An Open Letter to the Fair Coop Eco system
La Decentrale,Jura, Switzerland
RSVP : realdenton@gmail.com
January 23rd ,2018
To all it may concern:
The current situation as it stands requires a statement of facts according to how I -and others perceive what has occurred in the early growth stages of this “global Eco system you call Fair Coop”.
I accept not everyone who reads this will agree with what is being said ,and they are free to comment. I want to try to use this medium of telegram to communicate as respectfully and non judgmentally as is possible -without losing my right to free speech!
Contents of this Open Letter to all members of freedom coop and fair coop.
1. Introduction.
2. The preamble.
3. My opening monologue.
4. What happened -A review of my participation in FAIR Coop.
5. Where do we stand right now?What have been the consequences ?
6. My proposal :- How to reach a point of resolution?
7. Concluding Comments- My closing argument.
Firstly, I think I should introduce myself and who I am. My name is Robin Denton and I am the founder of the Africa Unite Party in South Africa. ( www.africauniteparty.org )
/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa_Unite_Party
I am also an advocate and activist for World Peace since 1990 and have focalised/ convened Rainbow Gatherings around the world for over 34 years. https://www.facebook.com/groups/795012843924007/The Rainbow has the OLDEST continually running website ...designed by my friend Rob Savoye
( www.welcomehome.org )
Furthermore, I have been involved in the Synergiehub since it began in September 2014 ,and Solidarity.fm or Fair Radio since its inception in January 2016. I also am a trusted member of the La Decentrale association which invited Fair Coop to Switzerland for the Summer Assembly in September 2017. The ethos at the Synergiehub is based on permaculture principles ( which I was led to believe… ARE the same as Fair Coop). These are :
1. Fair To the People.
2. Fair to the Earth.
3. Fair Share.
St. Imier is the birthplace of modern anarchism ( Mikael Bakhumin and Kropokin) which in its ethos is all about the decentralisation of power structures. ( This too is in line with the ethos of Fair coin and Fair Coop) . La Decentrale has in the past and is in the future one of the organisers of the last and the future International Anarchist Congress ( 2022).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchist_St._Imier_International
My training and education has been in Law, Journalism,Communications and Marketing. I have had my owned my own businesses in tourism, trade and media and I understand the basics of economics.
Thus, I hope I will by this open letter show that my intentions regarding the growth of the fair coop Eco system have been honest and with complete integrity. No one understands the plight of indigenous people, and the poorest of the poor in the developing world more than I. When I saw the WONDERFUL opportunity presented by fair coop… I became absolutely motivated to help to EMPOWER their lives and to bring a juster, fairer and more equitable economy and governance system on Earth.
Let me be very clear on this. Moving on…
2.The Preamble:
1. “FairCoop is an OPEN global cooperative that organizes itself through the Internet outside the boundaries and controls of nation-states.[1][2] FairCoop aims to issue an alternative global economic system based on cooperation, ethic, solidarity and north-south redistribution and justice in economic relations.[3][4]”
SOUNDS GOOD!
2. “The main objective of FairCoop is to make the transition to a new world possible reducing the economic and social differences between humans as much as possible and simultaneously contributing to a new global wealth available to all humanity in the form of commons.[6]
FairCoop understand that the transformation to a fairer monetary system is a key element for their goals. That's why FairCoop supports Faircoin as cryptocurrency to base upon their actions of resource redistribution and to build a new global economic system.[7]”
SOUNDS GREAT!
3. “Local Nodes :Apart from the global vision, multiple Local Nodes are being added to the FairCoop network all around the world, in order to connect local initiatives, groups and people to the ecosystem. This is a bidirectional relation that supports and realizes FairCoop’s goals in local communities while returning important feedback.
EXCELLENT !
4. “FairCoin is an ethical digital currency, driven by the values of the FairCoop ecosystem and supported by a fast-growing global cooperative movement. It is decentralized, as with any other cryptocurency, but at the same time implements radical innovations that makes it unique in terms of ecological operation, stable value growth, ethical trade, savings and funding opportunities. Its development continues with the goal of creating a fair economic system for the Earth. Read more about FairCoin”
A FAIR COIN FOR A FAIR ECONOMY…?
