historic project in one or more of the following ways:

1. Be a volunteer intern! Come and help for a period of two months to a year or more. The benefits include:

* Intensively study Prout and apply it, by working in a team and sharing ideas daily via telephone and email with some of the best Proutist thinkers and activists around the world.
* Learn Spanish and/or English, with 90 minutes of daily class time according to your level, and total immersion.
* Experience the “Bolivarian Revolution” of President Hugo Chavez, one of the most exciting political, economic and social transformations taking place. See first hand what happens when the consciousness of poor people is raised and they are empowered to overcome poverty through education at all levels, free health care and cooperatives. Review the successes and critically question the failures. Personally meet and discuss with key leaders of this historical process.
* Work collectively in a professional environment that is respectful of all, where every idea counts.
* Strengthen your meditation and daily practices in a supportive and caring spiritual environment.

Expectations:

* Every applicant will be interviewed by telephone.
* Those who are accepted will have to provide their own transportation to Caracas.
* PRI will provide sattvik vegetarian food, accommodation and money for your local transportation.
* You will be expected to work 40 hours a week on specific tasks that will be monitored.
* PRI will try to fairly resolve any problems, grievances or difficulties you may have while you volunteer with us;

2. Be a PRI research assistant at home! We need help to research on the Internet very specific questions and tasks. If you can spare a few hours a week, we’ll send you the list. Your job will include finding, reading and analyzing significant articles on the topic.

3. Donate in cash or kind! The Institute needs a library of good quality books and periodicals related to Prout and social sciences. If you have a motor vehicle in good working order that you can donate, we’ll arrange the shipment. If you can donate funds, please remember that every little bit helps. If you are in the USA, we can arrange a tax-exempt receipt for your donation.

4. Come visit! See the project and the country first hand. We will ask for a minimum donation of US$5 or €4 per day to cover food and accommodation costs. We are hoping to organize a global Prout Convention in late March 2007. More news will come on this soon.

Please write me if you are interested in any of the above: maheshvarananda[at]prout.org

Brotherly,

Dada Maheshvarananda
Director

Translation of Finnish article

2006-08-19T20:21:00.000Z

(English translation of the article that appeared in the Finnish magazine of the Service Center for Development Corporation ("Kepa") For more about Kepa, see: www.kepa.fi/English

Lifestyle: Volunteering

Dada Maheshvarananda, 53, who travels constantly around the world, describes himself with the words "lifetime volunteer". The monk, who is originally from the U.S.A, is a true global citizen. "I have travelled around the world for the last three years, and previously I lived for many years in Asia, Brazil and Venezuela."

Maheshvarananda tries to connect universal, spiritual values to social change in the developing countries. He is involved in different school projects in the developing countries, for according to his opinion education is the best way to alleviate poverty. "I have written dozens of articles about the need for social change, and the book After Capitalism was published in 2003." Maheshvarananda is not content with just writing, but teaches yoga and meditation to prisoners in Brazil, the Philippines and in Portugal. "Empowering communities is needed."

"Helping others has always been my number one priority, and I have decided to help others throughout my whole life by doing volunteer work. It has given me more happiness and love than I could ever have imagined possible."

"One of the most significant experiences I have had happened during my training in Nepal. I did not know the language and I did not know anyone, but the inhabitants of the local poor village helped me. Sometimes I had wondered who would take care of me, if something happened. But from that experience I realized, that I will always be taken care of as a response to my own efforts as a volunteer."

An inspiring visit to Helsinki

2006-08-19T20:14:00.000Z

I just returned from six days in Finland to publicize the release of the Finnish edition of “After Capitalism: Prout’s Vision for a New World”. Didi Annapurna with the help of Mitra translated it with great struggle. This edition includes contributions by two famous Finnish writers, psychohistorian Juha Siltala.and Heidi Hautala, Finnish Member of Parliament and former EU Parliament and Green Party presidential candidate.

The Finland national development agency Kepa published an article in their national magazine www.kepa.fi/kumppani/arkisto/2006_5/5004 and requested the book for their library. In addition, Mitra helped deliver a review copy of the book to the editors of nine newspapers and magazines, and Amrta has sent them faxes and phoned them to follow up. Another freelance journalist is writing a review of the book now. Email announcements were sent to 200 activists and sympathizers, and 80 leaflets were distributed and posted around the city. Didi Annapurna is now successfully selling the book door-to-door and has so far convinced two bookstores to carry it and a cooperative café to advertise it. Shantatma is selling it on the Internet.

