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==About this Knowledgebase ==
 
==About this Knowledgebase ==
{{Main|TZMWiki:About}}
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The founder of this knowledgebase, [[User:Ziggy|Ziggy]] was motivated to start this project after finding that definitions about a [[Resource-Based Economy]] were, in his view:
This knowledge-base is inspired by the success of the [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]], and the need to bring accuracy and concerted information regarding the crucial topic of a [[Resource-Based Economy]], a concept that may play a decisive role in the future of mankind. At the time of this writing and early stages of this knowledge-base, the information about a RBE has been found to be:
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* fragmented
 
* fragmented
* plagued with opinons about the current system
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* plagued with opinions about the current system
 
* substantially explained through metaphorical speech
 
* substantially explained through metaphorical speech
 
* inconsistent and even contradictory when explained by different people
 
* inconsistent and even contradictory when explained by different people
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* mostly subjective and vague
 
* mostly subjective and vague
  
The purpose of this Wiki is primarily resolve with its proper use, all the issues listed above.
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This knowledge-base is inspired by the success of the [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] in achieving consensus in a great number of concepts through crowdsourcing. This wiki's main objectives are increasing accuracy and consensus around definitions, application, and transition methods, applicable to a Resource-Based Economy.
  
=== Continuous Growth in a Finite Planet ===
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This website is not concerned with the reasons for transitioning towards a Resource-Based Economy, and assumes that users of this wiki are already convinced of this necessity. For more information about the need to transition to a Resource-Based Economy, please refer to [[The Zeitgeist Movement]] or [[The Venus Project]].
The basic common denominator mission of movements and projects of the likes of [[The Zeitgeist Movement]], [[The Venus Project]], [[The Free World Charter]], [[The RBE10K Project]], is to prevent the collapses of Human society and of Earth's natural environment as we have known it since the beginnings of Human History, as a result from continuous growth in a finite planet.
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In the Natural world continuous growth always reaches a point of saturation, usually followed by a collapse. An example of this phenomenon is a malign tumor, which grows without stopping until it interferes so drastically with the metabolism of the organism of its host, that ends up causing the death of its hostand consequently its own death too. Another example are buffalo herds in Africa, which tend to grow in numbers until the savannahs they live on cannot sustain them any more, prompting individuals to starve, sometimes even causing mass famine and death.
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For more information about technical details about this knowledge base, please visit [[TZMWiki:About]].
 
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=== Exponential trends ===
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Naturally, once learned that continuous growth is impossible, many people feel motivated to prevent the possibility of Humanity's collapse, as they understand that business as usuall would do little or nothing to prevent such collapse. Examples of current exponential trends within the last 200 years are:
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* population growth{{Cn}}
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* deforestation{{Cn}}
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* carbonisation of the atmosphere{{Cn}}
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* rise in average temperatures{{Cn}}
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* acidification of oceans{{Cn}}
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* loss of habitat and species diversity{{Cn}}
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* collapse of fisheries{{Cn}}
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* depletion of petroleum reserves{{Cn}}
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* loss or salinisation of topsoil{{Cn}}
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* exhaustion of nutrients in crop land{{Cn}}
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* risk of a pandemic{{Cn}}
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* risk of a devastating world war{{Cn}}
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With these and many other trends that appear to be exponential, a telltale signature of continuous growth, it is not difficult to conclude that our species is accelerating toward a catastrophic end, and with it, many other species as well.
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=== Sustainability ===
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The heart of the solution to continuous growth is [[Sustainability]], and unlike the many organisations that that promote Sustainability as an important issue where we have to make progress being ''less wasteful'' and achieve harmony with the environment ''someday somehow'', all of the projects and movements which promote a [[Resource-Based Economy]] consider that Sustainability is paramount, is the only way our species has any chances of survival in the long term and past the next couple of generations, and that it is critical that we globally adopt systems and behaviours to ensure Sustainability with the highest degree of importance, and as a matter of non-negotiable top priority.
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=== Resource-Based Economy ===
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{{Main|Resource-Based Economy}}
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The social engineer and inventor [[w:Wikipedia:Jacque Fresco|Jacque Fresco]] coined a group of social and economic guidelines with the name of [[Resource-Based Economy]], or now also known as ''Resource-Based Economic Model'', or simply '''''RBE''''' or '''''RBEM''''. These social and economic guidelines cannot be derived from the meaning of the words ''Resource-Based Economy'', so the name must be thought of just as alabel or an identifier, very loosely related to the actual concept.
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Although there has not been as yet any formal and accurate description of a ''Resource-Based Economy'', there are a number of premises that appear to be loosely agreed by all those who actively support the idea of an RBE:
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# Every action or endeavour Humanity takes must be sustainable, i.e. must ensure the feasibility of an age-long continuity of such action or endeavour
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# Technology must be expanded and used in any and all areas in which it can be used to allow for, or increase efficiency of, a capacity for full freedom for any and every person, provided that Sustainability is maintained
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# There is not recognition or protection of any individual's claims to physical or intellectual property
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From those understandings, a great deal of principles and values can be derived, such as the replacement of authority with systems, the equality of all people on Earth, physical and psychological health becoming a top social concern, property becoming an obsolete notion, etc.
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=== Supporting technology ===
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This knowledge-base is supported by the following [[w:Open-source software|open-source software]] technologies:
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* [http://www.mediawiki.org MediaWiki] wiki software (the same that [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] uses), version 1.21alpha (for more information see [[Special:Version]])
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* [[w:PHP|PHP]] v.5.3.10, with [[w:PHP-FPM|FPM]] and [[w:Alternative_PHP_Cache|APC]]
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* [http://httpd.apache.org Apache2] web server
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* [http://postgresql.org PostgreSQL 9.1] database
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* [http://www.ubuntu.com Ubuntu] [http://releases.ubuntu.com/12.04 Precise Pangolin] 64-bit [http://kernel.org Linux] operating system
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* [[w:OpenVZ|OpenVZ]] hardware virtualisation
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The website is being hosted on [[User:Ziggy|Ziggy]]'s account at an [http://exigent.com.au Exigent] shared virtual server hosted in the vicinity of Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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== FAQ ==
 
