Imagining Sustainability Seven visions on green ImagInIng and fair economies from SuStaInabIlIty the global South

1 Seven visions on green ImagInIng and fair economies from SuStaInabIlIty the global South Imagining Contents Sustainability page 6 Searching for the Good Life “Your Own Tomatoes page 8 Really Are Sweeter” page 64

The Miracle of Blue Skies Experiencing page 48 the Sanctity Unemployed of Life Youth Regain page 32 their Pride as City Farmers page 24

The Good Life page 56 Wanted: Brave “Seeds are the Very People Source of Life and page 40 Women are the Ones who Manage that Source” page 16 4 5 Imagining Sustainability Seven visions on green and fair economies from the global South

Faced with an accumulation of Cordaid and Both ENDS work with crises, government leaders, intel- people who are able to bring their lectuals, journalists, and CEOs have visions of a green economy to life. embarked on a global search for We collected the visions and in- a green and inclusive economy. sights of seven visionaries located Simply realising that today’s domi- in various developing countries. nant models for economic growth Each one of them has a unique are the problem is not a solution. approach to transforming his or There is, simply put, no ultimate her dream into concrete, local solution, no blueprint for the future. initiatives that not only focus on This is all the more reason to stand inancial considerations but also aside and give visionaries, prophets on ecological values and basic hu- and searchers a shot at it. We could man rights. These visionaries show deinitely use a push at this time us that a green and just economy to help us escape from all of our is entirely within the realm of pos- acquired habits and ideas and that sibility. push will no doubt come from some This collection of remarkable vi- unexpected corners of the world. sions from unexpected corners of When we examine our daily lives, the world allows us to encourage we become inspired by those people those who are ready to be inspired who realise their innovative ideas in their search for a sustainable and actually manage to put them world. Anyone who would like to into practice. Ideas that combine work on these initiatives presented visions and a realistic estimate of here by our southern visionaries what the current chances of success and help in the development of actually are. These ideas combine these and other innovative initia- knowledge and experience, and are tives is invited to contact us. brimming with energy. It is these ideas that allow us to go on dream- ing of better ways to organise our lives, our time and our work. They stimulate new ideas about how we René Grotenhuis (Cordaid) and can make the world a nicer place. Daniëlle Hirsch (Both ENDS)

6 7 Images are the engines behind change. maybe we currently don’t have enough images, and so we’re unable to progress towards the building of a more sustainable and just world. attractive ideas abound, but we still lack the vision to set us in motion. Or is our view simply too narrow, too limited? How about the images of people from Searching for the other parts of the world, the very places where our raw materials and products come from, but Good Life too little inspiration? Do the thinkers and doers in other parts of the world have the visions that could help us think out of the box and, in turn, stimulate new ideas that can stir us to action?

Hans van de Veen and Han van de Wiel

photo Doug Wheller; Howard Lake; LamaZone; Step It Up 2007; Dave Sag; 6201135231_97a3ae6ed8_o; SEDACMaps; Oxfam International; Bread for the World; Rob Friesel; Oxfam International; Oxfam International; Fibonacci Blue photo - My Hourglass [Cloud] 8 9 Searching for the Good Life The dreams and visions of a diferent, better society, have always been a source of inspiration.