With only a few days to prepare, a successful two-hour Prout lecture was given to 16 people in the public library. Professor Tapani Köppä, who has coordinated and taught about cooperatives for 40 years, came and explained about the 3000 existing worker-owned enterprises in the country. The major alternative radio station recorded a one-hour interview with Didi Annapurna and myself. We also took part in a peace march.

The History and Future of Finland According to Sarkar’s Social Cycle

2006-08-10T21:13:00.000Z

The recent discovery in Susiluola (in the Southern Ostrobothnian municipality of Kristinestad) of stones worked by the human hand suggest that people were living there over 100,000 years ago, after the discovery of fire. The mental color of those early human beings was shudra, struggling to survive and longing for physical enjoyment. Their minds were almost always absorbed in material thoughts.

About 10,000 years ago the last Ice Age came to an end and the Finnish land surface began to re-emerge from under the receding ice and to rise up from the sea. Humans then came from Estonia across the Gulf of Finland, and from the Ural Mountains of Russia, and began to make settlements. These people lived in tribes, and had already developed sophisticated fishing nets and hunting weapons. Their safety and successful hunting depended on the strongest warriors (ksattriyas) leading the tribe. Their descendants gradually spread out, forming new villages even into northern Finland, and developing agriculture and animal husbandry.

The evolution of some viprans (intellectuals) during this early tribal period can be seen in the shamans, wise and respected spiritual leaders of their tribe who were believed to have healing abilities and a special relationship with the spirit world. Their search for knowledge is expressed in some of the older epic poems of the Kalevala. However, the tribes for the most part continued to be led by warriors. The population of Finland as the Iron Age drew to a close about 1000 AD has been estimated at around 50,000.

The transition from a ksattriya-led to a vipra-led society started with the introduction of Christianity from Sweden and Russia in the twelfth century and the later takeover of the country in the thirteenth century by the Swedish Empire, which was dominated by the royal family, court ministers and the Catholic Church.

The publication in 1765 of Anders Chydenius’ book, The National Gain, proposing free trade (11 years before Adam Smith’s famous book, The Wealth of Nations), is a good indication of how capitalists (vaeshyas) were increasingly becoming the new power-brokers in Finland. Gradually the Industrial Revolution arrived, and in 1860 the country’s first own currency was introduced and the paper and ship-building industries began to boom.

Starting in 1918 with the class war between the Red Guards and the Whites, some disgruntled ksattriyas and vipras tried unsuccessfully in various ways to lead shudras on a Communist platform to overthrow the vaeshyas. Despite the Soviet Union’s hard efforts to manipulate Finland since its beginning, through the armistice agreement in 1944, and until its own fall in 1991, the majority of the Finnish people resisted this and the society continues to be capitalist-led.

According to Sarkar’s social cycle theory, Finland, like the rest of the capitalist world, is today in its last days of capitalist control. Multinational corporations from throughout the European Union and the United States dominate ever larger shares of the economy. The welfare state is weakening, the gap between the rich and the poor is increasing, and a materialist and consumer outlook is indoctrinating the people.

A fundamental change of consciousness is needed. Courageous fighters (ksattriyas) and thinkers (vipras) should lead a radical, grassroots popular transformation to establish a more orderly, disciplined and ethical society based on economic justice and solidarity.

Prout's message for Finland

2006-08-10T21:04:00.000Z

With much happiness, I will return to Helsinki for a week on August 11 to "launch" the Finnish version of my book "After Capitalism". The following remarks are from the introduction I wrote for the Finnish edition:

Finland has certainly benefited from capitalism. The country made a remarkable transformation from a farm and forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy, with a per capita income on par with the rest of the European Union. But the truth is that capitalism works well for some people, but not for everyone. The existence of marginalized long-term unemployed in the country is a sign that this is true even in Finland.

According to the Finnish Government Institute for Economic Research (VATT), the top 10 percent of the population owns almost 40 percent of all the property and share capital. Much more economic inequality appears when calculating the wealth of the few thousand millionaires and billionaires, whose holdings are widely spread through nebulous financial networks. Greater tax breaks for the rich means the welfare state is weakening.

During the last 20 years, a large portion of the Finnish economy has been taken over by international investment funds, who own major shares of Nokia and the other large Finnish companies. Why is it that the majority of stores in Helsinki today seem to have American names? The profits they reap are not reinvested in the local community, they are sent to international banks overseas.

Unfortunately capitalism does not work very well for Finland’s beautiful natural environment either. Air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributes to acid rain. The water is being polluted by industrial wastes and agricultural chemicals. Wildlife is threatened by the loss of virgin forests.

