Culture in Decline by Peter Joseph

What Democracy?

The Zeitgeist Movement: Response to "Occupy Wall Street"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE ZEITGEIST MOVEMENT: RESPONSE TO "OCCUPY WALL STREET"

www.occupywallst.org

On Sept 17th 2011, a grassroots expression of contempt was launched in

the heart of the world's financial center in lower Manhattan of New York

City, also commonly known to the world as the institution of "Wall

Street". As of Sept 26th, there have been over 80 arrests and many

recorded instances of what appears to be violence and abuse coming from

the police and security forces there. However, the protesters remain

vigilant in what could very well be a landmark event that will resonate

for some time to come. 

The Zeitgeist Movement would like to extend its public support to this

basic expression.

As the world awakens to a failing financial system with growing civil

unrest emerging without the bias of sovereignty, religion or political

loyalty, a new, unifying perspective is slowly taking hold which

transcends the framework many of us falsely assume as empirical to our

way of life. 

With the slow grind down of the global workforce as machine automation

continues to replace human labor for the benefit of corporate cost

efficiency, simultaneously reducing purchasing power and hence

inevitably stifling so called “Economic Growth”; with the ever 

expanding Debt Crisis born out of the Fractional Reserve Lending System

and the simple reality that money is created out of debt and sold as a

commodity in exchange for Interest - Interest that can only again come

onto existence through more loan sales; with the looming military

programs growing in virtually all major powers as the financial crisis,

coupled with a pending hydrocarbon energy crisis, begins to suggest a

stage of global conflict possibly never before seen; along with the

market psychology of Infinite Growth Consumption that continues to

pervade and distort our values and what it means to live in harmony with

nature on a finite planet...

...it might be time we begin to see that the social problems at hand are

not specific to any general policy, administration, or even so called

"corporate greed". The real problem at hand is actually systematic via

the very core foundation of what defines our Economic System and the

psychology that is supported and rewarded.

The historical illusion that continues to this day is that someone or

some group is explicitly to "blame". Rather than focus on the 400 people

who have more wealth than 150 million in America or the fact that globally

1% of the world's population has more wealth than 40%, let's instead ask

ourselves how such a manifestation is even possible and, more critically,

why we would expect anything less? Think about it.

After all, it's the "Free-Market", isn't it? Contrary to the

statistically void efficiency assumptions made by most Market

Economists, the Free-Market simply means anyone can do whatever they

want and maximize however they want within the confines of legal

legislation; legal legislation which, make no mistake, is also for sale

in the Free-Market as well; as are political officials, regulatory

institutions and whatever social entity you wish to consider. 

Nothing but maximizing monetary gain is sacred and anytime a person or

group brings some detrimental social or environmental consequence of

this system to the forefront, pejorative distinctions are usually

branded upon their forehead to stifle such concern and frighten other

detractors – such as being called a “Socialist” or “Communist”.

Furthermore, while people in protest today across the world continue to

condemn monetary influence in social dealings such as the legal reality

of Corporate Lobbying, even using such colorful terms as "Corporatism",

“Crony-Capitalism” and even “Fascism”, they seem to misunderstand what

this system is and always has been.

The Free-Market model of Economics is a haphazard, unscientific anarchy

of organization which assumes that any person or group with

enough money and hence power will be “responsible” in their actions

both socially and environmentally. The problem is that the very

definition of being "financially responsible” actually means to be

socially and environmentally exploitative, manipulative and negligent,

for the main driver of this system is Inefficiency. The more problems in

society in general, the more jobs are created and the more rich the

upper 1% become. There is an empirical decoupling from what actually

supports life and no alteration of the core configuration of the

monetary-market Incentive will likely change that.

On a different level, this system, as an historical evolution, is

actually based on a culturally hegemonic pretense. Once economic

advantage is obtained, it will likely be kept. This is why everything in

the system favors the wealthy by its general structure and inherent

logic. While the public might complain about the fact that top Hedge Fund

Managers bring in over 300 million dollars per year, they often do not find

objection with an Interest system that rewards those with high deposits

and essentially taxes those using credit. While you may buy your home

with a loan, paying thousands in interest a year, a person of wealth can

make a CD Investment and gain free interest income simply because they have

the money to spare. 

Class separation and perpetuation and the growing wealth divide is not a

byproduct. It is inevitable. In the Free-Market, one is actually 

“free” to take away the liberty of others through the mere economic

pressures generated from the game. You are only as free as the size of

your wallet. The term “Institution Racism” was coined by civil

rights activist Stokely Carmichael in the 1960s referring to how often 

unnoticed underlying policies and structures within the social system

undermined African-American prosperity and equality. What we have today

is a mere variation: “Institutional Classicism”.