5. “The FairCoop ecosystem organizes itself through. Everybody is encouraged to participate with their individual skills and ideas, and take proactive responsibilities, thus helping the movement grow. Based on our innovative collaborative working tool, the participants can either volunteer their hours or CLAIM a remuneration in faircoin to cover their needs. In this way we REWARD those who are bringing REAL value with their work into FairCoop, and the value distribution is done in a FAIR and decentralized way.
I M IN !- LETS GO!
6. What comes after capitalism?
“Earth's Cooperative ecosystem for a fair economy”
YEBO!-DA!-YES!-JA!-AIWA!-KEN!-HAI!
Ref : https://fair.coop/
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3. My Opening Monologue
Working and visiting with first nations and indigenous peoples all around the world since I was 19 , I have come to realise that first and foremost we need to solve the problems of economics. We need to find a way of decentralsing power structures and see the planet Earth as not only our home but also an interdependent whole. As a “holist” ( A South African theory - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holism
I also realise any lasting and REAL solution that will bring a fair economy … needs to be based on permaculture principles. This is the ethos of every movement and initiative of change I have been involved in throughout my entire life and struggle for freedom. It is the ethical foundation of what the internet was meant to be according to how it was designed by its pioneers. Fair and open.
Thus whilst visiting Mont Soleil in September of 2017 I came across Fair Coop. However, I was not very well as I had contracted a bronchial virus in Italy and was a plain observer. I did however stand in for the photographer and interviewed a few people for the radio station on the ethos of fair coop and fair coin. By what Ive published off the website and by what I heard from the horses mouth of Enrique Duran and Guy… and Juanse and others… I had no misunderstanding of what fair coop and fair coin intended to do. In fact Chris Zumbrunn and I had discussed global and local and internal economies many many times in the kitchen and in workshops. Later I dropped off a carload of” faircoopers “-in Turin and accepted fair coin in good faith!
For Fair exchange – (whether it be in fair coin or mickey mouse coin… ) is no robbery at all- ITS FAIR… it is as valuable as I believe it to be.
I had before the summer camp been to visit South Africa to discuss with our people down there how we could empower disadvantaged communities using the ethos and the tools of fair coop. I understood the first step was to open up a local node with a small group of people whom you trust. People that have in common your ethos...and the ethos of the fair coop eco system..which is in fact one of many Eco systems that comprise the Mycelium. Like in Madagascar. But thats another story in itself.
I finished off with global solutions day where I also spoke to a small group of trusted friends in London- http://solutionsrevolution.global/ ( Phoenix- Dani) .
Then I flew to America to Humboldt county to complete my research on the Mycellium of Glocal Governance ( https://globalchallenges.org ) at the Humboldt state university...and to trim weed! -Northern California and Oregon has the oldest and largest mycellium organisms in the world ( http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141114-the-biggest-organism-in-the-world) -and the tallest trees-the sequoia redwooods..… it fascinated me and my understanding of the language of nature in relation to saving humanity from self destruction. And I felt then that fair coop just might have and be the solution to saving the planet from ourselves. ( I had interviewed Chief Arvol looking horse in Standing Rock on this very thing in Jan of 2017 )
At this time I did not know I would initiate 3 local nodes in 3 continent in 3 months…
But in the spirit of self empowerment … or: “if you see a job-its yours” ( rainbow and a fair coop ethic) … I spread the word about fair coin.
Not as a business or a speculative investment - but as a tool for creating a fairer economy and keeping communities and families together. Building the new in the shadow of the old. Or as Fair Coop puts it: “Earth's Cooperative ecosystem for a fair economy”
So putting aside the ego and my personal issues with those who I felt did not have honest intentions… I set out to do what I did not expect to… I volunteered once again… to make it all happen.
“The FairCoop ecosystem organizes itself through. Everybody is encouraged to participate with their individual skills and ideas, and take proactive responsibilities, thus helping the movement grow.”
And yes… I m a self starter and a self organiser… I thought… surely fair coop is NOT governed by petty mindedness, self-aggrandizement or selfishness…? Surely it is a democratic process of consensus and debate amongst people with the same values and ethos? No- No-No-SURELY NOT!!!… all of these words sounded as I myself had written them with my heart… I never did what I did in my life for a petty reward… in fact my motivation was to help people and to help communities GROW together. But in an economic system… a process is only as good as the DNA that created it… if it is created thus but with wrong intentions and deception… the truth will out. It must.
