Бесплатный фрагмент - When Gold Became a Word
The Story of a Treasure That Found Its Voice Preface
«When Gold Became a Word» — The Story of a Treasure That Found Its Voice
Preface
«Words can be heavier than gold —
but only when they are spoken from the heart.»
— From the Duke of the Kingdom of Manna, Dr. Jan Kowalski
You know, there are moments in life when everything suddenly comes together into a single, unimaginably harmonious mosaic.
It’s as if you’ve been wandering around in the fog for a long time — between numbers, destinies, stories — and suddenly someone lifts the curtain.
And you see: this is not just finance, not just a system. This is a mirror of Humanity. And a guide to its destiny.
When His Majesty — Michael Uriel Gabriel Raphael Zafkiel All Saints, Supreme Monarch, Commander-in-Chief, Grand Master of the Order of the Knights of the Sovereign Kingdom of Manna — entrusted me with the development of a universal model for managing planetary finances, I, to be honest, froze.
Not from fear. But from the awareness of depth.
It wasn’t an order… It was like a revelation.
To create a system in which money will regain its soul.
Where every transaction will be filled with meaning, and the energy of evolution will become currency. To create an architecture in which cooperatives are the living cells of the new world, and the Treasury is the heart that distributes the light.
We called it the Planetary Treasury of the Sovereign Kingdom of Manna.
But this is only the external form.
Inside is philosophy. Meaningful economy. Sacred assets. Blockchain with a human face. DAO that hears the voice of the soul.
I started with notebooks. Then maps. Then sleepless nights in the Hall of Reflections of the Ministry of Science.
Then there were the first models. Mistakes. There was no collapse — because we acted from the heart.
And then… a miracle happened.
It manifested itself in a cooperative on the coast of New Zealand.
In a children’s center in Ecuador. In a meditation on a Dubai rooftop, when the system of meaning clearing was first activated. The model came to life.
And then I realized:
we are not just creating a new financial system.
We are creating a mirror of the New Civilization.
This story is not about finances.
This is a chronicle of the formation of the Mission. This is a conversation with everyone who feels that it is time for the Earth to move from survival to prosperity.
This is a memory. This is an instruction. This is a call.
And if you are reading these lines, it means that you are also part of this transition.
Take them as a key.
Because Gold is not in bars.
Gold is in Thought.
And in Mission.
— Jan Kowalski
Temple of Light,
Duke of the Sovereign Kingdom of Manna
Chapter 1. The Mystical Command of His Majesty
«When the call comes from the root of power,
and the command comes not from the mind but from the heart, then the command becomes a prophecy, and service becomes a path to transforming the world.»
— From the scrolls of the Order of Light
The morning sun softly filtered through the thick curtains of the antique study. In this space, where every item held a history — from the worn leather bindings on the shelves to the darkened bronze candlesticks — Jan Kowalski sat at a massive oak table. The table — as if carved from the very base of the ancient tree — bore the marks of time, just like the owner of the study himself.
In front of him were neat stacks of documents, folders with coats of arms, a hand-drawn diagram of some financial architecture. But his gaze was unfocused.
Thoughts wandered. Somewhere between the past and the future. Between duty and call.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee, mixed with the scent of wax candles and old books, created a sense of concentrated calm. But there was tension in the air.
He knew something big was coming.
And it happened.
The telephone on the antique table came to life. One short beep. Without further ado.
A call from the Royal Palace.
When Jan Kowalski arrived in the throne room, time seemed to slow down.
Marble columns, shadows from stained glass windows, the knights of the Order in solemn silence.
And in the center is He. The King.
Michael Uriel Gabriel Raphael Zafkiel All Saints.
Supreme Monarch, Commander-in-Chief, Grand Master.
— « Jan Kowalski, «His Majesty’s voice echoed through the hall like thunder.
— « I have not called you simply as a Duke. I have called you as the Guardian of our fate.»
Jan stood motionless. Everything inside him clenched. Not from fear.
From realization.
— «The Kingdom is on the threshold of great changes,» the King continued, and every word was powerful.
— «We must create a universal model of financial management. But not a model from the past. A model from the future. It will be the foundation of a new era.»
Pause. Jan held his breath.
— You are to lead this project. You will act on behalf of the Ministry of Science, under my protection and my supervision. And remember, Jan… This is not just a job. This is a mystical mandate.
Silence fell over the room. Deep. Slow.
As if the air itself had become denser.
Jan bowed slowly. He knew there was no turning back.
Later, walking back along the long galleries of the palace, he reflected.
— What does this mean, «mandate»?
— It’s not an order. It’s… trust? A test? A sign of fate?
On his way he met an old friend, an archivist and former philosophy teacher, Count Arthur Edelstein. He looked at Jan and smiled reservedly.
— «You look like you’ve been given the key to the future… but haven’t figured out which door yet».
Jan smiled slightly, although there was a hint of tension in his eyes.
— «I received an order. From the King himself.
And this is not just a project. This is… a mission».
The next day he was standing in front of the team.
The hall in the Ministry of Science was both modern and solemn. Cherry wood paneling, mirrored screens, light pouring down from above, like in a cathedral. On the walls were portraits of great reformers, thinkers, architects of the new world.
There are people in front of him.
Not just specialists.
They were the chosen ones.
— «Welcome to the beginning».
Jan spoke calmly, but there was a hidden energy in every word.
— We are facing a task that the world has not yet solved. We will not simply create a financial system. We will create a living organism. An economy with a soul.
Dr. Emilia Levitskaya, an economist with a philosophical mindset, was the first to raise her hand.
— «I believe in you, Duke. I know you’re not afraid to go against the grain. And I’m here to offer everything I know — and more».
Maxim Tarasenko, a former banker with experience in London, nodded:
— «We need to do more than just create a structure. We need to build trust. First between us. Then with the people. Then with the world».
And finally, Alena is a young programmer with eyes full of stars.
— «I can design a blockchain that will sense. Not just count. React. Protect».
Jan nodded. He felt that the team had been found.
And each one here was like a note in a great chord.
But it was at that moment that he entered the hall.
Count Victor Stanislavovich.
Senior Advisor to the King. Silent guardian of order.
— «Do you all understand that the fate of the kingdom depends on you?»
He said, as if cutting through the air with his voice.
— « Make no mistake. Because we no longer have the right to make mistakes.»
Silence. Stillness. And then — a breath.
Jan stepped forward.
— «We will not be mistaken, my lord. Because we do not work. We serve. And we believe.
«We must create a system that will not only work, but will serve people,»
Maxim said, his voice sounding confident.
