Greece was an amazing stop. It was the first time we actually did a little sightseeing as you can see with the photos at the Acropolis, which was quite a thrill, but equally as exciting was all that is going on in Greece with The Zeitgeist Movement. The conditions are volatile there and the Greek people are very boisterous and do not take the austerity measures imposed upon them from their debts very easily. The country manufactures little to nothing and has been propped up through tourism, which is decreasing. There is a lot of anger there and it spills into the streets with protests regularly of various kinds. This was actually refreshing coming from the United States where the people are relatively passive in regards to social issues.

The Zeitgeist Movement in Greece has been extremely active. They have continuously scheduled events, reached out to people in all walks of life, showed The Zeitgeist’s films often, and the social conditions enabled them to get a lot of interest. Business people, scientists and others support them. Our lecture was sold out in advance so they scheduled a second one before we left.

We traveled to Heraklea a small island of about one hundred people to the south east of Greece and even they knew about The Venus Project presenting us with a plaque to acknowledge our work.

We traveled to this island to view a prototype desalinization project with professors who developed the project from the University of Aegean on the island of Syros. They are doing some wonderful work there and are very sympathetic with the direction of The Venus Project. They stated that The Venus Project gave them incentive to do the work they have been doing. But being able to create their own free water, even to this isolated location that has none, cuts into the profit of those who take large freighters of water to the island so there is much opposition to the notion of free water. The scientists from The University of Aegean are proposing a larger project on another Greek island to develop a showplace demonstrating several clean sources of energy, and a larger desalinization plant, but are running into obstacles along the way in regards to funding.

The Greek Chapter of Zeitgeist Movement is coordinating with other European chapters to see how they can work together to move forward.

For those who read Greek here are a couple of links to newspaper articles from Syros where Jacque did a lecture and I took questions with him. Antonia did a wonderful job with the translation.

http://www.syrostoday.gr/Events/453-Aeiforia-kai-Avaptujn-sto-Aigaio-The-Venus-Project.aspx

http://www.syrostoday.gr/News/1941-Stn-Suro-to-Venus-Project-me-8ema-tnv-aeiforia-kai-tnv-avaptujn-sto-Aigaio.aspx

http://www.syrostoday.gr/News/1965-The-Venus-Project–Aeiforia-kai-avaptujn-sto-Aigaio.aspx

Other media coverage

http://www.zougla.gr/page.ashx?pid=2&aid=152297&cid=40

Like everywhere we visited we feel we have extended our “family.” We feel The Zeitgeist members are wonderful and extraordinary people.

Roxanne Meadows
www.thevenusproject.com

News Athens, Greece, The Venus Project, World Lecture Tour

I must admit – when I learned we had a lecture in Slovenia, I had to look up where the county was. A visit to the centre of the country is like a trip into the past, consisting of many buildings that date back to the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. It always looks so contradictory, though, seeing the rows and rows of old buildings with the latest electronics, or trinkets, for sale in their windows.

We were lucky enough to be visiting during the warmer time of year, so the land looked very beautiful. The soil must be extremely rich, as the landscape is very lush and, in some locations, we could see the snow capped Alps in the distance, which was an impressive site.

The lecture went very well and people came from surrounding countries; Italy, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Austria. This was very beneficial for all of The Zeitgeist Chapters, as it allowed them to communicate and collaborate with one another more intimately.

The Slovenian Zeitgeist Movement Chapter worked very hard trying to get publicity (as they do in all locations), but, once we arrived and did a couple of interviews, many others in the media showed interest and we were doing interviews non-stop. Every interview we participated in was very well received. We also had a lot of spare time to spend with the chapter members themselves. It was quite a memorable visit, as they have all been. Meeting all of the dedicated and interested people – who are actively supporting the direction of The Venus Project – has been, and continues to be, extremely inspiring.

Roxanne Meadows
www.thevenusproject.com

News Ljubjana, Slovenia, The Venus Project

Even though the Japan lecture had fewer attendees than the others, the people we met made up for it. There were also significant connections developed. They will be initiating a serious program to introduce The Venus Project to the Japanese people. We will discuss this in more detail as it progresses.

We want to thank Winston McClain, Christopher Madden and Marina Saga for all they did regarding the Japan lecture.

