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

"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

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!

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

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

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?

[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

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

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

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