WEBVTT 00:00:15.834 --> 00:00:17.324 Good afternoon. 00:00:17.325 --> 00:00:19.927 I'd like you all to breathe through the little straw. 00:00:19.928 --> 00:00:22.262 We're even going to stand up, if it's OK. Come on. 00:00:22.262 --> 00:00:26.535 We're going to move our bodies while breathing through this little straw. 00:00:26.536 --> 00:00:29.249 And go! Go on! 00:00:29.250 --> 00:00:32.249 ♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪ 00:00:32.250 --> 00:00:33.279 Keep going, move! 00:00:33.280 --> 00:00:35.985 ♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪ 00:00:35.986 --> 00:00:38.409 Keep moving; keep breathing through the straw! Go. 00:00:38.410 --> 00:00:42.119 ♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪ 00:00:42.120 --> 00:00:43.293 Move a lot! 00:00:43.294 --> 00:00:46.724 ♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪ 00:00:47.113 --> 00:00:51.422 ♪ Tum Chiki Cha Chiki Tum Chiki Cha ♪ 00:00:51.423 --> 00:00:53.512 Great. Thanks. 00:00:56.042 --> 00:00:57.604 Is it easy? 00:01:01.414 --> 00:01:03.514 So, we do that for one short minute. 00:01:05.194 --> 00:01:11.313 What if we did that for many weeks, many months, or the rest of our life, 00:01:11.314 --> 00:01:15.970 or if we were born with this little straw in our mouths, what would happen? 00:01:15.971 --> 00:01:20.251 First of all, we would certainly forget that we have this little straw, 00:01:20.252 --> 00:01:23.976 and we would probably build a philosophy based on scarcity. 00:01:23.977 --> 00:01:28.785 In other words, we'd say air is scarce, just because we forgot that that the tool 00:01:28.786 --> 00:01:33.491 that links us to this abundant air, there's plenty of it for us, 00:01:33.492 --> 00:01:39.022 but we forgot this object, so we build up a vision of a scarce world. 00:01:39.832 --> 00:01:42.272 Also, it was a bit short in one minute, 00:01:42.273 --> 00:01:46.979 but we realize that if we really start breathing through this little straw, 00:01:46.980 --> 00:01:52.916 then all our physical, emotional, and mental energy, 00:01:52.917 --> 00:01:54.666 all our inspiration, 00:01:54.667 --> 00:01:58.508 are entirely devoted to this breathing. 00:01:59.508 --> 00:02:01.247 We don't think about anything else, 00:02:01.248 --> 00:02:03.487 we're not going to write a symphony or a book, 00:02:03.488 --> 00:02:05.211 we're not going to run, or dance. 00:02:05.212 --> 00:02:09.216 In fact, each breath becomes the conquest of the next breath. 00:02:09.217 --> 00:02:14.371 And another thing: this suffocation will encourage us 00:02:14.372 --> 00:02:17.752 to steal our neighbor's straw, or at least to feel tempted to do so. 00:02:18.752 --> 00:02:20.969 Moreover, if I accumulate many little straws, 00:02:20.970 --> 00:02:24.989 I might become able to ask others to take their neighbor's straw, 00:02:24.990 --> 00:02:29.501 and also ask anyone to work for me, and hand out the straws. 00:02:30.251 --> 00:02:36.065 So you see, this situation of asphyxiation, 00:02:36.066 --> 00:02:40.264 this is what most of humanity is experiencing today. 00:02:40.265 --> 00:02:43.944 With this tool, not to access air, but wealth, I mean money. 00:02:43.945 --> 00:02:46.762 Money is missing, money is lacking. 00:02:46.763 --> 00:02:49.506 This is the experience of most of our contemporaries, 00:02:49.507 --> 00:02:52.507 to different degrees, but most of them. 00:02:53.607 --> 00:02:55.234 Why is money lacking? 00:02:55.235 --> 00:02:57.974 We know for sure that there is a huge quantity of it, 00:02:57.975 --> 00:03:00.251 but this money is going to become concentrated. 