Conference Proceedings Chapter Ten - Convergence Proceedings
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Day One - Theme Groups

The program for the first day of the convergence was:

08:30	Housekeeping.
09:00	Opening Ceremony - Rinaldo.
09:10	Introduce the process for the Strategic Design Task, used to discuss issues under theme headings.
09:30	Form theme groups, and sub-theme groups within each theme group.
10:00	Break.
10:30	Sub-theme groups convene.
12:30	Lunch.
14:00	Sub-theme groups reconvene.
15:00	Break.
15:30	Plenary session for sub-theme group reports.
17:30	Break for evening networking.

Nominated agenda items received by the organising team prior to the convergence were grouped according to the themes Education, Social Justice, Professional Design, Publications and Finance. Each of these themes were then divided into sub-themes. Groups were assembled for each sub-theme.

Each theme was coordinated by a facilitator, who roved between the sub-theme groups to ensure continuity. Each sub-theme group also had a facilitator; their role was to ensure that members of the group could contribute in areas of their interest, the group stayed focussed on the issues nominated, and that no members of the group dominated the discussion. Each group also appointed scribes and timekeepers to ensure that information was recorded and all issues could be discussed within the time framework.

The following strategic design task was presented to the facilitators of the five theme groups as a method of conducting sessions.

1. Within subgroups, identify and share issues of importance to members of the group.
2. Build up a base map of appropriate existing models and resources.
3. Form a subgroups goal which reflects common broad goal.
4. Achieving the goal: (a) identify elements needed, (b) develop strategies, and (c) form an action plan.
5. Test against (a) the common goal, (b) permaculture ethics, (c) empowering communities, (d) ecological accounting, and (e) weak links.
6. If appropriate, refine the action plan and delegate responsibilities.

The groups, with their coordinators, were as follows:

• Education (Naomi Coleman).
• Permaculture curriculum development (Rick Coleman & Jill Finane).
• The Permaculture Academy (Rene Van Raders).
• Permaculture education & building alliances (Suzy Karasik).
• PITAA - Permaculture Industry Training Association Australia (Bill Withers).
• Social Justice (Dora Byrne).
• Eco & traditional village (Edgar Thompson).
• Women & permaculture (Dora Byrne).
• Indigenous peoples, cultural adaptation and community mobilisation (Chris Evans).
• Professional Design (Lorraine van Raders).
• Developing professional skills and ethics as a permaculture designer (Lorraine van Raders).
• Dealing with authorities and project management (Dianne Forster).
• The role of the Permaculture Academy & other institutions (Eugenio Gras).
• Communications (Robin Clayfield).
• Publications (Fiona Campbell).
• Database, Internet, network (Robin Clayfield).
• International conferences and IPC7 (Skye).
• Finance (Keith Murray).
• Financial support systems for the global permaculture community (Keith Murray & Beth Lambert).
• Aid & collective fundraising (Simba Muzuva).
• The corporate interface (Thomas Mack).

Following are the reports from the theme groups. The format varies as the groups recorded information in different ways. Where appropriate, the information is outlined in the format of goals, strategies and action. In some cases the discussion points raised by the groups are listed in point form.

If people reading this are interested in any of the actions suggested, contact the people listed in the action column. If no-one is listed in the action column, and you wish to jump into action yourself, you could contact the co-ordinator of the theme group, or write something about your proposed action for your area newsletter, or on a broader scale, in the Permaculture International Journal.

Action on a local level is encouraged, and using the processes outlined in these proceedings at a local level is sure to bring about effective action plans, even if these differ from the exact recommendations in these proceedings. Taking the ideas generated by the delegates who did attend, and adapting them to suit your own conditions is encouraged.

Permaculture Curriculum Development (Education)

The overall goal for this sub-group was to apply permaculture principles to design effective learning plans. From this overall goal a number of sub-goals were developed.

The Permaculture Academy (Education)

Goal: To create the possibility and the opportunity for holders of the Permaculture Design Certificate to achieve a higher degree (Masters or PhD) comparable to that of a main-stream university.

Discussion Points

• Create new institutions or learning grounds.
• Use electronic media - distance education.
• Begin with a task force.
• Use Permaculture International Journal to disseminate information/gain feedback.
• Use eco-villages as training grounds.
• Use permaculture ethics & principles in the site, in the course, in checking.
• Recognise informal learning & prior knowledge.
• Respect cultural & personal experience.
• Meet needs of diverse people in diverse climates. Emphasise uniqueness, spiritual wholeness.
• Emphasis on process.

