There is as yet no civilized society,
But only a society in the process of becoming civilized.
There is as yet no civilized nation,
But only nations in the process of becoming civilized.
From this standpoint,
We can now speak of a collective task of humankind.
The task of humanity is to build a genuine civilization.
-- Felix Adler
Reality
There are many reasons to create a comprehensive, new organization. Since investing/retirement is something that resonates with most people, let's start with it...
For a nice, succinct piece of research that serves to explain the why of my efforts to create a new organization, please go to this article at CBS moneywatch.com. For the complete report, please click the link in the second paragraph of the article. Related articles can be found here and here. Please take the time to thoroughly review the articles. Without this background, the concept/organization that I briefly describe below will make sense from a lifestyle perspective, but it is important to realize that we do not have a choice. (After being aware of this reality for a number of years and being unable to convince others of it, I am somewhat encouraged by the coverage in conventional media channels.)
The pertinent excerpt:
Because we have way overstepped sustainable levels, the greatest challenge will be in redesigning lifestyles to emphasize quality of life while quantitatively reducing our demand levels. --Jeremy Grantham
August 30, 2011 Update
An excerpt from the monthly letter of Bill Gross at PIMCO, one of the largest investment funds in the world:
How should you invest when Euroland is at each other’s throat, when a thinly disguised battle between labor and capital freezes policy action in the United States, when a mercantilistic partnership between developed and developing nations produces more questions than answers, more losers than winners? Increase the odds for a divorce, we’d suggest, which in investment markets means focusing on the return of your capital as opposed to the return on your capital. [Bold emphasis mine. MH]--Bill Gross
It should be noted that the organization described on this page is one way of "focusing on the return of capital." It allows members to store wealth in assets that can produce in an era of reduced energy.
The Mission
Create an organization that builds and renovates living and learning environments around the world that can adapt to the reality of a limited resource planet -- and provide a high quality of life. Essentially, what I have in mind is a combination of two institutions: 1) a university along the lines of those that existed in the Renaissance and 2) a monastery in the sense that it is an environment that fosters spirituality rather than materiality and in the best of times has been self-sufficient/local.
The Concept/Organization
A quality future is all about access and mobility. Also, in a contracting economy, it is not advisable, nor desirable, to charge interest. In any economy, indebtedness is to be avoided as it is an insidious form of slavery. These characteristics of the organization differentiate it from all -- to my knowledge -- existing institutions and organizations. The ability for all participants to build equity -- rather than accumulate debt -- is a key feature of any prosperous and peaceful future.
The organization will build sustainable environments through the use of member's deposits. Members have access to the worldwide properties through a reservation system that grants priority based on deposit amounts and the timing of those deposits. In addition, space is reserved for those independent contractors who operate the infrastructure. The goal is to be as independent as possible with respect to all production. This will reduce the risk of inflation and hyper-inflation and will solve one of our most pressing problems: the lack of quality livelihoods for a significant portion of the world's population. (If you don't think that what you do for a living is degrading and demoralizing, you are unconscious.)
The Infrastructure
A composite of the best characteristics of these living and learning environments (among others):
Add up to a dozen or so quality living quarters and you have a ZWorldBank (tm) asset. Proper scale is an integral part of a quality environment.
The reality of reduced energy availability may result in the creation of places that resemble Shaker settlements. The high quality of their work is an inspiration.
This is the place that Oprah goes to when she wants to lose weight.
(Please note that Mountain Trek has a British Columbia property in addition to their program at Rancho La Puerta.)
(Check out the resort map in order to get a better feel for potential infrastructure design. No roads, only paths.)
"...teaching students to write effectively, learn from each other and think for themselves"
The local campus that has helped me envision a better living and learning environment. The campus environment -- no cars and rules that allow study and contemplation -- is a goal.
The scale of this property and the extensive garden provide a noteworthy example of infrastructure.
Locally sourced ingredients.
15 dining places, 24 hour access to laboratory space
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Contact me via the email link on the right side of the page if you have an interest in being a financial capital partner and/or a working capital partner.
