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| research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-20 19:34] – sanjeev | research_report_sanjeev-shankar [2008-05-21 11:46] – sanjeev |
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| * On-site research of Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, focusing on preserving and increasing biodiversity | * On-site research of Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary, focusing on preserving and increasing biodiversity |
| * Design for urban gardening prototypes and kits | * Design for urban gardening prototypes and kits |
| * Article for the Luminous Green publication on the [[Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary]] | * Article for the Luminous Green publication on the Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary |
| * Participation in the Research Gathering in October 2007 | * Participation in the Research Gathering in October 2007 |
| * Participation in the groWorld design session in April 2008 | * Participation in the groWorld design session in April 2008 |
| ===Directions=== | ===Directions=== |
| We are all becoming increasingly aware that our actions can no longer be seen as isolated acts of private concern. The idea of sustainability is a constantly evolving journey. It is not a destination. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming and ecology. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society including social justice and global peace. | We are all becoming increasingly aware that our actions can no longer be seen as isolated acts of private concern. The idea of sustainability is a constantly evolving journey. It is not a destination. The insights and lessons through this journey go beyond farming and ecology. Since, the nature of farming and land is highly interconnected, it affects every aspect of our society including social justice and global peace. |
| The researcher would like to conclude with the following directives: | The researcher would like to conclude with the following directives and questions: |
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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. | * 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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| * We need to nurture a moral force: an anchor in every culture, which challenges convention. This could come from spirituality, religion, a story, a community or a genuine leader. The current impetus on a sustainable future could be such an anchor. This would build an effective self-regulatory pattern in a system. India, with its spiritual heritage is a prime example of this inner, collective idea of balance and control. | * We need to nurture a **moral force**: an anchor in every culture, which challenges convention. This could come from spirituality, religion, a story, a community or a genuine leader. This would build an effective self-regulatory pattern in a system. India, with its spiritual heritage is an example of this inner, collective idea of balance and control. |
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| * We need a counterpoint to the ongoing movement of 'fast and furious' with a 'slow and deep' mind set. We have to be able to foster responsibility towards a long term view. Greening up our excessive consumption without changing our habits will not work. Humanity must consume less and we must slow down. Population growth is at the centre of this issue. We must look at authentic solutions for reversing population growth through improving women's rights and by making contraceptives available.((http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/deep-green))((http://www.longnow.org/about/)) | * We need a counterpoint to the ongoing movement of 'fast' with a 'slow and deep' mind set. We have to be able to foster responsibility towards a **long term view**. Greening up our excessive consumption without changing our habits will not work. We must consume less and we must slow down. We must also look at authentic solutions for reversing population growth through improving women's rights and by making contraceptives available.((http://www.greenpeace.org/international/about/deep-green))((http://www.longnow.org/about/)) |
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| * There is a need for a gradual shift towards a 'we' and 'us' based culture from a 'me' and 'I' based approach. This is one of the most crucial directives and also one of the most difficult to achieve. In some way, it amounts to tranforming the culture of a place. Collective communities like India, are today facing a reverse trend with the recent shift towards a capitalist, individual based, self serving attitude. This can have a serious impact owing to the sheer magnitude of India's population. Spirituality, media and the government can play a purposeful role to check this shift. Ideas of 'social capitalism' and 'social entrepreneurship' are hopeful signs. | * There is a need for a gradual shift towards a **we** and 'us' based culture from a 'me' and 'I' based approach. This is one of the most crucial directives and also one of the most difficult to achieve. In some way, it amounts to tranforming the culture of a place. Collective communities like India, are today facing a reverse trend with the recent shift towards a capitalist, individual based, self serving attitude. This can have a serious impact owing to the sheer magnitude of India's population. Spirituality, media and the government can play a purposeful role to check this shift. Ideas of 'social capitalism' and 'social entrepreneurship' are hopeful signs. |
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| * In cultural contexts, links with tradition should involve the use of past processes of change rather than the maintenance of past structures and patterns. We have to constantly reevaluate and revalidate our responses and ideas of 'growth' and 'progress' in such recursive times. Having said that, if a thing needs to disintegrate and be left behind, we must let new systems be born. The aspect of ethics is important in such a situation and should be openly discussed. | * In cultural contexts, links with **tradition** should involve the use of past processes of change rather than the maintenance of past structures and patterns. We have to constantly reevaluate and revalidate our responses and ideas of 'growth' and 'progress' in such recursive times. Having said that, if a thing needs to disintegrate and be left behind, we must let new systems be born. The aspect of ethics is important in such a situation and should be openly discussed. |
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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. This is an important factor for continued unsustainable migration from villages to cities. There is a need to redefine the mental and physical construct of an 'urban' space and a 'rural' place and treat them as a unified whole. | * 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. This is an important factor for continued unsustainable migration from villages to cities. There is a need to redefine the mental and physical construct of an 'urban' space and a 'rural' place and treat them as a unified whole. |
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| * Urban communities should join hands with rural areas to create a prosperous countryside, which inturn would support 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 need for exchange and dialogue. | * Urban communities should **join hands** with rural areas to create a prosperous countryside, which inturn would support 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 need for exchange and dialogue. |