Chris and I had discussed “the new in the shadow of the old “and the 3 pillars* that would make the difference. What is known to some as ..the integral...holistic revolution..something I have indeed been a part of since university days in apartheid South Africa.
These 3 KEY pillars in the new society would be :
1. EDUCATIONAL / Education
2.ECONOMICAL/ Economics
3.GOVERNMENTAL / Governance
( Perhaps one could also the 4th pillar could be ENVIROMENTAL/ Environment- I believe so...and it needs to be stated not to detract from its importance in creating that harmonious world whereby the Earth and all life is respected) . We could also extend this same analogy towards SPIRITUAL OR META PHYSICAL change as a 5th pillar to include this as a necessary dimension or pillar for human progress in the new world.
And the Synergiehub ( www.synergiehub.ch ) is all about creating not only an OPEN space for collective change ...but an Epi center for SELF EMPOWERED culture.
Fair coop is one of many projects that the Synergie hub handles. And the Synergy hub is but one of the many networks within the mycellium. ( Others include Openki- IOC FINA- Glocal Matters Media – Democratic Freeschooling – Africa Unite Embassy -Tiny Houses- etc. )
No. What happened in America was not solely a cultural breakdown… not solely a communication breakdown..nor a social breakdown-NO… it was an ETHICAL breakdown!… And that occurred because of a total breakdown in communication and mutual respect on both sides...and then it turned into a flame war…
And that concludes my opening monologue.
I want to now look at more specifically the issues involved in the breakdown of integrity, trust and confidence with fair coop and where- and IF it can be repaired and how.
I Want to set the record STRAIGHT for anyone who wishes to place their trust, confidence and respect in the people who run FAIR COOP… Like the biomass is decomposed by the hyphae..so too must the old and degenerate also become composted by the mycellium -if we are all as human beings to survive.
Our common future survival on planet Earth depends on how we all get along...and reconnect. This is true community… what we call in Africa… “ UBUNTU” ...it cannot be taught..it can only be experienced. Felt.
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4. WHAT HAPPENED-A review of my participation in FAIR Coop.
The beginning of my personal journey with the Fair Cooperative or Fair coop began sometime in 2016 when we began to discuss alternative currencies to help developing communities. We needed to find a way to reward people within an Eco system that is decentralised from economic centralised structures...ie the banks and put the power back into the hands of the people. We had at the synergiehub discussed using Bonobo – a paper currency...a time bank… and others.
Finally, we created the Jura node and started working with fair coin. In March / April of 2017 I travelled to South Africa and held the first meeting in Johannesburg to discuss using fair coin to develop poor communities in Africa alongside the Africa Unite Movement ( AUM) Our first meeting in Johannesburg was held with great excitement looking to a future where in the words of Nelson Mandela “ We can make poverty history “ .
I was particularly attracted in my naivety to the fact that we could unlock the stranglehold of the monopolies that control millions of people in Africa and keep them poor. To this end we have participated in transport and energy projects that already are functioning. https://www.facebook.com/Solar-E-Cycles-684745028302529/
Also I believed that the global south fund would help create this so called circular economy . On my return from Africa and on my way back to the United Kingdom where I live, I stopped off at La Decentrale to learn more about fair coop and to meet the people behind it.
During this time I interviewed one of the founders Enrique Duran and some others for the radio station. I also contributed in the small way I could by taking a few pictures. Later I dropped off a carload of faircoopers that had transport problems to Italy. My first impression was that it wasnt very open or interactive but I didn’t let this stop my judgement from participating.
In the end I decided I would get on this train and see where it goes. And I did. In the self empowered and self organising way that is stated on the website. Plus we were doing a workshop on the Mycelium model of glocal governance (which fit in with the 3 pillars I mentioned earlier. ) We were working on submitting an entry into a global challenge.
Fair coin or an altcoin is in the Economic pillar and the wisdom of the indigenous people AND FAIR COOP in the Educational pillar. The Mycelium is the “ How “ we govern ourselves politically.
