[permaculture-oceania] RE: DVD Cuba; eco-spirit, Cameron.

[Cameron Little]

Hi Tom,
you wrote/asked:
 
~~~~~~~~~~~
However, Permaculture people need to realise their ethics do imply, even
necessitate if implemented sincerely, a certain kind of ideology...which
could really be then termed "political".....and also, a certain kind of
faith or spirituality which could be termed "religious", as a believed-in
vision of a Perma-utopia heaven on earth...and why not, its far more
achievable and sustainable than the present free market faith's corporate-
hierarchied heavenly vision, or rather hell on earth for us!!!
 
Indeed, global eco-leader David Suzuki in his great book The Sacred Balance,
said the loss of the spiritual meanings/values of our amazing planet, is
just where westerners have lost the plot for the environment (we are too
grossly materialistic for our own and the planet's good)....Cameron, what do
you think of that, in the light of your Moderator's comment about not going
too far with eco-spirituality??
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am sorry Tom but I do not and will not accept that I have to take on any
body else's religion or spirituality under any grounds or any conditions.
An individual's religious or spiritual journey is theirs and theirs alone
and if they need guidance or support with that then they will be able to
find it.  What is needed is action on the ground and however people want to
resolve within themselves the ethical foundations and greater calling and
effort required to drive that is up to them to detect and to pursue.
 
My comments in response within a previous thread was not that other people
should not explore their own spirituality - that is not for me or anyone
else to decide or determine - my reference was to a strongly held view that
if spirituality or religious beliefs are to be included then it is up to the
designer to incorporate them based on their own needs or the brief from a
client if that is what is being responded to.  What I was responding to is
my opinion that we don't need another foundation principle to add to:
 
Care for the Earth
Care for people
Set limits to consumption and reproduction, and redistribute surplus
 
Some of our number may well be Missionaries but that doesn't mean the rest
of us are nor that we want to be mistaken for one.  Those that are and want
to provide that service can identify themselves as such.  If permaculturists
want to alienate the rest of the community at this key crisis point in human
'development' then the quickest way to do that will be to suggest that there
will need to be a shift to incorporate this or that religion or
spirituality.  There is a very good reason for the desire to seperate church
and state.
 
If permaculturists want to be more part of the solution than the problem
then we won't be highlighting our differences but rather our commonalities.
Religous differences are the foundation of conflict and came about even
before we fought over oil.  They weren't after oil when the Crusades were
being waged but there still seems to be a frighteningly familiar alignment.
 
They are my opinions on the matter that I will share Tom, as brief as they
are, and I doubt that I would be drawn into them any further.  You are free
to have yours but please do not suggest that we create a new 'Permaculture
Principle' that relates to spirituality.
 
Regards,
Cameron
 
Cameron Little
Ecoliving Program Manager
UNSW Ecoliving Centre
14 Arthur St
Randwick  NSW  2031

cameron.little at unsw.edu.au

www.ecoliving.unsw.edu.au

ph.  02 9398 8838
fx.  02 9398 2416
mob. 0414 385 644

CRICOS Provider Code: 00098G 

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