The Seasteading Institute

Anders Arfelt

Tervuren, Belgium – LinkedIn – Facebook

Anders Arfelt has a rich history working with ocean industries and is planning to assist in our outreach to regulatory bodies and maritime organizations. He is currently director for a Dutch protection and indemnity insurance specialists company, where his specialties include maritime risk management for ocean vessels. Previously he was a senior international affairs officer at the Baltic International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the chief officer responsible for the development of emergency organization at Norwegian Cruise Line, and a maritime casualty manager and investigator at Skuld P&I. Anders holds an unlimited master’s certificate for oceangoing vessels.

“I strongly believe that the solution to many of the problems experienced globally can be found in the maritime domain,” states Anders. “Therefore, I really want to make full use of my vast maritime experience to further the objectives of The Seasteading Institute. I have practical maritime experience from sailing the largest oil tankers ever built, to sailing cruise ships with thousands of individuals on board, to organizing and assessing safety and investigating accidents. I have lobbied for the shipping industry in relevant international and global institutions in order to seek to influence regulators and administrators. I am convinced that the experience and business models used in the traditional shipping industry, as well as their regulatory framework, will provide many of the solutions required to establish maritime industries and eventually seasteads.”

Allison Marks

Los Angeles, California, USA

After graduating with honors from the University of California at Los Angeles, Allison received her Master’s degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Allison is dedicated to disseminating innovative principles and practices of proprietary government in order to enable humankind to create a peaceful, stable, and durable civilization – a goal that has thus far not been achieved. Allison lives in Los Angeles and works as a marketing professional. Outside of work and the Seasteading Institute, she enjoys dancing, writing, running and yoga.

“Humankind’s technological progress has far exceeded its social progress. This explains why we have the capacity to launch rockets into space or discover the composition of an atom, yet we are still plagued by the same problems as ever – war, corruption, famine and poverty. When the founding fathers of the United States of America declared We don’t need a king, and established a democracy, this signified a monumental step forward in the direction of human freedom. But even a democracy does not allow for absolute freedom, for in a democracy, the minority is bound by the will of the majority. However, proprietary government offers an alternative. In proprietary government, people may choose to subscribe to goods and services in the same way they subscribe to non-governmental goods and services – by comparing the price and quality of items offered by a variety of competitors. I volunteer as an ambassador with The Seasteading Institute because I feel it is paramount to disseminate to the world a new vision of “government” – one that is proprietary, and that allows humankind to enjoy lasting peace and freedom.”

Vivien Sin

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Vivien is the founder and president of EnvisionDo (www.envisiondo.org). She is an economics major at the University of Chicago. She spent two years at United World College with students from 100 different countries, who are all selected based on their potential to “make the world a better place”. This experience prompted her to start EnvisionDo at the end of her first year out of a desire to ignite more action-oriented idealism among students. She currently serves on the board of Chicago Club for Alternative Investment, Chicago Society, Outside the Lines, and a number of other organizations. She is passionate in entrepreneurship and is fascinated by the fast-paced and solution-driven culture of the start-up world. She is committed to creating more models in which sustainable business strategies could be combined with social causes. She is also strangely obsessed with elephants and dreams of opening an orphanage for baby elephants whose parents were killed by poachers.

“I am passionate in the startup industry, and what I have learnt from the startup industry is that there’s no failure. The word for failure is “pivot”, meaning that it’s an opportunity for one to learn and develop. I believe this is why the tech industry is so vibrant- experimentation allows the industry to try, fail and therefore, learn quickly. I had a dream of being the Secretary General of the UN when I was young, but that dream was shattered when I learnt of how inefficient many NGOs and institutions are. This sentiment is applicable also for governments. I believe current governments are truly inefficient, and The Seasteading Institute’s solution of providing a platform for experiments of political policies truly appeals to me.”

