The UK government has been engaging in a number of consultations this year that some commentators are claiming are evidence of the “Great Reset” being advanced. (1) Consultations on Digital ID and Road User Charging have already closed but feedback on the Digital Pound (also known as Central Bank Digital Currency – CBDC) ,proposals can be submitted until 11:59pm on June 7th this year (2).
The UK is not alone in this. In fact, according to the Bank for International Settlements, the international financial institution owned by central banks, “90% – is engaged in some form of CBDC work.” (3) Two, The Bahamas and Nigeria are the first to have an official, nationwide CBDC. (4) The concern is that the CBDC “offers the banksters numerous options, including the ability to combine the cashless society with the biometric ID grid and even a social credit system.” (5) Yet, there are those that suggest that potential abuses can be mitigated by a “digital constitution of human rights.” (6)
Investigative journalist David Haggith has little faith in such a constitution:
“Far less do I trust a system of bankers to keep everything I do that can be traced through financial activity sacred just because they create a digital constitution for my privacy. Even less do I trust such a system not to be used by my government to shut me out of the world financially or narrowly regulate my financial activity if I do something the government disapproves of.” (7)
Arguably, what raises the ire of some commentators even more than CBDC are ‘Fifteen Minute Cities.’ The brainchild of Professor Carlos Moreno who envisioned:
“A well-planned neighbourhood should provide its residents with essential services within walking distance; this would be extremely convenient for people as well as reducing the congestion and pollution associated with driving and encouraging more walking and cycling instead, which are good for public health and wellbeing; you might even help build stronger communities along the way.” (8)
Paris, France and Oxford, UK were early subscribers to the initiative, with Newham, Waltham Forest and Westminster in London also Keen. (9) However, there are many and even advocates acknowledge this, that impute more sinister motives in the scheme, linked to United Nations Agenda 2030 and their Net Zero green agenda and the ubiquitous World Economic Forum (10):
“Residents are allowed to leave their 15-minute city a maximum of 100 times a year, but then they must first register their car, which is tracked throughout the city via smart cameras. While the initial allotment of escape tickets may seem reasonable to some, once the public accepts that the state has the right to confine you, it is guaranteed that they will add additional restrictions and fewer permits to leave your zone. This was established very clearly and quickly in many Western nations in the past few years under the rubric of Covid restrictions.” (11)
In contrast, supporters suggest that benign community develop is at the heart of fifteen minutes cities, the idea just needs to be marketed batter. (12) Whereas critics regard it as part of a suite of repressive dictates that includes digital money, digital ID and more.
The issue for the Afrikan community is whether it can assert itself and influence the outcome of any of these plans. Perhaps The Bahamas and Nigeria have a point by getting in early and getting ahead of the curve. Many of the critiques around Covid dismissed as “conspiracy theories” turned out to be true, while others remain just theories. We will need to determine a process for distinguishing one from the other.
(1) Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (24/05/21) How will the “Great Reset” affect Afrikan Liberation? https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/how-will-the-great-reset-affect-afrikan-liberation-240521/; Peter Guest (20/02/23) Conspiracy Theorists Are Coming for the 15-Minute City. https://www.wired.co.uk/article/15-minute-cities-conspiracy-climate-denier
(2) HM Treasury and the Bank of England (07/02/23) Open consultation :The digital pound: A new form of money for households and businesses? https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-digital-pound-a-new-form-of-money-for-households-and-businesses
(3) Anneke Kosse and Ilaria Mattei (2022) ‘BIS Papers No 125 Gaining momentum – Results of the 2021 BIS survey on central bank digital currencies.Bank for International Settlements. p. 1. https://www.bis.org/publ/bppdf/bispap125.pdf
(4) James Corbett (16/05/22) Examining the sinister growth of digital currencies around the world. https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/examining-the-sinister-growth-of-digital-currencies-around-the-world/
(5) Ibid.
(6) Marica Micallef (17/12/22) The World Government Summit and the European Central Bank are all for the Elitist bankers. https://simonmercieca.com/2022/12/17/the-world-government-summit-and-the-european-central-bank-are-all-for-the-elitist-bankers/
(7) David Haggith (23/11/22) The WEF’s Digital Tyranny: “Are We Ready for a New World Order?” Cashless Society Talk Goes Mainstream in a Hurry and Should be Trusted Like the NSA. https://www.globalresearch.ca/the-wefs-digital-tyranny-are-we-ready-for-a-new-world-order-cashless-society-talk-goes-mainstream-in-a-hurry-and-should-be-trusted-like-the-nsa/5800066
(8) Jack Brown (19/02/23) Conspiracy theories about “15-minute cities” are false. But advocates should explain the concept better. https://www.onlondon.co.uk/jack-brown-conspiracy-theories-about-15-minute-cities-are-false-but-advocates-should-explain-the-concept-better/
(9) Ibid.
(10) Tiffany Hsu (29/03/23) He Wanted to Unclog Cities. Now He’s ‘Public Enemy No. 1.’ https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/technology/carlos-moreno-15-minute-cities-conspiracy-theories.html
(11) Amy Mek (11/01/23) British Protest 15-Minute Cities Where They Will Become Prisoners of the State. https://rairfoundation.com/british-protest-15-minute-cities-where-they-will-become-prisoners-of-the-state/
(120 Brown. Op. cit
(12) y Robert Knight (05/03/23) COVID-19 ‘conspiracy theories’ turned out to be true . https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/mar/5/covid-19-conspiracy-theories-turned-out-to-be-true/
we ask the question:
15 Minute Cities – building community or advancing repression?
1) Have you engaged in any of the government consultations?
2) Can Bahamas and Nigeria exert influence by getting ahead of the curve?
3) Will a “digital constitution of human rights” provide sufficient protections?
4) What mechanism do we have for determining the accuracy/truth of a theory?
5) What is the Pan-Afrikan position on these schemes\?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of 40 years standing and is author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Ifayomi Grant: in addition to operating his own consultancy firm Paul Grant & Associates Ltd, Bro. Ifayomi is the author of a number of exciting and dynamic books ‘Niggers, Negroes, Black People and Afrikans’ and ‘Blue Skies for Afrikans’, ‘Saving Our Sons’, ‘Sankofa the Wise Man and His Amazing Friends’, ‘Why Willie Lynch Must Die’ and ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’. He is an active member of the Afrikan community and is involved in a number of community groups some of which he founded or co-founded:Nubian Link www.nubianlink.org.uk a community education group, ABDF Ltd (www.abdf.co.uk), a community economic development company, Nottingham Black Families in Education Parent Support Group and Brother II Brother an Afrikan men’s group. He is an executive member of the Foundation for the Sustainable Development of Africa (FOSDAF) www.fosdaf.org an international group promoting grassroots Afrikan economic empowerment. In addition to his www.houseofknowledge.org.uk that houses writings, information and resources, Bro. Ifayomi has also launched a the website: www.blackfinancialfitness.com as a learning platform to facilitate economic empowerment.