Role Of The Academy

• To create the possibility and the opportunity for holders of the certificate in permaculture to achieve a higher degree. (Master or PhD in permaculture) comparable to that of a mainstream university.
• End product: quality of individual research/action.
• Learning ground - atmosphere of place, emphasis on self-learning.
• The academy must be suited to culture/bioregional (local) conditions and able to cope with need/use levels.
• The academy to act as a broker between individuals wanting to do higher study and relevant (academic) institutions.
• To promote the basic concepts of permaculture and holistic thinking.
• To keep its organic identity.
• To maintain a quality standard at all levels of permaculture and foster/promote permaculture accreditation in society.

Strategies

• Poll the audience to see who wants to do a higher degree. (Done: result was a significant proportion of the audience.)
• Information management.
• Quality control/disciplinary board.
• Specify points of entry for quality control (eg non-certified permaculture teachers).
• Discover willing participants through Internet.
• Identify financial resources required to run an academy.

Appropriate Existing Models

• Academy in UK doing 2nd Year PhD (contact: Liam Edgeton).
• Permaculture part of Enviromental Studies (1 unit in Western Australia).
• Mexico permaculture in San Miguel University as 2 month workshop.
• In TAFE as part of horticulture certificate (WA).
• NSW History of permaculture as one unit in horticulture.
• Courses Introduction in Community College NSW.
• Private Design Courses (major component).
• Hawkesbury Humanist Agriculture Degree (NSW University, Sydney - Richard Bowden).

Note from the group: We accept the existing structure of permaculture Certification and Diploma, but how do we gain recognition within the present education structure? There is a need to link into the system. There is a need to retain the identity and structure as it is. One strategy is to access multiple institutions - a modular system.

Permaculture Education & Building Alliances (Education)

Permaculture Industry Training Association Australia (PITAA) (Education)

PITAA was loosely formed in 1993, following the Australian Convergence in SA, to act as an Industry Training Association for the permaculture movement. With a representative teacher from each state it could act as a peer review for any curriculum developed for target groups. If interested in formalising this further please contact Robyn Francis or Naomi Coleman.

Goal: To expand the impact of permaculture through accredited training programs.

Eco & Traditional Villages (Social Justice)

Definition

Amalgamated groups' definition: Group of persons living holistically together in one or multiple lands, with access to collective resources, and with respect for themselves, each other, social, cultural and spiritual traditions and the earth.

Why Ecovillages?

Solution to global problems of: environmental degradation & pollution; people moving from rural to urban areas; loss of culture, tradition & values: food shortages, poverty, malnutrition; fragmentation in society; lack of land/access to land.

Positive reasons: living together in harmony; embody wholeness & inner sense of humanity; taking control over our own lives; personal freedom & respect; coherence through mutual aid & support; fun; cultural sensitivity; safe place, food, water, air spiritual expression; economic viability; diversity of life styles & standards; bring back soil and life, positive social & environmental management, demonstration of sustainable living.

Note: There was a perception that the global eco-village development to date is focussing on the needs and solutions for the developed' world, and is omitting to address the urgent need for fully functioning ecovillages in the 'developing' world. The approach to eco-village development in the 'first world' is not appropriate to countries with few resources and more complex social and political problems, although some principles and adapted technologies apply globally.

Women & Permaculture (Social Justice)

The overall goal was: Raising awareness of women's strengths and enriching permaculture through greater participation by women. This was divided into a number of sub-goals.

Indigenous Peoples , Cultural Adaptation And Community Mobilisation (Social Justice)

Goal: To minimise the impact of permaculture and maximise the two-way integration of local indigenous culture and knowledge with permaculture.

Discussion Points

Permaculture implementation in the 2/3 world:

• Holistic approach centred on Ground-based activities.
• Media awareness.
• Identify & work in key like-minded local groups and bodies.
• Sharing (common ownership) of resources/tools/seeds: set direction, responsibility, provide options.
• Demonstration training farms - trialed on farmers' own farms.
• Respond to critical first felt need - entry point.
• Development by marginal adjustment (rolling permaculture) which respects and enhances what exists.
• Identify relevant technologies: methodology not ideology.
• Maximise integration of permaculture and local techniques.
• Start small and build on success.
• Strategies:
• Provision of land to the poor.
• Political distribution of land to local people.
• Provide integrated approach that is land based.
• Identifying NGO's that are community based.
• Volunteer services in permaculture.
• Share documents and published literature.
• Address insensitivity of 1st world personnel.
• Create awareness through media.
• Looking at people's need, eg. need for water.
• Marginal adjustments.
• Sensitivity to the community need - survivor needs.
• Systems analysis.

