Question 2: How is the Integral Trust Fund and integral economics different from regular economics?

The Integral Trust Fund, which is a small project, and other more developed and highly successful institutions like, Grameen Bank and FINCA, are not different from regular economics in the sense of free-enterprise and business. The only differences arise in the focus of the people and members who make up the organization. Using the Integral Trust Fund as an example, the initial phase is the social phase or the integral microcredit program which provides small amounts of capital called shares, to women for their small business ventures. Included in the social phase are village hygiene, interrelationship and village-based leadership. This phase if for basic stabilization. The next phase is the ecological and further business development phase which is to develop larger projects such as alternative energy sources, a grain processor, biodiesel oil extractor, school for natural agriculture and general academics, import-export business etc. The King of Thailand has developed a comprehensive constructive program for his people, and we are working closely with Thai biologists, engineers, forestry personnel and farmers in order to adhere to the constructive program.

      The basic tenets of integral economics are well developed, while at the same time the field is moving forward into the future opening new avenues of understanding. The following should help to clarify and provide further discernment in understanding integral economics. Organizations, institutions, projects:

·        Maintain simplicity in operations so as to decrease cumbersome and costly administrative structures. That savings goes into creating jobs on the level of the poor.

·        Keep the capital “on the ground” level. In other words, the capital of the bank is recycled into the communities. Capital is not drawn off from the profits to pay for high salaries or expensive buildings and the like. The fund is designed specifically for community service.

·        Use shares for income generating businesses. Shares are not consumer loans. At the ITF, we use the simple term of sharing because capital is shared between the ITF and the villagers to create business opportunities and access to the market.

·        Focus on providing capital for women entrepreneurs, though there may be men involved as well. Currently, 100% of ITF members are women.

·        Have a significant degree of social and ecological awareness and relevance.

·        Provide for education, village infrastructure and for the right use of technology.

I am grateful to all of those people who have asked specific questions. It has enabled me to move from the ideas into actual intelligible description and then into practice. Though there is much information available about the poor, it doesn’t arrive in the mainstream as a focus, and thus, many people do not fully know the plight of the poor. I hope that I have been able to bring the poor closer to those people who I know, or have met from first world countries, and who are concerned about those less fortunate than they.