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EARTH & US: Continental Bioregional Congress, (part 2)
Los Angeles - Urban Ecovillages with Lois Arkin In the early 1980’s, a small group in Los Angeles wanted to found an ecologically co-operative neighborhood with urban fruit trees, co-housing, local currency, solar energy, living machines, composting, etc. to demonstrate lower impact living patterns. At first they considered an 11-acre site of "surplus land" (class 3 landfill). They found an ally in the Director of City Planning, a visionary who wrote the demonstration urban ecological village into the city's general plan and got support from the Redevelopment agency, Housing Department, and Mayor's office.
Then, in 1992 came the Rodney King incident and Lois' own neighborhood was up in flames. The group decided to forget the 11 acre site and focus on the 2 blocks around Lois' home, which was full of gangs, prostitution, racism, drugs, and crime, but was also close to public transportation, churches, supermarkets, and shopping. Lois had lived there for 13 years and knew a lot of her neighbors. She started a drop-in center in her home, and a newsletter, went canvassing door to door, and held meetings for neighbors. People wanted to discuss crime at the first meeting. Lois asked people to do just a small thing, like ask a neighbor's name and then start to greet that neighbor by name. She also spread "good gossip," telling people nice things about their neighbors. Potlucks were held. Soon the fear level went down and at the next meeting, crime was much lower on the list of concerns. For the children, an outdoor lunch of fruits was served, and then each child was given a tree of their favorite fruit, to plant in the neighborhood. A ritual was performed for each tree, with talk about gratitude for the gifts of the tree, as well as education on what the tree needed from people. These trees were well cared for.
In 1996, the men with suits and clipboards came, selling buildings. Lois knew the owners of all 13 buildings in the area. Property values were low. A 40-unit building went up for sale ($500,000). Their nonprofit organization had by that time a $20K nest egg and a lot of credibility; they had created a business plan with 15 year projections. They borrowed money from a community revolving loan fund, rather than banks. It took 9 months to raise the $500K, and three years later they were able to purchase their second building. Some folks came back to offer a second loan! There are now 500 Ecovillage members in the 2-block area. In their first building, the lobby is used for community dinners, a message center, and a place where agenda items are posted for weekly community meetings. Upstairs, a community room overlooks the whole neighborhood, there's a TV/VCR, kids come there to do homework, and meetings or workshops are held. The people rent apartments at one-third to one-half below market cost, and receive a monthly discount of $20 for not owning a car. Affordability of housing is achieved through a community land trust, limited equity housing co-ops, a mutual housing association or a nonprofit housing association. One woman has a weaving studio. Food grown in the 200 square foot courtyard includes 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables and rabbits for pets and manure (not currently chickens). The building is 50/50 white and people of color. Nearby buildings include a 40% Asian/Filipino building and a 65% Latino building. In the whole neighborhood there are now 100 fruit trees and 6 gardens; a garden co-ordinator helps people get a plot and offers lessons. All are permaculture gardens. Four Farmers' Markets come in on various days of the week.
They created an Eco-park next to the Youth Center. Instead of just grass and trees, they managed to divert some storm water from the drains to create a 500-foot stream bed, with native grasses. Overflow goes back to the storm drain.
One woman secured a $250K grant to make calm traffic on Bimini Street. Plans are to narrow the street, add cob benches and fruit trees. Mark Lapin from Portland City Repair helped create a plaza, with painted designs and other pedestrian features. There is a desire to create a demonstration car-free neighborhood. Mass transit is 2 blocks away; the new mayor is very supportive, wanting to compete with Chicago for "greenest city" title, and create a network of Ecovillages in L.A. By forming good relationships with the owners and managers of all buildings, and asking them to rent whenever possible to car-less people, gradually fewer people own cars (now 50%).
Many Asians spoke no English. Lois found out about an illegal rent increase and helped them find a Filipino-speaking lawyer to advocate for their rights; when they won, Lois had a lot of new friends!
The LA County Bike Coalition works with the alternative transportation group. There is a thriving bike repair business.
Los Angeles has gone from being one of the least sustainable cities in the world to one of the most sustainable. The next step is the ”Ecovillage Network of Los Angeles!”
Bioregional elders speak
Gene Marshall has been a bioregionalist for 21 years. Gene listed six aspects of Bioregionalism: 1) Re-inhabitation: Developing a new sense of home. He had us imagine jumping in the air and coming down in the same place, but changed--so that we would see beyond zip codes, city, and state, to notice trees, grasses, flowers, animals, birds, weather and seasons, and other humans who revere them. 2) Legitimate governance: Current nation-states are illegitimate because they don't obey the natural law (limits of Earth). Earth's own rules are built in, yet industrial civilization operates on the premise that we can ignore these laws and only attend to economic growth, the wellbeing of large corporations, and cheap consumer goods. This narrow focus is driving us off the ecological cliff. Most tribal societies had legitimate governments which honored their surroundings; but 6,000 years ago, civilization brought hierarchies of kings, peasants, slaves, over nature. Some religions asked humans to obey a higher law; democratic governments were slightly better than kings, but civilization has been characterized by all-out exploitation of earth, and war as a way of life. A true ecological revolution means doing away with civilization! We need governance, not anarchy; but it must be a legitimate government that obeys the limits and possibilities of Earth. 3) Human scale: E.F. Schumacher said that small is beautiful. Decentralization means not just small, but appropriate in scale. Growth isn't always a good thing, it can be like getting overweight. Economic "endless growth" is "bad medicine from a malpracticing social doctor!" There are limits to growth in any natural system. Decentralization is not ignoring a wider scope, but making local decisions a priority, then regional, etc. 4) Consensus processing: It was introduced at the first Congress by Caroline Estes, carried on by Bea Briggs, Joyce Marshall. It involves true listening, conflict resolution. Some have doubts about it in large groups. How can we apply it in a whole bioregion, or continent? A more formalized process in needed, like Jim Rough's Wisdom Councils, described in his book Society's Breakthrough: 24 citizens of each region are randomly selected, paid to meet for 1 month and create a published document. This might be a long range plan. 5) Eco-feminism: Introduced by Judith Plant and Starhawk, at first it was necessary to alternate male and female speakers to be sure men didn't do all the talking. That's no longer a problem! Having separate men's meetings and women's meetings is a tradition we continue. In patriarchy, we see that the same patterns which oppress women also oppress the planet. Eco-feminism helps us also develop the awareness to combat racism and homophobia. 6) Ceremonial Companionship: The poetry of Carol Goldberg, Alberto Luiz; pageantry, drums, cultural sharing, spiral dances, pipe ceremonies, singing, theater, talking circles, rituals, costume, sweat-lodges, Native American lore are all part. This movement is first a cultural one, secondarily economic/political. "There is more mystery in a spoonful of soil than the wisdom in all human libraries," said Gene, to applause. Good science explores sheer mystery. Bioregionalism is not religion, but an umbrella for many religious practices. Deep ecology and permaculture are religions for some. There is a vast variety of ecophilosophies and spiritual differences. They are not oppressive, but nurturing of spirit.
