
Supporting the SomosMiel Revolution: Time to Act – Article by David Wood
David Wood
Editorâs Note: The U.S. Transhumanist Party features this article by David Wood, Chair of the London Futurists and Secretary of Humanity+. Â He argues in support of the Somos Miel party and their work in Spain, initiatives which are similar to work supported by the US Transhumanist Party in the United States. This article was originally posted on David Wood’s blog on April 24, 2019.
~ Brent Reitze, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, May 2nd, 2019
The most important changes often arise from the bold actions of outsiders.
Those of us who desire positive humanitarian change need to be flexible enough to recognise which outsiders can be the best vehicles for the transformations we want to see in society.
And we need to be ready to get behind these opportunities when they arise.
Consider the key example of the transformation of healthcare, towards a new focus on the reversal of aging as providing the best route to better health for everyone.
For those of us who hold that vision of the forthcoming âabolition of agingâ, what are the most practical steps to make that vision a reality?
Hereâs my answer. Itâs time to get behind âSomos Mielâ.
Futuristicamente
Miel is a recently formed political party, which is taking part in Spain in the elections on the 26th of May to the European Parliament.
The word âmielâ has two meanings. First, itâs the Spanish for âhoneyâ. Somos Miel means âWe are honeyâ. The association of honey with improved health exists in many cultures around the world.
Second, MIEL is the abbreviation for âMovimiento Independiente Euro Latinoâ. Translating from Spanish to English gives: âThe Independent Latin Euro Movementâ.
Heading the partyâs list of candidates is JosĂ© Cordeiro, described as follows in the introduction of his Wikipedia article:
JosĂ© Luis Cordeiro is an engineer, economist, futurist, and transhumanist, who has worked on different areas including economic development, international relations, Latin America, the European Union, monetary policy, comparison of constitutions, energy trends, cryonics, and longevity. Books he has authored include The Great Taboo, Constitutions Around the World: A Comparative View from Latin America, and (in Spanish) El Desafio Latinoamericano (âThe Latin American challengeâ) and La Muerte de la Muerte (âThe death of deathâ).
Cordeiro was born in Caracas, Venezuela from Spanish parents who emigrated from Madrid during the Franco dictatorshipâŠ
Heâs evidently a man of many talents. Heâs by no means a European political insider, infused by the old ways of doing politics. Instead, he brings with him a welcome spread of bold outsider perspectives.
When asked if he is from âthe rightâ or âthe leftâ, his answer, instead, is that he is from âthe futureâ. Indeed, he often appends the greeting âfuturisticamenteâ after his name, meaning âYours futuristicallyâ.
JosĂ© is also known as a vocal advocate for ârevolutionâ â a revolution in the potential of humanity. He has the courage to advocate ideas that are presently unpopular â ideas that he believes will soon grow in public understanding and public support.
Working together
I first met José at the TransVision 2006 conference in Helsinki, Finland. I remember how he spoke with great passion about the positive possibilities of technology in the next stage in the evolution of life on the earth. As the abstract from that long-ago talk proclaims:
Since the Big Bang, the universe has been in constant evolution and continuous transformation. First there were physical and chemical processes, then biological evolution, and finally now technological evolution. As we begin to ride the wave into human redesign, the destination is still largely unknown but the opportunities are almost limitless.
Biological evolution continues but it is just too slow to achieve the goals now possible thanks to technological evolution. Natural selection with trial and error can now be substituted by technical selection with engineering design. Humanityâs monopoly as the only advanced sentient life form on the planet will soon come to an end, supplemented by a number of posthuman incarnations. Moreover, how we re-engineer ourselves could fundamentally change the ways in which our society functions, and raise crucial questions about our identities and moral status as human beings.
Since that first meeting, the two of us have collaborated on many projects. For example, we both sit on the board of directors of Humanity+. JosĂ© has spoken on a number of occasions at the London Futurists events I organise â such as TransVision 2019 which will take place in London on 6-7 July. And we are named as co-authors of the Spanish language book La Muerte de la Muerte which has attained wide press coverage throughout Spain.
