I have written previously about Kickstarter, the site that helps individuals raise money for their projects. A few days ago, I became a co-producer on 3 films by donating $50 to each and will receive a DVD of the completed films and a screen credit which will be a first in my life. Two have been been fully funded and one, NASCEU MARIA, has about $2000 remaining of its $10,000 budget with 4 days to go.

I thought you might enjoy reading about the film and its writer and director, Elena Julia Greenlee, a MFA Candidate, in Film & TV at the Tisch School of the Arts, NYU. Her last film, Mariachi is currently making the rounds of film festivals.

Click here to learn more about the film and review donation levels and rewards. Should you decide to join me and help fund any portion of the remaining production budget balance over the next 4 days, that would be great!
I would be very happy if NPD readers could help Elena reach her goal.

My friend Joe Simonetta has put his extraordinary estate on the market in Vilcabamba, Ecuador.

Vilcabamba is locatd in an Andean valley at 5000 feet elevation. The weather is 60-80 degrees year-round and th vally is known for its longevity. If this estate were to be built in the U.S., it would cost many times its asking price here and after recently donating a portion of the property to a community park, the house and eight acres are now available for under $3 million. If you know anyone who might want to visit a beautiful valley and see what is arguably the finest modern property in Ecuador, please send them to this link. Any buyer who mentions that they read about his property at NPD, will receive a $99,000 credit.

Of course, there are many other lower priced properties available in Vilcabamba. The real estate company with the highest integrity in the valley is VREC, run by my friend, NIck Vasey. If you purchase a lot, you can build a home in Vilcabamor for about $50/sf. The valley is attracting an increasing number of ex-pats who enjoy its beauty, tranquility and low cost of living.

If you are a qualified or sophisticated investor or know of one who loves music and would like to support a magnificent project that uses wisdom as a platform to integrate music and film, you may want to check out award winning composer and arranger Gary Malkin’s Wisdom of the World project.

To see examples of Gary’s beautiful videos visit his gracefulpassages site and immerse yourself in the soulful images, spoken words and Gary’s beautiful and uplifting music that penetrates the soul and offers deep healing possibilities.

WOW is perfectly positioned to benefit from humanity’s transition from ego to soul. You can download the Executive Summary using the following link (execsum) and contact Gary if you or an investor would like to obtain a copy of the complete Private Placement Memorandum.

Wisdom of the World receives New Paradigm Digest’s highest unqualified recommendation as an excellent opportunity to do well by doing good. Being part of a creative “innertainment”project that uplifts humanity and makes money as a by-product defines new paradigm investing.

This may not seem like the best time to start a bank but, in fact, it’s an ideal time now that most banks are preoccupied. The NY Times recently reported that Alan Greenspan said, “If I were 50 years younger, I would start a bank.”

A few days ago, I watched an online investor presentation for E3 Bank; a new Pennsylvania startup that I believe will set the new socially responsible standard in banking.

The presentation began with The Evolution of the Earth that provided a context for life and business. The idea that we might need 11,000 coal fired power plants based on a projected 62% increase in energy demands over the next 20+ years is clearly unsustainable.

The great modern myth is that “we know what we’re doing and we are in control.” Dubai is a great example-getting bigger and better all the time with quality of life not really a consideration.

The real question is “do we know what we want?” And yes, we do know we want: clean air, water and soil and abundance. How we get there will be the responsibility of each of us in our personal and business lives.

E3 Bank is a new paradigm model of what banking must become if it is to serve people and the planet. If banks do not become triple bottom line oriented, they will lose business to those banks like E3 that are.

We are at a moment in history of incredible danger and extraordinary opportunity. Some view this time as one in which scarcity (scare city), abstinence and giving up things will reign. E3 sees things differently. They believe a future of prosperity lies before us and are dedicated to reframing a future of limits to one of unlimited possibility.

As evidence of this movement, they point to the geometric growth curve for green building and the $104 billion market for green products and services.

In the financial services sector, E3 sees an opportunity to lead the way through their
sustainability expertise and new methods of financing high efficiency buildings and other green business projects. The current banking crisis stemmed from one overriding strategy-make as much money as possible without regard to the consequences to people and the planet. E3 Bank’s mission is driven by a triple bottom line strategy (enterprise through sound investment in people and planet, protect the environment which supports life and the economy and equity in sustainable businesses).

