0:00:15.834,0:00:17.324
Good afternoon.

0:00:17.325,0:00:19.927
I'd like you all to breathe[br]through the little straw.

0:00:19.928,0:00:22.262
We're even going to stand up,[br]if it's OK. Come on.

0:00:22.262,0:00:26.535
We're going to move our bodies[br]while breathing through this little straw.

0:00:26.536,0:00:29.249
And go! Go on!

0:00:29.250,0:00:32.249
♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪

0:00:32.250,0:00:33.279
Keep going, move!

0:00:33.280,0:00:35.985
♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪

0:00:35.986,0:00:38.409
Keep moving; keep breathing[br]through the straw! Go.

0:00:38.410,0:00:42.119
♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪

0:00:42.120,0:00:43.293
Move a lot!

0:00:43.294,0:00:46.724
♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪

0:00:47.113,0:00:51.422
♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪

0:00:51.423,0:00:53.512
Great. Thanks.

0:00:56.042,0:00:57.604
Is it easy?

0:01:01.414,0:01:03.514
So, we do that for one short minute.

0:01:05.194,0:01:11.313
What if we did that for many weeks,[br]many months, or the rest of our life,

0:01:11.314,0:01:15.970
or if we were born with this little straw[br]in our mouths, what would happen?

0:01:15.971,0:01:20.251
First of all, we would certainly forget[br]that we have this little straw,

0:01:20.252,0:01:23.976
and we would probably build[br]a philosophy based on scarcity.

0:01:23.977,0:01:28.785
In other words, we'd say air is scarce,[br]just because we forgot that that the tool

0:01:28.786,0:01:33.491
that links us to this abundant air,[br]there's plenty of it for us,

0:01:33.492,0:01:39.022
but we forgot this object, so we build up[br]a vision of a scarce world.

0:01:39.832,0:01:42.272
Also, it was a bit short in one minute,

0:01:42.273,0:01:46.979
but we realize that if we really[br]start breathing through this little straw,

0:01:46.980,0:01:52.916
then all our physical,[br]emotional, and mental energy,

0:01:52.917,0:01:54.666
all our inspiration,

0:01:54.667,0:01:58.508
are entirely devoted to this breathing.

0:01:59.508,0:02:01.247
We don't think about anything else,

0:02:01.248,0:02:03.487
we're not going to write[br]a symphony or a book,

0:02:03.488,0:02:05.211
we're not going to run, or dance.

0:02:05.212,0:02:09.216
In fact, each breath becomes[br]the conquest of the next breath.

0:02:09.217,0:02:14.371
And another thing:[br]this suffocation will encourage us

0:02:14.372,0:02:17.752
to steal our neighbor's straw,[br]or at least to feel tempted to do so.

0:02:18.752,0:02:20.969
Moreover, if I accumulate[br]many little straws,

0:02:20.970,0:02:24.989
I might become able to ask others[br]to take their neighbor's straw,

0:02:24.990,0:02:29.501
and also ask anyone to work for me,[br]and hand out the straws.

0:02:30.251,0:02:36.065
So you see, this situation[br]of asphyxiation,

0:02:36.066,0:02:40.264
this is what most of humanity[br]is experiencing today.

0:02:40.265,0:02:43.944
With this tool, not to access air,[br]but wealth, I mean money.

0:02:43.945,0:02:46.762
Money is missing, money is lacking.

0:02:46.763,0:02:49.506
This is the experience[br]of most of our contemporaries,

0:02:49.507,0:02:52.507
to different degrees, but most of them.

0:02:53.607,0:02:55.234
Why is money lacking?

0:02:55.235,0:02:57.974
We know for sure[br]that there is a huge quantity of it,

0:02:57.975,0:03:00.251
but this money is going[br]to become concentrated.