00:03:00.252 --> 00:03:05.665 We encounter this concentration already, as young children playing "Monopoly", 00:03:05.666 --> 00:03:08.737 which is a kind of miniature model, a simplified version 00:03:08.738 --> 00:03:10.743 of the economic system in which we live, 00:03:10.744 --> 00:03:13.455 but it's the same thing, the fundamentals are the same: 00:03:13.456 --> 00:03:17.419 the more money I make, the more I can invest, 00:03:17.420 --> 00:03:21.286 the more I can invest, the more I make, the more I make the more I can invest. 00:03:21.287 --> 00:03:23.970 This shows that there is a phenomenon of "condensation", 00:03:23.971 --> 00:03:25.922 that's the technical term, of currency, 00:03:25.923 --> 00:03:28.275 which becomes concentrated in the hands of a few. 00:03:28.276 --> 00:03:32.121 And while money becomes condensed here, of course it becomes rare somewhere else. 00:03:32.125 --> 00:03:34.250 There we have what we call undermonetization. 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:36.759 That is where this asphyxia takes place. 00:03:36.760 --> 00:03:41.239 This phenomenon of currency condensation has a name; it's called the Pareto effect, 00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.764 and this is what we experience in the Monopoly game. 00:03:43.765 --> 00:03:48.254 This leads to interesting conclusions, not the ones you find in school books, 00:03:48.255 --> 00:03:50.518 and even less in the economic press. 00:03:50.519 --> 00:03:55.796 First, in this monetary system, by design, there no one winner, 00:03:55.797 --> 00:03:59.111 the one with all the bank notes, because if I have all the bank notes, 00:03:59.112 --> 00:04:03.249 and the other players have nothing, I am as economically dead as the others. 00:04:03.250 --> 00:04:06.492 So, I can do what I want with the piles of bank notes I have, 00:04:06.493 --> 00:04:13.444 I can turn a blind eye to them, but anyway, I can't do anything with them. 00:04:13.445 --> 00:04:16.759 Or I can change the rules of the game, and then the game can continue. 00:04:16.760 --> 00:04:18.971 So in truth, this is a game of mass death. 00:04:18.971 --> 00:04:21.969 It's inherent in the monetary structure of the Monopoly game, 00:04:21.970 --> 00:04:25.513 as well as in the monetary structure we use in the world today. 00:04:25.514 --> 00:04:30.256 The next thing is that no matter what the participants' intentions may be, 00:04:30.257 --> 00:04:33.002 even if people want to make favorable exchanges, 00:04:33.003 --> 00:04:35.248 even if they're not trying to kill each other, 00:04:35.249 --> 00:04:37.960 regardless of people's intentions, the system as a whole, 00:04:37.961 --> 00:04:42.763 goes towards its destiny, independently of the will of the players. 00:04:42.764 --> 00:04:46.885 It's the mechanism of scarcity, and this is why we call money a "scarce currency". 00:04:46.886 --> 00:04:50.959 It's not a value judgment; it's a technical term that describes 00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:54.969 the kind of currency humanity uses today. 00:04:54.970 --> 00:04:58.344 Whether it's euros, dollars, any other currency, it's the same thing. 00:04:58.345 --> 00:05:02.510 But today, of course, a response is being made to that. 00:05:02.511 --> 00:05:07.198 It's simple: from the fact that currency is missing in a given region, 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:09.764 the people see that the money has gone somewhere else, 00:05:09.765 --> 00:05:12.950 so they create their own local currency. 00:05:12.951 --> 00:05:17.970 Today, we see local currencies proliferating all over the planet. 00:05:17.971 --> 00:05:22.970 As a result, trade picks up again, the social body resumes its activity 00:05:22.971 --> 00:05:24.762 and its energy, and it starts over. 00:05:24.763 --> 00:05:27.260 There are also currencies called "social currencies", 00:05:27.261 --> 00:05:29.750 complementary social currencies. 