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Alternative Economy

James Foster • May 26, 2020

The Alternative Economy, what is it? 

Alternative Economy

The alternative economy is is an ideal that has been sought by a few, with numerous attempts, in the lifespan of capitalism, a few surviving within indigenous communities and other with modern day Intentional Communities intention, albeit most compromising with a convenience use of technology.


Technological advancement has been motivated by the evolution of man for personal significance through acquisition and personal control. A 'Missing Kind' consumer based on self and not ripe has evolved. Lost are many the values of nature, respect and holistic care.

There are many economic schemes operating at a local level that seek to retain wealth within that economy, cooperatives, bartering, sharing schemes, community gardening and amenities are a few.



Sufficiency economy

...is the name of a Thai development approach attributed to the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej's "sufficiency economy philosophy" (SEP). It has been elaborated upon by Thai academics and agencies, promoted by the Government of Thailand, and applied by over 23,000 villages in Thailand that have SEP-based projects in operation.


Soon after ascending to the throne in 1946, King Bhumibol toured the country and became aware of the hardships facing Thai farmers. At that time, the per capita GDP was about US$200. He took a keen interest in rural development, and instituted a number of royal projects to help the lot of the rural impoverished.


Sufficiency economy came to prominence during the 1997 economic crisis when the King told a nationwide television audience, "Recently, so many projects have been implemented, so many factories have been built, that it was thought Thailand would become a little tiger, and then a big tiger. People were crazy about becoming a tiger... being a tiger is not important. The important thing for us is to have a sufficient economy. A sufficient economy means to have enough to support ourselves."


Three interrelated components and two underlying conditions are central to SEP's application. The three components are reasonableness (or wisdom), moderation, and prudence. Two essential underlying conditions are knowledge and morality. In contrast to the concept that the primary duty of a company is to maximize profits for the benefit of shareholders, SEP emphasises maximising the interests of all stakeholders and having a greater focus on long-term profitability as opposed to short-term success.


The Chaipattana Foundation says sufficiency economy is "...a method of development based on moderation, prudence, and social immunity, one that uses knowledge and virtue as guidelines in living"


Resource Economy

Global problems faced by mankind today are impacting individuals and nations rapidly. Climate change, famine, war, epidemics of deadly diseases and environmental pollution contribute to the long list of global challenges we, as humans, need to promptly address before an eventual catastrophe swiftly becomes inevitable.  The drive to grow corporations for power over people without regard for planet or humanity is evident.


Regardless of political philosophy, religious beliefs, or social customs, all socio-economic systems ultimately depend upon natural resources, such as clean air and water, arable land, and the necessary technology and personnel to maintain a high standard of living.


Modern society has access to highly advanced technologies and can make available food, clothing, housing, medical care, a relevant educational system, and develop a limitless supply of renewable, non-contaminating energy such as geothermal, solar, wind and tidal.


It is now possible to have everyone on Earth enjoy a very high standard of living with all of the amenities that a prosperous civilization can provide. This can be accomplished through the intelligent and humane application of science and technology.


Individuals and interest groups are governed by laws that demand maximum profit where possible. These laws are inherent in the monetary system prevalent in most countries today – capitalism. The basic principles of capitalism demand exponential growth at all cost causing financial cataclysms.


We are separated by borders and beliefs which make it impossible for us to arrive at relevant solutions while being divided ideologically. Most of our problems today are technical but we are still looking for solutions through political means. We need to accept that eliminating these global threats requires the employment of methodologies rather than personal opinions.


“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

~ Albert Einstein


The Venus Project, schemed by Jaques Fresco, now observing from above, proposes a holistic approach with a global socio-economic system that utilizes the most current technological and scientific advances to provide the highest possible living standard for all people on Earth. The proposed system is called Resource Based Economy. The term and meaning was coined by Jacque Fresco, the founder of The Venus Project. https://www.thevenusproject.com/resource-based-economy/


In a Resource Based Economy all goods and services are available to all people without the need for means of exchange such as money, credits, barter or any other means. For this to be achieved all resources must be declared as the common heritage of all Earth’s inhabitants. Equipped with the latest scientific and technological marvels mankind could reach extremely high productivity levels and create abundance of resources.