0:03:00.252,0:03:05.665
We encounter this concentration already,[br]as young children playing "Monopoly",

0:03:05.666,0:03:08.737
which is a kind of miniature model,[br]a simplified version

0:03:08.738,0:03:10.743
of the economic system in which we live,

0:03:10.744,0:03:13.455
but it's the same thing,[br]the fundamentals are the same:

0:03:13.456,0:03:17.419
the more money I make,[br]the more I can invest,

0:03:17.420,0:03:21.286
the more I can invest, the more I make,[br]the more I make the more I can invest.

0:03:21.287,0:03:23.970
This shows that there is[br]a phenomenon of "condensation",

0:03:23.971,0:03:25.922
that's the technical term, of currency,

0:03:25.923,0:03:28.275
which becomes concentrated[br]in the hands of a few.

0:03:28.276,0:03:32.121
And while money becomes condensed here,[br]of course it becomes rare somewhere else.

0:03:32.125,0:03:34.250
There we have what[br]we call undermonetization.

0:03:34.259,0:03:36.759
That is where this asphyxia takes place.

0:03:36.760,0:03:41.239
This phenomenon of currency condensation[br]has a name; it's called the Pareto effect,

0:03:41.240,0:03:43.764
and this is what we experience[br]in the Monopoly game.

0:03:43.765,0:03:48.254
This leads to interesting conclusions,[br]not the ones you find in school books,

0:03:48.255,0:03:50.518
and even less in the economic press.

0:03:50.519,0:03:55.796
First, in this monetary system,[br]by design, there no one winner,

0:03:55.797,0:03:59.111
the one with all the bank notes,[br]because if I have all the bank notes,

0:03:59.112,0:04:03.249
and the other players have nothing,[br]I am as economically dead as the others.

0:04:03.250,0:04:06.492
So, I can do what I want[br]with the piles of bank notes I have,

0:04:06.493,0:04:13.444
I can turn a blind eye to them,[br]but anyway, I can't do anything with them.

0:04:13.445,0:04:16.759
Or I can change the rules of the game,[br]and then the game can continue.

0:04:16.760,0:04:18.971
So in truth, this is a game of mass death.

0:04:18.971,0:04:21.969
It's inherent in the monetary structure[br]of the Monopoly game,

0:04:21.970,0:04:25.513
as well as in the monetary structure[br]we use in the world today.

0:04:25.514,0:04:30.256
The next thing is that no matter[br]what the participants' intentions may be,

0:04:30.257,0:04:33.002
even if people want to make[br]favorable exchanges,

0:04:33.003,0:04:35.248
even if they're not trying[br]to kill each other,

0:04:35.249,0:04:37.960
regardless of people's intentions,[br]the system as a whole,

0:04:37.961,0:04:42.763
goes towards its destiny, independently[br]of the will of the players.

0:04:42.764,0:04:46.885
It's the mechanism of scarcity, and this[br]is why we call money a "scarce currency".

0:04:46.886,0:04:50.959
It's not a value judgment;[br]it's a technical term that describes

0:04:50.980,0:04:54.969
the kind of currency humanity uses today.

0:04:54.970,0:04:58.344
Whether it's euros, dollars,[br]any other currency, it's the same thing.

0:04:58.345,0:05:02.510
But today, of course,[br]a response is being made to that.

0:05:02.511,0:05:07.198
It's simple: from the fact that currency[br]is missing in a given region,

0:05:07.199,0:05:09.764
the people see that the money[br]has gone somewhere else,

0:05:09.765,0:05:12.950
so they create their own local currency.

0:05:12.951,0:05:17.970
Today, we see local currencies[br]proliferating all over the planet.

0:05:17.971,0:05:22.970
As a result, trade picks up again,[br]the social body resumes its activity

0:05:22.971,0:05:24.762
and its energy, and it starts over.

0:05:24.763,0:05:27.260
There are also currencies[br]called "social currencies",

0:05:27.261,0:05:29.750
complementary social currencies.

0:05:29.751,0:05:34.520
For instance, let's imagine[br]that I am a student in Japan,

0:05:34.521,0:05:38.250
and my next door neighbor is an old lady.

