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Good afternoon, my name's Andrew.

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I'm the co-founder of The Venus Project Design with my partner Julia

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who's sitting over there.

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[applause]

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Before I go into the more detailed presentation of The Venus Project Design

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and the design of the circular cities

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I'd like to introduce the rest of The Venus Project Design Team.

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So first of all we have Ben McLeish just over here, who spoke before?

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No. Ben's our lecturer.

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Tom Williams, our event coordinator

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[applause]

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Jason Gleeson who's in the back, doing the audio and visual

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and Mark Wittner and Stuart Dobson who couldn't be here today.

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They're our web developers.

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They developed the website.

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The Venus Project Design was created

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after my partner Julia and I watched Zeitgeist Addendum

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shortly after it was released

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and realized that we could help out on the design side of things

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for the Venus Project, as we both come from

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a computer-aided design background in the construction industry.

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Our initial goal was to create a global CAD agency

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that the Venus Project could use to develop

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the construction drawings for the first TVP cities.

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It later worked out that we realized

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unless we actually got the funding and the opportunity

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from a country to build one of these cities

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it was pretty futile to try designing one at this time.

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By the time we actually get the opportunity to do a city

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the design and the technology will likely have changed

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and there's a lot of variables involved

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with the design of the cities that could change by that time.

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We later developed the website

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to include a global, scientific and technical database.

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We've now got around 1500 people on that database.

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Everything from architects, engineers, neuroscientists

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all the different scientific fields.

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We've got technicians from all different fields

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that are signed up, so if at some point in the future

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a country does decide to take on the Venus Project ideals

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and build the first city, we can then pull on that database

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and bring the people in that local area or country

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into the design of those first cities.

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My partner and I also had a long-term interest

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in 3D computer-aided visualisations.

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This is some of the stuff in mid-process

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that we've been working on with The Venus Project.

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We also have a group of volunteers

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through the database that help us with the 3D-modeling.

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We are actually taking Jacque's thousands of sketches

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and creating 3D-models from those for visualization purposes

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to show people what these cities may look like in the future.

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Having spent much time with Jacque over the last few years

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developing his sketches into 3D models

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and learning about the design principles he uses and why

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I'd like to share with you today

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a broader understanding of why the cities look the way they do.

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Why they are circular, why the buildings are white

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many questions that are normally addressed, especially

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a lot on Facebook

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(people grilling me for hours about the designs).

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We'll go into some of that now.

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Our current system of resource extraction

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from transportation to the finalized manufacturing

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production and transportation of goods to the end user

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is extremely inefficient in our current system.

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It's wasteful and it's outdated.

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When you consider 99% of all materials produced in the US

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ends up in a landfill within 6 weeks

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and every tonne of garbage dumped takes 5 tonnes

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of material resources to produce

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the waste in our current system is quite clearly out of control.

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When you add in the cost of importing

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and exporting these goods all over the globe

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and the inherent pollution that is caused within this system

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it is quite clear this is just a complete failure on all levels.

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We can't continue to do this if we want to survive on this planet.

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The Venus Project cities are not built for architectural ego

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and will need to be evaluated on a different set of criteria

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than we're used to: that of actual functionality.

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It's not something that architects are taught in our current schools.

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Just as we try to identify the root causes

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in our social ills within The Venus Project

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we also need to understand the root causes of why we have the problems

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in cities that we do currently

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so we can understand the actual reasoning behind why

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Jacque designs the cities the way he does.

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The industrial areas are outside of the city and where possible

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are self-contained resource extraction and distribution nodes

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with on-site production, design, manufacturing and

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production facilities all rolled into one.

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They are connected via Maglev freight trains to the main city hubs

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for delivery of goods produced while reducing

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pollution in the city hubs drastically

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and utilizing a monorail passenger transport system

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between local city hubs.

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The pollution is almost completely annihilated

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from what our current system is.

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By having the design and manufacturing facilities located together

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at the same site, combined with on-site resource storage facilities

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a huge amount of energy and efficiency is saved.

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When you add that transportation of material resources

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and finished goods is handled by Maglev trains

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by clean renewable energies

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and the removal of unnecessary shipping and transportation of resources

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from the source of extraction to the manufacturing plants

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the effect on intercity traffic would be immense

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not to mention the huge saving of both human and labor resources.

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Where possible all goods produced would be biodegradable or recyclable.

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For example, electronic goods would be designed

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with each individual component being upgradable

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utilizing standardized parts and connectors, reducing the amount of waste.

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As technology improves, products become outdated

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and when you consider the various options we have for creating

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natural plastics (palm oil or hemp oil)

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as well as genetically engineered plastics

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our reliance on current oil

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is almost completely wiped out.

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The only reason we still use oil now is for the profit incentive

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because it is not profitable to invest into renewable energies at this time.

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Many people initially see Jacque's work and think to themselves

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"It's just a fantasy, a big Utopian dream.

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The buildings all look like something from Star Trek.

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It will never happen."

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They don't look at the purpose behind the architecture

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and it is very difficult for us

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to present the architecture in the way that Jacque has designed it

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in one book or video.

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It's important for us if we are serious about conserving the resources

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of our planet to understand that the function must become

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the dominant value over aesthetics

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even though this is very difficult for many due to our current indoctrination

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into our materialistic, wasteful, consumerist, aesthetic culture.

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The circular arrangement of the city

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needs less energy and materials in transportation of goods and services

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and people. Also, it is easier to make an inbuilt transportation system

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in a circular system.

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The routing of transportation is linear and radial

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and therefore more efficient.

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You don't need traffic lights everywhere. You don't need roundabouts everywhere.

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Much of the transportation would be off the ground.

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On-ground transportation would be for emergency services

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to get to people in accidents or if ill

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in a home, etc.

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The transportation between city hubs would be via Maglev

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or monorail, depending on the distance.

