“You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change
something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
- Buckminster Fuller


Most people who have recognised that society is “going down the tube”, attempt to change it only to find they come up against a “brick wall” and nothing really changes. Society is too big, has too much inertia, is too set in its ways, and is too stubborn to change. Besides, there are powerful vested interests that want to keep things the way they are. Therefore, we are not going to change society – it will crumble and fall apart before that happens. If that is the case, then how can we create the society that many, many of us now desire? Very simple!

CREATE A COMPLETELY NEW SOCIETY FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS AND BUILD UPON IT

This is what World Harmony Network is planning to do. In doing so, it is important to understand that the new society (new paradigm) will NOT be in conflict, or in competition, with the old societal paradigm – it will just be different. The old society will still function the way it always has. However, as more and more people start participating in the new society, fewer and fewer people will support the old one. As this continues, the old society will become more and more dysfunctional and eventually become redundant.

Because of the importance of this parallel society concept, three analogies will be used to explain it further:

FOOTBALL AND TENNIS ANALOGY

Everyone understands that a game of football is independent and different from a game of tennis. They each have their own principles of operation, rules, freedoms, boundaries and objectives; their own playing area, i.e. the football field and the tennis court. They each have their own equipment, i.e. a football and two sets of goal posts in the Football Game, and a tennis ball, racquets and a net in the Tennis Game. People are free to play one or both games, but obviously not at the same time.

Now let’s back track to the time before tennis existed. The originators of the game of tennis didn’t try to convert football into tennis or mix the two games together, right? Imagine what would happen if they had tried to do so. The people who loved football would have fought tooth and nail to resist the change (and rightfully so), and those who were interested in creating tennis would have got nowhere and become very frustrated. The simple answer, as we all know, was to create two independent games. The same principle applies when creating a new independent society.

DOUBLE-SIDED JIG-SAW ALALOGY

First, imagine a jigsaw puzzle with a picture on each side. Let’s say the pictures are a football match, on top, representing the old society, and a tennis match on the hidden underside, representing the new society. If you were to remove a piece from the completed football match puzzle and turn it over, it would not fit into the slot from which it was taken, right? Even if it did fit, it would not look right because the pictures would not match. If you tried to make the piece fit you would have to use force, and that force would cause damage to both the piece and the puzzle. The solution is to simply place the piece on a different table. Then, as more and more pieces are placed on the new table they can be identified and their correct places found. In time a whole new picture (the tennis match picture) would be created from the same pieces that was previously a football match picture.

Second, the secret to building a jigsaw picture most efficiently is to identify and place the foundational pieces (corner and edge pieces) and then to identify and fit the other pieces. The same applies in constructing the new society. What we have to do is to create a new operating system using existing resources (same jigsaw pieces) by first designing and establishing a new support system that will replace the old economic system, i.e. a new method of utilising our resources that will eventually replace the existing money system (see Strawberry Patch Analogy below). This is also akin to building a tennis court in the above analogy (you can’t play tennis without a tennis court, net, racquets and balls).

COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM ANALOGY

For this example we will use a comparison between Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. When a changeover is made from Windows 3.1 Operating System to Windows 95 Operating System, there is no attempt to change the old operating system into a new system; the new one is simply installed to take its place. Notice, this does not invalidate the old system – the old one worked, and worked very well, but it was limited in what it could do. The new system was simply more expanded and served more purposes. And so it is with our societal system – the old system served its purpose and got us to where we are today. However, it is now time for a new system (new society) that will allow us to free ourselves from former bonds and limitations. The new society will allow new personal freedoms for those who are ready to accept them. It will also allow us to expand beyond our previous limitations on many levels that we could previously only dream about.

Interestingly, the only proviso for Windows 95 was that the computer had to be capable of using the new system – primarily, its memory capacity and processor capability had to meet minimum requirements. Similarly, this is true for people living in the new society – they need to have had a shift in consciousness –an expansion of awareness – before they can even perceive the validity of the new society. If they haven’t had this shift, they will perceive the possibility of such a society as a fantasy and may attempt to discredit and invalidate it.

Note: As you study this document and other World Harmony literature, it is suggested that you remember and refer to these analogies. They will aid you in creating your part of the new society and using that creation to attract others who are also excited and willing to contribute with their time, resources, money, etc.

NEW OPERATING SYSTEMS

The following are some of new operating systems that are integral parts of this New Paradigm Society:

  • A different type of economic system – a mutual support system that is resource based not money based.
  • A different energy system that provides unlimited power on demand, is portable, accessible everywhere, inexhaustible, non-polluting and available to everyone.
  • A different transportation system based on the new energy that everyone can use.
  • A different health system that creates excellent health rather than eradicating disease.
  • A different agricultural system that works with nature, producing healthier, tastier foods at lower cost.
  • A different educational system that promotes the student’s innate abilities and passions.
  • A different communication system that everyone can access.

All the items listed above work in harmony with nature, not against it. There is also one additional quality that all these new systems have in common… they are all less limiting than their old counterparts and are designed to help unlock personal empowerment and freedom.

Without going into detail about the above systems, one model will be described below because the success of all the others depends upon it.