Lasse Birk Olesen

Denmark & Singapore – LinkedIn – Facebook

Lasse Birk Olesen is an engineering student and columnist. He has been a friend of The Seasteading Institute since 2009. In the past he has arranged for Patri to speak in Denmark to an audience of more than 100, has given six of his own seasteading talks, administered our 2009 seastead design contest, written three letters to the editor about seasteading, and arranged three seasteading meet-ups in Copenhagen. As an official ambassador he has already given a talk to a group of 30 people.

Charles Peralo

Rock Hill, New York, USA – LinkedIn – Facebook

Charles is a high school student that has been involved with Monticello Eco Club, the Gary Johnson presidential campaign, Our America, GOProud, the Phillips Campaign, and his own online startup company called Streams and Bubbles. His interest in both politics and business has led him to be actively involved with seasteading. In August of 2011, Charles appeared as guest on the Adam vs. The Man news show to promote seasteading.

Dan Dascalescu

Silicon Valley, California, USA

Born and raised in Romania, Dan moved to the Bay Area in 2005, after getting his degree in computer science. Dan is an active promoter of seasteading, secular humanism, rationality, critical thinking and libertarian ideas, and attends events related to emerging technology, psychology, skepticism, behavioral economics and transhumanism. After working as a software engineer for Yahoo!, Dan founded the Quantified Self forum and now is CIO at the first commercial seasteading venture, Blueseed.

Paul Martin

Albuquerque, New Mexcio, USA

Paul graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in History, Paul was an early employee at PayPal, serving for two years as the Senior Product Manager for products comprising 80% of PayPal’s revenue. He then spent three years as the self-employed owner of a web-based micro-business, Noss Galen Baby. In 2008, Paul entered the realm of law enforcement, joining the Albuquerque Police Department, which is considered to be one of the premier local law enforcement agencies in America. Paul and his wife Alison are the proud parents of five young children.

“For me, seasteading would mean the fulfillment of two long-held dreams: pioneering a new frontier and making a real, positive change to human governance,” says Paul. “I once believed that space was the only possible new frontier, but space appeared to be beyond the reach of my generation. I once believed that political activism was the best way to make a difference, but I quickly found that activism in the modern political environment was ineffective. Seasteading changes all of that. Now there is a huge new frontier to be settled. Now there is a way to change all the rules. I hope to contribute to seasteading both as a pioneer and as a law enforcement officer. And I hope for my children to have many seasteads available to them as choices of where to build their own lives and families in the decades ahead.”

Julian Le Roux

Cape Town, South Africa – LinkedIn – Facebook

Julian became interested in seasteading when he heard Patri predict on the BBC One Planet radio show that seasteads would attract two types of people—skilled migrants from developing countries, and entrepreneurial pioneers. Julian notes, “I am both those people.”

“In my lifetime, over a million skilled individuals have fled South Africa due to problems created by seriously dysfunctional government. No doubt they went through immense stress and struggle to obtain work permits, residency and citizenship—all to be ruled by states that are only slightly better. For me, even an early seastead sounds like a superior prospect.” Seasteading also brings out Julian’s entrepreneurial spirit. “The business opportunities and challenges genuinely excite me, to say nothing of the technological and futuristic aspects. As an anarcho-capitalist, the chance to try revolutionary ideas and institutions that are prohibited on land is tantalizing. Actually living in a truly free society, that would be a dream come true…The end goal of seasteading is to catalyse technological progress in the industry that needs it most—the most important industry of all—governance. The effect this could have on global quality of life, and the course of human history, cannot be overstated.”

Harvey Multani

Loma Linda, California, USA – Website

A recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, Harvey discovered seasteading by way of his research into objectivism and anarcho-capitalism. After researching The Seasteading Institute’s mission and philosophy, he found himself agreeing with the idea that the best way to promote freedom and good governance is through example.

“I thoroughly believe in the cause of competitive governance and am ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work in educating those around me. I believe the fundamental barriers to increased freedom in modern society is not due to politics, but due to lack of education. Even seemingly simple ideas like comparative advantage are not immediately intuitive and require deft explanation to create impact. I want to be part of this movement and help bring about a society of competing utopias.”

