TURTLE ISLAND INSTITUTE CLC PROGRAM - DRAFT (Was: DAVID BOHM, DIALOGUE,

Mofwoofoo Woofuaza - You wrote: 

<The antidote that I suggest being decentralized, relatively
self-sustainable, 
autonomous but not sovereign, small, mutually co-operative communities on
a 
global scale, which we may or may not agree upon. Pretty much the
opposite of 
what exists today.

To attain this goal, I would not suggest any kind of violent revolution,
as 
historically all revolutions are inevitably betrayed, besides the fact
that 
it would be violent and hugely daunting, but rather by beginning to build

these kind of communities (i.e. self-sustainable, intentional
communities, 
et.al) to be models for others both in urban and rural environments,
first 
and third world.

I  would hope that you would be kind enough to address the above concerns
and 
comments in the hope that through a logical discussion, conclusions may
be 
reached. > 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you for asking in this way so that I may present the plan that
Turtle Island Institute has been working on to facilitate both the
construction of sustainable communities and social transformation on an
international scale -- all  within a reasonably short period of time. 
Remember as you read this that the way to eat an elephant is 'bit by
bit.'

I keep fine-tuning this myself, but suspect that the real impact will be
realized through the snyergy of those involved which could be in the
millions.  This version is an updraft of a proposal presented to the
Government of Mexico as a means to reduce migration from south to north
while at the same time restoring the ecologically devastated southern
region of Mexico.  The initial version involved the construction of an
international information resource and exchange institute for the study
and development of sustainable human settlements coupled with the
construction of a model for sustainable community and accomplished by the
campesino.  While the proposal was well received, monies for development
was not forth-coming.  Going back to the drawing boards, we realized that
the institute could be 'virtual' and not require large amounts of funding
-- and, as a result, sustainable communities could be established
worldwide.  

So while this program may seem grandiose, it actually depends upon the
formation of small individual groups worldwide and networked together via
the Internet.          

marguerite - EcoPilgrim 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The plan offers a means of developing a huge worldwide Civil Service
Network involving millions of people.  In his book, 'The Post-Corporate
World' David C. Korten notes that values researcher, Paul Ray, has
identified as many as 44 million persons who have moved away from
mainstream thinking in the U.S. alone and enough others worldwide to
constitute almost 70% of the world's population.  This movement is
apparently 'intuitively led' and mainly composed of people who Ray labels
'Culture Creatives' -- it is estimated that as many as 10 million may
already be actively involved as leaders.  There is evidence of this
movement in such groups as 'Voluntary Simplicity' and the number of those
involved in natural building.  If we can capture the attention of these
people through CLCs -- providing an organization to which they may
permanently link -- we can get to critical mass in short order.  

And it is to this end that this proposal is directed.  While there is a
dramatic need for those to lead from top down, it is through grassroots
efforts that most social transformations are accomplished.  Without a
means to bringing coherence and solidarity at the grassroots level, the
movement will fail.    

This program as outlined is limited only by the numbers of volunteers
willing to work on the program to make it a reality.  Our intent is to
offer as many 'points of entry' into the movement as possible.  Yet it
offers a way not only to restore our Planet but to bring solidarity to
the protest movement while at the same time offering the means to
facilitate worldwide social transformation.  A transformation based in
environmental, social, and economic justice for all with the result of a
world living in peace.
 
It's just a matter folks of organizing, planning and 'working the plan --
eating the elephant bit by bit.          

I feel this plan may interest this particular list as the successful
implementation of the plan requires the development and distribution of
information/education programs suitable for dissemination via the
Internet.  This list appears to be working on materials that may that
could be utilized.  We would like to establish an Executive Committee to
review material and approve it for dissemination and volunteers are
appreciated.      

Other programs suitable for dissemination or providing a segment of the
program are:  LETS, CoHousing, Intentional Communities,  Homeschooling,
CSAs, Holistic Health, Homesteading etc etc. etc.  'The sum of these many
diverse community-centered actions portend the emergence of a New
Economics that is still in it infancy', as noted by Bill Ellis.  

Although developed separately and at different times, this plan offers a
viable means of facilitating Richard Moore's ENVISIONING A SUCCESSFUL
MOVEMENT, as once established the network may serve a variety of
purposes.      

COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM - Turtle Island Institute

Forward

Possibly one of the largest contributors to the precarious position in
which the human race finds itself today is lack of valid information upon
which to base intelligent decisions.  Due to the concentration of power
in the media, seldom is  information disseminated other than what the
'power brokers' want us to hear as they move forward to 'globalize' (read
colonize) the world.  This has resulted in blindness on the part of the
people, and no where is that blindness more evident than in the area of
sustainable living.  