Finnish people experience the psychological side effects of global capitalism. The materialistic, consumer outlook, where everything seems to have a price tag, supports the existential outlook, “I buy, therefore I am!” Yet I believe the Finnish people, like most people in the world, long for true peace, happiness and unconditional love, which are not really satisfied in a consumer culture. Instead, working ever harder just to increase their income, or just to survive, under increasing stress, people experience alienation, loneliness and depression. Tragically, the suicide rate in Finland is the highest among the developed countries according to the World Health Organization. Among males aged 45-54, 50.4 per 100,000 people committed suicide in 2003.

We need something better: a holistic approach that fulfills the physical, mental and spiritual needs of each person. A world where nobody suffers poverty or hunger, where the resources are shared for the welfare of everyone. Where every human being is encouraged to develop their creativity, their talents, the higher dimensions of their being. How to do this is Prout’s vision for a new world.

“From Development Work to Social Change" Seminar

2006-05-21T07:38:00.000Z

A ground-breaking trainer’s seminar was held in Manila, Maharlika (Philippines) on May 10-11: “From Development Work to Social Change: The Way to Establish a Proutist Society.” More than 60 participants came from each part of Maharlika and the other countries of Southeast Asia, including dadas, didis, development workers, political activists and project directors.

P.R. Sarkar (Baba) came to help all human beings develop spiritually. However people suffering absolute poverty or devastated by natural calamities are mentally unable to meditate or do other spiritual practices. Hence AMURT as well as many other service organizations set up disaster relief operations and long term development projects to help those in need.

AMURT has achieved some incredible successes recently. Following the Tsunami, it has channeled more than US$2 million into successful projects in Indonesia and earned one of the best reputations in the country. Baba’s Foundation in Mindanao island, Maharlika has provided successful microcredit loans to more than 2,000 small farmers. Similarly large development projects in Africa, Haiti and other places are extremely valuable.

Yet all the relief work on the planet is not stopping the increase of poverty. The global economy has been designed to make sure the rich get richer. For every dollar of “aid” that is given to developing countries, it is estimated that ten dollars are taken out in forms of lucrative contracts, interest payments, corruption, etc.

We need to raise consciousness about the myths that are being propagated and the reality of what the developed countries and the global financial institutions are doing. And our development work must be a stepping-stone for establishing a just society free from exploitation.

In 1988 Baba said to Dada Nirgunananda and other workers: “AMURT is the immediate solution, Prout is the long term solution. You should help the people to be economically independent. For this, Prout should start economic cooperatives. At the same time, AMURT should give immediate relief, because you cannot teach hungry people philosophy. Through selfless service, you can also attract the masses to our Ideology.”

Each presentation was followed by a discussion session in small groups to encourage questions and clarification. Then workshops based on geographical areas focused on how the proposals could be practically implemented in the field.

As this was a Trainers’ Seminar, every participant was expected to repeat the seminar, and more than 30 seminars were scheduled for the next phase throughout Southeast Asia. A CD of the presentations, background articles and additional materials was given to every participant. The Lanesra Foundation, directed by Sister Ashisa (speaking in the third photo, wearing a white blouse), paid for all the costs of the seminar.

The seminar is now being improved and will next be presented in Madhu Karuna, Wendelsheim, Germany during the three-day Prout Utilization Training Camp from Wed., July 26 to Friday, July 28, 2006 (The fee for food, accommodation and training is €50. To register, contact: maheshvarananda[at]prout.org.

Prout in Manila, Baguio and Ilocos Norte, Philippines

2006-05-21T06:45:00.000Z

My 10-day visit to Maharlika was an incredible inspiration for me. In addition to meeting dozens of old friends, I got the chance to meet and share experiences with hard-working Prout activists.

The National Prout Board of Maharlika is composed of: Dada Gayatrananda, Diivakar, Vishva, Rajnikanta, Subhrata, Paritosh, Jayadeva, Ajiir, Arun, Mahesh, Iishvar, Surendra and Ramesh. Their recent accomplishments include renovating part of the Proutist Universal office in Manila, regularizing the legal registration of PU, holding a monthly study circle, organizing two successful one-day leadership training sessions and a regular radio show (tel. +63-9203225249).

Ang Kasama Samaj activist leaders who attended the seminar were: Dada Devapriyananda, Manorainjan (a labor leader from Clark Airbase), Iishvara (Central Luzon), Ram Prasad (Baguio), Jagatmitra (Secretary General), Lalit Mohan, Parvati, Jagat (Cebu, former editor of Prout Times), Japamala (Cebu, Maharlika Artists and Writers Association), Shiva (Ilocos Norte) and Nareshvar. (Ang KaSaMa office: 11 Union Village, Barangay Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City, tel. +63-2-931-4882, mobile: 09197863739) See www.angkasama.net

During my last 48 hours, I took a bus to Baguio City in the mountains, where Arjuna and others organized a Prout talk for me in a beautiful art center call Vocas (5^th floor of La Azotea Building). Forty people came with just a few hours notice, and I personally taught meditation to four people.

