WHAT IS A GLOBAL SOLUTIONS CENTER?

Below is some information about the center. Under resources, two book excerpts have been included. There is also a summary of what Chat GPT says about the idea.

Short info

The main function of the center will be to find and collect solutions and innovations to our local, national, and global problems and make them available to the greatest possible extent to as many people as possible and as soon as possible.

A comprehensive, dynamic, and impactful Global Solutions Center does not exist today.

Such a center would save society enormous costs, as it would shorten the learning curve, prevent problems, and accelerate societal development.

This would be a highly important contributor to a sustainable society and a means to help repair the damage we have inflicted on the Earth.

It will also be a center for learning and experience.

MAIN PURPOSE

Mapping solutions

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The aim is to scan for, map, connect, and communicate what works worldwide.

Colors have been emphasized to illustrate diversity and different sectors of human life.

Long info

What many people are not aware of is that almost every problem has already been solved. As it stands, excellent solutions to some of humanity’s biggest problems are constantly being discovered, but few are aware of them because the information is so fragmented.

Today, there is no large, dynamic, and comprehensive global center for solutions anywhere in the world that can collect, coordinate, and share them. Considering all the serious problems we humans face, it’s strange that such a center hasn’t already been established, but we probably haven’t been ready for it yet.

Never before in human history has it been more important to stimulate and mobilize collaboration, innovation, and research across all fields.

Background info
The idea of this Global Solution Center originally came from the United States and was developed by Barbara Marx Hubbard, who passed away in 2019. She was a futurist, author, and speaker.

As early as 1984, she launched the idea at the Democratic National Convention in the U.S., where she ran as a vice-presidential candidate, advocating for a new social function that could “scan for, map, connect, and communicate what is working in the U.S. and worldwide.”

Read more about her in The New York Times or on Wikipedia.

Avoiding Reinventing the Wheel
The problem today is that ideas and solutions are too often fragmented and difficult to access, and in surprising cases, we don’t even know about them, which means we have to reinvent the wheel. This is inefficient, cumbersome, and slows societal progress.

Many may know that Finland has one of the best education systems in the world, but not everyone knows that Singapore has solved its waste problem, or that there is a bacterium that consumes greenhouse gases, or that there is a black fungus feeding on deadly gamma radiation, or that we have found methods to extract clean water from the air.

Visitor area

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A place where visitors can study and mingle.

Holistic Thinking
It is absolutely necessary to include all aspects of human life, as everything is interconnected and influences one another. The interaction between humans and nature is very complex, as pandemics and climate change have shown us. At the same time, we face many other challenges, such as vast inequality and wars, which require us to think holistically and elevate humanity as a whole across all areas.

We must view everything in context. Stopping climate change requires more than just focusing on CO2 reduction and zero emissions. Everything is interconnected. For instance, deforestation in the Amazon is often driven by poor farmers who see no other way to earn much-needed income than abandoned degraded fields and cleared more forest. Thus, poverty and inequality are linked to our climate issues. Today, commercial companies are the main drivers of deforestation as they extract raw materials, prioritizing profit over the planet. And our extreme consumption contributes to this. This cannot be solved with new technology or zero emissions alone.

Therefore, such a solution center should focus on the whole picture. All aspects of human life should be included, such as:

• Science
• Economy
• Education
• Environment
• Worldview
• Government
• Media
• Health
• Justice
• Relations
• Infrastructure
• Art

(There is an introduction to each of these aspects in our book. For a different angle not generated by ChatGPT, visit this page.)

This way, we would not only accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN’s new Pact for the future faster, but also create a healthier, more empathetic, and friendlier society for everyone.

Since many of our problems have already been solved and we know they work, the solutions would be less politically controversial and, therefore, easier to implement.

The Structure of Solutions
There are many ways one can systematize and structure such a center with innovations and solutions.

The suggestion below, developed a few years ago, is just one of them, shaped like a circle with sectors based on themes. Ideas and solutions are placed in the sector where they belong. The sectors are then divided into smaller circles that correspond with the themes.

In this example, the environmental sector with its smaller circles is highlighted as an example. The numbers are only fictional and would be much larger over time.
(The text is in both Norwegian and English.)

