Announcing Freedom From Form

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 08:22:27 +0000

DICTATOR WATCH

Contact: Roland Watson, 1-202-258-8511, roland@dictatorwatch.org 

Announcing the publication of: Freedom From Form

Freedom From Form covers many subjects, but its central theme is human evolution. It reviews the directions by which we seem to be evolving, including such things as the development of technology and changes that have occurred to our consciousness. And, it provides a means to
evaluate whether they are real ways forward or evolutionary dead-ends.

In this context it considers the problems that we cause (e.g., environmental destruction, war, and ingrained inequality), many of which appear inescapable, hence the repetition of history. However, on review it is clear that the problems caused by humanity are actually just symptoms
of even deeper problems. Also, symptoms can only be treated, not solved, which is akin to treating the pain and fever caused by illness but not confronting the underlying disease. Furthermore, the deeper problems, too, are symptoms of still deeper problems. Ultimately, one is led to the core aspects of our nature: to the fundamental conditions of our existence and our reactions thereto.

Said another way, since we cannot change our basic conditions, we must change our reactions to them. This is the only way the whole string of embedded problems/symptoms will disappear. But this adjustment, which on the face of it is conceptually simple Ð think of moving from personal
selfishness to cooperation Ð is in fact so profound that it constitutes Ð it will constitute Ð nothing less than the evolution of our species.

In addition, you cannot solve a problem without knowing where you want to go. And, you have to know this in well thought-out detail. This is the linkage: symptoms reveal problems, which in turn reflect an imprecise statement or purposeful misdirection of goals.

Right now America Ð the world Ð all of ÒCivilizationÓ Ð is at war with terrorism. We are also at war with drugs, and crime, and poverty. We have so many wars now that we have a war dÕjour. This is absurd. Terrorism, drugs, crime and even poverty are merely symptoms. We may treat them with guns, prisons, police, or welfare Ð whatever Ð but even if they seem to go away they will return. These are wars that can never be won. Indeed, in many cases that is not even the goal. While they may be launched with a clear basis, i.e., we do have the right to defend ourselves, they are quickly transformed to serve other purposes: those of their promoters.

For symptoms to be treated such that they never return, that they never can return, the underlying problems must be solved. It is time to fight these problems.

Freedom From Form will change the way you look at the world, yourself and life.

- It teaches that we must view existence as the interaction and transformation of forms, and as the resolution of an underlying conflict between determinism and free will.

- It is an evolutionary study of the human experience, and of our social development, to-date.

- It presents a new way to analyze our diverse social problems. It teaches that while such problems appear different and distinct, they actually are just symptoms of a much deeper malaise.

- It is a call to activism, and a comprehensive guide thereto, including of all relevant ethical issues.

- It includes a complete statement of the social goals that are appropriate for our species.

- It is an exposition of a social structure, unique in human history, through which these goals can be achieved, and of how we can transform our current society to it.

- It is a model of the future evolution of humanity, to a new species, with a reappraisal of evolutionary processes, and a description of the neurological and behavioral changes that likely will occur.

- It presents a proof of why technology, as it is currently practiced, will not itself lead to such evolution.

- And, it is an explanation of the purpose of life, and the universe.

Freedom From Form may be ordered through the World Travelers Press link of www.dictatorwatch.org. Review copies are also available 
==============
From: "Dictator Watch" <announce@dictatorwatch.org> | Block Address | Add to Address Book

To: westpapua_net@yahoo.com

Subject: Announcing Dictator Watch and the Activist Exchange

Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 07:07:56 +0000

Greetings. We have a link to an organization with which you are involved. We will be sending you a couple of emails in the next few days. 

Following this, we will not send you anything unless you join our list. If you are interested in our ideas and goals, perhaps you could post this email to your own lists. Thanks.

DICTATOR WATCH

Contact: Roland Watson,1-202-258-8511, roland@dictatorwatch.org

NOTE: This press release is being sent to media outlets, activist organizations, government officials, universities and members of the general public in a total of over 160 countries. (Our apologies for multiple postings.)

Announcing the launch of a new not-for-profit organization:

DICTATOR WATCH AND THE ACTIVIST EXCHANGE
www.dictatorwatch.org

The mission of Dictator Watch is to keep track of the dictators of the world, and to see that they pay for their crimes. We seek the end of dictatorship, in all of its manifestations, including in all of our social institutions. Among these institutions we include political,
military, religious, educational, economic, and media entities; and for dictatorship we refer to all of the ways in which they shape us Ð manipulate us Ð to get us to think and act so as to suit their purposes.

The Activist Exchange is the logical partner of Dictator Watch. The reason dictatorship is so prevalent is that the system of checks and balances that maintains the balance of power between social institutions, and between such institutions and individuals, has failed. Our only way left to challenge these institutions, which now act solely for themselves rather than for the publics that they are supposed to serve, and thereby to achieve our community goals and a true and harmonious social equilibrium, is personal activism.

The goal of the Activist Exchange is to encourage such activism: to energize as many people as possible to get involved, and to bring activism into the mainstream and make it as conformist --Ð to work to resolve problems Ð as it is now viewed as irregular.

The basic assumption underlying Dictator Watch is that for real and positive social change to occur, we must solve our underlying problems, not only treat their observable symptoms. Much activism is dedicated to the latter, and even when it is successful, the success is often only
temporary as the symptoms subsequently recur. Also, many other symptoms likely surface as well, for which there is no treatment at all.

The theory we use to approach the underlying problems is based on understanding the prerequisites of global system change. Our ideas derive from the mathematics of chaos and topology and also evolutionary theory. We have developed a new analytical methodology, outlined in our Chaos
Analysis Questionnaire, which represents a shift in thinking analogous to the transformation in physics caused by relativity theory. Our first application was Burma, in our article Burma and Chaos Ð Updated. Regarding human dictatorship over all other forms of life, we prepared Social Evolution and Chaos. We intend to apply the methodology to all types and specific instances of dictatorship, e.g., draft an analysis for China, extreme Islam, advertising brainwashing, etc. In this effort we hope to work with the many activist groups that are already devoted to these
causes.

However, we are more than just a ÒWatch.Ó In cases where the analyses reveal opportunities to instigate global change, to overthrow specific dictatorships, we will seek to participate in realizing these opportunities, to the extent that a role exists or can be created for Dictator
Watch. For example, we could work to help coordinate and orchestrate groups which comprise the opposition to such a dictatorship, or develop a means to educate all who are subject to its repression in how, where and when they can resist it.

In Burma, we have ongoing involvement with the Karen people and their Karen National Liberation Army, publicizing their struggle and providing assistance. Our photo exhibit Burma at War documents the construction and operation of a KNLA special forces training camp.

Dictator Watch has been developed as a means to implement the ideas in the book Freedom From Form, which is now in print and available for order. The organization has seven campaigns, or campaign areas. Each campaign has a two-fold structure: what we would like the general public to
do, or learn; and what we intend to do.

Dictator Watch is an organization for everyone. Our goal is to start a global grassroots movement for REAL change. Please forward this to everyone you know who has had enough of the repetition of history.

Latest activity:

We began a collaboration with the Earth First! Journal, published in the current edition, to identify, systematically, by industry and other groups, the specific individuals responsible for environmental destruction around the world.

We issued an open letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, BurmaÕs democracy leader, calling on her to consider ending her secret dialogue with the military dictatorship.

We were interviewed by the BBC and asked to defend our position in this letter.