Japan is an interesting place. We even took time to do a little sightseeing. At the science museum someone gave a demonstration of biometrics and showed how it affects invention (a branch of biology that studies biological phenomena and makes discoveries by means of statistical analysis). They took out Velcro and I mentioned how Jacque first came up with this before World War II and tried to introduce it to the Navy. He had noticed that there were far too many buttons on sailor’s pants and laces on their shoes to allow them to get to the upper deck in an emergency.

Jacque was in design and development when drafted, and he suggested he could design shoes and pants that could immediately be fastened by pressing them together.

He got this idea by observing how burrs with many pongs all around them stuck to clothing and felt he could use this process as a fastening device for clothing and shoes.

We were surprised when the person demonstrating that the trigger mechanism for the design of Velcro was from nature took out these same burrs and placed them on a piece of Velcro, saying it was designed in the 1950’s.

Jacque did not follow through with this invention because when he introduced the concept of fastening shoes and pants very quickly to his superiors, they said you forget one thing. Eager to know what this may be, Jacque listened intensely as they proclaimed “tradition.” I wonder how many people tradition has killed.

Roxanne Meadows
www.thevenusproject.com

News Japan, The Venus Project, World Lecture Tour

Reflections – from the World Tour

Ft. Myer’s Airport Sunday April 4, 2010 6:45 A.M.- stepping out onto the tarmac – I take a look back – and over at Jacque  .  .  .  .  who smiles  - as we board & begin this incredible Lecture Tour circuit – that will takes us around the world – to over 20 different countries – and thousands of interested peoples.

It’s warm  as we leave America – bound for Columbia – on the first of many international connecting flights and destinations.

Jacque is comfortable, and is never the least bit nervous or apprehensive – as he busies himself pouring over locations, dates, and contacts.

We made it to Columbia. Flight was fine of course a short one but you can’t go wrong in business class.  Jacque’s age does come with some perks.   A lot of luggage to deal with for carry on, two small but heavy suitcases, laptop, filled pocket book and Jacque. I feel like a work mule. I am tempted to dump one suitcase already!

We have a 5 star hotel for 2 days courtesy of the university then when we start paying we are moving to one more our style and price. We could all move into this one. It is bigger than my house.

The guys who picked us up at the airport are wonderful. We have been spending as much private time as possible with the Zeitgeist members and supporters and should  be able to do more of this as we don’t leave here until the 11th.

We wish to thank all of you who have been so supportive, and welcoming of this Lecture Tour. We appreciate each and everyone of you – and are excited to be able to finally meet you, and spend some time together.

Lecture will begin here in just a few hours! More updates coming soon!

Wednesday April 7th, 2010

We have finished the lecture on Wednesday April 7th. The audience seemed very interested. We deeply appreciate the help of Gabriel Vivas who did the translation and is working tireless with to translate almost everywhere we go.

There were many questions that ran overtime, as usual, so we tried to accommodate them and about 40 people met with us in our hotel and we continued the conversation there into the evening. This in fact has been going on each night since we have been here, we have been meeting with groups of people privately who want to know more about this directions.

We did several interviews with newspapers, tv and radio and of course what is most important to us we again met in the evening with many Zeitgeist members to discuss this direction.  We are pleasantly surprise with the amount of people who have worked so hard to bring this visit and lecture about .

The Venus Project on the newspapers

More updates coming soon!

Image Galleries

http://www.flickr.com/photos/boletin_ujtl/sets/72157623677902163/show/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gabssnake/sets/72157623836180324/show/

Roxanne Meadows
www.thevenusproject.com

News The Venus Project, updates, World Lecture Tour

Credits: Russia Today

“War is the supreme failure of bridging the differences between nations,” according to the creator of a social model called “the Venus Project” – American futurist and inventor Jacque Fresco.

Fresco also thinks a resource-based economy is the key factor to preserving world peace.

“Democracy is a con game, it is a word invented to outplay people, to make them accept a given institution. All institutions sing ‘we are free’. The minute you hear ‘freedom’ or ‘democracy’ – watch out, because in a truly free nation, no one has to tell you that you’re free,” Fresco said.

He believes “It is not that people are good or bad, they are raised in an aberrant or twisted environment.”

“Social change cannot come above the intellect,” said Fresco answering a question about the current economic crisis in the US, “it comes about by people suffering. And the more people are related to that, the more they lose respect for an existing government. They will seek another direction. If there are too many people who seek a new direction, then the existing government calls upon the army and police to manage society – that is called fascism.”

Media, News Interview, Jacque Fresco, Russia Today, The Venus Project