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With the city being designed in a circular arrangement

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you only need to design one eighth of the city

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and then array it to become a circular city.

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This would save a huge amount of time on the actual design process

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of creating these cities.

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The standardization of buildings is a more efficient use of resources

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if we're serious about minimising waste and maximising efficiency.

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For example, if you look at some of the buildings in London

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depending on the level of the building, you have different sized windows.

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You might have four or five glazed windows in a row

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and then a single one, then a double one...

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In order to produce those, we have to have different designs for them.

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It takes a different amount of materials for each of them to be created.

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If we standardize those, it becomes a much more efficient process

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cheaper on resources and easier to make.

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We need to start thinking about the actual functionality of our cities

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and buildings, to take this into account

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rather than just looking at how the building looks

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whether it's aesthetically pleasing to my cultural values

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which are different from your cultural values or yours.

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Many of the structures are dome-shaped. The reason for this

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is that the dome structures are structurally stronger

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than current home types and won't collapse in the event of an earthquake.

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These buildings have more surface area for direct sunlight.

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The reason they're white is because we would be using ceramic skin

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that would have embedded solar cells

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so that the homes themselves are actually self-generating homes:

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they generate their own electricity.

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Obviously, this would only be used in countries where

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there's direct sunlight for most of the day

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but they would also be combined with other energy sources within the city.

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You'd have wind power, tidal power, depending on

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where the city was built.

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Domes also take less maintenance

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than the typical cuboid homes that we're used to.

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Due to the increased surface area, homes like this

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can easily generate their own heating, cooling and house power.

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In countries where there is not enough sunlight to do this

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we would obviously use different technologies:

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heat source, heat exchanges, etc.

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Additionally, these structures are easily constructed using 3D printing technologies

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as one continuously sealed mold with openings left for windows

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although the latest in technology

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is suggesting that within probably the next 3 or 4 years

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that we will be able to do 3D printing

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with multiple materials in the same mould.

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You will actually be building the house with the concrete

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and the windows all in one, all sprayed in the printer.

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The current printers that we've got are typically table-sized.

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There aren't any, other than one at California University

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which they are now using to build complete brick walls

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with the services inside the actual walls.

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There's no reason, apart from the monetary one

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why we can't make these machines absolutely huge.

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They could be the size of this room:

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printing off houses, travelling down tracks

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printing off complete housing areas for these cities

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in days, rather than years

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as it takes with our current construction methods.

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Currently we conceive of homes within the restrictions of our habits

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and our indoctrination into our culture, architectural design

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and styles of that culture.

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We consider it normal to live in a square, brick and wood-based house

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which often breaks over the course of its life

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requiring endless maintenance

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and is often flattened in major storms as we see every year

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especially in this country.

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My little friend, Peanut, has actually got something to say

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about the current mindset of our buildings.

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(Jeff Dunham & Peanut) -...fine city - OK!

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- Playing in a very nice theatre - OK! - This town is great.

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[Peanut almost laughing] - It's a fine city!

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- Have you looked around?

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Holy crap!

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It sucks!

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- A lot of history in this city...- Translated: old as shit.

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- They've been rejuvenating, refurbishing...

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- Pollish a turd; it's still a turd.

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- It's a fine city. - OK!

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Sorry!

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But the drive down here did suck. -Yes it did. -Oh my god!

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Was in the 405-5 [highway]. Holy crap!

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Thank goodness we turned on the radio and listened to the traffic report.

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- How much good did that do us? - None whatso-freaking-ever!

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I hate the traffic reports; they're a waste of time.

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Let me do the traffic reports. I'll save everyone a lot of time and money.

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Hey Tina, it's 8 o'clock in the morning. There's a lot of traffic out there.

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What's going on? It's 8 o'clock in the morning!

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Everyone left the house at the same damn time.

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Back to you.

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Call be back at 9h30. I'll tell you the same thing!

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Only guess what? They're going the other way!

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[applause]

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We still think it's perfectly normal to have these

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in our homes: stairs.

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Why?

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They're spatially inefficient. They're dangerous.

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Why do you have a rail at the top? To stop your kids falling down them?

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It's nonsense.

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People over a certain age can't even use them.

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Homes are clearly not currently designed to be lived in.

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[applause]

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But as long as they look good...

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It seems normal, doesn't it?

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It's even considered traditional and beautiful

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for many minds shaped by this culture.

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In time to come, as values and attitudes towards the intelligent

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and sustainable management of the world's resources change

255
00:16:48,420 --> 00:16:51,781
we won't be thinking the same way we are now.

256
00:16:51,921 --> 00:16:54,290
That's pretty clear.

257
00:16:54,430 --> 00:16:57,303
The homes that Jacque designs

258
00:16:59,219 --> 00:17:01,882
(My partner wants that one.)

259
00:17:03,286 --> 00:17:05,656
as seen in our latest 3D renderings, can be seen

260
00:17:05,796 --> 00:17:08,742
in the exhibition next door.

261
00:17:08,882 --> 00:17:12,742
These houses are conceptual, but they are based on design criteria

262
00:17:12,882 --> 00:17:15,879
as laid out by The Venus Project.

263
00:17:16,338 --> 00:17:19,162
They only reflect what the houses of the future may look like.

264
00:17:19,302 --> 00:17:23,299
You're not going to be forced to live in this one, if you don't like it.

265
00:17:23,439 --> 00:17:28,091
Homes will be designed for you specifically, for your needs.

266
00:17:28,648 --> 00:17:32,972
Each home would be designed for the needs of the inhabitants of that home.

267
00:17:33,112 --> 00:17:35,803
Someone who loves cooking and hosting dinner parties

268
00:17:35,943 --> 00:17:40,409
might want a large kitchen and a big dining room.

269
00:17:41,730 --> 00:17:44,704
Not everyone would want that.