Wall Street itself, which is the ultimate manifestation of the pursuit

of money as a commodity rather than any form of true creation or social

contribution, is naturally a ripe entity for symbolic objection for, at

a minimum, it shouldn't exist at all and most certainly not have the

grand effect it does on the stability of the global economy today,

regardless of the inherent shortcomings denoted.

However, that stated, it must again be made clear that Wall Street and

the Banking System are not the source of our problems. They are only

symptoms of an Economic System which will continue to fail by the very

gravity of its outdated and false assumptions of human conduct and

environmental relationships.

The question then becomes, what do we put in its place? ~Z

About:

The Zeitgeist Movement is a global sustainability activist group working

to bring the world together for the common goal of species

sustainability before it is too late. It is a social movement, not a

political one, with over 1100 chapters across nearly all countries.

Divisive notions such as nations, governments, races, political parties,

religions, creeds or class are non-operational distinctions in the view

of The Movement. Rather, we recognize the world as one system and the

human species as a singular unit, sharing a common habitat. Our

overarching intent could be summarized as “the application of the

scientific method for social concern.”

To learn more about our work, please visit www.thezeitgeistmovement.com

Zeitgeist 3. Moving forward

There are 300 000 people watching it every day. Available for free.

Public statement from Peter Joseph

In response to the association created by the mainstream media between the Zeitgeist movement and the Tucson murders. 

"It has come to my attention that various mainstream news organizations are beginning to run an association between my 2007 performance piece/film, “Zeitgeist: The Movie” and the tragic murders conducted by an extremely troubled young man in Tucson, Arizona. They are also slowly beginning to bleed the obvious line between my 2007 documentary work, my film series as a whole and The Zeitgeist Movement, which I am the founder. Frankly, I find this isolating, growing association tremendously irresponsible on the part of ABC, NBC and their affiliates - further reflecting the disingenuous nature of the America Media Establishment today.

It appears to have begun with a comment on NBC news referencing my film along with other “influential” films as well, such as Richard Kelly's film “Donnie Darko” and then spreading to ABC News where it singled out "Zeitgeist: The Movie" and the Series itself, stating:

“Osler pointed to an online documentary series called "Zeitgeist" as a possible influence on the man.

The series rails on currency-based economics.

"I really think that this 'Zeitgeist' documentary had a profound impact on Jared's mindset and how he viewed that world that he lives in," Osler said.”

abcnews.go.com/US/tucson-shooting-friend...ed/story?id=12597092

When we reflect on the history of seemingly random violence or other forms of highly offensive, irrational, aberrant behavior, we see a common pattern of reaction from the public and media in their attempt to explain such extreme acts. Rather than deeply examining the Bio-Psycho-Social nature of human social development and the vast spectrum of influences that create and morph each of us in unique and sometimes detrimental ways, they take the easy way out. The first thing they do is simply ignore all modern scientific, social understandings of what generates human motivation in both positive and negative regard, for to do so can only call into question the social system itself and hence the “zeitgeist” (meaning: spirit/intellectual climate of the time/culture) at large.

Generally speaking, it is historically accurate to say that the Mainstream Media simply isn't in the business of challenging the Status Quo. The limits of debate are firmly set. Virtually all ideas, persons or groups who have succeeded in changing the world for the better, later to be hailed as heros in the public mind, started out being condemned by those in the Mainstream Media who latch on to the dominant world view of the time. Even Martin Luther King Jr., a peaceful, loving, wonder of a man who contributed more to our social progress than likely any humanitarian in the US history, was followed by the CIA and publicly humiliated as a “Communist” which he even had to defend in front of a Congressional Committee. In fact, you can rest assured that if King were alive in the current paradigm today and seeking an equal form of justice - he would be given the name: “Terrorist”.

So, again, rather than taking the scientific view, the Mainstream Media often seeks out or implies one point of blame and runs with it. After all, it is much easier, presentable and more simplistic for the public to think that the troubling reality of seemingly random acts of mass murder is the result of a “singular influence” and hence the logic goes that if that one influence is removed, then the world will be back in balance. This gives the public a false resolve and position of focus in an otherwise ambiguous, complex world of social and biological influences. And as far as the scapegoat itself, very often any group, media or dataset that is counter-culture or even hints at wishing to challenge the status quo, is a magnet for such blame.