In the words of Chris Zumbrunn “ You learn by doing !” Theory is good but practise is better. It was time to act. And so I did.
“The FairCoop ecosystem organizes itself through. Everybody is encouraged to participate with their individual skills and ideas, and take proactive responsibilities, thus helping the movement grow.”
In London at the Global Solutions Day I was participating in the first broadcast of solutions zone TV. During my interview I mentioned fair coin as an alternative to fiat currency. It was watched globally and well received. Later I spoke with Phoenix and Dani about creating a London node. I said when I return from America… we will do it. There are many alternative scenes in London and fair coin seemed to be the glue that would connect them all.
On my arrival in Humboldt county I set to work straightaway. It was September 2017. Each year thousands of Europeans come to Humboldt county from Catalunya , Germany , South America...all over the world… to trim marijuana. At the centre of this is Garberville.
It is the centre of the alternative scene. Not only has Humboldt been growing since the days of the hippies with flowers in their hair, but it has spawned an entire sub culture. I saw this scene , the trim scene as the portal to the world and a perfect match for fair coop and fair coin. Plus it was at this time that two things happened.
1. The price of weed dropped from 4-6000 dollars a pound- to 600 -1000 dollars a pound. This meant that those pilgrims who were trimming their weed would be left short and some unpaid. It also meant that the community itself would be worried about the future of their community and how they would feed their families.
2. Crypto currency started to go through the roof. Everyone started talking about it. And so it was quite natural that I would talk about fair coin.
And this is how the first North American node was born. An intersection of time and place..and circumstance. I did not by any means plan it...and no one in fair coop by any means stopped me from doing what I was doing...but actually encouraged me forward!...mmmm…
And we worked hard. Very hard. Everyone in the area knows each other. And fair coop seemed to answer the problems of the community.
“FairCoop is an OPEN global cooperative that organizes itself through the Internet outside the boundaries and controls of nation-states.”
We slept on the floor, outside under trees, inside warehouses and caravans- sometimes if we were lucky we had a hot shower...but mostly it was in cold water in the river… living like a soldier. Doing my own laundry by hand sometimes etc etc.etc.
In Humboldt county you cannot easily enter into the circle of trust. Normally you have to know someone.
Fortunately, I did. I knew Eric Schauer who I meant by complete coincidence. He introduced me to Daniel Stark and Vincent Pollock and others… and so on. And once I was in that inner circle of trust… I spoke about the merits of fair coin and what fair coop and its ethos was doing around the world.
In America… its all about passion. If you are passionate about what you say and do...people will believe in you. If you are half hearted or wimpish then they dismiss you.
So Daniel Stark, a martial arts master of the wing chun style and as a stable terminal in the community got aboard the fair coop train...he bought into the bank of the commons and set me up with the task to propagate the message of fair coop. It didnt phase them when I told them the chief guy behind it was a bank robber/ swindler/robin hood of Spain… in fact it only intrigued them even further.
* “Earth's Cooperative ecosystem for a fair economy”
* FairCoop aims to issue an alternative global economic system based on cooperation, ethic, solidarity...and north-south redistribution and justice in economic relations.[3][4]”
And pretty soon we were getting people- trimmers coming in from all over the world...hey I got a island in the south of Chile… I want to do this in my community… - I got a community project in Spain… in Argentina… In Peru… etc… it was incredible the interest! We had hit the honey pot… suddenly I could see light come into the eyes of the people I spoke to… they got it.
They saw the power to become ..SOVEREIGN.
And all the while no one in the fair coop assembly said...” Robin… stop!-You need to fill in a form first. You need to write a proposal first...and it needs to be passed by the assembly when we meet once a month… you need to get every action validated and dated by two people…” mmmm
No..it was “ WOW ROBIN- GO FOR IT! “-TRUE!
So we spread the word on our community radio station… we gave interviews to the local newspapers… and we networked at the festivals and parties… the community vision was now clear… not only would Humboldt county become a marijuana growing community… but it would become a HEALING community… growing CDBD S… hemp products… stuff like that… marijuana tasting tours…( and yes… marijuana form the 1st of January is totally legal in California. )
And so Fair Coop and Fair coin became cool..and sexy… and despite our inexperience… we were learning by doing… we gave a presentation in the local thetre hall… we soldified the local node as a point of exchange. In our first few weeks we sold over 12 000 fair coin...and people were suddenly saying… I want some)
This wasnt greed. This was passion. This was excitement. Excitement the like of which you see only in America where dreams can come true. For all of its faults… if theres one thing America is… its a passionate country that gets on board the train when it believes in something… people had HOPE.
