Being a staunch advocate of recycling for most of my life that when talking to Warren, I concur that to get the Powers that Be to make recycling mandatory - nationwide - has to become an election issue - so as to show the younger generation that adults do care for our children’s future.
Warren and friends have just launched the Great Kiwi Bottle Drive
Where the small town and community of Kaitaia in the Far North recycled 20,000 bottles and cans in 4 hours. Exceeding expectations -
Where at the Kaitaia market - many people supported this ideal - with a very community spirited input.
Children were involved - many very young and it was heartwarming to receive their bottles and give the kiddies some money in return.
They filled a large curtain-side truck with empties. People cleaned up streets, roads, harbours and beaches and their uncles back yards and brought all the empty containers to get a refund.
Now this initiative is heading South to more towns and communities throughout the whole of NZ. Parliament being one of the stops.
With the idea of creating up to 2,500 plus jobs, savings for Councils, money for families and community groups. Including almost tripling our recycling rates with over 1 billion bottles saved from landfill, streets and our oceans!
Cash for container schemes - are going well around the world however NZ is lagging behind world opinion. Warren's team are about to change this!
Glass, aluminium and all plastic containers, plus the cardboard juice and milk containers need to have a deposit paid so that the loop is closed when they come back full circle to be either reused, or broken down and made into another item, or product.
‘Reuse’ stores are now popping up in communities here in NZ especially with clothes that have been outgrown etc.
Warren says that the police have mentioned that recycling depots helps keep kids off the street and involved in an active cause.
There is a very good Zero Waste program that Maori are involved in on marae throughout Aotearoa NZ. http://parakore.maori.nz/news/
Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/parakore
We as a human race are just now becoming aware of the extraordinary healings that occurred through Bruno Gröning (1906-1959) which ushered in a new era of spiritual healing. Bruno's teaching is a path to healing.
Bruno Gröning left behind the knowledge of how to absorb a natural healing power that can bring long-lasting health to every human being.
Back then and still today, healings of chronic illnesses that have lasted for decades, as well as of drug and other addictions, have occurred worldwide.
This is confirmed by numerous healing reports that have been carefully examined by doctors of the Medical Scientific Group and documented using medical evidence by independent physicians.
Doctors, psychologists and healing practitioners of the Medical Scientific Group regularly share their experiences through lectures, both domestically and internationally, in order to make Bruno Gröning's knowledge accessible to people worldwide.
Bruno Gröning, born in 1906 in Gdansk, was an unassuming worker who relocated to Western Germany as a refugee after World War II. Before the war he held various occupations, a carpenter, a factory and dock laborer.
Then, suddenly, he was the center of public attention.
The news of his miraculous healings spread all over the world. From every country came the sick, petitions and proposals. Tens of thousands of people made the pilgrimage to the places where he worked. A revolution in medicine loomed.
"Please, please do not be gullible! Today I say as I always do, 'You don’t have to believe what I say!' I do not demand it. But you have one duty: to convince yourself of it!'
Bruno Gröning
Trust and believe, the divine power helps and heals.
Lecture dates and further information:
I have known Robina for over 30 years, she is one of New Zealand’s most experienced Permaculture teachers. She is now an elder and is passing on the torch, sharing the taking on of roles, responsibilities, plus the methodology of a Permaculture educator and designer.
She has been extending the Permaculture philosophy of our social needs, the inner being and the ‘invisibles’ that link the web of life - on numerous levels.
Having a similar world view to Robina, Courtney too relates closely to indigenous ways of becoming more aligned within the localised environment.
Going beyond but inclusive of the the importance of the physical environment, they are looking at the social needs of both family and community, the inner being - our inner landscape and the ‘invisibles’ the agreements and codes of conduct - that we all embrace as we embed our being into the web of life - on numerous levels.
Robina relates her story of taking Permaculture out into the world.
Robina tells of her South African Permaculture venture where the NZ High Commission at that time, assisted in financing her with putting in a Permaculture system.
The task in the late 1990’s was to change the school ground which were basically of sand – into a productive learning environment along with Josee Le bel her NZ colleague.It was a dangerous assignment as they were the only two European people in that locality. Plus, Daniel Nepia who with Maori whakapapa – (bloodlines), was seen to be coloured.
This initiative just took off and now it has been replicated around South Africa and it now fairly well embedded as a practice or way forward or blueprint in future education within South African Government structure.
Robina says it was challenging … and that she also worked with squatter settlement leaders and totally redesigned from a permaculture perspective - permaculture values and permaculture principles – their squatter settlements that were predominantly tin shacks with shelter being basically knocked together - but they could also easily knock them down again. So afterwards, when Robina’s left, they, through a participatory process redesigned everything and knocking it all down replaced the settlement along permaculture lines. These included gardens and water systems etc. As an informal settlement.
