[permaculture-oceania] the cultural climate

[David Arnold]

I am presently involved in a series of small meetings in which we are discussing the 
future of our small Australian country town - 600 people, 1500 in the local district.  
These meetings bring together representatives of diverse interests who would not 
otherwise meet.  It is very interesting to hear of the concepts that non-permies are 
thinking about these days.


For example, a gung-ho young cropping farmer - very conservative, pro GM, and 
former Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on agribusiness - said he sees cars 
leaving this town each day to travel to work in regional centres.  He said that with peak 
oil, and petrol getting to $2 - $3 a litre, it may become too expensive for people to live 
in our town and travel elsewhere to work.

This was the first time I had met him.  I was rapt that he had the concept of peak oil.  
OK, maybe it is not too surprising since they use so much of it and the price is going 
up, but 10 years ago if you talked of finite fossil fuel resources in that sort of forum I 
think eyes would have glazed over.  And "peak oil" works as a concise concept, save  
having to try to explain the whole thing from first principles.

The generally increasing proportion of older people in country towns was discussed.  
The CEO and Director of Nursing at the aged care facility - the biggest local employer 
with 38 full-time equivalent staff - said that it seems that it is really the "counter-culture" 
activities that attract younger generations.  He suggested we need organic and Bd 
food for sale in the main street, and the rural supplies shop needs to advertise organic 
fertiliser for sale.

Our working Pc design examples are still very important of course.  Now the cultural 
climate might be more open to our permaculture thinking.  It is a good time for us 
permies to get out there and mix, to engage with the broader community.

By the way, it has been very helpful in the context of development in a country town, to 
be able to refer people to the BEND project in Bega, and to their web-site at 
www.bend.org.au  	The idea and example of people from the local community 
becoming the developer that they wanted to have has generated some interest.

Dave


David Arnold			
 Permaculture Designer

davidarnold at iinet.net.au

4446 Murchison Rd, Violet Town  VIC  3669

ph. 03 5798 1679		

mob. 0428 981 679



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