 |
Conference Proceedings Chapter Three - Economics Stream |
| [ Home | Contents | Next | Previous ] |
|
Conference Proceedings Chapter Three - Economics Stream |
| [ Home | Contents | Next | Previous ] |
[Conference Day 4 @ 11:00 - Submitted Paper]
Archimedes Trading Company Ltd. is an international trade and investment firm specializing in trade of regenerative biological and cultural resources.
Archimedes is engaged in making the economic and cultural links to connect a global worknet of ecologically based enterprises.
Archimedes is about investing in people; investing in the restoration of ecosystems; and investing in the people that steward them.
Archimedes leverages resources, people talent, design skills, technology and information in support of a global economic development web to support an ecologically sustainable future.
Based on a decade of research and involvement in ecological design and development, Archimedes has strategically selected three areas for trade, investment, and development:
Agroforestry products, ranging from fine furniture hard woods to bamboo, to nurseries, gourmet mushrooms, natural fibers, and many other forest products derived from regenerative forestry practices.
Botanical pharmaceuticals, essential oils, medicinals, food supplements, and cosmetics produced through ecologically sustainable cultivation methods.
Human-scale technologies, or living technologies, which are ecologically sound and culturally appropriate, and which serve to benefit humans and their environment.
During the past twenty years, permaculture has grown into a global grassroots initiative, a diverse folk movement that is inventing itself with new cultural adaptations. There are permaculture institutes in over 50 countries and projects in over 100 countries.
By definition, these projects are developing local regenerative economic resource bases, and in many cases, services and product for trade. Many of these projects have been initiated by philanthropic contributions based on the worthy goals of sustainable land use and ecological design.
Out of this evolving network of projects emerges an opportunity to form a trade and economic development network. Permaculture is a growth industry. Archimedes is positioned to leverage the collective strength of the global permaculture worknet. Permaculture is a growth industry.
Archimedes will arrange advance purchase contracts between large volume customers in the developed world with local producers trained in ecological cultivation and production systems in developing countries.
Archimedes will provide eco-village development projects with a link to appropriate technology sources. Archimedes may broker the sale of appropriate technology products or arrange licensing and distribution.
Archimedes will invest in capital assets to support sustainable agroforestry, botanical pharmaceutical and appropriate technology projects or enterprises in developing countries.
Archimedes will employ sophisticated ecological land use design matrices to prospect for undervalued land, and/or land which may have been subject to environmental degradation.
Archimedes will assemble training, finance and development teams to regenerate land and initiate biological systems to support economic botany and ecological village development.
Training and education are essential to the mission of Archimedes. Archimedes will organize and mobilize earth restoration teaching teams that will conduct in-country intensive permaculture training. Permaculture education consists of training in a system of ecological land use planning and developing sustainable life skills.
Archimedes will invest in a community by providing training and follow up support to establish community-based agroforestry project, and village forest gardens which can supply an abundance and variety of regenerative products. Archimedes will establish global trade links which will help create economic self-sufficiency.
Archimedes will link philanthropy with economic development to support sustainable living systems and ecologically designed human habitat. Archimedes will work with charitable foundations and organizations to transform grant money into sustainable local enterprise based on regenerative resources.
Philanthropic organizations may sponsor educational programs with grants directly to local non-profit organizations in developing countries. Archimedes will facilitate training and work with local communities to establish small enterprises that are ecologically sound and contribute to local economic self-reliance. Archimedes will then facilitate trade, marketing and distribution of products from the global village economy.
Archimedes is built on the premise that an investment in training of people in ecological design and sustainable land use planning offers a bright economic prospect for the next seven generations. Japanese corporations and the government of Japan have jointly developed a 100 year plan for Japan to become the leader in "clean" technologies and industrial ecology. Long term thinking is necessary if we are to transition to an ecology of commerce.
Following the lead of Sweden's industrial ecology example, large corporations all over the world are exploring The Natural Step, a shared framework for developing consensus on the systems conditions for sustaining life. Major corporations are redesigning their business to align with ecological principles.
Archimedes looks forward to participating in a form of global commerce that benefits all of life on the planet. It looks forward to participating in the creation of a web of beneficial relations which sustain a feedback loop that returns nutrients and biological resources back to the earth in support of life.
Archimedes is designed to provide a buffer for participating permaculture and eco-village sites against international currency fluctuations or market disasters, and to encourage non-currency economies, as a meta-LETS or barter system.
The long term vision for Archimedes is to create (or return to) a system of merchant transport that is environmentally benign. Economic globalization has created a huge transport industry that runs on and perpetuates the extractive industrial economy. From a strict ecological accounting standpoint, sailing is the only justifiable means of transport currently available.
This vision received its inspiration from Margaret Mead's original notion of "Ocean Arks." Archimedes may initially utilize currently available shipping and transport means, while developing plans to move product via solar-assisted sailing vessels. These "bioarcs" would carry seed, products, crafts, technology, etc. while producing food and compost as they move, with the assistance of wind and sun.
Archimedes is registered as a limited liability company in the State of New Mexico. The company's principal shareholders are Director Danielle Leonard and Thomas Mack, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Archimedes intends to raise early capital through the sale of 49% of the company shares to individuals who present a high "value added" with their investment. The company is developing key contacts, partners and trade relationships in Africa, Europe, South America, North America, and Australasia.
The company is intended to be maintained at a relatively small scale with a limited number of private shareholder partners. Archimedes is not registered as a security, nor are there any intentions to take the company public. The ultimate legal structure of the company is yet to be determined, and the Directors are currently exploring off-shore facilities and a merchant bank charter.
Archimedes welcomes inquiries from qualified individuals and organizations which a demonstrable track record in the areas of trade which Archimedes is dealing in. Interested parties may correspond via our response form, or in hard copy to: Living Systems Design / The Archimedes Project, 369 Montezuma #225 Santa Fe, NM 87501 USA. Email: mack@newmexico.com
© Copyright Permaculture Association of Western Australia Inc. and authors, 1997.