Difference between revisions of "RBE10K/Contributors/Agreements"

Revision as of 22:19, 28 November 2012

Everybody is welcome to participate of The RBE10K Project. However, it is essential that all volunteers agree on a set of Terms and Conditions in order to have a positive (rather than a negative) participation.

Whilst we can't agree always on everything, there has to be a basic common ground of agreement within the participants of the project. This common ground will be referred to as the Terms and Conditions (for lack of, currently, a better name). Should anyone disagree with one or several of these terms, it will be up to them to identify exactly where they disagree, and seek for an amendment to the Terms. Alternatively, such person must re-evaluate their motives for participating of the project at all, since there are several of other similar projects that they may find more adequate, such as The Venus Project, Transition Towns, or even a political party or a church.

These Terms and Conditions are a work in progress, and the result of an evolution. In their first incarnation, they may respond to the arbitrary views of the project founder, Ziggy, however they're not intended to remain as such, but to provide a template to work on. Should anyone want to add, remove or alter any of the items, anyone can do so using the Discussion tab the the header of the page.

Agreements, or Terms and Conditions for participation in The RBE10K Project

Some of the wording below may have a special definition. Please refer to the #Glossary below.

• All opinions are personal, they hold no merit in a RBE project or society other than stating one's own personal view on a matter; there will always be differences of opinion, of values and principles, of goals and priorities, and no one is right about anything, just different.
• Facts may be biased on the ideology, idiosyncrasy or situated knowledges of the person who obtained them; Facts are very important in a RBE, but trust them always with a healthy does of scepticism and open mindedness.
• A logical or well substantiated argument will generally have more weight, in terms of RBE decision making, than an illogical, fallacious, biased/attached, or poorly substantiated argument; however all arguments must be considered, and agreement should always be attempted, even if it is to agree to disagree.
• All humans want to be happy and fulfilled, and share the same basic needs; even the most disturbed and dysfunctional people have the potential to heal, and they all deserve our respect and consideration; respect, tolerance and compassion (being well-intended, well-meaning) are paramount values in a RBE; being detracted from this is what we call "corruption".
• There is only one kind of human: the Homo Sapiens Sapiens; any traits that make one feel more attracted sexually or non-sexually to others are matters of personal preference; stereotypical assumptions are to be avoided as much as practicable; normality, if anything, shows a lack of interest for developing individuality and depth of character.
• The objectives we seek to develop in a RBE are health (see glossary), self determination and fulfilment for all RBE participants (see glossary), as well as the greatest environmental sustainability that can be practicable.
• In a RBE there is no ownership of resources nor ideas; one must be capable and willing to share everything as required by the RBE goals (see glossary), except perhaps for one's body, effort, time, and personal belongings (see glossary); one must always prioritise the use of scarce resources according to their function for helping achieve the RBE goals.
• Nationality and race are a contrivances that have no merit in a RBE project or society; in a RBE, location and culture are not significant, but rather the RBE goals; it is important to keep always in mind that once RBE is implemented globally there will be no more countries or racial distinctions, but a million cities populated by humans, and a few scattered humans who do not voluntarily accept living in a RBE.
• Priority is given first to the fulfilment of RBE goals; culture is, if anything, a function of the specific needs for identity and belonging; each RBE city will have, however, distinct and possibly unique idiosyncrasies according to the will of the overwhelming majority of their inhabitants, and these may or may not include local or even remote traditions.

Special requests by founders of the project

As founders of the project, the first activists may propose a number of agreements seeking consensus with new activists. Some of these, if appropriate, may be ported to the list of Terms and Conditions.

Ziggy

Ziggy, founder of the RBE10K project, highly recommends the following agreements, and will happily respond questions about any of them:

• Love, affection, and spiritual connection are to be attempted in all interpersonal relationships.
• There is nothing to blame, nothing wrong, no one wrong: we all do what we can or what we consider good or appropriate as per our understanding of reality, or motivated by emotions resulting from past experiences.
• Excessive guilt and inappropriate shame are two of the most powerfully negative and addictive emotions; one must strive to free oneself from them as much as possible.
• At any moment there's fulfilment, crisis, or tragedy; tragedy must be accepted, crisis dealt with, and fulfilment celebrated.

Glossary

• RBE participant: humans on Earth who voluntarily seek and accept living in a RBE.
• Health: physical and psychological health of any or all RBE participants.
• Personal belongings: what one carries, holds personal information, is stored in a labelled bag, or is generally accepted as such.
• RBE Goals: needs or goals of one's community, and to some extent the needs or goals of the RBE community at large, generally about health matters.