Another thing we have in common is that we are both impatient for change. Weâre not content to sit back and watch impersonal forces operate in society at their own pace and following their own inner direction. We believe in doing more than cheering from the sidelines. We both believe that the actions of individuals, wisely targeted, can have a huge impact on human affairs. We both believe that inspired political action, at the right time, can unleash vast public resources in support of important transformational projects.
We also recognise that delays have major consequences. Each single day that passes without the widespread availability of reliable treatments for biological aging, upwards of 100,000 people die as a result of aging-related diseases. Thatâs 100,000 unnecessary human deaths, every single day â preceded in almost every case by extended suffering and heartache.
Moving faster
On a positive note, there is considerable good news to report, regarding progress with regenerative medicine and rejuvenation biotechnology. The Undoing Aging conference in Berlin last month contained an encouraging set of reports from a host of world-leading scientists working in this field. Keep an eye on the Undoing Aging channel in YouTube for videos from that event. For a review of the human implications of these scientific breakthroughs, the forthcoming RAADfest in Las Vegas in October will be well worth attending â to hear about âthe most powerful information and inspiration for staying aliveâ.
But the opportunity exists for progress to go much faster, if more elements of society decide to put their weight behind this project.
Thatâs where Miel comes in. JosĂ© is a well-known figure in Spain, due to his many media appearances there. Current indications are that he stands a fighting chance of being elected to the European Parliament. If elected, heâll be a tireless public advocate for the cause of rejuvenation healthcare. Heâll promote studies of the economic implications of different scenarios for the treatment of aging. Heâll also champion the creation of a European Agency for Anti-Aging, to boost research on how addressing aging can have multiple positive benefits for the treatments of individual aging-related diseases, such as dementia, cancer, and heart failure.
Youâll find a number of articles on the Miel blog about these aspects of Miel policy. For example, see âWithin 25 years, dying will be optionalâ and âIâm not afraid of artificial intelligence, Iâm afraid of human stupidityâ.
Youâll also observe from its website how Miel is, wisely, giving voice in Spain to a community that perceives itself to be under-represented, namely the Latin Americans â people like JosĂ© himself, who was born in Venezuela. Those of us who arenât Latin Americans should appreciate the potential for positive change that this political grouping can bring.
Time for action
Despite the groundswell of popular support that Miel is receiving, itâs still in the balance whether the party will indeed receive enough votes throughout Spain to gain at least one member in the European Parliament.
Iâm told that what will make a big difference is an old-fashioned word:Â money.
If it receives more donations, Miel will be able to place more advertisements in social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc). With its messages in front of more eyeballs, the chance increases of popular support at the ballot box.
In a better world, money would have a lower influence over politics. But whilst we should all aspire to move politics into that better state, we need to recognise the present reality. In that reality, donations have a big role to play.
To support Miel, visit the partyâs donation page. Donations are accepted via credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal.
But please donât delay. The elections are in just one monthâs time. The time for action is now.
One thought on “Supporting the SomosMiel Revolution: Time to Act – Article by David Wood”
Me parece una gran idea crear una fuerza polĂtica europea capaz de impulsar y acelerar el antienvejecimiento y la revoluciĂłn tecnolĂłgica en curso, sin duda, con mucha diferencia la mĂĄs transcendente para la humanidad amĂ©n de su urgente necesidad. Una nueva Era para la humanidad o la trans-humanidad, lo que espero que aĂșn sea muy reflexionado y debatido sin que ralentice los avances.
Me extraña e incomoda que un documento tan importante dirigido al mundo hispano no esté en español. Pido que el español sea el idioma habitual de MIEL sin perjuicio de las traducciones que procedan.
Ser capaz de mirar ese futuro verdaderamente estimulante y deseable me parece, por si sĂłlo, ya un motivo de adhesiĂłn. Sin embargo, actualmente considero que el tiempo es un continuo y el futuro no tiene sentido sin el pasado y el presente. Las naciones lo debemos todo a nuestros ancestros y la personalidad de las mismas son una riqueza que la diversidad humana aporta a la evoluciĂłn.
Revisar la historia es una fuente de conocimiento que no debe ser despreciado por mĂĄs que el foco en el futuro sea primordial.
Voy a mirar los programas pues ya estoy mĂĄs que tentado de dar un voto a esa visiĂłn de futuro en el Parlamento Europeo de este 26 de mayo del 2019.