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Dec. 2024 Prout Alliance Newsletter Issue 12 |
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How Change Happens
By: Rebekah Moan and Nina Shapiro
Throughout human history, one group or class of people has exerted undue influence, power, and control over another. The “haves” start to exploit the “have-nots” either directly (i.e., poor working conditions) or indirectly (i.e., buying clothes from a company that uses slave labor). A few enjoy their lives at the cost of many, who are suffering. Are we doomed to stay in this cycle forever? Is exploitation inevitable? No, not if we’re willing to try something new.
Author and environmentalist Paul Hawken says:
“We can just as easily have an economy that is based on healing the future instead of stealing it. We can either create assets for the future or take the assets of the future. One is called restoration and the other exploitation. And whenever we exploit the earth, we exploit people and cause untold suffering.”
Hawken, and others, argue that exploitation doesn’t have to be baked into the economy. You don’t have to have an economic underclass. To be clear, that doesn’t happen because those in power have a change of heart. The Jeff Bezoses of the world don’t wake up one morning and say, “Gee, I’ve been exploiting people and that’s wrong. Maybe I should stop. Let me cut down on my profit shares and start paying people a fair wage.”
Lest you think I’m mistaken, Bezos said in a New York Times article he didn’t want hourly workers to stick around for long because he viewed a large, disgruntled workforce as a threat. That’s because they are. Amazon employee Chris Smalls spent two years talking to workers on Staten Island, holding cookouts, conversing with them at bus stops, and educating them on why a labor union is necessary. And it worked. Despite previous failed attempts, the Amazon factory known as JFK8 has a labor union and earlier this year joined forces with the Teamsters.
The moral of the story (in this instance) is that change happens from the bottom up, not the top down. That’s not always true, but it usually is. To effect change, we must network with our local communities. Author, linguist, and filmmaker Helena Norberg Hodge says, “In order to localize, the key step is simply to redirect existing systemic supports – away from the global and towards the local. This would immediately begin to lessen our resource use, to regenerate the social fabric, and expand the possibilities for far less destructive, job-rich, local employment.”
This is why Prout is the economy of the future and one that would free us from the chains of exploitation. The strength of Prout is that it offers an economic model for sustainable change along with practical projects at the local level. It says, “Yes, invest in local communities, keep power in local communities, let every region become as self-sufficient as possible.”
In this time of disillusionment, let us all remember that this is how change happens – person by person, community by community NOT by electing some politician or another. It’s us. It’s the conversations we have, the protests we join, the companies we boycott, and the unions we organize. When we all work together for the betterment of society, that’s when we stop exploiters in their tracks. It may take a while but, in the end, every empire is toppled. The question becomes, what will take its place? If we don’t want another exploitative system, we must implement Prout and it starts at the local level.
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PA Organizational Reports |
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Steering Committee Report:
PA is a recipient member of a USDA-managed grant through the Cooperative Development Institute (CDI), which enables five PA members to participate in a professional “training of trainers” cooperative development program beginning in early 2025 and continuing into 2026. Establishing a formal relationship with CDI has opened doors to connect the national and international Proutist network with this training opportunity.
Internally, we have simplified and clarified our bylaws. We will vote on those at the next PA general assembly trimester meeting in January. We've also decided to shift some detailed content from the bylaws to a policy and procedures manual to enhance flexibility and responsiveness.
We are also developing systems to allow members to access meeting minutes and establish a robust reporting framework between committees and working groups. This effort reflects a broader priority to create stronger integration and accountability within our organizational structure. We launched a Policy and Procedures Committee to review and adapt decision-making processes, incorporating past protocols into a more flexible and coherent framework.
We initiated a joint task force with the Prout Research Institute (PRI) – Asheville to clarify our shared mission, vision, and distinct roles, ensuring effective collaboration and mutual support across the broader Proutist movement.
Lastly, we experienced a leadership transition following the general assembly election. We express deep gratitude to outgoing members Mark Friedman (MN) and John Linkhart for their service and we welcome Howard Nemon and Mark Friedman (CA) as new members. With these changes, Alex Jackimovicz was elected chairperson.
Submitted by Alex Jackimovicz, chair |
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Bylaws Ratification Process:
The PA Bylaws and Policies Taskforce recently presented a
draft of our bylaws to our membership at the October Annual meeting. It was
decided members would benefit from more time to review the bylaws before voting
to approve them. The Steering Committee decided to incorporate ratification
into the next General Assembly meeting this January. Voting members, please
look for notice of an online ratification vote shortly before the meeting.
