[Pil-pc-oceania] PIL Futures

Sun May 11 11:19:15 EST 2008

I agree that any organisation who purports to be an regulatory authority 
(voluntary or otherwise), or representative, of PC trained practitioners in 
Australia (or elsewhere) should ideally strive to also be a public voice for 
PC.   At the moment there is not a very public face, or a limited one.

Can Pil set up a media subgroup to handle press releases which could add 
weight or support to planning and other decisions.

I know the expertise is there, so I propose that such a group be set up, 
(either within or without PIL - I don't want to place undue pressure on 
PIL). I anticipate that the proposed media group's annual peak of activity 
would be a focus on national and/or international Permaculture Day: promote 
and educate.  (Eg, give out scholarships to PC design courses to students of 
various disciplines...and maybe even paired partial scholarships to their 
teachers).

The whole problem with higher education is this ridiculous notion of niche 
experts who cannot work across disciplines, and although recent times has 
seen a peeling back of this almost paranoid acadamic protectionism, there is 
still a way to go, and PC can act as a catalyst for the required quantam 
leap in perspective.  If not now, then when???

I volunteer to help with research and drafting press releases....as part of 
such a media group.

This is not a very difficult thing to do: it doesnt need any funding, just a 
little time now and then.

BTW, the article (link and excerpt below) illustrates the point regarding 
the role of architects (eg) and also the pivotal role of planning 
authorities. This is not as black and white as it seems...the situation 
outlined in the article is an interesting one as there is often a conflict 
of values regarding new developments, green-tinged or otherwise, and 
adjacent heritage properties and precincts.  It is a strange juxtaposition 
between the old and the radically new styles of construction...not exactly a 
discreet retrofit!!

Cheers, and bombs away,

Deb

................................................................................................................

Garnaut heavies council over roof | The Australian

"....in support of his planning application to the council in Melbourne's 
inner north, Professor Garnaut advises that he has been commissioned to 
conduct the climate change review and adds that his architects have produced 
plans for the site that are "at once attractive, and sensible in the 
emerging environment of climate change". He also chides the council for its 
"virtual failure" to take Australia's need to reduce greenhouse gas 
emissions and limit the use of non-renewable resources - as well as conserve 
and reduce water use - in its urban design and heritage policies.

In the letter, sent on October 30 last year, he goes on to explain why the 
new building will be sustainable, durable and - based on thermal modelling - 
won't require heating or cooling. Professor Garnaut also says he plans to 
contribute power to the external electricity grid through the use of 
photovoltaic collectors and to store rainwater in two 20,000 litre 
underground tanks.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23673745-11949,00.html

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <stevehart at maxnet.co.nz>
To: <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 4:17 PM
Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] PIL Futures

> PIL Futures.... quite frankly and very bluntly I am tired of the continued
> rhetoric to not progress the only collective in the world that has most of
> the skills ability and experience to make a difference. This is critically
> needed if we do believe half of what we are saying.
>
> IMO it is time to become a very well recognised international body that
> has an electronic newsletter and a professional office. This can be
> supported by funds and donations  from many sectors. The institutes of
> architects have created a move and have recognised that they must move.
>
> "The American Institute of Architects in their White Paper 2007 they
> clearly state that there is no more a profound issue facing the profession
> today than a collective responsibility to make ecologically integrated
> design and construction practices a global standard. Current paradigms
> within the architecture profession are not proving to be adequately
> effective in addressing the scope of the challenges facing us. The need to
> take increased action remains not only a professional but a deeply ethical
> imperative. To fulfil this future generations of architects must have a
> comprehensive understanding of ecological systems and apply this shared
> body of knowledge to create beautiful, functional and healthy environments
> while restoring ecological systems. A generation ago the profession and
> academy failed to sustain a long-term design response to an emerging yet
> clearly observable set of environmental concerns. Failure to respond
> aggressively again risks making the discipline of architecture irrelevant
> to the global stage."
>
> Personally it is now time to recognise where we are going and get there
> rather than playing around in the back yard......Steve Hart
>
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>> Today's Topics:
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>>    1. Burying trees (Pat)
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>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 17:19:58 +0800
>> From: Pat <clamshell at iinet.net.au>
>> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Burying trees
>> To: permacultue discussion list
>> <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
>> Message-ID: <5B1875D9-DF64-4BFF-9E6E-57E66A4DC49A at iinet.net.au>
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>>
>> There is an interesting article in the 3 May issue of New Scientist -
>> 'Carbon Lockdown.'
>>
>> It contains several ideas about sequestering carbon, such as
>> regenerating swamps, burying trees in large quantities, and, more
>> promisingly, developing a variety of methods of pyrolysing (a fancy
>> kind of composting) which would produce a certain amount of heat that
>> could be utilised as well as some of the famous 'biochar' (think terra
>> preta).
>>
>> You will find quite a few hits if you google for terra preta, such as
>> http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Pat
>>
>>
>>
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