0:05:38.251,0:05:42.440
I can do her shopping, keep her house,[br]maybe even help her to get dressed.

0:05:42.459,0:05:45.479
I earn Fureai Kippus that I can now send

0:05:45.480,0:05:48.679
to my old great-uncle[br]on the other side of Japan.

0:05:48.680,0:05:51.889
He can then use them[br]with someone in his neighborhood.

0:05:51.890,0:05:55.088
Here we see that this currency[br]has an exclusively social function.

0:05:55.089,0:05:57.611
it creates relationships,[br]while the Yen as such

0:05:57.612,0:05:59.966
is not at all adapted[br]to performing this function.

0:05:59.967,0:06:03.281
And it also allows the government[br]to save billions of yen.

0:06:03.282,0:06:05.759
There are also currencies[br]used for business purposes.

0:06:05.759,0:06:10.259
There's one that most people[br]know worldwide: Air Miles,

0:06:10.260,0:06:14.510
which allow one to purchase plane tickets,[br]hotel rooms, rental cars, etc.

0:06:14.511,0:06:16.970
There are also currencies[br]that we call "targeted",

0:06:16.971,0:06:22.769
because they fulfill a specific function,[br]such as carbon or kilowatt currencies.

0:06:22.770,0:06:26.489
These targeted currencies are made[br]to support a specific sector:

0:06:26.490,0:06:29.975
education, energy, etc.; there you go.

0:06:29.976,0:06:34.257
This was a quick overview[br]of "complementary currencies".

0:06:34.258,0:06:36.757
Therefore, a breach has opened.

0:06:36.758,0:06:39.767
If you go to the Internet to observe it,[br]a breach has opened

0:06:39.768,0:06:43.749
in the monopoly of scarce money;[br]this is one response.

0:06:43.750,0:06:47.263
However, we're not going to stop there,

0:06:47.264,0:06:52.500
because complementary currencies[br]are only a transitory step.

0:06:52.501,0:06:54.252
It is a response to...

0:06:54.252,0:06:57.953
"Complementary": means what it says,[br]it "complements" the system.

0:06:57.954,0:07:02.759
It creates patches, bandages; it's made[br]to heal, to supply deficiencies.

0:07:02.760,0:07:06.769
But in fact, what's happening[br]foreshadows an historical moment,

0:07:06.770,0:07:08.959
as has sometimes happened in the past.

0:07:08.960,0:07:10.643
For example, when people said,

0:07:10.644,0:07:13.229
"Look, everyone has the right[br]to think what he likes,

0:07:13.230,0:07:15.519
and everyone has the right[br]to freedom of speech.

0:07:15.520,0:07:17.549
It is a universal and inalienable right."

0:07:17.550,0:07:22.959
Well, we know that before this, freedom[br]of speech was an elite prerogative.

0:07:22.960,0:07:26.501
One couldn't express oneself[br]without the permission of some authority,

0:07:26.502,0:07:28.977
be it the king, God, or whoever else.

0:07:28.978,0:07:32.970
And today, in our own time,[br]we still speak of sovereign currency,

0:07:32.971,0:07:37.203
In our minds, we say -[br]it's indisputable -

0:07:37.204,0:07:41.238
currency is tied to power, to authority,

0:07:41.239,0:07:44.279
whether it be that of God, the state,[br]banks; it doesn't matter.

0:07:44.280,0:07:48.947
The transition that is happening now is[br]the shift from power-controlled currency

0:07:48.948,0:07:51.959
towards MANY currencies[br]controlled by the citizenry.

0:07:51.960,0:07:55.517
Everywhere we begin to hear people say,

0:07:55.518,0:08:00.987
"Yes, indeed, we can create a currency[br]to support this sector of education,

0:08:00.988,0:08:03.501
or that one, for clean water."

0:08:03.502,0:08:06.979
In the latter context, people want[br]to create social solidarity, and so on.