Illustrations: GaiaInnovations

WORKING WITH HEALTH

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Looking at the health-related connection between consciousness and body.

WORKING WITH SCIENCE

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Understanding the small particles and the large cosmos and the forces surrounding them.

Prevention
Today’s mentality largely revolves around competition, materialism, and profit. If we are to make money from everything, it is not only destructive to people and nature, but also very short-term thinking. This will soon become the mentality of yesterday. The world of tomorrow must focus on other, more sustainable principles such as circular economy, collaboration, sharing, and trust.

For the public sector, such a center will be a huge enrichment. For the private sector, it will be a win-win situation for everyone involved when they realize the importance of sharing and not holding on to patents and rights, which would be yesterday’s more ego-oriented mentality.

In the long term, such solution centers can be established in multiple countries and coordinated among them. This holds enormous potential for prevention, which is highly cost-effective.

Climate and environmental issues have worsened significantly worldwide and will only escalate unless we take decisive action. The faster the transition to a renewable and sustainable society, the less painful it will be for people and nature.

The list of problems is endless, but so is the list of solutions and ideas. By establishing a global center for ideas and solutions, they can be coordinated and shared and thus become a significant contributor to solving the world’s problems more quickly.

Optimism and Hope
Such a Global Solutions Center will bring optimism and hope that we can succeed in the transition and find solutions to our challenges and problems. It will also help solve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN’s new Pact for the future faster.

While climate change, pollution, loss of nature, and species extinction are accelerating at an alarming rate, so are ideas, innovations, and inventions that can help us move as quickly as possible toward a more sustainable society.

The center will be a very important and meaningful contribution to the global community.

A Global Solution Center is forward-thinking and will create a brighter future for everyone.

CONFERENCE ABOUT LIFE

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Show that all life is important and has a decisive role for the planet.

Funding

Initially, it should be publicly funded, but the private sector can help, especially at the beginning.

Financing and establishing a Global Solutions Center is about understanding what it is and about political will. In recent years, and in the years to come, enormous sums will be invested in defense and weapons around the world, while prevention and peace work only receive crumbs.

It’s not about the funding, it’s about political will and long-term thinking.

Resources

Conscious
Evolution

This book is written by Barbara Marx Hubbard who is the originator of the idea. Chapters 10 and 11 of the book discuss this in particular. (Link to Amazon)

Question for ChatGPT

This is what ChatGPT answered about the idea of ​​a Global Solutions Centre.
The following question were asked:

Explain Barbara Marx Hubbard and her proposal for a global solutions center.

ChatGPT:

Who Was Barbara Marx Hubbard?

Barbara Marx Hubbard (1929-2019) was a prominent American futurist, author, and social activist known for her pioneering work in the fields of conscious evolution and human potential. Deeply inspired by thinkers like Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Buckminster Fuller, Hubbard believed humanity was at a critical turning point—a threshold where our survival depended on our ability to evolve consciously. She saw herself as part of a new vanguard of «evolutionary agents» whose purpose was to guide humanity toward a positive, sustainable future.

Hubbard’s approach combined her background in science and technology with her profound spiritual beliefs, setting her apart as a unique voice advocating for both personal and societal transformation. She was a passionate advocate for innovation, community building, and developing the human capacity for love, empathy, and creativity. Her influence spanned many spheres, from spirituality to technology and social activism, and she is often regarded as one of the founders of the «conscious evolution» movement.

The Concept of Conscious Evolution

Central to Hubbard’s philosophy was the idea of conscious evolution, which posits that humanity can intentionally direct its development, both individually and collectively. She believed that, unlike any previous species, humans possess the intelligence, creativity, and foresight to influence their evolutionary path. This concept of conscious evolution was a call for individuals to recognize their collective responsibility in shaping the future and harnessing their talents and resources for the common good. By evolving consciously, Hubbard envisioned a world where humanity would transition from competition and survival-based thinking to cooperation, unity, and sustainability.

