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Economic Democracy Economic Democracy in Latin Americain Latin America

and the United Statesand the United States

Dada Maheshvarananda www.priven.org

www.priven.org1. My story...1. My story...

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“At the risk of sounding

ridiculous, I would say that the true revolutionary is guided by great feelings of love.”

www.priven.org Yoga and meditation

me, 1976

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Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar(1921-1990)

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Prout = Progressive Utilization Theory socio-economic model:

• economic self-reliance• cooperatives• environmental balance • universal spiritual values.

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Brazil: Prout: alternative to global colonization.Economic democracy with cooperatives.Basic necessities for all.Capitalist greed is destroying our planet.

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Responses to Exploitation

1. Silence2. Reform3. Revolution

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2. Economic Democracy... 2. Economic Democracy... why?why?

www.priven.org What kind of world do we want?

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We all want:

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END OF GLOBAL CAPITALISM?

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www.priven.orgWealth Inequality in USA

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Conservative Frank Luntz

fracking = “energy exploration”healthcare reform = “government takeover”government spending = “waste”capitalist = “job creator”CEO bonuses = “pay for performance”global capitalism = “economic freedom”

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Economy of, by and for the people

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Guarantee five minimum necessities of life to all:• food• clothing • housing• education • medical care

RIGHT TO LIVE!

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Jobs with fair wages guaranteed to all.

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Three Levels of Economy

1. Small Scale Private Enterprises

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2. Cooperatives• Base of “economic democracy”

• workers own their enterprises

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3. Strategic Key Industries

• public utilities

• belong to society, never privatized

www.priven.orgLocal economies

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1. Council of respected elders2. Wise leader3. Political democracy4. Participatory democracy

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3. Economic Democracy3. Economic Democracyin Latin Americain Latin America

Minimum necessities for all

www.priven.org Free Healthcare

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VenezuelanEconomy

Poverty reduced 50%. Extreme poverty reduced 70%.

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66,000 functioning

co-ops in Venezuela

2nd highest after China!

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empowerment

33,000 communalcouncils

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“We are Chávez!”

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CECOSESOLA Food Co-op

Barquisimeto, Venezuela

Open 4 days/week450 tons of produce

weekly30% off supermarket

prices55,000 families shop

each week!

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Co-op hospitalCo-op funeral serviceMany small co-op

producers

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Workers takeover

failed enterprises

Argentina: 250 with 13,000 workers – only 2 failed.

Brazil: 174

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Co-op spirit

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Moral Leadership

moral force, spiritual vision, courage to fight injustice. Anyone can become a moral leader.

Rigoberta Menchú Marina Silva

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Publishing

Education

Research

Transform lives

Empower communities

Welfare of all

Raise consciousness

Strengthen cooperatives

Promote economic democracy

HowWhyWhat we do

Prout Research Institute of Venezuela

Independent, not-for profit foundation since 2007.

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The Quinta Prout with 40 beds for visitors!

www.priven.org Training coursesProut Projects in Prout Projects in

VenezuelaVenezuela

www.priven.orgDada: “Every morning I wake up

in paradise!”

Prout Projects in Prout Projects in VenezuelaVenezuela

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Prout Projects in Prout Projects in VenezuelaVenezuela

Yoga classesYoga classes

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Centro Madre: Prout Community Center in Barlovento

Prout Projects in Prout Projects in VenezuelaVenezuela

Didi Ananda Sadhana

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Prout Projects in VenezuelaProut Projects in Venezuela

Centro MadreCentro Madre: empowering self-reliance through education, sustainable agriculture, holistic development and ethical leadership.

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“Excellent” small scale sustainable agriculture

www.priven.org Neohumanist Education"The practice of love for all creation

including plants, animals, and the inanimate world."

1000 schools

Prout Projects in VenezuelaProut Projects in Venezuela

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4. Economic Democracy4. Economic Democracyin United Statesin United States

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Minimum wage: $7.25/hr.Maximum?

US federal employee starting salary: $17,803.Maximum salary: $179,700 (10 times higher).

(Source: General Schedule Grade 1 & Senior Executive Service).

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Cooperatives: did you know...

1 billion+ people are co-op members? Co-ops provide 2 million jobs in USA, 100+ million

worldwide (corporations: 80 milion)? 1st year, 40% new U.S. companies fail (10% co-ops

fail)? By 5th year, 60% U.S. companies fail (12% co-ops

fail)? [World Council of Credit Unions, Statistical Data: United States Credit Union

Statistics, 1939-2002.]

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Why don’t people cooperate more of the

time?

www.priven.org Social Darwinism

• Herbert Spencer's ideological basis of British, US and German imperialism: the strong should rule.

www.priven.org Scientific view

www.priven.org “Too big to fail”?

www.priven.orgMass media and

advertising

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What could we do to inspire people to cooperate more?

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COOPERATIVE GAMES

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Cooperative Musical Chairs

www.priven.orgLevitation

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Lack of Ethics

• Most common factor among criminals is lying.

Some powerful people also lie!

Many moral rules and laws created for power.

www.priven.org Ethics for Liberation

• Sarkar: balance individual and collective interests.

• Re-interpreted 10 ancient yoga moral principles (Yama and Niyama)

• Rejected rules-based morality, absolutes.

www.priven.orgCardinal Human Values

• honesty, courage,

• mercy, humility,

• self-restraint, compassion.

• protect the weak,

• avoid harming others,

• overcome selfishness.

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1. Ahim’sá: Not to intentionally harm others with one’s actions,

words or thoughts.

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5. Aparigraha: Not to accumulate wealth or

indulge in comforts which are unnecessary.

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5. Ecological & Spiritual 5. Ecological & Spiritual PerspectivePerspective

www.priven.orgClarification:

Dogma vs. Spirituality Fundamentalism is close-

minded, Blind obedience,Instills fear.Divides people into believers

and non-believers.

Open-minded,Questioning,Promotes love.Views all people as one

human family.

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Spiritual perspective of Prout

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MEDITATIONBenefits:  overcoming insomnia, depression and mental complexes; increasing memory, concentration, willpower, self-control, self-esteem and tolerance; developing mental peace, wisdom, compassion and unconditional love.

www.priven.orgHealth-related benefits• Meta-analysis of 20 research studies of mindfulness

meditation: • 87% less heart disease, 55% fewer tumors, 50%

fewer hospitalizations, 30% fewer mental disorders, 30% fewer infectious diseases.

• Meditation-based therapies reduce chronic pain, anxiety and depression, substance abuse, suicidal behavior.

www.priven.orgPrison Meditation Classes

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Close your eyesClose your eyesSit straightSit straightBreathe deeplyBreathe deeplyRepeat your mantraRepeat your mantraPractice every dayPractice every day

HOW TO MEDITATE?HOW TO MEDITATE?

www.priven.orgBaba Nam Baba Nam KevalamKevalam

Universal mantra in Sanskrit:

“Love is all there is.”

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“Follow your bliss!”Joseph Campbell

6. Conclusion6. Conclusion

www.priven.org Take-aways?

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Learn!

$19.95• www.aftercapitalism.org • www.proutglobe.org• www.priven.org