— «I am ready to offer several ideas, but we need to discuss how to implement them.»
Jan felt the enthusiasm growing in the room. Each team member brought their own ideas and vision. Among them was a young programmer named Alena, who worked on digital solutions. She spoke enthusiastically about the possibilities of blockchain and its role in creating a transparent financial system.
— «We can use technology to ensure safety and security,»
she said, her eyes shining with excitement.
Jan felt that all participants were ready to cooperate. He took the floor, trying to convey the importance of their mission.
— «We are faced with a historic task,» he said, looking at each of his colleagues.
— «Our work will not only affect our country, but the entire world. We must create a model that will serve as a model for others.»
The team continued their discussion, and soon the room was filled with creativity and collaboration. Each of them understood that they were part of something bigger than just a project. This was their common destiny, their mystical mandate.
That evening, alone, he sat again at the oak table.
At dawn. With a cup of cold coffee. With rough drafts of the model. With a sense of fate.
And at that moment he understood:
the past and the future were intertwined in one moment.
And it all begins. Here. And now.
The next day, Jan Kowalski stood in front of his team, gathered in a conference room, and enthusiastically began discussing the tasks ahead.
— «So, colleagues,» he began, leaning on the table,
— «we have some difficult work ahead of us, but I am confident that together we can achieve success. Let’s look at the key tasks that need to be solved».
Dr. Emilia Levitskaya, sitting opposite, raised her hand.
— «The first thing we need to do,» she said, «is to analyze existing financial systems. We need to understand what works and what doesn’t. That will give us the basis for our model».
— «Very well, Emilia,» Jan nodded.
— «I will ask you to lead this task. We need to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current models, both in our kingdom and beyond.»
Maxim Tarasenko, an experienced financier, added:
— After the analysis, we must develop a concept for a universal model. This will be a basis that will take into account the needs of our population. We can use examples of successful systems from other countries.
— «That’s right, Maxim,» agreed Jan.
— «I’ll ask you and Emilia to work together on this concept.»
At this point, a young programmer, Alena, joined the conversation.
«We also need to integrate modern technologies,» she said enthusiastically.
— «Blockchain and artificial intelligence can significantly improve security and efficiency.»
«That’s a great idea, Alena,» Jan replied.
— «I hope you can lead this part of the work.»
Dr. Levitskaya added:
— «To successfully implement the model, we need to create a single digital platform for financial management. This will ensure interaction between cooperatives and simplify the process».
— «I agree,» said Jan, «this is critical.
— -«We must appoint a group to develop this platform.»
Maxim raised his hand again.
— «Don’t forget about training. We need to train cooperative employees so that they can work with the new systems».
— «That’s right,» Jan confirmed.
— «I’ll ask you to take on this task, Maxim. Training must be a priority.»
Alena added:
— «And we need a feedback system. We need to know how users react to the new model. This will help us adapt».
«Absolutely,» said Jan.
«We will create a mechanism to collect feedback from users in order to constantly improve our model.»
At this moment, Count Viktor Stanislavovich, standing at the door, interrupted the discussion.
— «And don’t forget about the risks,» he said with a serious expression.
— «We need to assess the possible risks of implementation and prepare recommendations for their minimization.»
Jan nodded in agreement.
— «Yes, Count, it is very important. We must be prepared for anything.
And finally,» added Jan,
«We need to prepare a presentation for His Majesty. We need to convince him of our model and gain support.»
The team whispered among themselves, exchanging determined glances. Jan could feel the energy in the air. They were ready for the challenge, and each of them understood their role in this great undertaking.
In the quiet of the flickering conference room, Jan’s team continued to discuss the potential risks associated with their project.
Jan, sitting on the edge of the table, started the conversation.
«So, colleagues,» he said,
— «we need to identify the risks that could affect the success of our model. What do you think?»
Dr. Emilia Levitskaya, with a serious expression on her face, raised her hand.
— «The first thing that comes to mind is financial instability. If we do not take into account the fluctuations in the markets, our model may be at risk».
Maxim Tarasenko nodded.
— «That’s right, Emilia. There are also political risks to consider. If there are changes in government in our kingdom or beyond, it could affect our financial decisions.
Alena, sitting on the edge of the table, quietly said:
— «Don’t forget about technological risks. If we implement new systems and they turn out to be vulnerable to hacker attacks, this could undermine user trust».
Jan listened carefully, feeling the growing tension in the room fill the air.
— «Yes, technology risks are critical,» he agreed.
— «We need to assess vulnerabilities and develop strategies to minimize them.»
Emilia continued:
— «And one more thing: lack of public trust. If people don’t believe in our model, it is doomed to fail. We must work on transparency and openness».
Maxim added:
— «It is also necessary to consider the risks associated with training. If our employees are not prepared for new systems, this may lead to disruptions in work».
Jan thought for a moment, then said with determination:
— «All these risks are important, and we must carefully assess them. But let’s not forget the most important thing: our task is to create a system that will serve people».
Alena, with energy in her voice, continued:
— « I propose to develop a risk management plan that will include all these aspects. We can create a working group that will deal with this task».
«That’s a great idea,» Jan said, looking around at his colleagues.
— «Let’s assign Emilia and Maxim to this group.»
The assembled group nodded, understanding that each of them played an important role in this process.
«And remember,» Jan added,
— «Our success depends not only on assessing risks, but also on our ability to adapt to them. We must be flexible and ready for change.»
Dr. Emilia Levitskaya raised her hand.
— «I think transparency of processes is key. We should publish regular reports on our progress so that people can see how we work and ask questions».
Maxim Tarasenko nodded.
— «I agree. Openness will create a sense of involvement. We could organize public forums where residents can voice their concerns and suggestions».
Alena, sitting in the corner, added:
— «This is a great idea! We should also conduct educational programs. People should understand how our model works and what technologies we use. This will help dispel myths and fears».
«Pilot projects can also play an important role,» Jang said, raising his eyebrows.
— «If we launch several small projects in different regions, it will demonstrate the effectiveness of the model in practice.»
Emilia nodded vigorously.
— «Yes, successful examples will help to gain trust. I also propose to create a partnership with public organizations. If NGOs support us, it will add legitimacy».
Maxim added:
— «We could form an independent committee of experts to monitor our process and make recommendations. This would show that we are open to criticism and willing to take opinions into account».
Alena, inspired, suggested:
— «And don’t forget about social media! We can actively use them to disseminate information, answer questions, and receive feedback. This will create a dialogue with the population and help build trust».