Agata Niedermann

Zürich, Switzerland

Agata works as a political risk advisor at a niche insurance company in Switzerland handling political risk insurance, where she is involved in product development and promotion. She enjoys the innovative and creative character of her everyday work, which inspires her to take up new challenges. She has previously worked at various international organizations and at a Zürich -based think tank dealing with contemporary security challenges. She holds a MA degree in International Relations and Eastern Studies and is particularly interested in political philosophies and future studies. During her time as a student in Poland she led a local unit of the Young Democrats Association, where she focused on organizing social, charity and political campaigns. She also co-founded a gender circle at her university, whose main aim was to promote the general tolerance and equality of human beings, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs.

“My professional experiences in political risk insurance, at international organizations as well as years of political activity made me realize the size of social, economic and legal challenges individuals are dealing with. I deeply believe that a community building process should take place according to a “bottom-top” strategy instead of a “top-down” approach. I am convinced that individuals must be given a chance to create small or bigger societies, in which they would share similar values, based on common trust and respect. I believe that each human being has to realize his or her right to the independent thinking, free mind and free activity. Therefore, I am absolutely convinced that we can only be satisfied as parts of the global society, if we are allowed to build societies according to our values and not be imposed on by others’ rules and often senseless regulations. In the politically and economically turbulent times of today, when the “democratic” governments fail, we are in need to create independent communities, which will serve us and not the imposed laws. I am convinced that those aims can be achieved through hard work, strong commitment and determination of enthusiasts.”

Jules Wellinghoff

Washington DC, USA

Jules Wellinghoff is an undergraduate student at Oberlin College majoring in Biology. His main areas of interest are human health, infectious diseases, and biologically-based technologies. He is excited about seasteading from an interest in intentional communities, the positive effects it could have on established governments, and its potential role in medical innovation by providing the opportunity to avoid burdensome regulations.

“My reasons for supporting seasteading are its potential to allow for new types and scopes of intentional communities, its ability to enable innovations in medicine and increased patient choice, and its likely role in improving governments of established countries… I am very much in agreement with The Seasteading Institute’s stated belief that seasteading will improve established governments. Seasteading will allow for experimentation and competition in government structure which everyone, seasteaders and citizens of established countries alike, stand to benefit from. Further, I have witnessed how massive groups often result in inefficiency and lack of creativity in projects compared to small, tightly-knit groups. I believe that seasteading will allow for increased advances of all varieties by allowing people with shared motivations to more easily form communities united around common objectives.”

Ryan Garcia

San Diego, California, USA

Ryan is an attorney and entrepreneur originally from Waimea, Hawai’i, and now residing in San Diego with his lovely wife Marlo. He advocates for the Seasteading Institute in order to contribute to the establishment of new international communities where individual freedom can be realized. .

“I am an ambassador for The Seasteading Institute so that I may positively contribute to the establishment of new international communities where individual freedom can be realized to an extent yet unseen by humankind. The emergence of even a single polity committed to coercing none and treating all equally will inspire a sorely needed socio-economic and political reformation worldwide, leading to greater freedom and prosperity for more individuals.”

Kenneth Myers

Denison, Texas, USA – Website – Facebook

Kenneth is the director of the Intensive English Program at Grayson Country College in Denison, Texas. In addition to working as a professor and an administrator, he has written and edited various textbooks and other training materials. he has also run for statewide office with the libertarian nomination, taking 12% of the vote.

“I am an ambassador because I’m passionate about seasteading, I would like to live on a seastead, and I need to work towards a some glorious and freer future if I want to wake up not depressed.”

Tony Dreher

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Tony discovered seasteading while researching Panarchism and thought it was absolutely brilliant. Shortly afterwards, while working toward an MPA at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he became the Institute”s first intern.

“I just really love seasteading – the tabula rasa-ness of it, the whole sci-fi pioneer angle, everything. I want to make connections with the first-movers in the seasteading industry. I’ve got a decent number of big ideas I want to see executed and this is the crowd to take them to…seasteading only has a couple of decades before it really blows up, so if I want to be known as one of the visionaries, as one of the harbingers of a radical new world paradigm.”