“I have a dream”, declared Rev. the Cradle2Cradle principle, the African and Latin American prod- as Chee Yoke Ling from Malaysia, Martin Luther King in the 1960’s, a dream of a world without waste ucts are reaching our shores; their have been part of this process quotation that certainly ensured and framed within a perfect closed ideas and visions seldom reach us. for some twenty years or so. She him a place in the history books. cycle. Prior to that, new concepts Are we not open to them? Are they was one of the most prominent His dream of a United States free such as sustainable development, making too little effort to reach us? spokespersons of the – then still of racism, where everyone enjoys corporate social responsibility and, In any event, we are depriving our- so-called – ‘Third World’ during the equal opportunities, became the more recently, the Green Economy, selves of the visions that originate irst Earth Summit. All of the in- symbol of one of the largest eman- were also sources of inspiration. elsewhere, and with them, poten- terviewed visionaries have strong cipation movements ever. On the other hand, one observes tial out-of-the-box ideas from parts criticism for how free market The dreams and visions of that these visions have not actu- of the world we know less about. thinking and globalisation af- a different, better society, ally managed to mobilise crowds, We need to do something about fect their own societies and have always been a source of especially not in the West. We this situation. the world as a whole. This criti- inspiration. Visionaries have have grown increasingly sceptical, Therefore, prompted by Both ENDS cism is nothing new. But what moved the masses cynical even. Credulous individu- and Cordaid, we, two Dutch jour- does their ideal soci- throughout his- als have all too often been disap- nalists, started searching for new, ety look like? How tory. From Jesus pointed by self proclaimed leaders inspiring alternatives from the rest would things be of Nazareth who promised them paradise. We of the world. The following pages different if they to Karl Marx, seldom fall for this type of rheto- include numerous interviews with were in power? Mahatma ric. We also stopped believing in a prominent thinkers, doers and These are some of Gandhi society that can be transformed. analysts from the South. We would the questions we to Nelson The idea of a group of motivated like to make it clear from the start asked them. Mandela: people realising actual changes that we do not pretend them to be they’ve inspired has been portrayed as either naive in any way representative of the Dare to Dream people to take ac- or fanciful. That’s why we no long- entire spectrum of ideas regard- On YouTube there is an interesting tion and did this by coming up with er like talking about visions (let ing a green economy. We chose ilm about the Donella Meadows an attractive message: all efforts alone dreams); we prefer scenarios, from a list of names supplied to us Leadership Fellows (http://bit. are worthwhile because God’s which give us the room to produce by Both ENDS and Cordaid. This ly/uDyc8w), entitled Vision 2050. Kingdom, or a classless, nonviolent the best possible results. list includes their contacts, their Participants were asked to envi- and just society, is close at hand. There is also something else: colleagues in the South. They are sion the year 2050 and – this is Are we still dreaming these same concepts like Cradle2Cradle or people who are familiar with both even more dificult! – imagine the dreams today? Are there still vi- the Green Economy are Western actual practice and participating planet is all right, everything is go- sionaries around who can in- visions that originated in North in international conferences where ing well in 2050! “Now close your spire us? There is no single unani- America and Europe, and are they regularly meet one another eyes. What do you see?” The par- mous answer to this question. chiely Anglo-American capitalist- at venues around the world. They ticipants’ responses varied: “I see Visionaries appear regularly and based ideas. And so, where are the have all been active in the lead- solar panels on every rooftop.” “I present us with their appeal- analyses, experiences, and dreams up to the Rio+20 conference, as see people knowing each other’s ing and inspiring ideas. Think of of non-Western thinkers and do- members of one or more work- names.” “Older people who tell those people who came up with ers? While more and more Asian, ing groups. Some of them, such stories that others are listening to

10 11 Searching for the Good Life

again.” “I see windmills lifestyle that is so appeal- ply: Which future? Who dares to and mini-power plants in ing that everyone wants dream of a better and more just the river so that children to adopt it. Then, you have world these days? And, to make it can study at night with to begin thinking about perfectly clear, it didn’t necessar- electric lights. The message how to realise this. But ily need to be a feasible vision of of the movie is clear: “You that’s a dynamic process, and this world or a world you were will- can’t make it happen if you can’t the outcomes are uncertain. So I ing to settle for, but the world you even imagine it!” will not speculate.” truly desire. Blue Skies This may be true, but daring to She is probably right. However, we Obviously, this vision would use a Our questions aroused a multi- dream is not all that easy. Who is were looking for something more. sustainable world as its starting tude of images: blue skies over ready to respond to the questions Others also politely declined our point, a world in which the planet Beijing again – that was Chee Yoke of what the ideal society will look invitation. There was also a more was no longer headed for inevita- Ling’s dream. She has been living like? Isn’t it a bit naïve in this day strategic reason for declining. ble ecological disaster. The major in the Chinese capital for several and age to even bother to dream When you’re continuously strug- components of a sustainable world years now and has not been able of a better world? And maybe it’s gling with major issues such as are generally agreed upon: using to adjust to a state of permanent even a bit pretentious to think you uncontrolled globalisation or the only renewable natural resources, smog. Meanwhile, Egypt’s Emad have the answers. And yet, another unbridled proits of venture capi- banning waste streams, address- Adly dreams about approach- response might be: Isn’t it all kind talism on a daily basis, you often ing hunger and extreme poverty, ing the Cairo of the future in an of trivial to be translating these feel you like you are just shedding and working towards true democ- airplane and seeing an ocean of grand designs for a better society tears in the middle of a desert. You racy, with equal right for one and green rooftops. He also dreams of into concrete images? have identiied the problem, you all. Nice notions, but not exactly tens of thousands of unemployed For whatever reason, several can- have a potential strategy or solu- what we were looking for either. youth being properly trained to We wanted the interviewee to become urban farmers. They will Who dares to dream of a better and actually envision an ideal soci- lease lat rooftops and supply the ety. What would they change for city with vegetables and fruit on more just world these days? themselves, for their children and/ a daily basis. Farida Akhter from or grandchildren? What is the irst Bangladesh also dreams of veg- thing they think of when they hear etables and grains: she envisions didates we approachedwere all tion but idle dreams of a better the term “ideal society”? Imagine the return of forgotten species to slightly shocked when we asked society during an interview also you are in power, you are the the plates of her fellow country- them to share their dreams with has its pitfalls because, before you mayor, the governor or even the men. Moreover, she also hopes that us. Some of them even considered know it, your opponents will sim- enlightened dictator: what would Europeans will discover the won- our questions inappropriate. “So ply dismiss you as a naive dreamer. you do irst? These are the kinds of derful lavours of the various kinds sorry, but I’m not a guru,” was the Fortunately, others were prepared questions we posed to help clarify of vegetables, rice and lentils that response of Janaki Lenin, an im- to take up our challenge. Our chal- our request for the interviewees. could become plentiful once again. portant environmentalist, column- lenge was inspired by the Rio+20 Kenya’s Janet Awimbo envisions ist, and moviemaker in India. “The conference slogan – The Future new opportunities for an African challenge is to build a sustainable We Want. Our question was sim- form of consensus decision mak-

