philosophy and goals of The Zeitgeist Movement.

哲學與目標做一個基本概述

This orientation has been extracted from the more expansive "Activist Orientation Guide"

這個介紹是從更為詳盡的"行動者入門導覽"中摘選

which is available for free PDF download at thezeitgeistmovement.com

在thezeitgeistmovement.com也可下載免費的PDF文檔

All source references for material in this video presentation can be found in that document.

這個影片中所有素材的參考資料來源 都可以在該文檔中找到

The Zeitgeist Movement - Activist Orientation www.thezeitgeistmovement.com

[時代精神運動:行動者入門指南] www.thezeitgeistmovement.com

www.thevenusproject.com

www.thevenusproject.com

The Zeitgeist movement is not a political movement.

時代精神運動不是一個政治運動

It does not recognize divisionary notions such as nations

它不認同那些引起分歧的觀念 如國家

governments, races, religions, creeds or class.

政府 種族 宗教 信仰 階級等

Rather, we see the world as one organism

相反地 我們把世界視為一個有機體系

with the human species as a singular family.

整個人類物種是一家人

Simultaneously, we acknowledge that we depend entirely on our environment,

同時我們認為人類完全依賴周圍的環境

not only in regard to the necessities of life such as food, air and water,

不僅關乎食物 空氣 水源等生活必需品

but also for influence and guidance in regard to life's processes.

還關乎對生命過程的影響和指導

We recognize and understand that aligning ourselves with natural processes

我們承認並理解 自身與自然過程的和諧

is the most progressive and productive disposition we can have.

是最先進 最具生產力之道

The Zeitgeist movement in fact, is the activist arm of The Venus Project

時代精神運動實際上是維納斯計劃行動者的分支

an organization which constitutes the lifelong work

維納斯計劃是由工業設計師 社會工程師

of industrial designer and social engineer Jacque Fresco.

雅克·法斯科先生建立的一個組織

Simply put, what The Venus Project represents

簡單來說 維納斯計劃

and what the Zeitgeist movement hence condones, could be summarized

和時代精神運動所支持的理念可概括為:

as the application of the scientific method for social concern.

將科學方法應用在社會關注的問題上

One of the greatest discoveries of humankind

對於科學的理解以及應用

which has allowed for tremendous advancement in our abilities on this planet,

能夠讓我們以自身的能力 在這個星球上獲得重大進展

has been the understanding and application of science.

這正是人類最偉大的發現之一

Through the humane application of science and technology

通過將科學技術 人道地應用到

to social design and decision making

社會設計和決策方法

we have the means to transform our environment

我們有辦法轉變我們的環境

into something exceedingly more balanced

使其變得更加平衡

organized, humane, productive and most importantly, sustainable.

有組織 人道且具生產力 而且最重要的是 永續

As many are aware at this time, both our societal integrity

很多人都察覺到 現今我們的社會和生態完整性不容樂觀

and ecological integrity are in serious question.

現今我們的社會和生態完整性不容樂觀

The current economic system is falling apart at an accelerating rate

目前的經濟體系正在加速崩潰

with the prospect of worldwide unemployment and destabilization

伴隨著世界範圍內的失業和不穩定

occuring possibly on the largest scale ever seen.

其規模之大可能是空前的

Simultaneously, we are courting the point of no return

同時我們正處於逐漸不可逆轉的

in regard to the destruction of the environment.

環境破壞困境之中

Given the current state of affairs, many of which

鑒於現況 其中許多問題

will be addressed in the first part of this presentation

將放在本介紹的第一部分討論

the viewer should find that we not only need to move in another direction

觀眾們應該會發現 我們不只是需要另謀出路

we have to.

而是必須如此

In order to understand where we are and how we have gotten

為了理解我們目前的境地 以及我們如何

to this point in history, we need to address those societal attributes

從歷史走到這一步 我們需要找到那些極大地影響了

which have greatly affected our social conduct.

我們社會行為的社會屬性

The most important observation in this regard

其中最重要的發現

is our use of a monetary system.

是我們對金融貨幣體系的使用

In this section, we are going to address the mechanisms

在第一部分 我們將要談論世界金融貨幣體系的機制

of our world monetary system, pointing out the consequences

世界金融貨幣體系的機制 指出這種組織結構

this type of organizational structure has produced.

指出這種組織結構 已產生的種種惡果

These consequences include: 1. The Need for Cyclical Consumption

具體包括4個方面:1.循環消費的需要

denoting the economic requirement that products and services

即在經濟需求中 產品和服務必須被連續不斷地購買和售出

are perpetually bought and sold regardless of quality and waste.

被連續不斷地購買和售出 而不考慮品質和浪費

2. The Abundance of Scarcity

2.匱乏的盛行

denoting how resources, goods and services

即如何故意製造資源 產品 服務的匱乏

are deliberately made scarce to ensure profitability

以確保供需等式中的有利可圖

within the supply and demand equation.

