Explanation video: https://youtu.be/UgPp9Ms8z9s
Why does the climate movement need a new strategy?
The problem today is that governments cannot do anything about the power of global business and the financial system. If a government were to impose restrictions on big companies, these companies would simply go to another country where there are no impediments. Because of globalisation, this is easily possible.
This would make a lot of people unemployed and there would be big social unrest, similar to what happened in France in the last few years. This would be a much bigger problem for the government than the peaceful demonstrations of the climate movement.
We need a sustainable economy, but today’s economy is solely focused on making profit. The more that is produced and sold, the more profit is made. To change this, we would need a completely different economy, but our politicians and economists only know this form of economy, so it is we who have to propose something new.
What is new about it and is there already practical experience with this other form of economy?
Part of many climate camps is the kitchen for all, the „Küfa”. There, the raw materials come free of charge from supermarket containers, then volunteers prepare delicious food under the supervision of a volunteer cook. Because no money was needed for the raw materials and the preparation, the food can be given away free of charge. It is a complete economic cycle, there are raw materials, a production and the distribution to the final consumers.
And what is the difference to the current form of economy?
First of all, the common ground. Both in the current form of economy and in the „Küfa” economy, raw materials are given to us as a gift. All the raw materials needed in the economy come free of charge from our earth, because we don’t have to pay the earth money for the grain, the water or the iron ore. Of course, there are people who immediately appropriate the treasures of the earth because the extraction happens on their property, but we don’t have to put money back into the well because it gives us the water. But the big difference is the delivery to the end user.
show moreIn today’s economy it is called trade, because the more that is produced and sold, the more money the traders, as well as the owners of the industrial enterprises, earn. These goods should become waste again as quickly as possible so that new products can be sold. In the last fifty years, this way of doing business has caused today’s global problems such as climate change, species extinction and the neo-colonialist exploitation of the global South. Ecological considerations are completely beside the point, because we see what is happening to our beautiful earth and it is getting worse and worse.
In the „Küfa” economy, on the other hand, only what the end consumer really wants is delivered. Therefore, only what they truly want is produced. This is much less than what we consume today, because the economy and the retail sector ask us to buy at every turn with advertising and discount campaigns. So if we switched the entire economy to the „Küfa” principle, we could meet the long-term climate goals immediately and the post-colonial exploitation of the global South would end.
show lessIs there anything that could not be produced in an economy based on the „Küfa” principle?
show moreNo. The raw materials for everything we need are given to us by the earth and the sun. If all people worked voluntarily, everything we can buy today could also be produced in a „Küfa” economy. No one would have to pay for it.
show lessCould we switch the economy to the „Küfa” economy very quickly?
show moreWe could switch the economy to the „Küfa” economy at any time, because we get everything that is needed in the economy from the earth for free. According to tagesschau.de of 08.09.23, when the awarding of particularly deserving volunteers by the Federal President was reported, 40% of people already work voluntarily today, with an upward trend. If we assume that much less has to be produced in the „Küfa” economy, all the conditions are fulfilled to be able to convert the economy immediately. No technical changes in the economy are required. Theoretically, it could happen tomorrow. Of course, there are certain risks. But let’s remember the Corona vaccine. That was also given to people worldwide without being tested sufficiently.
show lessDoes the „Küfa” economy help to stop the causes of climate change?
show moreClimate change comes from the economy emitting far too much carbon dioxide in the production of goods. The economy produces more and more goods because there is profit in the production and sale of goods, which the super-rich put in their pockets. The rich and powerful always want more profit. In the „Küfa” economy there is no profit because everything is produced by voluntary labour. Therefore, all goods can be given away. Nobody is interested in giving away more than is demanded. Therefore, in the „Küfa” economy, much less is produced and therefore much less carbon dioxide is produced. This means that with the „Küfa” economy, the long-term climate targets could be met immediately.
