Welcome back Wael. I hope we can work on this together as well.

I recently updated the website I am using to support the various gardening projects we are working on here in Colorado - which is my best effort to accomplish here what you are trying to accomplish there. Organic Landscape Design

You might also be able to get some ideas from the Transition Movement. The link is to the page of the most active group in my area.

I am thinking that we can think of what you and I are both searching for as developing a technology for making new connections. We want to design a set of transactions that results in peace and prosperity within the locality where we are working.

The key I think is to understand the limitations of economies of scale - and start experimenting with using each asset (property, tool, person, plant, creature) for as many different purposes as possible - creating economies of integration. I know that will take some explaining but maybe you can tell me what you think of when you here these words and we can work out a common understanding.

Lets check if there is any existing example for such cell-site/estate holistic integration of the green production community

lets start with listing the segments of such a "working" location:

1. Energy sources: solar (heater, cocker, ..), PV (panels), bio-gas (aggregates, ..),

2. Equipments: 2.1 heating: Solar dryer, solar cocker, 2.2 packing 2.3 manufacturing: wilding, carpentry, pressing,

3. social space

actually we need helo of Eco-architects to continue the brainstorm. http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?r ef=mb#/group.php?gid=2209038152&ref=mf

once we have such a picture, we move on to soft-ware and agreements around corporation. People need to imagine the site first and what it can be done with it, then we propose the process and the other "bureaucratic" stuff

later,

As you know, I have been trying to help people imagine what could be done for some five years now. I know it is my lack of communication skills - still, it seems difficult for people to think in terms of how all the different parts we could include all work together and support each other - as in an ecosystem.

My response to that difficulty is to focus on the first transaction first - growing food - and from that base work at adding more transactions. That is why I am eager to see your results in Palestine. Each group will develop slightly differently and we should be able to learn from one another.

Food, Water, Energy, Shelter, Communications - eager to see your progress on each. Have you connected with Appropedia?

My response to that difficulty is to focus on the first transaction first - growing food - and from that base work at adding more transactions.

That mean for me to step out and work on my own, with a small group and further develop the model I am seeking. This is a valid scenario as I think every other group has different measures for success, and they want to see their own success.

What I was attending to try is to build large coalition on the big idea and integrated cell-site, which will mean that the 2DN group identity is deactivated, which is totally not the case, when I look around. Every group what to take it self as reference.

Michael Maranda said:

Food, Water, Energy, Shelter, Communications - eager to see your progress on each. Have you connected with Appropedia?

Yep, I am in contact with Chris and Lonny.

Hi Wael, I like your ideas very much. I am based in Kabale, Uganda and see the same attitude with people here as you are transcribing in Palestine. My main concern would be how to get a lethargic population moving into such an holistic development? It needs people here to change from pure personal interest towards communal thinking. Actually your ideas are not new, E.F. Schumacher wrote about it in his book "small is beautiful". There is a society with ideas about locla currencies and land trusts: Schuhmacher society

Getting a place where to discuss and exchange about holistic developments is great! Succes and we stay in touch. Wilfried

Of course, that is the point of a three dimensional understanding of system function. People will contribute to a group as a function of the value they receive from the group. I am then suggesting that we think in terms of all the people, plants and creatures resident in our locality as potentially contributing to our individual wellbeing. Thinking in terms of our 'group' being all the people, plants and creatures resident in our locality.

That is a way to move past the current situation where one group is in conflict with another group.

Hi Wilfried! Nice to meet you. This morning I was in Ramallah downtown, Paris of WestBank, and again I get frustrated about, how commerce and profit is the main motor for life, even in a supposed to be progressive nation like ours, who is struggling for freedom and social justice. Many thousands are moving from rural areas to Ramallah for work to get money to live. They leave their used to be simple rural life style, as they do not see value there. There must be another motivation for life than money need, rather than accessing life through profit! Do people have this functional alternative choice? Today was it again clear for me, that the crises is not with an outer enemy, but the self and the life style it is educated to follow. Individuals has certain narrow understanding of integrated comprehension of life, which sum up the structure and game roles out side exists every where. According to my briefly concept, http://twitpic.com/hkyuf http://twitpic.com/hkzau If we manage to develop a modular low-tech green production cell (or modular green soft-industry estate) individuals will experience freedom and integration though economy. So we use the vehicle of destruction and misery for sustainable construction and breeding love and bless. As the cell is modular, it can be easily seeded in rural areas and connect them to work in harmony so that the production can be regulated upon network well and not the well of the market. We break the conformity being forced to certain pattern for life, to produce more to make more profit and comfort life. In this topology a set of cells will cover most of regional need. While the lack can be exchanged by other P-2-P cells, also in different areas around the world. Instead of having centralized mass production, decentralized local/regional production sources well cover self-needs and regional needs first to national and international. Modular appropriate open source design will allow us to common develop the technology and solutions we use at work. Low-tech will make it possible to develop the machines and equipment locally, allow lot of hand works, low energy and energy independent, .. In this model every one will have job, but also the freedom to work in different roles (dynamic alignment/intelligent communication infrastructure). If the request for production estimated by the community is low, the community can work on learning and qualification or socialization.

