[permaculture] on an ethics of Mr Pittman (and the US military)
Kathyann
knat at sprintmail.com
Wed Aug 11 10:12:35 EDT 2010
On 8/11/2010 9:33 AM, Cory Brennan wrote:
> The thing that Nicholas and others are missing the boat on completely is that permaculture, as a design science, TRANSFORMS SYSTEMS. Which means that if permaculture were truly applied to the US military, it would transform it into something completely different. It would no longer exist as it exists right now.
I don't think they are missing that, but addressing a concern that
"permaculture methods" forced as a formula (which is traditionally how
our military has structured their actions) can have an unfortunate
effect of inoculating the populous against the ideas behind the methods.
There is much experience in the invasion by religious missionaries into
cultures to draw that concern. I, too, think we need to give credit to
the recipients to discern and acknowledge the next view will be a
combination of what is offered, what is given, what is utilized, and
what is self-generated.
In this forum, we think of design including the knowledge of the people
who live with an area as permaculture. Design from afar, imposed on an
area, no matter how benevolent the overlord, is unduly influenced by
antibody reaction. So a "method" introduction with techniques rather
than design empowerment seems not only limited but prone to
misunderstanding.
Goals of reestablishment are at odds. Within a culture still without
peak oil lifeview is not the same as postpeak US. The US has depleted
our supplies and if their citizenry rebuild in our likeness they will,
in a few short years, be settled to consume rather than export their
supply and we will not have had time to retool without oil.
I think it is a fine ideal that we structure our help in rebuilding to
be a model of globally appropriate scale (if we ourselves are similarly
required to that model.) Yet, the question remains, can one who has come
into an area to force a change, ever actually make the change or is the
system too caught up in fighting the invasion to heal with the invader
still present. Permaculture does give rise to an interesting thought of
forced symbiosis. Hard to picture the US military being aware enough for
accepting the compromises necessary. But it would be interesting. Tree
grafters have ideas? (scuse me if I don't call on the gene-splicers
right now.)
Kathyann
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