2020: headquarters inauguration banquet

I'm in a building that is growing enough food to care for all of the residents, a sort of communal, company working space atop a tower of private housing for employees, families and really anyone willing to participate. Fortunately close to a large, flowing body of water, what was a simple sewage system a decade ago has now been turned into an elaborate heating, cooling and power generating system - used, pressurized water and sewage, repurposed and purified - which also supplies the building's irrigation needs. The people who live and work here are my peers, friends and co-cause-rs, we believe in creating a world in harmony with itself. We believe in applying "religious" values like community participation, social obligation, modesty and moderation, stewardship of the sacred world we inhabit, which includes acting out of love for our fellow human beings, without all the dogmatic pressure that seems to dominate the religio-scape.

The cooperative NGO that we've networked together promotes pluralism and community building in our human interaction, through shared space and open communication on all relevant (as determined by the participants) topics without punitive retaliation; harmony with the environment in our production and habitats by utilizing methods that mimic, cooperate with and perhaps even improve upon natural systems for same (the -1 footprint, where everything we do improves where we are); and, an emphasis on quality over quantity, a less is more philosophy regarding technology and it's impact on our lives (avoiding the hype, while focusing on the functional).

Proper building positioning in terms of the sun's path across the heavens allows for diffuse but bright lighting during "working hours." Energy needs are met by a combination of the pressurized grey-water system and the hydrogen fuel cell refuse management system, as well as solar panels (primarily associated with supplemental lighting), micro-wind rigs and a back-up, biomass fueled generator.

Tonight, we're dining on a meal grown completely in house, except for the goat which was traded for in labor from a local farmer. We "updated" some of his irrigation and electricity needs; by increasing the efficiency of late 20th century farming techniques and electrical needs, and opting away from becoming overly specialized, more food can be grown using fewer natural resources - the surplus of which is not considered profit and can instead be reinvested in the entire community. A bonus to those who bear the burden of the big decisions, instead of those that make them.

The real power of the future lies in international networking between peers of all levels of expertise in every possible field.