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| research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-19 11:44] – sanjeev | research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-20 12:29] – sanjeev |
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| ==== Gro World - RUrban Permaculture ==== | ====Gro World - RUrban Permaculture==== |
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| This report is in progress as of May 2008 | This report is in progress as of May 2008 |
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| Note: This research began with the working title, 'Gro World - Urban Permaculture' which has now been modified to 'Gro World - RUrban Permaculture'. The researcher has found strong links between Indian cities and their immediate rural surroundings. These //urban villages// produce food, milk and other services for the city. 'RUrban' refers to this symbiotic relationship. | Note: This research began with the working title, 'Gro World - Urban Permaculture' which has now been modified to 'Gro World - RUrban Permaculture'. The researcher has found strong links between Indian cities and their immediate rural surroundings. These urban villages produce food, milk and other services for the city. 'RUrban' refers to this symbiotic relationship. |
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| === Introduction === | === Introduction === |
| * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? | * Is there an ecological limit to economic growth? |
| * Do we have the right to consider human beings as more valuable than other life forms? | * Do we have the right to consider human beings as more valuable than other life forms? |
| * Is there an option to treating forests as sacrifice zones for urban growth ? | * Is there an option to treating forests as sacrifice zones for urban growth? |
| * Can we afford to place nature as an object, which is //manipulated, commodified and sold//? | * Can we afford to treat nature like an object, which is manipulated, commodified and sold? |
| * How can we imagine a fertile future for our cities? | * How can we imagine a fertile healthy future for everyone? |
| This project explores aspects of human environment, its relation with ecology and our attempt for sustainable growth. The relevant fields of inquiry are urban ecology, sustainability, human plant interaction and biomorphism. It explores ways in which we can transform our cities into productive, healthy, edible and playful green visions. In recent years there has been a growing public movement to bring ecology out of the bush and into the urban environments where most people spend their time. While, this is important, people are still grappling with the problem of a balance between 'growth' and conservation and this is not limited to emerging cities in the developing world. The thrust of this research and thereby this project is to explore methods to initiate collective public action in this direction. | |
| | This project explores aspects of human environment, its relation with ecology and our attempt for sustainable growth. The relevant fields of inquiry are urban ecology, sustainability, human plant interaction and biomorphism. The research explores ways in which we can transform our cities into productive, healthy, edible and playful green visions. In recent years there has been a growing public movement to bring ecology into urban environments where most people spend their time. While, this is important, people are still grappling with the problem of a balance between 'growth' and conservation and this is not limited to emerging cities in the developing world. The thrust of this research and thereby this project is to explore methods to initiate collective public action in this direction. |
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| Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: | Some of the reasons for this project are as follows: |
| * By the end of 2008, half the world's population will be living in cities for the first time in history.(according to a UN report) | * By the end of 2008, half the world's population will be living in cities for the first time in history.(according to a UN report) |
| * Cities are becoming increasingly polluted, unhealthy and disconnected with other life forms. | * Cities are becoming increasingly polluted, unhealthy and disconnected with other life forms. |
| * Urban problems include acute hunger, unemployment, inflation, urban sprawl, rising poverty, expensive health care and sharp increase in cars. | * Urban problems include inequality, acute hunger, unemployment, crime, inflation, urban sprawl, rising poverty, expensive health care, increase in population and imbalanced education system. |
| * Food crisis is futher compounded by increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides and rapidly deteriorating soil quality. | * Declining resources in many parts of the world has met a rising population. The result is starvation, drought, refugees and resource wars. |
| * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. | * Food crisis is further compounded by changing food habits, increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides; rapidly deteriorating soil quality and use of agricultural land to grow corn for ethanol. |
| * Natural and traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Problems can be seen as opportunities. | * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. Each year, we lose 20 billion metric tons of topsoil, emit 20 billion metric tons of carbon-di-oxide into the atmosphere, and create two million hectares of new desert. |
| | * Traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Sharing and learning from each other is important and challenges can be seen as opportunities. |
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| The objectives of this phase are given below: | The objectives of this phase are as follows: |
| * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) | * On-line and literature survey of state of the art in urban gardening and permaculture (global perspective) |
| * On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India | * On-site research and comparison of urban gardening in the Benelux and India |
| * A written report in the prescribed format | * A written report in the prescribed format |
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| For details on the methodology of this project please click on [[sanjeev-research-methodology]]. | For details on the methodology of this project please click on [[permaculture-research-methodology]]. |
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| The findings of this research would be relevant in regions having a strong tradition of agriculture: China, Japan, India, Guatemala, Costarica and Peru, to name a few. And, through a comparative analysis of the urban character, gardening trends and culture of Europe and India, this research aims to bring out aspects which can inform a sustainable growth pattern in these regions. | The findings of this research would be relevant in regions having a strong tradition of agriculture: China, Japan, India, Guatemala, Costarica and Peru, to name a few. And, through a comparative analysis of the urban character, gardening trends and culture of Europe and India, this research aims to bring out aspects which can inform a sustainable growth pattern, in other regions as well. |
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| === Permaculture === | === Permaculture === |
| For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. | For more on this topic please see [[urban permaculture concepts]]. |
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| === Cultural peculiarities === | ===Beyond numbers and definitions=== |
| see [[cultural peculiarities]] | |
