In recent months we've been hearing a lot about a mysterious "Walk for Capitalism" – scheduled for this coming December 2nd. When numerous ISIL and LI members around the world became involved and scheduled "Walks" in their own cities, we became more interested and thought we would find out what the "Walk" was all about – and track down the hoary beast behind all of this. So herewith an interview with Prodos (full name Prodos Stefanos Nicholaou Marinakis) – the man behind the walk. Fasten your safety belts, folks.

Vince: Hello Prodos. Would you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do before we get into discussing the "Walk for Capitalism?"

Prodos: Of course. I work as a street singer/busker in Melbourne, Australia where I sing tunes from the 1920's, 30's, and 40's – as well as well as some of my own songs (which have the theme of "Adventure and Romance").

     I run an internet radio show: http://prodos.com which is about "possibility thinking." You can listen online to dozens of interviews with scientists, philosophers, inventors, entrepreneurs, artists, psychologists, activists from around the world. PRODOS.COM is now the most popular pro-capitalism show in the world.

     I also run "The PRODOS Institute – for Global Freedom Invention & Prosperity" which is dedicated to designing and running assertive grassroots projects and campaigns.

     The Institute's website is being set up at http://prodos.org.

     One of my goals is to train a whole new breed of activists for liberty around the world.

Vince: Whew! You sound like a busy man. What is your philosophy of life.

Prodos: I'm an Objectivist (a follower of Ayn Rand's philosophy). Formerly a Communist. Formerly a punk rocker. ("ex pinko punko"?)

     But I have many Christian, Libertarian and even Socialist friends and tend to get along well with just about everyone. Very much an extrovert. I love to party and I adore women. But I'm a workaholic.

     I love being alive.

Vince: How did you become interested in the ideas of liberty?

Prodos: Mainly because of my interest in creative thinking. Only under laissez faire capitalism do creative people have a chance. Capitalism is the system of the mind.

Vince: Was there any particular writer (or writers) who inspired you?

Prodos: Surely you can't mean Ayn Rand??? The other writer who has most influenced me is Edward de Bono, the inventor of "lateral thinking".

     Other writers include: The American Founding Fathers, Ayn Rand (did I already mention her?), Ludwig Von Mises, Frédéric Bastiat, Nevil Shute (a novelist with a wonderful sense of life), all sorts of science-fiction writers, and Ayn Rand.

     I love the old Batman comics. Movies from the 1930's (the girls are so yummy), "Braveheart," "Star Wars". And this list wouldn't be complete if I didn't also include the arch defender of Capitalism, Reason, and Happiness, a lady by the name of Ayn Rand.

Vince: We've been hearing a lot about the "Walk for Capitalism" lately. Would you please explain what this is all about?

Prodos: Sure. It's simple: The anti-capitalist movement is finished. We're going to pound them into the ground (metaphorically speaking, Ed).

     They may have their mobs and their violent, destructive ideology. But we have the Vision and the Ideals. We will expose the nihilists for what they really are: hypocrites, destroyers, and fools.

     December 2 – D2 – is "D-day" for the anti-capitalist movement. It is the beginning of their end. They may smash our placards, shout us down, try and intimidate us and do all those things they do so very, very well.

     But it will make no difference. We will bounce back again and again and again. We will NEVER surrender. We will grow stronger even as their numbers dwindle.

     Walk For Capitalism is the first ever global rally FOR Capitalism. But not the last. In every major city around the world we will defend, promote and celebrate the Producers and Creators of the world – and the only system which makes them possible.

     We've also set up the "Capitalism Awards" (Formally known as the "The Annual International Freedom & Prosperity Awards") which will be presented every year in every city to the individual who has done most to promote freedom and prosperity and/or who, through their actions most gloriously embodies the spirit of Capitalism.

     And "Capitalism Day" (Formally known as "International Freedom and Prosperity Day – In Celebration of the Principles and Possibilities of Capitalism") This will occur every year on the first Sunday of December.

