Article 31

There is a resolution in the U.N. regarding one of Kiism core dignities, water.  At the moment there are 30 articles in The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 31st article would address the right to clean accessible water. It is sad that there has to a list of article that state what human right are, but then again that is the world we live in, for better or worse. Corporations in modern time have plagued humanity with the destruction of our right to water, a prime example of this is Bolivia, please read - http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/South_America/Bolivia_WaterWarVictory.html . What happened in Bolivia is not an isolated case, it is happening all over the world, and is effecting, as it always does, the poorest regions of the earth. There can be no global sustainability with out the dignities of humanity being the rights of all humans, and Kiism cannot succeed with out sustainability. There is a petition at http://www.article31.org/ that you can sign to help pass Article 31.

"Empathetic Motivation"

There is hope for Kiism.  To a lot of people the idea sounds like a pipe dream, however, this weekend 80 students gathered together and proved that the spirit that is needed to make the changes that Kiism embodies is alive, well, and energetic.  I was honored this past weekend to participate in a Global Leadership Retreat. This retreat gathered together students studying in the U.S. from all over the world, and focused their desire to be the future leaders, into multi-cultural understanding, and how to create a more sustainable planet. One aspect that was brought up numerous times, in individual conversations and in workshops, was humanitarianism. During a lecture from a most prestigious doctor, I finally found a name to the goal of Kiism, “Empathetic Motivation.”  I hope that most of the students came into, and left with, this being what drives them. I have tremendous hope for the future of the world, if the leaders of tomorrow are the students I met this weekend. 

Think?

There are certain ideas and realities in our society that we take for granted.  I'm not talking about the obvious things, running water, food, electricity, waste management, I'm talking about ideas that are more deeply rooted in the way we live and think.  The first is money, actually it goes beyond money to monetary value.  Everything in this world revolves around money, because we have to give everything a value, why?  Why does everything need to have a value attached to it, how did we evolve this way?  I'm not condoning it, I'm just asking why it is.  Is there something inherit in us that needs to do this, and what would be the alternatives, and i don't mean just changing a few things, I mean what are other ways we could have evolved.  The second is sex and violence.  One of these things is natural and wonderful, the other is the darkest part of our humanity.  We accept violence, we watch it and revere it.  We see wars as needed, and we don't truly comprehend what war is, that it is the masses dying and tortured, so a few can have more land, or more power, or more money, or all of the above.  We are the ones dying in the wars, yet we don't comprehend the true violence of it.  Sex on the other hand is where our greatest passions can be expressed.  It is the most natural human action beyond the vital necessities, yet is vilified and people are made to feel guilty about it.  We treat prostitution as if it was one of the worst crimes possible, maybe not in our court systems, but what thoughts and emotions do you feel to the words prostitute, or hooker.  We follow an illogical reasoning throughout life, that we never truly think about, but accept.  Some of us see the world, and see it needs change, but few of us realize the depth of the change that is needed, to society, to create a more tolerant world.  Why as our true subconscious, instead of giving a value to everything , do we not feel the need to better the world and help our cohabitants.

University has initiated new program.

The Idea of Kiism is catching on, weather people know it or not.  Arizona State University (ASU) has just launched the “New American University” program.  Some of their goal are “…design sustainable urban development…”, “…positive societal impact while also considering the social implications of research.”, “…scaling local solutions for global impact…” (http://newamericanuniversity.asu.edu/) .  Now, ASU is not nessessarly tackling the issues of Kiism directly, but they are giving a better catalyst to their students to tackle these issues.  There are many universities and colleges around the world that are focused on a many or all of the issues that Kiism is focused on, but it is always good to see a another join the struggle.  There is a lot of work ahead of us, and we need all of the resources and help we can get.

Beyond the US's healthcare debate.

Before anything else is written, let it be stated for the record that Kiism does not endorse any political party, or idealism.  Kiism is in itself a people's movement of human rights, and human dignities.

President Obama made a speech to the joint session of Congress today.  He stated, regarding people who have been neglected by the health insurance companies, “No one in America should be treated like that”.   A good start, and as far as he can go, weather he believes in going any further or not, if he wants a future in politics.  One of the strengths of this movement is we need not bite our tongue for fear of losing anything.  This movement has just started and only power to gain, and nothing to lose.  Lets go further than President Obama, and to quote the president again “Yes we can”.  Let us say no one in the WORLD should be treated like that.  No one deserves the pain and suffering that can come with out medical resources or any of the basic necessities of life.  There is no part of the puzzle that can be left out.  Water without food, no.  Water and food without shelter, no.  Water, food and shelter without security, no.  Water, food, shelter and security without good health, NO.  These idea are a whole.  Alone each letter, K, I, I, S, M are just letters, but together they stand for an idea of the world that is one of empathy, and dignity.  So let us not be short sided and say, “No one in America should be treated like that” or “No one in Europe should be treated like that” or “No one in Asia should be treated like that” or “No one in all of the Americas should be treated like that”, let us see the world, not with political borders, but as a one nation. 

Near the end of the speech, he was quoted from an email he received, written by late Sen. Kennedy, and was to be delivered to him [Obama] upon his death. 

“’What we face” [regarding healthcare reform]… ‘is above all a moral issue… fundamental principles of… the character of our country.’”

Yes, but once again, too short sided, for the good of the world.  Sen. Kennedy’s passion, and humanitarianism in this issue should be a model we can look to for all our goals; it embodied the emotion of what Kiism is.  Let us take that and use it not just for Americans and not just for healthcare, but to help everyone who needs it.

A New Foundation

What drives society? What is it, at the core, that drives us in what we do?  There is not just one answer to this.  In every society the answer is different, throughout the world and throughout time.  Here and now in America for instance, it is money, for better or for worse, that is the reality.  Money is what drives a capitalistic society.  Humanity, however, cannot stand on this foundation for long.  The foundation we need is something greater, something simpler.  What we need is a foundation of human rights.  The idea that everyone needs to be treated with a certain amount of dignity.  This is not a new revolution of ideas, but a basis of all those who have come before us and tried to create a better society.  But where they have failed, we will succeed.  Human dignity will not be part of Kiism, but all that it is.  Human rights are the beginning and the end.  It is a purpose of life, a foundation of an awareness of society.  When we make our decisions in life, and choose our path, the well being of all people should be the bottom line. 

Short intro to Kiism

What is Kiism? At its core, it is simplicity of the values of a global community. It is a secular view of global sustainability. Cutting through all of the politics of the world, and all of “noise” that blurs the real problems and therefore the real solutions of the earth as a whole. Kiism is not a pro right or pro left idea, it is a human rights idea. It is a discussion of intelligence and compassion. It is not Communism, Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy, Feudalism, Humanism, ect. It is the collection of ideas of people who understand that the world is getting smaller. All people, regardless of where they live, are deserving of a equality of life equal to that of the best of the developed nations: health care, clean and available drinking water, food, freedom from oppression, clothes, shelter, education and safety. Kiism is idea of no political borders, of a true global community. There is a need to stop the petty arguments in the world on why all of this is not possible and focus on how it is possible and why it is necessary. Instead of saying it cannot work, this needs to be the foundation, and new ways of doing things need to be created to make it work.