Beside designing and building the cell in the particular area, permaculture qualification for a core group must take place. Land, the earth have enough space to help us developing better life. JobLabs for people without work must be created to integrate the existing qualifications into the project. Etc.

Such a strategy can be approached though global acting groups and institutions, which I am part of none of. Or I find enough support to develop the first model in Palestine.

Four weeks ago to Ramdan begin I have returned leaving Germany behind http://www.wiserearth.org/resour ce/view/f529bcd0176bb10a8898c781 88534d71 Things are slaw during RAMADAN. I hope soon I will be able to talk with many groups about the idea and check if I can collect forces on the ground ..

Any comments, conversation, any idea, any support is welcome..

Hello Wael

I am currently researching an ‘African’ Earthship which i hope to locate in the eastern part of Nigeria. Once developed, will be a centre for alternative technology and ICT. I will also design-in a hub for Nehemaya operations, recognising commerce as part of the solution. I plan to show case alternative, appropriate and carbon reducing technologies and methodologies, with special reference to enhanced natural cooling, insect repellence, permaculture and human powered applications. Still in the design stages, but I am interested in evolving Architecture out of traditional designs and materials, adapting waste in construction, enhancing natural cooling by innovation, then adapting appropriate technologies. E.g. solar, low voltage electronics, pedal powered pumps and generators, etc. As to modular cell 'systems' sustainability, any 'human nature' reboot?.

Hello Celestine. It sounds very promising and similar to what I have in mind. We can share ideas if you want.. are you willing to make the design open source? I found great resources while I am exploring the idea about the modular cell. The major one is the solar village project by TAMERA. There for example they have developed a pump works with solar air-heating. I think "Architects for Humanity" can play an important role in the project as well as appropedia.org

what do you mean with "As to modular cell 'systems' sustainability, any 'human nature' reboot?"

Looking forward to stay in touch talk or chat on SKYPE : wael.alsaad

Great! Wael

I would love to share ideas. I would also be willing to make the design open source, because the vision is inclusive. This level of human interaction requires for alternate outcome goals. To keep such ideas to oneself I believe, defeats the purpose.

However, I am aware that the research and development requires resourcing, therefore I am putting most focus right now on developing brand identity and income streams from exported semi-finished raw materials.

I do hope to apply for funding to assist this, but project start-up and sustainability will be in ‘green’ commerce and industry.

Will keep linked with you and explore other communication channels.

Wael said what do you mean with "As to modular cell 'systems' sustainability, any 'human nature' reboot? This ; http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/busin ess/8244600.stm

Following is a blog post to my community here in Colorado which talks about some of the issues raised here:

It has been a little over a year since the Transition Colorado web site was set up and as of this writing we have 1,137 members. That is impressive growth that, I think, reflects the level of understanding we have in Colorado about the seriousness of continuing a system dependent on fossil fuels. We can be proud of what we have accomplished this past year. And, this is a good time to think about how we can build on that accomplishment.

I am concerned, as I follow the activities on this site, that we move beyond just talking amongst ourselves. Real change comes from people making different choices as to how they go about obtaining those things they need and desire in life – and most of the choices available to us still involve a great deal of fossil fuel. Creating the alternative ways to obtain what we need and desire is the task we must accomplish to fulfill the goals of the Transition Movement. However, the people we need to engage in order to create those alternatives are not as concerned about peak oil and climate change as we are, or they would already be members here. I propose a different approach to explaining the value proposition for these alternatives.

We all agree that a new economy is coming. We call it post industrial, the green economy, or the information economy. We know we want an economy based on renewable fuels with a neutral impact on carbon in the atmosphere. We know we want an economy insulated from shocks created by forces in the global markets that are outside our control. We can only create that kind of economy by finding ways to produce locally the basic goods and services that we need to thrive.