Yet one of her more challenging assignment was in the first world and the United States. The Suquamish a Lushootseed-speaking Native American people, located in present-day Washington in the United States. Where they were very marginalised and living in substandard conditions and in no way were representing their previous culture with many working and gambling in casinos. To Robina it was tragic to see what had happened to them. (The same tribe that Chief Seattle was once a leader. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Seattle)
Courtney Brooke
The need to know what the challenges are:
Courtney Brooke who comes from the South East of the USA, sees that the local population have increased urbanisation and that farms disappeared, thus people have lost touch with growing both veggies and fruit and it is beneath their dignity to get dirt under their fingernails.
Thus they frequent supermarkets and get their polished apples with a sticker on never daring to go out and pick an apple off a tree, or worse - pick one up off the ground for fear that there may be a worm hole in it. (that they just will not cut it out and eat it, which is still good and fresh). Such is the disconnect from nature in the first world, because it is educated (programmed) out of us.
That many people in the USA bees and wasps are bugs – no real distinction – get rid of them - and weeds, as against plants. Weeds are often plants that are good, but just in the wrong place in many instances… some are invasive whilst others are medicinal and culinary.
That there is a major predominance of mono crops in America – one is known as a lawn. A prestigious symbol of how well off we are and our well manicured lawn of a mono culture (one grass type only) is another game that is being played out. For example if a dandelion plant pops up on one’s lawn yay it is a medicinal wild flower – but if you are not aware that nature’s plants all have a medicinal quality and if you don’t have a relationship with the plant kingdom – then this is just another weed that upsets the picturesque beauty of the lawn.
This is where permaculture uses and values diversity on our planet.
As for permaculture in NZ – Robina says we are a humble people – who like to grow quietly about transforming their land. It’s like if someone stumbles upon a property and asks about it or talks to a neighbour who knows about it, and maybe asks if they could see that property and with no fanfare it grows from people talking and sharing and after a while it gets on the map and the general public hears about it.
She says most people are quite grounded and eloquent and can readily talk about how they manifested their creation and often do not mind talking about it and sharing so as to inspire more uptake. For example Robin and Robert Guyton http://foodforest.co.nz/the-guytons-riverton-food-forest-nz/ in Riverton the deep south of the South island and their food forest - a plethora of fruit trees, among perennial herbs and native plants – are thriving. This is where they value heirloom apples and pears due to the very temperate climate and at the autumn show many growers come and share all varieties plus grafted ones too. She says that this is deep within the culture.
Also with Community Gardens Auckland Wellington and Christchurch having many – Auckland having over 50.
See Kelmarna Gardens and their seed store http://www.kelmarnagardens.nz/
Plus the Hamilton Permaculture Gardens that has a whole permaculture example among the beautiful floral landscape plus a microcosm of a backyard quarter acre section these examples are all over the country, but is not shouted out across the media.
Brendan Hoare and Richard Main’s names come up with what they did with organics at Unitec here in Auckland.
Courtney mentions that hui’s and meetings and gatherings that are nationally happening around NZ annually are really important in every province around the country - where issues are talked about and training courses take place.
Shwe says, people are turning up to see how they can make ‘broken systems better’ being that permaculture is a ‘solutions based design system’ that is where the movement is also heading – be it a landscape system or a social system.
It is like looking into the book of nature and perusing the underlying patterns that uphold intact systems and using that patterning and language to create systems be it food systems, social systems, economic systems – what ever it is – a landscape system - that mimic those patterns of nature in order to create functional systems that are honouring life, earth and people.
Robina Passing on her Experience
Robina, says that as an elder after 35 years at the cutting edge of the wave, that in passing on information to the younger generation she is finding them hungry, savvy and quick to embed the old earth wisdom. That by passing over the baton to our planetary youth they realise that we have to take sustainability to a new level of enduring prosperity and deep ecology.
That it is time to take stock and actively and consciously pass on the skills of regeneration to younger people who are ripe and ready and who Robina says has another blueprint than her. It’s like they have come into the world with a better knowing and the dedication to make a better world for them and future generations – in ways that she does not conceive of.
This being an intergenerational shift of wisdom deep knowledge and life energy.
Sun, seasons, wind, gravity, soil, tree belts, building materials, position, soil structure, microbes – and as a community etc.
Courtney talks about that many people who also turn up to Permaculture gatherings is that they have land that has been broken down and they want to turn these around and make them far better and viable. Because Permaculture is a solution based design system – they are always looking at grounded innovation. Be it a land based system or a social system – they are looking at how nature works out these situations. Or As Courtney says looking at the book of nature and the underlying patterns that uphold intact systems.