以確保供需等式中的有利可圖

3. The Priority of Profit

3.利潤優先

denoting the vast corruption commonplace in the world

世界上屢見不鮮的大量腐敗

due to the need to generate income.

都源於需要獲得利潤

4. Fiscal Manipulation

4.財政操縱

denoting how the central banking systems of the world

即世界上的中央銀行體系

work to control the economy for the benefit of their corporate constituents

是如何操控經濟 為其企業構成體

and establishment power.

和既建權力牟取利益

1. The Need for Cyclical Consumption

1.循環消費的需要

The roles of people on a monetary system

人們在金融貨幣體系中的角色

are basically broken into three distinctions:

基本上可以劃為3種:

the employee, the employer and the consumer.

僱員 僱主 消費者

The employee performs tasks for the employer

僱員靠為僱主工作

in exchange for a wage, or monetary payment

換取工資或貨幣報酬

while the employer sells a good or service to the consumer for a profit,

而僱主靠銷售產品和服務給消費者 以獲取利潤

another classification of monetary payment.

即另一種貨幣報酬的分類

In turn, both the employer and the employee function as consumers,

反過來 僱主和僱員同時也是消費者

for the monetary payments they obtain

因為他們同樣把獲得的貨幣報酬

are used to purchase goods and services relevant to their survival.

用於購買保障生存的產品和服務

This act of purchasing goods and services

這種購買貨物商品和服務的行為

is what allows the entire system to perpetuate

能使整個系統永遠持續下去

thus allowing for the employer and employee to make money

從而使僱主和僱員 繼續賺錢

and thus continue consuming.

接著消費

In other words, it is the requirement of perpetual or cyclical consumption

換句話說 需要一個持續的循環消費模式

that keeps the entire economy going.

維持著整個經濟運轉

If consumption was ever to stop, the whole system would collapse.

如果消費一旦停止 整個體系就會崩潰

This produces two severe consequences for society:

循環消費對社會造成了2個嚴重後果:

1. Nothing physically produced can ever maintain a lifespan

1.產品壽命的設計絕對不能超過

longer than what can be endured in order to maintain

維持"循環消費"所需的時間

the needed 'cyclical consumption'.

維持"循環消費"所需的時間

In other words, everything must break down

換句話說 一切產品在各別的有限壽命內必須損壞

in a respective amount of time

一切產品在各別的有限壽命內必須損壞

in order to continue the financial circulation

以維繫資金周轉的需要

needed to power the economy.

從而為經濟增長提供動力

This characteristic could be defined as 'planned obsolescence'.

這個特性可被定義為"計劃報廢"

Planned obsolescence is essentially

計劃報廢在本質上

the deliberate withholding of efficiency

蓄意抑制產品效能

so the product in question breaks down respectively fast.

使得有設計缺陷的產品 紛紛迅速陷入故障

This happens both intentionally, with manufacturers timing their products

製造商故意設計出 剛經過保固期間就報廢的產品故障期

for breakdown, often as soon as the warranty runs out;

剛經過保固期間就報廢的產品故障期

and indirectly, where profit-based shortcuts taken in production

另外間接地 在生產中以利潤為導向而採用的捷徑

usually in the form of cheap materials and poor design

通常是便宜的材料和低劣的設計

translates into an inferior product immediately

這立刻生產出品質低劣的產品

with the failure of the product simply a matter of time.

因此產品的故障 僅是時間的問題罷了

The second consequence is that new products and services

2.新產品和新服務 必須不斷更新

must be constantly introduced regardless of functional utility

而不管功能上的效用 以及所產生的無數浪費

generating endless waste.

以及所產生的無數浪費

The result of these two issues are nothing but unacceptable

這兩個後果都只會讓人無法接受

for not only are resources being neglectfully used in products

因為資源被濫用在其設計

that are designed not to last, wasting human energy and materials

非持續耐用的產品之上 浪費勞力 能源 原料

the amount of frivilous waste and pollution that results is staggering.

而且導致大量無謂的 且令人咋舌的浪費和污染

In other words, waste is a deliberate byproduct of industry's need

換言之 浪費是產業為了維持"循環消費"的需求

to keep 'cyclical consumption' going.

而刻意產生的副作用

The obsolete or expired product is trashed,

過時或故障的產品 通常被丟棄到

often to landfills, polluting the environment

垃圾掩埋場 污染環境

while the constant multiplicity accelerates this pollution.

而這種持續不斷的大量過程 加重了污染程度

To express this from a different angle

換一個不同的角度

imagine the economic ramifications of production methods

想像一下 各種經濟上的生產方式

that strategically maximize the efficiency

能策略性地將每一個產品的效率

and sustainability of every product, using the best known materials

和永續性達到最大化 並使用當下已知

and techniques available at the time.