At the Golden Tarp awards- the end of season awards for the best marijuana… fair coin was there… how about that…
I went on a 10 day road trip to scout out other possible locations to place nodes. And I got interest in Sedona and Hopiland. Its something that resonates with people who are already tuned in to the zeitgeist.
Daniel enlisted Vinny and Ryan to start promoting the fair coop message to others in the county. He put his own money and resources behind the fair coop vision. Not because he saw it as a way of getting rich...but saw it as a way of helping people and seeing his community flourish.
Pretty soon we had interest from a guy in Willetts… another village. The eco system was growing fast…
In the mean time I was talking to my friends in South Africa. They decided now was time to kick start the local node in Johannesburg… and they did so. I created fair coop london on telegram and started communicating with the guys there to meet up on my return… I was communicating with New York to give a presentation there too..and Canada. I even gave a small presentation in Stanford University to a group of students. …. I went off to Edmonton, Canada ( 4 days on a bus) to give a presentation to a Sudanese refugee group and some students from the University of Alberta…
I finished off this 3 month trip of evangelising- pollinating- ambassadorship … whatever you want to call it...in London. Here we followed the procedures on Board net and created the London node.
It was not at all what I had planned to do nor how I executed it. It just ran into each other and flowed. I grabbed the tiger by the tail and just went with it.
“Apart from the global vision, multiple Local Nodes are being added to the FairCoop network all around the world, in order to connect local initiatives, groups and people to the ecosystem. “
WHO does this?...people do. In this case...me and my friends.
“Apart from the global vision, multiple Local Nodes are being added to the FairCoop network all around the world, in order to connect local initiatives, groups and people to the ecosystem. “
Why do people travel all around the world spending their last money to get a job trimming marijuana? Why do they suffer like this? - believe me..its not as glamourous as you think...its a boring job. Half the time you dont get paid. Half the time if you are a woman you get demeaned. You are cold...you are dirty...you are wet… your eyes sting… you stink…
Why do people leave their countries to come to a country we all fear? Why does Humboldt county hire Europeans? - not Americans… because in their own words… “ they are hard working and trustworthy!”
My work creating these 3 local nodes… whether it was done with all the paperwork or not… was done in the spirit of these people who suffer form all over the world who wish to NOT leave their countries but be able to trade with others in equality… in dignity..and with integrity. At one point I was working on murder mountain … and yes… its called that for a reason… building a local node is not just about the money… its about the ethos and the ethics… and where communities can turn to in an alternative economy that is growing up… and the Humboldt node was a calm eye in the storm of chaos surrounding it.
Inbetween the Mexican and Bulgarian cartels and the slush fund kids and “trustafarians”… the moms and pops ...the small growers who are trying to feed their families and raise their children in peace and safety… this was a community in a transformation and I happened to be an instrument by which this transformation into the ethos of fair coop would begin.
And people began to believe again in a better community for all. Yes. Its true.
And all along… no one told me to stop… STOP robin… dont do it… you must fill in the forms first and get the go ahead… no…we need to vote for it...mmmm
And then came the jealousy… the fear… the paranoia… suddenly we were being contacted from everywhere… everyone wanted fair coin. Fair coin shot up at one point to no 87 in coinmarketcap. Everyone wanted to open up a local node. WE were getting enquiries from all over… and in this sudden interest… we attracted the wrong people too.
The speculators and the money launderers… those who just wanted to convert their black money from the mattress to the safety of crypto...then we got called in by the bank… and were told… shut it down or we close your account… money gram didnt want to touch us ...and in Europe money gram wasnt set up. It was becoming messy and dangerous… I want to remind people that if you are found guilty of money laundering ..ie knowingly ( or unknowingly) taking a large sum of cash and converting it into safe currency...in America..its not a joke...you go to jail… for up to 10 years… in a federal prison…
we had to stop..and besides...fair coop itself wasnt helping with its ethos…
“FairCoop is an OPEN global cooperative that organizes itself through the Internet outside the boundaries and controls of nation-states.”