Philipp Kalwies

Germany & Austria & Switzerland

Philipp Kalwies is a entrepreneur from Hamburg, northern Germany. He began a study of international economics at the Otto-von-Guericke University in Magdeburg, but quit in order to pursue a career as an entrepreneur in Hamburg, giving sales trainings for sellers and taking responsibility for the promotional marketing of big hardware companies. As an anarcho-capitalist from birth, yearning for liberty, he always wanted to build his own anarchistic state. When he incidentally found seasteading he was immediately in favor of it and organized a talk by the Institute’s founder Patri Friedman in Hamburg. In 2010 he organized the largest libertarian conference ever in Germany, at which Patri also spoke. Philipp has written articles for libertarian magazines and also gave a talk about seasteading to 250 members at the annual academy of the high IQ society Mensa in Germany. In 2011 he will speak again.

Karim Elsahy

Cairo, Egypt – LinkedIn

With a Masters in Architecture, Karim initially started his career as an architect and designer for a firm in Boston that specialized in Iraqi Reconstruction. Always a serial entrepreneur at heart with several involvements since his teen years like founding an architectural outsourcing company. Karim has since founded and developed four tech companies and a MENA region VC fund. He is interested in “earning his ticket” on a seastead.

Ethan Blonder

Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Ethan is a economics, law and environmental policy student at College of William and Mary. He believes the relationship between the three issues is vastly underrated in importance, and that understanding how these three work together may be a key to solving many of the world’s pressing issues.

“My interest in seasteading is primarily philosophical and economic. I strongly believe in people’s right to do what they please, so long as it does not interfere with others’ rights, but also believe in small, primarily local government. In essence, I’m a libertarian, much like the founders of the Seasteading movement, and would like the opportunity to see if the ideal worlds of Hayek and Mises really would produce the wealth and innovation expected by economists.”

Angelo Adam

New York, NY, USA – Google+

Angelo graduated from NYU in 2008 with a bachelors degree in International Politics. He has studied and worked on three continents, and is a dual citizen. His first experience in entrepreneurship was after graduating from college, when he and a friend thought it would be a good idea to start a startup company in their free time. Starting his own business showed him the inherent rewards and challenge of building a website, marketing, sourcing manufacturers, and creating a legal framework for a company. He plans on utilizing these lessons in future endeavors.

“The goals of The Seasteading Institute are in accordance with my personal philosophy. While my personal goals are to build a social platform to increase public participation in governement, I share many of the long term goals in common with the Institute.”

James McBennett

London, England – Website – LinkedIn – Facebook

Interested in design, architecture and entrepreneurship, James has studied at the Architectural Association, University College Dublin and the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the Encouragment of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) and has worked at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, de Smedt Architects and Kohn Pedersen Fox.

“I believe design will play a pivotal role in the success of each seastead and I hope to explicitly highlight the new opportunities and design potential of living at sea.”

Andrew Stover

Hiawatha, Kansas, USA

Andrew graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) with a BS in Global Security and Intelligence Studes, and is now attending Kansas State University to pursue a degree in Entrepreneurship. While at ERAU, he was the Treasurer of the Student Government and the founder of his school’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty. He has experience working for the US Department of Defense, and also started his own intelligence company, www.ironsightsintel.com.

“The idea seems crazy, and that’s what I like about it. Going to the moon once seemed crazy, but the men whose footprints still remain up there in the dust are now considered heroes. I greatly desire to be part of this project, to be a true pioneer of this new philosophy, boldly going where no one has gone before. More than a job, I desire a purpose and the means to sustain it.”

Joey Cline

Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Joey currently resides in Indianapolis, IN and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Logistics & Global Supply Chain as well as a Six-Sigma Black Belt and has served in leadership roles in retail, international, and manufacturing industries. He is also the co-Founder of a product and services company called Myrmidon Industries Inc. (www.myrmidoninc.com) His volunteer work includes a child abuse prevention group, animal rescue, and he is a supporter of conservative political efforts. Joey enjoys a particular interest in history, evident in his company’s name, and is an award winning power-lifter.