最好的材料和可用的技術

Imagine products so well designed

想像一下精良設計的產品

that they didn't need maintenance for say, 100 years.

100年內無需維護

Imagine a house that was built from fireproof materials

想像房屋用上防火材料

where all appliances, electrical operations, plumbing and the like,

屋裡所有器具 電器 水管等等

were made from the most impermeable

是由地球上最不透水透氣

highest integrity resources available on Earth.

最牢固的可用資源所建造

In such a saner world, where we actually created things to last

在如此更為健全的世界中 我們的確能創造耐用的產品

minimizing pollution and waste, a monetary system would be impossible

並把污染和浪費降至最低 但這在金融貨幣體系中是不可能實現的

for cyclical consumption would slow tremendously

因為循環消費將因此大量減緩

forever weakening the so called economic growth.

一直削弱所謂的"經濟增長"

Mechanism two: The Abundance of Scarcity

2.匱乏的盛行

In monetary economics, supply and demand

在金融貨幣經濟中 供給和需求

is partly how goods and services obtain value.

是商品和服務如何體現價值的組成部分

The more there is of something, the less it is worth in respect to itself.

貨物供應數量越多 越不值錢

If we woke up one day and for some reason, hypothetically speaking,

假設某天我們一覺醒來

there were only 100 oranges left in existence

世上僅存100枚橘子

with no possibility to grow more,

絕無可能長出更多

the value of those oranges would skyrocket,

這些橘子將會是天價

for they are now extremely scarce.

物以稀為貴

In other words, it is profitable for resources to be scarce.

換句話說 資源匱乏是有利可圖的

If a company can convince the public that their product is rare

如果一家公司讓大眾覺得它的產品是稀少的

the more they can charge for that product.

那麼公司就能從產品中 獲取更多的利潤

This provides a strong motivation to keep items and resources scarce.

這為製造物品和資源的人為匱乏 提供了強大的動機

The ramifications of this are psychologically profound;

這觀念對於心理而言影響深遠

for if companies know that they can make more money

因為如果公司知道製造人為匱乏

by having their items scarce, the propensity to deliberately

能賺更多錢 那麼故意限制生產

limit production or be dishonest about available resources is high.

那麼故意限制生產 或囤積居奇的傾向就會變高

This means that the monetary system rewards mechanisms

這意味著金融貨幣體系獎勵那些

that inherently discourage abundance and equality.

從根本上阻礙富足和平等的機制

Even more offensively, profit can actually be made

更噁心的是 利潤實際上

as a result of scarcity generated by environmental pollution,

可通過環境污染所導致的"匱乏"而產生

such as what is now happening with our water supplies.

比如現正發生在我們水源供應上的污染一樣

This creates a perverse reinforcement of indifference

對於企業的環境考量來說

to environmental concern by industry, for the more damage there is

這創造並加強了扭曲 墮落的冷漠態度 因為環境毀損越厲害

the more profit that can be obtained by offering solutions.

就能從提供解決辦法中 獲取越多利潤

And this leads us to: 3. The Priority of Profit.

3.利潤優先

A monetary system's foremost motivating principle

金融貨幣體系首要的動機原則是利潤

is profit, or more generally, income.

或更一般地講 收入

All people must seek out a strategy to acquire money.

所有人必須想方設法謀取錢財

A wage earner seeks out the best possible pay

僱員用其服務 謀取最佳薪酬

he can get for his services, while the employer

僱主則持續尋找降低成本的方式

seeks to constantly reduce costs in order to maximize their profit.

僱主則持續尋找降低成本的方式 以達到最大化利潤

This competitive mentality extends into all facets of society,

這種競爭心態滲入到社會各個層面

and it should be no surprise that those who are in positions

理所當然的 那些有能力賺大錢的人

of great wealth are often the most ruthless and indifferent.

那些有能力賺大錢的人 往往最為無情 冷漠

Now, before we move any further into the negative consequences

現在 在我們更進一步 討論利潤優先的負面後果之前

of the profit priority, let's first consider

讓我們看看大多數人

what many think to be the good side of this system: incentive.

認為這個體系"好的一面":動機

As the theory goes, the need for profit provides a person or organization

如同一般的理論所述 追逐利潤為個人和組織

with motivation to work on new ideas and products

提供工作上的動力 使其致力於在市場上

that might sell in the market place.

銷售新創意及產品

In other words, the assumption is that if people were not motivated

換句話說 這個假設是 若人們沒有

by their need to obtain money, nothing would be invented

"需要獲得金錢"這個動機的話

and little social progress would be achieved.

就不會有創新和社會的進步

First of all, the most powerful contributions to society

首先 對社會最有力的貢獻

did not come from people seeking profit.