Even before 'globalization' became the reality that now faces us today,
the Earth's ecosystems were becoming stressed and natural resources ever
more scarce.  Beginning after World War II, the combination of population
growth and the emergence of huge multinational forces (which now
constitute 51 economies as large as any country in the world) stretched
our ecosystems and resources to the breaking point.  With resources
scarce, improvements in communications and other 'virtual' technologies
have lead to 'de-materialization' of economies in what is called
'ephemeralization' and have served to keep economies growing.  Now,
economists like Hazel Henderson, are asking how long can ephemeralization
last?  If the recent sell-off of the 'dot.coms' in the market is any
indication, ephemeralization has run its course and we face a coming
economic crises. As well we face a crises in resource shortage as well as
what may well be traumatic ecosystems failure in the next 15 to 50 years.


Predictions are that topsoil loss and desertification will overtake us
and cause worldwide agricultural ecosystems collapse in as little as 15 -
25 years -- this could result in dramatic food shortages and increased
famine worldwide.  In this same time period we are expected to see the
loss of rainforests
'the lungs of the earth' to such an extent that it will dramatically
alter what is already an 'unstable climate.' Global warming and the
accompanying climate change, of which we are now feeling the affects,
will only exerbate the loss of top soil worldwide through flood and
drought.  As desertification increases, the natural water supply will
decrease.  Yet, in spite of well documented scientific findings on the
probability of ecosystems collapse, our governments quarrel worldwide
over what should be done, and who is responsible -- in many places such
as
Columbia,  we are waging war which results in further ecological
devastation.   At the same time, multi-national interests in the form of
corporations prey upon the world through capitalization using ever and
ever more scarce (and in some instances almost non-existent) resources to
grow their own 'economies.' 

What could save us from total disaster is a turn toward sustainable
living based in renewable energy sources.  However, the general public
knows little about sustainable living or renewable energy sources.  We
urgently need sustainable communities but do not know how to build them 
because we have no model and the media of today offers us no view of 
how alternate futures might take place. 

It is upon this need for alternative views that the COMMUNITY LEARNING
CENTER (CLC) program is based.  Here is how it will work:

COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTERS PROGRAM  

1.  Volunteers will establish Community Learning Centers in bioregions
around the world.  These centers may initially be 'home-based' but
provide for a place where community members may meet face-to-face to
learn about and discuss issues related to sustainable living in their
particular community and determine how to implement them. (Volunteers may
easily be recruited from vegetarian and other environmental groups, Green
Party members, etc.)   

2.   Once the community 'group' has formed with sufficient numbers, the
group will erect a Community Learning Center using alternative
technology.  That is, the group will construct a facility using straw
bale, cob, adobe, or other natural material, doing the work themselves. 
The structure will also incorporate solar energy technology along with
other energy and water saving resources into the design.  In addition, a
demonstration organic agricultural component will be incorporated into
the site and serve as a 'whole' unit for demonstating sustainable living.
 Already constructed facilities suitable for incorporation into the
program may be approved by a committee composed of Turtle Island
Institute representatives and members selected from CLC representatives
by vote.   

It will require that Community Planning and Engineering Departments 
become involved in this project in most instances -- which is a good idea
in that it will introduce many who are reluctant to venture into such
'alternative' enterprises to become involved in the project.  This is a
very useful means of 'leveraging' (thanks to Donella Meadows for this
idea) input on alternate thinking into a community and to do it quickly. 

Currently there is a world wide network of people involved in alternative
construction, permaculture, solar energy, and other appropriate
technologies available via the Internet for online assistance to
appropriate natural construction technology.   The link to this network
is provided by David Eisenberg, Executive Director of DCAT (Development
Center for Appropriate Technology. http://www.azstarnet.com/~dcat/ )

Members of Turtle Island Institute are already involved in developing
two centers in Canada.  Bob Ewing in Thunder Bay (go to
http:tii-kokopellispirit.org click on communities
section) and Phil Ferraro at Prince Edward Island: 
http://www.gvnorth.com 

3.  At a time when sufficient numbers of Community Learning Centers (CLC)
have been established in bioregions around the world, the Turtle Island
Institute will serve as a facilitator to 'network' the different centers
together via the Internet.  

4.  The Turtle Island Institute will also, in the interim period, begin
to collect and/or design education/information programs based in
sustainable living suitable for dissemination through the Community
Learning Center Network.  In addition, other information-based programs
related to sustainable living, as approved by the Institute, will also be
offered for dissemination through the CLC network.   

5.  Members of community-based CLCs will aid in restoring severely
ecologically-evastated bioregions to balance again and will pledge
to maintain the bioregion in health.   