After seven blissful hours, I jumped on another bus to the far north of Luzon Island. Brother Shiva (see photo), professor of political science and coordinator of TIMPUYOG People's Movement, organized a lecture at Mariano Marcos State University. Their certificate of appreciation for Prout is above.

I found a very inspiring speech that Sarkar gave during his June 1968 visit to Maharlika. He said:

“Movement in the physical realm means the construction of a society led by spiritual revolutionaries [sadvipras]… Sinners will oppose you, but you will have to face the challenge... You are human beings, because you are fighting against immoralists.

“In the psychic realm you have to establish righteousness by removing the germs of crude mentality. Everywhere in the world today the crude intellect dominates. It is your duty to replace it with your righteous intellect…

“In the spiritual realm, your task is to establish Cosmic ideation… It is your duty to show the right path to society in those three spheres...

“Work with the Supreme’s infinite power and with infinite speed. Victory is surely yours.”

(from “Accomplish Your Work with this Body Only”, A'nanda Vacana'mrtam Part 23)

The Last Empire

2006-05-20T10:57:00.000Z

An empire is defined as: “A set of regions locally ruled by governors in the name of an emperor; a large, multi-ethnic state ruled from a single center at least partly by coercion based on greed.”

Empires began to appear soon after the first cities made the necessary administrative structures possible. Approximately 77 empires have existed in world history. Understandably, historians are not in complete agreement regarding the starting and ending dates of each one, and whether or not some should qualify.

P.R. Sarkar describes the psychological root of imperialism. When people become increasingly engrossed in materialism (what he called “carbonic pabula”) their mind gradually sinks towards crude matter. Greed increases, desiring the wealth of others. “Capitalism, state capitalism, communism, nationalism, communalism [groupism based on religion], parochialism [selfish pettiness or narrowness of views], provincialism [sense of superiority because of one’s province or area], socialism, caste-imperialism, male chauvinism, lingualism [that one’s language is superior]… are all the same psychic ailments in various forms and figures.”

The list below is arranged chronologically according to when the empire began. The present-day country where the seat of the empire was located is included if not obvious from the name.

Abyssinian Empire (Ethiopia, 3000 BC–1974 AD)
Elamite Empire (Iran, 2700-539 BC)
Akkadian Empire (Iraq, c. 2350–2150 BC)
Ur III Empire (Iraq, c. 2100–2000 BC)
Old Babylonian Empire (Iraq, c. 1900–1600 BC)
Egyptian Empire (1550–1070 BC)
Hittite Empire (Turkey, c. 1460–1180 BC)
Israelite Empire (c. 1000–922 BC)
Assyrian Empire (Syria, c. 900–612 BC)
Magadhan Empire (India, c. 550–350 BC)
Persian Empire (Iran, c. 550–330 BC)
Athenian Empire (Greece, c. 477–404 BC)
Macedonian Empire (Greece, c. 338–309 BC)
Seleucid Empire (Greece, 323–60 BC)
Mauryan Empire (India, 321–185 BC)
Teotihuacano Empire (Mexico, c. 300-700 BC)
Chinese Empire (221 BC–1912 AD)
Parthian Empire (Iran, c. 200 BC–224 AD)
Goguryeo Empire (Korea, c. 100 BC–668 AD)
Roman Empire (27 BC–476 AD)
Second Persian Empire (224–651)
Gallic Empire (France, 260–274)
Palmyrene Empire (Syria, 260–272)
Britannic Empire (286–297)
Gupta Empire (India, c. 320–550)
Byzantine Empire (Turkey, 330–843)
Islamicate Empire (Saudi Arabia, c. 630–1924)
Tibetan Empire (c. 7th–11th century)
Bulgarian Empire (681–1018; 1185–1396)
Ghana Empire (c. 750–1240)
Khmer Empire (Cambodia, 802–1462)
Holy Roman Empire (843–1806)
Chola Empire (South Indian Tamil, c. 9th–13th century)
Venetian Empire (Italy, c. 900–1797)
Tu'i Tonga Empire (Pacific Islands, 950–1875?)
Irish Empire (1005–1014)
Kongo Empire (Congo, 1100-1884)
Genoa Empire (Italy, c. 1100–1797)
Danish colonial empire (c.1200-1953)
Latin Empire (Turkey, 1204–1261)
Trapezuntine Empire (Greece, 1204–1461)
Nicaean Empire (Greece, 1204–1261)
Mongol Empire (1206–1394)
Mali Empire (c. 1240–1541)
Majapahit Empire (Indonesia, c. 1293–1500)
Ilkhanate (Iran, c. 1256–1338)
Ottoman Empire (Turkey, 1299–1922)
Serbian Empire (1345–1371)
Siam Empire (Thailand, 1350–1909)
Vijayanagara Empire (India, c. 1350–1700)
Aztec Empire (Mexico, 1375–1521)
Timurid Empire (Turkey, 1401–1505)
Inca Empire (Peru, 1438–1533)
Songhai Empire (Burkina Faso, 1464–1591)
Spanish Empire (1492–1898)
Portuguese Empire (1495–1975)
British Empire (c. 1497—1960s)
Mogul Empire (Pakistan, 1526–1857)
Swedish Empire (1561–1878)
Dutch colonial empire (1602-1975)
Maratha Empire (India, 1674–1761)
Russian Empire (1721–1917)
Vietnamese Empire (1802–1883)
Austrian Empire (1804–1867)
French Empire (1804-1814, 1815, 1852-1870)
Haitian Empire (1804–1806, 1849–1859)
Mexican Empire (1822–1823, 1864–1867)
Brazilian Empire (1822–1889)
Belgian Empire (1865–1962)
Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867–1918)
German Empire (1871–1918)
Italian Colonial Empire (1889–1943)
Korean Empire (1897–1910)
Japanese Empire (1910-1945)
Soviet Empire (Russia, 1922–1991)
German Third Reich (1933–1945)
AMERICAN EMPIRE (1898- ?)

