The Manifesto

Reform society to build the individual's spirit

We believe a society should aim to build the strength of human spirit. Yet currently the individual is ignored. We need a radical re-think of our politics personal relations and beliefs. 

A strong spirit is hard to define, but we know when we feel it. We feel spirit when we know we are free, when we we are meeting our potential, when we feel others around us. Our spirit is strong when at times we most remember, our greatest achievements are made when we are most vigorous. The people we admire most have strongest humanity. This is why we focus on spirit.

How is spirit built?

Human spirit is built by:

- having the ability to choose, 

- leading a life based on beliefs

- feeling similar people around us 

Our spirit is limited by focus on wealth, stability, control, hierarchy and history. 

Proof of the need for change

We need to be radical. A society should be judged on the happiness of its citizens. We have unprecedented material and technological capability. Yet this advance has not clearly led to more happiness. Some advances make us less satisfied. Wealth and technology have given great opportunities but we have not taken advantage of them. 

We feel the importance of spirit, but also know our society does nothing to promote it.

Why now?

Our world has changed immeasurably. For the first time our developed society is free of hunger and death from poverty. We do not need more wealth to survive. 

We also have huge opportunity. We are massively more educated than ever before. New technologies and communications provide democratic power, reduce borders and allow individual expression.

Yet our society has not adapted its rules or directions. 20 years of explosive change is not reflected in the way we live.

As well as opportunity, our society is also facing questions. First, there is also a gap left by the withdrawal of religion, stable families and geographic continuity. An increasingly rootless society needs a framework.

Second, there is a major change coming up in our work relations. Technology means fewer people can produce all the goods we need. Workers will become richer. Non-workers will fall behind. Total wealth will increase, but inequality will increase faster. Unless we face this, society will face huge stress. 

Third, our world cannot cope with our aspirations. Humans consume two thirds of the world's total natural output and are crashing through resources. 

Politics

Politics should be about our community. But years of political process has separated politics from the new issues facing people's lives. So there is no belief in political process. Focusing on the individual's spirit should bring politics back to the citizen.

There is also now a separation of politics from morality. Politics, personal relations and beliefs should all be based on our image of justice and right behaviour between people. 

Similarly, relations in our personal life, determined by age, job, position, follow predictable patterns, defined for a previous world. As the function and framework for these relationships change, so the set patterns need to be revolutionized. Job-relations over-turned, new family structures, re-creation of community.

The revolution starts with the individual. A renewed belief in the human spirit creates the basis for a new self image.