[Pil-pc-oceania] Green think tanks

Fri Nov 30 12:35:02 EST 2007

Really good analysis Deb,

This convergence coming up in Sydney could not have come at a better 
time for us. Strategic planning and bucketloads of patience is probably 
a useful approach here rather than acting like a 'bull at a gate'. 
Having said that I acknowledge and completely understand the total 
frustration mainly younger folk in the movement have toward 
change.....want it now! And your right, we are stuffed and permaculture 
has solutions, so...whats most effective?

Its so heartening to see the young activism making inroads into 
permaculture at present which reflects I guess what David Holmgen was 
wishing for....the third wave of environmentalism.Somehow we need to 
capture then nurture this energy for the best possible outcome.

Similar to indigenous cultures the world over, its the elders that need 
to lead and then pass on the baton to the next generation.What is it we 
will hand over?

kind regards
John Champagne
Mumbulla Bioregion

pil-pc-oceania-request at lists.permacultureinternational.org wrote:

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>Today's Topics:
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>   1. 1. Green think tanks;	2.(big) business as usual: NFF
>      (Deb Guildner)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:53:15 +1030
>From: "Deb Guildner" <bocor at bigbutton.com.au>
>Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] 1. Green think tanks;	2.(big) business as
>	usual: NFF
>To: "permacultue discussion list"
>	<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
>Message-ID: <001101c832d6$710089f0$5d9e06ca at deborahly2acqi>
>Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
>	reply-type=original
>
>The soft targets are us, but FYI here are the hard targets.
>They may prove VERY hard to educate.
>We may need a separate 'education revolution' for politicians!! (I said it 
>first).
>
>Garrett is still Environment Minsiter, but with the dubious exception of the 
>two
>red hot environment beacons, climate change and water !!! - which has gone
>to SA's Senator Penny Wong I believe: (her credentials for this portfolio 
>are unknown,
>but she is a Labor power broker of sorts, and may have been given the 
>sensitive portfolio
>because of her superior media management skills. Spin, spin, spin! But 
>what's up top?
>Hopefully some bloody good advisors!).
>
>The new A for agriculture minister is Tony Burke.
>With agriculture, climate change and water out of the e-quation, one has to
>wonder exactly WHAT in the environment Garrett remains responsible for...
>is he to be the express attache for tree-hugging or what??
>This is his punishment for media gaffes uring the campaign.  Poor Peter.
>
>We can only hope (and try to point out to the great white hope: me-too
>federal incumbents) that these issues are all interlinked, and they should 
>also
>institute a wider multi-ministerial Natural Resources Management-style panel 
>(aka the NZ and some
>states model) to fully consider the impact of all human activities across 
>the
>board. Otherwise projects etc may never be fully considered and become 
>political footballs,
>to be kicked around from pillar to post whilst everyone says it is some 
>other departments portfolio
>and not theirs, or worse, placed in the too hard basket and approved 
>regardless of environmental consequences..
>
>The hardest nut to crack, the National Farmers Federation, I have it from
>the educated anti GM lobby, has been infiltrated by 'clones' from
>multinational chemical corporations and is actively,  and in a very 
>undemocratic manner,
>at least in WA going against the directives of its own membership to drive 
>the pro-GM lobby.
>
>The Labor party has never understood rural issues, or the needs of rural 
>business constituents,
>and should it continue in this vein it may soon find itself out in the 
>political cold after its first term.
>It picked up a lot of seats in rural Qld which helped it gain orifice.
>Appeasing noisy rural business interests however is not serving the 
>country's long term best interests.
>
>I predict that the Rudd Govt will not do anything really revolutionary in 
>this first term of office.
>But a competent 'professional-style' lobby group should realistically aim to 
>have positive changes
>instituted early in Labors second term, where these changes are 
>controversial and hardest hitting in the farming community.
>Yes, it may take three years of patient work before anything vaguely 