76 empires have ended. Only one remains. It began in 1898 when it stole Maharlika (the Philippines), Guam and Puerto Rico at the close of the Spanish-American War. See http://www.americanempireproject.com/.

RECENT CHANGES IN “MAHARLIKA” (The Philippines)

2006-05-18T14:54:00.000Z

When I landed in Manila International Airport last week, the customs officer asked me if I had anything to declare. “Yes,” I said. “I declare that I am very happy to be back after 16 long years!” She looked at me and said, “I bet you looked different then, without your white hair.” “Yes, ma’am, that’s a fact!”

I had worked in Manila from 1981-1990, so this time I met dozens of old friends, and adults came up to me and told me I had performed their baby-naming ceremony! It was truly wonderful to see again the spirit of Bayanihan, the Tagalog word which means to move a house together. This is the spirit of solidarity, of making the impossible become possible (painting by Joselito E. Barcelona, 1993).

Of course I wasn’t happy about every change that had taken place. The World Bank reports that air pollution kills 2,000 Filipinos a year. In addition, in the cities of Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao and Baguio 9,000 suffer chronic bronchitis. Lost wages and medical treatment total Pesos 79.5 billion (US$1.5 billion) annually, 2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). This means that every Filipino spends around P 2,000 ($40) each year for treatment and medication for illnesses caused by air pollution.

Automobiles create 80 percent of the pollution, reducing everyone’s life expectancy. Tiny particles (“particulate matter”) penetrate deep into respiratory tissue and directly into the bloodstream. The good news is that eating more fresh fruits and vegetables help to reduce the creation of “free radicals” in the body caused by this particulate matter.

Deforestation has also worsened. From 1980 to 2000 the total forest coverage in Maharlika was reduced by half! Today only 19 percent of the country is covered by forest. The tragic results are land degradation, erosion, flash floods, draught and mudslides. (Ian Coxhead and Sisira Jayasuriya, “Environment and Natural Resources” in The Philippine Economy: Development, Policies and Challenges, Oxford University Press, 2003.)

The West prides itself on its science and technology, yet it ignores the warnings of world scientists about the effects of pollution and global warming. First in 1992, scientists from around the world signed a joint letter asking world leaders to sign the global warming treaty at Kyoto. Five years later even more signed a "Call to Action"– 1,500 scientists from 63 countries, including 110 Nobel Prize laureates. Then in 2001, 100 Nobel laureates issued a brief but dire warning of the profound dangers facing the world from global warming and the proliferation of small arms: “…To survive in the world we have transformed, we must learn to think in a new way. As never before, the future of each depends on the good of all.”

Predictably, these compelling warnings have been for the most part ignored by the mainstream media in the United States because they are contrary to the policies of the US government.

I checked the Forbes magazine website (www.forbes.com) to see who are the richest Filipinos – as expected, the three billionaires were also the wealthiest people 20 years before:

Lucio Tan, self-made wealth from cigarettes, liquor, Philippine Airlines and Philippine National Bank. Total worth: US$ 1.7 billion.
Henry Sy & family, self-made, owns 23 shopping malls: US$1.5 billion.
Jaime Zobel de Ayala & family, inherited, Ayala Corporation owns real estate, water and telecom: US$1.3 billion.