0:08:06.979,0:08:10.966
And this whole nascent movement,[br]is called "free currencies".

0:08:10.967,0:08:14.918
And as well as resolving social issues,

0:08:14.936,0:08:18.394
these free currencies foreshadow

0:08:18.395,0:08:22.310
an evolution of our species[br]of the same magnitude

0:08:22.311,0:08:25.119
as the invention of language,[br]or the invention of writing.

0:08:25.120,0:08:29.039
That is, we are becoming capable[br]capable of creating large groups,

0:08:29.040,0:08:34.948
small ones, local ones, huge ones,[br]specialized or general, it doesn't matter.

0:08:34.950,0:08:39.264
These communities will soon have[br]a language that will give them the ability

0:08:39.265,0:08:42.967
to understand their own dynamics,[br]the dynamics of exchange, of flows.

0:08:42.967,0:08:46.710
By the way this is the original meaning[br]of the word "currency" in English.

0:08:46.744,0:08:50.537
John Locke considered that "currency[br]is the ability to see currents, flows,"

0:08:50.538,0:08:53.235
and there are thousands of currents[br]everywhere around us.

0:08:53.240,0:08:55.511
Some of them are[br]really interesting for us,

0:08:55.512,0:09:00.759
and we must have the freedom[br]to play with them, to see these currents.

0:09:00.760,0:09:07.260
Now, I would like to share a dream,[br]this dream on which I am working.

0:09:08.820,0:09:10.729
I would like to--

0:09:10.730,0:09:16.411
I dream that every human being[br]can become involved with his or her peers,

0:09:16.412,0:09:20.515
to the extent of her strength,[br]to the best of his ability and talents,

0:09:20.516,0:09:26.499
without having this momentum stopped[br]merely because of a currency shortage,

0:09:26.500,0:09:28.964
only for that reason.

0:09:28.965,0:09:35.527
I work, I wish to create the best system[br]of sharing and exchanging wealth,

0:09:35.528,0:09:39.507
and free currencies[br]seem to be ideal for this.

0:09:39.508,0:09:42.779
This system is not one imposed[br]on everyone by a few,

0:09:42.780,0:09:45.192
it is one that people[br]will create for themselves,

0:09:45.193,0:09:47.098
wherever they are, in their own context.

0:09:47.098,0:09:49.359
This city, that social network,[br]this company,

0:09:49.360,0:09:51.703
this group of people[br]sharing the same values.

0:09:51.704,0:09:55.743
That makes millions of different circles:[br]small, large, local, global;

0:09:55.744,0:09:59.991
each of them must be able to create[br]free currencies that will allow trade.

0:09:59.992,0:10:05.498
Of course I want this system[br]to be easy to use, to be fun,

0:10:05.499,0:10:09.012
and able to work on any mobile phone.

0:10:09.013,0:10:13.007
We're working on it, we already have[br]the first experiments; it works very well.

0:10:13.008,0:10:17.007
It opens up more than 50%[br]of humanity to free currencies.

0:10:17.008,0:10:23.244
Today, less than 50% of humanity has[br]access to currency in this free manner.

0:10:23.245,0:10:27.499
I wish that-- I dream that[br]you'll leave this auditorium

0:10:27.500,0:10:32.979
with this little seed inside, thinking,[br]"Currency is a citizen's right."

0:10:32.980,0:10:35.502
And everyone here in this room can do it.

0:10:35.503,0:10:40.779
By the way, already in this very room,[br]a whole potential economy can start.

0:10:40.780,0:10:43.009
If you want to do it,[br]that's it, it can start.

0:10:43.010,0:10:48.989
Maybe even TED itself,[br]this huge exchange of ideas, of talents,

0:10:48.990,0:10:51.762
of people who share[br]and disseminate ideas everywhere,

0:10:51.763,0:10:56.251
maybe this can be an extraordinary[br]starting point for free currencies, too.