12 13 Searching for the Good Life

ing – but she is seeking brave citi- This would also entail good life – has now even been in- count everyone’s feelings, while zens willing to take up this effort. choosing for tradition- tegrated into the constitutions of still managing to change the sys- Eduardo Gudynas from Uruguay, al knowledge, respect both Ecuador and Bolivia. “Even if tem.” meanwhile, dreams of unafford- for nature, and ecologi- we switch over to the concept of These dreams span the oceans. able digital watches that have cally sound farming meth- ‘buen vivir’, we’ll still actually need Akhter in Bangladesh totally become the symbol of the increas- ods and against large-scale good computers and other equip- agrees with Gudynas in Uruguay, ing consumer desires of the global farming, monocropping, and the ment,” notes Eduardo Gudynas that people can be happy with- middle class, which the planet can- unlimited use of pesticides and with a laugh. There is a need for out having to live a life of luxury. not possibly hope to satisfy. A little genetically modiied seeds. “Large- modern technology, to ensure that Basically everyone wants to live further inland, Brazilian Moema scale agriculture has saddled us consumer products last a lot long- a good life. “That is also what the Miranda wants to ensure that with a climate crisis, a water crisis, er than they presently do and also peasants keep telling us. To be hap- every peasant family has its own and a bee crisis,” Farida Akhter that these products can be easily py, that is what they want. They do parcel of land. She believes that observed. Furthermore, she points repaired. not need a big car or a lot of money this will beneit the entire country. out that this type of production Janet Awimbo advocates the re- in the bank. Safe and good food, While Zenaida Delica Willison from method also has a very negative turn of the typical African form health for themselves and their the Philippines envisions a world impact on the position of women. of decision making, which children, nature in balance. That is where all live to be as old as her Are these the dreams of a handful is based on consensus, the what ordinary people want.” father (who passed away last year of greenies or resurrected hippies palaver, but this time as ap- Over the past two decades, Chee at the age of 103), if only we can who reject all progress and deny plied to new clothing. Young Yoke Ling has seen much of the be convinced to a live a healthier the reality of a world population people and women would optimism and hope that charac- lifestyle. that will soon surpass 9 billion be able to join the roundta- terised the 1992 Earth Summit, go And we eventually discovered the people? No way, was their unani- ble negotiations or simply up in smoke. But now, in the period remarkable common thread of all mous response. Traditional values a discussion under a tall, leading up to the Rio+20 confer- of these dreams: the conviction and new technologies are wonder- shady baobab tree. “We no ence, she has begun noticing some that there was a signiicant need fully interlinked, Adly, a Muslim, longer want a group of old hopeful developments. “I still to return to the human dimension. pointed out. Isn’t it the Koran that men making all the decisions,” dream of social equality, justice, One after another, they all advo- inculcates in Muslims the need to she emphasises. and harmony with nature, and of cated smaller, more human cities, spare limited natural resources Meanwhile, when Farida Akhter a lifestyle that its into this vision. combined with a revitalisation such as the soil and water? Is it not works together with Bangladeshi To see that more and more young of the countryside that so many the same Koran that stated that farmers to re-evaluate traditional people are ighting for sustainabil- people have left in their pursuit every Muslim has a duty to learn as farming methods and products, ity and for a different way of life is of a better life. Perhaps the only much as possible, including from she creates a permanent links be- an enormous source of inspiration exception to these modest dreams non-Muslim countries? The tradi- tween this approach and efforts to me.” was Adly, who envisioned radi- tional indigenous vision of the rela- to alter the rigid social structures, cal changes for Cairo. The others tionship between man and nature such as male-female relations and Amersfoort, the Netherlands, prefer shifting the emphasis on is experiencing a revival in South the caste system. It is no problem, April 2012 large-scale agriculture to support- America. The concept of buen vivir she insists, as long as it is all done Hans van de Veen and ing the millions of small farmers. – loosely translated as the simple with respect, and “taking into ac- Han van de Wiel