| | Scenario 1: On a recent visit to a remote farm in India, the researcher met a middle aged woman. After a brief conversation, the researcher asked the woman her age. The reply was, 'It might be between 30 and 50 years'. This was followed by a period of silence. The researcher reflected on how acutely we are attached to numbers and statistics. How they mean so much more than the real issue at hand. |
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| | Scenario 2: In recent conversations with Kobe Matthys, a Brussels based urban farmer, the researcher was told about a recent trend of, official permaculture courses which gives people the 'legal' right to call themselves permaculturists. The course requires individuals to pay 1000 euros. While the idea of education is not wrong, the researcher has strong reservations about 'controlling' the spread of an idea which at its core is about re-intepretation and open ended participation, for a sustainable living. |
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| | These two scenarios bring up an important issue about our affinity for brands, numbers and definitions. Yes we need them and can not imagine a world without them; but, they are not the end, they are tools for feedback, for self regulation, for differentiation and for efficient distribution of resources. In our competitive urge for 'growth' reflected by larger numbers and ever changing definitions, we seem to have lost our purpose. The purpose is action: collective, purposeful action for common good. Having said this, in this research, definitions and numbers play a role of triggers for real change. |
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| | ==Urban and Rural== |
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| | Migration from rural to urban areas has been a global phenomena for centuries. Reasons for this include greater opportunity, secure income, a sense of freedom, a sense of being interconnected and being part of a privileged system. Cities can no longer sustain an exponentially growing population with exponentially growing demands. The imbalance has become more evident with a rapidly deteriorating environment and quality of life. Not surprisingly, villages in many parts of the world, still offer a healthy environment and an intact eco-system. There are hopeful signs of rural grassroot organisations which have successfully created local cycles of mutual cooperation in a self organised way. The Development Alternatives Group in Delhi, Barefoot College in Rajasthan, the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary in Kerala are testimony to this. This is gradually changing the notion that villages are backward by transforming them into alternative models of sustainability. ((http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/pattern.pl/public?pattern_id=890)) |
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| ===Discussion=== | ===Discussion=== |
| === Europe and India _ farming comparision=== | === Europe and India _ farming comparision=== |
| see [[farming comparision]] | see [[farming comparision]] |
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| | == Cultural peculiarities == |
| | see [[cultural peculiarities]] |
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| === Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === | === Possibilities for urban permaculture kits === |
| This section explores a series of initiatives which could trigger independent green worlds. | |
| see [[urban permaculture kits]] | see [[urban permaculture kits]] |
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| ===Directions=== | ===Directions=== |
| The idea of growth and sustainability is a journey and not a destination. It is constantly unfolding and evolving. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society. The author would like to conclude with the following directives: | We are all becoming increasingly aware that our actions can no longer be seen as isolated acts of private concern. The idea of growth and sustainability is a journey and not a destination. It is constantly unfolding and evolving. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society. The author would like to conclude with the following directives: |
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| * The most insightful ideas are also the most basic. These can come from any source, independent of age, status, experience or academic background. Barefoot College in India with its children's parliament and solar engineers demonstrates this effectively. | * The most insightful ideas are also the most basic. These can come from any source, independent of age, status, experience or academic background. |
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| * People in most parts of the world crave to be in an urban setting. It gives them a sense of pride and achievement apart from other tangible benefits. There is a need to redefine this construct of an 'urban' space and a 'rural' place. Over the years a great imbalance has emerged between the production and consumption patterns, living conditions, opportunities, social and psychological well being and overall sense of 'life' between these regions and this must be plugged. This is one of the core reasons for continued unsustainable migration from villages to cities and addressing this would incorporate self-regulation in a nations growth. | * People in most parts of the world crave to be in an urban setting. It gives them a sense of pride and achievement apart from other tangible benefits. There is a need to redefine the construct of an 'urban' space and a 'rural' place. Over the years a great imbalance has emerged between the production and consumption patterns, living conditions, opportunities, social and psychological well being and overall sense of 'life' in these regions. This is one of the core reasons for continued unsustainable migration from villages to cities. Addressing this gap would incorporate self-regulation in a nation's growth. |
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| * Urban communities should join hands with rural areas to create a prosperous countryside, which inturn would become a support for our future. Though urban character and the dynamics of a city vary vastly as one moves from the west to the east, there is a lot to learn and share from both contexts. We are all becoming increasingly aware that our actions can no longer be seen as isolated acts of private concern. | * Urban communities should join hands with rural areas to create a prosperous countryside, which inturn would become a support for our future. Though urban character and the dynamics of a city vary vastly as one moves from the west to the east, there is a lot to learn and share. |
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| * The first step is to bring out the connection between a fertile soil and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy human beings. This highlights the crucial role of education, communication and media. | * It is important to bring out the connection between a fertile soil, and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy humans. This also highlights the crucial role of education, reporting, communication and media. |
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| * Land must be safeguarded from the operations of finance and our needs have to be clearly streamlined. A gradual and determined approach for recovering the land and celebrating the farmer is needed and the benefits of this shared with everyone. This is becoming even more relevant in the Indian context where there is a visible rush to embrace the global marketplace. | * Land must be safeguarded from the operations of finance and our needs have to be clearly streamlined. A gradual and determined approach for recovering the land and celebrating the farmer is needed and the benefits of this shared with everyone. This is becoming even more relevant in the Indian context where there is a visible rush to embrace the global marketplace. |
sanjeev