不是從人們追求利潤而來

Louis Pasteur, Charles Darwin, the Wright brothers, Albert Einstein

路易·巴士德 查爾斯·達爾文 萊特兄弟 阿爾伯特·愛因斯坦

and Isaac Newton did not make their massive contributions

艾薩克·牛頓 對社會做出了巨大貢獻

to society because of material self interest.

卻不是因為物質方面的自私利益

While it is true that useful inventions and methods

然而許多有用的發明創造

do come from the motivation for personal gain,

的確源自個人收益這個動力

the intent behind those creations typically have nothing to do

但這些發明創造背後的意圖 往往無助於人文和社會關懷

with human or social concerns and everything to do

往往無助於人文和社會關懷 而是所有東西

with detached self interest and blind personal gain.

都跟冷漠的個人私利 以及盲目的個人獲得有關

The pursuit of profit almost always comes before human concern

對利潤的追逐幾乎總是先於人文關懷

and a simple glance at the cancer causing preservatives in our foods,

看看我們食品中引發癌症的防腐劑

the planned obsolescence of nearly everything manufactured

看看幾乎各種製造成品中的計劃報廢

along with the health care industry that charges 300 dollars

以及醫療保健 一顆抗生素藥丸

for a single antibiotic pill, will indicate

竟然標價300美元 這些足以表明

that the profit incentive is actually a detriment.

利潤動機實際上是個危害

Problems in our monetary-based society will only have resolution

在我們以金融貨幣為根基的社會中

if money can be made from solving those problems.

假如有利可圖的話 問題才可能被解決...

Now, more specifically, to put the spectrum

現在 為了更精確地

of monetary derived corruption into a workable perspective,

把金融貨幣衍生出來的腐敗 放到切實的角度看

we will divide these behaviors into three classifications:

我們可以把這些行為分為三類:

general crime, corporate crime and government crime.

一般犯罪 企業犯罪 政府犯罪

General crime in a monetary system ranges from petty theft

第一類:金融貨幣體系下的一般犯罪 從小偷小摸

to illegal sales, to fraud, to violent robbery.

到非法營銷 詐欺 暴力搶劫

This by-product of the system is often not given

這是此系統的副作用 而且 人們經常沒有深入解析根本原因

the thought needed to understand its source

人們經常沒有深入解析根本原因

for many tend to dismiss these so called criminals

因為大多數人傾向打發掉這些所謂的罪犯

as some kind of social anomaly.

將其視為某種異常的社會現象

The reality is that the stress, conflict,

事實上由金融貨幣體系本身所衍生出的壓力 衝突

poverty and thus deprivation generated by the monetary system itself

貧困 以及由此帶來的剝奪

is the foundational cause.

才是犯罪的根本原因

In the 1990's, a research project

在20世紀90年代

called the Merva-Fowles study was conducted

啟動了一項名為邁爾沃·福爾斯(Merva-Fowles )的研究計劃

which found powerful connections between unemployment and crime.

研究發現 失業與犯罪之間的關係十分密切

They based their research on 30 major metropolitan areas

該研究涵括30個主要都會區

with a total population of over 80 million.

總計超過8千萬人

Their findings found that a 1% rise in unemployment resulted in:

調查研究發現 失業率每上升1%

a 6.7% increase in homicides

將導致謀殺率上升6.7%

a 3.4% increase in violent crimes,

暴力犯罪上升3.4%

a 2.4% increase in property crime.

財產犯罪上升2.4%

During the period from 1990 to 1992, this translated into:

在1990年到1992年間 這轉化為:

1459 additional homicides,

多發生了1459起兇殺

62,607 additional violent crimes

多發生了62607起暴力犯罪

and 223,500 additional property crimes.

多發生了223500起財產犯罪

This is very revealing.

這恰恰表明

A person living in a deprived environment, with little resources,

一個人若居住於被剝奪的環境 資源匱乏

poor education and few opportunities for work

教育低劣 就業機會渺茫

will simply do what they need to in order to survive.

將僅僅為生存之需而掙扎

While the neuroses generated from the stress of the situation

當遭遇壓力 而導致神經官能症時

often leads to violent and socially offensive acts.

往往引發暴力和攻擊社會的行為

In other words, the environment is creating the behavior.

換句話說 環境造就了行為

Corporate Crime

第二類:企業犯罪

Corporate crime, which is almost exclusively profit related

企業犯罪幾乎均與利潤相關

takes many forms: planned obsolescence,

包含多種形式:計劃報廢

monopolistic collusion, market manipulation

聯合壟斷 操縱市場

outsourcing, price fixing, labor exploitation

外包 價格限定 勞工剝削

and governmental collusion are just a few to note.

官商勾結 這些只是值得注意的一小部分

From Enron's deliberate shutting down of California's power plants

從恩龍公司蓄意關閉加州的發電廠

to boost its energy stocks to the Bayer Corporation's

以提升其能源股價 到拜耳公司蓄意分銷