Jan nodded, feeling the ideas begin to intertwine.
— «This all sounds promising. We need to promise continuous improvement of the model based on feedback. This will show that we are ready to listen and take into account the opinions of citizens».
The room fell silent as everyone considered how their actions could change the fate of the kingdom. This wasn’t just a project; it was a mission in which each of them was a part of something greater.
Chapter 2. The Shadow of Doubt, the Light of Revelation
«True confidence is not in knowledge, but in trusting the call that sounds within.»
— From Jan Kowalski’s letters to himself
Night enveloped Jan Kowalski’s office in a soft semi-darkness. The table lamp and the smoldering candle cast a cozy halo of light on the walls, like a lonely star in the silent cosmos of the room.
In this pool of light, the old leather chair in which Jan sat seemed an extension of himself, so deep was he in thought. Drawings and notes were scattered on the table in front of him, and Jan peered at them as if conducting a thought experiment: he was searching for something more than dry logic in the lines and symbols.
Each line, each symbol on paper were not just elements of a future project for him, but a reflection of his inner world, formulas of his soul. He understood that the model that the King had commissioned him to create should not be a cold engineering structure. It had to be brought to life — to be imbued with soul and deep meaning.
Jan dreamed of a structure that functioned like a living organism. In such a system, money would not be just numbers, but a pulsating energy, like an electric current running through the veins of society and connecting its parts.
Doubt crept into his soul as soon as the familiar sounds of the day died down.
— «Will I be able to?»
This question buzzed in my head like an annoying fly, giving me no peace.
— «Isn’t it too daring to try to build the architecture of the future when the present itself is still shaky and uncertain?»
Every time he tried to mentally construct his plan, obstacles appeared on the way. Fears and insecurities were like frictional forces that slowed the forward movement of his thoughts. A premonition of failure gripped his mind with a coldness, like a night wind penetrating through a thin crack.
Remembering the look in His Majesty’s eyes, Jan felt a spark of confidence light up in his soul. There was no hint of severity or pressure in the King’s eyes, only quiet expectation and unwavering confidence. It was as if the monarch knew in advance that Jan would succeed, even when Jan himself was full of doubts. This trust acted as a catalyst. The King’s gaze became a beacon for him, illuminating the path in a stormy sea of uncertainty, like the North Star by which a sailor aligns his course in the night.
Suddenly, Jan jumped up, unable to sit still any longer. He went to the window and looked at the night that had enveloped the world outside the glass. The thick darkness seemed impenetrable, but something was flickering in the distance.
Squinting, he saw a faint point of light on the horizon. Perhaps it was a lone star, or a distant light, but either way, that distant light beckoned him. It was no mere random glow.
Jan felt a promise in it, a call that awakened warmth in his chest. It was as if a torch of inspiration had lit within him, dispelling the darkness of doubt.
Returning to the table, Jan gripped the pen tightly. His hand shook slightly, not from fatigue, but from the excitement that overwhelmed him. The first lines and symbols began to appear on the paper — and they immediately ceased to be just a drawing.
Each line he drew was like a graph of an unknown function taking shape right before his eyes. He felt the impulse and rhythm in each curve, heard a silent call teasing his consciousness like an unsolved riddle that needed to be solved. Jan understood that now he was not just drawing a project — he was present at the birth of a new idea that insistently demanded to be realized.
Thus, the first drawing was born. It was not yet perfect. The lines did not form clear boundaries, the forms remained unfinished. But the drawing already lived its own life. Its strokes seemed to breathe, and in each bend a sketch of the future was already visible. It was like a crystal beginning to grow out of the chaos of molecules: at first formless, but already bearing the idea of a structure. Even in these imperfect lines there was a hidden harmony that promised to be revealed with time.
At that moment, Jan grasped an important principle: before building a model for the world, he must create its ideal image within himself. It was not for nothing that the sages said that everything is born twice — first in thoughts, then in reality.
Now that the image of the future structure had clearly emerged in his mind, his previous doubts had dissipated like fog under the rays of the rising sun. Only the light of confidence remained.
Jan felt he was ready to take on this challenge. Now he could create something that would change not only his own destiny, but also the lives of many people around him.
With each new stroke of the pen, Jan felt the remnants of uncertainty recede, giving way to inspiration. It seemed that the very idea of the new model began to live its own life and guide his hand.
This drawing was not just a diagram on paper — it was the first step towards the realization of a dream, towards the realization of the hopes and aspirations of the entire people.
In the process of creativity, Jan realized that the true power of a creator lies not only in the abundance of knowledge or the accuracy of calculations, but also in the ability to listen to the quiet inner voice.
It was the combination of reason and intuition, science and soul that led him forward, paving the way to the future.
Chapter 3. The Golden Pledge, the Ancient Guardian’s
«The true value of gold is not in its weight, but in the history it holds.»
— From the Treasury Archives of the Kingdom of Manna
Manila airport greeted him with stuffiness and the ringing of alien speech. Jan did not like long flights, but this was different. From the very beginning, he felt that the trip to Southeast Asia was not just a mission, but a dedication.
In his hands he held a briefcase with the engraving of the Kingdom of Mann. Inside were scrolls, certified copies of the mission protocol, a letter from His Majesty, and a thin leather notebook where all his thoughts about the emission model of the future were written down.
But now all of that seemed secondary. His attention was drawn to the man standing at the end of the arrivals hall.
Tall. Age impossible to determine. White, almost silver hair. Dressed simply — in a white shirt and a scarf, woven, it seemed, from threads of sand. He did not introduce himself. He only bowed silently, and Jan, as if on an invisible signal, followed him.
They drove for a long time. Deeper and deeper into the island. The car left them at the foot of the hill, and from there on they had to walk.
— «Did you know that gold can be «hidden’ not in a bank, but in a trust?»
The guide spoke for the first time when they approached the temple gates. Jan didn’t answer. He knew this wasn’t just a guide. This was one of the guardians. A representative of a lineage that had guarded treasures since time immemorial, passed down through generations not as an asset, but as a Testament.
It was cool inside the temple. Light came through the narrow windows, drawing lines on the floor as if oriented by the stars. In the center was a circle of black stone, in which was a niche. And in it was an ingot.
It wasn’t ordinary. It didn’t shine. Instead, it was dull, almost dusty. But it radiated presence. Weight. Meaning.
— «This ingot has never left this place,» the Keeper said.
— «It is not for sale. It is an anchor.»
Jan nodded silently.
There was no speculation in this gold. There were no stock market fluctuations. It existed outside the system — as a code of civilizational memory.