270
00:17:44,844 --> 00:17:47,671
I'm a bit of a computer nerd. I like to sit behind my computer

271
00:17:47,811 --> 00:17:51,742
doing my 3D animations and stuff. This is all quite daunting for me.

272
00:17:51,882 --> 00:17:54,889
I'm not really a good cook.

273
00:17:55,029 --> 00:17:58,798
I'm not big on dinner parties (although it's getting better)

274
00:18:00,852 --> 00:18:03,534
so that kind of home would not suit me.

275
00:18:03,674 --> 00:18:07,823
I'd like something with a study where I can do my robotics

276
00:18:07,963 --> 00:18:11,118
play around with my computers and things like that.

277
00:18:11,258 --> 00:18:13,908
It's quite clear that we all have our own individual needs

278
00:18:14,048 --> 00:18:16,422
based on our own individual personal habits

279
00:18:16,562 --> 00:18:18,742
our own individual personal desires

280
00:18:18,882 --> 00:18:21,019
things that we like to do, our hobbies, etc.

281
00:18:21,159 --> 00:18:24,533
Our homes really need to be designed with that in mind

282
00:18:24,673 --> 00:18:29,164
and you can't standardize that. You can't carry on standardizing homes

283
00:18:29,304 --> 00:18:32,338
based on the region that you live in. If you look at our homes

284
00:18:32,478 --> 00:18:34,742
in South Kent, they all look the same.

285
00:18:34,882 --> 00:18:38,532
There are mild variations, but they're all done by the same architects

286
00:18:38,672 --> 00:18:42,742
in the same areas who've learned the same styles of that area.

287
00:18:42,882 --> 00:18:45,720
In most counties

288
00:18:45,860 --> 00:18:49,346
you can't actually get a house designed that is different

289
00:18:49,486 --> 00:18:52,217
from everyone else's because that will look

290
00:18:52,357 --> 00:18:54,547
out of place in the local area.

291
00:18:54,687 --> 00:18:59,605
The council will not give you planning permission for that.

292
00:19:02,808 --> 00:19:07,428
Many people would also move much more often

293
00:19:07,568 --> 00:19:11,387
no longer having the burden of having to own vast amounts of luggage

294
00:19:11,527 --> 00:19:13,792
household appliances with short life spans

295
00:19:14,192 --> 00:19:16,398
and being trapped by mortgages or rent.

296
00:19:16,732 --> 00:19:19,964
With fewer possessions due to access abundance:

297
00:19:20,104 --> 00:19:22,340
No more removal vans.

298
00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,587
No more breaking your back lifting your sofa downstairs

299
00:19:25,727 --> 00:19:27,696
to move to your next home.

300
00:19:27,836 --> 00:19:32,364
No more headaches with moving all your gear. It's a nightmare.

301
00:19:32,504 --> 00:19:35,521
It's supposed to be one of the most stressful things that we ever do in our lives

302
00:19:35,661 --> 00:19:38,742
and yet we do it quite frequently, apparently.

303
00:19:38,882 --> 00:19:40,882
It's bizarre.

304
00:19:42,256 --> 00:19:45,092
Current homes are not designed for function but are standardized

305
00:19:45,232 --> 00:19:49,886
based on current architectural trends in the area at that time.

306
00:19:50,026 --> 00:19:53,321
This is why house hunting can be such a laborious task in this system

307
00:19:53,461 --> 00:19:55,824
because they're looking for a home that suits everyone's needs

308
00:19:55,964 --> 00:19:59,901
when there has never been one designed specifically for them.

309
00:20:00,613 --> 00:20:02,888
You go around various different homes and say

310
00:20:03,028 --> 00:20:05,466
"Oh, this one's quite nice. It's got a bigger dining area and

311
00:20:05,706 --> 00:20:07,973
that's great for me. I want to cook," and your [wife] says

312
00:20:08,113 --> 00:20:10,111
"Yeah, but I like my computers and I want a little study

313
00:20:10,251 --> 00:20:13,488
and I haven't got a study in this house." Then you move onto your next one

314
00:20:13,628 --> 00:20:18,417
and eventually you find something that's OK, or almost what you wanted.

315
00:20:18,557 --> 00:20:22,299
"It's got character. It's nice. I think we'll go with that home."

316
00:20:22,439 --> 00:20:26,718
But it still was never designed to meet your personal needs.

317
00:20:28,509 --> 00:20:31,029
I love these things.

318
00:20:31,536 --> 00:20:34,025
Awful, aren't they?

319
00:20:34,165 --> 00:20:37,522
Home extensions. These are classic.

320
00:20:39,877 --> 00:20:44,661
This is a prime example of how home owners attempt to make their homes

321
00:20:44,801 --> 00:20:47,481
more suitable for their own needs

322
00:20:47,621 --> 00:20:49,703
when they clearly weren't in the first place.

323
00:20:49,843 --> 00:20:52,927
You simply wouldn't need to do this if the home was designed

324
00:20:53,067 --> 00:20:55,915
with your needs in mind before construction.

325
00:20:56,055 --> 00:20:58,509
Something that often comes up as a criticism

326
00:20:58,649 --> 00:21:02,447
of our ability to technologically develop the circular cities

327
00:21:02,587 --> 00:21:07,425
as proposed by Jacque Fresco, is of the automated construction:

328
00:21:07,565 --> 00:21:11,344
"These big machines don't exist now, therefore

329
00:21:11,484 --> 00:21:14,323
we can't make the cities which means The Venus Project doesn't work

330
00:21:14,463 --> 00:21:18,052
so let's go back to Communism or whatever."

331
00:21:19,098 --> 00:21:22,769
The truth is that our construction methods at the moment

332
00:21:22,909 --> 00:21:26,013
especially in the Western world, are actually quite well-developed.

333
00:21:26,153 --> 00:21:28,669
There's no reason why these cities could not be built

334
00:21:28,809 --> 00:21:31,618
with our current construction methods.