Behind the safety of a computer screen ..its easy to construct bold and daring words… but in what I had found myself in..the wild west..outlaw city… it wasnt so easy to preach if I didnt have back up… And fortunately… I did. At last from Daniel and his friends. But as soon as I had a chance to breath… I was exhausted form the whole journey… I realised ...fair coop has no back bone and would have hung us all out to dry… these were in fact… EMPTY WORDS… and where did this actually come to light…?
When I asked to be rewarded according to my voluntary contribution. And according to the principles of fair coop as stated on the tin. And this is where the flame war began… Suddenly I was the bad guy.
“Based on our innovative collaborative working tool, the participants can either volunteer their hours or CLAIM a remuneration in faircoin to cover their needs. In this way we REWARD those who are bringing REAL value with their work into FairCoop, and the value distribution is done in a FAIR and decentralized way.”
My mortal sin? … asking to be rewarded for my efforts in increasing the eco system...in breaking through the invisible walls of doubts and self loathing and depression and angst...of smashing negativity in the face and saying… yes… we can. That was my crime.
I was suffering from hyper tension and I need a break. I went to Portugal to rest up.
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5. WHERE DO WE STAND RIGHT NOW- What have been the consequences ?
“The FairCoop ecosystem organizes itself through. Everybody is encouraged to participate with their individual skills and ideas, and take proactive responsibilities, thus helping the movement grow.
1. Lets look at the positives first. As a result of my efforts in America, Africa and the UK ...the Fair coop eco system has grown. It looks like the London node is holding. Although time will tell on this.
2. The experience in America has shown that to be ethical towards the people we bring into this global eco system we need to be fully legally compliant . We cannot lead our friends into jail or confiscation. That is clearly wrong. You cannot wash yours hands and hang people to dry. That is a no no. If we boldly claim we are outside the system..we need to back it up. Whether that is in legal advice...or a legal fund. It must be done. We need to have each others back if were really gonna change the world.
3. The Africa experience has taught me as well that more education is required… - it is one thing to pollinate… or propagate… but we need to as a team follow it up with educational one on one seminars and teaching...some can be done online but I find the most effective way of communicating is face to face. Telegram is woefuly inadequate for more in depth and important things .
4. What we can learn from negative feedback is what we need to change and improve. Elon Musk says:” I dont get angry when people criticise me or what Im doing… I see it as an opportunity to get even better ! I welcome negative feedback. What can fair coop learn from what happened in Humboldt?
5. On the negative side… some of my friends are currently under the eyes of the FBI. This is a serious thing. People’s lives could be damaged forever… all because theres no back up...no support from fair coop… ( according to Daniel Stark) He didnt want to talk to anyone after his messages were ignored. But he trusted me. He knew what I did… I did from my heart.
6. Friendships have been strained… even at La Decentrale the word “ fair coop “ to me ..is like the word “ rainbow “ to Isabel … we both view the other as a bunch of energy vampires… and thats the truth.
7. I think the most negative thing to come out of this experience is that the trust gap has been made larger by the failure of fair coop to address the issues and the problems Ive outlined repeatedly. ( OCP, MONEY LAUNDERING COMPLIANCE, PAYMENTS TO POLLINATORS AND SUPPORT TO LOCAL NODES).
In conclusion where we are now is that the intransigence shown by some in the assembly makes me think if I want to associate my name and honour to a group of people who do not have the courage to live by what they purport on the website.
I am assured however...that is not so..and that if I make a proposal… something could change. Its possible… so thats why Im writing this long letter to everyone associated with fair coop. Not everyone of you are hucksters an liars..hypocrites and trolls… Not all are mean spirited and cold hearted reptilians. And even if you are or were … it may be that this is NOT a community at all ...but an ECO system. Just like in Madagascar...with the lemurs… some eat this kind of leaf..others another… and all dependent on the functioning of that orbit of ecology for the survival of the species. Its a symbiotic relationship.
So it doesnt matter if I like you or not… or you like me or not… or I trust you or you me...
This is about fairness… equality… justice… not about my opinion. Permaculture principles.