Cross-cultural adaptation:

• Raise awareness through the media.
• Appreciation of local knowledge:
• Respect for what is there.
• Learn and build on/with it.
• Information packs for visitors:
• utilise information available worldwide.
• Work with existing social bodies, avoid undermining them.
• Building trust and listening to the story "To understand is to stand under", to look up to.
• Two-way cultural sensitivity training:
• To provide counter to "western dream".
• Beware 2/3 world opportunists and 1/3 and 2/3 mindsets.

Cultural sensitivity:

• Value indigenous knowledge.
• Promote traditional values/methods, wake people up but work at the community's pace.
• Show weaknesses of the glamorous western world to counter consumerism.
• Work with indigenous bodies/respect grassroots organisations, use regional organisations.
• Document this process and promote it.
• Example: Nepal (JPP) produces an information package for visitors which answers regular questions and prepares people to be sensitive.
• Speak the same language when dealing with government and the status quo thinking of authorities and organisations.
• Beware of people from the 1/3 world going to "help the poor" or holiday and their value systems. Eg: Inherent superiority, liberal do-gooders, pushing own agenda.
• Beware 2/3 folk being opportunistic/gaining $'s from 1/3 world:
• Cultural sensitivity should be 2 way, 2/3 - 1/3, 1/3 - 2/3, not 1/3-1/3-2/3.
• Training needs to be 2 way.
• Dangers:
• In South Africa permaculture is seen as providing "food security" on small land without challenging the status quo.
• Demonstration Farms are seen as separate, therefore demonstrate on local farms where farmers are more realistic. Place resource centres near farmers.

Community mobilisation and participatory concerns:

• Access resources for community security/food security:
• Physical - land, tools, non-hybrid seeds.
• Skills - training.
• Respond to structural injustice issues:
• Land reform.
• Class/gender struggle.
• Utilise ceremonies - harvest, drought.
• PRA - Participatory Rural/rapid Appraisal:
• Activist must join community as student/listener from inside and develop credibility.
• Learn to work through local structures:
• Sand modelling, sticks, graphs on ground before putting on paper.
• Identify resources and allow people to understand and own process and resources.
• Example - India:
• Anti-cotton campaign used PRA and local culture.
• Adapt ideas to local context.
• Personal presentation important - appropriate clothing.
• Identify resources and own them.
• Support those countries/organisations that are already mobilised; work with like-minded groups.
• Who we work with - which sector? Aim to work with farmers.
• Maximise integration of permaculture with local techniques and technologies.
• Danger of the word "impact".
• Danger of "paternalism".
• Beware of fear in urban environment limiting cooperation:
• Build small successes to encourage, generate hope, and cooperation.
• Model: resist management pressure to do this or that. Group identifies its own vision and builds own strategies, gets excited and does it under its own steam - program remains in their own hands. Work with existing mobilized groups.
• Work with appropriate sectors for maximum integration.
• Group builds own vision, identifies own strategies, progress remains in their own hands.
• Having established that this is acceptable to the culture, teach adults through their children and/or concern for the children, eg. diet etc.
• Summary:
• Community leaders mobilize societies to influence change through the use of media (SABC SA).
• Marginalization of communities.
• Need to transform resources.
• Sensitize broad community.
• Food security.
• Use of existing model farms.
• Introduction of innovations on small scales and slowly.
• Through community ceremonies.
• Cross cultural exchange.
• PRA - Participatory Rural Appraisal - using techniques that are applicable.
• Cultural oriented approach.
• Interact with people. Dressing.
• Use existing community mobilised system.
• Remove obstacles of change through analysis of needs.