335
00:21:32,692 --> 00:21:36,513
Whether or not they're actually designed, constructed

336
00:21:36,894 --> 00:21:40,122
and used on the first city using these automated systems

337
00:21:40,262 --> 00:21:42,583
really doesn't matter.

338
00:21:42,723 --> 00:21:45,679
The automated systems would likely be developed

339
00:21:45,819 --> 00:21:49,789
in the first Resource-Based Economy or TVP city.

340
00:21:50,258 --> 00:21:53,223
That's something that would be a development project

341
00:21:53,363 --> 00:21:57,331
for building the next cities. It's not a requirement.

342
00:21:58,134 --> 00:22:02,742
In 2007, global food production was 8.5 trillion kilograms

343
00:22:02,882 --> 00:22:06,423
or about 1.3 million kilograms per person.

344
00:22:06,563 --> 00:22:11,241
In 2007, the average American consumed 1000 kilograms

345
00:22:11,381 --> 00:22:15,076
and we have an obesity epidemic. Strange, that.

346
00:22:15,584 --> 00:22:18,408
This implies that in 2007, we produced enough food

347
00:22:18,548 --> 00:22:22,010
to feed every man, woman and child 1000 times over

348
00:22:22,150 --> 00:22:26,630
yet nearly 1 billion people were starving.

349
00:22:29,034 --> 00:22:31,787
We don't have an overpopulation problem on this planet.

350
00:22:31,927 --> 00:22:36,170
We have a resource management, allocation, and distribution problem.

351
00:22:36,795 --> 00:22:40,515
[applause]

352
00:22:50,452 --> 00:22:53,769
To be blunt, we have a technical and political problem

353
00:22:53,909 --> 00:22:56,005
and there's no other sign of this problem being solved

354
00:22:56,145 --> 00:22:58,860
in any other way than what we are advocating.

355
00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,216
This problem is global and affects everything from food supply

356
00:23:01,356 --> 00:23:03,557
to fresh water supply, to housing

357
00:23:03,697 --> 00:23:07,184
to clean renewable energies and even education.

358
00:23:07,324 --> 00:23:11,897
There is no logical reason with the technology we have available to us today

359
00:23:12,037 --> 00:23:15,161
that we cannot provide all of these things as a basic human right

360
00:23:15,301 --> 00:23:18,583
instead of something that you have to earn.

361
00:23:18,723 --> 00:23:22,979
We could do so easily with our current technologies.

362
00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:27,169
We will use the best technologies available to us at the time of design

363
00:23:27,309 --> 00:23:29,912
whatever they may be at that time

364
00:23:30,052 --> 00:23:34,615
not simply those with the largest amount of existing profit or money demand.

365
00:23:34,755 --> 00:23:37,931
For energy supply, we would use renewable energy systems

366
00:23:38,071 --> 00:23:43,116
such as solar, geothermal, volcanic, wind, wave, tidal, etc.

367
00:23:43,256 --> 00:23:46,366
These are all proven technologies, and as yet, unadopted

368
00:23:46,506 --> 00:23:49,868
because of the might of the economies

369
00:23:51,362 --> 00:23:54,550
presently favouring oil and gas.

370
00:23:54,690 --> 00:23:59,740
Even the technologically simple coal industry is still running. Why?

371
00:24:00,707 --> 00:24:03,293
If you look at the current building construction

372
00:24:03,433 --> 00:24:06,651
a typical highrise office building can take from several months

373
00:24:06,791 --> 00:24:08,814
to a couple of years from preliminary designs

374
00:24:08,954 --> 00:24:11,391
to finished construction drawings

375
00:24:11,531 --> 00:24:14,451
consisting of multiple companies such as architects, civil engineers

376
00:24:14,591 --> 00:24:18,396
structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers

377
00:24:18,536 --> 00:24:22,883
CAD technicians, project managers, and many more professions.

378
00:24:24,389 --> 00:24:27,565
That's just on the design side.

379
00:24:28,922 --> 00:24:31,915
You've then got to build the thing.

380
00:24:33,819 --> 00:24:37,439
In the system under which we currently live, those designers have families.

381
00:24:37,579 --> 00:24:40,742
They've got bills, rent, and mortgages to pay.

382
00:24:40,882 --> 00:24:44,358
They've got food and electric bills.

383
00:24:44,498 --> 00:24:46,742
They've got all the problems that you and I have

384
00:24:46,882 --> 00:24:50,532
that keep us going to work from 9 to 5, Monday to Friday

385
00:24:50,672 --> 00:24:53,749
some of us Saturday and Sunday as well.

386
00:24:54,735 --> 00:24:57,140
The reason we haven't done the full designs

387
00:24:57,280 --> 00:25:00,157
for any of these cities so far is twofold:

388
00:25:00,297 --> 00:25:03,259
First, we don't have the funding to be able to take on

389
00:25:03,399 --> 00:25:08,016
full time teams of architects, engineers, CAD technicians etcetera;

390
00:25:08,338 --> 00:25:11,438
to work 5 days a week, 8 hours a day

391
00:25:11,578 --> 00:25:14,253
to produce these drawings for the first city

392
00:25:14,393 --> 00:25:18,007
which could take several months to a couple of years.

393
00:25:18,866 --> 00:25:23,268
Second, until we know actually where we're going to be building these cities

394
00:25:23,408 --> 00:25:27,655
until we know what land we've got, what resources we've got in the local area

395
00:25:27,795 --> 00:25:30,615
until we know what human resources we've got, how much funding

396
00:25:30,755 --> 00:25:33,519
we've got for technology, etcetera

397
00:25:33,659 --> 00:25:36,832
it's almost impossible for us to actually take them past

398
00:25:36,972 --> 00:25:39,950
the visualization stage at the moment.

399
00:25:44,236 --> 00:25:45,925
The transition...