When I try and articulate this goal for my community, I think in terms of local production of food, clothing, shelter, education and health care. We know how to produce each of these things, the tools required for small scale local production are available, and financing can be accomplished as a function of the market for these products. Our challenge is trying to compete with big companies operating capital intensive economies of scale that are efficient because fossil fuels are currently cheap. We can do that if we think in terms of producing for ourselves – employing the people in our community who are currently undervalued by the global market. Further, if we own the capacity to produce these things we can produce as much as we need without regard to the market price.

In an economy of scale, all resources within the system of production are geared toward the production of a single end product in order to reduce the unit price enough to justify the capital investment. The alternative approach is to see what resources one already has and use those to produce as many different things as possible. The first approach is capital intensive and is suited for the global economy. The second approach is information intensive and is suited for local self-sufficiency. Applying the alternative approach we attain economies of integration that can compete with economies of scale – particularly where we are producing basic goods and services for our own consumption.

We have the beginnings of what we need. We have our local BALLE organizations promoting local businesses. We have Community Supported Agriculture and Neighborhood Supported Agriculture and Community Gardens increasing local food production. We have the urban homesteaders raising chickens and goats and bees and and we have groups eager to build greenhouses. The next step is to take these beginnings and turn them into a way to make a living for more and more people – until everyone who is doing without in our community has access to those basics necessary to thrive.

These projects that I am proposing can accomplish the twin goals of building a clean diverse environment and employing those without jobs in the global economy. There are many organizations and a lot of resources already dedicated to protecting the environment and social justice. It is not just coincidental that the goals of those organizations can be accomplished through systems of production that reduce fossil fuel usage and sequester carbon. Environmental damage and lack of jobs result from the characteristics of systems of production based on economies of scale and cheap fuel. Our challenge here is to show people concerned with specific problems, like environmental damage or poverty, that community production of basic goods and services addresses their concerns.

We all agree that the future will necessarily include a change in our source of energy. As the supply of oil declines relative to demand the price will rise and market forces will engage to supply alternatives. That is what the market does best – allocate resources and provide incentives for new products. Some of the alternatives are fossil fuels, like oil shale, tar sands, coal gasification and natural gas. It is my guess that those sources will remain the preferred choice of large scale production because of the existing infrastructure. Renewables like wind, solar, wave, and biomass require new technology and infrastructure.

It is also my guess that our communities, and civilization as a whole, will benefit from new ways of producing basic goods and services, as a complement to global markets. The planetary economy is a large complex system and large complex systems need stable component systems in order to be stable. For example, we don't want to trust our food supply to global business for the same reason we don't build the internet around one central server – if that server would go down it takes the entire system with it. An important aspect of these new technologies we hope to develop is about how to organize human communities to be those stable components.

On that basis I propose that we move beyond the talk about all the terrible things that could happen when oil becomes expensive and the climate changes – and start talking about the kind of world in which we want to live.

Hey Celestine

your last post make me very hopeful .. it is half year now, where I am looking for practical start for my vision about modular "holistic healing green economy". My people like almost all the population on this planet are trapped in corrupting understanding of life and just reproducing what they used to. Profit seems the only motivation for life,.... Bellow I have started writing an abstract for my presentation/paper about how can new start looks like in global Palestine. All nations need new start, but Palestinians has the unique situation, that they still look for new start, while other nations are going through post transition from a point others has develop it from them "post colonial structure".

About my situation now after my fresh return to my home town, that I am partnering with http://www.thefarm.org/charities /i4at/marda/ Now we are trying to organize funds and raise money to build the permaculture training center.

My initial thoughts about how to proceed, that we try to build a global coalition to design the modular green production cell mgpc, so that we start pilot in global cooperation in several locations, trying to make out of the idea a global initiatives so that we build with the cell new market, hybrid trade market and exchange medium. WHen the mission, Vision and principles are set up properly, we can move on large scale and coordinate bigger move. From my example as Palestinian you see, that the basic collective idea, can be tailored to be applied on the specific situation certain group of people are within.

To proceed I would suggest to get together with other activists at a chat room, for example http://www.worknets.org/chat/bas e/ and brainstorm the topic.

For private conversation, you find often on SKYPE wael.alsaad

Thanks Wael

/////-----------//////// Currently I am formulating the abstract bellow. Can I have your feedback on it? After new formulation editing help is appreciated.

