A few months ago I mentioned that there was a potential new civilization
center here in Los Angeles. This has now taken shape in the meantime and is
now known as the "Global Solutions Nexus". Several people have dedicated
themselves to running the center, and a network of collaborators is
forming. All looking very promising, I must say.
What is unique is that this place is emerging without any significant
financing, simply by faith and networking of resources. It is in a prime
location, a beachfront property by the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The space
itself is made available at very flexible terms by Edmond Cohen who owns
the building. It is a very aesthetic and open space, very suitable for
events. It has several Internet servers on the site and a high speed T1
connection to the Internet.
Five people constitute the core staff. Myself and Francois Annenberg are
co-directors, me being sort of the ideological person and Francois being
the business person, Conrad van de Bud is the server administrator, Tony
Eschavez is the marketing person, Edmond Cohen is the artistic director and
the landlord. We probably need a PR person too. In good NCN style we're a
very diverse group of people, who however complement each other well.
In addition to that, other magnificent people are getting involved as
collaborators. One thing we'll be doing often is to bring small groups of
people together to brainstorm on ways of working together, networking our
resources, standing on each others shoulders without having to reinvent the
same wheels.
This is a non-profit organization that will provide some services for free
for constructive activities and organizations of different kinds, and that
will get its financing from also offering some commerical services, such as
web space and rental of the space, and through acting as a "business
incubator", i.e. helping people with projects and ideas, but lacking
resources, to get their project happening.
We just had the first event Wednesday, an evening with John Perry Barlow,
co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the author of the
"Cyberspace Declaration of Independence", former songwriter for the
Grateful Dead. That was very successful, and very enjoyable. John connected
with the new civilization theme right away.
One thing we'll be focusing on is audio and video broadcasts on the
Internet. So, watch out for regular on-line talkshows and interviews and
stuff like that coming your way.
I will also be moving the NCN member database to the new server, which
should allow me to expand its functionality significantly. And there will
probably be some new chat rooms and other facilities.
Below is a general introduction to the center that I wrote to put on our
fliers.
- Flemming
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Global Solutions
Venice Beach Nexus
Global Solutions is a non-profit corporation dedicated to supporting
cooperation, community and harmony, locally and globally, and to promoting
environmental and life-enhancing alternative solutions for the common good.
The Global Solutions Nexus in Venice Beach California is a center
showcasing the latest technology in communication, new media and the
Internet; it is a gathering place and resource center for creative people
working on positive change and life-affirming projects of all kinds.
Global Solutions is dedicated to the creation of a new civilization, a
world that works for all of humankind, in harmony with all other
life-forms, a world where every individual matters, where people can be
free to do what they see needs doing, and where diversity and creative
expression is celebrated and valued.
The Global Solutions Nexus, GSN, operates several web servers and maintains
a high-speed Internet connection. These resources are used to support
informational web pages, virtual communities, and audio/video web
broadcasting, and they are available on a cooperative basis for projects
that GSN is participating in.
You can participate with Global Solutions in a number of ways:
* GSN runs Internet chat servers and other on-line resources that you
can freely utilize.
* GSN hosts free community events at our premises.
* The premises of GSN on the Venice Boardwalk are available for rent
for events and seminars.
* If you have solution-oriented projects, commercial or humanitarian,
but lack the resources to carry them out, we might be able to help you
along, either in the form of a "business incubator" and/or as a cooperative
venture.
* If you already run an organization, be it environmental, community
oriented, creative, new media, or positive change of any kind, we might
cooperate and act together as a consortium, if appropriate.
* If you wish to start up organizations similar to GSN in other
areas, we are available to assist you in setting it up, and we will
cooperate as nodes in a global network.
* If you're looking for Internet resources for your organization or
business; web space, on-line stores, virtual communities, Internet access;
we are available to connect you up with what you need.
* If you want to volunteer or interne at Global Solutions, there are
many interesting activities that you can take part in.
* Global Solutions accepts tax-deductible donations to support our work.
Global Solutions represents some significant new paradigms. For one thing,
our work is aimed at the benefit of all of humankind. Not just at a
specific issue or cause. We don't have an agenda to push on you. We are
here to support what _you_ want to do that is constructive and positive.
What we are most interested in is collaborative ventures. Sure, you can
utilize our free services, and we are very happy if you donate funds to
support our work. But, really, what is most on our mind is what we can do
_together_. This is a new economic paradigm, of focusing on how to bring
together creativity and resources and good will, rather than on
fund-raising and buying and selling.
Global Solutions is an information resource for new concepts, new models
and technological and organizational tools for growing a better world.
Let's all be part of the solution!
o o
/ \------------------ Flemming A. Funch ------------------/ \
/ * \ World Transformation/New Civilization/Whole Systems / * \
/ * * \ ffunch@newciv.org / * * \
o-------o----------- http://www.worldtrans.org/ ----------o-------o
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