Treaty of Middelburg
Firstly, creating a more balanced world. The division into first/third-world countries allows the technologically and militarily inferior to be exploited mercilessly. Evening out the playing field in various ways should allow everyone equal opportunities. Furthermore, a bare minimum social income should become standard, so that people are not restricted in life by the necessity to work, but can rather see work as an option to thrive in certain areas. If I may go to the completely unrealistic, a simple ban on weapons without recreational use may ease some tensions around the world and allow for more open versions of diplomacy and cooperation.
Team members
- ■ Garrick Latimer
Why do you want to participate?
I heard of this initiative from friends and believe it to be a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom means the absence of oppressors of any form (e.g. dictators, invading countries, but also money and social divide). A world like that would allow us to flourish freely and to our heart's content. That being said, we must also make sure our decisions within that freedom do not inhibit others. Laws are crucial, rules exist so that we may know our freedoms after all.
What are the biggest challenges?
It depends on where we are in the world. If I were to focus in on first world counties, I believe the biggest challenge is that freedom of thought is slowly being eroded. Through various consumerist abuses of technology, an environment is created where children are discouraged to think proactively, to think for themselves. The biggest challenge is for children and soon-to-be adults to reclaim a sense of self against the many impulses working counter to them.
Do you have a message?
Idealism ought to be kept alive, especially by the people with the power to change things on a larger scale, but also by individuals, since we should also stand for what we expect others to stand for.