14 15 photo - David Swart “Seeds are the Very Source of Life and Women are the Ones who Manage that Source” “more and more people, particularly those who live and work in tall buildings, think that they can dominate nature.” Farida akhter believes this is a typical male notion. according to akhter, a women’s rights activist from bangladesh, women have been traditionally closer to the source of life. they are also the pivot on which small-scale agriculture revolves. large-scale agribusiness, on the other hand, excludes women and threatens nature at the same time. “Community-based organic agriculture is the only path to a healthy and rich future. both for us and for the planet.”

Farida Akhter Nayakrishi Andolon (New Agriculture Movement), Bangladesh 16 17 “Seeds are the Very Source of Life and Women are the Ones who Manage that Source” -> Bangladesh

When Farida Akhter was gathering tree is worth mon- this evolution of our crop species diversity has material for the book she had long ey, trees are also through her peas- been lost. Sprayed to destruction been thinking to write – about the regarded as a form ant movement and with pesticides, driven out of the special bond between women and of life insurance. via international market by the large companies’ nature – she interviewed an old Besides tree networks. “The seeds. Companies like Monsanto woman in rural Bangladesh. When seeds, women in asked whether she was going to be Bangladesh also Agriculture with a focus on nature, which able to count on her son when she traditionally collect was no longer be able to work, the the seeds of veg- follows the seasons and mainly produces answer was “No.” “It is the trees, etables, grains and local crops, indeed produces more which are more reliable than the rice. As Akhter notes, sons. If you have a tree you can be they thus manage compared to large scale agriculture. sure that at the time of nidan kal “the very source of (the time of death), the funeral cost life,” an essential will be met by the tree.” and valued role in Monsantos of this sell both the genetically modiied Women and Trees, the book Akhter traditional agrarian world want to convince seeds and the pesticides, so they wrote about her indings, seeks to culture. But this role us that we need their make money twice. Meanwhile, dispel a popular myth, namely that has come under great seeds for increasing our farmers become increasingly women are the plunderers of the pressure. The biggest production and they dependent.” forest, which is based on the main- culprit: the large- take out patents on stream image of women in poor scale, often foreign- those seeds. As if you The Counter-Attack areas gathering stacks of irewood. owned, agri-business- could possibly take out Resistance to this development is Nothing is less true, argues Akhter es that force their a patent on the source of growing. In more and more places in her book. Women often have a (genetically modiied) life!” Monsanto is, after in Asia, peasant activists are set- much more intimate relationship seeds upon the farm- all, the world’s number ting up seed banks where the seeds with their surroundings than men. ers. When the farmers one GM-seed producer. of traditional crops are stored for They tend to treat nature carefully switch to the high-tech The people of Bangladesh future generations. Akhter was one and with thriftiness. In rural Asia, seeds, the women no (and elsewhere in Asia) of the pioneers of a peasant move- men mostly hold the deeds to the longer have the task of have offered consid- ment in Bangladesh that encourag- land, though it is the women who collecting and manag- erable resistance to es recovering the use of forgotten – besides household work – care ing seeds and, as a re- large-scale agricultural vegetable and grain species. This for the vegetable garden and the sult, rapidly lose their pressures. “By growing is combined with organic agricul- smaller livestock. They also collect economic power. Their monocrops, our soils lose tural practices and renouncing the the seeds, which they nurture until roles are marginalised; their fertility,” points out use of pesticides and artiicial fer- they become (fruit) trees, and care and they are left with Akhter. “We have a bee cri- tilisers. “In the end, the peasants for their entire lives. Trees provide only housework and sis, a climate crisis, and a have to decide to stop. We offer the fuel in the form of leaves and bro- child care. water crisis. Moreover, in alternatives. And we show that you ken branches. And since a felled Akhter ights against the last 25 years, two-thirds protect other plants by not spray-

photo - Tom Brandt 18 19 Don’t forget that at one point in history “Seeds are the Very Source of Life and Women are the Ones who Manage that Source” we had 15,000 rice varieties here. Each -> Bangladesh region had its own varieties