00:05:29.751 --> 00:05:34.520 For instance, let's imagine that I am a student in Japan, 00:05:34.521 --> 00:05:38.250 and my next door neighbor is an old lady. 00:05:38.251 --> 00:05:42.440 I can do her shopping, keep her house, maybe even help her to get dressed. 00:05:42.459 --> 00:05:45.479 I earn Fureai Kippus that I can now send 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:48.679 to my old great-uncle on the other side of Japan. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.889 He can then use them with someone in his neighborhood. 00:05:51.890 --> 00:05:55.088 Here we see that this currency has an exclusively social function. 00:05:55.089 --> 00:05:57.611 it creates relationships, while the Yen as such 00:05:57.612 --> 00:05:59.966 is not at all adapted to performing this function. 00:05:59.967 --> 00:06:03.281 And it also allows the government to save billions of yen. 00:06:03.282 --> 00:06:05.759 There are also currencies used for business purposes. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:10.259 There's one that most people know worldwide: Air Miles, 00:06:10.260 --> 00:06:14.510 which allow one to purchase plane tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, etc. 00:06:14.511 --> 00:06:16.970 There are also currencies that we call "targeted", 00:06:16.971 --> 00:06:22.769 because they fulfill a specific function, such as carbon or kilowatt currencies. 00:06:22.770 --> 00:06:26.489 These targeted currencies are made to support a specific sector: 00:06:26.490 --> 00:06:29.975 education, energy, etc.; there you go. 00:06:29.976 --> 00:06:34.257 This was a quick overview of "complementary currencies". 00:06:34.258 --> 00:06:36.757 Therefore, a breach has opened. 00:06:36.758 --> 00:06:39.767 If you go to the Internet to observe it, a breach has opened 00:06:39.768 --> 00:06:43.749 in the monopoly of scarce money; this is one response. 00:06:43.750 --> 00:06:47.263 However, we're not going to stop there, 00:06:47.264 --> 00:06:52.500 because complementary currencies are only a transitory step. 00:06:52.501 --> 00:06:54.252 It is a response to... 00:06:54.252 --> 00:06:57.953 "Complementary": means what it says, it "complements" the system. 00:06:57.954 --> 00:07:02.759 It creates patches, bandages; it's made to heal, to supply deficiencies. 00:07:02.760 --> 00:07:06.769 But in fact, what's happening foreshadows an historical moment, 00:07:06.770 --> 00:07:08.959 as has sometimes happened in the past. 00:07:08.960 --> 00:07:10.643 For example, when people said, 00:07:10.644 --> 00:07:13.229 "Look, everyone has the right to think what he likes, 00:07:13.230 --> 00:07:15.519 and everyone has the right to freedom of speech. 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:17.549 It is a universal and inalienable right." 00:07:17.550 --> 00:07:22.959 Well, we know that before this, freedom of speech was an elite prerogative. 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:26.501 One couldn't express oneself without the permission of some authority, 00:07:26.502 --> 00:07:28.977 be it the king, God, or whoever else. 00:07:28.978 --> 00:07:32.970 And today, in our own time, we still speak of sovereign currency, 00:07:32.971 --> 00:07:37.203 In our minds, we say - it's indisputable - 00:07:37.204 --> 00:07:41.238 currency is tied to power, to authority, 00:07:41.239 --> 00:07:44.279 whether it be that of God, the state, banks; it doesn't matter. 00:07:44.280 --> 00:07:48.947 The transition that is happening now is the shift from power-controlled currency 00:07:48.948 --> 00:07:51.959 towards MANY currencies controlled by the citizenry. 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:55.517 Everywhere we begin to hear people say, 00:07:55.518 --> 00:08:00.987 "Yes, indeed, we can create a currency to support this sector of education, 00:08:00.988 --> 00:08:03.501 or that one, for clean water." 