0:10:56.252,0:11:01.266
Once free currencies are[br]everywhere, then you will choose.

0:11:01.267,0:11:03.984
The old, exclusive currency,[br]that you have to pay for,

0:11:03.985,0:11:07.260
or multiple free currencies,[br]that are citizen-based, and free to use?

0:11:07.261,0:11:10.093
In order to bring this dream about,

0:11:11.503,0:11:15.032
I work on two levels:[br]first, a technical level.

0:11:15.033,0:11:20.002
There's technology to build,[br]software and code need to be written.

0:11:20.003,0:11:23.249
You can also visit a website[br]afterwards, if you want,

0:11:23.250,0:11:26.250
that will direct you to everything,[br]called TheTransitioner.org.

0:11:26.270,0:11:28.935
Sorry, we work in English:[br]that's TheTransitioner.org.

0:11:28.936,0:11:31.022
where you can easily find information.

0:11:31.023,0:11:35.507
Then beyond technology,[br]beyond software code, protocols,

0:11:35.508,0:11:37.651
user interfaces, cell phones,

0:11:37.652,0:11:43.001
I also made a personal choice,[br]which is to abandon money,

0:11:43.002,0:11:44.989
in order to become "rich".

0:11:44.990,0:11:50.503
That is, to become rich without money,[br]but, of course, with free currencies.

0:11:50.504,0:11:53.316
And when I say "rich", it's not[br]in the consumer sense of it,

0:11:53.317,0:11:55.529
but in its most profound meaning:

0:11:55.530,0:11:59.249
rich in relationships,[br]and also in the material sense.

0:11:59.250,0:12:03.010
I have spoken a little[br]about this misery in the world,

0:12:03.011,0:12:05.640
but I don't speak about it[br]only in a theoretical way

0:12:05.641,0:12:08.013
as I have met with this misery myself.

0:12:08.014,0:12:11.676
I have earned money, I've inherited it,[br]I've had pocket money,

0:12:11.677,0:12:13.764
and I've stolen it[br]at one period of my life.

0:12:13.765,0:12:17.511
I myself have been in this predatory mode,[br]which sent me to prison twice.

0:12:17.512,0:12:21.085
I found, I saw that most people

0:12:21.118,0:12:25.768
in prison, experiencing incarceration,

0:12:25.769,0:12:30.511
were people like me, who had[br]predatory relationships with money,

0:12:30.512,0:12:33.763
who stole it, or were involved[br]in drugs, break-ins, etc.

0:12:33.764,0:12:37.204
Traveling as I do in the world,

0:12:37.205,0:12:41.753
I've learned that in fact, true misery,

0:12:41.754,0:12:48.493
the true humiliation of a human being is[br]not about not having access to something.

0:12:48.494,0:12:51.746
It is above all not to be able to give.

0:12:51.747,0:12:57.004
And now, today, we have the means[br]to change that, precisely because

0:12:57.005,0:13:01.257
of all this work on the economy,[br]that the media doesn't talk about.

0:13:01.258,0:13:06.252
Tomorrow's world won't be[br]the fruit of our reactions,

0:13:06.253,0:13:08.503
it will be the fruit of our creations.

0:13:08.504,0:13:11.882
We're working on it; we need[br]one another to complete the work.

0:13:11.883,0:13:16.760
We are a small global team,[br]very determined, and we need your support.

0:13:16.761,0:13:18.010
Thank you.

0:13:18.011,0:13:19.993
(Applause)

0:13:19.994,0:13:22.225
Host: Jean-François! (Applause)

0:13:32.292,0:13:38.501
I took the x from TEDx, so I no longer[br]have to pronounce "TEDex".

0:13:38.505,0:13:41.978
I exchanged it for a thousand thanks,[br]and now I give it to you.

0:13:41.979,0:13:45.710
JFN: Thanks! And they say that x[br]is valuable, so thank you.

0:13:45.750,0:13:47.294
(Applause)