[Pil-pc-oceania] Permaculture People's Party 2

[kerry dawborn]

Hi Tamara and other permies,

Tamara,  I want to acknowledge you very sincerely for your heart and for 
your resolve, in trying to address the challenges the world is facing, 
which you have outlined, by stepping up in response to Bill's request, 
to try to move permaculture into the political arena and therefore 
further into the eyes and minds of the wider community. Having been 
involved in the past with the early stages of development of a new 
party, I know that this is a huge and courageous undertaking. I relate 
very strongly to many of the reasons you have given, for being involved, 
and have often myself thought my own way down the path of 
permaculture-in-politics, and wondered whether to start walking it.

My reasons for not having actually begun that journey (yet), are in line 
with some of the concerns expressed by others on this list. For example, 
knowing how much effort is involved in framing the ideological and 
physical framework of a political party, so that it has the necessary 
depth and integrity while at the same time avoiding becoming so bogged 
down in ideals that it has trouble taking action or being seen as 
realistic within the current social/cultural/economic framework, I do 
wonder whether our energy could be better spent on other initiatives. I 
am also concerned about trying to unify the permaculture community 
ideologically, too much. For me, while we permies are united by our 
common choice to allow the permaculture design framework and principles 
to guide many or all aspects of how we think, feel and act, we are 
nevertheless a diverse group, and I feel this is a key strength of the 
movement. Our diversity helps to maintain the 'edges' in our thinking 
and action. As we know, it's at the 'edges' that the greatest potential 
for creativity, and therefore for appropriate responses to evolving 
challenges, is found. It is the nature of political parties on the other 
hand, that there is necessarily a 'party line' - there needs to be a 
unified vision and a level of coherence in action. This is not 
necessarily all bad in terms of carrying a political message, but in the 
case of something as broad and far-reaching as permaculture, I worry 
that a party that claims to speak on behalf of the movement might have 
the effect of silencing the diversity of voices, or of splitting the 
movement, or both. I for one could imagine myself becoming quite 
disillusioned with the movement if I saw a line I did not agree with, 
being taken in the public arena, by something as potentially powerful as 
a political party claiming to speak on my behalf. I worry also, that an 
organisation like a political party would, even if formulated in a 
manner to try to avoid it, tend towards introducing a hierarchy into the 
movement, if not through its actual structure, then possibly through the 
power relations implied in the public eye. In my opinion, it would take 
an extremely humble and decentralised approach to the necessary 
leadership roles within such a party, to avoid this. I believe many such 
people do exist within the permaculture movement, and would have to 
seriously consider supporting a permaculture party if such people could 
find it in themselves, and be supported in stepping forward, but I my 
experience and observation tell me that this will tend not to happen.

When I first heard about this discussion of a permaculture party, my 
first reaction was 'yep, great, I'm in! Permaculture needs to be out 
there and is needed out there!' A minute or two later, the concerns 
expressed above began to creep in, and I found myself thinking that 
while I would like to see a clear permaculture presence in the political 
arena, I am not sure that party politics is the way to do it. If I think 
about what would be my personal goals in this endeavour, the key points 
would be to help bring a permaculture way of thinking further into the 
mainstream to help guide decisions and actions in all areas. I wonder 
whether this could be achieved more effectively, via either or both of 
the following paths:

1) A coalition of permaculture-based Independents. This could be very 
challenging, since a coalition by its nature might risk some of the same 
issues regarding being restricted to a given party, or coalition ' 
line', and it might be hard to work out how to do it without effectively 
functioning as a political party. I do think however, that a coalition 
of Independents might be a way to avoid some of the potential issues 
regarding hierarchy, centralisation, silencing of diversity etc. Having 
stood for State parliament twice myself, and having felt I could not do 
it within a party framework again, I would nevertheless consider 
standing as an Independent, as part of a supportive permaculture 
coalition. For me, a coalition of independents could offer the most 
effective way for permaculture to navigate a path of political action in 
the current social and political environment, whilst creatively 
negotiating, extending and demonstrating to the wider community, a 
permaculture approach to political and social organisation, 
decision-making, and action in the world, and helping to draw attention 
to other permaculture initiatives that are already doing this. It might 
also, at least to some extent, avoid, both in the minds of constituents 
and in practice, any contradiction or perceived or actual division of 
loyalty, between a 'party line', and the specific concerns or needs of a 
given local area or constituency. An Independent, guided clearly and 
openly by permaculture principles and a permaculture-based ethic which 
remains constant, rather than a 'party line' on a given issue which may 
change in different circumstances, might find it easier to respond 
appropriately and with integrity, on a local level. Finally, standing as 
Independents avoids the need to build a membership base for 
registration, which can be a big drain on energy and resources.

On the down side, as others have pointed out, Independents or a 
permaculture party standing in the same electorates as Greens, could 
divide the vote so that neither receives the election funding that might 
have gone to one or the other if the vote had reached the required 
percentage. I wonder however, if this is possibly a short-sighted 
concern; if having a greater diversity of environmental/social 
justice-based voting options attracts more voters away from the main 
parties, it might have a long-term effect of empowering many more people 
to open their eyes, and believe in, look for and embrace ecologically 
sustainable alternatives. It might also help to build a more solid voter 
base for future elections, and help to attract even more vote-based 
funding to the environmental side, in future elections.