“FairCoin is an ethical digital currency, driven by the values of the FairCoop ecosystem and supported by a fast-growing global cooperative movement. It is decentralized, as with any other cryptocurency, but at the same time implements radical innovations that makes it unique in terms of ecological operation, stable value growth, ethical trade, savings and funding opportunities. Its development continues with the goal of creating a fair economic system for the Earth.”
And to implement that… you have a duty of care to those who make it so. You also have to work according to the same dynamics of regular economics… ie paying for work done..or goods provided.
WE have the tools… and we need to ensure that the reward that is claimed is not slow, cumbersome, difficult to claim or emotional in its delivery. I dont need to get heart papitations on telegram...
If what is said is true...especially about the north south divide… then we have to unshackle the chains of the former economic system by living in abundance..not in the same meanness that created this mess in the first place… otherwise ...we are NO different than those we claim to want to replace.
6. MY PROPOSAL - How to reach a point of resolution.
The main problem we encountered was the lack of support and follow-up. It is not enough to do everything on telegram. Its important to show solidarity with the community we intend to “ pollinate” .
My proposal is to fix this problem and to propose how to make things easier to get rewarded for yours efforts.
1. Whilst it can be argued that there was no such job as a pollinator. However, the mission statement of fair coop discounts this argument. Thus in America the first thing that is needed to fix the reputation of fair coop is to show immediate solidarity.
The work I have done I have logged in as a total of 160 hours. But this cannot explain the difficulty of opening up a new node in a new community that is cynical to changes. Therefore , I propose that values be placed on pollinating in future. Create a clear task bank. With percentages of the task completed paid for at the end of each month.
2. The OCP platform is too cumbersome and bureaucratic and it excludes a lot of people with low education or who do not have the band width in developing countries to stay online to figure it all out. I propose to make the whole payments system easier is a :
1. Taskbank not a Timebank as is the current way ( it is essentially ). A standard form that is emailed each month and that can either be printed out filled out and scanned ...or filled out online.
This form can be emailed to every member of fair coop , filled out and sent back to the admin to remit. The tasks are a natural progress to the red tape of the present.
If the tasks are not on the bank or listed on the OCP- then then should be nominated and included after the decision of the monthly assemblies. It is clear now that the pollination, education and “discipleship” of new people using the fair coin economy is still lacking in the Eco system.
Therefore, I propose a percentage based task bank and a monthly list that is emailed to each member to fill out if he or she so wishes to claim a reward for his or her efforts. Make it seamless and easy to understand. User friendly.
2. Throughout history Monks and missionaries of all faiths have travelled in two s . It is a system that works. Thus in future pollinators should I think travel as couples . However, its still possible for pollination to occur solitary. But it is a whole lot easier when there are two people travelling together.
Therefore I propose two ambassadors take on the work of pollination or at very least ambassadorship.
3. The current situation in Humboldt county has tarnished the reputation of fair coop in America. ( and in Africa ). Therefore , I propose at least two people travel as ambassadors of fair coop to rectify the relationship with Daniel Stark ( who by the way has remained loyal to me even after seeing what happened. He states any future with fair coop in Humboldt has to include me. I m honored by this gesture of solidarity.
Therefore, I propose two fair coop ambassadors visit Humboldt county.
4. The issue of money laundering is a very real one. In America its a federal offense and even if one doesnt knowingly do it… its a case of “ ignorance is no excuse”. It is vital that fair coop shows solidarity with those people on the front lines. Its like going to a war and leaving your soldiers on the battle field to die...you just dont do that! I believe a budget for legal fund should be made available to ensure fair coin is legally compliant.
Daniel Stark mentioned it would cost around 10 000 dollars. If we are to expand the network in North America...particularly the United States… which has a big homeless community and people living on the fringes of society. California and Colorado are two big centres of counter culture as is New York. To build organic communities its time to have follow up and training . To expand this eco system we need to create confidence in the people behind it. Its about ethics …
Therefore, I propose a follow up visit to put things right and make fair coop legally compliant in the USA. ( Some alt coins are doing this already. )
5. When you say you can claim for your needs...that is not a time based or limited claim. That means at any time you can indeed claim for any contribution you have made to increase the network and value of fair coop. Its like a validation of your work. Its like saying …
” thank you “ but really meaning it. Not empty words…!