What Robin says from her perspective of Permaculture these days - it's now Social Permaculture. Since the late 1970’s the focus has been on the landscape - transforming the landscape into productive , functional; sustainable systems – and she says that the weak link has been the people, hence the evolution of a people component and teachers like Robin Clayfield http://dynamicgroups.com.au/about-us/
in Australia and
Starhark http://starhawk.org in the USA
and Looby McNamara in the UK http://loobymacnamara.com/home/
(Plus Robina here in NZ).
This is by applying the permaculture principles of design and integrating it all into social systems – so that the can be really resilient. Check their web sites.
Invisible Structures
Bill Mollison the initiator of Permaculture also did a chapter on invisible structures – legal systems, how to communicate and how to do governance - to bring about sustainable communities, where you are land based as kaitiaki – care takers of land. Food production on the land and building soil fertility – having thriving children and families that are intact
Research global eco-village network. https://ecovillage.org it’s a very good source of community resources and info – plus models of what to follow.
Sacred Earth festival URL http://kawaipurapura.co.nz/voices-of-sacred-earth-festival/
What has happened since the Christchurch Earthquake - is that it is now being called “the edible garden city.”
Some Councils in NZ have sustainability as one of their platforms and this is where Permaculture can back into their Sustainability Department and offer them their experience.
Robina relates to her work with Project Lyttleton www.lyttelton.net.nz/ - giving permaculture workshops nearly every weekend to the affected people of that city – and tells a very emotional story of her connection to the city of her birth – and that grass roots organisations may hold the key to that city.
Transition Towns also is mentioned as we deal with the increase of climate change and where it is going. http://www.transitiontowns.org.nz
How do we mobilise a country to come together as a conscious ecological community at one and aligned with the land.
The subject of Nuclear Free Zones comes up as a grass root movement so does the ideal of having GE and GMO Zones as well and what are the catalysts to instil in people the need to take care of our children’s future.
Robina said pre Christchurch earthquake people in say supermarket queues talked about the weather – post earthquake - the shift was immense – they showed deep concern for all people they stopped and talked with them – there was a level of commitment as they inquired caringly about each other.
What is the catalyst for rapid compassionate change?
What is it that will magnetise the community to wake up to their unity as the sharers of breath in our common future. Robina surmises – do we need an inner earthquake to snap us out of our dream spell of disconnection? So that we rise to the occasion of giving and or service to make the change that we at heart would love to witness and be part of.
There is a big awakening around our planet – however many, though they are concerned and care are still not sure what to do and put their energy into.
So Robina says – what is your passion? Just go and push the edge and step out. And if our intent is pure that in the spirit of goodwill, the world of nature and the ‘invisible’ does its part in coming in and just holding hands with us by opening up new territories and giving gifts and bestowing on us so much energy that you never look back …
www.Localisingfood.com - project around nz SOS save our seeds. Documentary Videos and short stories on this web site – global impact
Plus food forests growing in public places around the country
Courtney says she would dearly like us to become ancestors that future people will be proud to descend from … She also speaks so elegantly and in the flow with a youthful yet wise exuberance.
This was a delightful interview of Robina & Courtney - lots of passion and emotion - the salt of the earth.
https://earthcare-education.org/wp_earthcare/about-us/robina-mccurdy/
For over 45 years being on the leading edge of conscious change, Robert says “we now are leaving the Empire Era, that took over from the Tribal era, and we are now entering the Planetary Era”.
I (Tim) went to a weekend ‘Change Agent’ workshop back in 1999 in Auckland that Robert presented and learnt much - hence I am still enthused as of today. However Robert is now taking the deeper context of change to another more focused ‘local to global level.’ They are called ‘The 3 Harmonies.’
This below is an introduction to Change Agents, that leads into the Three Harmonies
A change agent is someone who can bring a vision into a manifestation here in our physical life. Usually it is someone in a catalytic role. Often, they bring people together and help them focus on something as a shared goal and enable something new to be born.
It takes a certain amount of courage, because a change agent is doing things before everybody else says – ‘oh yes that’s a brilliant idea.’ Change agents need to recognise the value of some new approach and have the perseverance to shepherd it through to actual manifestation.
Note that not all changes agents are promoting change that you would approve of …
However the change that Robert Gilman promotes is with people who have a caring about what is happening on the planet, a caring for the earth and for its people and its species and who would like to be more effective in being able to manifest that caring.
Robert says that they have this inner intuition that they are here in this time in history to make a difference. Yet they often find it challenging. Robert’s calling at present is to work with people who already in their hearts are oriented to making a difference and assist them to be more effective and joyous as change agents
Today the collective unconsciousness is stirring as it recognises that humanity is in a tight situation regarding its collective planetary future.
Robert suspects that there is also within that ‘collective unconsciousness’ the realisation of opportunity for a truly brighter future. (Robert’s use of ‘bright future’ is totally different from the National party’s use.)