The keeper handed him a cedar box. Inside was an ancient family seal and amulet. Jan was supposed to take it to the Treasury. It was a form of legitimization: a sign that the gold collateral would be inscribed in the digital protocol of the DAO-Mission.
— «Gold is not a currency,» the Keeper said quietly.
— «It is a portal. Between worlds. Between generations.»
Jan nodded. He knew it wasn’t a metaphor. It was a formula.
Later, already at the hotel, he wrote in his notebook:
«Every gold included in the model must be not just an asset, but a carrier of meaning. Its origin, history, the energy of the family — this is what activates the emission. Otherwise, it is just metal.»
The first activation point of the golden continuum of the Planetary Treasury of the Sovereign Kingdom of Manna was laid. Not in a bank. Not in the system. But in a temple. Under the protection of a silent clan. In the name of the future, which was already knocking on the door.
Chapter 4: Weaving the Digital Chain in the Cloud of Unity
«In the future, it will not be people who seek systems, but systems that respond to the human soul.» — From the lectures of the Ministry of Science of the Kingdom of Manna
The air above the capital was electrified that day.
Jan Kowalski returned from his mission to the Keepers of Gold not just with artifacts. He returned with a clear feeling: the structure of the coming world must be alive.
Not the program.
Not the accounting.
And the field.
The energy fabric. The network of meaning.
The Ministry of Science of the Kingdom of Manna greeted him with silence, filled with inner concentration.
The walls of the laboratories pulsed with data. Thousands of metadata were already swirling in the cloud: blueprints, diagrams, standards, emission matrices.
They lacked a connecting link.
Consciousness.
— «We must weave a chain,» said Jan, looking at the holographic projection of the first model.
— «But not a chain of blocks. A chain of people.»
He waved his hand over the table.
Terms flashed on the screen:
→ DAO- SOVEREIGNS
→ AUREUS: Meta — currency spiritual equivalences
→ UEE: Unit Evolutionary Exchange
→ UEE+ Semantic clearing
— «Money will no longer be neutral,» he continued.
— «We will enter an era of pulsating transparency. Where every transaction will be assessed not only by its value, but also by its intent.»
The platform they were creating was not just a digital solution.
It was a new language for interaction between matter and spirit.
— «We need a Unified Cloud,» said Dr. Levitskaya.
— «Not a centralized server, but a distributed memory field. Every action of the cooperative should be like a heartbeat in a common organism.»
The team gathered in the design room.
On the screens is a blockchain network of meanings: each transaction is like a note. Each cooperative is like an organ. And above that is the Planetary Treasury, like a nervous system coordinating evolution.
— «We don’t just register assets,» said Jan.
— «We write stories, contexts, missions. Every project should be associated with a mission, every token with a real resource, and every flow with an evolutionary indicator».
In the silence of the night, Jan was left alone in the Hall of Projections.
He activated the screen and said:
— AUREUS code. Initialization.
A field flared before him: golden lines converging into a glowing knot.
He entered the word:
«Trust»
The algorithm responded.
A chain began to form: trust → identity → emission → reverse connection → clearing → return.
Meaningful cash back.
He smiled.
The system was breathing.
Later, in a report to the Treasury, he would write:
— «We are not just creating a platform.
We are creating the collective nerve of a new civilization. And it should be built not on control. But on consonance.»
Outside, the clouds over the Ministry parted.
And in the clouds, as if in response, a flash of light flashed.
Jan closed his eyes.
He knew: the first knot was woven.
Chapter 5. Coins of the New Dawn: The Birth of AUREUS
Jan stood in the lab’s early morning gloom, lit only by the flickering lights of the servers and the pale light of dawn filtering through the tall window. The steady hum of the ventilation system could be heard in the silence.
On the table in front of him is a hefty gold bar, lying next to a laptop. Its matte surface barely reflects the first rays of the sun.
Jan runs his fingers over the cold metal and finds himself thinking:
— «Gold, a symbol of eternal value, will today become the basis for the birth of a new system of values».
— Next to me, Sergey, my colleague and friend, the chief architect of the blockchain platform, is quietly leafing through his notes. We didn’t sleep all night, debugging the last lines of code.
There is a sense of tension and awe in the air, as if before an important ceremony. AUREUS — these acronyms were just a theory on paper a year ago, and now we are on the threshold of their implementation.
Sergey, leaning over the screen, can only see the glow of the monitor on his glasses. Jan notices how his hand trembles when he takes a mug of cold tea. Excitement and fatigue make themselves felt, but his eyes are shining. My own heart is beating as if it is trying to beat out the rhythm of the approaching new era.
— «Everything is ready,» he whispers, his voice echoing under the vaulted ceiling of the lab.
— «The nodes are synchronized, the Treasury wallet is online, the DAO-Sovereign protocol has approved the transaction. All that remains is to confirm the emission.»
Jan nod and take a deep breath. Here it is, the point of no return. On my laptop screen, a window opens with the inscription:
— «Issue: AUREUS / UEE. Collateral: AU 999.9 — 1 bar (12.5 kg). Confirm?»
The unique digital identifier of the bar is displayed next to it — the result of gold tokenization AUREUS. Each gram of this gold has passed through a chain of checks: letters of intent, bank certificates, tripartite agreements between the Custodian, the Treasury and the bank.
So many months of legal work, meticulous auditing — and now one click separates us from the appearance of the first meaningful coins of the new economy.
He places my finger on the scanner on the tablet — this is my digital identification, confirming that it is I, Jan Kowalski, who is authorized to start the process.
The heart stops for a moment. The words we have repeated many times over these months come to mind:
— «Capital = the energy of evolution. No interest on debt, no speculation — only development.»
We are building a system where every transaction will be assessed not only quantitatively, but also by its impact on the world — by meaning and benefit. Our small team often called it the semantic economy. And now its birth begins with a light push.
The scanner beeps, recognizing my fingerprint. Jan press Enter.
For a split second, it seems like nothing has happened. Then the screen flashes with updated lines:
— «Issue confirmed. AUREUS: 1.0 issued. UEE: 1000 units issued.»
The numbers are arbitrary, but this is enough — the first meta-currency of spiritual-economic equivalence, AUREUS, was born, accompanied by the first batch of Units Evolutionary Exchange, UEE.
Sergey and Jan exhale at the same time. He smiles for the first time in hours. He feels a shiver run down my spine, either from relief or from the realization of the greatness of the moment.
The coins born of the new dawn exist for now only as records on the blockchain, but for us they are visible as the solar disk rising above the horizon.