Abstract

The Palestinian collective nation-building and national-independence process faces huge challenges, due to immense political and geographical fragmentation. In spite of the lack of a common collective democratic basis, diverse cultural development took place the last 6 decades (since NAKBA) in the lives of Palestinians around the world makes this process very strained. This fragmentation has resulted in differing political stances that have prevented us from forming a unified front on which we can insure the individual and collective welfare of the Palestinian people. This draft proposes alternative holistic model of social, economic and environmental reconstruction based on a “healing economy”, which insure positive change that recognizes and honors our indigenous roots and culture as Palestinians. The vision of using the model of “holistic green healing economy” is self-empowering toward individual integrated comprehension of life and awaking the collective Palestinian consciousness . It is a model for the establishment of new foundations that will radically initiate a positive global attitude toward peace and social justice by embedding the change we want to see in economical design, using Economy as vehicle. The target is to co-create a broad holistic cooperative network that encourages low-tech social cooperative green production. The network consist of modular green production cell-sites with intent to building synergy and integrate all resources in a way that operates in harmony with nature and comprehensive human needs.

David Braden said:

When I try and articulate this goal for my community, I think in terms of local production of food, clothing, shelter, education and health care. We know how to produce each of these things, the tools required for small scale local production are available, and financing can be accomplished as a function of the market for these products. Our challenge is trying to compete with big companies operating capital intensive economies of scale that are efficient because fossil fuels are currently cheap. We can do that if we think in terms of producing for ourselves – employing the people in our community who are currently undervalued by the global market. Further, if we own the capacity to produce these things we can produce as much as we need without regard to the market price.

David, For me being productive community is actually not about self-sufficient or independent, nor competing others .. its about developing own experience for freedom and integration of comprehensive life by linking real cycles of exchange, own ideas into living creative unified entity. Something can exist only within the the productive community, which can be networked with others but will stay unique in the particular productive community. In the sense economy will be used to transcend the awaking intelligence of the individual, but performance of the community. Mediocrity becomes obsolete, live becomes its real significance.

Wael

correction:

David, For me being productive community is actually not about self-sufficient or independent, nor competing others .. its about developing own experience for freedom and integration of comprehensive life by linking real cycles of exchange, practical ideas into living creative unified entity. A feeling can exist only within the the productive community, which can be networked with others but will stay unique in the particular productive community, who are more closed to reality on the ground.

In this sense "healing economy" (actually humanity riping economy, as we are learning how to deal with life) will be used to transcend the awaking intelligence of the individual, by performance of the community. Mediocrity becomes obsolete, life becomes its real significance.

Inter-dependence may be one way to describe this Wael.

Another way is, ‘simply relocating polluting factories of production to sites in developing countries does not exclude us from its nasty effects’.

We need to advice compliance to global common good, where an alternate view point is welcomed as an opportunity ‘learn’. 'A new way, a new 'bottle''.

There is a radio talk show host I know who jumps the queue and airs those with a contrary view point first. This is courage of conviction, as it often exposes the truth and he isn’t always right.

Simplicity cannot be wrong, it is the back bone of all enduring beliefs, including the base binary code of our virtual existence.

On a slightly different note, here is a model for low cost ICT http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world /africa/8255831.stm

I believe streaming can still be effectively achieved cheaper with lower adapting and maintainance costs.

Wael said:

For me being productive community is actually not about self-sufficient or independent, nor competing others . . .

I suggest that the old ways of providing for our communities are inadequate - in the sense that we have environmental damage and poverty. That is not to say I have anything against producing for the market. It is just that, like anything else, the market has its limitations. In particular:

1 - the market cannot produce abundance because no firm can produce more of a good or service that would reduce the market price below the cost of production, and

2 - the market treats labor as a commodity and where the supply of labor exceeds demand declining wages and lack of jobs reduce the demand for goods and services.

If we think in terms of production for our own use, then we can sidestep these market limitation and provide those things the members of our community need - without regard to market price or the availability of jobs. When our communities have that kind of control over what happens within the community, then community members can enter the market on their own terms - not begging for handouts.

I agree with Celestine the we need "A new way, a new bottle". I think the characteristics of that new way are something like what I describe in Organizing to Heal Nature and Produce Abundance. But I am certainly open to other ideas.

what about focusing describing the modular ecosystem of production cell site? Any one would meet online on a chat room to brainstorm this topic? Would be great to have people from low-tech food production within to describe the equipment, etc.

Thank you David, many times.

But if only for the moment, we may employ concessions extended to ‘not for profit enterprises’, and leverage maximum profit for raw materials on the international markets. I may be wrong, but I suspect lots of shipping containers may be leaving back empty.

These enterprises, operating with maximum transparency and accountability would provide encouragement for profit to be reinvested into a transition model, where we can ‘organise to heal nature and produce abundance’.

I say to my great disappointment, that Africa has so far not developed sustainable systems, compatible with local culture, reflecting existing skill base and properly structured growth.