“When correct vs. incorrect becomes less important than the agenda regarding governance and society, debate is no longer effective or worthwhile, as a solution is thus no longer attainable. We are at a time where the need of this testing ground for ideas regarding governance and law, outside the strains of overwhelming regulation and skewed by tainted marketing efforts, is crucial. I am very eager to help the seasteading initiative grow and succeed.”

Aleš Nohel

Bratislava, Slovakia – LinkedIn

“I have been dreaming about this concept since I have been able to comprehend the size of oil rigs and restrictiveness of governments. I know this is a great proving ground for self-sufficient human colonies that are based on the newest of technologies that can help us prepare for colonization of space and avoid the mistakes of the past. This concept will enable the new countries to leap and bound over existing nations as it happened during the industrial revolution. I would like to be a part of this revolution as I see it as a great opportunity to forward a good cause. The concepts and hurdles are challenging in a way that is similar to those we will face when expanding into space commercially and thus a great opportunity to use my skills and learn to apply them to tough negotiations. I hope to open the eyes of those who doubt the possibilities and benefits of seasteading. With various crises sweeping the world, this may be the best way to introduce new philosophies and socio-economic concepts without much of the resistance one would experience in trying to shift established political and cultural systems throughout the established states. I am eager to be part of this revolution as I like to challenge the status quo.”

Chelsea Brown

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Chelsea was actively involved with Junior ROTC and Girl Scouts in her hometown in Wisconsin. She moved to Florida for college where she is majoring in English with minors in art history and psychology. She is thoroughly interested in Government and strives to spread share her interests with others.

“We, as inhabitants of the same planet, should be promoting new and innovative ways of thinking and living. Government should not be a constant, but a revolving notion that the people of such governing body determines. Each person should have the right to live within the government of his or her choice. I have chosen to be an ambassador for The Seasteading Institute because I want to help others think creatively and become interested in their government. This institute has the ability to change the way the world is run and how people think about their government. I am proud to be a part of that change.”

Richard Allen

Wimington, Delaware, USA

Rich is a self employed residential painter, specializing in restorative finish work. In 2006 he graduated from U of Delaware with a BS in leadership. In his spare time he reads about science and progress. He often asks himself what it would take to support a continuous expansion of the human race.

“I am an ambassador because A) I am happy volunteer with something I really believe in, B) I like networking with others who are potential leaders/supporters of our cause, C) to have an active role in the organized seasteading movement and D) to spread the word. I love introducing people to things that can improve their lives.”

Ryan Hartmann

Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA – LinkedIn – Facebook

Ryan is a documentary filmmaker who has produced a reality TV pilot and is currently producing 2 feature length documentary films to be released within the next few years. He has worked with an established music producer to do behind-the-scenes video production. Always the entrepreneur, he has Independently raised money for his projects, all of which he has an acute personal passion for.

“I am an ambassador because, A) I am happy to volunteer with something I really believe in, B) I like networking with others who are potential leaders/supporters of our cause, C) to have an active role in the organized seasteading movement and, D) to spread the word. I love introducing people to things that can improve their lives.”

Antonios (Tony) Cotzias

Athens, Greece – Facebook

Tony graduated from Athens College (Greece) in July 2011 as the Valedictorian of his class. He was the recipient of the top award for the Class of 2011 in athletics and “social sciences & history.” He is currently studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at UPenn.

