User:Andrew Graham

Team Culturing Information

last updated February, 2013

WHO are you?

• Name/Nationality/Ethnicity - Andrew Graham, Australian
• Location – what is your city and country? - Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Contact Information – queglay at gmail dot com, Skype - queglay
• Introductory Video- Not yet available.
• Resume/CV – My Visual FX Showreel Resume
• Hobbies and Pastimes – Procedural visual effects, electronic music production, robotics, electornics, DC motors, arduino microcontrollers, walking, meditation, esoteric research and awareness, teaching, waking up people through truth and inspiration, research into alternative energy, snowboarding, getting things done!

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

• Do you endorse open source culture?

It's the only way forward. It's clear that even if we created abundant energy and had the technology of your wildest dreams that it will only continue to be available to the 1% and thus further widen the gap. Indeed, the technology we have now would be indistinguishable from magic to someone 100 years ago, and things aren't really any different. The washing machine is probably the only invention that actually liberated any significant number of people, and it didn't even stretch that far.

• Why are you interested in this work?

I have previously researched alternative energy as a means to free humanity. But I've now realised that even with mass proliferation of such an ability that the OSE model has the capacity to provide it all within reach, and now. It is potentially a much more stable decentralized force that can provide humanity a catalyst for growth. It can be a pulling force to distribute people away from cities. This is one of its most exciting aspects to me. That as the "developed" cities lifestyle will continue to diminish that the OSE approach can present a true alternative to those seeking a different way.

• Are you interested in teaching about the GVCS?

Yes, I'm hoping to teach about the GVCS in Byron Bay and Ravenshoe Queensland. We intend to replicate the model here and to instruct others on how to do so.

• Are you interested in economic relocalization possibilities arising from the GVCS?

Absolutely, it's one of the most inspiring aspects to me.

• Do you want to use the GVCS technologies yourself? Do you want to build them yourself?

Yes, we have a network that would allow us to build them ourselves. We are also considering purchasing from OSE and shipping the 4 currently available units back to Australia in a container if it would be more cost effective. If we did this I would be interested in a visit to be involved in the manufacture with others to learn. Once we had these in Australia we would have a good basis for constructing a fabrication workshop.

• Are you interested in starting up enterprise using the GVCS technologies?

Yes. I am considering options to setup as a non profit organization as well.

• Are you interested in having the GVCS technologies fabricated by your local custom fabricator?

Yes, I hope to also be preset to do some of the work myself and to learn these techniques.

• Are you interested in applying the GVCS to third world development? To redevelopment of crisis areas? To development of derelict areas in the developed world?

If the GVCS were fully operational in Australia, this would be an excellent keystone for being able to apply the same approaches in somewhere like Cambodia which greatly interests me. I have also previously been involved with NGO's there that would likely be willing to help us do this.

• Are you interested in starting up Industry 2.0 flexible fabrication enterprises for your local community, by drawing from a global repository of freely down-loadable designs and fabricating using open source fabrication equipment?

Yes, I think this is fundamental to the growth of the GVCS and for it to be self sustaining.

• Are you interested in the potential of the GVCS for developing local food systems?

Yes, I think food forests and sound permaculture techniques can reduce the assumed dependency for this we are used to but it is an important step towards autonomy of any self sufficient community.

• Are you interested in doing academic studies/papers, publishing books, or doing other analysis of our efforts?

I perform analysis all the time towards improving efficiency, but applying it to anything other than something that is immediately relevant to me is not something I'm driven by.

• Are you interested in financial investment opportunities arising from our work?

Yes, this does interest me since I am investing as much as I can into our own GVCS and propagating this philosophy.

• Are you interested in the distributive economic aspects of our work, and if so, how do you see this playing out?

Yes, I think that distributing education and enabling those that seek to replicate OSE's educational approach with potential immersion programs is a great way to gain momentum in enabling distributed economy - provided the infrastructure exists to take on educating the growing number of interested people.

• Are you interested in building renewable energy production facilities based on open hardware (solar concentrator electric, wind, biomass power).

This would be a tremendous achievement, I can't wait. A solar concentrator steam engine combination is something that I think is realistically in reach and would be incredibly enabling for many people because it could be done with relatively simple technology in theory.

• Are you interested in building resilient communities based on access to the GVCS?

Yes, we are aquireing 80 acres this month (March) in Queensland, Australia to do this on a small scale, and looking at another 160 acres in Byron Bay, NSW.

• Are you interested in creating a bug-out hut using GVCS technologies?

No, a backpack and knowledge of edible plants will do. Besides, I'd rather bank on creating an abundant alternative over total failure.

• How do you think that the GVCS can help alleviate the instabilities of global monetary systems?

Read above. To quote Marcin "By relocalization of economies."

• How do you think that the GVCS can address issues related to resource conflicts?

No one fights over air, yet. We can make resource conflict obsolete if everyone has what they need. Decentralized local stewardship of the land is far more beneficial than the current approach of incorporating it. I've seen one man create a full canopied rainforest out of a grass field and have it world heritage listed. If someone can do that, then we can transform any land into land that is abundant. If we can produce a better environment and seed more land with this approach coupled with the ability to provide affordable shelter and knowledge then potential resource wars would not occur.

• How do you think that the GVCS can address issues of overpopulation?

