<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19258">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">Several
relevant questions were raised at last Saturday’s meeting, such as who exactly
intends to be teaching what at LSSC, and why?</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">It was
also suggested that the LSSC should host a talk/discussion event. </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I won’t
be attending the meeting scheduled for 1<SUP>st</SUP> August when these issues
are due to be discussed further, but I would like to submit the following for
consideration.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">1. I
shall begin by taking the last point first – the talk/discussion
event.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">It was
suggested that this should have some direct bearing on the work the LSSC aspires
to do, and that perhaps it should suggest exactly why the LSSC claims to be
radical. </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I would
like to propose that I host a talk/discussion on a piece of work that I’ve been
involved with for about ten years, and which could, if the LSSC chooses to take
it up, quite literally change the world – for the better - which would be pretty
radical in my view.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I call
it the People’s Constitution. Although it’s obviously my property at the moment,
in the sense that I’m the only person who has worked on it, the intention is
that it should, by definition, belong to the people - that it should serve and
protect every individual on the planet, by belonging to everyone in general and
no one in particular; and that it continually evolves and adapts to
ever-changing society and the needs of a suffering planet. I offer it up
initially as a subject for discussion and then as a starting point for an
inclusive LSSC project, an opening framework for a project with which anyone and
everyone at LSSC may be involved, if they choose to be.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I shall
not go into the detail here, but the reasons I believe this piece of work might
be relevant to LSSC are:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">a. It
is an intensely political and philosophical piece of work. It’s very new,
innovative and radical, as it proposes a method of government which, although
not entirely unknown, is a very different model to the one we actually have: it
proposes a humane government, directly controlled by a humane, well-informed,
environmentally responsible population. There is also a very important separate
area of work around the subject of transition – the move from where we are to
where we would like to be.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">b. The
project could be widely inclusive of anyone at LSSC, as it embraces the areas of
interest of most people involved with social science and humanities – from the
work of economists say, to environmentalists; from specialists in moral,
political and religious philosophy to media and IT specialists... you get the
picture. Because it aspires to encompass all of the major components that should
make up a humane, environmentally-aware society, it has the potential to satisfy
the imaginative and creative aspirations of anyone who sincerely wants to make
the world a better place.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">c. It
is a massive project – massive not so much in terms of physical volume, but in
the range of interests affected, and its truly world-changing potential. If the
LSSC chooses to take it up it could establish the LSSC’s reputation not just in
our own country, but throughout the whole world. It could be the twenty-first
century version of Magna Carta. It really has the potential to be that
significant. </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">d. Even
if no more than two or three people chose to become involved in the project, its
mere existence as a piece of work being undertaken by some members under the
LSSC umbrella would give real credibility to the imaginative, creative, humane,
and radical aspirations of the LSSC as a whole.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">e. The
reason I created the People’s Constitution is because I’ve only recently (last
ten years or so) begun to understand how our world really works. It is not a
pretty picture; and the need for radical changes to political decision-making is
not just desirable, it’s essential. The fact that twenty-first century
communications has now not only made that possible (for the first time ever) but
also inevitable, is hugely exciting - and the race is on to be the first to make
the most of those technological changes to bring about systemic change, to
really improve society, and rescue the planet from what is currently a
bleak-looking future.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">f.
People are often afraid of radical change, and there would of course be concerns
that a People’s Constitution would seem too eccentric. But I’ve campaigned as an
Independent in four local elections, with almost no funding, based entirely on
my version of a People’s Constitution. The last time I did so I won a third of
the vote. This shows not only that people are nearly ready for seriously radical
change, but also how that change might be effected.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">2. What
I’m prepared and able to teach.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">The
evidence for why we need to change the way the world works is the core material
of what I can offer to teach to others. The subject matter is quite wide-ranging
– from history to economics, from politics to moral, political and religious
philosophy. There is no particular qualifying standard necessary to take part in
this course. It only requires the ability to read, and the desire to do
so.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I would
use the tutorial model for anyone interested in taking up this line of study.
i.e. that people work through an initial reading list, meeting periodically in
groups to discuss the issues they discover. There are also films to be seen,
music to be heard, websites to be visited.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">An
initial reading list might comprise something like the following books, for
example – in no particular order:</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">a. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“The Blood Never Dried – A People’s History
of the British Empire”</I> – Newsinger.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">b. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“The Guardians of Power”</I> – Edwards and
Cromwell</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">c. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Captive State – The Corporate Takeover of
Britain”</I> – Monbiot</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">d. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“No Logo” – </I>Klein</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">e. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“People’s History of the United States” –
</I>Zinn</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">f. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Web of Deceit”</I> – Curtis</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">g. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Age of Reason”</I> – Paine</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">h. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Treasure Islands” – </I>Shaxson</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">i. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“Blood and Religion” – </I>Cook</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">j. <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">“An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire”</I> –
Roy</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">There
are of course many other books that provide the proof for why change is so
desperately needed.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">3. Why
I’m doing this.</FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">I’m
trying to make the world a better place. Once people fully understand the
problem it’s difficult not to want to do so; and how else can we look the future
in the eye? The process must start with re-education. To borrow from the
nineteenth century Welsh radical Dr Richard Price: </FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">“Our first
concern, as lovers of our country, must be to enlighten it.”</FONT></I></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Trebuchet MS">Beyond
learning for the sake of learning, we need to actually <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">DO</I> something with that learning, to take
a stand, to be pro-active, to be the change.<o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><o:p><FONT
face="Trebuchet MS"> </FONT></o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>