the U.S. has given hope to people everywhere that we can indeed solve our problems. There is openness to new possibilities and a call for a new spirit of service. And there is the fact that the Obama campaign was designed from the level of the individual, upwards, a key aspect of Bucky’s own strategy. There are three fundamentals that I find are essential for humanity to comprehend: 1) The condition in which we live aboard spaceship earth is one of abundance, not scarcity. 2) The economy is not the same thing as the financial / monetary system. The economy of planet earth provides life support, which is the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. The economic potential continues to increase at a rapid rate, despite ups and downs in the financial / monetary system. We have set up the financial system to control the economy, and it is based on the faulty premise that we live in a condition of scarcity. “Earning a living” and “every man for himself” make sense in a condition of scarcity, but are self destructive in a condition of abundance. It doesn’t truly take money to produce anything. Humanity needs to be aware of these vital distinctions 3) Each and every one of us has Equal value and great potential. We need to expand our sense of respect for others and self-respect. You and I matter, you and I make a difference, you and I are important. What we do and do not do affects us all, whether we lead quiet lives, interacting with a small number of people, or are in the public eye with exposure to many. We need to reveal the innately recognizable fact that we are all sisters and brothers. We need to realize that we are not asking for too much in the area of economic opportunity, but far too little. Key Elements: write articles on timely topics, for distribution on blogs, websites and print media; publish a short paperback book to convey the basic message plus ideas on things to do; publish a longer book that is richer in detail; broadcast a program on local access TV; be available to speak and do interviews; set up an interactive website, linked with BFI.org to inform, learn from and support others to also share this message. Be in touch with President Obama and his administration to help shape policy.

Describe the critical need your solution addresses.

Six articles are started. Three have been completed: ”The Tragedy of Monetary Systems and the Good News We’re Missing”; “Economics is Based on Facts, Monetary Systems are Based on Confidence”; and “From Finance to Economics”. They have been posted on BFI.org and BillionsofBillionaires.blogspot.com. They have been sent to friends, relatives and supporters, print publications, talk show hosts, economists, activists and political leaders. A group of eight people have given feedback to enable future articles to be most effective.

The short book is tentatively titled “2 + 2 = 4 or More”. The status is notes and topic ideas written.

The longer book is tentatively titled “Billions of Billionaires” or “6 ½ Billion Billionaires and Counting”. It consists of about 8 pages plus notes and ideas. One paragraph of the book was used by a union educator from the University of Toronto, in a seminar he presented to the local AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees).

There are at least two public access TV stations in this metro area. I have spoken with people about the idea and have one person very interested in doing the video production for a series of interactive shows.

I have the opportunity to meet approximately 60 new people every week. These are people from all walks of life. Five to ten times I have the opportunity to speak and interact about these issues. No speaking or interview engagements yet.

Website domain registration is complete: BillionsofBillionaires.org. One person is assisting in the site set up.

The plan is to implement all phases as the opportunities, demand, assistance, time and funding allow.

The prize money would allow me to reduce my current work schedule of 54 hours per week down to 13.5 hours, thus leaving 40 – 45 hours per week, at least, available for this initiative.

Explain your initiative in more depth and its stage of development.

The understanding, the “getting” of these fundamentals is inherently comprehensive in nature. We must look at earth as a whole system because resources, environmental conditions and people are not spread evenly around the world. This project addresses the context, the fundamental premises through which we look at the world.
The ecology and the economy are inseparable and practically synonymous. When the question ”How can I make money?” is replaced with “How can I / we have the highest standard of living possible?”, it is crystal clear that we must take impeccable care of the ecology of which we are a part.

This project is eminently feasible, since communication and education technology is developing rapidly. There are projects like “One Laptop Per Child” that aim to deploy this technology everywhere. The big question is whether we are going to teach the same old thing, or are we going to teach the incredible opportunity that is available. Are we going to shift the paradigm?

Verifying that increasing numbers of people are using and contributing to this project can be determined with some degree of accuracy by tracking phone and email feedback, book sales, interview requests, readership & viewership stats and website visits.

Making this project available through a broad range of media is scaleable in itself and education which is contextual is always adaptable to specific variable conditions.

How does your strategy and approach respond creatively and comprehensively to key issues?

Studied “Critical Path” and seven or eight other books by or about Bucky.

Participated in World Game.

Created a workshop entitled “What Do I Do Now?” to communicate these messages and to engage people in taking action based upon their recognition of the paradigm of abundance.

Staff member: The Friends of Buckminster Fuller Foundation.

Author / publisher of special edition card: “If The Success or Failure of This Planet, and of Human Beings, Depended on How I Am and What I Do; How would I Be? What Would I Do?”

Proofread the book: ”TROPICAL RAINFOREST a world survey of our most valuable and endangered habitat with a blueprint for its survival”, by Arnold Newman.

I have a generalist view of life. I start with the Wholeness of it All. I am curious, interested and attentive to what humans are engaged in and how it all fits together. Most of the work that I have engaged in has been something that I initiated. As such, it has involved using many physical, mental and communication skills, the curiosity to learn new things and the willingness to do any and every aspect of a project.

Most importantly, I care deeply about humanity and I am passionate about sharing this message with others.

External Validation For This Initiative:

“Hear, hear! I enjoyed reading your piece William. Thank you for sharing.” -EJ
“Very good. Should be exposed.” -W. Sklar
“I really like the way you think on these matters. Please continue to post your thoughts. They are a beacon in the fog.” - J. Arnow
“Many thanks. Good articles. Simple and clear messages.” -E. Watson
“It’s starting to make sense, what you’re talking about.” -K. Train