Permaculture Organisation – The Fifth Element
Wednesday, 8 June 2005
Tony Andersen, Denmark
- Address: Sdr. Boulevard 53, 2 th - 1720 Kobenhavn V - Denmark Office telephone: +45-3331 5694 Fax: - +45-3325 7179
Email: vestergror@dk-online.dk
Format: Lecture and follow-up workshop consisting of discussion.
Overview
For 30 years now, we have been proving that the practical aspects of our analyses and planning principles do work in practice. These analyses have been based on the four basic natural elements: water, soil, wind and energy in the attempt to establish optimal condition for plant systems, animals and humans. In this seem our, the humans, ability to organise ourselves in projects, communities and societies. The workshop will discuss spiritual, political, social and legal aspects of how to organise around Permaculture projects and developments.
Tony Andersen, Permaculture designer and Architectural planner, has been working with urban renewal and bioregional development – and has produced 2 articles in English regarding these matters.
Summary
The fifth element (water, soil, energy and wind being the other four) comprises human beings, who have developed the most destructive system ever; known as liberal parliamentary democracy. Characteristics of this system: majority elections, fixed representation over 4-5 years, secrecy and an administration which is fragmented and sectorial.
Key characteristics of well-functioning permaculture organisations:
- Agreement by consensus using traditional cultural methods e.g. ting, talking stick, palaver, sangam.
- Use of "messengers" who come to represent specific interests and who will not be "brought off" through the playing off of one interest group against another.
- Open working groups instead of secret committees..
- Autonomy of decision-making at house, village, town and bioregional levels.
- Holistic cross-sectorial administration working within each level.
Key points arising out of discussion:
- How does "spirit" fit into the five elements? Is it implicit in the community as it organizes itself? Or is it implicit in the plants that grow as a result - or both?
- How can we design the next IPC using all five good-practice points mentioned above?
Publication available for further reading: article by tony in Permakultuur Nordisk Nyhedsbrev Nr.43 Arsskrift 99