More Regional Reports
Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005
Summary
Spain
Stella
- Network still being built – looked at models from elsewhere and decided to design the network. Have used other existing and supportive networks (eco-village) to support the development of the Permaculture network – e.g. Eco-village network hosts Permaculture convergence, other publications carry regular Permaculture pages.
- Meeting wanted to build Permaculture network to
- Learn to not repeat mistakes
- Co-ordinate action
- Share resources
- More and better Permaculture training especially at diploma level.
- Designing academy to support the network as well as students.
Australia
(continued from yesterday)
In Western Australia the network almost collapsed post IPC6 as many activists set up more regional groups and due to changes in the political climate that make it more difficult to be without paid work. Focus moved from urban to rural work. Many eco-villages still in existence but only one in development. Across the rest of Australia there are many new eco-villages (lots of examples given). An eco-village in Adelaide will host the International Organic Farmers Association Meeting. Another has also won national awards for sustainability. There is good networking through two list servers where information etc. is shared. Permaculture International is no longer published, but there are several bio-regional magazines.
Seed savers network, and City Farms and Community Gardens organisation are off shoots of the Permaculture movement in Australia and still doing well.
Scandinavia
There is strong co-operation between Permaculture activists and associations in Denmark, Sweden and Norway (have very similar languages). They hold a convergence in a different country each year, hold courses and had a teachers seminar also. Denmark: have 30 people in the association, ran 4 courses last year, and have 3 diploma holders. Sweden: There are people doing Permaculture in Sweden but they are not necessarily association members because they need to spend their time with their families and jobs. They do have a website. Norway: Has 70 members in its Association, which has a flat structure. The Association was assisted in its revival by the Scandinavian network. They also have a website and a newsletter.
Czech and Slovak Republics
There are two organisations:
Czech and Slovak Permaculture organisation
The first design course was in 94 and three years later the organisation was founded. They have now run 40 courses and have three different structures for this (2 weeks, over 5 weekends, or across a whole year). They have got the course accredited by the state and can now offer teacher training too. They have:
- Monthly meeting on a Permaculture site to offer physical help and promotion of the project
- Occasional newsletter
- Workshops and meeting of PPPPP
- Permaculture magazine
- Annual convergence
- Have hosted 3 European Permaculture events
Recently did strategic review of organisation and now have 5 year strategy and one year plan and the organisation is reviewed every 6 months.
Czech Permaculture Organisation
A network of active Permaculture projects and is also involved with lobbying ministries of the government.
[Scribe: Anita]