00:08:03.502 --> 00:08:06.979 In the latter context, people want to create social solidarity, and so on. 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:10.966 And this whole nascent movement, is called "free currencies". 00:08:10.967 --> 00:08:14.918 And as well as resolving social issues, 00:08:14.936 --> 00:08:18.394 these free currencies foreshadow 00:08:18.395 --> 00:08:22.310 an evolution of our species of the same magnitude 00:08:22.311 --> 00:08:25.119 as the invention of language, or the invention of writing. 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:29.039 That is, we are becoming capable capable of creating large groups, 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:34.948 small ones, local ones, huge ones, specialized or general, it doesn't matter. 00:08:34.950 --> 00:08:39.264 These communities will soon have a language that will give them the ability 00:08:39.265 --> 00:08:42.967 to understand their own dynamics, the dynamics of exchange, of flows. 00:08:42.967 --> 00:08:46.710 By the way this is the original meaning of the word "currency" in English. 00:08:46.744 --> 00:08:50.537 John Locke considered that "currency is the ability to see currents, flows," 00:08:50.538 --> 00:08:53.235 and there are thousands of currents everywhere around us. 00:08:53.240 --> 00:08:55.511 Some of them are really interesting for us, 00:08:55.512 --> 00:09:00.759 and we must have the freedom to play with them, to see these currents. 00:09:00.760 --> 00:09:07.260 Now, I would like to share a dream, this dream on which I am working. 00:09:08.820 --> 00:09:10.729 I would like to-- 00:09:10.730 --> 00:09:16.411 I dream that every human being can become involved with his or her peers, 00:09:16.412 --> 00:09:20.515 to the extent of her strength, to the best of his ability and talents, 00:09:20.516 --> 00:09:26.499 without having this momentum stopped merely because of a currency shortage, 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:28.964 only for that reason. 00:09:28.965 --> 00:09:35.527 I work, I wish to create the best system of sharing and exchanging wealth, 00:09:35.528 --> 00:09:39.507 and free currencies seem to be ideal for this. 00:09:39.508 --> 00:09:42.779 This system is not one imposed on everyone by a few, 00:09:42.780 --> 00:09:45.192 it is one that people will create for themselves, 00:09:45.193 --> 00:09:47.098 wherever they are, in their own context. 00:09:47.098 --> 00:09:49.359 This city, that social network, this company, 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:51.703 this group of people sharing the same values. 00:09:51.704 --> 00:09:55.743 That makes millions of different circles: small, large, local, global; 00:09:55.744 --> 00:09:59.991 each of them must be able to create free currencies that will allow trade. 00:09:59.992 --> 00:10:05.498 Of course I want this system to be easy to use, to be fun, 00:10:05.499 --> 00:10:09.012 and able to work on any mobile phone. 00:10:09.013 --> 00:10:13.007 We're working on it, we already have the first experiments; it works very well. 00:10:13.008 --> 00:10:17.007 It opens up more than 50% of humanity to free currencies. 00:10:17.008 --> 00:10:23.244 Today, less than 50% of humanity has access to currency in this free manner. 00:10:23.245 --> 00:10:27.499 I wish that-- I dream that you'll leave this auditorium 00:10:27.500 --> 00:10:32.979 with this little seed inside, thinking, "Currency is a citizen's right." 00:10:32.980 --> 00:10:35.502 And everyone here in this room can do it. 00:10:35.503 --> 00:10:40.779 By the way, already in this very room, a whole potential economy can start. 00:10:40.780 --> 00:10:43.009 If you want to do it, that's it, it can start. 