Welcome to the CIRC website
Dedicated to Transformational Restructuring
CIRC is a networking hub and information source dedicated to building a better world. We work at all levels from local to global, sharing important information, connecting people, and catalyzing the development of healthy self-reliant communities. We believe that the world is presently undergoing a metamorphic change and that every one of us has a role to play in creating peace, harmony, and an abundant, dignified life for all.
As the new millennium enters it third decade, we find our institutions and way of life in a state of crisis and ready for transformation. This is a time in which we need to rethink, reorganize, and restructure. What shall we carry over with us into the new world, and what should we leave behind? What are the foundation principles upon which we should build new organizations and institutions? How will these be projected into everyday practice and relationships?
Our own explorations into these questions have identified six primary areas which are in urgent need of transformation. The links in the sidebar to the right provide, not only a critique of the present structures and description of the problems, but also a good many well-thought-out alternatives:
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Money, banking and finance: The fundamental role of money is to mediate the exchange process through which almost all economic quantities must pass. The present money and banking regime is dysfunctional in many ways, causing unemployment, recurrent depressions, inflation, waste, ecological despoliation, maldistribution of income and wealth, and war. Check the links to learn what can be done about it.
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Land tenure, property ownership, and environment: The distribution of land ownership has never been fair, and ownership everywhere is becoming ever more concentrated in a few hands. How can people live without access to land and nature’s resources? How can we avoid sliding into the abyss of class warfare?
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Taxation and public revenue: Taxation is inherently coercive, and taxes at all levels are increasingly unfair. All taxes could be eliminated, and a basic income provided for all, if one simple principle were applied — Pay for privilege.
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Government, law, and public policy: Government by the people and for the people has been a fundamental part of the American mythos and an aspiration of people around the world. But that dream is increasingly elusive. For the most part, the balloting process serves only to legitimize choices that have already been made behind the scenes by powerful groups which have interests that are at odds with those of the general populace and the environment. What can be done to reverse the decline into greater tyranny?
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Corporations and the centralization of power: The corporation has been called “the person without a soul.” The corporate charter is granted by the various states as a privilege that includes limited liability of the owners. Such privilege was originally granted to enable the undertaking of projects that were deemed to be in the general public interest. Now, most corporations seem to serve the interests of a much more limited group, while acting often against the public interest. The links in this section address this problem.
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Technology choices: Science and technology have wrought vast changes in the way we live. For better, or for worse, they represent a powerful force that seems to have its own impetus. But there are acknowledged risks and undesirable side effects inherent in the use of many technologies. How should such choices be made, and what are their political and economic implications. The links in this section address those questions.
Over the past several years, we have become aware of both the serious nature of the problems, and important new thinking in each of these areas. The dominant institutions have taken form in an era in which greed and self-seeking were esteemed as virtues, and unequal privilege was accepted as legitimate. But the good news is that we are now seeing new emergent structures which are based on service, fairness, personal freedom, fellowship, and cooperation. It is our hope and belief that the momentum will continue to grow as more and more “imaginal cells” in the body of the decaying caterpillar society awaken and work together to create the new “butterfly society.”
We believe that the information contained on this site and its various links will be very helpful to you and your communities in finding your way. You can help by recommending additional sources which we can link to.
Thevenusproject.com
smallisbeautiful.org/publications/essays_swann/role_of_local_currency_im.PDF
http::// bayareatransitionresources.wikispaces.com
Thomas, just a suggestion maybe you could add a group share buttons to the bottom of all of your articles so that we could spread the word to friends that could become believers in the cause.
Thanks ahead of time for your work in this field for all of mankind.
Robert
Hi,
i am looking for someone to help me to create a program in spanish for an alternative currency combined with time banking.
Can anyone help me?
Best
joseluis@olacoach.com
Hello,
Thank you for your dedication to educating the masses on how it doesn’t have to be this way. I am curious how well your books are selling. If not as well as I hope, then just as with our current economic system, considering alternative ways to achieve a better result might be in order.
I think we should produce a film or animation series that depicts a realistic example of how life could be at its best, today. Although I am not a professional writer I believe I have some compelling approaches to consider.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated,
Darren
dc@creativesway.com
Darren,
People respond emotionally as well as rationally. In fact emotion probably plays the larger role.
What will be effective in changing behavior?
The advertising industry and political manipulators have become the masters in that realm.
Still, they have only scratched the surface in their understanding.
Build it and they will come? Maybe.
Google and Facebook are two examples of great success that astounded ever their creators.
How can we achieve a breakthrough?
I keep trying to figure that out.
I think a large part of it will be deterioration of conditions to the point where large numbers of people become dissatisfied with the status quo and perceive a need for something new.
Thank you, Mr. Greco, for what you’re doing here. I believe awareness of the situation is growing. Keep the faith.
I’ve put up a web site that I think helps make the basic principles more understandable to more people. http://www.moneybydebt.org (you’re referenced on the Better Ideas page)
Dear T. Greco,
I am living in eco-village, not far from Moscow.
Recently, the new idea of alternative money system come to my mind, and I am attempting to put it into practice now. I think that it will be interesting for you and for other communities.
It is simple and new. It is some mediate between gift-economy and market-economy. It is no LEST, no demurrage, no time-banking. It is similar to “pay it forward” film idea partialy. It may work only between friends, exactly between honest people trusting to each other.
Lets put in axiom, that all partner are on equal, no emission center, no bank, no control, not even internet site. Then, any may be emitter of paper banknote. It will be correct if the value of banknotes in emitter hands will be zero. He can`t pay something on them, but he can work itself and give them to employer. So the value of banknotes must be negative in other hands, so it is debt. Such a negative-money can work like a familiar money, but they will move in opposite direction. Any partner must be careful with minus-money and inform any other of their amount, i.e. about their negative balance.
Thanks, Leonid, Kovcheg eco-village.
You should follow my main website, http://beyondmoney.net/, for my best ides about improved exchange mechanisms.
Tom, might we catch a word about the upcoming Bretton Woods IV Con-vocation that is being planned? Your angle of vision is most welcome.
Stuart-Sinclair Weeks, Founder
The Center for American Studies
Concord, MA 01742