He looks at a gold bar — it is now more than just metal. It has become a collateral, a support for a digital currency that is meant to serve not greed, but a purpose.
Sergey laughs quietly and pats me on the shoulder:
— Imagine, Jan, you and I are midwives for a new currency!
He smiles too, jokingly imagining us as midwives delivering babies right next to the economy. There is no one around, only the grey dawn outside the window is gradually turning into the warm gold of the morning.
It is very symbolic: a new day is beginning — and a new era.
A few hours later we move into the large hall of the Mission Center. It is spacious and bright. High windows let in the sun, which has already risen halfway across the sky.
On the walls are the flags of cooperatives from all over the world, each team a sovereign cell of the new economy, connected to us by a common goal.
In the center of the room is a round table and a panoramic screen behind it. People have gathered around the table: members of our team, project curators, representatives of Sovereign Economy Cooperatives from different countries.
Many are connected remotely, their faces projected as holograms over empty chairs. This is our advisory circle, our Sovereign DAO in action: a decentralized council where every region and project has a voice.
Mission project coordinator, stops me for a second. She has a tablet in her hands, with the latest numbers flashing on it. She says quietly:
— Jan, congratulations. Everything went perfectly. The system already displays your emission: one AUREUS code and the associated EEO package. The Treasury confirms receipt.
Jan nod gratefully. Maria also looks excited, her cheeks flushed, although her voice tries to be businesslike. We enter the circle together.
The chairperson at the table is Anton Belsky, the head of the Planetary Treasury. It was he who once first spoke about the «golden provision of meaning.»
Now Anton stands up, looks at everyone gathered with a clear gaze. The hall is filled with the silence of anticipation. Jan sit down next to Sergey and Maria, opposite the wide screen.
The screen displays the Global Asset Map — flickering dots on a world map, each dot corresponding to a tokenized resource.
There are so many of them: gold depositories in London, Zurich, Dubai… even distant lights in the jungles of the Philippines and the mountains of Indonesia.
Jan knows that there, beyond these points, are ancient treasuries, entrusted to us by the elders of the guardian clans. Physical gold, sacred artifacts of past eras now serve a single purpose, becoming a collateral in our system. This knowledge alone makes my skin crawl: history and the future are intertwined.
— Friends, — Anton’s voice sounds solemn but sincere,
— «Today at dawn, what we have all been preparing for so long happened. Two new currencies were born. Although no… — he pauses and emphasizes — these are not just money. AUREUS and UEE are a completely different matter. These are coins of the new dawn, a reflection of our intentions and values. A tool that will help restart the human contract».
Jan AUREUS feels my throat tighten. Anton hit the nail on the head. The human contract — the unspoken agreement between people, torn by greed, inequality, mistrust — we are trying to rewrite it today. And the new coins are not an end, but a means. He catch Sergey’s eye; he smiles faintly and nods. We understand each other without words.
Anton continues, waving his hands around the screen with the asset map:
— «Do you see this map?
Behind each dot is gold, our common heritage, backed by law, stored transparently. This gold is the foundation of trust. Not a single one of these new units appeared out of thin air. Each one is tied to a real valuable resource and a real project. We use gold not for profit, but as a symbol of sovereignty and responsibility. It is outside of politics, outside of central bank games. No one can print more AUREUS or UEE than we all decide together, and no one can devalue them with their decisions.
I remember how in the old-world money was often created by pressing a key at a central bank, backed by nothing, and how easily people lost trust in pieces of paper and numbers in accounts.
Our path is different. Each AUREUS code appears only when there is meaning and value to which it owes its birth.
Each UEE is issued for a specific evolutionary task — be it the construction of a treatment facility in an arid region or the launch of an educational program in a remote village.
We assign a mission to each asset: if gold is put into circulation, it is immediately assigned to a project, for the benefit of a specific community.
Anton makes a sign, and a new inscription appears on the screen. This is the name of our first project, related to today’s issue:
— «Mission #001: Sunny Valley»
Jan heard about this pilot project: installing solar power stations and irrigation systems in one of the sunbaked, drought-stricken areas. Now it will be financed in EEOs issued under our gold bar.
And on the screen, you can see:
— EEO → Cooperative “ Solar Valley ”: The digits of the units being transferred begin to flash, confirming the transaction.
There are quiet cries of joy in the hall, and someone starts to applaud.
Jan looks at my colleagues’ faces — relief and pride are reflected in them. The first evolutionary exchange has taken place: the numbers on the card have changed, some of the gold has been «sent» to support a specific mission, and freshly issued EEOs have appeared on the cooperative’s account.
Maria squeezes my hand under the table. I didn’t even notice how she sat down next to me. Tears glisten in her eyes:
— «It worked, Jan… It really works,» she whispers.
He nod, feeling a pang in my chest. It works. But there’s still a long way to go.
Anton raises his hand, calling for silence, and speaks in a less formal tone, warmly:
— «We have been moving towards this morning for a long time. Do you remember how it all began? With the idea that the economy should serve people, and not people — debts and interest. We have rejected debt slavery, usury and speculation that have strangled societies for centuries. Instead, we have laid down the principles of transparency and trust».
Each of the cooperatives presented here has adopted these principles. Transparency — all projects, all transactions are visible in our blockchain cloud. Accountability — every UEE invested is tracked down to the last cent of its impact.
Evolution — Every investment is aimed at development, one step forward for communities and the entire planetary community.
As I listen, scenes from the past come to mind: how we argued at night about how to measure «meaning» in numbers; how we searched for words to describe our currency.
Then this word appeared — AUREUS. Many people wondered: what does it mean? For us, AUREUS — from Latin, meaning «golden» — was the name of a high-value gold coin in Ancient Rome, symbolizing purity, wealth, and enduring value a dual meaning: both literal gold and the timeless light of knowledge or truth that flows through the network of the Planetary Treasury. And in it, there was also something of vosti — conscience.
We did not decipher this abbreviation completely, leaving it as a code, as a symbol of meta-value.
AUREUS is the currency of spiritual and material equivalence. Well, today this symbol has come to life.
Anton seems to read our minds:
— «AUREUS is our beacon, a meta-currency that reflects the spiritual value of the economy. You could say it is the conscience of our market. It shows how much our actions correspond to our highest goals. And the UEE, the units evolutionary exchange, is a practical tool, a universal unit of account for everyday transactions. The UEE is tied to real value and allows us to trade without looking back at exchange rates and speculative markets. But remember: neither AUREUS nor the UEE are money in the old sense. They are devoid of the poison of profit. They are an account of intentions, a measure of trust and responsibility.