400
00:25:46,065 --> 00:25:49,073
This is the favourite question of anyone new to the movement

401
00:25:49,213 --> 00:25:51,908
and many of those within it.

402
00:25:53,151 --> 00:25:56,294
The truth is there is no single answer to the question of

403
00:25:56,434 --> 00:25:59,128
"How would a transition play out?"

404
00:25:59,268 --> 00:26:02,157
Until we know the actual conditions that we're facing at the time

405
00:26:02,297 --> 00:26:05,397
of this direction to be taken on by a particular nation

406
00:26:05,537 --> 00:26:08,401
or group of nations

407
00:26:09,953 --> 00:26:14,300
the variables involved in determining the most efficient and smooth transition

408
00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:17,163
from the monetary system to a Resource-Based Economy

409
00:26:17,303 --> 00:26:20,956
are dynamically related to: the conditions of the economy

410
00:26:21,096 --> 00:26:25,078
of the existing infrastructure, the location of transitioning countries

411
00:26:25,218 --> 00:26:28,364
the resources available to them, the current debt obligations

412
00:26:28,504 --> 00:26:32,524
of those countries, and many other factors that would have to be analyzed

413
00:26:32,664 --> 00:26:36,570
and considered in developing a specific transitional approach.

414
00:26:38,166 --> 00:26:42,640
Until we actually get to the point where we've got a mass following

415
00:26:42,780 --> 00:26:45,464
where we can actually force the arm of the government

416
00:26:45,604 --> 00:26:48,504
or a series of governments/nations

417
00:26:48,644 --> 00:26:51,489
into a position where they are actually going to listen

418
00:26:51,629 --> 00:26:55,124
and discuss a Resource-Based Economy

419
00:26:55,264 --> 00:26:58,952
there is very little we can do as far as a transition is concerned.

420
00:26:59,092 --> 00:27:02,686
They're so many variables involved in this transition

421
00:27:02,826 --> 00:27:04,863
and it has never been done before.

422
00:27:05,003 --> 00:27:08,212
There has never been a transition from a monetary system

423
00:27:08,352 --> 00:27:10,952
to a non-monetary system.

424
00:27:11,092 --> 00:27:14,139
It has been done the other way around.

425
00:27:14,988 --> 00:27:18,716
Thousands of years ago, there was no barter or trade

426
00:27:18,856 --> 00:27:21,134
only hunter-gatherer societies

427
00:27:21,274 --> 00:27:23,579
and then we began the monetary systems.

428
00:27:23,719 --> 00:27:25,710
It's never been done the other way around

429
00:27:25,850 --> 00:27:28,704
and we've not got a precedent, that we can say:

430
00:27:28,904 --> 00:27:32,141
"This is how we are going to go. Go ahead and do it."

431
00:27:35,902 --> 00:27:38,594
There is one thing that is abundantly clear:

432
00:27:38,734 --> 00:27:41,826
The current monetary market paradigm is coming to an end

433
00:27:41,966 --> 00:27:44,576
and it will be replaced with an economic system that is based

434
00:27:44,716 --> 00:27:47,406
on the available resources of this planet.

435
00:27:47,546 --> 00:27:51,008
That said, we'd prefer one that's based on access abundance

436
00:27:51,148 --> 00:27:54,343
cooperation, clean environments and harmony with nature

437
00:27:54,483 --> 00:27:58,656
and not one based on competition and differential advantage.

438
00:27:59,564 --> 00:28:04,281
Our biggest obstacle really is that we don't reach enough people

439
00:28:04,421 --> 00:28:07,684
and that countries around the world keep falling back

440
00:28:07,824 --> 00:28:11,071
into one of the older paradigms

441
00:28:11,211 --> 00:28:14,634
whether it be communism, socialism, fascism, or whatever.

442
00:28:14,774 --> 00:28:17,201
This is why this movement is so important.

443
00:28:17,341 --> 00:28:20,248
It's why I'm glad to see so many of you here today

444
00:28:20,388 --> 00:28:22,562
because this message is actually getting out there

445
00:28:22,702 --> 00:28:24,385
and it's getting all over the world

446
00:28:24,525 --> 00:28:28,581
and it is the only way we are going to transition out of this system.

447
00:28:29,450 --> 00:28:32,361
In the transition, the problems that exist at the time will determine

448
00:28:32,501 --> 00:28:35,826
what will be done and where the resources will be allocated.

449
00:28:35,966 --> 00:28:40,045
People who volunteer to be in the first cities will be assigned to what is needed.

450
00:28:40,185 --> 00:28:42,689
We have inherited very poor conditions

451
00:28:42,829 --> 00:28:45,845
and many disasters that need to be overcome.

452
00:28:45,985 --> 00:28:48,251
The resources we have at the time

453
00:28:48,391 --> 00:28:51,378
will go towards resolving these urgent matters.

454
00:28:51,518 --> 00:28:54,767
People working with us at the beginning will be working on these problems

455
00:28:54,907 --> 00:28:58,187
that have to be resolved towards our stated goals.

456
00:28:58,327 --> 00:29:02,158
People will be serving under those who have specialized skills in certain areas.

457
00:29:02,298 --> 00:29:04,950
A list of professionals that are needed will be posted, but people

458
00:29:05,090 --> 00:29:07,808
will be trained as generalists as well.

459
00:29:08,954 --> 00:29:13,405
I think we can all agree that no one wants a carpet fitter to do your neuro...

460
00:29:15,061 --> 00:29:17,844
...medical surgery.

461
00:29:18,342 --> 00:29:21,043
Stanley knives in the brain are not good.

462
00:29:21,183 --> 00:29:26,113
[applause]

463
00:29:32,918 --> 00:29:35,326
The standard of living will be constantly updated for all

464
00:29:35,466 --> 00:29:37,680
but in the beginning scarce resources will be shared.

465
00:29:37,943 --> 00:29:42,038
For instance, some may donate their lawnmowers...

