Gradido strategy after lockdown
Künzelsau, 24.02.2021 - The Corona crisis, with its massive contact restrictions, provides researchers from all disciplines with the perfect basis for exploring the fatal effects of isolation and loneliness. At the same time, the current situation provides countless new evidences for the realization that nothing can influence a person's quality of life and lifespan as positively as stable social contacts, appreciation and participation in community life. Researchers at the Gradido Academy for Economic Bionics therefore see an urgent need to reform future coexistence in a way that enables and promotes caring and vibrant togetherness. Unconditional participation is one of the cornerstones of their Gradido model for a healthy and meaningful life.
Social relationships are the key to a long happy life
One of the best-known long-term studies on the question of which criteria are decisive for a long and happy life is conducted at Harvard University in the United States. Since 1938, the family and professional life as well as the health and psychological condition of the participants have been documented for the "Grant Study". Sixty of the original 724 men, who were recruited in equal numbers from freshmen at the renowned Harvard University and from very poor Boston families, are still available today. The impressive result of this longitudinal study on the decisive factors for happiness and health: "One of the most important keys to a long and healthy life are social relationships".
People need togetherness
The healing power of good social contacts is also confirmed by psychoneuroimmunologist Joachim Bauer. "Social affiliation and experiences activate the so-called reward systems in the brain and release the feel-good messengers dopamine and oxytocin. We feel that others accept us and give us benevolent attention. It reduces anxiety and relieves stress."
Lonely people die earlier
"Permanent social isolation is one of the greatest dangers to our health," warns health psychologist Prof. Sonia Lippke. According to her findings, the areas in the brain that are also responsible for pain become active during such stress. In addition, there is insomnia, a weakened immune system and declining cognitive performance, which can even lead to dementia. Other devastating consequences: "There is an increased risk of developing cancer or suffering a stroke or heart attack, even an earlier death from the various diseases is possible."
Growing loneliness is bad side effect of lockdown
Loneliness researcher Marcus Mund confirms, "Loneliness numbers went up during the lockdown," and his colleague, Maike Luhmann of Ruhr University Bochum, cautions, "Basically, as a society, we should have a general interest in making sure that people don't suffer. That means, if only for humanitarian reasons, we should try to combat loneliness."
Gossip tills, grant software, families for rent and a ministry to combat loneliness
Creative measures are already in use at a wide variety of levels to alleviate the fatal consequences of social isolation. In the Netherlands, a supermarket chain has introduced so-called 'chat checkouts' in 2019: At the 'Kletskassa', the focus is on chatting instead of snappy check-in. In the field of artificial intelligence, robots with attention programming have been developed. Online portals offer 'friends' for hire and the Japanese company 'Hagemashi Tai' allows entire families to be booked as company. The British have even had their own 'Ministry of Loneliness' since 2018.
A solution for society as a whole is needed
The Belgian psychoanalyst and book author Professor Paul Verhaeghe advises that the current system should no longer be seen as without alternative, but instead that a value-based society should be designed in which the conditions for business, work, education and life are less profit-oriented. Otherwise, he sees the danger that deeply human needs for love, belonging and closeness will be forgotten.
The Gradido model is based on the deepest human needs
The researchers of the Gradido Academy for Economic Bionics therefore see the liberation from loneliness as one of the central challenges to a social model of the future. "We have long identified isolation, with its serious psychological and physical consequences, as one of the worst evils of our time," emphasizes Bernd Hückstädt, economic bionicist and co-founder of the independent research institute. "Knowing that it not only makes people healthier but is also the key to a happy life if they participate in community life was our impetus to develop a model that enables people of all ages to play an active part in society throughout their lives. According to our principle of 'Unconditional Participation', everyone can really contribute to the community with their individual skills and talents. This is the development of potential for all. With 'Unconditional Participation', we create the opportunity for each individual to develop new talents and improve skills, so that everyone can take ever greater pleasure in the contribution they make."
The financial basis for these charitable activities is created by the 'Active Basic Income', which is paid out in the maximum amount of 1,000 Gradido (GDD) per month for contributions to the common good. In addition, the concept for the common good currency provides that per capita also 1,000 Gradido (GDD) per month for the state budget and 1,000 Gradido (GDD) for a nature and environment fund are scooped.
Borrowing from nature's success models that are millions of years old, economic bionics researchers have thus created a model that could make a new kind of living together and working together possible, in which there are no losers. "Through the new type of debt-free money creation and the incentive to actively contribute to the community for one's own basic security through the 'Active Basic Income', we could find our way back to a way of life that makes both the elbow society and social isolation a thing of the past and thus offers the best basis for a fulfilled life," explains Margret Baier, owner of the Gradido Academy. Baier and Hückstädt therefore see an urgent need for the peaceful transformation of the current economic and financial system - for the benefit of a happier, healthier and more meaningful professional and private life - and invite all life-affirming people, companies and organizations to network in a 'Great Cooperation' with the Gradido Academy.
Details about the 'Great Cooperation', the 'Gradido-Model' and Gradido-Podcast at (www.gradido.net
About the Gradido Academy
The Gradido Academy for Economic Bionics has developed an alternative 'common good currency' based on the models of nature. Nature follows the rule that only where something passes away can something new emerge, and thus long-term improvement (evolution) is possible. Its recipe for success is the 'cycle of life'. If our economy were also to follow this natural cycle, then, according to the assessment of the bionic economists, practically all the world's monetary problems could be solved. The Gradido model is based on the idea that not only every person, but also every state receives income generated on a credit basis. It can thus fulfil all its tasks without having to collect taxes. Deflation or inflation are a thing of the past. The economy is freed from the constant compulsion to grow, the danger of a collapse of the financial system is finally averted.(www.gradido.net)