permaculture

[Lee Flier <leeflier@comcast.net>]

 Perfectly stated, Toby.

On 8/21/2010 1:21 AM, Toby Hemenway wrote:
> I can't make the distinction between teaching for institutions or individuals 
> that you and others can. I cannot think of an individual or institution that 
> I would refuse to teach a PDC to, with the exception of straight out hate 
> groups, which the army is emphatically not. Overall, I don' t think a 
> corporation or military can be made any worse for learning permaculture, and 
> I think I personally am engaging in Earth and people care when I teach them, 
> even if their own mission isn't. Institutions like corporations are way ahead 
> of us in thinking up clever ways to screw up the world; we won't make them 
> better at that. But by being exposed to the ecological and ethical basis of 
> permaculture, individuals in the organization will be transformed, and 
> perhaps even the organization itself. I've seen it happen. One at a time; 
> that's how I do it. If that's outside your ethical framework; so be it.
>
> ...
>
> Re my remark, "who else would be arguing about working with the army," I 
> think you underestimate the compassion and tolerance that many people have for those 
> who have harmed them. My friends who are vets speak of how well they are treated when 
> they return to the countries where they killed people. If you asked those relatives of 
> millions of dead if they would want the attacking army to be taught a system grounded 
> in ethics and ecological wisdom, I bet many would say yes.
>
> We do agree on much. I am glad that you (Kevin) started this thread. It's 
> helped me clarify my dislike of the idea of permaculture as a movement, 
> something I hadn't articulated. And it's helped me grasp that I would teach 
> almost anyone, but wouldn't do design work for everyone.
>
> Toby
> http://patternliteracy.com