Please note the following:   

• This proclamation of independence envisions a future of equality and dignity for all individuals. 
• It envisions a future of Mutual Aid within local communities.
• It envisions a future of People choosing to work together collectively for the benefit of all. 
• It envisions a future of Peace and Harmony. 

This future can be achieved without violence if People choose to make it so.

(Note:  Contextual definitions of key concepts in Proclamation are presented at end of text)

People's Proclamation of Independence

For the sake of humanity's future sustainability, it is essential to learn.  Today, in 2007, we are witness to decadent world-wide institutions and organizations prolonging continued disarray for "the commons" against the desires of People everywhere.  People everywhere desire Peace and harmony, and this is a Proclamation of Independence from those institutions and organizations that perpetuate and prolong ongoing suffering of innocence.  

This Proclamation extols the virtues of:  local commerce and governance as well as individual liberty for the good of all.  This Proclamation calls for a Confederacy of Communities committed to a peaceful and better future for ALL People.  The following forms the basis of the Confederacy:

1.  Institutions and organizations are to be directly accountable to and in the interest of the People.  Institutions and organizations that exert large-scale authority over many local areas are to be identified.  Institutions and organizations premised upon domination or that perform acts of domination are to be dismantled and discontinued in an orderly and systematic fashion during a "Time of Transition".  The principles and intent of all on-going institutions and organizations ought be published periodically and these publications ought be free for all.   

Note:  What defines an "institution" or an "organization" ought be self-evident.  They include current government entities, corporations, and "highly organized" groupings that are "not alive" but nonetheless exert large-scale influence over the lives of many.

2.  Liberty for individuals is understood to be freedom of expression in all "non-physical" ways and most other ways and freedom of action (within bounds) in most situations when responding to an attempt at interaction from another ("when someone wants you to make a choice").  Where there is physical interaction amongst individuals in a common place, restrictions on liberty may be necessary. 

3. "Generally agreed upon principles" to guide behavior ought be established for each community and revisited and adjusted as necessary.  Any restrictions that are proposed are only to be considered if a majority of the commons agree.    In situations where an agreement has been reached to consider a restriction, then the individuals who proposed the restriction must respond to any questions from others.  The amount of time and effort in consideration should be proportional to the restriction's scale.  

4.  The primary purpose of all governing entites is to facilitate education and collective learning for the commons.  As vested by the commons, governing entities may also be responsible for:  health services, transportation services, auditing services, general public safety-related considerations, etc.   

5.   It is in the interest of local communities that all members of the community have the basic needs of shelter and daily sustenance sufficiently met, so that in times of bounty these needs are of no concern.  Adequete supplies should be stored in reserve to prepare for times of shortage.  During times of shortage the reserves are to be distributed per procedures as developed by each local community.  Development of these procedures should be one of the first tasks taken up by any community.  If a community has a surplus of daily sustenance materials (food, clothing, medicines, etc.), mechanisms for trading this surplus with other nearby communities should be established and agreed upon.

6.  Any transportation within a community is to be "owned" by members of the community and any benefits associated with this tranportation are to be shared equally.

7.  Media entities associated with communication amongst members of the community are to be permitted by the community.  A permit can be rescinded if the media entity is no longer in the interest of the community.  A primary purpose of media entities is to report on "scale" accurately, and if there is a general consensus that a media entity has failed in this, then the media entity should be placed on probation and the permit adjusted (or possibly rescinded) as necessary. 

8.  Enforcement of restrictions is to be done by members of the community all of whom take turns with this responsibility.  Enforcement should be diffuse so as to discourage concentration of any enforcement authority in the hands of a few.  If there are individuals who work full time on enforcement, these individuals should be representative of the community to the greatest extent possible, and these individuals should engage in face-to-face interaction with members of the community in both "good-standing" and "bad-standing" on a daily basis.  

9.  Defense of the community is to be the minimum necessary. 

10.  All Communities that are in the Confederacy need to first and foremost make a Pledge of Peace towards each other as well as towards others who are not members of the Confederacy.  By virtue of Peace the Confederacy can strive towards a sustainable future for humanity.  Discoveries of the Confederacy should be made available for "the global commons".  New members to the Confederacy should be readily accepted.