Not quite sure of your point re: the 8bn.
I hope it is a simple one to explain. My point is that we have 8 bn to take care of .. surely. Not just a segment of western dissidents. Looking at the big picture now. How does one do it? Unified effort seems probably the answer. Hence BRICS etc. Western governments have overstayed their welcome with their stale meaningless ideas of capitalism they project (0.001% financialisation and rentier economy and the rest). You *cannot* do this this transition without industry we currently possess without ensuring a mass killing off of the populace. This industry needs to change, of course, to cater for climate change. There is no way that I can see we can change this trajectory, from my limited dip into the 'transition' ('transition' is the new word being used for jobbies on the green market at the mo). There is no money in it. Quite simple really. It's dying on its feet as we speak.
Interesting you were at Findhorn.
I wasn't there. I referred to the ideas that eventually crystalised in that 'movement'. Findhorn was after all blessed with the Gulf stream 'anomaly' in that geographical area. No, I was involved in more basic ideas of how one can 'drop out' and make a viable living, living off the land. It didn't work out after 10 odd years of trying in my limited ways. I'll spare you the details.
For sure there are different approaches you can take to a 'back to the land/nature' movement. It can be all escapism and political quietism, or it can challenge established land ownership & rights and help regenerate a viable rural economy. The highlands (and rural areas more generally) definitely need to be repopulated - sensitively and with a focus on actual landwork, not just city folks working from home. Though a question remains on who should be the ones doing this, and it would be a problem if it was just idealistic people from southern england such as myself.
Lots I can agree with there. But, surely, you do realise that this is a partial answer to the current dilemma. It is needed, of course, to have an agricultural policy that parallels the industrial policy (as mentioned above). If not the 8 bn, let's accept 60 mil of us here. Same thing imo.
Wouldn't know about labour camps, though I would think it might be easier to escape them in the countryside than in the cities. Could be wrong of course.
Perhaps I went for the throat on this one, projecting 1984 and an Orwellian scenario, but I can see it happening during the collapse. And collapse it will unless we make some serious industrial and agricultural changes.
We've proved that we can grow veg in less-than-ideal conditions, but external economic volatility could still swipe it all away, as it's doing to many small-scale growers lately.
Admirable. Power to your elbow.
Thinking more often that there will have to be a concerted effort to stage land occupations with a focus on subsistence and community autonomy, because the money's just not there otherwise to make it work.
You are currently doing your thing in an environment that dictates the outcomes for your efforts. Quite different if the environment is different i.e. a different political system.
Whatever you do I wish you well. Idealism hasn't harmed anyone : ). Just swat the old codgers like me aside and get on with it hehe .
Take care
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