In the meantime, voting members are encouraged to review the
bylaws draft on our Wild Apricot website. When you log in, look for the link
“Prout Alliance Bylaws Forum” at the top of the homepage. You will find the
bylaws divided into sections to facilitate discussion on each article. You can
leave comments and ask questions in the forum.
The Taskforce is now focused on compiling policies from the bylaws
and also policies enacted by the Steering Committee into a policies and
procedures manual. We aim for completion early in the coming year, laying the
foundation for a reference document that will evolve with the organization as
it grows.
Submitted by Mark Friedman (MN) |
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Finance Committee Report:
A Finance Committee (FC) priority is a policy and procedure proposal
that would establish a systematic, objective way to evaluate project proposals
that: demonstrate practical real-world implementation of Prout/neohumanism principles;
and fund an educational program or an outreach event. PA needs to avoid urgent ad
hoc project-funding requests. Three critical proposal elements will help PA
better manage its capacity and project funding. First, a well-defined application
process (including a detailed budget, timeline, etc.). Proposals with FC
recommendations will be forwarded to the steering committee for a decision,
which then engages the FC in the defined and appropriate follow-up actions. Second
is the Request For Proposal (RFP) process, i.e., instead of waiting for proposals
to be submitted, PA can identify a need and publish an RFP inviting proposals. Third,
along with supporting PA’s engagement in an annual budget cycle, to recommend including
a mandatory line item for project funding with an amount always delineated (however
minimal it may be) to keep that priority on people’s minds and, when more funding
is available, to bolster engagement in those key priorities.
Submitted by John Linkhart |
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Outreach Committee Report:
The Outreach Team is discussing how to best use our collective resources strategically to reach as many people as we can in meaningful ways as we spread our Prout messaging. The annual Westchester Social Forum will take place again this year on Sunday, April 27th at the White Plains Public Library from noon to 5 p.m. It will provide ample opportunities for Proutists to network and build relationships with like-minded people. This year, the planning team includes several young people of color in their 20s. We will share details as they become available. We also discussed making sure the social forum does not become a stand-alone event but rather introduces new people to various Prout-centered trainings and educational opportunities both in person and online. This would offer members of the public actionable steps to continue their involvement with our organization. Lastly, we are also discussing crafting more accessible communication materials and amplifying our Prout messaging across various media platforms. Participating in the Substacks of others has been generating attention because economic democracy is highlighted and followed by a link for more information. Robert Reich's Substack is being used to refer participants to the “Crisis and Transition” Substack created and maintained by an ad hoc group of Proutists.
Submitted by Nada Khader |
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CRDT Substack:
In September, the Prout Institute launched
“Crisis and Transition: A Common Way Forward,” a Substack to find an effective
way to engage in productive conversations with allies on how to get from where
we are to where we need to be. In other words, how do we work together to build
a timely solution to help ensure positive, fundamental socioeconomic
transformation? This was based on the premise that the metacrisis will provide an
opportunity for a collaborative effort among activists who share core values.
Ideally positioned within the spectrum of information sources between long
magazine-length articles and the brief commentary typical of social media
platforms, Substack provides an opportunity for more thoughtful
in-depth engagement on critical topics to facilitate productive dialogue
and collaboration among like-minded individuals, organizations, and networks.
Readership and comments on postings have been growing at an encouraging rate.
Currently free, some people have elected to support the work with paid
subscriptions, which help pay for site administration. On January 9, the PA
Monthly Seminar will address Substack – what it is, how it can be used, and the
potential it has to engage in a broad discussion about systemic
transformation. For more information, please contact John Linkhart (linkhartjohn3@gmail.com).
Please check out the Crisis and Transition Substack and participate in the
conversation.
Submitted by John Linkhart |
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Education Workgroup Report:
The PA Monthly Seminar series continues and the Education
Work Group wants to thank those of you who have attended programs. We especially
acknowledge and thank the wonderful people willing to take time out of their busy
schedules to prepare informative programs, which are available well into the future
via recordings. On that note, check out the recording of the young Proutists' panel
discussion when it’s available. With its timing shortly after the U.S. election
and the inclusion of panelists from other countries, it was an excellent and
informative program and discussion.
The Dec. 12 Prout Research Institute (PRI) Program is coming
up next. Dada Maheshvarananda will be sharing his experiences as a PRI director
along with news about other PRIs around the world. Roar Bjonnes will be sharing
the PRI origin story he knows very well from firsthand experience. If you
haven’t already done so, please register for that event. We have other programs
scheduled through February 2025 with more under development so keep checking
back.
Submitted by John Linkhart |
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