00:10:43.010 --> 00:10:48.989 Maybe even TED itself, this huge exchange of ideas, of talents, 00:10:48.990 --> 00:10:51.762 of people who share and disseminate ideas everywhere, 00:10:51.763 --> 00:10:56.251 maybe this can be an extraordinary starting point for free currencies, too. 00:10:56.252 --> 00:11:01.266 Once free currencies are everywhere, then you will choose. 00:11:01.267 --> 00:11:03.984 The old, exclusive currency, that you have to pay for, 00:11:03.985 --> 00:11:07.260 or multiple free currencies, that are citizen-based, and free to use? 00:11:07.261 --> 00:11:10.093 In order to bring this dream about, 00:11:11.503 --> 00:11:15.032 I work on two levels: first, a technical level. 00:11:15.033 --> 00:11:20.002 There's technology to build, software and code need to be written. 00:11:20.003 --> 00:11:23.249 You can also visit a website afterwards, if you want, 00:11:23.250 --> 00:11:26.250 that will direct you to everything, called TheTransitioner.org. 00:11:26.270 --> 00:11:28.935 Sorry, we work in English: that's TheTransitioner.org. 00:11:28.936 --> 00:11:31.022 where you can easily find information. 00:11:31.023 --> 00:11:35.507 Then beyond technology, beyond software code, protocols, 00:11:35.508 --> 00:11:37.651 user interfaces, cell phones, 00:11:37.652 --> 00:11:43.001 I also made a personal choice, which is to abandon money, 00:11:43.002 --> 00:11:44.989 in order to become "rich". 00:11:44.990 --> 00:11:50.503 That is, to become rich without money, but, of course, with free currencies. 00:11:50.504 --> 00:11:53.316 And when I say "rich", it's not in the consumer sense of it, 00:11:53.317 --> 00:11:55.529 but in its most profound meaning: 00:11:55.530 --> 00:11:59.249 rich in relationships, and also in the material sense. 00:11:59.250 --> 00:12:03.010 I have spoken a little about this misery in the world, 00:12:03.011 --> 00:12:05.640 but I don't speak about it only in a theoretical way 00:12:05.641 --> 00:12:08.013 as I have met with this misery myself. 00:12:08.014 --> 00:12:11.676 I have earned money, I've inherited it, I've had pocket money, 00:12:11.677 --> 00:12:13.764 and I've stolen it at one period of my life. 00:12:13.765 --> 00:12:17.511 I myself have been in this predatory mode, which sent me to prison twice. 00:12:17.512 --> 00:12:21.085 I found, I saw that most people 00:12:21.118 --> 00:12:25.768 in prison, experiencing incarceration, 00:12:25.769 --> 00:12:30.511 were people like me, who had predatory relationships with money, 00:12:30.512 --> 00:12:33.763 who stole it, or were involved in drugs, break-ins, etc. 00:12:33.764 --> 00:12:37.204 Traveling as I do in the world, 00:12:37.205 --> 00:12:41.753 I've learned that in fact, true misery, 00:12:41.754 --> 00:12:48.493 the true humiliation of a human being is not about not having access to something. 00:12:48.494 --> 00:12:51.746 It is above all not to be able to give. 00:12:51.747 --> 00:12:57.004 And now, today, we have the means to change that, precisely because 00:12:57.005 --> 00:13:01.257 of all this work on the economy, that the media doesn't talk about. 00:13:01.258 --> 00:13:06.252 Tomorrow's world won't be the fruit of our reactions, 00:13:06.253 --> 00:13:08.503 it will be the fruit of our creations. 00:13:08.504 --> 00:13:11.882 We're working on it; we need one another to complete the work. 00:13:11.883 --> 00:13:16.760 We are a small global team, very determined, and we need your support. 00:13:16.761 --> 00:13:18.010 Thank you. 00:13:18.011 --> 00:13:19.993 (Applause) 00:13:19.994 --> 00:13:22.225 Host: Jean-François! (Applause) 00:13:32.292 --> 00:13:38.501 I took the x from TEDx, so I no longer have to pronounce "TEDex". 00:13:38.505 --> 00:13:41.978 I exchanged it for a thousand thanks, and now I give it to you. 00:13:41.979 --> 00:13:45.710 JFN: Thanks! And they say that x is valuable, so thank you. 00:13:45.750 --> 00:13:47.294 (Applause)