He feels that the long-term trends show we are closing in-on, within a generation or two, ending warfare as an institution.
This is only one of the changes that his decades of working in this field lead him to believe are in ‘the works’ .
Humanity has many challenges – the warming climate, species extinction, various social problems, etc. – that we have we have yet to solve. Robert has spent over 40 years studying and writing about these challenges and now feels that we already have practical, tested solutions to essentially all of them. The obstacles to implementing these solutions all come back to fear, fear that we have inherited from 5000 years of cultures based on maintaining everyone in a traumatized state.
For thousands of years the winning strategy for worldly success has been to Enforce the Three Dominations:
During all that time, visionaries and idealists have pursued a different strategy, what Robert calls Embody the Three Harmonies:
As appealing as many have found this approach, it’s not been a strategy for outward success.
Until now.
The long-term trends of cultural evolution suggest that we are currently in a ‘tipping zone’ where increasingly those who succeed in practical terms will be good collaborators who embody the three harmonies. Those who pursue domination will find themselves more and more isolated and unsuccessful.
With the goal of speeding up this ‘birth’ of the Planetary Era, Robert has developed an ‘adventure tour to the future’. Called Bright Future Now, it helps people deepen their embodiment of the Three Harmonies so that they can personally step into that bright future now and be more effective and joyous change agents in service to the Earth and its life. Bright Future Now is a 6-week online, highly-interactive process that integrates into the lives of busy people all over the world.
Listen to this interview and discover how deepening your skills of cooperation can speed up your own transition into the Planetary Era.
Can New Zealand become non Aligned? Can we as a small educated nation control our own destiny and become more independent and not be dragged into the military industrial complexes, war games - based on planetary control by the corporate elite?
CAFCA is preparing to initiate and drive a nationwide dialogue to advance the case for a non-aligned Aotearoa based on policies of economic, military and political independence.
This is not a new thing from CAFCA - it has been part of their core issues since they were founded more than 40 years ago.
Murray Horton talks most knowingly about political history and current day issues that contribute to the founding of the AIM campaign.
Murray has been a Christchurch-based political activist since 1969 and is the Organiser for both the Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa (CAFCA) and the Anti-Bases Campaign (ABC)
He is a University of Canterbury graduate, and has worked in a number of "real" jobs, the longest being 14 years as a Railways worker. His redundancy in 1991 was followed by his becoming the full time paid Organiser of CAFCA.
He says: “The advent of Donald Trump in the US provides an unprecedented opportunity to take a good, hard look at Aotearoa's place in the world.
And to ask the question - why are we still a loyal member of the American Empire?
As the old saying goes, you are judged by the company you keep.
CAFCA says it's time for this country to pull the plug, to finish the business started in the 1980s which saw us out of ANZUS; and break the chains - military, intelligence, economic and cultural, etc, etc - that continue to bind us to the American Empire.
Let's deal with the world on our terms, not on those dictated from whichever empire we happen to be a junior member of at the time.
Somebody needs to take the initiative and we're happy to do so.
“What is AIM? (Aotearoa Independence Movement.) It's a campaign, not an organisation.
What is a specific example of what being non-aligned would look like? An obvious one would be to get Aotearoa out of the Five Eyes spy network and close the Waihopai spy base. That would remove this country from being entangled in wars and spying that serve the interests of the US and and other countries, not ours. Another one would be to drastically tighten the foreign "investment" laws governing who owns our companies and land.
What will AIM do to "initiate and drive this nationwide dialogue"?.
That will be decided by the organisations and individuals that get involved in the campaign.
It is not about Donald Trump.
He is simply the catalyst who offers us a once in a lifetime opportunity to build this campaign and create a truly non-aligned Aotearoa.
We know that there are plenty of New Zealanders right across the political spectrum who are just as appalled as we are by what the world is witnessing going on in the US every day.
But it's not about whoever happens to be US President.
This is about the longer view and the bigger picture.
Nor is it "anti-American" (or "racist" or "xenophobic", for that matter).
We stand with the American people who are fighting back in their millions. We stand with them as we stood with them in common causes ranging from stopping the war in Vietnam to the invasion of Iraq and the failed attempt to impose the TPPA on our peoples.
The campaign has begun for a truly non-aligned Aotearoa. You'll be hearing more from us. We need as many people as possible to get actively involved” Murray Horton
See here for the Aotearoa Independence Movement’s website.
It includes Murray’s speech given at AUT Pacific Media Centre, “Time for Independence from a Crumbling US Empire.”
http://canterbury.cyberplace.org.nz/community/CAFCA/aotearoa-independence-movement.html
Previous Interviews by Murray Horton on GreenplanetFM.com
2011
This interview is sponsored by ‘The Awareness Party.’