466
00:29:42,178 --> 00:29:44,697
Oh, what did I do?

467
00:29:48,888 --> 00:29:51,661
That's good. That's good.

468
00:29:53,372 --> 00:29:55,876
For instance, some may donate their lawnmowers

469
00:29:56,016 --> 00:29:59,170
and instead of everyone mowing their lawns with their own individual mowers

470
00:29:59,310 --> 00:30:02,557
and needing a mower, there'll maybe only need to be a certain number

471
00:30:02,697 --> 00:30:06,977
to take care of the entire city. Who's going to mow your lawn?

472
00:30:07,316 --> 00:30:09,782
I know a lot of people that love gardening

473
00:30:09,922 --> 00:30:13,269
and would be more than happy to spend their whole day in the city

474
00:30:13,409 --> 00:30:16,558
mowing lawns and treating gardens and...

475
00:30:16,698 --> 00:30:19,335
God knows what else.

476
00:30:19,475 --> 00:30:21,981
People themselves decide which materials they will use

477
00:30:22,121 --> 00:30:25,374
or what they'd like to work with in regards to their personal use

478
00:30:25,514 --> 00:30:30,659
but ultimately, it is the availability of these materials that determines this.

479
00:30:30,799 --> 00:30:34,734
For example, if someone suggests that every roof

480
00:30:34,925 --> 00:30:36,844
...be made of titanium

481
00:30:36,984 --> 00:30:40,103
since it doesn't readily rust, then the availability

482
00:30:40,243 --> 00:30:42,791
and use would be determined by surveys done.

483
00:30:42,931 --> 00:30:46,127
Updated surveys will be done as to how much titanium we have

484
00:30:46,267 --> 00:30:48,756
the amount of resources needed to extract it

485
00:30:48,896 --> 00:30:51,428
and if other materials are available that would also work.

486
00:30:51,568 --> 00:30:54,353
Are there other materials available?

487
00:30:54,493 --> 00:30:58,240
Are there other materials in development that could actually be used

488
00:30:58,380 --> 00:31:01,642
in replacement that are more abundant?

489
00:31:01,782 --> 00:31:05,470
It's the scientific method used to determine

490
00:31:05,610 --> 00:31:08,709
what materials we use, when and how we use them

491
00:31:08,849 --> 00:31:13,725
rather than someone's opinion, especially politicians.

492
00:31:14,316 --> 00:31:17,259
Where there are scarce resources people will be working on substitutes

493
00:31:17,399 --> 00:31:19,560
or composites, to counteract these scarcities

494
00:31:19,700 --> 00:31:22,275
and to come up with substitute materials

495
00:31:22,415 --> 00:31:24,986
that may even be more beneficial

496
00:31:25,126 --> 00:31:28,115
such as materials that serve many purposes for covering roofs

497
00:31:28,255 --> 00:31:31,555
while acting as heat concentrators as well.

498
00:31:31,946 --> 00:31:34,972
Before moving into the city, people would need to be orientated

499
00:31:35,112 --> 00:31:37,517
to how that city would work:

500
00:31:37,963 --> 00:31:40,688
how they acquire their goods and services

501
00:31:40,828 --> 00:31:43,771
how they can participate in research, their own projects

502
00:31:43,911 --> 00:31:47,179
or even activities that they may want to do.

503
00:31:47,319 --> 00:31:50,609
They're not under the dictate of anyone.

504
00:31:53,042 --> 00:31:57,800
People will learn that they don't need to take more than they need

505
00:31:57,940 --> 00:32:02,370
and understand that if they do it will just be a burden.

506
00:32:02,510 --> 00:32:06,890
If I go into Tesco's tomorrow and take

507
00:32:07,525 --> 00:32:10,862
20 trolleys worth of food

508
00:32:11,002 --> 00:32:14,044
then take it home when I've got a small freezer...

509
00:32:14,184 --> 00:32:16,961
What am I going to do with 20 trolleys worth of food?

510
00:32:17,101 --> 00:32:20,115
It's just going to spoil in my house. It's going to rot

511
00:32:20,255 --> 00:32:23,776
and smell my house out. It's not a good idea, is it?

512
00:32:24,518 --> 00:32:28,852
I'm pretty sure none of you would go home with 20 trolleys of food

513
00:32:29,438 --> 00:32:32,780
apart from Ben maybe. Ben probably would...

514
00:32:33,398 --> 00:32:36,000
(audience laughs at speaker's joke)

515
00:32:36,198 --> 00:32:38,406
People will learn they don't need to take more than they need

516
00:32:38,546 --> 00:32:41,281
and understand it would be a burden. Although during the transition

517
00:32:41,421 --> 00:32:44,264
there will be those who have remnants of past behaviors

518
00:32:45,404 --> 00:32:49,000
the job will be to present more appropriate values to carry out

519
00:32:49,140 --> 00:32:53,323
the new social direction which will enhance their lives and others'.

520
00:32:53,489 --> 00:32:56,074
This is why in the movement

521
00:32:56,214 --> 00:33:00,008
our prime goal is to change the values of people

522
00:33:00,148 --> 00:33:03,791
because the values that exist in our current system

523
00:33:03,931 --> 00:33:07,634
would cause havoc in a Resource-Based Economy.

524
00:33:12,174 --> 00:33:15,835
Future projects and how you guys can help...

525
00:33:16,561 --> 00:33:18,725
The next major step for The Venus Project

526
00:33:18,865 --> 00:33:20,882
as far as the transition is concerned

527
00:33:21,022 --> 00:33:24,328
(and you can find this information on their website)

528
00:33:24,468 --> 00:33:27,322
is that they would like to create a major motion picture

529
00:33:27,462 --> 00:33:30,411
for worldwide release in mainstream cinemas

530
00:33:30,551 --> 00:33:32,914
to inform large numbers of people globally

531
00:33:33,054 --> 00:33:36,029
about the benefits of living in a Resource-Based Economy

532
00:33:36,169 --> 00:33:39,415
and how we can transition from our current paradigm.