Even the education system seems to be producing tons of specialists in any field other than what Africa needs ‘now’.

We can adapt appropriate technologies, methodologies, skills and tools in this transition.

We appeal to all, that for the time being, while the ships may still be running back empty, the fuel costs have yet to be prohibitive, while existing global trade policies remain and export enterprise from Africa is still 'profitable', if faced with the decision, please purchase from ‘us’ and support ‘our’ ‘cause’.

Wael said

what about focusing describing the modular ecosystem of production cell site? Any one would meet online on a chat room to brainstorm this topic? Would be great to have people from low-tech food production within to describe the equipment, etc.

Fantastic idea Wael, I will soon hook up with you. Just need to get on top of a number of thing, many domestic with the term start. Nb.And of course formatting.

IMHO, production for export is not wise, not sustainable, and not safe. It throws you into a mandatory cash economy where you can not control anything. If the market (or production) fails for what ever reason - oil prices, monetary collapse, drought, etc - you are trapped with no money and no safety net. Export production is for investment that you can risk. People who have no stable food, shelter, education, healthcare are not in a position to risk like that.

Linda Nowakowski said:

IMHO, production for export is not wise, not sustainable, and not safe.

It depends on the set-up and intelligence of the holstic freen production/life MeshWork. In my case, I would use export to build common inter-Palestinian channels of development and empowerment for the good in life. To create basics of unity under nexus hypermarket, and foundation of collective intellgenance by border-less participatory thank to communication infrastructure ,..

Though by using low-tech equipment mass-production can be stratigically right for certain objectives and circumstances . These can be changed so that we can use the man power for building shelters, Pensions for social eco-truism. Or work on theater piece instead of producing. Its all fits in the sustainable dynamic alignment principle embedded deep in biodiversity and nature. This can be translated into business model by honoring cultural-, talent- and experience diversity. Upon that Permaculture offer infinite flexibility dealing with resources/capital.

Linda said

IMHO, production for export is not wise, not sustainable, and not safe. It throws you into a mandatory cash economy where you can not control anything. If the market (or production) fails for what ever reason - oil prices, monetary collapse, drought, etc - you are trapped with no money and no safety net. Export production is for investment that you can risk. People who have no stable food, shelter, education, healthcare are not in a position to risk like that.

I wish to call it a Transition strategy, ‘Obey, but think?’

There is a famous quote of by gentleman, whose name escapes me, but the gist is; when working for change there is sometimes the realization that, that change may not be completed in your life time, nevertheless you carry on.

I call it kickstart, awareness and stakeholder buy-in. All these and more because the focus is not profit for the enterprise in cash terms, but credits to barter for items that are available ‘now’ at cheaper costs abroad. E.g. solar panels and communication equipment.

The products which have saturated to a large extent local markets are export targeted primarily at the Diaspora, where X = 3X and 2X= sustain(stable food, shelter, education, healthcare) around location X.

An what if local food production fails?

The Vision is for Earthship ICT and sustainable development centre’s, of course sustained by cooperation and enterprise.

The unstoppable hyper information age will magnify the true spirit of mankind, I do hope with better outcomes than now.

Obtain a yield is what I would say, good work requires sustenance, it is the human factor I am most worried about in the systems.

Or perhaps I am a bit less keen, on the 'begging bowl’image.

I can understand the frustrations, but some of the previous posters have given practical proposals on how to go on. My personal conclusion is that it needs to become the people's own vision in order for such ideas to come to fruition.

This can come along through thought exchange/education/talks/media etc. and through example.

I am not yet directly involved in a hands on food production and cell setup. The reason is that I haven't yet figured out where "home" is, which is also quite difficult to handle - in fact I believe firmly in the decentralized local model (if you want, check out my MSc dissertation at http://holisticscience.ning.com/ page/distributed-networked-bioba sed-1, watch out, 30'000 words, but the abstract gives a good overview).

I can for now just put forward my sincere wishes for success, as I believe you are doing highly valuable pioneering work!

I also agree that ICT will provide the tools for the required information to flow. As of today, for food production there are countless interesting sites, from organic food, to permaculture, agroforestry, etc.

Things like factor e farm, fablabs, distributed production and other P2P technologies are just starting up, those will mature and provide further fertilisation to cell "growth".

I believe the biggest impact will come from alternative currencies. Why can't we realize all our faboulous dreams? Because there's lack of funding. With distributed financing models and a plethora of alternative currencies people will get the means for communities to thrive.

We are still at the beginning of a major shift and frustrations are inevitable - but, unless brutal armies step in success is inevitable too.

Love fabio