“In this way we REWARD those who are bringing REAL value with their work into Fair Coop, and the value distribution is done in a FAIR and decentralized way.” ( Quoted from the FAIR Coop website. )
Therefore, I am making the claim now to be rewarded for my suffering and proposing a fair coin for a fair effort. Thank you.
6. This flame war on telegram has proved one thing. Its not an adequate tool for mediation. There are many things you say in the heat of the moment you later regret. What happened is a clear demonstration of this method not working. We all have different personalities. Some people are hot some are cool and some are cold. Some are outgoing...some introverted. Some hold back...and others do not. But to maintain the respect level we cannot rely on reacting to messages on a screen. We need to at least see each others face. Eye to eye.
Therefore, I propose a Skype or Zoom conference to mediate serious issues. When we spoke over Zoom it was possible to reach a greater understanding with Daniel Stark, myself and Chris Zumbrunn. I propose that mediation be transferred when things get too hot to zoom.
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7. CONCLUDING COMMENTS.- My argument.
The basic tools work. The app – the card… although fair pay Im having a problem with...The website at the bank of the commons failed to address a spelling error I pointed out 6 months ago… you spell “between” with one “e “not “beetween “. The devil is in the detail…
The main problem is with fair coop as it is at the moment. It wasnt ready to cope with the scaling up so quickly. It proposed a global system ...but wasnt ready to handle its implementation. If anything I have highlighted the woeful inadequacy of the practicality of the challenge.
“Earth's Cooperative ecosystem for a fair economy”
Also I believe I have highlighted the inadequacy of the payments system using OCP. ( I struggled to login because the username wasnt email friendly. Once in I logged in 160 hours for my work over the course of 3 months.. I figured its still not telling the whole story. The struggle I went through nor the risks I took. Most people thought fair coin is another pyramid or ponzi scheme until I explained that “ we dont want your money if youre not interested in building your community” -true ..we turned away thousands and thousands of dollars in cash when it was thrust in our faces….
I was very clear about this. And deep down I do not believe the majority of fair coop are hucksters or scammers trying to rinse out money from unsuspecting people. But I did notice some of the trades were just rinsing and not actual trades. Thats another story in itself.
So its important not only to build trust ...but also confidence. People saw I trusted and believed in fair coin and fair coop. I was never in it to make money or to rip them off. They saw I was genuine and honest in my motives.
When I returned to the UK I was burned out. I went to Portugal for Christmas to rest up. This is when I was dialogueing in frustration with Guy. The problem once again… is that there is a ethical and intellectual breakdown. Its not purely cultural. I do not understand tech..but I understand people. I am not an administrator...but I m a good propagator. A good pollinator.
My arguments I have tried to set out clearly on this document..call it a “ grey paper “ … grey because we do not all of know what we are doing ...we are all learning how this works on a day to day basis… and with this will come challenges like this… and this is the proof whether or not the group..the “ team” is resilient enough or not to handle the fire… cause when it gets too hot… its hard to stay in the kitchen if you dont have a strong mind.
Its easy to become cowards and say… mmm what I was saying was all bullshit..it wasnt true… I would like it to be so...but I m not ready to change myself enough and the way I think to make it so…
What are the options?
I could go my way..and you go yours… I could expose these weaknesses publicly… or I could say… you know what… I m thinking about those women carrying water on their heads and children on their backs in Africa… who have to walk one hour to get a glass of water and firewood… who die every year because they dont have medicines that cost one dollar… and I could go on and on and on… but I really think if fair coop reforms and evolves… it could help those people in the developing world one day… For me… I am clear. I am doing this and I am here to make poverty history in Africa and the world.
To give everyone a chance to be empowered irrespective of their race or religion… or gender…
Thats why I started my political party… thats why I make peace gathering sin the Sahara… and thats why I did what I did.
I guess its a choice we make. “Fair to the Earth...Fair to the People… Fair Share. “
I thank you
Robin
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“The main objective of FairCoop is to make the transition to a new world possible reducing the economic and social differences between humans as much as possible and simultaneously contributing to a new global wealth available to all humanity in the form of commons.[6]”
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