The role of permaculture activists/designers:

• Create Models:
• Demo farms.
• Introduce gradual slow change.
• Use a step process over time - modification, least energy/effort for greatest benefit.
• Deal with community's felt needs - start where you can achieve most = "development by marginal adjustment":
• Empower through the process, use local skills.
• Be a student to learn the real needs eg. water, bonded labour, unemployed, illiteracy, landless = permaculture for the landless.
• Ask develop for whom, why, clarify the situation, greed characteristics.
• Permaculture teacher there to learn (people observe your personal integrity):
• Listen to the story of the people, reveals much (story of land, tree, animal).
• Be aware that the social system binds and enables survival:
• Products don't keep us alive.
• Community oriented world - don't break community for sake of change or helping individuals.
• Be aware of cultural differences to avoid cultural confusion:
• In Western culture discussion of issues is important.
• In African culture people are important, they will not contradict each other and must wait for an alternative perspective to surface.
• Marginal adjustment is non-threatening, rolling permaculture - as program develops it can take on tougher issues.
• Valuable to have good documentation of effective models and to know how much already exists.
• In permaculture, system analysis and strategy must be integrated - not a single issue.
• Be conscious of needs versus luxuries. Eg. food - diverse diet or adequate!

Transforming media to be culturally relevant:

• Focus on cultural mandate.
• Enculturing people as tool for change:
• Complexity of social systems.
• Marginalisation of communities.
• Need for community mobilization.
• Need to tranform resources.
• Need to sensitize broader community.
• Create awareness of who has access to resources. Eg. land, water - rich (cash crops) poor (landless).

Notes

Work holistically by considering social issues, education/training, health, local needs not export, food security and sustainable systems.

Strategy: holistic support of land-based development.

How:

• Identify local organisations with which to collaborate.
• Pull together (like-minded) sustainable agricultural systems and structural issues.
• Move from technical issues (how to grow crops) to marketing issues (how to market value-added crops).

Permaculture as an ideology in the 1/3 world as Western culture disintegrates, but 2/3 world has cohesive ethical family-based communities and culture so:

• Be aware that the 1/3 permaculture view won't mesh in the 2/3 world.
• Take only the permaculture tool (methodology) to 2/3 world, not ideology (2/3 world have their own).
• Remember that food security is family-based, so work to improve food security and strengthen the family.
• Teach the physical resources needed for food production - land, seeds, tools.
• Teach skills so knowledge can be passed on within the community.
• Encourage the people to join with others of like mind and become a movement.
• Join the struggle for control of their own lives in terms of food, the environment, education, health, and rebuilding community networks.
• Take ownership/responsibility for local issues and use technology appropriate to the needs.
• Involve other groups - communities, individuals, NGO's and negotiate to share resources.

Developing Professional Skills And Ethics As A Permaculture Designer (Professional Design)

Broad Goal: To expand the impact of permaculture throughout the world we need to set a high standard amongst ourselves. This can be achieved through quality control, supportive networking, and ongoing study through the Permaculture Academy.

Dealing With Authorities And Project Management (Professional Design)

Goal: To facilitate approval and implementation of permaculture Designs

How To Get There

Approval Process

1. Compile database/directory:
• Relevant authorities (local, regional, federal, services, environmental etc).
• Technical data to support proposals.
• Consultants (permaculture if available and appropriate).
2. Initial presentation to relevant authorities:
• Early in design phase establish credibility.
• Attitude and enthusiasm is important.
• Work for a win-win outcome.
• Emphasize compatibility with "Strategic Plan" (of local or regional authority) and adapt if necessary to match.
3. Proceed with approval process:
• Utilize permaculture consultants where appropriate.
• Get clear about our negative stereotypes of authorities and begin to think and act as though they are there to help us.
• Get it in writing.
4. Considerations:
• May need to develop "peer review" of designs.
• Clear vision.
• Research.
• Identify Key players.

Project Management

1. Define project activities:
• Work breakdown (list of priorities).
• Finance.
• Define participants.
2. Develop schedule:
• Documentation.
• Time Line.
3. Implement project:
• Networking of consultants/advisers where needed.

The Role Of The Permaculture Academy & Other Institutions (Professional Design)

Goal: To expand the impact of permaculture through the Academy and other institutions.

Publications (Communications)

Goal: To expand the impact of permaculture through publications. To educate, to inform, to network, to empower, to sustain, to use resources wisely by improving access to and the relevance of permaculture publications.

Values: To cooperate; to empower; to monitor our own values.

Environment: Reduce overservicing; source cheap, appropriate papers through publisher's/editor's network; minimise energy use in production.