For example, musical groups of a counter-culture nature have been a favorite scapegoat for acts of murder/violence historically. In 1990, the rock band Judas Priest was actually taken to court for their “role” in the self-inflicted gunshot wounds in 1985 of 20-year old James Vance and 18-year old Raymond Belknap in Reno, Nevada. In 2008, the band Slipknot was publicly tied/blamed to a high-school murder in South Africa. Even the Beatles song “Helter-skelter” was associated to the murders incited by Charles Manson. It goes on and on... and, frankly, it's simply pathetic - avoiding the true nature of the problem - which is the Socio-Economic Environment itself.

Make no mistake: The Social System is to blame for the rampage of Jared Loughner – not some famous online documentary which is known as the most viewed documentary of all time in internet history. Are the other 200 million people who have seen the film also preparing for murder sprees? I think not.

In my new film: "Zeitgeist: Moving Forward", I feature a prominent Harvard Criminal Psychologist by the name of Dr. James Gilligan who headed the Centre for the Study of Violence at Harvard Medical School for many years. In his life work of personally engaging the most dangerous, violent offenders the US system produces, he found some basic trends. The most common is the social issue of “shame”. Our socio-economic system inherently breeds social division and there is a natural demeaning of others generated as a result. It is a scientific fact that mass murderers and those who many just dismiss as “evil” today, are the product of years of being shamed, humiliated and demeaned. Their acts of violence is a reaction from these highly oppressive feelings and the real resolve to such acts can only come from removing the real source of such emotional hurt. You will notice that most other countries don't come close to the level of violence we see in the United States. The US is the capital of violence with 30-300 times more acts of violence than any other country. We have produced more serial killers in America than all other countries combined. Why? You will notice the Mainstream never asks this question.

If anyone would like to understand why more and more people in the modern world end up like Jared Loughner and why these patterns are only going to get worse as time goes on in this system, I suggest the book “Violence” by Harvard Criminal Psychologist Dr. Gilligan.

In conclusion, let it be stated that the Zeitgeist Film Series is about critical thought regarding various social issues which challenge many erroneous notions held as fact in the modern culture. It also explicitly promotes non-violence, human unity and prosperous human development based on truth and science.

Anyone who wishes to really understand the works can view them for free online at zeitgeistmovie.com and my new film, which will detail how a new, humane social system can work, will be in 315 theaters in 60 countries and in 30 languages starting Jan 15th 2011. www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com

I am also in contact with my legal team and considering legal action against ABC.

-Peter Joseph"

Zeitgeist 3.

Zeitgeist: Moving Forward - World Release - 300 Venues | 60 countries

Peter Joseph's new installment of The Zeitgeist Film Series, featuring the concept of a Resource-Based Economy; in support of The Zeitgeist Movement, is now set to release in a unprecedented way come Jan 15th 2011. With Nearly 300 Main Theatrical Venues across 60 countries and in 30 subtitled languages, the interest in the non-profit, epic 162 minute film work is skyrocketing. 

View the Global Map: www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com/zmap

Notable Points:

Jan. 15th 2011 - The "Global Premier" of the film will occur in Los Angeles California via The Artivist Film Festival Organization. It a will include a Q & A with Peter Joseph.

Tickets:

www.etix.com/ticket/servlet/onlineSale?action=selectPerformance&performance_id=1388387

Jan. 16th 2011 - Peter Joseph and The Venus Project will attend the New York Premiere in Manhattan and will conduct a Q & A as well.

Tickets:

www.etix.com/ticket/online/venueSearch.jsp?venue_id=7618

Jan 25th 2011:

Free Online Internet Release / Free .Iso DVD download will occur through www.zeitgeistmovie.com & www.zeitgeistmovingforward.com

Please spread this film far and wide. There is no restriction on copying the work and redistributing it for free. 

There will also be the option to pre-order the film on DVD for $5.00 for late Jan shipment around Jan 15th through the same websites. 

Thank you.

Z

Future by Design

Jacque Fresco and the Venus Project
Resource based economy without monetary systems.

Interview with Peter Joseph

Probably millions of people already know who Peter Joseph is. This interview with the founder of Zeitgeist movement is a kind of reminder as the third Zeitgeist film is coming out in January 2011. Watch out for it, it is called "Zeitgeist-Moving Forward".

You can watch the two previous films (Zeitgeist The Movie, Zeitgeist Addendum) here:

http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/

If you want to know more about the Venus Project and would like to get involved, click on the link below:

http://www.thevenusproject.com/

Who is Peter Joseph? from charles robinson on Vimeo.