533
00:33:39,555 --> 00:33:42,347
While we understand that the Zeitgeist Movement

534
00:33:42,487 --> 00:33:45,801
does not itself advocate the use of money

535
00:33:46,514 --> 00:33:49,881
to further its goals on activism

536
00:33:50,857 --> 00:33:55,253
it still has come down to certain individuals within certain chapters

537
00:33:55,393 --> 00:33:58,580
that have made events like this possible.

538
00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,425
Something like this costs many thousands

539
00:34:01,565 --> 00:34:04,622
of pounds to put deposits down for.

540
00:34:04,762 --> 00:34:08,618
These deposits don't exist before tickets are bought.

541
00:34:08,758 --> 00:34:11,521
So what tends to happen is

542
00:34:11,661 --> 00:34:15,572
certain coordinators or groups of people within the movement

543
00:34:15,712 --> 00:34:17,876
dig into their pockets, and they pay the deposits

544
00:34:18,016 --> 00:34:22,327
and just hope that they're going to break even at the end of the day.

545
00:34:23,763 --> 00:34:26,671
I can see a time where we're going to have to look at some means

546
00:34:26,811 --> 00:34:30,418
of funding for these events that is a little bit more efficient

547
00:34:30,558 --> 00:34:34,347
and less painful on certain individuals within the movement.

548
00:34:41,437 --> 00:34:45,134
The fact remains that as long as we are under this existing monetary system

549
00:34:45,274 --> 00:34:49,269
without access to land, resources, scientific and technical products

550
00:34:49,409 --> 00:34:51,695
the goods and services of those design professionals

551
00:34:51,835 --> 00:34:54,845
required to create a test city

552
00:34:54,985 --> 00:34:57,120
this will require an enormous amount of funding

553
00:34:57,260 --> 00:34:59,555
within this current system.

554
00:35:00,311 --> 00:35:03,210
We don't have that funding currently.

555
00:35:03,903 --> 00:35:08,878
We intend to utilize cutting edge 3D in this movie

556
00:35:10,187 --> 00:35:13,310
such companies as 'Weta Digital' or 'Industrial Light & Magic'

557
00:35:13,450 --> 00:35:15,752
the kind of people that worked behind 'Avatar'

558
00:35:15,892 --> 00:35:19,351
or 'Lord of the Rings' and 'Star Wars' for example.

559
00:35:19,491 --> 00:35:23,433
The worldwide profits from this major motion picture release

560
00:35:23,573 --> 00:35:27,823
would then be used to fund the research and development city

561
00:35:29,730 --> 00:35:32,030
and showcase the viability of The Venus Project

562
00:35:32,170 --> 00:35:35,770
and a Resource-Based Economy to the world's press.

563
00:35:36,570 --> 00:35:38,750
Next you will see a short video from Jacque and Roxanne

564
00:35:38,890 --> 00:35:41,191
at The Venus Project.

565
00:35:43,936 --> 00:35:48,062
We feel it's really important to make a motion picture now

566
00:35:48,202 --> 00:35:50,613
to get to the general public

567
00:35:50,753 --> 00:35:54,589
to introduce to them what science and technology can do

568
00:35:54,729 --> 00:35:58,624
under the direction of The Venus Project within a Resource-Based Economy.

569
00:35:58,764 --> 00:36:02,598
I think a motion picture can be played over and over again.

570
00:36:02,738 --> 00:36:06,416
It can be translated into many different languages

571
00:36:06,556 --> 00:36:10,092
and it could do far more than my personal lectures

572
00:36:10,232 --> 00:36:13,012
because it travels all over the world.

573
00:36:13,152 --> 00:36:15,483
In a motion picture you can answer

574
00:36:15,623 --> 00:36:17,582
all the questions that people ask.

575
00:36:17,722 --> 00:36:20,348
We also feel, while Jacque is still alive

576
00:36:20,488 --> 00:36:24,038
he is the best person to put this film together.

577
00:36:24,178 --> 00:36:28,193
He has worked all his life to arrive at this direction.

578
00:36:28,333 --> 00:36:31,192
He hasn't just read books. He has experimented

579
00:36:31,332 --> 00:36:34,258
and worked with people and technology

580
00:36:34,398 --> 00:36:37,724
and showed just how a Resource-Based Economy

581
00:36:37,864 --> 00:36:40,348
can function and what it will look like.

582
00:36:40,488 --> 00:36:43,765
To us, it's very important to have

583
00:36:43,905 --> 00:36:46,611
Jacque involved in this film.

584
00:36:46,751 --> 00:36:51,786
The basic ideas for the film are laid out precisely

585
00:36:52,664 --> 00:36:55,161
and they are laid out in accordance

586
00:36:55,301 --> 00:36:57,678
with the plans of The Venus Project.

587
00:36:57,818 --> 00:37:02,634
If you don't have a public prepared to accept The Venus Project

588
00:37:02,774 --> 00:37:04,782
there is no other way.

589
00:37:04,922 --> 00:37:09,369
All of the future scenarios in science-fiction films

590
00:37:09,509 --> 00:37:12,176
are detrimental, scary

591
00:37:12,316 --> 00:37:16,112
about technology overcoming and killing people

592
00:37:16,252 --> 00:37:20,686
dictatorial governments and technology watching your every move.

593
00:37:20,826 --> 00:37:23,033
This is quite the opposite of The Venus Project

594
00:37:23,173 --> 00:37:24,907
for anybody who knows about it.

595
00:37:25,047 --> 00:37:27,356
This is what we want to get across to the public:

596
00:37:27,496 --> 00:37:30,896
You don't have to be afraid of technology.

597
00:37:31,036 --> 00:37:34,235
We want to show how the methods of science can be used

598
00:37:34,375 --> 00:37:38,207
to enhance everyone's life and preserve the environment.