Resource Based Economy concerns itself with three main factors, namely Environmental, Technological and Human. We invite you to investigate further into these factors and discover more about The Venus Project and Resource Based Economy.


The Ubuntu, One Small Town

“Ubuntu” is an African expression of ancient wisdom, which is echoed by all ancient civilizations. It simply means “unity within community” where everyone contributes their natural talents or skills for the greater benefit of all.


The native American Cherokee have a similar philosophy that says; “if it’s not good for everyone, it’s no good at all”. This philosophy is one of the founding principles of our proposed system of Contributionism.


The Ubuntu plan provides a blueprint for a new social structure, which delivers freedom from financial slavery to the whole town and everyone who participates.


Ubuntu Planet is focused on creating the first One Small Town, to lead by example, and serve as a model for all other towns anywhere in the world. The objectives are very simple and very achievable – but it will require us to WORK TOGETHER – UNITED.


OBJECTIVES:

  • Unite the people in a simple vision and objective
  • Where possible, provide our town with our own supply of electricity, which will support all our activities and liberate the town from reliance on the electricity grid.
  • Rejuvenate our town with diverse industry and innovation that will provide work for everyone – not just a chosen few.
  • Support our inventors and scientists to create new technologies on every level which will include an alternative energy supply that is eco-friendly and provide electricity at no cost to the community.
  • Support our farmers to grow an abundance of organic food and banish GMO companies like Monsanto that are destroying our seeds and food security.
  • Support our healers to develop new methods and technologies that truly heal people, and provide cures for most diseases, which many of us know is possible.
  • Ensure the growth of traditional healing plants and prevent the pharmaceutical mafia from eliminating these plants.
  • Support our teachers to develop an alternative education system that teaches our children real skills for life and opens their eyes to infinite possibilities.
  • Support our Master Craftsmen to share their knowledge and skills with those who wish to learn.
  • Evolve into communities free from the economic stranglehold created by the banking cartels.


REVOLUTION

This revolution of change happens not with guns or violence like our forefathers, but with the perspective that change can happen within a community based on our combined efforts. Existing laws and financial structures will be used to create this self-sustaining community.

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How does BATEBOX differ and how can it make a difference?

By James Foster • 03 Nov, 2020
What's the process and how does it achieve balance?

Truth in Governance?

