This document discusses the proposals of The Venus Project for restructuring society. The Venus Project proposes using existing technologies more efficiently and sustainably without monetary constraints. It envisions outcomes like clean energy, efficient transportation, common ownership of land and resources, and automation. Future cities would be designed for maximum sustainability, with concentric rings dedicated to different functions like education, arts, dining, and renewable energy production. Housing would include micro homes and aquaponics gardens to improve sustainable food production. The document outlines several aspects of the resource-based economic model proposed by The Venus Project.
2. Abstract
The primates calling themselves human are a
self-congratulatory lot. We celebrate our genius,
ingenuity, and innovation, all while consuming
our finite resources at an alarming rate, polluting
our atmosphere, our oceans, and our land; we
cut down our forests, poach its animals, and
drive them to endangerment and extinction. The
Venus Project proposes a complete makeover
using technologies and abilities we already have,
but do not use because of a broken (read:
monetary-based) system.
5. RBE
Outcomes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clean energy & maximum
sustainability
Efficient strategy, dynamic
equilibrium, & convenient
transportation
Common holding of land by the
people
Common holding of resources & the
means of production
Common distribution of
consumables/goods/commodities
etc.
Automation of the manufacturing
process
9. Cityscap
es
RBE cities
Core - educational facilities, networking etc.
1st ring - cultural
activities, arts, theatre, entertainment
2nd ring - design & development complex
3rd ring - dining & amenities
4th ring - 8 residential districts w/ gardens
5th ring - Renewable energy belt
6th ring - circular waterway for irrigation &
filtration
Perimeter - recreational activities:
hiking, biking etc.
Roxanne Meadows, colleague of TVP founder Jacques Fresco, said, “what is needed is a change in our sense of direction and purpose—an alternative vision for a sustainable new world civilization unlike any in the past.”The Venus Project. N.d.revtone. Web. 04 Dec. 2013. <http://i4.minus.com/ixmKJC0XXnIDI.jpg>.
“It is a holistic socio-economic system in which all goods and services are available without the use of money, credits, barter or any other system of debt or servitude. All resources become the common heritage of all of the inhabitants, not just a select few. The premise upon which this system is based is that the Earth is abundant with plentiful resource; our practice of rationing resources through monetary methods is irrelevant and counter productive to our survival. […] At present, we have enough material resources to provide a very high standard of living for all of Earth's inhabitants. Only when population exceeds the carrying capacity of the land do many problems such as greed, crime and violence emerge. By overcoming scarcity, most of the crimes and even the prisons of today's society would no longer be necessary. […] Money is only important in a society when certain resources for survival must be rationed and the people accept money as an exchange medium for the scarce resources. Money is a social convention, an agreement if you will. It is neither a natural resource nor does it represent one. It is not necessary for survival unless we have been conditioned to accept it as such,” (Fresco).Fresco, Jacques. "Resource Based Economy." The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/about/ resource-based-economy>.
“A resource-based world economy would also involve all-out efforts to develop new, clean, and renewable sources of energy: geothermal; controlled fusion; solar; photovoltaic; wind, wave, and tidal power; and even fuel from the oceans. We would eventually be able to have energy in unlimited quantity that could propel civilization for thousands of years. A resource-based economy must also be committed to the redesign of our cities, transportation systems, and industrial plants, allowing them to be energy efficient, clean, and conveniently serve the needs of all people,” (Fresco).Fresco, Jacques. "Resource Based Economy." The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/about/ resource-based-economy>.
“Technology intelligently and efficiently applied, conserves energy, reduces waste, and provides more leisure time. With automated inventory on a global scale, we can maintain a balance between production and distribution. Only nutritious and healthy food would be available and planned obsolescence would be unnecessary and non-existent in a resource-based economy,” (Fresco).Fresco, Jacques. "Resource Based Economy." The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/about/ resource-based-economy>.
“Their structural elements will be flexible and coherently arranged to best serve individual preference. These pre-fabricated, modular homes, embodying a high degree of flexibility inconceivable in times past, could be built anyplace one might imagine, amidst forests, atop mountains, or on remote islands,” (Fresco).“Residences will have “their own thermal generators and heat concentrators. Photovoltaic arrays would be built into the skin of the building and into the windows themselves. “Thermopanes” would be used to tint out the bright sunlight by variable patterns of shading.Homes could be prefabricated of a new type of pre-stressed, reinforced concrete with a flexible ceramic external coating that would be relatively maintenance free, fireproof, and impervious to the weather. With this type of construction, there would be minimal damage from earthquakes and hurricanes,” (Fresco).Fresco, Jacques. "Self Contained Dwellings." The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/technology/housing>.
NOMAD Micro Homes. Netfirms, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://www.nomadmicrohomes.com/gallery.html>. "Minim House 03." Minim Tiny Homes. Minim, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://minimhomes.com/photos/>."Cypress House 11." Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com>.
“The central dome or theme center will house the core of the cybernated system, educational facilities, access center, computerized communications, networking systems, health and child care facilities.The buildings surrounding the central dome provide the community with centers for cultural activities such as the arts, theater, exhibitions, concerts, access centers, and various forms of entertainment.Next is the design and development complex for this research and planning city. The design centers are beautifully landscaped in natural surroundings.Adjacent the research facilities are dining and other amenities.The eight residential districts have a variety of free form unique architecture to fulfill the various needs of the occupant. Each home is immersed in lovely gardens isolating one from another with lush landscaping.Areas are set aside for renewable clean sources of energy such as wind generators, solar, heat concentrating systems, geothermal, photovoltaic and others.Next are the indoor hydroponic facilities and outdoor agricultural belts which will be used to grow a wide variety of organic plants without the use of pesticides.A circular waterway for irrigation and filtration surrounds the agricultural belt.The outermost perimeter is utilized for recreational activities such as biking, golfing, hiking and riding, etc.” (Fresco).Fresco, Jacques. ”City-Systems." The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/technology/city-systems>.
Information on the Aquilibrum Garden says “Plants require nutrients to grow. Aquaponics uses a closed loop ecosystem composed of a fish tank and a garden. The fish produce the nutrients that feed the garden, while the plant roots act as a bio-filter – soaking up nutrients and cleaning the water for your fish. All that you need to do to run the Aqualibrium Garden as an aquaponic system is feed your fish!” (What is the "What is the Aqualibrium Garden?)"What is the Aqualibrium Garden?" Aqualibrium Garden. Aqualibrium: Gardens ofthe Future, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. <http://www.aqualibrium.com/learn/>.
Works Cited “Cypress House 11.” Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com>.Fresco, Jacques. “Resource Based Economy.” The Venus Project. TVP, n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.thevenusproject.com/about/resource-based-economy>.“Minim House 03.” Minim Tiny Homes. Minim, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://minimhomes.com/photos/>.“Orig.” NOMAD Micro Homes. Netfirms, n.d. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://www.nomadmicrohomes.com/gallery.html>.The Venus Project. N.d.revtone. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://i4.minus.com/ixmKJC0XXnIDI.jpg>.“What is the Aqualibrium Garden?” Aqualibrium Garden. Aqualibrium: Gardens of the Future, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2013. <http://www.aqualibrium.com/learn/>.