Potential customers in Pennsylvania have indicated a willingness to switch banks operating ethically and with sound environmental principles. Out of 140,000 business people surveyed by the bank, 28,000 were likely to open accounts with E3 and out of 3.2 million households, one million were likely or highly likely to bank with E3.

Some of the innovative initiatives E3 will launch as part of their September 09 Grand Opening include:

Minimizing the Bank’s Real Estate Footprint
In the past banks were built to be large impressive buildings that offered clients the appearance of safety and soundness. As we have all learned, appearances may be deceiving. Banks also operated from top down. E3 will operate and incentivize customers to switch to their bank by providing innovative banking products and services. They realize that the greenest bank building is no building and so their vision is to provide best in class and first of kind business and personal banking solutions by turning each customer into a branch. In other words, all their services will be provided via users computers.

Check Writing
The old method of check writing involved customers writing checks and then having those checks transported back and forth between banks. By offering scanning of checks in the home or business, those transportation costs are eliminated thus reducing operating costs. The typical teller cost per transaction is $2.50 while E3’s remote deposits cost the bank less than one cent, further reducing costs.

When a bank customer spends money, their habits will be tracked with their permission into categories and the bank will make suggestions on reducing energy or other applicable issues that show up in excess spending.

Tiered Rates
E3 will offer tiered interest rates depending on your choice of the most environmentally efficient building standard. The higher the rating, the lower the interest rate. This makes the banks loan assets better risks than most bank portfolios. A new building with 30% higher efficiency provides 30% less operating expenses and becomes less susceptible to unexpected rate increases. The buildings lease faster with higher demand and rents while being seen as less risky by the regulating agencies.

Green Assist
E3 will provide value added resources to their customers like their Green Assist program that eliminates the confusion and frustration of figuring out how to pay for solar panels, find grants or local programs, etc. Instead, E3 will offer one stop shopping by providing financing, a list of qualified installers and filling out the paperwork to obtain applicable. rebates-a win-win proposition for the bank, the customer and the suppliers.

The press has jumped on the E3 story with coverage on CNN, Hufington Post, American Banker and Business Journal among others. They like the banks position as a thought leader dedicated to shifting to a new kind of banking based on true prosperity-living, working and playing more sustainability and transparently letting the world know how they are doing in all three areas. In many stock offerings, the small investor is normally left out. As a socially responsible bank, small investors are included with the smallest units being offered at $5000 rather than the usual $50,000. In order to allow more investors into the offering, the bank is also limiting its maximum investment to 9.9% of its $30 million total offering.

I don’t know about you, but this is the kind of bank I want to do business with. I’ll begin banking with E3 the day they open for business,

To learn more about the bank or their offering, visit the E3 website and if you are interested in investing, you can register for a future investor call at their site as well as apply to open an account in the future.

My friend Joe Simonetta whose new DVD I shot and edited (www.sevenwords.org) is offering his beautiful estate in Vilcabamba, Ecuador for sale. Vilcabamba is known as the Valley of Longevity. If you or anyone you know has an interest, let Joe know you heard about it from me.

Vilcabamba is located in the southernmost province of Ecuador in Loja, 42 kms (27 miles) south of the City of Loja. Loja is an easy 50-minute plane ride from Quito, Ecuador’s capitol.

The picturesque valley of Vilcabamba is situated approximately 1500 meters (5000 feet) above sea level in the majestic Andes Mountains. Being in the center of the world, it maintains a spring-like temperature of 18° to 28° Celsius (65° to 82° F) year-round.

Known as the Sacred Valley, Vilcabamba has been variously called “The Land of Eternal Youth,” “The Valley of Peace and Tranquility,” and “The Lost Paradise.”

One of the most beautiful places in the world, Vilcabamba’s greatest assets are its beauty, peace and tranquility, warm and friendly people, pure air, wholesome foods, and extraordinary climate. It is a magnificent place to live, retire, have a vacation home, or investment property. Vilcabamba  attracts people from all over the world.

More on Vilcabamba: http://www.galapagos-islands-tourguide.com/vilcabamba-valley.htm

The Estate: Designed and built by the owner, architect, and developer of the approximate 700-acre (283-hectare) Hacienda San Joaquin in Vilcabamba, Ecuador (www.VilcabambaHomes.com), this estate is one of the most beautiful and comprehensive in all of South America.

The 14-acre (56,000 square meters) estate features an extraordinary setting and spectacular views of the Andes Mountains. Its southern boundary is 933 feet (284 meters) of frontage on the Vilcabamba River with two lakes between the river and the property. The East Lake is 30,756 square feet (2,858 square meters) and the West Lake is 28,182 square feet (2,619 square meters).

