These notes compiled by Rev Canon Peter Challen are posted at http://globaltable.org.uk/wp/, to contribute background information for the Global Table, which continues on Wednesdays from 12noon to 2pm at the School of Economic Science, 11-13 Mandeville Place, W1U 3AJ – now hosted by the Open Research Group – meetings are open to all on a drop-in basis. This weekly forum is a persistent focal point for many who cannot often get to London, but are encouraged in bold initiatives by association and collaboration. We all continue to foster the public sense of the search for inclusive justice. We are trying to sense the richness of our networking without overburdening with detail. We collaborate in order that action may flow BOTH in specified targeted initiatives AND in acknowledgement of our shared commitment to ending exploitation – usury!
2017 – THE YEAR OF NEW POLITICS – Three fundamental principles for human civilisation:
1. Absence of permanent institutionalised hierarchy. 2. Sharing the wealth of the commons (land, resources, knowledge, all value from nature or co-created by humans). 3. Prohibition of interest/usury.
Notes of 21st December 2016 meeting: OpenResearchGroup-161221
Notes of 18th January 2017 meeting: OpenResearchGroup-170118
Forthcoming Events: http://globaltable.org.uk/wp/forthcoming-events
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ASSOCIATES AT THEIR POINTS OF WITNESS:
Universal Basic Income: On 16th January at the THEOS Think Tank, Malcolm Torry discussed the idea of a Citizen’s Basic Income. Additional resources: – Finland is Giving 2,000 Citizens a Guaranteed Income – A Brief History of the Idea That Everyone Should Get Free Cash for Life – The Wrong Kind of UBI
Brad Voracek, writing in Evonomics says that The Basic Income and Job Guarantee are Complementary, not Opposing Policies Let’s see what happens when everyone has some cash on hand.
Catherine Pepinster, former editor of The Tablet, contributed this succinct comment on Radio 4’s “Thought for the Day” on Friday 13th January 2017: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04pbxqr
See full text: ThoughtForTheDay-170113-CatherinePepinster.
Compass: Now is the best time to join us to help shape the Progressive Alliance!
Critical Thinking posts daily blogs on a wide range of topics, and runs a regular discussion group on Wednesday evenings: http://www.freecriticalthinking.org.
Douglas Social Credit: The Winter 2016 issue of The Social Artist (incorporating The Social Crediter) in two pdf formats, one for reading on screen, the other for printing out as a booklet – available on www.douglassocialcredit.com
ICUK: recognises the necessity of dealing with BOTH the need for many urgent palliatives within a dying system AND a systemic curative re-design by the participative representative democratic application of an integrated political-economy. It concentrates on the Mega-Narrative within which the UK could shape all its independent but mutually accountable communities. An update is in its formation: www.icuk.info/wp. Please contact peterchallen@gmail.com for latest developments. Curative change to the political-economy like “Poetry happens in two stages, like sculpting; first the imagination, then the chisel.”
LETSlink envisages national and regional hubs – http://www.letslinkuk.net/practice/central-hub.htm – in order to enhance participation in different regions of the UK: existing local groups are linked here: http://www.letslinkuk.net/regions/uk-map.htm and work continues with putting individual groups online, recently Sheffield LETS: www.sheffieldlets.org.uk. But with many gaps in provision, there is an urgent need to bring enquirers together to form new groups – watch this space.
National Federation of Progressive Cooperators: http://nfpc.coop – meeting on 3rd December featured an informative address by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell. Report: nfpc-161203
Occupy’s ‘Economics Working Group’ continues to meet Mondays and Fridays 5-7pm at Friends House Euston, welcomes new visitors who drop by, and contributes papers to our network: http://occupylondon.org.uk/occupy-economics-working-group/
Further Reports are invited from our associates in the quest for inclusive justice to stir our awareness.
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PUBLICATIONS & BLOGS – reviews always welcomed:
Campaign for Free Parliament CFP an 8 minute video of explanation: http://www.southdevonwatch.org.uk/independence-group/independence-in-democracy-martyn-greene-the-campaign-for-a-free-parliament/
Michael Mansfield – Why our 21st century democracy needs the spirit of 1647 – https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/02/21st-century-democracy-spirit-1647-article-50-supreme-court-people-state?CMP=share_btn_tw …
Mother Pelican of Luis T. Gutiérrez – Winter edition Mother Pelican Journal of Solidarity and Sustainability http://www.pelicanweb.org/solisustv13n01page1.html
Richard Murphy of Tax Research UK says: There is a magic money tree, so why did politicians lie about it throughout 2016? 21-12-16
The Simpol Solution – Solving global problems may be easier than we think – by John Bunzl & Nick Duffell . To be published in February 2017: Summary: Humanity is failing to tackle urgent global problems like climate change, tax havens, mass migration and wealth inequality. Meanwhile, voters are rebelling in the form of Brexit, Trump and the rise of the Far-Right. The SIMPOL SOLUTION reasons that there is just one barrier that prevents all governments from taking action: the fear that it would make their national economies uncompetitive. No nation can move first for fear of losing jobs and investment to others. http://www.simpol.org/index.php?id=545
Videos: An associate suggests ….Please watch this brilliant 5 min video clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyaEQEmt5ls&feature=youtu.bemomondo – The DNA Journey Then again, lightly !!! Wombat – I minute www.globalcommunity.org/flash/wombat.shtml
FROM UNIMAGINABLE DEPTHS
From the unimaginable depths
of human darkness
exists an almost
unintelligible
shard of light.
So vague that I might remain unseen.
But it’s from such a shard
that hope is born.
And from hope, possibility.
NA
The Chinese Farmer : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX0OARBqBp0
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COLLABORATION: Over time our weekly forum has considered important aphorisms that help the development of dialogue that takes us into new understandings of the co-operative task. Let us remind ourselves of one of these each week: 10. “‘Power with’ will replace ‘power over’ in a genuine and inclusive democracy.” Muhammad Ali packed a fine final punch when he said ‘The Service you render to others is the rent you pay for your place on earth’ ….. and you add a generous tip to that rent when you do it all with courteous and sensitive attention to the other.
