2004 Proutist Universal 1 Proutist Economic Development Introduction.

2004 Proutist Universal 1

Proutist Economic Development

Introduction

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Prout

• Prout is the abbreviation for the Progressive Utilization Theory• A new socio-economic model for a sustainable future • Prout is based on:

– economic self-sufficiency;

– cooperatives;

– environmental balance; and

– universal spiritual values.

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Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar(1921-1990)

• Indian philosopher• Founded Prout in 1959 • Author of more than 200

discourses• Composer• Spiritual master • Political prisoner from 1971-1978

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“Prout’s cooperative model … sharing the resources of the planet for the welfare of everyone, deserves our serious consideration.” - Dr. Noam Chomsky, MIT

"The concepts of ethics and justice … reflect what saints and sages of all the wisdom traditions have been saying for centuries." - Dr. Bo Lozoff, LL.D., Director of the Human Kindness Foundation

“Prout is a human and ecological approach to society and the economy that is not only eminently feasible but is already being brought into existence by visionaries and courageous common people in various places.” - Arturo Escobar, anthropologist

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“It is spiritual and utopian while remaining grounded in reality.” - Howard Zinn, author of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States

“Prout is the theory of a self-reliant economic and political system that is spiritually rather than materialistically inspired.” – Johan Galtung, peace activist, of the Right Livelihood Award

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“An important contribution to re-thinking the disastrous course of the current economic globalization.” – Hazel Henderson, economist

“The constitutional proposals of Prout are the ethical summary of everything that humanity needs... .” – Frei Betto, Dominican friar, activist and writer

“Prout was carefully thought out to create a development with equilibrium and with harmony.” – Leonardo Boff, co-founder of Liberation Theology and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award

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Proutist Universal

• PU is a global educational and community services organization

• Founded in 1978 in India • PU’s global headquarters is in Copenhagen, Denmark• It has Sectorial offices in all the major continents: eg in

Manila, New Delhi, Nairobi, Sydney, Taipei, Washington and Sao Paulo

• The mission of Proutist Universal is: – 1) To promote Prout, the Progressive Utilization Theory;– 2) To restore balance on our planet through the practical

application of Prout-based values, principles and policies in social, economic, environmental and institutional life.

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Course content

0. Significance of Prout Training in Venezuela

1. Introduction 2. Possible Futures for Venezuela3. The Number One Problem: Poverty4. Economics, Community and Ecology5. People’s Economy6. Economic Self-Sufficiency7. Decentralised Economic Planning8. People’s Economy and Eco-Design9. Triple Bottom Line10. Three-Tier Industry11. Cooperatives12. Housing Cooperatives

13. Agriculture14. Balanced Economy15. Different Forms of Currency16. Trade17. Prout’s Five Fundamental

Principles18. Resource Types: Physical,

Mental, Spiritual19. Psycho-Economic Exploitation20. Middle Class and Psycho-

Economics21. Wholistic Human

Development: Neo-Humanism22. Ethics for Personal and Social

Transformation23. Six Hats Thinking24. Ideal Leadership25. Meditations   

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Course ContentTopic Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

1 Significance of Prout Training in Venezuela

Introduction Possible Futures for

Venezuela

Three-Tier Industry Cooperatives Housing Cooperatives Agriculture

Psycho-Economic Exploitation

Middle Class and Psycho-Economics

2 The Number One Problem: Poverty

Economics, Community and Ecology

People’s Economy

Balanced Economy

Different Forms of Currency

Trade

Wholistic Human Development: Neo-Humanism

Ethics for Personal and Social Transformation

Six Hats Thinking

3 Economic Self-Sufficiency

Decentralised Economic Planning

People’s Economy and Eco-Design

Triple Bottom Line

Prout’s Five Fundamental Principles

Resource Types: Physical, Mental, Spiritual

Ideal Leadership Meditations

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Training Plan

1. The principles of the Prout model

2. Examples of local initiatives that illustrate the principles

3. Discussion and practical exercises

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Course Material developed by:Dada Maheshvarananda

• Trained in India as a yoga monk• Studied Prout personally under its

founder, Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar• Teaches meditation and yoga to the

public • 14 years in Southeast Asia and 11 years

in Brazil• Written 3 books on Prout• Lectured at more than 30 universities• Hundreds of seminars and workshops

about social issues and spiritual values

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& Course Material also developed by:

Dr. Michael Towsey

• Computer scientist - machine learning and artificial intelligence

• Research Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia

• Studied Prout for 30 years • Published 2 books and numerous

articles about Prout • Founding member of the Prout Institute

of Australia