By checking the Forbes lists during the last ten years, it can seen that each one is two to three times richer. So I asked each audience, “Are you?” Invariably the reply came, “No, we’re poorer!”

Professor Arsenio M. Balisacan of the University of the Philippines in his article “Poverty and Inequality” in The Philippine Economy: Development, Policies and Challenges, Oxford University Press, 2003 gives many statistics demonstrating how the widening gap between rich and poor has resulted in most of the gains of national economic growth being eaten up by the rich, leaving the poor with very little benefit.

Of course Prout’s response to this extraordinary widening gap between rich and poor is to remind everyone that the world’s physical resources are limited. If individuals accumulate too much, there will not be enough for everyone. So every country should decide maximum salaries, wealth and land ownership. The only reason to pay more is to motivate people to make a greater effort to benefit society.

I had the pleasure of meeting again Alejandro Lichauco, a radical economist cited in the bibliography of my book. His most recent work is Hunger, Corruption and Betrayal: A Primer on U.S. Neocolonialism and the Philippine Crisis, Citizen’s Committee on the National Crisis (CCNC), 2005, 115 pages, available online for $12.00 from www.marymartin.com. He writes on Thursdays and Sundays for The Daily Tribune and many of his articles can be found online by doing a Google search. He was imprisoned for three months and then kept under house arrest for two years by former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. In an “Open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo” published recently, Lichauco wrote: “The Philippines is now a case of humanitarian disaster. Late last year, the Food and Nutrition Research Institution of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST) released a survey finding that "8 out of 10 households are hungry." This is the first time, to our knowledge, that the government, through an important agency, acknowledged the fact that mass hunger--and not only mass poverty--now grips the lands.”

A Training Center for Spiritual Revolutionaries

2006-05-02T19:18:00.000Z

In the silent pine forests of southern Sweden lies a most inspiring center of transformation. Fourteen brothers and sisters have come from around the world to study there – from Argentina, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Madagascar, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Singapore and USA. They are highly motivated, and are literally putting their lives on the line.

They are in training to become nuns and monks. The color orange that they wear means they are dedicating their lives to the service of humanity. Though it differs from person to person, most spend about three years in training. In addition to chanting, practicing yoga asanas, reading spiritual philosophy, they are sitting for silent meditation 4-5 hours each day.

They also intensively study the spiritual and social philosophy of P.R. Sarkar, the founder of Prout. After passing all their exams, they then travel to India and are assigned to work in another continent from where they grew up.

The center was started in 1976, and hundreds who trained there have gone to six continents to serve humanity. I deeply enjoyed giving them Prout classes for two days and doing long meditation together. I told them that I have come to realize after 28 years of working as a monk, I am very much still “in training”! Every day I am learning, discovering, struggling to understand and to realize the deepest truths.

Then I drove to Stockholm where I stayed in the home of Proutists Krsnadeva and Sumana. I recorded nearly 3 hours of their personal experiences with the founder of Prout – incredible. Sumana said that in their last meeting together, Sarkar said, “You know, there are two kinds of people in this world, those who give, and those who get. Which kind are you?” She laughed and replied, “The kind that give, Baba.” But ever since that day, she realizes that so many people, even those on a spiritual path, are always concerned about and often criticize the quality of seminars, programs, etc., without looking for ways to contribute, to make it better. These stories are being transcribed now.

Five trainees plus other employees and interns are working in an organic bakery in Stockholm (www.sattvanaturbageriet.com). It’s an incredible beehive of activity round the clock. I also gave them a class on Thursday.

Then on Friday night I gave a lecture on Prout and Spiritual Values that they organized for the public – 35 people, both young and old, came. These people fill me with hope.

If you are ever uncertain about what to do in your life, and how you could contribute more to making a better world, there’s a beautiful, quiet place in southern

Sweden

that I highly recommend!

Finland Social Forum

2006-04-05T19:23:00.000Z

SOCIAL FORUM OF FINLAND

Over 1000 people came to the Third Finnish Social Forum in Helsinki on April 1-2, 2006. Once again it proved to be a most remarkable occasion to network with other activists, or, as Sarkar termed it, “to unite the moralists,” meaning those who are struggling for a better world.

Before the event Didi Annapurna wrote two one-page articles in Finnish that were posted on the Social Forum web page (www.sosiaalifoorumi.fi) after a long struggle with the organizers, insisting that small groups also have a right to be heard. One is about social change and Prout in Venezuela, and the other is called “Why Another World is Inevitable” that explains the spiritual dimension. She also spoke twice during the press conference before the event.