One enters the property through stone columns and a custom designed wrought-iron entrance gate on the property’s private drive.

The Main Residence is 5,300 square feet (493 square meters) with an additional 2,972 square feet (276 square meters) of porches and balconies. There is a large stone-walled slate-floor patio and three large ponds in front. The home features four bedrooms and seven baths with granite and marble counter-tops throughout.

The oversized second-floor master bedroom and sitting area has exposed-beam wood ceilings as do the separate his and hers marble bathrooms with walk-in closets. Off the master bedroom is a large balcony with stunning views of the Andes Mountains and Vilcabamba River. The balcony wraps around the side and back of the house. Also on the second floor are a multimedia room, an office, massage room and gym (with full bath) all with great views, and a wrought-iron lined corridor that looks down on the Great Room.

On the first floor, a beautiful Great Room features, an original full-wall horse-scene mural, an extraordinary fireplace with a natural stone-wall backing, exposed beam wood ceilings and trusses, oversized windows and spectacular views. The large kitchen, with a cross-pattern wood-beam ceiling, has custom cabinetry, a separate pantry, and granite counter-tops. Hardwood and ceramic floors, custom windows and doors, crown moldings, and skylights are featured throughout. On the first floor are also three bedrooms, three full baths, a powder room, a laundry and mudroom. The basement features a stone-walled wine cellar and a beautifully finished additional room.

The Main Residence is surrounded on all four sides by porches. The porches are 10-feet deep on the front and open to a large 30-foot radius half-circle stone-walled patio in front of the house, perfect for outdoor parties, entertaining and dancing. Multiple flower gardens bring splashes of color year round. http://picasaweb.google.com/jrsimonetta/April182009JoeSMainHouseToBeCompetedJune2009# June 2009 completion.

The beautiful 1500 square foot (139 square meter) Guest House provides a Great Room with two large original horse-scene murals, two bedrooms and two baths with granite counter-tops, a loft, a kitchen with custom cabinetry and granite counter tops, seven skylights, a pantry with a granite countertop, and laundry room. Ceramic and hardwood floors and exposed beam wood ceilings are featured throughout. See

Three ponds and flower gardens front the main house and guest house.                                                   June 2009 completion.

The separate three-car ceramic-floor garage features custom windows and doors, exposed beam wood ceilings, a large attached work room, attractive pavers in the garage courtyard and a large two-tiered flower garden in the center of the courtyard. June 2009 completion.

The stone-walled guest-parking area, adjacent to the courtyard, accommodates four cars with additional parking in the courtyard. May 2009 completion.

The garages, main residence and guest house are connected by porches and covered walkways with rich exposed-beam wood ceilings.

The beautiful indoor sky-lit solar heated lap pool which is thirteen feet wide by fifty-two feet long and accompanying large Jacuzzi are in a separate building (adjacent to the main house) twenty six by sixty-six feet. May 2009 completion.

A very attractive outdoor brick-oven building, adjacent to the main house kitchen, is located off the walkway between the main house and guest house. May completion.

The plant nursery is five hundred and fifteen square feet.

The 30,916 square foot vegetable and fruit gardens feature three tilapia ponds as a source of fresh fish. Mature fruit trees include banana, mango, papaya, and avocado.

The world-class 4,314 square foot, horse stable features ten spacious stalls, a tack room, bathroom, kitchen, maintenance room and food processing stall. Separately, there is a gazebo-type structure for social gatherings after riding.

The world-class clay tennis court is surrounded by beautiful stone walls and flower gardens in each corner.

The three-court volleyball stadium seats 250 people and is easily the best in Ecuador and probably all of South America. 

The 28,910 square foot orchard has about 50 citrus trees including tangerine, orange, lemon and lime.  The irrigation canal provides unlimited irrigation water for all of the property’s gardens.

There is a 23,760 square foot lot between the orchid and the gardens that is perfect for another home site or location for a swimming pool or other recreational building or as additional gardens.

Fresh drinking water is available from the property’s private well in addition to the excellent water provided by the larger development.

The property comes with sixteen beautiful horses, mostly Peruvian Paseos, with all tack (beautiful saddles, etc.). 

Three large fenced pastures and horse feeding stations are on seven of the acres.

The asking price for this one-of-a-kind property is $4.9 million.

Joe will be happy to answer any question you might have about the property.

You can write him at joesimonetta@gmail.com