The Venus Project: The Redesign of a Culture (1994)

The first Venus Project film.

Need transcription!

Source: Archive

http://www.thevenusproject.com/

Space extending infinitely in all directions.

Minds of stream are stretching in unlocked mysteries.

We only began to probe, yet in a short span of time, space has taught us much.

The more we learn about galaxies, stars and planets,

the more enlighten are our world becomes.

With the advent of the space age, we have, for the first time,

seen our tiny worlds suspended in the dark void.

Showing none of the artificial boundaries that divide the human kind.

This fragile planet is on our mercy,

and we must all strive to protect it,

for ourselves and generations to come.

We have learned that the Earth is a perfect living greeting sphere.

Once considered unlimited, now we know better.

Population continues to explode,

making resources, food supplies, and the land itself more precious.

Social problems, such as crime, debt, poverty,

diseases, and incompetent governments, compound the problems.

Problems that are not solved by politics, or by leadership that doesn’t need.

We are losing faith and growing impatient, as we watch these conditions spread.

And rightly so, since practical solutions are within reach.

We are approaching the time when we must decide upon a new direction,

before the choices are made for us.

The answers of the yesterday are no longer relevant.

We can now act decisively with a new direction designed to further our social evolution,

and boldly enter the 21st century.

In the next few minutes, you will see a vision of the future with a fresh approach.

A vision with human and environmental concern.

A vision called The Venus Project.

The vision

The Venus Project presents an alternative design for our culture.

It provides an attainable direction for a bright and better future,

by applying the latest technologies directly to our social system,

to benefit the lives of everyone.

Through education and the intelligent application of what we already know,

we can eventually eliminate war, poverty, hunger, debt, crime and taxes.

There is no place to hide today.

You cannot escape from human stupidity.

War, weapons, corruption, seems to be prevalent all over the world.

Merely talking about idealism, and not designing an approach,

does not alleviate the problem.

Our main aim, and our main reason for funding

is to make these things a reality.

The aims of The Venus Project are to ensure social and economic stability,

quality medical care and education, a clean environment,

plentiful housing, goods and services, recreation,

and access to all the amenities that a prosperous innovative society can provide.

These goals are not merely a paper proclamation.

They can be translated into a physical reality,

if, as a society, we choose to do so.

A democracy that does not insure the necessities of life is meaningless.

So, i would say, the more we invest in human beings,

and warmth, love, education, good fellowship,

the more secure are all our futures.

We are tied in with nature, and all of the environment surrounding us.

To negate or neglect any part of that,

would be damaging to ourselves and our own ambient.

We do it because it is the decent and constructive thing to do.

The American free enterprise system does generate incentive.

However, it also creates greed, corruption, crime, stress and economic insecurity.

The consuming pursuit of money that grips many in our society has a dehumanizing effect,

and has led us to our present self-centered values.

What will happen if we continue to automate production,

and get rid of more and more people?

Pretty soon, if you automate typing, and you automate most human jobs.

Then the majority of Americans and the majority of people all over the world

will not have the purchasing power to buy products.

So, what good is a factory that is turning out automobiles,

if they have an automation plant, the automobiles are turned out automatically,

who is going to be around, and be able to buy those cars? What will they go use for money?

So, what happens, our system dies.

The free enterprise system was terrific fifty years ago,

maybe thirty years ago. But it is no longer adequate.

So, if an automobile factory, or any other factory, goes completely automatic,

and most people lose their jobs,

and they don’t have the purchasing power,

you tell me how the free enterprise system can function.

It comes to an end. And when it comes to an end,

they become gangs, and riots, and crime begins to rise.

I’m not advocating this. I’m not for this.

I’m just trying to describe what most likely will happen.

And, if that happens, then a military dictatorship will come in.

In which people will tell you how to live, and what to do.

That is called the dictatorship.

It comes about when you can’t manage the mass majority of your people.

And so, that dictatorship is something i have a tremendous fear of.

And we are trying to do this Venus Project,

to show people of a possible alternative to social chaos.

The Venus Project proposes a resource based economy,

making the necessities of life available to everyone.

The real value of any nation is it’s developed and potential resources

and the individuals that are working towards the elimination of scarcity.

This can only be accomplished

through the intelligent application of science and technology.

Unfortunately, today’s science and technology

has been diverted from achieving these aims,

through the deliberate withdrawal of efficiency and planned obsolescence.

This is now true in every aspect of our society.

When education and resources are made available,

there would be no limit to the human potential.

The measure of success would be based on the fulfillment and the quality of one’s life,

rather than the acquisition of wealth, property and power.

By the redesign of our culture and overcoming scarcity,

most of the crimes, and even the prisons of today’s society, could be eliminated.

The Venus Project proposed cities and industrial plants,

will be the birthplace for such an environment.

It is far easier and less costly to build new efficient cities and industrial plants.

Then, to attempt to update and solve the problems of the old ones.

They would combine the most sophisticated utilization

of available resources and construction techniques.

The city’s circular arrangement and its geometric elegance

would be surrounded by parks and lovely gardens.

And designed to operate with a minimum expenditure of energy,

to obtain the highest possible standard of living for all.

The city’s concentric circles, each have a specific function.

The agricultural belt is situated in the outermost perimeter.