ing. What we call weeds are in fact The farmers’ organisation has its malls, or at home in front of the Revolution, the intensiied and non-cultivated species, which are own centres in rural areas, where television set. Unproductive oc- large-scale operations that are so traditionally used for a variety of interested villagers can follow cupations. Therefore, society sees bad for people and the environ- purposes: as fodder, for medicinal courses that last several days, and them rather as a burden than as an ment, will come to an end. Even use, and many other such things. which allow one to address many added value.” international institutions like the They are part of our biodiversity. more topics than merely organic Akhter says that rural women are World Bank are starting to recog- And this should not be lost.” farming. Akhter: “A lot of young open to new ideas. “As long as this nise the essential role that small- The network of Women and people attend. Men and women is done in a respectful manner. scale farmers play. “In my country, Biodiversity is part of the New sit together, they do everything Taking into account everyone’s 70 percent of the farmers work on Agriculture Movement, which is together. The men do the dishes, feelings, while still managing to a small scale. If they get organ- active in two-thirds of the coun- the women work on the land. Thus, change the system. In our centres, ised and receive good agricultural try’s districts. In meetings with the we break through prejudice. We re- young female farmers hop on stage extension services, eventually we population, discussions are held spect social laws and religion, but, to perform. They dress up in men’s will no longer need this extremely about the role people actually at the same time, we ight against clothing. They criticise the system. large-scale sector.” play. Akhter: “People tend to blame traditional concepts of what men Things they have never done be- To sceptical Westerners, this may problems on things they cannot can do and what women can do.” fore, yet people accept this.” all sound slightly too-Arcadian or grasp, such as climate change. But Akhter’s remarkable conclusion is Whenever possible, Akhter also excessively romantic. As if all old you should realise that you your- that it’s easier to break through joins them. “I do not love the city, things have always been better. self contribute to poisoning the social patterns in the country- even though I must regularly spend Besides, is Akhter’s small-scale earth when you spray or scatter side than in the city. She believes time there. But I always feel tired farmer actually able to feed the chemicals. That is our message.” that this is because in rural areas, in the city. And never when I am in rapidly growing population in a the productive the countryside, where we get up country like Bangladesh? “But of roles of women when the sun rises, where we work course,” she reacts. “Agriculture are clearer. with the peasants, where they with a focus on nature, which fol- “Everyone learn from us and we learn from lows the seasons and mainly pro- knows their sig- them. We discuss crops and the duces local crops, indeed produc- niicance: in ag- harvest; we distinguish the types es more compared to large-scale riculture, within that are most suitable for the dif- agriculture. The few high-yield the families, ferent seasons. And, over lunch in crops, which the latter produces and in the com- the ield, we try to distinguish the are extremely sensitive to diseases munity. Their sounds of the birds. I always enjoy and pests, and are therefore full of knowledge and this immensely.” chemical junk. In contrast, our agri- skills are rec- culture is based on ancient knowl- ognised. While An Arcadian Ideal? edge. Our seeds do not need chemi- in the cities Farida Akhter is convinced that cals because they are adapted to women spend the future belongs to small-scale local circumstances.” a lot of time organic agriculture. The unlim- What is needed is a good govern- in shopping ited conidence in the Green ment, which stands irmly behind

phfoto Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 20 21 A women’s rights activist

The acknowledgment of women’s rights and the preservation of biodiversity are the topics that Farida its own farmers, instead of dancing and collect some 3,000 types. In the all have their own unique taste. Akhter (1953) has been involved in to the tune of the large interna- Netherlands, you also eat basmati Besides the greater diversity of- for decades, both in Bangladesh and tional companies. They need a rice, I hear. If I told you there are fered, the food looks colourful and in the international sphere. She is government, Akhter adds, that no many more varieties, each of them tastes better than what most peo- the director of UBINIG, an activist longer permits the importation of with its own taste and aroma, then ple eat today. It is free of chemi- research institute in Bangladesh, GM-seeds and doesn’t sell off valu- people would surely be interested, cals and is grown from locally col- which combines studies on the able arable land for monocrop- right? And what goes for rice also lected seeds. Moreover, the people position of the rural population with ping. This government also needs goes for our lentils.” only eat seasonal vegetables. The political advocacy. Akhter also leads to make much better plans for the Women are the ones who have the seasons are there for a reason, the only feminist publishing house provision of food for the popula- most to gain from a revaluation of Akhter observes, you have to adapt in Bangladesh. And she is one of the tion. It must be able to calculate small-scale agriculture. Corporate to them. “That is what your body founders of Nayakrishi Andolon (New where and when possible shortag- farming, Akhter emphasises, is a wants, products of the season. So, Agriculture Movement), a farmers’ es may occur, and respond accord- male thing. “Men dominate the avoid eating winter products in organisation that encourages organic ingly. Agrarian research should no markets and capital, decide on spring.” agriculture. It does this by distributing longer focus on intensive agricul- the development of seeds, and Indeed, Akhter admits that this is educational materials and organising ture but rather on the full range of conduct the research. Women no traditional knowledge based on trainings for the inhabitants of rural indigenous species and varieties. longer count. This has to stop. what our grandmothers already and urban areas. “This calls for a different way of Policymakers should listen to the knew: the types of vegetables and Farida Akhter is an active member thinking, which the large compa- women, and recognise and support fruits you should eat during cer- in numerous regional networks that nies want to hinder.” their essential role in agriculture. tain times of year. For example, organise the opposition to genetic If it chooses to follow this path, This will also signify a major im- because they help people increase modiication, domestic violence Bangladesh will become an ag- provement in yields.” their immunity to certain diseases. against women, and coercion in ricultural export country, Akhter This type of valuable knowledge family planning. She has written believes. “Don’t forget that at one Happiness is Everyone’s is at risk of being lost. She also be- several books, including Women and point in history we had 15,000 rice Dream lieves that scientists increasingly Trees and Seeds of Movement: On varieties here. Each region had its In the ideal future, says Akhter, recognise that this is a negative Women’s Issues in Bangladesh. own varieties: aromatic, highly pro- our daily plate of food will contain development. ductive, with an intense lavour, many different types of vegetables. The ultimate goal of her efforts suitable for certain dishes, and so Not only caulilower or eggplant, is simple, she says: “For people to on. With our peasant movement, for example. Besides, every veg- have a good life. Like our farmers we have now been able to recover etable has many varieties. They say: to be happy, that is what we want. They do not need a big car Policy makers should listen to the or a lot of money in the bank. Safe and good food, health for them- women, recognise and support their selves and their children, nature essential role in agriculture. in balance. That is what ordinary people want.”

