We did it! Did you hear about it? Did you see the picture of the 8 million 5-cent coins on the ground in front of Swiss parliament ? Did you read one of the hundreds of articles about it ?
Here we are, Swiss basic income activists with the whole world watching and listening. It gives me the shivers. It makes me shiver that a bunch of crazy people can suddenly attract the entire worlds eye. It makes me shiver that faith is so powerful. That’s right, when you believe in something, you have the power to make it real. We human beings, are powerful if we don’t let our doubts be the master of the game.
We did it! Did you hear about it? Did you see the picture of the 8 million 5-cent coins on the ground in front of Swiss parliament ? Did you read one of the hundreds of articles about it ?
Here we are, Swiss basic income activists with the whole world watching and listening. It gives me the shivers. It makes me shiver that a bunch of crazy people can suddenly attract the entire worlds eye. It makes me shiver that faith is so powerful. That’s right, when you believe in something, you have the power to make it real. We human beings, are powerful if we don’t let our doubts be the master of the game.
Some kind of a revolution… Earth shattering. In two or three years time, Swiss citizens will vote on basic income. They will be the first citizens in the whole world to be asked this powerful question; do you want a basic income? Do you want everyone to have their needs met without condition?
Can you imagine that for almost a year and a half, we, a bunch of average people (not political parties) were on the streets collecting signatures? Whether it was cold, hot, snowy, there we were, with our petition in hand, listening to people, watching their eyes glowing with wonder and surprise, or even full of doubts. We were there, all volunteers, simply for the sake of freedom, the happiness to share, the faith in humanity, convinced that our society needs to change, convinced that it is possible if each of us does their part. We were there, because the idea of basic income is not about money, it is about life, about what is really important for you, for me, as human beings. When I ask someone if they want basic income, what I really ask them is; how do you really want to live your life, what is important to you, what gives meaning to your life? What would you do if you could choose? Such powerful questions, that we cant often ask!
What now? We know it, we will vote on basic income. We have made the first step. Now we begin a new chapter. And this is not the story of Switzerland anymore. This is the story of YOU and ME, us ALL, humanity. We all share the same planet, the same blood runs throughout our veins. Making our voice heard, ensuring that everyone can live as a free human beings, able to choose one’s life ; don’t we all want these things? So, what must we do? We have to stand up! However we can, stand up, and spread the word, believe that WE are powerful. We must understand that every drop fills the ocean.
We, Swiss activists supporting this idea, are conscious that we are watched by the whole world, especially after the media coverage of October 4th! We now know that we can make a difference, not only in Switzerland, but also in the whole world by showing what is possible! We are paving the way towards basic income. We are conscious that a monumental challenge is in front of us! And all of the work involved… so that 50% of the Swiss people vote for basic income.
We need you people! Help us make this difference! We need you to support us to make it possible.
This article originally appeared in: Basic Income Earth Network – Switzerland
I so love what you are doing. I will use every last bit of my life force to spread the idea and bring this to America and eventually the world.
Erskien Lenier
LandSurfer
Congratulations to the Basic Income activists from Switzerland for the important victory they have won. It is strong encouragement for activists in the European Union.
Signatures are being collected in all of the 28 Member States of the EU. We need 1,000,000 signatures and even so the European Parliament is not constitutionally bound to promoting a referendum, but only to give the matter “serious consideration.”
Comulatively, we need a quotum in each of the Member States; and while some States have reached 85% of quotum, others have a much longer way to go, with quota as low as 0.4%.
The good knews is that signature collection has been picking speed in the last few days (for which I think we have the Swiss to thank). In Portugal, for example, signature collection has reached an enormous peak in the days following the news from Switzerland.
To know more about the EU UBI citizen’s iniciative, please open the following link.
http://www.facebook.com/ECI.BasicIncome
Dear Anne-Beatrice:
The impact of what you have done is huge. Everywhere and a nice article in the New York Times among many.
The monthly payment you propose to us from Brazil doesn’t seem “minimum”. You may comment on that.
Our “suggestion” for others based on our experience will appear soon in the “opinion” page. We would love to have your comments.
Thanks
Francisco (francisco.nobrega@gmail.com)