By Hugh Callacher • 15 Jul, 2020
Asking myself, why do I have such a paranoid distrust in our Government and doubt the accuracy and factuality of mainstream media? Why, such a lack of truth? By accident or planned? Pandemic or Plandemic? The Covid-19 virus was about to hit us, but with no logic, it seemed nonsensical, reminding me of why I had developed such distrust in governance and media, l had become paranoid with doubting government statements and mainstream media as a reliable source of news and facts. There is much historical 'evidence' that Global Governance and population control has been on the agenda for decades, if not centuries. I read from one text, that the best place to hide something is to make it visible, sure enough, l found an abundance to follow, enough to feast any enquiring investigative journalist. BUT, what constitutes evidence? What is Truth? Governance, with the help of media... or should I say, 'Media with the help of Government', have succeeded in manipulating the message and creating an obedient and apathetic population for centuries. A population preoccupied with a simplistic existence, hindered only by the open minded free-thinkers and 'awakened' spiritualists. My distrust and enlightenment came from 911. I was oblivious to any possible deception as l shared the emotional experience of watching the saga unfold on TV, although there was something unreal about the reporting and the incidents, it passed me by amidst all the emotions. Some time later, I was advised to watch a documentary titled 'Zeitgeist', which I never got around to do with my 'busy' life. Then, whilst working in Cape Town, on my desk one day appeared an invite to a showing of the film. l just had to go! It covered all those sub-conscious questions answered with one movie; I had a confused and ignorant mind on the science of religion and the banking system, there it was - a three-part movie and all my answers in one show. I was close to collapse at the end of it, a discovery of reality for me. My growing understanding and belief put me into a category, labelled by the political media as a 'Conspiracist'. A title for the accuser, or for the accused I wonder? The images of the tower, waves of screams as fire fighters selflessly tried to save lives, could a body of elites really have planned this inhumane act, and watch it unfold? I felt overcome with nausea as l pondered the possibilities. I wanted everyone to share this knowledge, I bought 50 copies of the Zeitgeist DVD and distributed it at work and at home... there was an astonishing lack of interest. I pondered the differences between us, the biggest was I had no family commitments, they were largely living in the day within their family unit, I was the traveller with time to think, the enquiring mind! Following that enlightenment and the extensive research that followed, I could no longer believe neither government or media. No one was questioning the obvious. Once my brain was free of the emotions and the media rhetoric, it became visible as an unbelievable pantomime. A performance protected by the media, which few questioned. I imagined the thousands of Secret Service personnel attached to this operation, also all the many non-complicit people, witness to the truth by default and carrying this burden of guilt for the rest of their lives. I felt too for the perpetrators who instructed and schemed this massacre, knowing they could never find kindness for humanity or themselves. Well, that is my introduction to distrust, and why l feel duty bound to find the truth behind Covid-19, realising I can do little about the outcome of it, I am motivated to dig for justice. It has led me down many rabbit holes with this Covid-19, questioning my own stupidity to let it absorb my life and the apathy of my friends in sharing these concerns. It was soon not difficult to understand the importance of propaganda and civil agitation as tools to control a population by fear and division. Feeling inadequate and a sense of cowardice as l listen to others speaking out, I was searching for my contribution, a contribution towards free speech, truth and social justice. In that search, BateBox emerged, a people's truth platform to discuss sensitive issues without bias or dominant ego. Additionally, I knew the power of kindness and the importance of restoring my 'Missing Kind' activities, hence I am in the process of launching KindaSound.org, an internet based kindness radio station with global aspirations. Hx

Truth vs. Truth

By James Foster • 26 May, 2020
Truth vs. Truth! Okay, think about this one. Why do we so often believe in our own truth, which is not the perceived truth of another? Batebox, in its pledge to be truthful, may be on a loser! What is Fact? Obvious deception to one, is conspiracy to another! But conspiracy by who, the accused or the accuser? We are all aware of the problem that can arise from eye witness testimony and the variety of descriptions that witnesses can provide. Our system of justice simply could not work if the descriptions offered by every witness were all taken to be absolutely true. The fact is, what we are dealing with is the perception of truth by each of the witnesses. Some truly believe that they offer the truth, despite the fact that the evidence says something else all together. Many stories of our propensity to believe what we want to believe. Often weaved into both scenarios is the construct known as cognitive dissonance, or the notion that we can hold two mutually exclusive ideas simultaneously and never recognise this dissonance. I'm sure you have all experienced a contrast of two people, each believing a different truth of the same outcome, typically seen in witness testimonies, when both cannot be true. So it is with truth these statements are made -- or we need to change our meaning of the word. Thus, when you next hear something like, "That is my personal truth," recognise that, as with the witnesses, they are describing the truth according to their perception -- and that is all they are describing. Perception is an interesting human faculty in that science has clearly shown that there are many shared illusions, preferences, beliefs, and so forth that literally reinforce false perceptions. For example, with a nocebo one may think that they have come upon some poisonous substance from WWII, as actually happened in a small Midwestern school. The teacher who discovered this drum with crossed bones on it in the basement immediately became alarmed and within an hour she was running a temperature, experiencing difficulty breathing, inflammation and hives. By nightfall, one-third of the school was in the hospital manifesting the same physical symptoms. Everyone magically healed when they learned that the contents of that 50 gallon drum was only water. Personal truth Perception is not truth -- and sometimes it is a lie. It is false to facts. If we are to become awake, it is incumbent upon us to seek the truth. Truth seekers recognise the many possible paths others call truth, but they are unwilling to accept the herd definition and rather continue their journey seeking that ineffable and perhaps undiscoverable epistemological certainty. Do wish our Batebox research team well on their quest in supplying accurate and truthful information!