22 23 Unemployed Youth Regain their Pride as City Farmers

Emad Adly Arab Centre for Environment and Development, Egypt When you gaze upon the metropolises of Egypt and the rest of the arab world from above, you see a sea of flat, grey cement rooftops. In the future, these rooftops will be green. unemployed young people who have been retrained as city farmers are using them to grow vegetables and fruit. the greening of the city is good not only for the city dwellers’ pockets, but also for their self- confidence. and life in the city has become much more enjoyable: the green rooftops and the urban gardens cleanse the polluted air and regulate the climate. that is Emad adly’s dream. He was born and raised in Cairo, and he is a doctor but, more than anything else, a restless advocate for a green and sustainable arab world.

24 25 photo Emma Grandt photo Unemployed Youth Regain their Pride as City Farmers The visible result today is that young -> Egypt people have regained their self conidence

The Cairo House, that is Emad eficient water management, re- than the government. That was un- ginning city farmers can exchange Adly’s irst thought when we ask newable energy and sustainable acceptable, and so the authorities experiences and tips. The goal, him about his dreams. A dream building; demonstration projects took over. Adly: “I told them: you they say, is to break through the that has become a reality, though and leadership trainings; debates have to create your own dreams, city dwellers’ dependence on the it was later nipped in the bud by about the future: it was all going to not take away those of others.” poorly regulated commercial agri- the authorities. come together in the new centre. culture, horticulture and food in- An ecocentre, where Cairo’s youth By Western standards, this doesn’t Efervescent Cairo dustries, and, in turn, to reconnect could learn to deal with the ur- sound overly revolutionary, but To no avail – the Cairo House the people who live in the densely ban setting in an environmen- in the Egypt under the old regime dream fell apart. Adly found populated city neighbourhoods to tally friendly manner. A catalyst it was. The new building made of new inspiration in the Egyptian Mother Earth. for the necessary transformation sustainable materials was located Revolution, the successful upris- Greenies, or hippies, yearning for of Egyptian society in a sustain- on the border of the Christian and ing of mainly young people. Many a time that will never return? Not able direction. That was Adly’s aim Jewish neighbourhoods in the old changes still need to be made in at all, Adly insists. He talks about with the Cairo House. Courses on centre. For Adly, the Cairo House the country, but the seed of revo- creative and promising initiatives. symbolised the new Egypt: an in- lution has been planted and will In the background stands the de- spirational meeting place to build bear fruit. The visible result today bate surrounding food security a shared vision of the future. “That is that young people have regained for the rapidly growing Egyptian is what Egypt needs: a shared their self-conidence, which had population. The country large- dream, a vision of where we want been paralysed until recently by ly depends on one single water to go. This is how we can step into the hopelessness of their situa- source, the Nile River. Adly: “The the future together with the young tion. Cairo is bubbling with many current situation is that there’s not generations.” new initiatives, many of which enough water to satisfy the needs Dangerous dreams, the authorities focus on the introduction of urban of 85 million Egyptians. So what concluded, and they took over the agriculture and horticulture in the will happen in the future, when Cairo House before its oficial inau- metropolis. Youth organisation there are 100, 120 or even up to guration. The centre became part AOYE (Arab Ofice for Youth and 150 million inhabitants? We must of the Ministry of the Environment Environment) – which Emad Adly get to work at once or things will and now houses public servants. created when he was a student to- go terribly wrong.” He is looking “It is no longer the ideal place for gether with some fellow students for solutions in three directions: changes in behaviour and inspira- – is hosting the GEF Small Grants education, a mix of traditional val- tion,” says Adly, who claims he has Programme that is experiment- ues and new techniques such as been “literally ill” for a long time ing with this initiative and has a drip irrigation and urban agricul- because of this state of affairs. A couple of demonstration projects. ture, and intensive cooperation good friend of his who works for Under the name Food Sovereignty amongst the Nile governorates. the government explained that Project, they work with another the independent centre’s success group of young people to spread posed a threat. People were say- knowledge, e.g., through an online ing: those activists are doing better platform where aspiring and be-