We organized five workshops during the event that were advertised in 50,000 copies of the Social Forum newspaper distributed around the country. I gave three: “From Evolution to Revolution,” “From Erosion of Democracy to Quadro-dimensional Economy,” and ; “Cardinal Human Values in the Economy” with Didi Annapurna. In addition, Dr. Sauli Siekkinen spoke on “Strength from Volunteering” and Didi Ananda Krpa, Dada Gatimayananda and Bhuwan Pathak from Vasudaiva Kutumbakam from Uttarakhand in the Central Himalayas talked about “Restoring Ecological Balance.” More than 70 people attended these workshops.

I was asked to sit on the panel of the workshop “A Debate on the World Social Forum” to explain the way in which Proutist Universal’s application to join the International Council of the WSF was rejected and how the promise two years ago to set up a process to hear our appeal has still not been prepared. In an amazing Cosmic “coincidence”, Oded Grajew, the Brazilian entrepreneur who originally conceived the idea of the World Social Forum and is on the WSF Secretariat, arrived a few minutes before I spoke. Afterwards he insisted, as did other members of the International Council who were present, that a proper and transparent decision-making process should be followed in this case.

This year I was also allowed to speak to the general audience in the closing ceremony. I told how during my last visit to Finland, I spoke at the University of Helsinki School of Economics where one of the professors insisted that in their belief, capitalism was good and the best way for developing countries to progress. I answered that of course capitalism works for some people, but not for everyone. On a wall in Mumbai was written, “Every morning I wake up on the wrong side of capitalism!” What the world needs today is an economic system that benefits everyone, so that we can share and utilize the resources of the world in a just and ecological way.

We sold 20 books and gave an interview to a magazine about social service work. Our success was a result of our continued efforts and struggles on the organizing committee, and the unity and the help of many Proutists, especially Omprakash and Mitra. The Finnish translation of “After Capitalism: Prout’s Vision for a New World” is now being reviewed and will be printed within a few months.

World Social Forum Caracas VI March

2006-01-31T15:12:00.000Z

Marching for a Better World

On the first day of the Sixth World Social Forum in Caracas thousands of activists marched from the Central Venezuelan University with the theme, “Another world is possible!”

Thirty Proutists formed the most colorful and attractive group with the best music! Singing kiirtan continually, waving orange flags while they danced, they followed two wonderful clowns on stilts with orange flags. They carried four banners which said: “Cooperatives = Economic Democracy, Prout: A Vision for a New World”, “The first revolution is the revolution of consciousness,” The absence of universal spirit is the root of all problems – P.R. Sarkar,” and “Struggle for social justice and meditate for peace.” A slightly intoxicated older man did the whole march with us, playing some incredible bongo rhythms with our kiirtan for four hours.

Five thousand journalists are registered here at the WSF, and the majority were at the march, taking photos and filming. We gave dozens of interviews for both Venezuelan and international media. Events such as this one has tremendous potential for propagating the ideals of Prout and P.R. Sarkar. The more Proutists that can participate, the greater impact we can make.

Venezuelan National Radio report (English translation)

2005-10-26T22:55:00.000Z

American Monk Affirms that New Socialism Promotes Well-being.

Venezuelan National Radio September 11 2005

The monk Dada Maheshvarananda explained that the new form of progressive socialism promotes well-being and integration between nations, with the aim of sharing the resources of the planet for the common good.

Socialism of the 21st century, or "progressive socialism", promotes well-being and integration between nations, with the aim of sharing the resources of the planet for the common good, said American monk Dada Maheshvarananda.

During the conference Endogenous Development and Socialism of the 21st Century, held in the Hotel Rasil in Puerto La Cruz, Anzoategui, Maheshvarananda said that new socialism should be composed of three economic levels.

These levels, according to his point of view, are: A small scale free market made up of private businesses; a second level of cooperatives that makes up the majority of the economy; and a third which contains some state-owned enterprises.

The peace activist and promoter of the Progressive Utilization Theory (abbreviated Prout in English) with a multidimensional focus , which advocates economic democracy of the people, visited the Eastern Venezuelan city along with Steve Phillips, an expert in the creation and administration of cooperatives.

Prout is a socioeconomic theory that favors a progressive and dynamic adjustment to the political, economic, and social environment for the better development of human potential, both spiritual and psychological.

According to its hypothesis, the resources of the world should be distributed in a progressive and efficient manner with the intent of guaranteeing the basic necessities for all human beings.

The conference was organized by the national petroleum company (Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A or PDVSA), and served a varied group of people, including people from the petroleum industry, community groups, students and cooperative activists from the State of Anzoategui.