A waterway surrounds the agricultural belt which produces bountiful crops,

many grown in transparent enclosed buildings,

without the use of pesticides are dangerous chemical fertilizers.

Eight areas are set aside to provide energy,

from the wind, sun and other clean renewable sources.

There will be continuous research and development for new clean energy.

The residential area, beautifully landscaped in mid late comer winding strings,

displays a wide variety of homes, contoured to blend in with the environment.

They are prefabricated with new materials requiring little maintenance.

With this type of construction, damage from earthquakes,

hurricanes and fire would be greatly reduced.

As we leave the residential district and move towards the city center,

we pass additional recreational facilities and dining areas.

Here, a wide selection of organically grown food will be available.

Next, are the apartments, planning and design centers.

As we approach the center of the city,

we see a large dome surrounded by eight smaller domes.

These small domes house the library, science, art, music,

research, exhibition, entertainment, and conference centers,

which are fully equipped and available to all.

The central, or fine center, houses the cybernated system, educational facilities,

shopping, communications networking, and the medical center.

This cybernated system will link computers with automated machinery,

coordinating all the services and functions of the entire city.

One can think of this as the brain and nervous system,

extending into all areas of the society.

For example, in the residential sector,

it will monitor environmental cleanliness and recycled waste.

It will be automatically control and maintain

the constant inventory between factory and consumers.

Production and distribution will be balanced to correspond with demand,

eliminating shortages and overruns.

Although the industrial districts are highly automated,

they are non-polluting, silent and clean, with easy access to the cities.

They border canals, which facilitate transportation.

When cybernation is integrated into all aspects of this new and dynamic culture,

only then can computers appropriately serve the needs of all people.

No technological civilization can ever operate efficiently and effectively

without the application of cybernetics to the social system.

This dynamic approach only acts to enhance people’s lives.

It doesn’t monitor or dictate their lives.

Monotonous and boring jobs will be phased out.

And a high standard of living will be maintained for everyone.

With an opportunity for constant growth and achievement,

people will have the time and freedom

to choose the lifestyle they find the most fulfilling.

The central dome provides access to most transportation.

Horizontal, vertical and radial conveyors take one anywhere within the city.

Monorails and electrically operated vehicles provide for a city to city transportation.

Transcontinental lines are made by a wide variety of aircraft.

High speed maglev trains remain in motion,

as passenger compartments are lifted away,

and others are lowered in their place.

These units then take passengers to their local destinations.

Living with also be exciting in one of the city’s on or below the sea.

Sea craft will be available for everyone to use.

A computerized counseling in an undersea apartment brings many forms of marine life within view.

Eventually, through using total design concepts,

the threat of floods or drouts could be minimized.

A series of canals and water storage basins with flood locks

could provide irrigation, transportation and recreation,

and hold back floodwaters for future needs.

As with any massive construction initiative,

the possible gains and negative effects will be thoroughly reviewed

before each project started.

Perhaps, the greatest limiting factors about our present day pre-scientific culture,

can be traced to our language, social customs and values,

which were conceded in earlier times.

The designs of The Venus Project will not only be applied to cities,

industrial processes and the environment, but to education as well.

The aims of The Venus Project have no parallel in history.

Not with communism, socialism, fascism, or any other political ideology.

This is true, because cybernation is of recent origin.

With this system, the positions of financial influence and control would no longer exist.

Our only concern is the building of a better world

by eventually inviting the equal participation of all nations.

The function of this new experimental city

is to test the validity of The Venus Project’s designs and proposals.

There is no doubt that there would be shortcomings

and inevitable modifications during this transition,

which we accept and expect.

But the final test of the practicality of any system,

is simply how well the system works.

As these newer communities develop and become widely accepted,

they will form the basis of a new society.

Preferably, through the process of evolution rather than revolution.

Beyond the vision

Well, i wanted to say that is there no such things like Utopia.

Which you call the best television set, is the best that you have up to now.

But you know, two years from now, you look back, and say oh my god, you see?

So, what you called the Utopia is just a better way of life that you have known in the past,

but there is no end to the possibilities,

which i think haven’t even began yet.

The civilized world hasn’t even begun to get off the ground.

The jobs that we would be accomplished in the future,

the marvels, the technology to come, is unbelievable.

And it’s about high time we get off our self centered,

self seeking, self advantageous designs,

and get on with the social job that has to be done.

Namely the reclamation of the environment and human beings as well.

So we welcome everybody’s participation.

Phase one is The Venus Project 25 acre design center instill pristine south central Florida,

where the future is taking shape now.

The actual building along with models, illustrations, and this video,

are the first steps that have been completed to help you feel, see and touch the future.

To dream, to hope, to strive for a better life for all people everywhere,

where nature and technology can safely co-exist.

Indeed, The Venus Project is a quantum jump

from our politically mismanaged and scarcity oriented culture.

The technology and resources necessary for such an undertaking are available today.

But before it can happen, we must act supportivelly to bring it about.

The only limitations to the human potential

are those we superimpose upon ourselves.

This is only a brief introduction to the aims of The Venus Project.

We invite your inquiries, and welcome your participation

to help making the choices that will bring it about.

For further information, or for the book The Venus Project,

contact us at 21 Valley Lane, Venus, FL 33960 USA.

Or phone [phone],

fax [phone],

or visit our website.