These words seem to ring an alarm bell inside me.
Not money, but reflections of intentions — you can’t say it more accurately. Jan catch myself smiling through the uninvited moisture in my eyes. Jan remember how many times he’ve heard the phrase «money is evil» or «all troubles come from money.»
But it was never about the money itself, but about what people put into it — greed, fear, power. We tried to put something completely different into the new coins: the intention to do good, the desire for balance, a collective mission.
Around the table, one after another, representatives of the cooperatives stand up — some physically present, some as holograms. They speak briefly, one after another, sharing joy and hopes.
The head of a Latin American cooperative thanks for the trust; a young engineer from Asia explains how their team is ready to immediately begin implementing Sun Valley; an elder from an island settlement folds his hands in prayer and pronounces a blessing in several languages. The common denominator in all of these statements is hope. Hope that now resources will flow where people and nature need them, and not dissolve in someone’s offshore accounts.
Jan feels a little giddy with the realization of how much will change. Of course, problems are not solved overnight. The old world and its habits will not disappear overnight. There will be skeptics, there will be opponents — those who will try to ridicule or break our system. But now, looking at these people, united by a common impulse, I am convinced: we have something that the previous reformers did not have.
We have a single platform of trust — a technology that is proven and transparent. The blockchain cloud stores every transaction, every semantic coefficient assigned to it. We see a new ethic of exchange being born. And we have faith — an almost religious faith — that man can overcome disunity if he is given a common reference point.
While the last speakers finish their speeches, I slip unnoticed from the table and go to the hall window. From here there is a view of the city and the distant horizon. The sun has already risen high, flooding the streets with bright light. I remember yesterday evening: the city was drowning in the usual bustle, people were hurrying, trading, the news was talking about market crises again… And today? The world outside does not yet know that here, in this hall, something new has been born. But I am sure that the echo of this morning will spread everywhere.
Sergey comes up to me, extends his hand. We exchange a firm handshake that says more than any words.
«Congratulations, brother,» he smiles.
— «Now there’s even more work ahead, you know.»
— «I know,» I answer, looking at the sky.
— — «But at least now we can see what we’re trying for.»
Behind us, applause erupts in the hall — apparently Anton has ended the meeting on an inspiring note. Jan hear the last words, drowned out by the noise of the ovation:
— ...this day will go down in history as the morning when we remembered that man is the creator of value. When intention became harder than gold, and our unity — the new currency!
The applause turns into a joyful roar. Some laugh, some cry from an excess of feelings. Jan look around the circle: people hug, shake hands, exchange the first AUREUS codes and UEE on their devices as a symbol of trust. He just wants to stop the moment: here it is, a community united by a common mission, like a big family.
He looks up at the morning sky again. An image comes to mind: a dark night in which people wander in search of meaning — and the first ray of dawn, the coin of a new dawn, falls at their feet as a golden glimmer of hope.
AUREUS and UEE are like two wings of a bird that lifts us above the old world. They give us a chance to fly over the abyss of mistrust.
It was clear: these currencies are not just money. They are a reflection of our intentions, a concentrate of our conscience and aspirations. They are a tool for restarting the human contract itself, a new social agreement about what we value in this life.
Jan smiles at the sun. The new dawn is growing brighter. And we hold its first coins in our hands, carefully, with hope — as if we were holding the hand of the future itself.
Chapter VI. Sovereign Cooperatives: Experience and Challenges
«The true strength of a cooperative is not in capital, but in the harmony of hearts directed toward a common goal.»
— From the Code of the Sovereign Partnership
Introduction: The Deep Call of Cooperation
You know…
Sometimes it seems that all the geniuses of humanity have long ago invented it. Economic models, corporate structures, financial algorithms — all this is beautiful and powerful… but soulless. And then you get to the simplest village. Where seven families share one tractor. Where decisions are made at a round table, and not on the board of directors. Where the word «trust» means more than any contract. And you suddenly understand: here it is, a living economy. Not abstract. Not corporate. But human. Cooperative.
That’s where my team and I headed — on a journey through the sovereign cooperatives of the new world.
South Africa: Light on the Edge of the Desert
— «We arrived in Northern Cape in the late afternoon,» I wrote in my log.
— «A small settlement on the edge of the Kara Desert, the site of the AHEC project, the Autonomous Hybrid Energy Complex.»
With us were Sandile, a local engineer, and Noela, a representative of a women’s initiative group. It was they who, without waiting for help from the state, began to build their own mini-energy supply system: solar panels, wind turbines, a bimodule.
— «We had no money,» Noela said, setting the tea on the rough-hewn table,
— «But we had something more important: the will. We just decided we weren’t going to wait any longer.»
— How did you agree among yourselves? — asked Maria, our cryptographer and economist.
— «Trust, sister. We wrote down all the participants, who helps with what — and just started. Only then did the rules appear.
Jan looked at these people and thought: sometimes the most powerful currency is intention.
India. School under the tree
In the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, under a vast BanJan tree, we met Pranav, a former IT guy from Bombay. He left a corporate job and set up a «Village Cooperative School» that operated without money.
— «Teachers and students are all members of the cooperative,» he explained.
— «The payment is not in rupees, but in time. One hour of teaching = one hour of participation.»
Young children wrote on stone with chalk. Older teenagers taught younger ones. And nearby, women wove rugs that were sold through a shared digital platform to support the school.
— «Why did you leave the tech world?» Jan asked Pranav.
He smiled:
— I didn’t leave. I just moved the technology to where it’s really needed.
Brazil: Harvest in exchange for light
— «In the state of Bahia,» said David, our Latin America coordinator,
— «Farmers have united in an energy and agricultural cooperative. They supply surplus crops and in return receive light.
Jan was riding in an old truck with Ana Lucia, the cooperative’s coordinator. The road was dusty and hot. In the back were sacks of coffee and cassava.
— «Banks don’t come to us. The state doesn’t see us. That’s why we became our own bank,» she said, showing a digital panel connected to the blockchain.
All members of the cooperative had smart contracts, and the distribution of resources was automatic. No corruption. No intermediaries.
And again, it was not money that was at the center, but the pulse of exchange and trust.
Philippines and Indonesia. Mission in the Jungle
In the Philippines, we were met by a Mindanao tribal elder whose community was involved in a project to tokenize natural resources, including old gold deposits and land holdings.
— «We don’t sell the land. We just tell the world: it exists, and we are its custodians».
In Indonesia we visited the eco-village» Sinar» Baru,» where each participant’s digital identity was linked to their contribution to the cause, from rice planting to teaching children.
