permaculture

[William Genest <genest@pivot.net>]

Michael,

I heard there is a new index available to investors that is focused  
on alternative energy et.al - Do you know what it's called and how  
one gets in on it ?

Also, I would love your opinion on the only (?) mutual  fund ( that I  
can find) dedicated to alternative energy - it's called the New  
Alternatives fund and I have been tracking it for some time. it's  
returns are mediocre and I wonder if you would comment on whether  
that's a reflection of the industry as a whole or of the fund's  
decison making abilities ?

Finally, and this one is sure to get a strong reaction from others -  
I wonder if you would comment on the ethics of  investing in  
companies that are focused on water. I know the horror stories of  
privately owned water companies gouging locals, but I also know that  
virtually every N.American city has water infrastructure that is in  
dire need of replacement and that this will inevitably be farmed out  
to industry and I don't see an ethical dilemma with that -

Thanks in advance for your comments,


William


On Sep 22, 2005, at 9:55 PM, Michael Kramer wrote:

> I'm please that Ali is wishing to focus on green economics at the  
> next IPC,
> as it's been something I've been focused in recent years. The  
> failings of
> the World Bank have been noted by the leaders of that institution  
> now, and
> we in the social investment community have been meeting with them  
> to examine
> ways to fund microcredit and community development financial  
> institutions
> rather than governments (which have obviously mismanaged many loan
> programs). In addition, there is a new global currency beginning to be
> developed by Bernard Litaer (who invented the Euro) - it's called  
> the Terra,
> and it will be a global parallel currency tied to specific hard  
> assets,
> which means it's a long-term currency which people would desire to  
> hold
> long-term rather than trade against other artificial (and essentially
> valueless) currencies. Currency is one thing which pits nations  
> against one
> another and has led to tremendous inequities and exploitive  
> practices. While
> the social investment movement attempts to hold corporations  
> accountable, it
> is critical that the banks, credit unions, loan funds, and such be  
> empowered
> to put real cash in the hands of real local people so they may  
> build local
> economies from the inside out. It's fine for outsiders to support  
> these
> institutions financially by loaning them money (something one can  
> do through
> the stock market now), but ultimately what's happening (amazingly  
> enough) is
> that the IMF and World Bank are realizing the poor return on their
> investments, and with so much foreigh debt recently being forgiven  
> by the
> G8, they are essentially starting over and looking for good local  
> economic
> initiatives to support. I agree with Ali that the ethical  
> imperatives of
> permaculture are slowly inflitrating the mainstream, and this is  
> something
> I've been actively involved in. Last year at the annual Social  
> Responsible
> Investment conference in Keystone, Gil Friend of the Natural Step  
> brought up
> permaculture and even showed some slides of Vint Lawrence's Apache  
> Creek
> Ranch outside Santa Fe (Vint, if you're reading, I wonder if you knew
> this!). It was an amazing experience for Christopher Peck, Jonathan
> Scharfman, and myself (3 longtime permaculture teachers from the  
> Southwest)
> to witness 500 financial professionals from around the world  
> getting excited
> about permaculture, and I have followed up and tried to build on this
> introduction. I have been plugging the Permaculture Credit Union  
> quite a lot
> over the years to this group, despite my inability to persuade the
> Permaculture Credit Union that they absolutely must be at these annual
> events because it's a great way to get depositors, as this is a group
> managing $2.3 trillion.
>
> Anyway, I've been intrigued by the recent thread on money and am  
> aware of
> how angry people are at how money has been used on this planet for  
> 170 years
> by Western societies. As a recovering anti-capitalist, however, I  
> can tell
> you that things are slowly changing, and it's because eco-people  
> are getting
> into mainstream institutions and movements and starting to build  
> awareness,
> and they are being far more welcomed than ever before. It would be  
> nice if
> we could direct investment towards the hybrid or solar divisions of
> multinational companies in order to support only their regenerative
> activities (but then, it would also be nice if we could decide  
> which part of
> the budget our taxes could be directed to). Remember, money has no  
> value,
> only that which we ascribe to it; it can be used for tremendously  
> positive
> things, and we mustn't let our cynicism interfere with our capacity  
> to use
> it wisely to reinvest surplus towards the permaculture ethics.
>
> -----
> Michael Kramer, M.Ed., AIF (Accredited Investment Fiduciary)
> Natural Investment Services
> P.O. Box 390595
> Keauhou, HI 96739
>
> Michael@NaturalInvesting.com
> www.NaturalInvesting.com
> 808-331-0910
> Toll-free: 888-779-1500
>
> Socially Conscious Portfolio Management & Hourly Consulting
> Sustainability Strategic Planning and Education
>
> "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> --