From my understanding, education and empowerment of women is the most powerful determining factor for the birthrate. It approaches 2.1 or less when a civilization has these characteristics which is a beautiful thing. The GVCS coupled with a powerful distributive education model can be more far reaching across humanity in reaching this than any other alternatives we currently have.

• How do you think that the GVCS can address issues of resource depletion and environmental degradation?

Currently, the "developed" cities and our means of exchange (fake fiat currency) detach humans from what they take and what they create. The result is waste, apathy, and ultimately destruction. We are much more attuned to efficiency and waste when we are connected to what we take and what we produce. The GVCS and enabling self sustaining communities by making the option far more attractive through the possibility of less time required is a big draw card for getting humans to see an alternative. There is nothing innately wrong with humanity as we are sometimes guided to believe, humanity is just in a situation/environment that is creating its insanity.

Introduction

I just joined the true fans, and hope to become an OSE facility replicator in Northern Queensland (Australia) and a facilitator for the OSE model. I'd like to start as an intern or to join the immersion program when it is ready. I'll start by introducing my intentions and abilities.

I know myself to be a very driven generalist with broad talents. I have achieved what I have sought thus far by listening what I'm passionate about. I think OSE is a great catalyst for global change that also represents an approach for me to grow and use my collective talents, its something I wish to dedicate myself to. I am very interested in the immersion program and am willing to spend as much time as necessary to learn how to build the fundamental components of the GVCS as are presently developed, and to assist future development.

In our ability to replicate a facility, we have potential access to some machinery already such as earth movers, and are well connected with the local network for metal workshops and can arrange to use their tools. Our ability to start with the primary components of the GVCS is great because of this network. I see myself as a driver in assisting this reality in Australia and as such I want to educate myself with more of the machinery, construction and metal work skills required for me to go further. I have been in visual FX/CGI for 15 years total, and consider myself a master of digital media and especially 3D and simulation. I studied a Bachelor of Design qualification under scholarship, and also have a Certificate 4 in Electronics. I am also proficient in product modelling/design in Solidworks and architectural visualization in 3DS MAX. I did this for 10 years, helping to provide the successful contracts of large developments such as Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and The Melbourne Cricket Ground. As a relevant example I have produced technical animation of complex machinery for conversion of waste plastics to diesel fuel.

Waste plastics to diesel fuel conversion video

I am proficient in writing code for Arduino micro controllers and Python. I've built DC motors / battery charge controllers for automation and 16 bit data acquisition using the Arduino with my own code. I started printing circuit boards when I was 8 and have used dark room projection methods on PCB and metal bending fabrication to make an AC-DC variable power supply. I've taken some basic courses in blacksmithing, welding and metal work, and am excited about developing these skills, its a motivation for me to get away from the computer and use that 3D part of my brain for other things :) I've also experimented with Bedini motors which have interesting implications for solar (like being able to capture energy from moonlight into a battery by re-gauging voltage), being able to run DC motors at much higher efficiency, and improving the longevity and capacity of lead acid batteries.

I have recently purchased a share of land in Queensland, Australia with 5 other parties (80 acres, debt free). Proliferating the open source philosophy has been something that has been growing with me for a long time. We have the collective intent to setup as an educational resource for anyone who visits abroad, and to provide tools and knowledge to the local communities in Ravenshoe, potentially extending to Byron Bay in the future. We will finalise ownership of our land plot at the end of March 2014. Many of the others involved in our property already have an exceptional understanding of permaculture and aquaculture, and are producing all of their food where they currently live. Our property in subtropical climate is capable of supporting 90% of Earth's plant species according to Matali, one of the shareholders in the land. We have river frontage and multiple (spring fed) dams on the property. We are networked with some of the best talent in Australia in permaculture. I personally hope to contribute by enhancing more of my abilities in the engineering/mechanical capacity and to teach. As a teacher, I have previously lectured at 2 Australian universities in CAD, taught Final Cut Pro and repairing/building hackintoshes to children in Asia and worked with an NGO in Cambodia. I have also previously taught a specific mathematics program to some gifted secondary students.

I understand that the GVCS and immersion program is not yet complete, but after learning what is available currently I believe I would be useful in further development of OSE tools that are underway at your location during that time. I could learn much just through osmosis in being there, and I'm keen to get involved.

I feel this is the right time to start communication with you all as I am located considerably closer than Australia at the moment! I am currently located in Vancouver, Canada on contract with Sony Imageworks. I'm working on 3D Visual FX for Spider man as an FX TD.

I have used other specialized procedural 3D tools like Houdini, excellent for creating custom simulation and organic and large scale evolving 3D toolsets. These areas will help with design and potentially animated documentation of any future projects to make replication for other adopters easier.

2 of us at the property are also audio producers to a very high skill level, and I am experienced with professional photography/videography. I have aerial experience in photography from helicopters and UAV's. We intend to construct 2 audio production studios on the property, so being able to cover digital distribution and internet media in the future is an area that we have covered.

contact me at- queglay at gmail dot com

Previous work-

LED lighting sequence design for the Doha Asian Games

Interface Design

Interior design

Aerial photography and videography

Subaru showroom fitout

Informative animation on architectural design principles

Architectural animation

Town Planning

Product modelling using a micrometer and Rhino 3D