Missing Kids...

By James Foster • 26 May, 2020
Supported by the Missing Kind charity , the BateBox AWARENESS topics are to answer questions side stepped by the mainstream media. One such sensitive topic is that of Child Trafficking. Listen to this... ... 112,000 children reported missing in the UK... LAST YEAR! In the US... 460,000 (source: globalmissingkids.org ) The true numbers and reason for abductions are unknown, the scale of this humanitarian crime can only be surmised. The lack of media interest or government resource are interesting discussions to have. CAUTION! The research and discussion will reveal emotional information that could be damaging to mental well being. An overview from missingkids.org ... Overview: Child sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, or advertising of a minor child for the purpose of a commercial sex act, which involves the exchange of anything of value – such as money, drugs or a place to stay – for sexual activity. While any child can be targeted by a trafficker, research has shown that traffickers often target children with increased vulnerabilities and prey upon a child’s vulnerability and use psychological pressure and intimidation to control, and sexually exploit, the child for financial benefit. However, the issue of child sex trafficking is complex and not all instances of child sex trafficking involve an identified trafficker. In such cases, it is the person buying sex from the child who exploits the child’s vulnerabilities. Traffickers and buyers of children for sex encompass all racial, socio-economic and cultural groups. Child sex trafficking has devastating consequences for its minor victims, including long-lasting physical and psychological trauma, disease, and/or even death and torture, the circumstantial evidence (evidence that relies on an inference to connect it to a conclusion of fact) of child sacrifice in the circles of close orders is substantial . From www.globalmissingkids.org ... ... Missing Children’s Statistics: One Missing Child Is One Too Many. The lack of a common definition of “missing child,” and a common response to the issue, results in few reliable statistics on the scope of the problem around the world. Even with this challenge, we know that: In Australia, an estimated 20,000 children are reported missing every year. Australian Federal Police, National Coordination Centre In Canada, an estimated 45,288 children are reported missing each year. Government of Canada, Canada’s Missing – 2015 Fast Fact Sheet In Germany, an estimated 100,000 children are reported missing each year. Initiative Vermisste Kinder. In India, an estimated 96,000 children go missing each year. Bachpan Bachao Andolan, Missing Children of India In Jamaica, an estimated 1,984 children were reporting missing in 2015. Jamaica’s Office of Children’s Registry In Russia, an estimated 45,000 children were reported missing in 2015. Interview with Pavel Astakhov MIA “Russia Today”, Apr. 4, 2016 In Spain, an estimated 20,000 children are reported missing every year. Spain Joins EU Hotline for Missing Children, Sep. 22, 2010. In the United Kingdom, an estimated 112,853 children are reported missing every year. National Crime Agency, UK Missing Persons Bureau. In the United States, an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing every year. Federal Bureau of Investigation, NCIC. This, however, is only a snapshot of the problem. In many countries, statistics on missing children are not even available; and, unfortunately, even available statistics may be inaccurate due to: under-reporting/under-recognition; inflation; incorrect database entry of case information; and deletion of records once a case is closed. The lack of numbers, and the discrepancy in the numbers that do exist, is one of the key reasons why ICMEC developed and advocates for the Model Missing Child Framework, which assists countries with building strong, well-rounded national responses, and facilitates more efficient investigations, management, and resolution of missing children cases. On the BateBox agenda... The recorded and unrecorded statistics The related charitable organisations, their roles The trafficking rings Government action? Media reporting? Enough is enough!
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