User:Monndonndonn453/Prout Village

Prout Village is a sustainable social system in which there is no currency. It is an alternative to capitalism, socialism, and other systems.

Climate change, along with associated issues such as rising sea levels, wildfires, food problems, poverty, war, energy crises, and political corruption, is directly or indirectly connected to money. Therefore, by transitioning to a non-monetary society, these problems can be resolved. Prout Village outlines the methods to achieve this.

The Basic Form of Life
The basic form of living in Prout Village revolves around self-sufficiency, where local resources are utilized by local communities to produce essential necessities such as food, energy, education, daily goods, and housing.

Food production follows methods like organic farming that eschews the use of pesticides, as well as hydroponics within buildings. As a result, land is considered a shared resource rather than individual ownership, and each person is allocated a certain plot of land.

Housing is primarily based on earthbag construction, using soil to create dome-shaped houses with distinctive curves. This construction method involves filling bags with sand and stacking them, making it a simple and inclusive process that anyone can participate in, while still ensuring structural integrity.

Natural materials, primarily bamboo, are used for housing, furniture, and daily goods. Bamboo grows rapidly and is widely available, with a growth period of approximately three years. This eliminates the need to cut down trees that take longer to grow.

Energy generation is primarily based on small-scale hydropower, providing continuous power from the ocean or rivers. Since Prout Village does not have corporations or excessive economic activities, the energy consumption is reduced. In addition to small-scale hydropower, alternative energy sources such as plant-based electricity obtained by inserting electrodes into the ground and biomass power derived from harvested grass and organic waste are also utilized. These methods do not require large-scale production facilities and are generated from local resources. However, due to their lower power output, multiple installations are necessary. Solar power is not considered a primary source of energy since about 10% of the materials used in solar panels are harmful substances, requiring proper disposal and making it an unsustainable choice.

In addition to self-sufficiency in food, housing, daily goods, and energy, freedom of movement is facilitated through the use of electric cars and trains. These transportation options are produced and operated by local communities using local resources, allowing free access even without monetary transactions, enabling people to travel abroad without the need for money.

In this way, the essential elements necessary for living are produced by the residents themselves and shared without monetary exchange. Consequently, individuals can sustain their livelihoods without the need to work for corporations or receive wages, leading to the eventual elimination of companies and economic activities. This approach contributes to solving societal issues worldwide. The absence of corporations also eliminates the need for academic qualifications for employment, rendering formal education unnecessary. Therefore, education in Prout Village takes on the following form.

With self-sufficiency achieved, people who no longer need to attend schools or workplaces engage in activities they enjoy in various locations. Each group formed around these activities becomes an educational setting. For instance, if a child develops an interest in sports, they can join a sports group, or if they show interest in language learning, they can seek out individuals who teach languages. By fostering curiosity and proactive participation, individuals have a higher chance of discovering their areas of expertise and eventually finding their true vocation or occupation. This approach allows individuals to maximize their abilities. Even if someone lacks interest in specific areas, they will not fall into poverty as they can sustain their livelihood through self-sufficiency.

Education
In Prout Village, one of the aspects of education is emphasizing the importance of "learning how to learn." This involves individuals independently pursuing about 80% of their learning, and seeking guidance from teachers or coaches when they encounter something they don't understand. As human beings, everyone follows a similar process of growth, which involves the following steps:

1. Following curiosity

2. Practicing and repeating small, simple techniques and knowledge

3. The quality of abilities improves with prolonged, conscious repetition over an extended period.

Ultimately, the amount of growth is determined by the amount of repetition, influenced by factors such as physical abilities and the environment. By following curiosity, learning becomes self-directed, and through continuous effort, individuals develop skills such as analytical thinking, planning, and a willingness to take on new challenges. Through this process, repeated instances of both small and large successes contribute to building confidence and understanding.

Recommended election
In Prout Village, for the stable governance of the village, it is deemed necessary to select individuals who are sincere and capable as leaders. This means that they do not adopt a candidate-based election system commonly seen in capitalist societies, but instead advocate for a recommended election system by the residents.

The problems with candidate-based election systems are identified as the difficulty for modest and virtuous individuals with less self-interest to emerge, while those with strong desires are more likely to come forward. They explain that individuals who are strongly driven by self-interest are aggressive and have strong desires for positions, fame, and material possessions, making it impossible for them to build a peaceful society as leaders.

Conversely, individuals with less self-interest and who are not driven by their ego lack internal conflicts, and thus, it is believed that a peaceful society can be built. They consider such sincere and virtuous individuals suitable as leaders. The mechanism involves residents selecting and recommending individuals with some form of high ability from among these individuals of good character. In this way, sincere leaders are chosen worldwide, leading to the creation of a society without wars or conflicts.

From Ego to Consciousness
The criteria for happiness vary from person to person, but Prout Village recommends a state of tranquility that comes from being free from the influence of thoughts and being in a state of no-mind as the essential happiness of human beings. The reason for this is that the joy and happiness derived from acquiring something in general are temporary. Once we lose that thing or become accustomed to the joy it brings, we desire it again, which leads to suffering.

For example, when we start dating someone we are interested in, joy initially arises. However, as time goes by, we become accustomed to that joy, and conflicts increase, making it difficult to be together. Similarly, we experience the suffering of thirst, find relief and joy in drinking water, but then thirst returns, causing suffering again.

This endless cycle of suffering and joy is brought about by thoughts, and humans are often swayed by them. Prout Village suggests that when we enter a state of no-mind, which lies between negativity and positivity, and stop our thoughts, tranquility arises. This state of tranquility is considered a form of happiness without suffering. Therefore, the happiness referred to here is not temporary positive emotions such as joy, but rather a calm and peaceful state. Thoughts are the ego, and desires, anger, jealousy, and sadness are also products of thoughts that give rise to suffering.

People who are relatively free from the influence of thoughts remain detached from the ego and exist as consciousness. The more detached they are from the ego and the more they exist as consciousness, the higher their sincerity and suitability as leaders or individuals of character. Prout Village emphasizes that methods to achieve no-mind are an important part of education, and conducting recommended elections with this knowledge is crucial.

Examples of social issues solved in Prout Village
- Climate change and global warming, along with issues such as rising sea levels and wildfires.

- Deforestation and the decrease of forests, whether legal or illegal.

- Food security and poverty.

- War and nuclear weapons.

- Earthquakes.

- Energy issues.

- Depletion of natural resources.

- Excessive speed of scientific and technological advancements.

- Political corruption and bribery.

- Population decline in some countries and global population growth issues.

- Massive waste disposal and the problem of microplastics in the oceans.

- Prostitution and human trafficking.

- Significant reduction in bullying issues.

These problems are related to activities seeking monetary gain at various levels, including nations, corporations, organizations, and individuals. Prout Village views them as consequences of the monetary society. By transitioning to a non-monetary society, economic activities would come to a halt and these issues could be resolved.