With special guests and representatives from
PROUT COLLEGE
PROUT INSTITUTE OF VENEZUELA
HAITAN PROUT MOVEMENT
BURKINO FASO COOPERATIVES
ANG KASAMA OF MAHARLIKA
AND OTHERS
Plus…
PROUT workshop/forums
RAWA Cultural Programs
Open Space Technology
And more…
Venue:
ANANDA GAORI is situated in beautiful countryside 50 minutes to the Northwest of Copenhagen. Additional renovations are under way to make it a perfect venue for this convention with beds for everyone. For those who like camping, there is ample space for tents. There is also a beach access campground five minutes drive from MU.
Cost:
In order to give opportunity to the widest possible number of people, the cost of participation will be kept to a minimum. A limited fund will be available, to help defray participation and transportation costs, for people from countries having a disadvantage in exchange rates…
Please register early!
Entire Program:
Danish Kronor 1100
€150 / $200
First three days only:
DKK 550
€75 / $100
To register or for more information:
+45 33256671
proutconvention09@gmail.com
PROUT Global Office
30 Platanvej
Copenhagen, DK
by Dada Maheshvarananda
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 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 fulfillment 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 homeowners.
A local economy organized in this way would be human-based, resilient to global market fluctuations and inflation, and able to achieve full employment. Isn't this the type of economy we want?
**********
Dada Maheshvarananda is a yoga monk, activist and writer. He is author of After Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World with preface by Noam Chomsky, translated into 10 languages. He is director of the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela. See www.priven.org or write him at maheshvarananda@prout.org
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 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 fulfillment 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 homeowners.
A local economy organized in this way would be human-based, resilient to global market fluctuations and inflation, and able to achieve full employment. Isn't this the type of economy we want?
**********
Dada Maheshvarananda is a yoga monk, activist and writer. He is author of After Capitalism: Prout's Vision for a New World with preface by Noam Chomsky, translated into 10 languages. He is director of the Prout Research Institute of Venezuela. See www.priven.org or write him at maheshvarananda@prout.org
By P.R. Sarkar
The first requirement for economic democracy is that the minimum requirements of a particular age -- including food, clothing, housing, education and medical treatment -- must be guaranteed to all. Not only is this an individual right, it is also a collective necessity, because the easy availability of the minimum requirements will increase the all-round welfare of society.
The second requirement for economic democracy is that increasing purchasing capacity must be guaranteed to each and every individual. In economic democracy local people will hold economic power. Consequently, local raw materials will be used to promote the economic prosperity of the local people. That is to say, the raw materials of one socio-economic unit should not be exported to another unit. Instead, industrial centres should be built up wherever raw materials are available. This will create industries based on locally available raw materials and ensure full employment for all local people.
The third requirement for economic democracy is that the power to make all economic decisions must be placed in the hands of the local people. Economic liberation is the birthright of every individual. To achieve it, economic power must be vested in the local people. In economic democracy the local people will have the power to make all economic decisions, to produce commodities on the basis of collective necessity, and to distribute all agricultural and industrial commodities.
The fourth requirement for economic democracy is that outsiders must be strictly prevented from interfering in the local economy. The outflow of local capital must be stopped by strictly preventing outsiders or a floating population from participating in any type of economic activity in the local area. For the success of economic democracy, Prout must be implemented and the economic welfare of all people must be enhanced step by step. This in turn will lead to greater opportunities for the spiritual emancipation of human beings.
Finally, it should be remembered that economic democracy is essential not only for the economic liberation of human beings, but for the universal well-being of all -- including plants and animals. Economic democracy will devise ways and means to effect the smooth progress of society by recognizing the unique value of both humans and non-humans alike.
June 1986, Calcutta
Prout in a nutshell 21
The first requirement for economic democracy is that the minimum requirements of a particular age -- including food, clothing, housing, education and medical treatment -- must be guaranteed to all. Not only is this an individual right, it is also a collective necessity, because the easy availability of the minimum requirements will increase the all-round welfare of society.
The second requirement for economic democracy is that increasing purchasing capacity must be guaranteed to each and every individual. In economic democracy local people will hold economic power. Consequently, local raw materials will be used to promote the economic prosperity of the local people. That is to say, the raw materials of one socio-economic unit should not be exported to another unit. Instead, industrial centres should be built up wherever raw materials are available. This will create industries based on locally available raw materials and ensure full employment for all local people.