THE MUTUAL SUPPORT SYSTEM - THE STRAWBERRY PATCH MODEL

The definition of “mutual support system” is where:

• THE WHOLE SUPPORTS THE ONE AND THE ONE SUPPORTS THE WHOLE.
At first inspection, one may think this is another form of communism. Communism (one for all), provided for the collective at the expense of the individual, and capitalism (all for one), provided for the individual at the expense of the collective – where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. What we are talking about here is a system that supports both the individual and the collective in perfect balance, the way nature does in the following “strawberry patch” analogy:

Anyone who has grown strawberries knows that once a strawberry plant has taken root it starts to put out runners; stems that grow along the ground. These runners are botanically known as stolons. As these stolons grow, knuckle-like-joints, called nodes, form every few inches. As the plant continues to grow, something quite magical happens to these nodes. They start to put down roots and grow leaves and quite soon baby strawberry plants start to form. While they are forming they are supplied with nourishment from the parent plant until they become self-supporting. Once they are, they also start to produce stolons and the process is repeated. As the patch grows, surplus nourishment from the larger plants flows to the whole patch. Thus, the strawberry patch becomes a mutual support system where nourishment simply flows to wherever it is needed. For example, one of the plants could have its roots chewed off by a worm and it wouldn’t die. It would simply draw nourishment from the patch to grow new roots until it was self-sufficient once again. Another example is where one plant was bearing fruit that had a higher demand for nourishment so it would flow IN from the whole patch. After the fruit was picked that plant would have surplus nourishment so it would flow OUT to the patch.

Incidentally, this is the system the indigenous races have used successfully for thousands of years. What we are doing is bringing that system into the 21st century and refining it with new technology, for example.

This is the model (paradigm) of the new mutual support system that will eventually replace the old economic system. The system is resource based NOT currency based.

To quote from the Venus Project in Florida http://thevenusproject.com/resource_eco.htm

“A Resource-Based Support System is one in which natural, man-made, machine-made and synthetic resources are available to everyone without the use of money, credits, barter or any other system of debt. All resources become the common heritage of all of the inhabitants, not just a select few. The premise upon which this system is based is that the Earth is abundant with plentiful resources; our practice of rationing resources through monetary methods is irrelevant and counter productive to our society. With the use of highly advanced technology we can make available food, clothing, housing and health care; upgrade our educational system; and develop a limitless supply of renewable, non-contaminating energy. By supplying an efficiently designed economy, everyone can enjoy a very high standard of living with all of the amenities of a high technological society”.

What this means is that money will not be used in the new system. However, money can be used to purchase resources from the old system – be they products, land, property, buildings, factories, machines, communications, vehicles, ships, aircraft, raw materials, etc., etc. These resources will then be transferred and used in the new society.

Note: The intention is to test the above model by creating a “mini mutual support system” in a location yet to be decided. At the time of writing, the most likely place is in New Zealand, working with the Renaissance Aotearoa Foundation http://www.aroha.org/. This organisation works with Maori elders who, in turn, have land upon which this model can be tested. Furthermore, the ancient Maori support system was similar to the one discussed above, as are the support systems of many indigenous races in other parts of the world.

PRINCIPLE-BASED LEADERSHIP

The New Society will function with Principle-Based Leadership, not Personality-Based Leadership, as it was in the old Win-Lose Paradigm. The principle-based leadership concept is not new. For those interested, the concept is fully described in Steven Covey's best selling book, “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. A principle-based organisation means that no one person or group sets policy and direction of the organisation in the traditional sense, because its direction (leadership) is a natural progression, that is based on the New Paradigm Principles, and stems and flows from the desires of those involved. Personality-Based Leadership should not be confused with individuals having jobs that involve control – without control there is chaos (try driving a car without being able to control it).

LIVING THE NEW WIN-WIN SOCIETY

The Principles described above and summarised below are the fundamentals of living the New Win-Win Society. They provide an understanding of the foundation upon which a world living in harmony may be created and function. All that is necessary for this to come about is for individuals to know, feel, understand and LIVE these Principles which, incidentally, are perceived as humanity’s first nature, not its second.

It is advisable to bear in mind that when studying any new subject or activity we will glean a more comprehensive understanding if we first obtain a thorough grasp of the fundamental principles upon which that subject or activity is based. Without this understanding we are likely to experience difficulties in comprehending and/or utilising the information. Conversely, when we have a full grasp of the fundamental principles, we are then able to operate quite effortlessly from a confidence that only comes from true understanding. This concept cannot be over-emphasised.

PLAYING THE WIN-WIN-WIN GAME

  • Follow your heart, excitement, passion and preferences with conviction, integrity, joy, trust and love.
  • Be responsible for yourself.
  • Be responsible to others by being who and what you truly are.
  • Realise that everything exists for a valid reason that serves you and others in some way.
  • Be open and honest in all things.
  • Aim for independence and inter-dependence without compromising your integrity.
  • Operate from the Win-Win Paradigm of inter-cooperation.
  • Be discerning with what and with whom you interact and respond to others from your heart.
  • Be compassionate, objective, understanding, allowing, and unconditional in all relationships.
  • Include “this and that” in your dealings – by acting inclusively rather than exclusively.
  • Be true to your own feelings when interacting with other people.
  • Decide to grow in positive directions.
  • Share your knowledge and resources with others as long as it feels comfortable to do so.
  • Understand and trust you will be provided for when you live these principles.

  

CONCLUDING STATEMENT

The above are some of the main principles upon which a new global society can be established, function, and grow. A more detailed list of principles will follow at the appropriate timing. It is also recognised that not everything, or all eventualities, can be covered in this introductory document.

Remember, one can learn the theory of any game by studying the instruction manual (rules of the game), but not be able to play it. To play any game requires both understanding and practice – and this new life-game is no different. We have the choice to simply go ahead and start playing the new game in ignorance, or we can study the “instruction manual” and practice the techniques first. Either way can work, but it is far more likely to be a smooth ride if we study and practices the skills first.

A great philosopher once said, “There is nothing so powerful as an idea whose time has come” and, without a shadow of a doubt, the time has come for us to build Heaven on Earth… a world living in harmony!

Listen to what Bashar says about creating New Cultural Systems.