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| * It is important to bring out the connection between a fertile soil, and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy humans. This highlights the role of education and media. | * It is important to bring out the **connection** between a fertile soil, and healthy crops, healthy animals and healthy humans. This highlights the role of education and media. Nations must invest in **bio-literacy**, in developing lasting symbiotic interactions between different life forms. Costarica is a good example of this initiative.((http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3859366038516185622&q=longnow.org&pl=true)) |
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| * Land must be safeguarded from the operations of finance. This calls for reforms in the legal system where the rights of other life forms should also be safeguarded. 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. This calls for reforms in the **legal system** where the rights of other life forms should also be safeguarded. May be we can declare forests and other life forms as an insurance- **a green insurance**! 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 developing world where there is a visible rush to embrace the global marketplace. |
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| * The demographic breakdown and scale of impact is crucial. In countries like India and Bangladesh, a large section of the population is poor, illiterate and remains disconnected from the mainstream. They need to be integrated. When people develop pride in their work, they feel accountable and responsible, and this results in purposeful change. This is an important aspect for bottom up change. | * The demographic breakdown and scale of impact is crucial. In countries like India and Bangladesh, a large section of the population is poor, illiterate and remains disconnected from the mainstream. They need to be integrated. When people develop pride in their work, they feel accountable and responsible, and this results in purposeful change. This is an important aspect for bottom up change. |
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| * There is a need to focus on agricultural research backed by scientific education, traditional wisdom, aggressive trial and error and practical farming experience. We need spirited individuals willing to go the distance in developing a long term sustainable strategy. | * There is a need to focus on **agricultural research** backed by scientific education, traditional wisdom, aggressive trial and error and practical farming experience. We need spirited individuals willing to go the distance in developing a long term sustainable strategy. |
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| * From an urban farming perspective, personal kitchen gardens seem most effective. They are small, dispersed, diverse, flexible, simple to maintain, easily transformed and directly impact the food situation at a family and community level. They personify the idea of self reliance and can be catalysts for larger green initiatives at community, regional level. Roof top gardens and community gardens are other options and, with assistance from regional authorities, can make a positive contribution. | * From an urban farming perspective, **personal kitchen gardens** are most effective. They are small, inexpensive, dispersed, diverse, flexible, simple to maintain, easily transformed and directly impact the food situation at a family and community level. They personify the idea of self reliance, personal interaction and can be seen as one of the most important social phenomenas of human history. If every individual in a city decides to have a personal garden, the impact can be huge. Roof top gardens and community gardens are other options and, with assistance from regional authorities, can make a decisive contribution. |
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| * There is a need for collaboration between different cultures and contexts to develop a 'greater' self reliant system. Strategic assimilation as a design approach has valid relevance. There needs to be a balance between clear streamlined structures and flexible organic systems; between small self organised clusters and larger fabrics; between independent points of view and a general concensus. | * There is a need for **collaboration** between different cultures and contexts to develop a 'greater' self reliant system. Strategic assimilation as a design approach has valid relevance. There needs to be a balance between clear streamlined structures and flexible organic systems; between small self organised clusters and larger fabrics; between independent points of view and a general concensus. |
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| * We must constantly strive to create fertile and diverse systems which bring culture and nature together. This could be through technology, media or traditional mediums. An important example is the use of science and technology through 'e-choupals'in rural Indian villages to increase crop productivity('choupal' is a hindi term for a village gathering place) . | * We must constantly strive to bring culture and nature together. This could be through technology, media or traditional mediums. An important example is the use of science and technology through 'e-choupals'in rural Indian villages to increase crop productivity('choupal' is a hindi term for a village gathering place) . |
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| * Rethinking our relationship with other life forms in an infinitely interconnected world. | * Rethinking our relationship with other life forms in an infinitely interconnected world. |
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| * Finding appropriate ways and methods to bring 'ethical' thinking as a core topic in design education and education in general. | * Finding appropriate ways and methods to bring 'ethical' thinking and practical experience as a core topic in design education and education in general. |
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| * Creating an **International Platform for Growth and Resilience**, which tinkers towards a more inclusive, collaborative methodology through a system of integration. Informed by scientific research, practical experience and travel, the platform would act as an independent facilitator and arbiter of emerging knowledge domains. One of the intiatives could be to bring 'polar' groups together to find a common ground. These groups could include young and old; scientists and traditional farmers; environmentalists and corporate executives; capitalists and social entrepreneurs; secular groups with military regime heads; real estate developers with conservationists; politicians with middle class people and so on. | * Creating an **International Platform for Growth and Resilience**, which tinkers towards a more inclusive, collaborative methodology through a system of integration. Informed by scientific research, practical experience and travel, the platform would act as an independent facilitator and arbiter of emerging knowledge domains. One of the intiatives could be to bring 'polar' groups together to find a common ground. These groups could include young and old; scientists and traditional farmers; environmentalists and corporate executives; capitalists and social entrepreneurs; secular groups with military regime heads; real estate developers with conservationists; politicians with middle class people and so on. |
sanjeev