599
00:37:38,347 --> 00:37:43,091
If we spend the money any other way, I don't think we'd be as effective.

600
00:37:43,231 --> 00:37:47,070
We need a large following to get this implemented.

601
00:37:47,210 --> 00:37:50,724
People don't know what's missing. They don't know any other system

602
00:37:50,864 --> 00:37:54,362
so we want to show life in a Resource-Based Economy

603
00:37:54,502 --> 00:37:58,215
then show flashbacks of how we get from here to there.

604
00:37:58,355 --> 00:38:02,275
And do it in an entertaining way so we could bring the public along with it.

605
00:38:02,415 --> 00:38:07,463
The Venus Project story is already fairly explicit

606
00:38:07,736 --> 00:38:13,043
and what we need perhaps of a writer is putting it in terms

607
00:38:13,658 --> 00:38:16,942
that might be easily understood or acceptable.

608
00:38:17,082 --> 00:38:20,110
It will have a lot of CGI in it, which is expensive

609
00:38:20,250 --> 00:38:22,286
because it does take place in the future.

610
00:38:22,426 --> 00:38:26,523
But it depends on when and what kind of funds we get.

611
00:38:26,663 --> 00:38:29,993
that will dictate the type of script.

612
00:38:30,133 --> 00:38:34,048
But we feel now is the time to have the Zeitgeist members

613
00:38:34,188 --> 00:38:37,058
get behind this, if they want to see a better world

614
00:38:37,198 --> 00:38:40,337
if they want to see a transition

615
00:38:40,477 --> 00:38:43,920
that may not be as painful.

616
00:38:44,060 --> 00:38:48,200
The film would help in that way, to make an easier transition.

617
00:38:48,340 --> 00:38:50,963
The more funding, the more elaboration...

618
00:38:51,103 --> 00:38:54,780
That depends on what people do to help support the project.

619
00:38:54,920 --> 00:38:57,304
If we are going for donations for this film

620
00:38:57,444 --> 00:38:59,755
then it would be totally transparent.

621
00:38:59,895 --> 00:39:03,283
We would have information on the internet as to

622
00:39:03,423 --> 00:39:08,014
how much has come in, where it's going to, and we have to do this

623
00:39:08,154 --> 00:39:12,908
because we are aiming to get the donations through our non-profit

624
00:39:13,048 --> 00:39:16,982
501 C3 organization called Future by Design.

625
00:39:17,122 --> 00:39:21,046
Lawfully, everything has to be transparent and it would be.

626
00:39:21,186 --> 00:39:25,371
If we do make a profit, we will build the first city

627
00:39:25,511 --> 00:39:29,871
or we will do additional films, shorter films, but many of them.

628
00:39:30,011 --> 00:39:32,539
People will walk out of this film

629
00:39:32,679 --> 00:39:34,960
with the definite direction to work towards

630
00:39:35,100 --> 00:39:38,485
and knowing the difference between what they have today

631
00:39:38,625 --> 00:39:42,228
and the possibilities of the future within a Resource-Based Economy.

632
00:39:42,368 --> 00:39:46,131
We want them to understand it so much so they walk out and say

633
00:39:46,271 --> 00:39:49,339
"Why don't we live like this today?"

634
00:39:49,586 --> 00:39:53,687
[applause]

635
00:40:02,952 --> 00:40:05,643
And finally I would just like to draw your attention to our various

636
00:40:05,783 --> 00:40:09,705
current ongoing projects, and how you can get involved with them.

637
00:40:09,845 --> 00:40:12,676
First, there's our global scientific and technical database.

638
00:40:12,816 --> 00:40:16,582
This database is for professionals in scientific and technical fields

639
00:40:16,722 --> 00:40:20,125
to register as future volunteers that could be called upon

640
00:40:20,265 --> 00:40:23,628
if and when TVP cities are first designed.

641
00:40:24,487 --> 00:40:26,435
Next is our production of 3D models

642
00:40:26,575 --> 00:40:29,459
of Jacques thousands of designs and concept sketches

643
00:40:29,599 --> 00:40:32,404
for use in visualizations, movies and other media.

644
00:40:32,544 --> 00:40:37,408
If you have experience in 3D modelling and computer generated 3D graphics

645
00:40:37,681 --> 00:40:40,400
we'd like you to assist us in this huge ongoing project.

646
00:40:40,540 --> 00:40:45,019
I'll probably be about 95 by the time I get finished with all these sketches.

647
00:40:46,161 --> 00:40:49,817
You can email us at: mail@thevenusprojectdesign.com

648
00:40:49,957 --> 00:40:54,155
We do have some business cards I believe that we can hand out.

649
00:40:54,295 --> 00:40:57,807
Also, check our website: thevenusprojectdesign.com

650
00:40:57,947 --> 00:41:00,319
There's lots of videos on there about current technologies, etc.

651
00:41:00,459 --> 00:41:04,150
It's quite an entertaining site if I say so myself.

652
00:41:07,017 --> 00:41:09,508
In closing, after our successful exhibition

653
00:41:09,648 --> 00:41:13,078
in Eindhoven last year, we have reproduced as much of the exhibition

654
00:41:13,218 --> 00:41:17,150
as possible (minus the live 3D walk through

655
00:41:17,290 --> 00:41:20,783
of our first city model.

656
00:41:20,923 --> 00:41:25,541
We just didn't have the money for the software which was about €10,000).

657
00:41:25,681 --> 00:41:28,130
All of the latest 3D renders

658
00:41:28,270 --> 00:41:31,088
our team and volunteers have produced are on show

659
00:41:31,228 --> 00:41:33,584
in the exhibition next door. I hope you all enjoy it

660
00:41:33,724 --> 00:41:35,450
and thank you for listening.

661
00:41:35,612 --> 00:41:40,398
[Applause]