SMI²LE - View to the Future

The Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) is an officially furnished fund, which administers the profits from the local oil production of Alaska.

A state-wide referendum held in Alaska created the Alaska Permanent Fund in 1976 as a state fund to govern revenue from oil extracted in Alaska. Prior to the creation of the fund, the US government was accused of embezzling the revenues from traded oil. Currently, the fund receives 25% of the revenues earned from its trade. Whereas, half of the revenues are distributed to the population of Alaska to compensate them for the high cost of living. The compensation is distributed equally to all citizens of Alaska. They are free to spend their share on anything they desire. This sum may vary yearly. It depends on profits within the last five years and the amount of people living in the state at the time.

Citizens of Alaska who have previously been convicted of a crime are not eligible to receive this compensation. Applicants are required to have lived in Alaska for one calendar year prior to obtaining their share and must stipulate their intentions of living in the state. The money the citizens receive from this fund is considered taxable income.

In Curitiba, a city in Brazil, the Megacities project has implemented a special institution which finds solutions to problems arisen from its population, keeping in mind the needs of the population. This organization informs the citizens of decisions made that will affect them and the city they inhabit.

The principle of Curitiba is to obtain general approval and necessary strategic approval of positive visions, scenarios, and ideas, that will ensure the project will benefit all being affected by it.

As a result of the success of the project in Curitiba, its citizens have gained more trust in their neighbours and more confidence in themselves. They are not afraid to share their dreams and ideas with others. They have not been earning more money, yet they feel luckier and more confident in life. They have become more honest and understanding. They believe that cultures of different people should belong to everyone.

Megacities is an international organization of government officials, community representatives, scientist, members of NGO’s, business people, and members of mass media who offer help solving city problems using alternative methods.

The project’s objective is to make cities more social, economical, and more appealing to live in. Since 1987, twenty-one of the largest cities of the world have had created special research groups working to gather ideas which would improve the standard of living in large cities.

A collection of small propositions, has allowed the project’s members to come up with extremely effective resolutions. The project treats every city as an individual laboratory, where they implement the best solution for the particular situation. It is a collective resolution, actively solved by the people who are directly involved.

Local organizations provide suggestions to solve the problems, and the citizens of the city can vote on how to implement what has been suggested. The organization then, uses their experience to perfect the theories, methods, and strategies.

«A basic income is not a charity. It is not just an assistance. It is a civil right. It is the right of each person to participate in the wealth of the nation,» explains Dr. Eduardo Suplicy – professor of economics, who sits in the parliament of Brazil under President Lula and represents the federal state of Sao Paulo.

It is thanks to the work of Dr. Suplicy that the Brazilian law already contains an Unconditional Basic Income – with an aim for the future.

Why is Mr. Suplicy fighting for a Basic Income?

«Because I want to find the truth. I want to find the way, to eradicate absolute poverty, to build a just society, to improve income distribution, to have justice. And to struggle for the day, when everybody may sit at the table of fraternity. Like Martin Luther King said: «I have a dream.»»