permaculture

[kevin s <k.skvorak@verizon.net>]

hi folks,

i guess i woke in one of those 'moods' this morning, (so pls don't 
anyone take it personally) and i felt the urge to respond to this.

there is so much change under way in the world, good and bad.  i have 
been involved a lot lately with solidarity work for oaxaca where the 
old anticapitalist movement in mexico is being repressed in a new 
dirty war.  this is relevent - ( the new dirty war fueled by the same 
old US corporate interests)- because the struggle there is a 
representation of community self empowerment, using traditional 
indigenous models of political organizing and mutual aid, and i'll 
bet no one from APPO is sure as hell going to get a Nobel Prize for 
it.

i mean, there are so many ways for poor people to re-gain self 
empowerment, is really becoming 'good little capitalists'  (with or 
without a garden) what these individuals and communities need most?

ok, i know this is a big simplification of grameen, but it seems to 
be the macro 'ethic' involved.

 traditional community structures are broken all over the world-and 
those that are left are resisting all over the world- and it is 
capitalism (colonialism,white supremacy, consumerism etc) that has 
broken them.

imho, in terms of ethics-  zapatismo has a lot more in common with 
permaculture than the Grameen bank does.  so i would celebrate if the 
Nobel went to one of the EZLN Comandantas

 i do have hope for permaculture as part of the solution for 
privileged industrialized people and those 'down below' alike.    but 
i'm sorry i don't have hope for a permaculture 'movement' that 
indentifies more with 'lifestyle' liberal green consumerism, than it 
does with genuine social justice, local autonomy, and the like.  (i'm 
not saying it does-but it feels that way at times)

anyway, thanks for the rant space.  again, pls don't take it 
personally.  i am just mad at the world these days

in peace,
kevin




re:

> From: Jim <ashevillecurrencyproject@gmail.com>
>
> I was at one of the many simultaneous house parties that took place
> around the USA yesterday, in celebration of the Nobel Prize going to
> Mohammed Yunus, founder of the Grameen Bank. The house parties were
> organized by RESULTS,  ( results.org ) an anti-hunger group.
>
> The most intriguing thing for me was the revelation that, as a condition
> of getting a loan, borrowers promise to plant vegetables. Here's the
> text from the website, and the link to it.
> -- Jim
>
>
> The 16 decisions of Grameen Bank
> http://www.grameen-info.org/bank/the16.html
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 1. We shall follow and advance the four principles of Grameen Bank ---
> Discipline, Unity, Courage and Hard work  in all walks of our lives.
> 2. Prosperity we shall bring to our families.
> 3. We shall not live in dilapidated houses. We shall repair our houses
> and work towards constructing new houses at the earliest.
> 4. We shall grow vegetables all the year round. We shall eat plenty of
> them and sell the surplus.
> 5. During the plantation seasons, we shall plant as many seedlings as
> possible.
> 6. We shall plan to keep our families small. We shall minimize our
> expenditures. We shall look after our health.
> 7. We shall educate our children and ensure that they can earn to pay
> for their education.
> 8. We shall always keep our children and the environment clean.
> 9. We shall build and use pit-latrines.
> 10. We shall drink water from tubewells. If it is not available, we
> shall boil water or use alum.
> 11. We shall not take any dowry at our sons' weddings, neither shall we
> give any dowry at our daughters wedding. We shall keep our centre free
> from the curse of dowry. We shall not practice child marriage.
> 12. We shall not inflict any injustice on anyone, neither shall we allow
> anyone to do so.
> 13. We shall collectively undertake bigger investments for higher incomes.
> 14. We shall always be ready to help each other. If anyone is in
> difficulty, we shall all help him or her.
> 15. If we come to know of any breach of discipline in any centre, we
> shall all go there and help restore discipline.
> 16. We shall take part in all social activities collectively.