Vince: What was your inspiration for this project?

Prodos: It commenced two months before the World Trade Center attack.

     My Internet radio show, PRODOS.COM covered the S11 and M1 anti-capitalist rallies in Australia. I spoke to many of the demonstrators in order to understand the principles which governed their actions. I will never forget the 16 year old schoolgirl with whom I spoke:

PRODOS: The goal of this demonstration is to shut down the World Economic Forum. Isn't this an explicitly violent goal? I mean you're not just "arguing" – you're using coercion against people.

GIRL: We'd prefer this to be a peaceful protest. But if it comes to violence, then that's what it takes.

     She stated this with the utmost matter-of-fact calmness.

     It was not a juvenile fantasy. The same idea was expressed by demonstrator after demonstrator.

     For several months my soul boiled with rage. This was a living nightmare.

     And then I remembered Ayn Rand's words: "Evil is impotent."

     A weight lifted from my shoulders and I understood what must be done. We must fight back: on the streets, in the media, on the internet, in the schools.

     My strategy is simple: Create a contrast between THEIR methods, ideas, and goals, and OURS.

     "Evil is impotent." Only the Good has power. I then saw the anti-capitalist movement for what it was: A scam, concocted and advanced by cowards and bullies – and fuelled by evasion, lies, and hypocrisy.

     It was time to bring down these bastards. It was time to Walk the talk.

Vince: What are your expectations? What do you hope the outcome of the walk will be?

Prodos: As well as the above, I would like December 2, 2001 to be the biggest party the world has ever seen! I do luuuuv to party!

Vince: Who is involved? To what extent is this catching on?

Prodos: I can't express how proud I am to have the opportunity to work with so many outstanding and dedicated individuals from around the world. At the moment I'm writing this we have 80 cities online.

     I have been particularly impressed by the Norwegians and Swedes. They are a force to be reckoned with! The future of liberty in Europe will, I believe, be a Viking future! Ragnar Rocks!

     And then there are wonderful individuals like Hubert Jongen of Holland who tries to keep me on track – and sometimes succeeds! as I race about doing all sorts of silly things.

     What about Vaclav Linkov from the Czech Republic who, earlier in the year, held a one-man protest against 4,000 Communists. Is that not inspirational?

     What about the New Zealand coordinators? They are all a bunch of trouble makers and pranksters!
     In Moscow, what about Mikhail Ramendik, who is not exactly surrounded by rampant capitalism, yet offers to organise an event.

• Tomislav Krsmanovic of Yugoslavia who worries about everything all the time (as the Slavs tend to do).

• Angel Carrasco in Spain who first said "no" and then said "what the heck" he'd do it! How Latin can you get?

• Rodolphe Lebrun & Jean-Francois Lebrun the "Brothers of Brussels" – A dynamic duo if ever I saw one!

• Kendra Okonski of Washington DC – whom I met while she was in Melbourne (Talk about cute! Karamba!)

• Sheryl Ann Jackson of New York who's just had a baby. A "D2" baby! Our first!

• David Wilens of Miami who just loves a good punch up. Rosemary Gately of Saratoga Springs, Jonathan Dickson of London, Agwu Amogu of Nigeria (crikey! Nigeria?!) and so many others.

     What am I saying? I love every single one of my beautiful coordinators. Here's a poem I wrote for them:

Capitalism and the Gypsy In Me

(By PRODOS for Lindsay Perigo)

I would like to beat my drum
Meet my friends in Oslo and London
I would like to pop some corks
In California and New York
I would like to kiss some girls
Tell some jokes, sing my songs
From Havana to Hong Kong
I would like to grasp your reasons
Laugh with the Kiwis and Parisians
Oh dearest friend wherever you are
I hope we'll meet and work together
And reach across the seven seas
For freedom and prosperity
For capitalism!
And the gypsy in me

© PRODOS 2001