Livelihood/Finances: Raise capital for publications; develop sustainable income for publishing organisations and publishers; attract ethical investors and advertisers.

Distribution: Promote publications; broader distribution of permaculture publications; local permaculture groups to distribute to members; develop alternative methods of distributing publications.

Education: Develop permaculture school curricula, including TAFE; target specific groups; develop permaculture educational material.

Cultural/language: Promote and support conferences; develop materials for non-literate people, eg. video; create translator's network; develop cultural-specific permaculture publications.

Access: Develop materials for different technical and cognitive levels; sponsor publications for the 2/3 world; develop a permaculture publishers' and editors' network.

Other: Consider the need for publication; utilise local production resources; encourage permaculturists to source stories.

Identify The Issues

• Overlapping or competing between publications.
• Identifying the niche of existing publications.
• Funding.
• Financial viability.
• Need to target, locally and globally.
• Languages, 2/3 world consideration, access to media/publications.
• A detailed publication needed.
• Image of permaculture.
• Political content.
• Ethical basis.
• Networking.
• Reaching the mainstream.
• Sharing resources.

Appropriate Existing Models

• Permaculture Magazines: Permaculture International Journal (International); Permaculture Magazine (UK); Permaculture Drylands Journal (USA); The Activist (USA); The Permaculture Edge (AUS); Groundcover (Zimbabwe); The Villager (South Africa).
• Other Non-Permaculture Magazines: New Scientist (International); YES (UK); Resurgence (UK); The Ecologist (UK); Whole Earth Review (USA); Mother Earth (USA); Acres USA (USA); Acres Australia (AUS); ReNew (AUS); Owner Builder (AUS); Grass Roots (AUS); Earth Garden (AUS).
• TV Shows and Radio: Lifestyle shows; science shows; gardening shows.
• Producers of Books and Videos: Tagari (AUS); Permaculture International (AUS); Permanent Publications (UK); ECHO (USA); Yankee Permaculture (USA); Permaculture Drylands Educational Institute (USA).
• Multimedia, Translations and CD-ROM development.

Information Resources: Existing magazines; texts; global directory; conference proceedings; permaculture web sites; permaculture e-mail; the arts (visual, performing); oral and written history; libraries; videos; data bases & mailing lists; documentaries; graduate data bases; mainstream media; photos.

People Resources: Editors; writers; 'stars'; designers; teachers; practitioners; printers; sponsors; distributors; advertisers; compatible organisations; illustrators; photographers; political parties; financial institutions; accountants; advertising sales representatives; retailers; wholesalers; public relations & marketing.

Physical Resources: Offices, computers and phones (Permaculture International, Permanent Publications, permaculture editorial offices, permaculture association offices, conservation groups); permaculture publishing houses; paper suppliers; buildings, land, equipment, educational materials in the community; energy of people, other energy - environment; materials.

Publications Already Translated: Introduction to Permaculture; Earth User's Guide to Permaculture; Permaculture Teacher's Notes; Adult Learning (Vietnamese).

Translators: Willow, c/- P. Cole, 5 Granville St., Tuart Hill, Western Australia, Tel. (09) 3498864. (French); So Sovannirith, C/- DRC, Phnom Penh (Cambodian); Nguyen Van Man, VACVINA, C2b Thanh Long, HaNoi, Viet Nam.

DataBase, Internet, Network (Communications)

International Conferences and IPC7 (Communications)

Why: To celebrate the diversity in unity of permaculture practice through sharing information, human connection and future vision.

How

• Input from other countries?
• Global committee connections?
• Efficient communication network (past conferences, inviting speakers, data bases). Permaculture International Journal as world forum?
• Paid organizers? Only if they have excellent computer skills (including typesetting, email, conference experience and essential that they understand permaculture (should insist that they do a course to save energy in coming to common understanding of what is required for a permaculture events in terms of ethics, people care and efficient use of resources). Must understand the difference between "funding" and "sponsorship" and should have experience in both. Think carefully about what you call an event and make sure any employed organisers understands that they must take responsibility for all sections eg. conference, field trips, convergence.
• Committee must have a clear understanding of their role. Are they:
• Advisers?
• Work team?
• Type of structure, or 'organic' (no structure). Does it have to be a gathering in one place? (Considerations of the expenditure of fossil fuel). Can it be several separate gatherings (eg. Local biome-based 'practical' events). Role of telecommunications: video conferencing, e-mail, Internet (WWW), satellite communications, phone, channelling, multi-media presentations.
• Is it a public event conference plus an 'in house' convergence?
• Speakers, themes - seek out keynote.
• Information: continuity, available resources, accepted 'norms' for advertising, sponsorship, etc.
• Does LETS have any role in an International Event? How?
• Can the job be shared? How can it be expanded?
• How to facilitate an IPC in the 2/3 world?
• How to provide bursaries? What criteria?