2) Another approach could be a consolidated permaculture lobby group. I 
don't know much at all about lobbying or lobby groups, but if I look at 
organisations like the Victorian Women's Trust, Environment Victoria, 
the various charity organisations, I do wonder whether we could use the 
existing permaculture community infrastructure to begin working together 
and channelling resources in a more unified, consolidated manner to put 
a permaculture view to all levels of government on key issues. I for one 
am very keen to develop a public, broad and unified permaculture 
response to things like desalination and water issues in general, and 
nuclear power. Like I said, I know very little about lobbying. I don't 
mean to suggest that there isn't probably a whole heap of permaculture 
lobbying already going on, particularly at the local level. I do just 
wonder if a more unified, broadscale effort might be called for at this 
time.

I'm pleased that we are having this discussion, because I agree with 
Tamara, Bill and others, if not in terms of method, certainly in terms 
of need, that a more prominent role for permaculture in the wider 
community in this time of immense change, is appropriate and greatly 
deserving of our attention and efforts. I will be continuing to follow 
the debate with great interest, and will be looking to see what role I 
might play.

Best wishes to All of you!!!

Kerry Dawborn.

tamara griffiths wrote:
> How does one start a permaculture political party?
> Possibly not by presenting the name and the creation of the party as a 
> fait-acompli.
> But I have never convened a political party before so I beg forgiveness.
>
> Bill M spoke about the formation of a Permaculture political party at the 
> PDC in January in Melbourne, and when I went on the practical course at his 
> farm in Tassie we discussed what this would entail. He asked me to convene 
> the party.
>
> I registered the name as a business name (as per Bill's request) and posted 
> and emailed the form out to groups requesting that they tell members etc.
>
> There are some good discussions on the PRI forum about the PPP. Please see 
> http://forums.permaculture.org.au/forum6.php&sid=d1dde81823102ac667ecf9bcad61d52a
>
> I would like to invite everyone to a meeting on 30th or 31st of October this 
> year in Melbourne to discuss the formation of a PPP. Bill is in Melbourne 
> then and I believe that David Holmgren is in the country. All permies are 
> welcome.  I will give more details as they come to hand. We can discuss 
> whether we want a ppp or not, and name etc.
>
> I am compiling a list of FAQ's and topics for discussion. Please post or 
> email them to me.
> In the mean time, perhaps we should have some discussion papers out for 
> circulation. Is that a good idea?
>
> Why did I decided to help Bill set up a PPP. These are my views and do not 
> represent the PPP.
> 1. The world is in absolutely dire straits. Australia is in desperate need 
> more permaculture. I felt a pressing need that Permaculture have a voice in 
> mainstream politics. As I have written elsewhere, even if we never get 
> anyone elected, the very fact that we exist, perhaps one of us appears on 
> the 7.30 report, it gets the message out there. I am unhappy with my ability 
> to have any meaningful effect on my elected representatives. A letter never 
> gets read by a minister, the staff answer it and usually with a form letter. 
> Requests for an audience John Thwaites or his environmental advisor get an 
> answer no. Why? Because I am one person. A PPP could have more chance of an 
> audience with people we are trying to influence than a single person. And if 
> one more person gets into permaculture, surely thats a win for the planet?
>
> 2. On splitting the Greens: I am a Greens member and handed out for them at 
> the last election. the preferential system of voting in Australia means that 
> as long as people vote for the Greens as their second option, that vote is 
> not wasted.
>
> 3. Will a PPP necessarily split the greens? Possibly, or not necessarily. 
> Not all Permies are greens voters. Some permies might have deep problems 
> with shooting galleries or gay marriage. And some might not. We just don't 
> know.
>
> 4. Should we just work within the Greens? see above.
>
> 5. Should we work within other political parties and structures - Retrofit? 
> yes. We should. But are we being heard? In the face of crippling drought 
> John Howard suggests we pray, rather than get the design right. He offers a 
> 10 Billion dollar plan to fix the Murray Darling and doesn't mention how 
> irrigators could get enough water through keyline, swaling and other 
> methods. When I spoke to the author of the Victorian government's author of 
> the report on securing Melbourne's water supply, he had never even heard of 
> Permaculture or Yeomans. We need a louder voice.
>
> 6.The Greens, Labor and Liberal are parties that represent political 
> approaches to society and governance. The Greens are libertarians, the 
> Liberals are individualist and neo conservatives and Labor are 
> unionist/group/socialist oriented.
> Permaculture is a practical rather than a political movement (is this true?) 
> and as such I believe it is outside the existing dogmas of politics. 
> Permaculture offers common sense and proven practical approaches rather than 
> political theories to problems like abject poverty and these techniques of 
> design must get out there.
>
> Please email me with question or topics to discuss at the late October 
> meeting.
> And apologies for the top-down appearance of the PPP. My intentions were 
> pure. I just want to care for people, care for the earth and to spread the 
> surplus.
>
> Kind regards,
> Tamara
> Tamara Griffiths
> 39 Wattle Tree Road
> Bunyip
> Victoria 3815
> 03 5629 5918
> 0407 45 7707
> scarletwoman at hotmail.com
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/boodicusducky/
>
> "Be the change you want to see in the world." Gandhi
>
> 'The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do 
> nothing." Edmund Burke
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! 
> http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/
>
> _______________________________________________
> Pil-pc-oceania mailing list
> Pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> http://jasper.cmsarchitects.com/mailman/listinfo/pil-pc-oceania
>
>