The third requirement for economic democracy is that the power to make all economic decisions must be placed in the hands of the local people. Economic liberation is the birthright of every individual. To achieve it, economic power must be vested in the local people. In economic democracy the local people will have the power to make all economic decisions, to produce commodities on the basis of collective necessity, and to distribute all agricultural and industrial commodities.
The fourth requirement for economic democracy is that outsiders must be strictly prevented from interfering in the local economy. The outflow of local capital must be stopped by strictly preventing outsiders or a floating population from participating in any type of economic activity in the local area. For the success of economic democracy, Prout must be implemented and the economic welfare of all people must be enhanced step by step. This in turn will lead to greater opportunities for the spiritual emancipation of human beings.
Finally, it should be remembered that economic democracy is essential not only for the economic liberation of human beings, but for the universal well-being of all -- including plants and animals. Economic democracy will devise ways and means to effect the smooth progress of society by recognizing the unique value of both humans and non-humans alike.
June 1986, Calcutta
Prout in a nutshell 21
PROUT is a complete socio-economic theory based on an integrated view of life and comprising a wide spectrum of human activity, propounded by Shrii Prabhat Rainjan Sarkar (1921-1990) in 1959. At the time it presented an undeniable challenge to the outdated Marxist and capitalist theories whose falls it predicts. Based on practical observances rather than theoretical assumptions, PROUT remains very much a vibrant rational ideological alternative today.
The name PROUT is an acronym of PROgressive Utilization Theory. For the first time human goals and aspirations on any level of existence have been brought within the compass of a comprehensive socio-economic theory. Earlier socio-economic thought could not comprehend a synthetic approach to human physical, mental and spiritual requirements. Hence they could provide neither for the integrated development of individuals nor the wholesome adjustment with others and the environment.
Visit ProutWorld at www.proutworld.org
The name PROUT is an acronym of PROgressive Utilization Theory. For the first time human goals and aspirations on any level of existence have been brought within the compass of a comprehensive socio-economic theory. Earlier socio-economic thought could not comprehend a synthetic approach to human physical, mental and spiritual requirements. Hence they could provide neither for the integrated development of individuals nor the wholesome adjustment with others and the environment.
Visit ProutWorld at www.proutworld.org
The PROUT introduction seminar was successfully conducted last June 21, 2008 at the conference hall of Baba Foundation, Inc in Davao City. This is the first PROUT seminar hosted by the Panaghugpong Mindanao to provide alternative socio-economic paradigm for the young professionals, students, artists and women groups.
The Panaghugpong Mindanao aspiration to establish a self-reliance regional socio-economic zones in Mindanao were strongly supported by the following samaj movements:
The Panaghugpong Mindanao aspiration to establish a self-reliance regional socio-economic zones in Mindanao were strongly supported by the following samaj movements:
- KAUBAN DABAW
- KATRIBU
- ANAK KALINAW
- KINAIYAHAN UNAHON
- BARUGANAN MINDANAO
- BABA FOUNDATION
- MAHARLIKA STUDENT ORGANIZATION
- LAKAN MINDANAO
Congratulations to AKSM 7th Anniversary
Victory to the benevolent “horn blower” of the new dawn in Maharlika. Today (12/15/2007), we are celebrating Ang KaSaMa’s 7th years of existence and its contribution for the social advancement in the name of development and progress with all its services, sacrifices and dedication to Maharlikan people.
A sincere salutations to AKSM BOD and Core Group who stood firmly with the movement in times of prosperity and adversity. This is another memorable year that flooded our hearts with the sense of triumph and joy, as we see clearly now the first ray of the rising sun in the eastern horizon shining in every home with much love and hope.
Ang Katipunan ng Samahang Maharlika (AKSM) is moving towards the effulgence with the marching tune of freedom of undefeated soldiers of righteousness. In the core of our hearts lay the most precious treasure of humanity. This unconditional love to God and to the motherland is our weapon, shield and source of eternal inspiration to create and build a new society where no one goes to bed hungry and will wipe out the rolling tears on the face of poverty.