The Vision of a Global Solutions Center

To realize this vision, Hubbard proposed the creation of a Global Solutions Center, a unique institution designed to address and solve humanity’s most pressing issues, from environmental crises to economic inequality and beyond. Unlike traditional problem-solving organizations or think tanks, Hubbard’s Global Solutions Center would be rooted in the principles of conscious evolution, integrating technological, social, and spiritual dimensions.

Key Objectives of the Global Solutions Center:

Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration: The center would be a meeting ground for scientists, engineers, artists, educators, spiritual leaders, and citizens from all walks of life. Hubbard believed that the most innovative solutions arise from cross-disciplinary collaboration. A diverse range of perspectives could, in her view, create a holistic approach to problems that are typically addressed in isolation. For example, a collaborative team could work on solutions to climate change that integrate ecological sustainability, economic resilience, and community empowerment.

Global Problem-Solving and Innovation Hub: The center would focus on generating and implementing ideas that have global implications, not merely localized or temporary fixes. Hubbard envisioned a place where participants would brainstorm and apply solutions to challenges like poverty, food scarcity, disease, and environmental degradation. She proposed a proactive model where the center would anticipate future challenges and prepare solutions before they reach crisis levels, essentially serving as a “brain trust” for humanity.

Spiritual and Ethical Foundation: Hubbard’s vision for the center was deeply grounded in ethics and spirituality, which she believed were essential for genuine and sustainable progress. She advocated for a moral framework that would guide scientific and technological advances, ensuring that these developments align with human values and ecological preservation. Hubbard’s center would nurture both the mind and the spirit, cultivating a sense of responsibility and interconnectedness that transcends individual and national interests.

Empowering Human Potential and Self-Actualization: At the heart of the Global Solutions Center was the belief in human potential. Hubbard saw each individual as a unique contributor to the collective, capable of self-actualization and growth. She believed the center should provide resources and opportunities for people to develop their talents and abilities in ways that benefit society. This focus on self-actualization wasn’t merely self-improvement; Hubbard saw it as a transformative process where individuals could engage fully with their communities and the world around them, leading to more fulfilled lives and a stronger, more compassionate global society.

Education and Outreach: Hubbard also imagined that the center would serve as an educational hub, disseminating information and fostering understanding of global issues and solutions. This outreach component would ensure that individuals and communities worldwide could benefit from and participate in the center’s work, democratizing access to knowledge and resources for positive change.

The Global Solutions Center in Action: A Vision for the Future

In Hubbard’s ideal world, the Global Solutions Center would operate as both a physical and digital space, connected globally to ensure wide-reaching participation. Technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and digital platforms would allow the center to gather real-time data on pressing global issues, enabling quick, data-driven responses. She also envisioned satellite centers around the world, making the initiative accessible to people from diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds, promoting local solutions that resonate with global ideals.

Example Projects

Examples of projects that a Global Solutions Center might undertake include:

Climate Adaptation Initiatives: Developing programs to help vulnerable communities adapt to climate change impacts, such as innovative agricultural practices, water conservation, and renewable energy solutions.

Global Health Initiatives: Creating affordable healthcare solutions, like telemedicine and mobile clinics, to serve remote areas, combating pandemics, and ensuring universal access to vaccines and treatments.

Educational Programs for Conscious Evolution: Providing educational resources on conscious evolution, sustainability, and emotional intelligence, empowering individuals to become «agents of change» in their own communities.

Legacy and Influence

While the physical manifestation of a Global Solutions Center has not been realized in the way Hubbard imagined, her ideas have resonated widely and influenced various movements and organizations worldwide. Concepts aligned with her vision, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), echo the Global Solutions Center’s ethos by addressing interconnected global challenges in a collaborative, sustainable way. Organizations promoting conscious business, environmental responsibility, and social innovation have also drawn on her ideas, integrating ethics and purpose with technology and progress.

In the broader context, Hubbard’s legacy can be seen in the growing focus on conscious business practices, the integration of mindfulness and emotional intelligence into leadership, and the increasing call for ethical frameworks in technological development. Although Hubbard’s work was often seen as visionary and idealistic, her proposals offer a foundation for reimagining our approach to global challenges, reminding us that humanity has the capacity not only to survive but to thrive and evolve consciously.

Relax Room

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A place where staff can relax, study and mingle.