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permaculture - Re: [permaculture] Is the glass of water half full, or half empty? - Re: [SANET-MG] Sust Ag standard moves into high gear

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  • From: "paul wheaton" <paul@richsoil.com>
  • To: permaculture <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [permaculture] Is the glass of water half full, or half empty? - Re: [SANET-MG] Sust Ag standard moves into high gear
  • Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 14:55:02 -0700

I think you didn't need such a big SUV-size glass! :)

On Thu, Oct 2, 2008 at 2:28 PM, Chris Wardle <cjwardle@gmail.com> wrote:
> Fellow sustainability practitioners,
> Is the glass of water half full or half empty - or is it just my lack of
> experience on display?
> As a 'lurking' member of this list and a permaculture "newbie" - completed
> my Permaculture Design Course in Nepal in July 2008 - I defer to my more
> experienced colleagues, but I can't help feeling that by closing ranks and
> disparaging this standards initiative, we are missing out on an opportunity.
> The thing that hit me when I first read the Leonardo Academy/Straus
> Communications media release of 29/9/2008, was the very scary idea of GMO
> crops gaining some mantle of respectability through a certification process.
> However, one might reasonably assume that there is abundant scientific
> evidence around for the certification panelists to see through such a
> transparent marketing ploy - much like tobacco, alcohol or soft-drink
> companies seeking to sponsor youth sporting activities, in the hope of being
> seen as supporters of healthy living.
> In my view, the worst advocacy outcome would be for forums the like this
> newly formed Standards Committee to be reminded of the short-term greed and
> long-term evils of the Monsanto and co juggernaut and at least be exposed to
> the views of practicing permaculture people - if nothing more than as a cry
> for sanity and real sustainability.
> On the other side of the coin, there is scope for winning hearts and minds,
> building and strengthening coalitions and having a positive impact through
> policy-level advocacy.
> Perspective is everything and effective advocacy demands an understanding of
> alternative perspectives and taking them on.
> However, picking up your marbles and going home, is NOT a strategy for long
> term sustainability!
> The media hype tells me that the Standards Committee is supposed to be about
> agreeing on "First Steps Toward Building a National Consensus". Well, that
> isn't going to happen until somebody over there in the US of A leaves the
> farm - or the lectern - gets out of their comfort zone, picks up that glass
> of water and has a sip.
> Committee membership would appear to be closed and I don't know any of the
> players to be clear as to whether any permies/greenies are on board. If they
> are, let's ask what we can do to support them. If not, my common sense tells
> me we need to find ways to engage with, not ignore, this behemoth.
> As for defining sustainability, I like Dick Pierce's collection and would
> contribute to it with:
> "Living a life which contributes to the prana of the systems with which we
> interact"; or
> "More humility and generosity, less greed"; or just restate the permaculture
> ethics of
> "Care of Earth, Care of People, Fair Share".
> Thanks for listening/reading and over to you.
> Salaams from Quetta, Pakistan, on the second day of Eid,
> Chris Wardle.
> ==========
> email: cjwardle@gmail.com
> skype: cjwardle
> mobile: +92 333 784 1679
> ===========
> View my profile on LinkedIn:
> <http://www.linkedin.com/in/cjwardle>
> ===========
> FROM ORIGINAL MESSAGE DIGEST:
> Scott Pittman wrote: ... I think we do a disservice by promoting this type
> of hype on our listserve.
> Christopher Nesbitt wrote: ... suggests to me that they intend to find a
> place for GMOs in their "sustainable" world view. Hype is a very good word
> for this prattle.
> Steve Read wrote: I expect Lawrence included the text for information only
> maybe? Not as promotion ...
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