AKSM throughout the years and the years to come firmly stand as a hard core advocates of PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) and Neo – Humanism. The movement is always vigilant that the welfare of all is not compromise, maintaining the harmony and progressive adjustment between the plant, animal and human world, and its entire endeavor reflects the true spirit of universalism.
It is in this context that AKSM as a socio-economic-cultural and political movement is based on anti-exploitation sentiment aiming at comprehensive, unburied expression of every individual and collective human society through the essence of universal spirit and regional in application. It is said that to establish universalism we are to foster Cosmic Sentiment and on this sentiment collective mind of the society will accept the feeling of cosmic fraternity. This cosmic fraternity is the cosmic vision of universalism.
Since the advent of AKSM seven years ago, it becomes a never ending effort to apply PROUT in the hard soil of reality. Through its member and affiliate organizations at home and abroad it will launch a popular movement in all the regions, provinces, municipalities, barangays (smallest political unit) and down to the village level in the country. This approach will lead us to our goal – the creation of a greater Maharlika Nation. The process of merger of all the socio-economic movements will gradually bring the whole nation under one administrative structure and ultimately will led to the formation of Good Governance in Maharlika and this will usher us to the new era of Maharlika Universal Samaj under God.
Once again, in this auspicious moment, in behaft of the Confederation a heartfelt greetings to Ang KaSaMa Inc. in celebrating its 7th founding anniversary. Wishing you all the best of success and power in conquering the hindrances that the movement may encounter now and the years to come. May the Blessing of the Lord will always guide and protect you.
Affectionately your brother in arms,
Deo P. Palma
Spiritual Director
Ang KaSaMa (url: http://www.angkasama.net)
Victory to the benevolent “horn blower” of the new dawn in Maharlika. Today (12/15/2007), we are celebrating Ang KaSaMa’s 7th years of existence and its contribution for the social advancement in the name of development and progress with all its services, sacrifices and dedication to Maharlikan people.
A sincere salutations to AKSM BOD and Core Group who stood firmly with the movement in times of prosperity and adversity. This is another memorable year that flooded our hearts with the sense of triumph and joy, as we see clearly now the first ray of the rising sun in the eastern horizon shining in every home with much love and hope.
Ang Katipunan ng Samahang Maharlika (AKSM) is moving towards the effulgence with the marching tune of freedom of undefeated soldiers of righteousness. In the core of our hearts lay the most precious treasure of humanity. This unconditional love to God and to the motherland is our weapon, shield and source of eternal inspiration to create and build a new society where no one goes to bed hungry and will wipe out the rolling tears on the face of poverty.
AKSM throughout the years and the years to come firmly stand as a hard core advocates of PROUT (Progressive Utilization Theory) and Neo – Humanism. The movement is always vigilant that the welfare of all is not compromise, maintaining the harmony and progressive adjustment between the plant, animal and human world, and its entire endeavor reflects the true spirit of universalism.
It is in this context that AKSM as a socio-economic-cultural and political movement is based on anti-exploitation sentiment aiming at comprehensive, unburied expression of every individual and collective human society through the essence of universal spirit and regional in application. It is said that to establish universalism we are to foster Cosmic Sentiment and on this sentiment collective mind of the society will accept the feeling of cosmic fraternity. This cosmic fraternity is the cosmic vision of universalism.
Since the advent of AKSM seven years ago, it becomes a never ending effort to apply PROUT in the hard soil of reality. Through its member and affiliate organizations at home and abroad it will launch a popular movement in all the regions, provinces, municipalities, barangays (smallest political unit) and down to the village level in the country. This approach will lead us to our goal – the creation of a greater Maharlika Nation. The process of merger of all the socio-economic movements will gradually bring the whole nation under one administrative structure and ultimately will led to the formation of Good Governance in Maharlika and this will usher us to the new era of Maharlika Universal Samaj under God.
Once again, in this auspicious moment, in behaft of the Confederation a heartfelt greetings to Ang KaSaMa Inc. in celebrating its 7th founding anniversary. Wishing you all the best of success and power in conquering the hindrances that the movement may encounter now and the years to come. May the Blessing of the Lord will always guide and protect you.
Affectionately your brother in arms,
Deo P. Palma
Spiritual Director
Ang KaSaMa (url: http://www.angkasama.net)
