Seasteading: Heroes of Freedom
I've been following the Seasteading Institute for quite some time. Did you know it started before bitcoin (April 15, 2008 to be exact)? Nine months ago, I interviewed Randy Hencken about it which you can see here: Interview: Randy Hencken of the Seasteading Institute, Blue Frontiers, and VARYON!.
I was able to meet Joe Quirk at Anarchapulco in February as well:
He's the author of the book Seasteading: How Floating Nations Will Restore the Environment, Enrich the Poor, Cure the Sick, and Liberate Humanity from Politicians (best book title ever!) which I picked up in Acapulco with a BTC payment:
He gave a great talk and also facilitated a fascinating workshop where we all created our own Seasteads using our hotel chairs and "floated" together to create larger community groups.
We had various challenges to face and problems to overcome, and it was one of the most practical things I've ever seen within the "freedom and liberty" movement. People actually had to think hard (possibly for the first time) how their voluntary society would actually work based on real-world examples of what could happen.
It was exciting to be there during an historic moment. The first Seastead had just gone live! You can view the full video playlist here, with the first video appropriately named "Facing the storm":
THE FIRST SEASTEADERS 1: Facing the Storm
The storm certainly did come. If you've been following the news the last week or so (or my Facebook feed), you've heard that Chad Elwartowski and his girlfriend Nadia Supranee Thepdet are essentially fleeing for their lives from the violence that is the nation state government system. I've been fortunate enough to become friends with them on Facebook and track this story as it unfolds. The utter ridiculousness of the archaic use of violence by the government is being exposed for all to see. It's absolutely absurd to think these two peaceful people living 13 miles away from the land represent an existential threat to Thailand requiring a punishment of death or life in prison.
This is insanity.
I'll start from the beginning include some of my Facebook shares and posts on the topic so far. Click on the images to view the original posts:
Motherboard Vice article: Seasteading Bitcoin Fans Say They're 'On the Run' From Thai Government
Bangkokpost Article: Seastead couple in crosshairs
Earlier this month, I was actually getting a little discouraged by what was happening. Here was a brave, freedom-loving couple facing the full force of the violent nation-state system simply because they wanted to live free. Read Joe's book to fully understand how important Seasteading is. So many global problems from ocean acidification to water shortages to sea dead zones to climate change to food shortages can be solved with Seasteading principles. This is the future and the most beautiful part about it is it's completely voluntary! There is no hierarchy of power or violent control keeping everyone in line. If people can't get along, they are free to float along and find a different community to connect to.
BBC News Article: US man could face death penalty over Thailand 'sea home'
Ocean Builders’ response to the Thai Navy moving our seastead
MSN Article: Thai navy tows floating home of fugitive U.S. 'seasteader'
CCN Article: Bitcoin Couple’s Seasteading Dreams Sunk by Thai Navy
CNBC Article: Thailand tows bitcoin trader’s floating home; owners may face death sentence
At this point, you might be wondering why I care so much about this. You might be wondering why I'm following this story so closely and sharing so many articles on this topic. To me, this is one of the most important battles for the future prosperity of the human species and potentially the planet's ability to support complex life as we know it. Our species thrives when given opportunity for creativity, exploration, overcoming challenges, invention, and prosperity through voluntary, free expression of our intention. Seasteading provides all of this and more (don't take my word for it. Go read the book!).
Governments know this. They know their time of monopolized dominance and control through threats of violence is limited. The future is decentralized and voluntary. The future involves prosperity that doesn't fight the natural systems of the planet but works with them to the benefit of everyone and everything. This is important because it allows for the existence of competing service providers to break up the monopolies of government. This is a path to freedom.
Those involved in this effort like Joe, Chad, Nadia, and all the support staff, volunteers, and supporters of the Seasteading Institute, Blue Frontiers, Ocean Builders, and groups like them are nothing short of heroes of freedom. These are the people the history books will write about because they are the ones who will change the world. They will bring about opportunities for freedom that our children, our children's children, and every generation after will enjoy.
I'll leave you with these inspiring words posted publicly by Chad just a couple hours ago:
Facing life in prison or even death, he's not backing down. That's what a hero looks like.
Feel free to click on the images above and interact with the posts mentioned or re-share these news articles with your own friends and family with your commentary. People should understand that freedom is a threat to violent governments. People should withdraw their consent from these governments and put their energy, time, and money into new solutions. We can do better as a species and this is part of the path forward.
Thank you for reading, sharing, and caring.
Unfortunately, the only way to preserve your freedom is to have more firepower than those that may threaten you.
The nation state exists because it is the smallest grouping able to provide security for its members in a Hobbesian world.
Seasteading without your own navy is admirable but deluded.
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I personally think the "Hobbesian world" is deluded and strongly influenced by his own specific life experiences. Most people don't actually want to threaten anyone. It's a small group of people that maintain the myth of authority. If people stopped believing in it, they would have no power. That includes the minds controlling the fingers pulling the triggers on the guns.
And no, I do not at all think a nation state is the smallest group. I think it's the largest land grab that was possible at the time in human history where war and conquest were still considered "honorable" and they killed and stole as much as they could. See Steven Pinker's book Better Angels of Our Nature for a different view on human nature and how it may change over time.
You are quite right about personal experience affecting whether you see the world as Hobbesian.
Most people in advanced economies live the vast majority of their lives in a non-Hobbesian world, protected by laws, lawyers, police, armies and government from the harsh realities of the world. This is a good thing, but it means most people are deluded.
It just takes experience of your noble seasteading endeavour being wrecked by the nasty power of naval ships with heavy weapons to understand that, under all our veneer of civilisation, only those who can properly defend themselves are really free.
Unfortunately, in the modern world, because of the cost and power of modern weapons, the only way you can properly defend yourself is with your own nation state.
When we met in Krakow you saw the Jewish quarter, empty of Jews, and heard my story about the Nazis murdering my mother-in-law's entire family in a tiny village a few hundred miles east.
Israeli Jews understand that only by having your own nation state can you properly defend yourself, your family and your values.
Jews tried many other options for 1900 years of exile from the Land of Israel and all of them failed to provide proper protection.
It is also true that most people don't actually want to threaten anyone. But it is irrelevant, because most people are sheep and will follow that small group of people who are willing to create that myth of authority by the exercise of power, including physical violence.
The best one can hope for is to pick a nation state that matches your values and ideals as much as possible. Everything we are doing with Crypto & Steem can replace some centralised governmental functions, but not those to do with law, order, security and defence.
While ever humans retain our weak and fragile biological forms (including helpless babies) this is the reality we are stuck with.
Absolute insanity what a Gov't will do when it feels the slightest bit threatened.
Wow this is a really cool concept that is new to me, thanks for sharing, Luke! Gonna have to look into this some more.
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Off topic but nice T Shirt, "No masters, no slaves", wonder if you ever heard the rainbow song " I am no one's master, no one's slave"...
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I haven't heard the song, but yes, it's one of my favorite shirts. I got it at Anarchapulco a couple years ago.
Definitely crazy and just another example of what power and corruption can do when centralized. Wish them the best!
Freedom isn't easy, and also i have a question can you do this in US, France, Canada? And if it's really freedom are they successful of any country? I imagine that if seasteading build it in Myanmar I don't know what will happen to them now.😨😨😨😨 I think they should take a lawyer and talk to Thai gov, nobody kill anyone so easy. It's better to ran away.
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And when they build it they don't know? Thailand has military prime minister? If seasteading want to build floating house you have to make sure you will not get trouble. You think that it's fine because it's internation water but some people dont think the same as you.
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