permaculture

[Thomas Gorman <tom@honeychrome.com>]

This has become an interesting thread!  I believe 'faith' to be one  
of the more problematic and irrational of human traits (inventions?),  
whether it is placed in technology or in 'the market' or in 'god.'   
In either case it's a sort of externalization, an abdication of our  
individual responsibilities.
"Science will eventually solve our problem."
"When the problems become profitable to solve, the market and  
entrepreneurship will solve our problem."
"God will provide and solve our problem. "
ANYTHING to avoid actually having to really do something or make a  
real sacrifice ourselves!  Now, 'hope' is a different story....
I'm with Kathy- it's got to be a holistic approach if we're going to  
get through this.  The more I learn about natural building,  
permaculture, personal relationships, cooperation and community,  
economy and social justice the more I begin to see each of these  
'interests' are part of the same whole (I shy away from including  
spirituality, though it belongs as well- it has simply been too co- 
opted and corrupted by the 'opposition').  I feel a little bit like  
the blind men and the elephant, and that I'm starting to gain sight  
and SEE the elephant, and it is a hopeful realization.  If more and  
more people come to 'see the elephant' and all these interconnected,  
seemingly individual interests are unified into a cohesive whole,  
well maybe we'll have a chance.  It's actually pretty exciting- we're  
at a time of evolutionary crisis and we will either destroy ourselves  
or we will achieve a new, amazing level of human existence.  I don't  
have faith, but I am hopeful!
No, no, no Kathy!  This isn't off the permaculture track at all!   
Peremaculture is a part of this larger, necessary track!


<<<I agree wholeheartedly...that if we start by balancing ourSELVES
emotionally, physically, spiritually, then what proceeds outward from  
that
into family, farm, politics, and environment will be whole and life
affirming and not depleting to us as individuals. Likewise the  
opposite is
true...if we do not attend to our inner balance, we may end up in
polarizing outer situations, like adversarial relationships,  
politics, and
uh, war. Hope this isn't too far off the permaculture track, but each  
of us
is part of this whole, yes?      Kathy in St. Louis>>>