“I have always stood in awe in front of the achievements of humanity. I am astounded from the action of men who do not accept what is granted, and who as masters of their fates, want more; and more. And what have they achieved? They have gone to the moon, invented the internet, cured diseases, and empowered human life. They are greedy for achievement, and happiness, as I have always been greedy for realizing my own dreams. Yet, until last year, I could not give shape to my dreams. Patri Friedman’s article “Beyond Folk Activism” made me jump off my theoretical orientation, and enabled me to start thinking about action: what can we ‘do’? I see in The Seasteading Institute, that we can actually do something about freedom. As the era of “Singularity” is approaching, I know that we can use technology to put our ideas into practice. Hence, we should be able to experiment on government, allow individuals to choose their governments (and not simply vote on them), and approach a better political system. We have achieved, almost, everything in science, business, and sports. Why are we so backward in politics? Because we do not translate our over-abundant abstract theory into practice, and the Seasteading Institute is working on exactly this aspect. In fact, I would be more than happy to accept that my vision of political organization is outcompeted by other alternatives that prove to be better. This would always be a step forward. I am, thus, willing to do anything possible to empower and enhance human development, and as an ambassador of the Seasteading Institute I will be doing exactly this.”

Manolis Katsouris

Athens, Greece

Manolis is currently a high school student in the Hellenic-American school of Greece in the International Baccalaureate. He’s attended several tournaments for his school’s Forensics Debate club, is a member of the M.U.N (Model United Nations), and attended the Political Committee in the Edinburgh Conference. On weekends he tutors children in immigrant schools and volunteers at the Greenpeace organization in Greece. Manolis writes for the school newspaper monthly and plans to study engineering.

“I strongly believe in political autonomy and societal justice in the sense that people have inherent rights to do what they desire, as long as they do not harm others. We live in a world where politics influence and shape our everyday lives. Being an Ambassador at the Seasteading Institute enables me to make a real, tangible change in the future of our globe. I am happy to be at the forefront of human progress and gain access into the constantly beating heart of international affairs.”

Kimberly Blozie

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Kimberly Blozie is a scientist, fundraiser, writer and entrepreneur. She has a Bachelors Degree in Biochemistry from the University of New Hampshire and graduated with honors from Columbia University with a Masters of Science in Fundraising Management. Kim has co-launched, one nonprofit organization, Guernicaproject.org, which brings awareness to the multi-generational impact of war and one business, TrialX.com, an online, clinical trials matching and information service. She also recently managed the development department of the New York branch of EnlightenNext, an international, philosophical, nonprofit organization. For the past four years, she was the Manager of Clinical Research at Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Kim currently resides in New York and is working on a screenplay and science fiction novel.

“The world is ready for The Seasteading Institute. While there continues to be profound advances in technology, science, art, and philosophy, our shared values and agreements — the law and government by which we abide has not moved forward as quickly and often times seems destined for more paperwork and fine print. I am a Seasteading Institute ambassador because I am committed to bringing about a more evolved culture. Experimentation is essential to exploring the best way forward, and seasteads will offer a safe and peaceful means to do just that. Also, I can’t think of anything more exciting to pioneer together.”

Oliver Cojo

Valladolid, Spain

Oliver is currently studying the last year of a Double Joint degree in Law and Business Administration at the University of Valladolid, Spain. Between December 2010 and June 2011 he worked as a research assistant at the department of “Business Organization and Product Marketing” at the university, collaborating on various scientific investigations that tried to figure out how internet and new technologies have changed consumers´ habits and influenced their decisions.

“I collaborate with the Seasteading Institute because I strongly believe in the idea that making the world a better place to live in is possible. However, this goal is not achievable only by promoting some ideas or by developing new theories about how that better world could be, but it is necessary to find the way to bring those ideas into the real world and to go from the “could be” to “this is.” This is precisely what the Seasteading Institute is doing. In other words, the Seasteading Institute has found the way to overthrow the barriers to entry of the “government industry,” to compete face to face with current governments and make possible new ways of governing. Imagination the only limit to this amazing project. Moreover, one of the fields with more possibilities to grow in the near future is that of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a field I am very interested in that tries to find new ways of resolving conflicts beyond the current court system. An ADR system has many possibilities of being expanded in autonomous ocean communities.”

Will Chamberlain

Eugene, Oregon, USA

Will Chamberlain is a debate coach at the University of Oregon, and a co-author for the Let A Thousand Nations Bloom weblog. He graduated from University of the Pacific in 2010 with a B.A. in economics, and finished his senior year ranked #2 in the nation in NPTE parliamentary debate. In 2009 he worked for The Seasteading Institute as a research associate, and spoke at the 2009 Seasteading Conference on public choice theory and seasteading. He is planning on attending law school beginning in the fall of 2012.

