permaculture

["John Schinnerer" <john@eco-living.net>]

Hi Keith,

Permaworld came round on the list in the last year or two.  Check the
archives.  Generated some hot conversation about "dirty" vs. "clean" money,
"ends" and "means," all that good stuff.  PC Int'l has gotten some funding
from them.  Looks like Sea Shepherd has now too.

I have nothing against anyone getting grants/donations from permaworld - their
choice.

I personally don't support any kind of MLM for any reason.  The underlying
structure is fundamentally unsustainable, and that is counter to PC as I
understand it. YMMV.

When I first examined their site back when, they promised the would have some
actual permaculture-related materials as products "real soon now."  That was
at least a year ago, maybe two, and they seem to have completely dropped even
that pretense from their site.

Meanwhile:
Their actual main "product" is spam generation and management software,
something the world clearly needs more of (NOT).

Their other main "product" is a rechargeable "ATM/debit" card.  A dime goes to
their donations fund for certain card transactions you make.  Card fees (what
*you* pay to use the card) are not a bargain, and are probably cheaper at your
local (or at the Permaculture!) credit union.

Most of the original "founders" have resumes heavy on MLM and sales/marketing
and even resort development, and little or nothing related to Permaculture or
anything even close.  I see a few people with more Eco/PC chops have been
added since last I looked at this.  Bob Ewing - care to comment?

Nothing else has changed though (except they've apparently dropped the
pretense of ever selling anything actually related to PC other than hot air).

So, two thumbs down from me...BTW if you've never personally know people
who've gotten into MLMs, well, in my experience it's a three letter word for
CULT.  A good old fashioned evangelical revival tent show has nothing on their
meetings.

>    I just stumbled across a permaculture inspired online multi-level
> fundraising organization called Permaworld.
> <http://www.permaworld.org/members/permacultureactivist/index.shtml>
>
> Normally the term multi-level makes me cringe. This actually sounds
> intelligent.
> Has anyone else encountered this?
> Keith
>
> --
> Keith Johnson
> Permaculture Activist Magazine
> PO Box 1209, Black Mountain, NC 28711
> (828)669-6336
>
> also Patterns for Abundance Design & Consulting
> Culture's Edge at Earthaven Ecovillage
> http://www.permacultureactivist.net
> http://www.earthaven.org
> http://www.bioregionalcongress.org


John Schinnerer - MA, Whole Systems Design
------------------------------------------
- Eco-Living -
Design & Technology Services
People - Place - Learning - Integration
john@eco-living.net
http://eco-living.net