[Pil-pc-oceania] Permaculture People's Party

[pacific-edge]

So. A political party. Bill must have had a fundamental change of attitude
on this if, as reported, he now supports the idea. He's always been
skeptical (that's a mild term for it) of political parties. Perhaps he's had
an epiphany on the road to Deloraine.

I admire the enthusiasm of those that have set this Permaculture party thing
up, however I have just a few thoughts.

First, I wonder whether seeking influence is more effective than direct
involvement in party politics. Influence, that is, based on the efficacy of
Permaculture and carried out through the techniques of low key, targetted
advocacy and lobbying.

Secondly, here and there across the country Permaculture, both as a set of
ideas and as a term, is starting to make a few inroads into local government
community education. And there remains potential to exert influence at the
community-based level by  permaculturists participating in global warming
groups, food security organisations and so on.

Local government educators may no longer be able to make use of Permaculture
in their work, now easily mention the concept, were the design system to
become politicised through association with a political party. This is
because, in their work, they cannot support particular commercial products
or political organisations.

I doubt if a party would attract those permaculturists who traditionally
support mainstream parties. I know one, perhaps two, who are members of the
ALP, believe it or not, and I bet there's more than a few in the safe
Liberal seats on Sydney's northside that are members and/or supporters of
that party. Then there's permaculturists who might be members of the Greens.
Question: are permaculturist members of these parties better seeking to
reform them than form another party?

It's been a talking point over the years that local government is the level
with the most direct impact on individuals and localities.

...Russ Grayson




On 30/6/07 9:04 AM, "Laurence Gaffney" <lgaffney at bigpond.com> wrote:

> What evidence is there that Bill Mollison is supporting the creation of a
> conventional Political Party?
> Given Bills writing & statements in the past this would seem impossible.
> 
> eg. "All Political Parties will always treat you with contempt."    (PDC
> TYALGUM 94)
> 
> Laurence Gaffney
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