Hola Kent Jared
Let me start my saying that I don't see the reason for the "versus" in
this post.
Rather than get into a philosophical rave, I'd rather talk from personal
experience.
After my PCD with Bill some 16 years ago, I was inspired and started to
look for ways to get involved. I connected with others in my area and
started a number of projects. At times this was fun, at times hard work
and obviously the path to burn-out. I also noticed this burn-out pattern
in many environmental groups.
One of the people that became a great friend when I first moved to
Crystal Waters was a trained sociologist, gay-rights activist and AIDS
worker. Despite our friendship he was strongly opposed to Permculture,
but could never quite define his objections. One day he visited me,
having read the whole Designers Manual, cover to cover, and said "I now
understand what I have against your Permaculture - it is based in fear".
A bolt of energy ran through me as I realised the clarity of his
statement. I had been working from the premise that we must save the
rainforest, or the local park because it may be the last straw, and that
the ecological repercussions could be severely detrimental to the
survival of humans. I was afraid for my own survival. I recalled hearing
many environmentalists and Permies using similar arguments. We must
protect the rainforest - who knows it may contain the cure for cancer,
or the Elixir of Life....... Totally anthropocentric. Even the argument
that without a stable ecology human survival may be threatened is really
the same feeling. The difference between this and the people who see a
forest as a resource to the exploited (the logging companies) is only a
matter of degree. Both see the forest as something useful to humans.
It was this fear that was driving me, and threatening burn-out - too
much adrenelin!!!
Around this time, Robin (Clayfield) and I were starting to work on
ourselves and our relationship. We came into contact with John Seed, the
Rainforest Information Network and Deep Ecology.
I no longer see the forest as something useful to humans. I see it
simply as a wonderful experience that deserves to be protected for no
other reason that the fact that exists. I no longer work from a feeling
of fear, but rather a feeling of awe, and love and connection. I don't
need to justify a tree as a source of timber, as animal habitat, as a
climate modifier...etc - I don't have to justify it at all. It simply
is. Rather than intellectualise about its usefulness, I'd rather sit
quietly in its shade, just marvel at the wonder of it and breath with
it.
So, now I have now fear of burn-out. I can travel for months on end,
always sleeping in different places, having to eat different foods,
bussing long hours without sleep to start a course or a meeting in the
morning. I can do this, simply because my base-line motivation is not
fear, not simple love for the ecology and the people around me. I no
longer understand the concept of vacation - a vacation from what, I
enjoy my life. I am energised by the people I met and work with. By the
beautiful landscapes I get to visit and work in.
In summary - I see no reason for the "versus". Deep Ecology is what
motivates me deep down, Permaculture is how I choose to manifest that
feeling. There is no separation, one is how I feel, the other how I
behave as a result of that feeling. Intellectually I will talk about the
Ethics of Permaculture - or I can just feel the love of it all - the
results is the same. But the driving force is different. One is fear,
the other is love. I choose to work with the latter. It feels better!!
Skye
--
Skye - Apdo # 391, Patzcuaro, Michoacan, CP. 61600 M�xico.
fax (52) 01 (434) 24743
Profesor y dise�ador en Permacultura
Director del Instituto de Permacultura de M�xico A.C.
Talleres de desarrollo humano, planeaci�n participativa y
econom�a comunitaria.
