Breaking Free of Old, Transitioning to New Paradigm

“Everything you do will be insignificant, and yet it is crucially important that you do it.” - Gandhi

There has been a string of worker suicides at Foxconn, a computer and electronic manufacturing company in China, which supplies high tech companies worldwide, and produces Mac-mini, iPod, iPad and i-phone. Steve Jobs of Apple Inc. defended Foxconn as 'pretty nice' and 'not a sweatshop.' Between the beginning of January 2008 and the end of January 2010, thirty-four France Télécom employees committed suicide, some leaving notes blaming stress and misery at work. [Wikipedia]. Sweatshops and sweatfactories are no longer limited to garment or athletic products manufacturing. How do we begin to make a transition?

Our collective liberation awaits our collective literacy of economics and new found perception of currency. This is all possible without violence or force, but through knowledge and right understanding of the nature and function of 'real' economies. The best way to engage ordinary citizens, women, students, activists, social entrepreneurs and humanitarians everywhere is to simply begin discussions on the topics that has shaped our economic-financial world. To transform the 'capital' in 'capitalism' we must begin with the present socio-economic realities and our daily living situation. The following questions could be asked at the kitchen table, in the classroom, engaged citizen groups and throughout the dhamma community for contemplation:

• What is money? Why is it needed in market buy-sell economy?
.  How does money (and credit) originate and put into circulation? Is money same as credit?
.  What prevents equilibrium in supply and demand of money and credit?
• What is fractional reserve banking?
. Why does money (and credit) originate as 'debt'?
• In what context did central banking originate?
• What is usury? How is it related to both ancient and modern (wage) slavery?
• Why do we have ever-growing private and public debt?
. Who is collecting all the public and private debts and assets? 
• What gives money its worth or value?
• Is sustainability possible with unsustainable currency?
• What is the difference between a real economy and a speculative economy?
• How do we generate and circulate money so that all basic human needs are met?
• Do we need different types of currencies for different economic sectors?
• Did currency exist before modern economics?
• Why do we need literacy when it comes to economics and their function in society?
• What role can women play in a more compassionate, humanitarian economy?
• What possibilities exist that we have yet to consider?

Asking profound questions is a way to generate a breakthrough, creative insights, and unforeseen possibilities. It is up to active, socially-conscious citizens to transform the system--not international banks, corporations and global institutions. The system is held both in our individual minds and our collective perceptions. When we become socially aware and engaged in making choices for the generations to come, our government and institutions are bound to change. The best part of such a transformative conversation: everyone has the opportunity to participate in shattering economic limitations and forging new pathways to a sustainable future. Read more at IMOW Economica New Visions Page here.

The whole Noble Eightfold Path laid out by Buddha is about liberation of mind (both individual and collective consciousness)through 'Samma' (i.e., correct, coherent, complete and true) understanding and release from unwholesome, unskillful mind-body habits and attachment to corrupt views, intention, speech, conduct, and livelihood. A dharma-based economic system must aspire to be good in the begining, good in the middle and good in the end, it must eschew extreme imbalances of rogue Capitalism or Communism and incorporate the best of human values, cross-cultural wisdom of ages and the urgent sustainability and human needs of this time.

Is Sustainability Possible Without Sustainable Currency?

We hear so much about sustainability these days as all human organizational systems - social, economic, political, educational, health complexes and their ecological footprints are becoming more and more unbalanced and unsustainable.

What would a 'mindful economy' look like? Can we use some principles of living systems to create a functional currency and fair economic system based on a creative application of Buddha's wholesome understanding (Right View) of human economy and Right Intention for currency free from greed, ill will and harm?

Could we start a collective appreciative Inquiry of 'Transforming the Capital in Capitalism? Can we see the true as true and false as false and use 'Right Speech' in our financial and business dealings? 'Money as debt' is not freedom yet and State-supported bailout of fraudulent banks and crony capitalism is communism of the rich.

The Chinese President wants IMF to start a new Global currency. But would it be wise for leaders of developing world to rely on IMF or World Bank, when so much of their policies to end poverty and speed up development in third world countries are actually deepening and perpetuating the viscious cycle of poverty, corruption of political leaders and massive transfer of wealth from poor to the rich countries. Ron Paul is for phasing out World Bank.

The EU President, Czeck PM calls the US plan to spend its way out of recession a 'Road to hell.'

Our president Obama is graciously receiving online questions on economy from us today. I asked "Mr president have you watched the Youtube Zeitgeist- On FED? What would you do to free 'we the people' and our governmnet from debt-based fractional reserve currency as Presidents Lincoln, Jackson, Kennedy aspired to give us and world's children?"

Here are two books that are addressing unsustainability of Capitalism as it functions now.
Mindful Economics by Joel M and Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth by David Korten.

So what is the Buddha way? The Buddha Way is to understand how systems like capitalism are constructed within the human mind and perception both at the individual and collective level, so we can create a mindful Wikinomics of compassion, generosity and right understanding.

Here's a playful inquiry of the Bailout Bull Economics & The Cow Economics
And renewed protest against War-economics on 6th anniversary of Iraq war.

And G-20 summit in London takes place amid public protest and pre-summit low expectation of economists.

Pictures of 2009 G-20 summit. Leaders pledge 1.1 trillion dollar to IMF and other Global financial institutions. Other News: Biden's Pre-summit meet. Popular Obama, unpopular plan.

Look which group of plutocrats and technocrats has a summer meetup at Athens, Greece?

Some call them the High Priests and Control Freaks of Globalization. Is our Government bailout succeeding in taking back partial ownership of mega banks by 'Breaking the Bank?'

So how do we stop cooperating with and move away from the war-military-intelligence-prison-big pharma-media-think tanks complex and begin to put our collective attention, intelligence and energy towards creating an Economy of Peace ?

And what role we as engaged buddhists, conscious citizens, women, youth, people of color, LGBT can play? IMAGINE a world living in peace and harmony, no need to kill, die, deceive, delude, persecute or oppress self and others.