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From a "third-world" perspective I would like to
confirm ALL that was written here. Countries which lack cash and
machines ( and are therefore " third-world") often have excellent human
resources and creativity , with local projects well under way which may
not use the name "Permaculture" but do much of the same
thing.
Although agreeing that Permaculture promises a lot
more than one sees on the ground, I would like to contribute to
this discussion suggesting ( and this is our strategy here in Brazil, and I
am repeating what I said in another thread) that one of the major functions of
permaculture is its multi-disciplinary vision, it has an organized
overview which ofen lacks in specific local projects. Besides teaching
people to have this overview, I think that one of our major functions in
international aid is in networking, locating what already exists and linking
that up, locally and internationally. Of course that is impossible in a
two-week or a two-month visit, and it is CERTAINLY impossible if you don´t speak
the language. Permaculture pioneered ( or lifted from other sources?) a
lot of techniques, but it is no longer unique in this, and I think in many cases
was left behind by oither institutions and projects which have developed certain
areas much better than we ( alternative technology, ecological agriculture,
alternative housing, etc.)even in apparently poor countries. There is a lot of
arrogance in the movement, because the course makes us feel omnipotent ( I
know-- I was there!!!) Reminds me of a PC teacher who came here and, in
the year 2000, said that " Bill Mollison had appointed him to make a
Permaculture network in Brazil(of course with him having the power to decide who
would be part of that network..)" when a local network was already
in place and vibrant since 1993 ( won´t name names here...)
I am particlarly interested in the ramifications of
the New Paradigm ( also another thread being repeated here)and how that reflects
in new structures. In its holistic, multi-disciplinary systemic
approach, Permaculture is one of the best tools I know of for helping people and
institutions move into New Paradigm thinking and acting . In
this I think we can help the aid agencies who are vaguely fumbling in this
direction-- so the suggestion below of frequenting Australian aid agencies
before going overseas is most interesting-- and the best transformation for the
Third World could be from there, by transforming the vision within the
agencies...(It is unfortunate that Lisa Mollison is trying to pull Permaculture
back into Old Paradigm structures ( control, hierarquies, fear , fragmentation
etc.)If she were to succeed ( but she won´t!), we would have to change the name
of what we do, because Old Paradigm Permaculture is an oxymoron...)
In a practical vein, tropical Permaculture is
extremely well anchored here in Brazil, and we are dedicated to training these
young idealistic people who would like to do this kind of work(and also others
in other regions of Brazil). They can have real-life experience in
alternative communitites and in other projects in places which will
not be harmed by their lack of experience( and lack of the language). The
results until now have been most positive, as we have been able to fill in that
first serious gap between new knowledge and hands-on experience in a Third World
situation ( although I personally don´t think Brazil is third-world-- it is just
being thoroughly robbed by its own government and by trans-national
corporations).
As to documentation, I would ask what do we
actually document in Permaculture? The number of gardens built? The
number of ecovillas constructed? What is there to measure, exactly?
How do you measure a design system? I think we can measure parts of what is
included in Permaculture ( kilos of carrots etc.)but how can we measure that
leap when people begin to have a holistic view and discover that they are
powerful ( one of the biggest contributions)? I DO think we can measure
them somehow, and am most interested in seeing the form used , as suggested
below.
For those who are interested, our drylands
polyculture program is full steam ahead and being documented, comparing results
to neighboring fields. That is one sort of documentation of the
agricultural model as recommended by Permaculture which we can offer to aid
agencies,( in another six month´s time)..And as we are also going into
depths with the farmers about other aspects of the rural property ( water
catchment, budgeting, etc.) the project is taking on more and
more the profile of a Permaculture project( whole-farm planning) and not
just an agroecological one...
So I would suggest that the function of foreign
teachers coming in as part of an aid program could be to help
already-exisitng local programs take the next step, adding new insights-- for
example a workshop on alterntive money systems is very
powerful! -- as that would be a contribution which continues when the teacher
leaves. But again , it is my experience that if the teacher does not speak
the language, he/she is terribly dislocated, has difficulties in penetrating the
actual situation and making a real contribution.
In the end, why travel? After all, each of these
countries has its own slums, its own collapsed farms, its own third world
embedded in apparent affluence. ( My sister was director of a
program which collected food for the hungry-- in the rich United Sates! I
Was absolutely shocked when she sent me the statistics of the extent of this
hunger...)The inspired young people could travel in instead of out... But--
needing adventure-- Brazil is at their disposition!
Marsha
Instituto de Permacultura da Bahia
Brazil
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