Resources

• Can be run by a small core plus a large network of volunteers.
• Physical resources: office space, fax, e-mail, computers, money, data base, universities.
• Past experience, contact with other conferences and conference organisers.
• Catering organisation - plan for abundance, unexpected numbers. Self catering?
• Use networks outside permaculture, eg. Land Care, botanical gardens.

Actions

• Advertise - proactive, convincing advertising.
• Media team essential for:
• Early advertising in permaculture and associated magazines.
• Many overseas/interstate contacts will arrange advertising locally but updated information must be kept up to them.
• Large media team for total commitment 6 weeks prior to the event, during and immediately after conference for local impact.
• Education of community, venue people, media
• Education of permaculture community about purpose of convergence, why the need for Permaculture Design Certificate. Consider two streams , those who have serious concerns to discuss and ideas to promote and another for those who simply want informal networking.
• Consider arrangements to encourage good facilitators to be on hand.
• Get information, outcomes and evaluation out quickly.

Things To Consider

• What is in a name, does it affect funding opportunities?
• What is the purpose/goal?
• Who comes and how many?
• What is the impact on the wider community/local area?
• Can we leave something behind?
• Do we have any authority? Should we have? Can we make decisions?
• Ethical considerations - reuse, repair, recycle.
• 'Walk the talk'.
• Sponsorship - how, who?
• Community Service Awards and Certificates and Diplomas for those who do not have a local accrediting body.
• Resources - money, time, people, physical, spiritual.

Recommendations

• That the reason for an international event or conference is: To celebrate the diversity in unity of permaculture practice through sharing information, human connection and future vision.
• That it is important for people to come together though there could be an official international event site with others unable to travel coming together in their own countries or regions to share the proceedings through the use of electronic media.
• That there should be a public component to the event.
• That the convergence be strictly limited to those who are educators and designers and wish to discuss issues relating to improving the impact of permaculture and future vision. (But there may be a place for a simultaneous gathering of those with Permaculture Design Certificates who simply want to network.)
• That the outgoing conference committee be given a mandate to appoint the next conference and offer support and guidance to the appointed group.
• That Community Service Awards be decided in-country and announced at the official international gathering/convergence.

Financial Support Systems (Finance)

Goals

1. To empower communities to join together in directing and managing resources with openness and honesty to develop an equitable and sustainable future.
2. To communicate to the rest of world about successful permaculture projects. Quantify: monetary - non-monetary wealth; sustainable - surplus.
3. To provide information resources and contacts to the permaculture community to enable them to achieve the common goal of creating a regenerative economy.
4. To utilise or channel existing financial systems to develop a diversity of successful permaculture models (eg credit cards, phone wholesalers).
5. To set up easily accessible financial systems with low costs or barriers to entry. Eg LETS, credit unions, micro-funding, revolving funds, partnerships.

Existing Models For Generating Finance

LETS; ethical investment fund; ethical corporations; public corporations; banks; revolving funds; credit unions; microfinance; leasing companies; venture capital; partnership; trust funds; discount companies; credit cards; customer loyalty plans; income generation scheme; insurance companies; superannuation; self-funding; co-operatives; preselling; grantors; stock exchange; community initiatives; community linkages/sister communities; fundraising events; tithing; project portfolios; built-in followup; Rotary International guidelines; matching grants/contributions; government support; membership fees; tax-deductable donations; tied grants; loans; environmental grantmakers; bequests/trusts; publishing documentation; information selling; consultancy services; seed/product sales; eco-tourism; internships; community gardens; rent-out property; educational services; traditional systems/barter.

Elements Needed

Working models; honesty; trust; ethics.