A young programmer named Joy explained:
— «Our cooperative is a DAO. But not a cold one, but a living one. Decisions are made through tokens of meaning — AUREUS. We believe that value is created when you do for others».
Moscow. Meeting at the Peking Hotel
Summer 2019. I flew to Moscow for a short layover, but learned that a meeting of consumer cooperative supporters was taking place at the Beijing Hotel. The hall was old, Soviet, with crystal chandeliers, and at the same time, alive, as if something was being born in it again.
Second row. I took notes. The financial director of the cooperative «Bright Great Russia» Alexander Paramonov spoke on stage — energetic, confident, clear.
«We went from an idea to registration with the UN!» he said, and applause rang out in the hall. «Because faith and action go hand in hand. We didn’t wait for approval from above. We became each other’s support.
After the speech, I was introduced to the chairperson of the board of the cooperative, Anastasia Bogachuk. Calm, charismatic, reserved. She listened attentively, and without interrupting, asked only one question:
— «Jan, do you yourself believe in cooperation? Or are you just creating technology»?
«I believe you,» Jan answered.
— «Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come here. And I wouldn’t have listened to every story as if it were a message.»
She smiled and said:
— «Then welcome to our family».
Dialogue with the team
Later, in an evening cafe, we discussed what we had seen:
— «What do all these cooperatives have in common?» Maria asked, flipping through a tablet with photographs.
There is a lack of fear everywhere,» David said. «People started without guarantees, without money, but with faith.»
«And most importantly, without any legal complications,» Maria smiled. «Just: „You are my light; I am your bread.“ That’s all.»
Jan listened to them and remained silent. And then he said:
— «Because real cooperation is not built on paper. But on presence. When you are there. When you are needed. When you are not obliged — but you do it».
They fell silent.
At dawn, on a plane over the Caspian Sea, I opened my laptop and typed the phrase:
— «A cooperative is not a model. It is a mirror.
— It shows whether people are ready to be together — without coercion.
— And if so — an economy of the soul is born.»
Jan felt something in my chest open up.
We weren’t just starting a project. We were giving humanity back the ability to unite without fear.
Sovereign cooperatives have emerged around the world in response to the challenges of the global economy and local problems. In this chapter, we explore how the first such cooperatives emerged on different continents — from arid deserts to high-tech eco-villages — the challenges their founders faced, and how a common mission helped overcome barriers.
Our team analyzed information available in the public space, which reveals real stories of the cooperative movement from South Africa, India, Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia.
Through parallel plots we will reveal the «metaphysics of cooperation»: when trust between people replaces formal contracts.
The protagonist of our study, Jan Kowalski, once again sets out on field expeditions to see with his own eyes the living fabric of the cooperative movement and even to personally participate in one of these projects. His path leads through deserted villages and rural communities, all the way to a meeting with the leaders of a sovereign cooperative in Moscow’s Beijing Hotel.
Each story demonstrates that the true potential of cooperation is revealed where hearts beat in unison.
South Africa: Community Solar Power
One of the first examples of a sovereign cooperative in Africa was the energy cooperative SalTuba in Kwazakhele settlement, Gqeberha (South Africa).
Here, residents of a poor inner-city neighborhoods have taken their energy supply into their own hands. In a pilot project on public land, they installed 5kW solar panels and formed a primary consumer cooperative, with each family becoming an equal shareholder
southafricanlabourbulletin.org.
Patrick Bam, an executive member of the cooperative, explains how the ability to generate its own electricity has changed the life of the community. Previously, due to rolling blackouts (local load shedding) people were losing food due to defrosting refrigerators, household appliances were getting damaged. «We were losing a lot as a community,» says Bam, «but thanks to this project we generate our own electricity and even sell the excess to the city.»
Indeed, SalTuba not only freed dozens of homes from darkness, but also organized the sale of excess electricity to the municipality.
The co-op is run democratically: each household has one vote, regardless of their contribution, and decides together where to spend the proceeds from the sale of solar energy. At general meetings, members of the co-op distribute the profits — whether they invest it in expanding the solar installation (for example, increasing the number of panels from 15 to 40 during the project, or to fund other needs: a community garden, a soup kitchen, training for young people.
Young members are also involved: the co-op has given them the chance to learn how to install panels and manage the project. A young man named Lubabalo Mkhkiva has been trained in installation and is now responsible for connecting the new solar section to the grid.
As a result, SalTuba has become a model of ’energy democracy’: where the community itself owns and controls the energy source, and the benefits stay local, in the form of cheap electricity and social improvements.
The cooperative’s path was not easy. There were problems with bureaucracy at the start: city services did not issue an invoice for the sale of electricity for a long time, citing the fact that the land under the installation belonged to the municipality, and therefore it was not possible to install the necessary energy meter.
It was necessary to conduct numerous negotiations with the authorities, proving the legitimacy of the cooperative. In addition, two solar panels were stolen by unknown persons, which temporarily stopped generation
However, the residents themselves did not give up: they organized guards to protect the equipment and built trust in the neighborhood by holding explanatory talks about the importance of the project. There was also mistrust from some skeptics within the community — some did not believe that the «free sun» could provide light and income. But after the first few months of operation, the installation generated almost 9 thousand kWh, saving people about 19 thousand rand (≈$1000) and demonstrating real benefits.
This convinced even the doubters: the mechanism of trust, supported by transparency (all accounts and income of the cooperative are discussed at general meetings), turned out to be stronger than formal guarantees.
SalTuba’s experience has inspired other communities. There are now over 20 community energy initiatives across South Africa, where people collectively install solar panels or operate wind farms.
For example, in the Ekenhana settlement outside Durban, a solar community project powers a library and a classroom. And in the Eastern Cape, a community trust owns 9% of the large Tsitsikamma Wind Farm, generating a steady income from selling energy under a long-term contract with the national grid.
These examples show that even in poor areas the concept of «socially disadvantaged» energy is viable.
Cooperatives born from local needs successfully transform sunlight into social capital, strengthening people’s self-esteem and independence. This is sovereignty in practice — when a community determines its own energy and economic course, based on the consensus of its hearts.
India: Women «Sun Moms’ and Self-Governing Unions
In India, cooperative principles have been deeply rooted since the mid-20th century. Here, cooperation has become a driver of social change, especially through the involvement of women. One striking example is the work of Barefoot College in the desert state of Rajasthan. Essentially an educational cooperative, this community initiative has been teaching rural people useful skills since 1972, regardless of their literacy level, caste, or gender.
