Thermoeconomics: The use of Exergy in Alternative Socioeconomics

I've worked a bit more of the design of an alternative to our current money based socioeconomic system. This actually formed part of a cause I have just finished in Thermoeconomics. The paper I wrote was on the use of exergy for an energy accounting system.

You can find it here:

Thermoeconomics: The use of Exergy in Alternative Socioeconomics

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Lecturing at Umeå University

Some months ago I revived an invitation to speak at Umeå University of the subject of "Alternative Socioeconomics" from UpF (a student political interest group). I thought it very nice to get such an invite :)

The lecture talked about why we need to look at alternative socioeconomics (looking at exponential growth) then went on to resent EOS and The Venus Project as two alternatives. I then looked at implementation plans. At then end I left space for questions and answers and the student bombarded me with quite a few of them!

I did the lecture last week and it went well even if it was not my best performance (I had a cold at the time). I received an email yesterday saying that it sparked quite a bit of discussion!

I hope I will get the opportunity to do more lectures, perhaps at other Universities?

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Racing snails

Well, at least some times it does feel like that! We make progress but we make such slow progress! On the NPO front we have decided on a name for the translation company; "nu ridle". Which means "readable" or "something that you read" in Loglan. Now we need to actually form the company. We have someone working on that now; filling in the forms and registering the company. Next we will need a web page then get some customers so we can have some money input into building communities and start moving away from this money based system!

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NET to EOS

EOS - European Organisation for Sustainability. Aiming to build a moneyless sustainable society.

The word "technocracy" means "rule of the skilled", in other words it means a system of government where the people who can make competent decisions get to make those decisions. Such a system differs greatly form our current oligarchy where we have elected representatives who get elected, as it appears to me, because they look good on TV or make nice sounding promises not because they have the competence to actually do something. Often it appears to me they only have any competence in looking after themselves (ever met a poor politician?). So, to me "technocracy" would signify something positive, a break from our current self disructive system to something better.

Unfortunately, not every body see it in such a positive light. The word "technocracy" has gained a negative connotation with people using it as an insult or thinking it means "techno-fascism" (far from the actual meaning the word). This means people often jump to conclusions about the type of sustainable sociality NET proposes and don't even listen to what we say. We have known of this problem for some time but we were unable to come up with an alternative - until now!

We have agreed to change NET to EOS - European Organisation for Sustainability. Not only does that represent what we aim to achieve for our society but also as the name "Eos" refers to the Greek Goddess of the dawn the name also symbolises the new dawn of a new sustainable, moneyless, civilisation that we envision.

The Venus Project to come to Sweden

The main thing I have worked on before the holidays was getting the Jacque Fresco for the Venus Project to come to Sweden. Jacque will come in July and we have a site up selling tickets to cover the cost of the visit.

The Venus Project event in Sweden : Attend This Event

We as in NET have also worked more on establishing the (proto-)technate. We now need a formal meeting of the board to agree on the translation company which I hope we will arrange soon.

Work on going

We always seam to make slow progress in NET but at least we make progress!

So far I have worked on getting the documentation together for seeing up an NPO for the proto-technate. I have now completed the first draft of that and have it on the wiki for NET. We need to work some more on that, especially the web page text.

I have started to look again at the Energy Credit sim. The lads down in Slovenia need it as they work towards creating a moneyless society test platform there. We need more work on the simulation, especially with the outputs but I hope the sim will work for now and then we can modify it to get a good experimental platform working.

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Visit to London

I had an invitation to visit London and meet with Jacque Fresco, Roxanne Meadows and the Venus Project Design team. I flew out there and met up with them at a part on Friday evening and then on Saturday I attended Jacque's lecture at the London City University. On Sunday I talked with Jacque and Roxanne as well as members of Venus Project Design team. Jacque gave interview after interview on the Sunday to magazines and TV reporters.

I found it very interesting to talk to Jacque. He has a very comprehensive view of the future and what form society could take. What you see of the Venus Project on the web and in films represents only the tip of an iceberg. Although I might not agree with everything I find I am in agreement with far more than I disagree with and those I see as minor.

To me, I would see this as a great opportunity for NET to cooperate and work with the Venus Project Design team as we head towards a common vision for the future.

The Venus Project

Venus Project Design