Needs

• To identify people skills - those capable of interacting with corporations.
• Target list - organisations & names of decision-makers.
• Attitude change - win/win strategies, overcome polarity (them vs us).
• Language flexibility.
• Alliance with "The Natural Step".
• More information on positive examples - database of these.
• Strategy for dealing with organisations of different scale.

Principles Of "The Natural Step" (A Swedish Corporate Model)

1. Cannot remove elements from source that can't be replaced.
2. Cannot produce anything that can't be metabolized by the earth.
3. Cannot take from eco-system any more than you put back.
4. Fair and equitable distribution of resources.

Aid & Collective Fundraising (Finance)

The field of finance is difficult for permaculture people, given that permaculture works mainly in non-cash domains, especially in communities who struggle even with their own food security.

The Issues

After brainstorming, three main issues were identified:

• Self-help. Eg: how to build and create your own resources.
• Finance and aid from outside. Eg: issues of ethics and philosophy, the issue of dependency.
• Common issues. Eg: effective use of funds generated.

Existing Models

Existing self-help models for generating aid and finance from within the community include:

• Community initiatives.
• Rotating funds; revolving funds; community credit; local savings schemes* (eg. Grameen Bank).
• Publishing project documentation: techniques; technologies; designs; guide books; educational material.
• Information selling.
• Educational services.
• Consultancy services: to local and other government; big and small business*.
• Seed / product sales.
• Eco-tourism.
• Internships.
• Community garden - sales income to ongoing local fund.
• Rent out property.
• LETS.
• Traditional exchange and barter systems (existed long before LETS)*.
• Memberships.
• 0055 information line, charged per minute (eg. gardening advice) (first world only).

Existing aid models for generating aid and finance from outside the project and/or community:

• Money sent from rich countries of the 'North' to the 'South'.
• Existing permaculture projects supporting new projects or other projects, in the region or in other parts of the world.
• Community linkages / sister communities.*
• Fundraising events (eg. fetes, field days, shows).
• Tithing.
• Bequests.
• Seek specialised advice from Permaculture Global Assistance Network (PGAN).
• Donor/Funding Agencies:
• Government support and funding.
• Multilateral agencies' funding (ie. UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, IMF, World Bank, regional international agencies, eg. NAFTA, TACIS, APEC).
• Rotary International guidelines.
• Trusts and foundations.
• "Environment Grantmakers Association" handbook lists donor groups.
• Agriculture research agencies.
• Funding methods:
• Matching grants / contributions.
• Tax-deductible donations.
• Tied grants.
• Build in followup support into project funding.
• Portfolio of small projects - collect together many small projects and have them funded by one singe grant. This solves a significant problem that permaculture projects have in seeking finance - they are so community-based, cost-effective and uninstitutional that big donor agencies (including the UN and government) don't want to fund such small amounts of money.*

(* highlighted by the group, especially project portfolio. Only organisations like PGAN and PAL can coordinate this, but they need help.)

Existing Resources

Physical	People	Information
Lands Buildings Water Seeds Equipment Inventory Money Animals Plants	Traditional skills Labour The number of people Aid Agencies	Books & Journals Media Internet People Questions Outside skills Organisational structures Networks

A Common Goal

The common goal of aid to developing countries, self-help projects and how communities can raise their own funds is:

• To obtain funds in order to equitably meet the basic human and material needs of all people in a sustainable manner which is culturally, environmentally and locally appropriate.

and

• We need simple accountable and effective organisations that are able to communicate their needs, abilities and successes to potential funding sources, be they aid donors or the project participants themselves.

The above statement can be used as a mission statement for the finances of permaculture organisations.

Strategies

Organisational: We need a simple and effective system for both aid givers and collective fundraisers to achieve good outcomes from available funds. These systems should be legally appropriate, transparent (accountable) and sustainable.

People: Before introducing anything, learn to respect people's culture.

Training & staff development: There should be on-the-job-training through exchanges of ideas, visits, workshops, films, books, posters, drama, and practice; through workshops & internships; training local counterparts; developing information through collection of training materials & aid.

Self-determination: Through empowerment by using participatory approach and Training for Transformation.

Stimulate energy & morale: Promote local knowledge & use of local resources.

Summary

Institutions seem very difficult for permaculture. PGAN has been working very carefully to establish a permaculture aid organisation since 1992, a network of volunteers, with no overheads.

The Corporate Interface (Finance)

Goal: To move from an "extractive" economy to a "regenerative" economy.