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Can the „Küfa” economy help protect the oceans?
show moreBecause there is profit in selling, everything that can be sold has a value today. Nobody would buy the oceans, so they have no value today. People exploit them ruthlessly and fill them with waste and sewage. Because there is no money and no profit in the „Küfa” economy, everything has value, including the oceans. In the „Küfa” economy, we give thanks for the treasures that the oceans provide us with and therefore the protection of the oceans is a matter of course for us.
show lessAre there any disadvantaged or unemployed people in the „Küfa” economy?
show moreNo, because when there is less work to be done, everyone enjoys the free time. The work is shared fairly and everyone then has even more free time. People get everything they need as a gift because everyone in the „Küfa” economy works voluntarily. Therefore, of course, there is no need for unemployment benefits. Everyone is sufficiently provided with everything they need to live happily.
show lessWill people change when they switch to the „Küfa” economy?
show moreOf course people will change. Today, everyone tries to get as many goods as possible for their money. That is also a reason why more and more is produced and more and more CO2 and waste is produced and the global South is exploited more and more. In the „Küfa” economy, all people work voluntarily. Because everything we need is given to us by the earth, the goods can also be given away. It is similar to when we have a birthday. We are grateful and happy and that is how we will behave in everyday life.
show lessWill there still be wars if the entire economy is converted to „Küfa” economy?
show moreThere are two reasons for wars. The first reason is that raw materials will become increasingly scarce in the future. If we do not quickly convert the economy to the sustainable „Küfa” economy, then there will inevitably be wars over raw materials. The second reason is that some people make a lot of money from the production and trade of weapons. If these weapons are used in a war, then there is much more profit to be made. Therefore, these people will be happy about any opportunity of an armed conflict. Because there is no profit in the „Küfa” economy, no one is interested in producing weapons.
show lessCan the „Küfa” economy help cars disappear from our cityscape?
show moreThe reason why more and more cars are still being produced today is because super-rich people are getting richer selling cars. They use advertising and other means to convince us that we absolutely need a new car. In the „Küfa” economy, the cars would be given away but nobody is interested in giving away more cars than absolutely necessary. People would think twice about whether they really want to fill up their cities with cars. In addition, people would no longer have to commute. Why, you have to think for yourself. That’s why there will be fewer and fewer cars.
show lessCan the „Küfa” economy protect the climate and the earth’s resources?
show moreThe food at a „Küfa” is given away and no one is interested in giving away more than necessary, that would make no sense at all. If less is given away, then less is produced, fewer raw materials are consumed and much less carbon dioxide is emitted.
Therefore, the long-term climate goals would be achieved immediately and the extinction of species and the exploitation of the global South could be stopped quickly. It is only in today’s economy that more and more has to be produced and sold so that more and more profit is generated, which the rich put in their pockets. In the „Küfa” economy, only as much is produced as people really need to live a happy life. Above all, people will take a lot of free time.
show lessWill people have to work much less in the „Küfa” economy?
show moreIn the „Küfa” economy, the gifts of the earth are processed and transported through voluntary labour. Therefore, everything that is produced can be given away. Of course, if you give something away, you don’t have to advertise it, or perhaps your parents ask you to wish for more and more for your birthday? People therefore only take what they really need. Therefore, much less has to be produced and much less work is required for it. We will probably only have to work two days a week.
show lessIs there still envy in the „Küfa” economy?
show moreYou are envious when your friend gets a new bike from an expensive brand or when your friend goes next door to the expensive sushi bar to eat and you can’t afford it. In the „Küfa” economy there are no prices, because all raw materials are given to us by the earth and are processed and transported by voluntary labour. Gifts do not have prices. Therefore, there will be much less envy.
show lessCan the „Küfa” economy help to eliminate the consequences of climate change?
show moreIn the future, huge dams will have to be built against rising sea levels and deserts will have to be greened. If the „Küfa” economy is realised worldwide, then all people will automatically be provided with all the necessities of life. So, if you want to help with these great tasks, you can simply go where there is work to be done. You don’t have to worry about your daily supply.
show lessCan the „Küfa” economy reduce the ecological footprint?
show moreIn today’s economy, the production and sale of raw materials and finished goods generates profit that the rich put in their pockets. The more that is produced and sold, the more profit is made and the richer these people become. That is why the rich and powerful want to produce and sell more and more, and that is why the global South is exploited more and more and more greenhouse gases are blown into the air and more and more waste is produced.
You can see it in the fact that the rich and powerful want the economy to grow by almost a third in the next 5 years (source: International Monetary Fund). That is why the ecological footprint in today’s economy is getting bigger and bigger. Because there is no profit in the „Küfa” economy, no one is interested in increasing the ecological footprint, rather it will shrink all by itself.
show lessDoes the „Küfa” economy have anything to do with socialism?
show moreNo, it has nothing to do with socialism. Even under socialism there was money and trade. The states that call themselves communist today contribute to climate change just like the capitalist states.
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Contact for more info:
Mailto: eberhard@kuefa.info