Other veteran bioregionalists then gave short talks. Bea Briggs: "I can't help it. It makes the most sense." Through this movement, she found her life work, and a new home (Mexico); then, if that wasn't enough transformation, she discovered the South American continent! Laura Kuri: The bioregional movement is networking with allies of many places, to care for the land; find relationships within nature. Glen Makepeace: Continental Bioregional Congresses are a re-emergence of the ancient tradition of ceremonial village, with purpose of occasional gathering to re-inspire each other with vision of how the universe works (very different from empire). The circle is the central metaphor; every voice is equal. The visionary function is healing. "Civilization is an auto-immune disease on the planet," he said. Our vision is a healing vision. Caryn Goldberg: A bioregionalist is a poet, opening heart, soul, and senses to the living planet, learning the meaning of living in this body and on this body (Earth); stripping away language that harms, finding true voice and vision; learning to love better ourselves, each other, and the earth. She found her mate, her work, and her community in Kansas. Rudolfo Gonzalez: Living on an island (Dominican Republic) that was once part of the continent. Finding his place is a reason to reinhabit Earth. "Coming here inspires me a lot."
GATT, NAFTA, CAFTA and "afta" - led by David Wheeler of North Carolina. These organizations of corporate globalization are forcing everything into corporate hands, destroying environmental regulations, labor unions, and democracy. The World Trade Organization can override environmental laws and safety regulations of any country if a company challenges them. Suits can impose economic sanctions for "barriers to free trade." There are no democratic controls. The World Bank sets rules about trade, NAFTA brings rules to the WTO to decide. CAFTA and FTAA are not yet fully created. Many jobs have been exported to countries like Mexico for the cheaper labor and fewer environmental regulations. The popular belief is that jobs leave "because unions are rotten and environmentalists pass unreasonable laws that force corporations to move overseas."
How do we respond? In Seattle and Cancun at least, meetings got stopped by the huge demonstrations. The WTO is behind putting holistic health purveyors out of business, making herbs illegal to grow: the "criminalization of alternative medicine." Instead, we need to criminalize corporate greed! Small local alternative movements are not enough-- we need grassroots political action as well. We can educate people by showing videos like "The End of Suburbia," "The Corporation," "The Future of Food" (by Jerry Garcia's widow) etc. Let's reclaim our language, such as the word "conservative," which originally meant to conserve what is of value (such as our democracy, ecosystems, local economies). The neo-cons are radical in their plan to demolish all of these.
The Bioregional agenda of building strong local economies and local businesses can appeal to many Republicans who are not convinced of the Bush agenda. The other way, giving huge tax breaks to large businesses to lure them to areas like N.C., is less effective in job creation or building the economy than micro-enterprise projects. "Sustainable Martha's Vineyard" promotes the local farmers' market and CSAs. Shares of wind power can be sold to residents of Cape Cod and the islands. The Farm & Food project in Albany, NY, brings farmers into the city and inner city so people can develop personal relationships with farmers. Windmills in N. Dakota are helping to save farms by providing their own power and some to sell. As people lose their faith in collapsing systems, there is opportunity. Some talk radio stations can help educate people. Replacing centralized energy and power with wind and solar and conservation is a trend toward decentralization. Energy price increases can be good in that they make alternatives look better, but we must remember that the poor are usually hurt most. We need to help low-income communities become more energy self-sufficient. Some churches are adopting environmental ethics.
Ask people: "Who owns your food? What's the source of your food?" "Who owns the electric power/gas/oil, and where does it come from?" "Who owns your water and what is its source?" "What goods are manufactured in your locality?" Arnold Ricalde of Mexico City urged northerners to come help Mexico City residents work on specific projects, help build demonstration centers, rainwater catchment systems and dry toilets at this time of water scarcity. Improving conditions in Mexico affects everyone in NAFTA, he said, and will benefit all of us; Mexicans will be very receptive. Others agreed that this might be doing the most with the least effort, and helping stop the globalization of water by giving control back to the people.
In the evening, a group led by Angelica, Ullrich and Ted came together to appeal to the higher nature of WTO members, sending focused loving energy. We meditated together to send our intention of love and opening their minds to seeing in a different way.
Cathy Holt
"Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations." - Paramahansa Yogananda
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