6.  It is hoped that sustainable communities will spring up around the
CLCs.  

7. CLCs can serve to bring together 'migrating populations' in Third
World developing countries and aid in stabilizing migration patterns. 
There are currently 1 billion homeless people in the world and 100
million people in migration.  Many of them women and children.  CLC
members could act to help homeless and migrating people to restore
regions to agricultural productivity again and in constructing  homes
for themselves.    

8.  Designed as ecotravel lodges, CLCs may also serve to lodge
Ecopilgrims (travelers who want to couple education with travel and have
a desire to build social capital).  Money generated through
Ecopilgrimages could serve to aid in the construction of the CLC or
ecotravel lodges.  Someone successfully operating Ecopilgrimage 
tours is Nancy Hartland of Lifetracks.  See:  http:/www.lifetracks.org 
Lifetracks will serve as the model for the Ecopilgrimage program. 

(For information on Ecopilgrimage as a means of building social capital: 
http://tii-kokopellispirit click on Kokopelli Spirit and chose 'Building
Social Capital Thru Ecotravel' - Marguerite Hampton, author from the
menu.)

BIOREGIONS 

It is our hope to identify bioregions around the world and to encourage
volunteers to establish the CLCs within these bioregions beginning with
the ones that are most ecologically stressed.  CLC members would then be
encouraged to restore these bioregions to ecological balance.  (We have
had contact with one of the foremost horticulturists in the world who has
assured us that he can bring most of the severely eroded regions back
into production again using organic farming methods coupled with
subsistence farming.) He has successfully demonstrated this in Arabia,
South Africa, Poland, U.S. and other regions.)  

GAVIOTAS, Columbia, S.A.  has been identified as a model for sustainable
community development by the United Nations.  Now inaccessible due to the
war in Columbia, Paolo Lugari, the founder of Gaviotas has successfully
demonstrated that savannahs may be successfully restored as rainforests
in as little as 20-25 years.  For futher information: 
http://www.chelseagreen.com/Gaviotas/

"Elsewhere they’re tearing down the rain forest. Here, we’re putting it
back. If we can do this in Colombia, there’s hope that people can do it
anywhere."  -- Paolo Lugari, Founder of Gaviotas   

BIOREGIONAL HEADQUARTERS FACILITIES (BHF)

As bioregions are identified and CLCs begin to form within the region, a
Bioregional Headquarters Facility would be constructed somewhere within
the bioregion and serve to link together the CLCs in the region.  The BHF
would also act to ensure that the requirements for the good health and
well-being of the bioregion and the ecosystems contained within it were
maintained.    

Note:  There are currently some schools of thought that see the end of
the Nation-State and the emergence of a 'regional system' of governance. 
This makes some sense as we now plop cities and their buildings and
structures down anywhere without regard as to whether or not it is an
ecologically sound decision to make.  And there is no concern as to
whether the carrying capacity of the region can withstand population
growth or whether or not the proper agricultural constraints are
maintained. Governance emanating from planned bioregions seems to provide
a common sense structure within which good management and administration
can take place.  

Bioregional Headquarters could also be linked together into Regional and
then National Headquarters.  National Headquarters could form the basis
for a reformed United Nations.  An association of 'Open Societies' could
be formed from those Bioregions which choose a democratic form of
governance.  A NATO-like Alliance could provide for military intervention
where peaceful negotiation and resolution fail or when rogue nations
threaten the Alliances. All weapons of mass destruction would be
destroyed voluntarily. 

As we hang on the cliff of environmental armageddon, it for us
collectively as a world society, to choose whether we want to live or
perish.  The choices we make today are critical -- may we make the right
ones.  And may we  begin today.  - Ecopilgrim 

Note (1)  For the sake of brevity I offer a short version of the
Community
Learning Center Program.  There are many facets which may be added to it,
e.g., our Ecopilgrimage program which make it even more viable and useful
as a transformational vehicle.  I am sure that 'group synergy' may offer
many more 'parts' to this draft and synopsis that we offer up here in
order to get the ball rolling.  
 
Note (2) NOTE:  What is most important here is the establishment of a
worldwide 'network' through which to disseminate valid
information/education and around which to 'solidify' the movement as
envisioned by Richard Moore in his paper:  "ENVISIONING A SUCCESSFUL
MOVEMENT.  Although the CLCs will operate independently of one another
and largely develop their own  'location specific'  curricula from a
broad choice of offerings distributed via the Internet  with the common
denominator being the creation of sustainable living communities, they
offer a unity of vision based in common interest. 

(Remember, bit by bit, small steps at a time, but with millions of people
taking the same steps around the world all at one time.)

___________________________________________________

Comments, suggestions, etc. are welcome.  

marguerite - EcoPilgrim  
 
 Marguerite Hampton
 Executive Director - Turtle Island Institute
 EcoPilgrim@juno.com
 http://tii-kokopellispirit.org
http://www.egroups.com/group/fixgov