26 foto Jef Malder 27 Unemployed Youth Regain their Pride as City Farmers Balconies, fallow land and neglected -> Egypt parks would be used for productive ends as well.

A Gift from God Small Companies Rent sources such as soil and water, and So how will all this pan out in, say, the Rooftops of Buildings for sparing nature? And the Holy 20 years from now? Adly outlines Book is also clear on the use of For example, people will rent well-organised societies, based on strong local communities that new methods. Adly: “The Prophet rooftops as city farmers. In the make optimal use of the natural Mohammed himself said that it is new Egypt of let’s say 20 years resources such as water and fertile every Muslim’s duty to gather new from now, young people will soils. In the Nile Commission, the knowledge. Even if it comes from a have mastered the art of roof- river governorates work closely non-Muslim country such as China. top farming. They have proba- together, following the model of The message, in other words, is to bly learned from young people the European Union (Adly adds work with everyone. In brief, the in Gaza who, forced to do so laughing: “Though without the Koran can be used perfectly well as a result of the Israeli bloc- euro”). ‘One Nile, One Family’, is when one is training local commu- kade, have started this initia- their slogan. This strong state community – which cannot be nities and working towards achiev- tive some time ago. Through compared to the current, relatively ing sustainability.” their pioneering work, they powerless consultative body – Everyone takes part in the new soci- have clearly shown that urban shares the Nile water equitably. ety, Adly stresses, and everyone will agriculture offers great promi- There is enough for everyone. It is receive his or her fair share. To real- se for the entire Middle East. clear that agriculture, which from ise this, however, it is essential that There are many other places in time immemorial has been using we engage the youth. They are the the world where people who some 80 percent of the available agents of change, a source of trans- lack space become creative, water, can manage with much less. formation and the engine behind and these people also serve as The starting point is to maximise reuse. By applying techniques such revolutions. Look at the Egyptian a source of inspiration. Thus, as drip irrigation, the farmers no Revolution. While it may initially be the city-states of Hong Kong longer waste water. They know about more freedom and less cor- and Singapore are already that water is a gift from God. ruption, in the future, the youth will producing 20 percent of all of ight for a more sustainable society. the meat and vegetables they One of the characteristics of the Their energy and skills are decisive in need to feed their inhabitants. new society is the dominant mix of this struggle to be successful. In the And this percentage will only traditional values and state-of-the- absence of an active government, continue to increase, they be- art technologies. They work very nongovernmental organisations lieve. In turn, Adly is convinced well together, says Adly. “There (NGOs) have the important task of that urban agriculture and are no contradictions whatsoever educating young people on how to horticulture in Cairo are a po- between the values and ethics of discuss the challenges their country tential gold mine. He dreams an Arab Muslim society and new faces and developing a shared vision of thousands of young people techniques and initiatives. They go of the future. Adly: “Instead of being setting up small businesses hand in hand.” Is it not the Koran participants in a programme, they and closing deals with lat ow- that stresses the need for carefully then become active players who use ners for leasing their rooftops. managing vulnerable natural re- their skills to build a better future.” Balconies, fallow land and