“I believe very firmly in the importance of the seasteading movement, and am happy to be a part of it again. I believe the ambassador role perfectly suits my skillset and I am pleased to advocate for the institute.”

Alex Modzelewski

Kailua, HI, USA

Being a surgeon, a member of a quintessential libertarian occupation, allowed Alex to travel and work around the world. From his native Poland he reached his present home in Hawaii, on his way observing people and their various political systems. Alex terminated his medical career a few years ago in order to promote new ideas based on extreme personal freedom and individual responsibility. He has had three novels dedicated to this subject published, in addition to some theoretical articles (see Scribd.com).

“People display amazing resourcefulness coping with their political masters but—so far—I have not encountered a government which would not benefit from some very substantial improvements. Why are we so stuck in the unsatisfactory—rooted in the 19th century—political system? One reason is lack of alternatives; all habitable land had been seized by powerful, military-backed plutocracies; they do not welcome any significant innovations. I believe that imaginative scenarios are important for “a common man” to realize that his or her option are much wider than conventional beliefs allow.”

Alexis Campestre

Lake Jackson, TX, USA

Alexis graduated from Texas Tech University with a BS in International Economics and a Minor in French. His number one passion is exploring the world around him. Currently he is working on a start-up seafood supply business as well as a political action website. He likes to read, write, and discuss freedom.

“My primary reason for applying to be an ambassador of the Seasteading Institute is to promote the principles of liberty and freedom, and to create a methodology that may be used to spearhead an initiative in leading the globe in a direction of eco-friendly, economic prosperity.”

Matt Pritchard

Astoria, NY, USA

Matt is an actor and small business owner living in New York City. He’s drawn to the prospect of introducing competition and the price system into the field of government, and enabling new forms of spontaneous social order.

“This idea has the potential to revolutionize the world. These are big ideas, and I want to be a part of implementing them. When Seasteads start becoming more productive than landed operations, I want to know that I had a hand in making that happen. I want to help spread what could be the next big idea, and launch what could be the most profitable industry in human history.”

Alex Merced

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Alex Merced is a Libertarian Activist and Economic Theorist who blogs from AlexMerced.com and is active with the Ron Paul Campaign. He currently works as a securities licensing instructor on wall street training the younger generation to enter the financial industry.

“I am big on building alternative governance structures for the purpose of learning how society can coordinate its functions, and I spend much of my time teaching people the value in such efforts and would like to get more involved in making it happen.”

Carel Kleynhans

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Carel Kleynhans is a student of Urban Economics with aspirations of finding ways to address massive urban-developmental issues facing (particularly) Africa and the world. Outside of his studies, Carel was privileged to be able to write/produce a TV show at just 17 years old, co-organize South Africa’s largest music tour multiple years, found South Africa’s foremost Afrikaans-culture blog, and co-curate SA’s largest TEDx conference. He also founded a multi-university organization for critical thought, attended South Africa’s Brightest Young Minds Conference, travelled to 19 countries and represented South Africa as a student liaison in China in 2011.

“I firmly believe that there are more efficient, just and innovative ways to govern our counties, cities and communities. I am dedicated to continuing my studies in the field of urban economic policy with particularly this idea in mind.”

John James Pritsiolas

Hempstead, New York

John James Pritsiolas is an undergraduate student at Hofstra University currently working at attaining a degree in both Finance and Information Technology. As a second generation Greek-American, he acknowledges the power of the market and is inclined as a budding entrepreneur to increase the quality of life for every individual. With that being stated, he is infatuated with technology and enjoys being an early adopter of a plethora of devices. On his spare time, he pursues his various interests in economics, history, and legal theory. As someone who enjoys maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle, he is also a very passionate ice hockey player as well.

“I’m an ardent believer that Seasteading will bring about an advent in ground breaking medical research as well as expanding the frontier on alternative energy.”