permaculture

[Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>]

At 12:02 PM 6/5/00 +1000, you wrote:
> At the University of New England there are  projects, research and even
> lectures as well as lecturers who promote permaculture, but under another
> name!   I've watched slides and videos on overseas projects that I would
> deem to be permaculture.   So what's in a name?????    Deanna
> Administrative Assistant
> Environmental Engineering
> University of New England
> Armidale   2351   NSW    Australia
> phone 02 6773 3110                        fax 02 6773 3110

I think there is quite a lot in a name and that considerable energy should 
be expended in keeping the name permaculture at the same high standards 
from which it came.  There has certainly been a tendency for snake oil 
salespeople to enter the circle calling their products permaculture, which 
is harmful to those who maintain an ethical and professional approach to 
permaculture.

There is the opposite problem of those whose egos don't allow them to give 
credit where it is due so rather than call it permaculture they lay claim 
to ideas formulated by others.  I guess the high road approach would be to 
say "oh, well! as long as the word gets out."  But it seems to me that the 
greater the ground swell named permaculture the greater the effect on the 
world at large.  I has been a long struggle for many who have carried the 
design process and teaching around the world where permaculture is becoming 
well known and a common name shared by all of us permaculturalists that I 
would hate to see lost.  That commonality in and of itself is a critical 
part of creating a borderless sustainable future for people.

Scott