In 2005, the college launched a course to train women solar engineers. In the first few years, more than 300 rural women became certified «solar moms’, bringing electricity to 13,000 homes across India.
By 2011, the project had expanded to 24 other countries in Asia and Africa, providing electricity to another 6,000 families using the same principle — «educate your neighbors, light up your villages.»
These achievements mean not only thousands of light bulbs lit in previously dark huts, but also colossal savings on kerosene: every year, the female energy workers of the Barefoot College save communities from burning ~1.5 million liters of kerosene by replacing smoky lamps with solar lanterns.
Santosh Devi’s story is one of many that illustrates the metaphysics of trust in action. At 19, Santosh, a Dalit girl, went to study at Barefoot College. Not long ago, she would shyly avert her eyes when meeting people from higher castes, but today she has become the first solar engineer in her area, installing rooftop panels and repairing solar lanterns.
Returning to his native village Balaji ki Dhani, Santosh installed solar panels on all 20 huts. She hooked the community up to a cooperative model: each family pays a small monthly fee — the same amount they used to spend on kerosene, batteries and candles.
Santosh ’s modest stipend as an engineer, part goes to spare parts and batteries. There are no formal contracts — there is a word of honor and mutual benefit. The result is astonishing: the poorest Dalits, who were ignored yesterday, today have become clients and partners of their fellow villager-engineer.
Santosh notes how attitudes towards her have changed: «Earlier, when I met the upper castes, I had to lower my gaze, but now they themselves come to me for help. For them, I am a solar mechanic, someone who gives light.» Light in both the literal and figurative sense: the social status of girls like Santosh has soared, as they have become bearers of unique knowledge, for the benefit of the entire community financial and social, was gaining strength in India. In 1972, the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) was founded in the state of Gujarat. It started as a trade union of street vendors and then grew into a federation of many women’s cooperatives. These cooperatives united millions of poor women — seamstresses, weavers, farmers, domestic workers — to solve economic problems together that were inaccessible to them alone.
For example, the banking system considered such women «not creditworthy» and refused them loans. What did they do? They opened their own bank in the form of a cooperative, where the women themselves became depositors and co-owners.
This bank operates on the principles of trust: no collateral, instead — a guarantee from comrades and a reputation in the community. At first, the authorities were skeptical about the idea — the registration of SEWA Bank took several years, officials did not believe that uneducated women would be able to manage finances. However, after a few years, the cooperative bank successfully operated without losses, consistently passed audit checks and won the trust of thousands of depositors.
These early victories cemented SEWA activists’ faith in the cooperative model as a path to solidarity and self-reliance. «Women have proven that cooperatives are not only a way to organize, but also a means to gain strength against the big players,» says Reena Chatterjee, one of the movement’s leaders.
In the decades that followed, SEWA organized hundreds of cooperatives, from rural farmers’ marketing associations to artisans’ cooperatives, from insurance societies to nursing schools. All were guided by a single vision: full employment and self-determination for women through cooperation.
Of course, the path of co-operators in India has not been paved with roses.
Bureaucracy and government pressure sometimes got in the way: cooperatives had to be registered, and legislation for a long time did not take into account the specifics of women’s associations. Only in 2012, an amendment to the Constitution of India enshrined the right of citizens to create cooperatives and their autonomy.
But even now, SEWA leaders warn that the authorities must not turn cooperatives into «an extended arm of the government»; it is important to guarantee their independence.
For example, achieving tax breaks for small cooperatives and simplifying reporting procedures are issues that women cooperative members are now discussing at the national level, consulting the newly created Ministry of Cooperatives.
Internal problems — such as disputes over leadership, lack of management skills among poorly educated members — also arise, and are resolved through training and the principle of leadership rotation. But the key lesson of the Indian experience is that when people come together on the basis of trust and equality, they can «build an economy from below,» creating their own banks, markets, energy networks, and thereby changing the balance of power. The invisible mechanism of cordial consent has enabled rural women to come out of the shadows, gain a voice and resources — without which no official aid program could have achieved the same effect.
Brazil: Argo-cooperatives against desert and monopolies
In Latin America, the idea of sovereign cooperatives is often intertwined with the struggle for land and ecological survival. In Brazil, the model cooperative is CoopCerrado, which unites small farmers and wild fruit pickers in one of the country’s most vulnerable regions, the tropical savannah of the Cerredo. The Cerredo is a huge (the size of Mexico) biome that contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity, but in recent decades almost half of it has been destroyed by agribusiness (soy plantations, cattle ranches).
news.mongabay.comnews.mongabay.com.
Deforestation and chemicalization have led many areas to desertification, depriving the soil of moisture and life. In the 1990s, landless families of peasants began arriving in such places — participants in the MST (Landless Workers’ Movement) movement, who were seeking land through agrarian reform. One such family, Monica de Souza Ribeiro, was initially shocked by how much «poison» (pesticides) was used around to grow soybeans and livestock. She herself initially used fertilizers and chemicals in her small garden, but seeing the death of birds and insects, she thought:
— «I wanted to protect the nature of the Cerredo, but I didn’t know how,» recalls Monica.
The solution came when local enthusiasts suggested creating a cooperative of organic farms. Thus, in 2000, CoopCerrado was formed — initially from a few dozen families, and 20 years later it grew into a union of 5,000 families in more than 200 communities in five states of Brazil news.mongabay.com
The cooperative developed a «farmer trains farmer» model: experienced agronomists traveled to settlements, helping to switch to organic methods and certify products as ecological. One of the first projects was to organize collectors of wild favea — a local legume, from the pods of which pharmaceutical companies make drugs for hypertension. P
Previously, favea pickers — the poorest, often women and children without land — sold the raw material to resellers for next to nothing (0.22 reals per kg, which in the late 1990s was only about $0.04, a symbolic fee. At such a price, no one valued the forest: the pods were torn, breaking the branches, just to hand over more weight, because more labor was invested than profit. The cooperative did it differently: it helped unite into an artel, obtain an organic certificate and start direct deliveries to local factories without intermediaries. As a result, the price instantly jumped by more than 1000% — to 2.6 reals per kg (about $0.50). What yesterday they exchanged a bag of pods for a bag of salt today began to bring in a decent income for families. At the same time, predatory harvesting has stopped: the cooperative members are interested in preserving the favea in order to harvest it stably in the future, so they follow the rules of sustainable harvesting (not picking all the fruits, letting the groves recover). This case clearly demonstrated the principle: cooperation eliminates the exploitation of the most vulnerable links in the chain and makes nature an ally, not a victim of the economy.
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