>evolutionary gets up.
>
>The Ruddites will firstly roll back some of the more recent devastating 
>policies of the Howard administration:
>Work choices (which seem to have been just as unpopular in the struggling 
>rural sector electorates) will be first to go.
>Rural health will also need attention. After education, what next?
>Water will continue to be a neadache and much money needs to be spent on 
>infrastructure to conserve it.
>
>Measures to combat climate change will be the ones to watch: the giant 
>waiting in the wings, the carbon offset economy, is poised to spring..
>That and crops for biofuels. Watch these developments carefully.  We all 
>know that monocultures and using more chemicals are not the buzzwords of 
>sustainability, and therefore these sorts of measures, while applying a 
>quick fix, do not help us navigate our way out of climate change. We all 
>know why.
>These are precisely the areas in which the green brains trust needs to get 
>active, pronto.
>Given we are a nation without knowledge of susatinable forestry, and only 
>about 15-20% sustainable agriculture,
>aspring permaculture lobbysists need to consult with those who are currently 
>successfully practising these.
>Shining examples of principles in practise should be held up to the knockers 
>as examples to follow.
>
>I feel that these last two are areas where we may be able to have a more 
>positive impact, if we have the skills base to work productively with NGO's 
>and govt.
>
>Perhaps the Get up conference will be a catalyst, or ay least provide an 
>opportuntiy, for bringing together those concerned about climate change from 
>diverse sectors of the community, including 'permaculturists'.
>
>Green NGO's have within their ranks an experienced set of professional 
>lobbysists to engage with.
>Any specific information regarding policy drafts, and associated contacts, 
>within these organisations could  be posted to this list.
>We need to present as a well co-ordinated, if not well resourced, well 
>researched, unified front.
>
>Cheers
>Deb
>
>
>      Breaking Rural News : AGRIBUSINESS AND GENERAL
>
>     We disagree on some policies, but it's business as usual: NFF
>      Australia
>      Thursday, 29 November 2007
>
>      Differences remain, especially in industrial relations and Labor's
>broadband policy, but National Farmers Federation president, David Crombie,
>says the NFF looks forward to working with Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and
>the new Federal Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke.
>      "In the lead up to, and during the campaign, Labor addressed much of
>the NFF's rural and technical education, drought relief, water security,
>international trade and quarantine priorities," he said.
>
>      "It committed to working with the NFF on climate change adaption and
>mitigation strategies.
>
>      "And, on the need for a strategic transport infrastructure overhaul.
>
>      "But Labor's broadband policy fails to provide for rural Australia's
>future by syphoning the $2 billion Communications Fund's perpetual
>investment in the bush to pay for it.
>
>      "But it's business as usual for the NFF."
>
>
>Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] Permaculture lobbying
>
>
>  
>
>>Hi Tamara and others,
>>
>>Attached is copy of email sent to NSW Greens and Getup to help start
>>process
>>of working together, hope this is useful. I expect more useful if anyone
>>has
>>closer contacts with either organisation to invite to APC9.
>>
>>Lynette Correy
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: tamara griffiths [mailto:scarletwoman at hotmail.com]
>>Subject: Permaculture lobbying
>>
>>Right. Howard's out. Rudd wants to find the best policies. Permaculture is
>>clearly the answer. We need to get that across loud and clear. Can anyone
>>out there get an audience with Garrett, the new agrigulture minister and
>>rudd himself? he is looking for answers and we have them.
>>
>>there has been alot of discussion about lobbying instead of a permaculture
>>political party. regardless of the political party status, we need to
>>lobby.
>>
>>We need to invite garrett etc to APC9, get them to see that permaculture
>>is
>>the answer.
>>
>>Heady optomism. And 4 greens in the senate - we need to get them firmly on
>>side, Get Up also.
>>
>>Lots of love to all,
>>Tamara
>>    
>>
>
>
>
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>End of Pil-pc-oceania Digest, Vol 13, Issue 57
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