Venezuela, in turn, is showing the lecturer a new path to improve social and economic inequality.

In this sense, Dada Maheshvarananda commented that Venezuela is the first country in the world that is aggressively and vigorously fighting to eradicate poverty, which he characterized as a positive example for the world.

Furthermore he insisted that the country demonstrates the importance of eliminating the historical gap between the rich and poor, originating from the neoliberal economic model.

"Venezuela is a model for the future. Today every country is looking to the Venezuelan experience which widely favors those most in need. It is the path to the elimination of poverty," he proclaimed.

The Catholic Church in Venezuela

2005-10-25T16:33:00.000Z

Leonardo Boff, one of the founders of Liberation Theology, said, "For
500 years, there have been two Catholic Churches in Brazil: one of the
rich and one of the poor." I have many friends who are priests and nuns
who work with the poor in Brazil. Their sacrifice and dedication are a
great source of inspiration to me.

I spoke at length with Charlie Hardy, a former Catholic priest from
Wyoming, USA, who has lived in Venezuela for more than 20 years. As a
priest with the Maryknoll Order, he used to live in a slum barrio with
no electricity, running water or toilets for many years. Because of his
strong sympathies with the poor, he is a supporter of the anti-poverty
programs of President Hugo Chavez. His insightful blog site, "Cowboy in
Caracas: A Voice from the New America" is: http://fuego.net/

Charlie explained that because of a historical Concordia agreement
between the government of Venezuela and the Vatican, only Venezuelan-born priests are allowed to become bishops in that country. A popular saying in the Church is that when a Venezuelan priest is newly ordained, he is told, You have to decide, do you want to serve the people or become a bishop? It means that if a priest decides to work with the poor, he will never be promoted in the Church heirarchy.

The Venezuelan bishops that are published in the newspapers invariably
criticize the Chavez government. (The newspapers are owned by the
superrich who are opposed to Chavez.) For example, Cardinal Rosalio
Castillo Lara said to journalists on Oct. 22 that Venezuelans ought to
"deny recognition" to the Chavez government and organize civil
disobedience against because it because it is, "ill-fated and dangerous".

High level Church officials criticize Chavez because he reduced
government spending for private schools, which affected Catholic
schools. During the April 2002 coup attempt, Cardinal Ignacio Velasco
tried to persuade Chavez to sign a letter resigning from the presidency
while he was under military arrest.

There is no archbishop in Caracas because the government does not
approve of the Vatican´s nominee.

There are a few progressive priests in Venezuela (Franciso Rondon in
Caracas, Obaldo Santana in Maracaibo who is second vice president of
Bishops Council, and Padre Paulo) who support the democratic reforms of
the government, including a bishop, so of course the previous admonition
is not always followed.

Introduction: What kind of world do you want?

2005-10-25T15:51:00.000Z

Namaskar (this is a Sanskrit greeting which means “I greet the divinity in you with charms of my mind and the love of my heart”).

When I arrived in Europe in June 2003, Pranava from Hannover, Germany, generously lent me a small red 1990 Ford Escort. Two years later, Tilakapash in Lisbon donated a 1994 Fiat Punto S. I’ve been continually traveling, usually by car but sometimes by bus or plane, to Portugal, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, England, Wales, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Austria, Hungary and Poland. When people ask me where I’m based, I reply the global office of Proutist Universal is in Copenhagen, Denmark, but the truth is I visit there only occasionally.

I’ve been wonderfully charmed by the beautifully diverse cultures, history, languages and people in each country. In each country I’ve given talks about my book, “After Capitalism: Prout’s Vision for a New World” with preface by Noam Chomsky. This has been published so far in Portuguese, Spanish, and Hungarian, and will soon be published in Italian, German, and Japanese.

In my opinion, the most significant page of my book is one that most readers skip – the acknowledgements. More than 70 individuals and a few organizations are listed there, and there are still others who asked to remain anonymous. The names include economists, environmentalists, agricultural experts, activists, cooperative consultants, senior Proutists and others, from six continents. The value of the book lies in their contributions.

Everywhere I go, friends and strangers continually help me. They organize lectures, debates and workshops; arrange interviews with the media; cook vegetarian meals for me and offer a place to spend the night; hand me a badly-needed donation.

In every presentation, I bring up the powerful theme of the World Social Forum, “Another world is possible.” I ask the audience “What kind of world do you want?” Invariably the responses are nearly always the same: a world without war, hunger, poverty, or exploitation; with more economic equality, ecological protection, community and cooperation; with a better quality of life. I believe there is tremendous power in this common dream, because together, nothing is impossible.

How do we make that dream a reality? I think about this a lot. If you have some ideas, I’d love to hear them.