== FAQ ==

Revision as of 13:48, 29 October 2012



Contents

Mission

The mission of this Knowledgebase is to:

  • Define clearly what is a Resource-Based Economy for the various groups that support the idea
  • Document what are the similarities and differences between the various groups supporting an RBE
  • Provide a common space for recording relevant non-transient information about each group, such as structure, mission, links, codes of conduct, contact details, etc
  • Provide a Wikipedia-like space for material that is very relevant for an RBE but which is not adequate material for Wikipedia for not being academic, based on proposals and projects instead of facts, or not being popular or significative enough for the general public.

For information about how to contribute to this knowledgebase you may want consult the following:

About this Knowledgebase

The founder of this knowledgebase, Ziggy was motivated to start this project after finding that definitions about a Resource-Based Economy were, in his view:

  • fragmented
  • plagued with opinions about the current system
  • substantially explained through metaphorical speech
  • inconsistent and even contradictory when explained by different people
  • lacking in referencing and academic quality
  • having information of dubious origin or accuracy
  • polluted with personal opinion presented as fact
  • biased and representative only of specific situated knowledges
  • mostly subjective and vague

This knowledge-base is inspired by the success of the Wikipedia in achieving consensus in a great number of concepts through crowdsourcing. This wiki's main objectives are increasing accuracy and consensus around definitions, application, and transition methods, applicable to a Resource-Based Economy.

This website is not concerned with the reasons for transitioning towards a Resource-Based Economy, and assumes that users of this wiki are already convinced of this necessity. For more information about the need to transition to a Resource-Based Economy, please refer to The Zeitgeist Movement or The Venus Project.

For more information about technical details about this knowledge base, please visit TZMWiki:About.

FAQ

Why not use Wikipedia for this?

The Wikipedia is concerned with what's factual, requiring very stringent referencing system in an academic style. Whilst this is a great way to ensure the maximum quality for a crowdsourced encyclopaedia, it becomes unsuitable for projects like this one. Unlike Wikipedia, this knowledge-base is concerned with the development of a set of ideas, evaluating proposals, and discussing approaches for action. For more information see what Wikipedia is not, especially regarding speculative content.

Any articles in this knowledgebase which achieve a degree of quality appropriate for Wikipedia (e.g. factual, objective, neutral, well-referenced) could, and probably should, be relocated into the Wikipedia. Once this knowledgebase reaches a sizeable number of great quality articles, it might be possible to join the MediaWiki Interwiki network.

How is this Wiki related to The Zeitgeist Movement?

This website was conceived, and initially registered, as part of a chapter project within The Zeitgeist Movement (TZM). Its original purpose was to document information about TZM, specifically, and Resource-Based Economy matters in general. However, that original intention has been superseded by the one stated in the Mission. It is possible that the website will change its name to RBEWiki in the future.

How is this Wiki related to The Venus Project?

This website honours Jacque Fresco in that he devoted half of his life to develop and promote his idea of a Resource-Based Economy. However this wiki does not devote to The Venus Project's specific idea of a RBE, or its transition style for implementing a worldwide RBE. TVP activists are most welcomed to participate of this knowledgebase, e.g. by helping define and document aspects of a RBE, or to use it for documenting some of their own information.

How is this Wiki related to the RBE10K Project?

Both this knowledgebase and The RBE10K Project were created by the same activist, Ziggy. Also, the RBE10K project will rely heavily on this wiki from the very beginning, to document most of the progress it will make between 2013 and 2014, and possibly after implementing the city as well.

Who funds this website?

It only costs $10 per month to run, plus around $10 per year for the domain. The cost is currently covered by Ziggy.

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