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

[jedd]

On Friday 08 September 2006 2:48 pm, Tom Toogood wrote:
 ] 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" ...

 I think this is drawing too long a bow.

 Apart from the semantic question (are there such things are
 genuine synonyms in the English language?)  I think it's a bit
 of a stretch to assume something, then extrapolate from that
 assumption by a sequence of loose associations.

 It's interesting that you use the word ideology - the science of
 ideas - as one of the strengths, IMO, of Permaculture is the fact
 that its theories, assertions, practices etc can be substantiated by
 science.  There's no weaknesses that need to be gap-filled by
 nebulous and ephemeral concepts like faith.

 ] 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

 Whereas Richard Dawkins in his latest book (not read it yet)
 The God Delusion, and in his most recent TV series The Root Of All
 Evil, argues that religion, faith, etc are anachronisms that cause
 far more trouble than they're worth.  I don't believe that he has
 consequently adopted a position of pro-materialism, though.  ;)

 There may well be a happy medium (I'm not talking about Athena
 Starwoman after a couple of G&T's here) between the two, but I
 remain unconvinced.

 Jedd.