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| research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-20 06:24] – sanjeev | research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-20 07:46] – sanjeev |
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| * 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 treat nature like 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 holistic future for our cities? |
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| 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. 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. |
| * 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 increase in population. | * 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 changing food habits, increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides and rapidly deteriorating soil quality. | * Food crisis is further compounded by changing food habits, increased use of pesticides, herbicides, biocides and rapidly deteriorating soil quality. |
| * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. | * There has been an acute drop in forest cover and a sharp increase in desert area. |
| * Natural and traditional systems are a crucial resource and can offer us remedies. Problems can be seen as opportunities. | * 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 as follows: | The objectives of this phase are as follows: |
| * 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 these regions. |
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| | === Urban and Rural: Beyond numbers, words and definitions === |
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| | 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 the recent trend of 'official' permaculture courses which gives people the legal right to practice permaculture and 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 open ended participation and re-intepretation for a sustainable living. |
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| | These two scenarios bring up an important issue about our craving and attachment with brands, tags, definitions and numbers. Yes we need them and can not imagine a world without them. But, they not the end, they are tools and just that. It seems, in our competitive urge for growth reflected by larger numbers and greater definitions, we seem to have lost the core purpose behind it. ((http://www.publicsphereproject.org/patterns/pattern.pl/public?pattern_id=890)) |
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| === Permaculture === | === Permaculture === |
sanjeev