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "William Genest" <genest@pivot.net>
> To: "permaculture" <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 1:14 PM
> Subject: Re: [permaculture] [permalearnersuk] IPC8
>
>
> Yeah good point Graham but maybe it's like Bill says about using
> heavy machinery - it is worth it if you will end up creating more
> energy than you use although how you'd quantify that I have no
> idea.... I'm getting a Prius - does that count ? :-)
> On Sep 22, 2005, at 6:46 PM, Graham wrote:
>
>
> > How do we get there without using up our lifetimes supply of carbon
> > points????
> >
> > Andy Langford wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > >  IPC 8 Invitation letter
> > >
> > > Boa Vista do Ramos, Amazonas, Brazil
> > > September 8th 2005
> > >
> > > To the many members of the world Permaculture community
> > >
> > > I would like to honor and thank the members of both the Danish and
> > > Croatian Permaculture Associations and the larger European
> > > Permaculture community that made IPC 7 such a wonderful  
> > > gathering. In
> > > particular I would like to salute the venerable Tony Anderson whose
> > > strength of purpose and generalship reincarnated the IPC event after
> > > so many years of dormancy.
> > >
> > > The traditional rotation between continents has positioned South
> > > America as next in line for hosting IPC 8. During plenary vote in
> > > Croatia in June 2005, Brazil was officially selected as its next
> > > venue. The event, as decided, will be held in May of 2007.
> > >
> > > As the international project coordinator for Permacultura America
> > > Latina (PAL), which is the coordinating body for the Rede
> > > Permacultura do Brazil (RPB), I will be assuming the role of IPC 8
> > > coordinator. Permit me to confirm that this event will be held as
> > > stated and I look to your help and experience for guidance.
> > >
> > > During the last two months, and aside from the standard Convergence
> > > program, various themes for the Conference have been bandied around
> > > and one that has been consistently responded to has been the  
> > > issue of
> > > Green Economics.  With the condition of the world monetary system
> > > increasingly uncertain the opportunity to devote several days to the
> > > full array of topics represented by this theme, has, arguably,
> > > arisen.  In short, we have before us the opportunity to hoist the
> > > banner of Permaculture on an International Economics Conference.
> > >
> > > Green Economics also represents an opportunity to engage the Latin
> > > American private sector, particularly in light of so much of the
> > > planet’s remaining natural resources concentrated on this continent.
> > > With so many sustainable development plans already being  
> > > assembled to
> > > plunder these irreplaceable resources, it hardly needs explaining  
> > > the
> > > urgency to clarify green economic misconceptions and clarify
> > > inevitable possibilities. After all, at present, the bankers have
> > > most of us by the balls.
> > >
> > > Australian permaculturists have offered to set up an IPC website as
> > > the technological mechanism for communications. The US Credit Union
> > > has offered its service and even possible funding. Previous IPC  
> > > event
> > > organizers have likewise confirmed promises to provide whatever
> > > information and assistance may be available.
> > >
> > > For my part I am poised to begin the proposal and fundraising  
> > > process
> > > and other foundations have offered to participate. Specifically the
> > > Swiss based Avina Foundation has offered to convene a pre conference
> > > gathering in early 2006 to articulate the final Conference agenda.
> > >
> > > Thus my friends I leave it to you to provide some feedback as  
> > > soon as
> > > possible to justify both my personal and institutional resolve and
> > > reach that point of no return.
> > >
> > > I remain, as always, moist and tropically yours
> > >
> > > Ali Sharif
> > >
> > > ahmadalisharif@yahoo.com
> > _______________________________________________
> > permaculture mailing list
> > permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
>
> Best Regards,
>
>   William Genest
>
>   - Founder  Green Mountain Permaculture Institute of Vermont
> Solutions, Sustenance, Sustainability
> www.greenmountainpermaculture.com
>
> - Creator  "Regeneration - The Art of Sustainable Living"
>  From "Something-Must-be-Done" to Something we can do !
> www.regenerationshow.com
>
> - Ecological Coordinator
> Club St.Paul Ecological Golf Course
>
> - Vice-President  Green Party of Quebec "pour nous et nos enfants"
> www.pvq.qc.ca
>
> - National Spokesperson Green Party of Canada
> "The Future is Now ! "
> www.greenparty.ca
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> permaculture mailing list
> permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture

Best Regards,

 William Genest

 - Founder  Green Mountain Permaculture Institute of Vermont
Solutions, Sustenance, Sustainability
www.greenmountainpermaculture.com

- Creator  "Regeneration - The Art of Sustainable Living"
From "Something-Must-be-Done" to Something we can do !
www.regenerationshow.com

- Ecological Coordinator
Club St.Paul Ecological Golf Course

- Vice-President  Green Party of Quebec "pour nous et nos enfants"
www.pvq.qc.ca

- National Spokesperson Green Party of Canada
"The Future is Now ! "
www.greenparty.ca