Ch. 50 Blueprint for That Better World

 

Building a Better World: A Blueprint for Action

Core Principles

1. Democratic Participation: "We the People" must reclaim our responsibility as active citizens rather than passive spectators.
2. Long-Term Thinking: This is a 30-year strategy—a marathon, not a sprint.
3. Alignment Over Agreement: Focus on shared goals rather than shared opinions to enable effective collaboration.
4. Cultural Transformation: Change begins with education and shifting our cultural beliefs, values, and behaviors.
5. Collaborative Economy: Moving from extractive capitalism to cooperative, democratic economic models.
6. Ecological Regeneration: Addressing climate change while creating new opportunities and shared prosperity.

Phase 1: Foundation (Years 1-5)

Education & Cultural Shift

• Share knowledge about cooperative economics, climate solutions, and democratic participation
• Challenge old beliefs that are products of disinformation
• Build online and offline communities focused on shared learning
• Start conversations that reframe what we value as a society

Organization

• Build (or access an existing) Digital Participation Platform for organizing, knowledge-sharing, and democratic decision-making
• Create local chapters/hubs for in-person organizing and community building
• Establish communication networks across regions
• Develop leadership training programs focused on collaborative skills

Initial Economic Steps

• Initial crowdfunding to establish seed capital
• Create a Cooperative Business Incubator
• Launch first wave of worker-owned cooperative businesses with low startup costs
• Begin recruiting non-profit cooperative service providers
• Establish a revolving fund (with 10% of net revenue from cooperatives)

Energy & Climate Action

• Start personal/local implementation of Project Drawdown solutions
• Begin community-level renewable energy initiatives
• Focus on high-impact, approachable climate solutions:
  • Refrigerant management
  • Reducing food waste
  • Plant-rich diet promotion
  • Education for girls
  • Regenerative agriculture experiments
  • Etc.

Phase 2: Expansion (Years 6-15)

Economic Growth

• Ensure long term viability and sustainability of each project
• Duplicate proven models in new regions
• Launch cooperative services (banking, insurance, housing)
• Create Green Investment Fund for ethical investing alternatives
• Build regional cooperative networks connecting different sectors

Energy Transformation

• Community-owned renewable energy projects
• Transform buildings into micro-power plants
• Begin deploying energy storage technologies
• Create local transportation sharing systems
• Develop decentralized energy sharing platforms

Ecological Regeneration

• Implement regenerative agriculture at scale
• Expand silvopasture and forest restoration
• Create circular economy systems to eliminate waste
• Launch climate adaptation initiatives for vulnerable communities
• Accelerate progress on multiple Project Drawdown solutions

Democratic Expansion

• Apply democratic principles to workplaces, communities, and institutions
• Create participatory budgeting systems
• Develop new models for community governance
• Build coalitions across diverse interests aligned on shared goals

Phase 3: Transformation (Years 16-30)

Parallel Economic System

• Connect regional cooperative networks into a comprehensive parallel economic structure
• Establish cooperative trade and exchange systems
• Create comprehensive safety nets and service provision through cooperative systems
• Build alternative financing and investment structures
• Shift displaced workers from declining industries into regenerative sectors

Energy Revolution

• Complete the transition to renewable energy infrastructure
• Implement fully functional decentralized energy grid
• Transform transportation systems
• Create integrated renewable systems that are more efficient than fossil fuel systems
• Deploy advanced energy storage throughout infrastructure

Ecological Restoration

• Achieve carbon drawdown goals
• Restore degraded ecosystems
• Implement fully circular economic systems
• Create regenerative cities and communities
• Design systems that support all life to thrive

Cultural Transformation

• Establish new measures of success beyond GDP
• Create education systems that nurture whole humans and ecological understanding
• Build governance systems based on long-term thinking and care for future generations
• Develop social systems that value wellbeing, relationship, and community over consumption

Practical Action Steps for Individuals

Start Now

1. Personal Education: Read, learn, and discuss these ideas with others
2. Find Community: Connect with others already working on these issues
3. Assess Skills: Identify how your unique talents can contribute
4. Choose Impact: Select one high-impact action from Project Drawdown
5. Begin Small: Start with something achievable but meaningful

Economic Actions

1. Move money to credit unions or ethical banks
2. Support or start cooperative businesses
3. Invest in renewable energy and sustainable enterprises
4. Develop skills useful for the coming transition
5. Join or create a worker-owned cooperative

Climate Actions

1. Reduce food waste in your home and community
2. Shift toward a more plant-rich diet
3. Support girls' education globally
4. Promote regenerative agriculture
5. Advocate for refrigerant management policies

Community Building

1. Host discussion groups about these ideas
2. Organize skill-sharing workshops
3. Start neighborhood renewable energy initiatives
4. Build local food systems
5. Create sharing/repair/reuse centers

Remember

"The path forward is clear, though not easy... True change doesn't come from protest alone but from building new systems outside existing power structures. It takes just 3.5% of us, working together with shared goals, to create lasting transformation."