28 phfoto Jef Malder 29 Emad Adly, doctor and activist Since much fewer trucks are needed While he was a irst-year medical student at Cairo University, Emad Adly (1957) joined to transport fruit the ‘medical caravans’, an initiative to bring and vegetables Poverty amongst the young is green rooftops will retain the medical services to the city slums. He soon such that their main motivation warmth. And, perhaps the realised that the lack of hygiene and en- from rural areas will be earning an income. But, as most beautiful result, accord- vironmental problems were at the root of the success of urban agriculture ing to Adly, will be the return the most common diseases in the deprived to the city, the grows – Adly is convinced that at of the birds, bees and insects neighbourhoods, which led to his slogan: sufocating traic least one-quarter of the food need- that abandoned the city long ‘Treat the causes, not the symptoms’. Ever ed to feed Cairo can be grown in ago and this will be to the de- since then, Adly has been active in environ- congestion will this way in the future – so too will light of many an inhabitant. mental issues. During his student days, he decrease. the understanding of the other Urban agriculture is obvi- helped set up the Arab Ofice for Youth and beneits. The liveability of the city ously not the only strategy Environment; more than ten years later, will improve since fewer trucks necessary to solve all of the the Arab Network for the Environment and neglected parks would be used will be needed to transport fruit Middle East’s problems, Adly Development followed. In 1996, Adly was for productive ends as well. With and vegetables from rural areas to is quick to point out. But it is one of the founders of the Mediterranean limited means but a dynamic ex- the city, thus leading to a signii- an important part of the so- Information Ofice for Environment, Culture change of experiences, poor city cant decrease in the suffocating lution. “It helps the cities and and Sustainable Development, headquar- dwellers would be able to earn an air pollution – which is notorious their dwellers to become less tered in Athens. (additional) income from growing in big Middle Eastern cities such dependent on industrial food vegetables and fruit. as Cairo – that is a direct result of production elsewhere. And it Like all Egyptians, Adly has a special bond Idealistic trainers from NGOs the trafic congestion. This will be makes them more resilient. with the Nile. He lived for years on the is- will discover that it doesn’t make further curbed by the purifying ac- This is important, also with land of Manial, located in the Nile where much sense to try to convince to- tion of all those new green spaces. regarding climate change. he set up many environmental and commu- day’s youth of the environmental Urban agriculture also has a cool- Let’s get to work fast, then, nal projects. In 2001, this led to yet another beneits of urban agriculture, even ing effect during the hot summer so our dream can become new organisation, the Nile Basin Discourse though there are many. days while, during the cold winter reality.” Forum, which he has since chaired. Adly months, the is also a member of various national and regional water organisations, and he is the national coordinator of the GEF/UNDP Small Grants Programme and the Local Initiative Facility for Urban Environment. Since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, he has been involved in the international discus- sions surrounding sustainable develop- ment.

Emad Adly has written several books about the environment and sustainable develop- ment in Egypt and the Middle East, and he is the editor in chief of Montada Al Biaa (Environment Forum Newsletter) and the 30 Sustainable Mediterranean Newsletter31. Moema Miranda Ibase, Brazil a piece of land that is big enough to live off of for every peasant household and every landless peasant, which would lead to an end of the concentration of land in the hands of a small minority. that is the dream of moema miranda, the Director of the brazilian Institute of Social and Economic analyses (Ibase), a research institute in Rio de Janeiro. a redistribution of the land leads to increased food production for the domestic market. this will make life in the countryside more attractive, which will lead to more people deciding to stay there. “If we solve the problem of skewed land ownership, the whole country will benefit.”

32 33 photo Mukhrino FS' [http://www.ugrasu.ru/international/unesco/] Experiencing the Sanctity of Life -> Brazil

“In fact my dream is more like a exclusively to large-scale agribusi- way in which Western economies programme”, Miranda apologises. nesses. This means that govern- shape their economies is in direct “I want land reform. That is the ment technicians and agronomists conlict with this right to self-deter- solution to several key issues in should assist these small farm- mination by robbing peasant com- Brazil: the concentration of land ers in helping satisfy their wishes. munities of their vital skills and in the hands of a small minority, Small farmers don’t want to or can- knowledge. Farmers thus become the need to reinforce food produc- not, for example, use genetically dependent and grow ever poorer. tion for the domestic market, and manipulated seed because that the fragile food sovereignty situa- would make them fully dependent Spiritual Connection tion.” Miranda says that the latter on a handful of large companies. Miranda: “For me, conviviality refers to the farmers’ right to work They don’t have the money to be means that there is an autono- the land in a sustainable manner constantly applying pesticides. mous and creative interaction and that the farmers themselves And since they have little money, amongst people, and a responsible should decide how they wish to they are less credit-worthy to the interaction with their surround- do this. “Land reform must respect banks. They don’t have much use ings. It is also a critique of the be- regional and cultural differences. for large agricultural machinery.” lief in progress, of the idea that we The indigenous people who live Miranda believes that assisting can solve every problem through close to the Amazon River farm these smallholders would require technology and boundless growth.” their land in a way that is different Brazil to modify its present ag- Miranda, who describes herself from those who live in one of the ricultural policies. Policymakers as a devout Christian, discusses hundreds of quilombos in Brazil. currently focus mainly on export- the ideas of Francis of Assisi: “He They have a different culture and ing bulk commodities such as soy- talks about the feeling of being they face unique problems.” The beans, coffee, and citrus fruits. one with the environment, with the quilombos were originally places universe, instead of being superior where escaped slaves secretly set- As a result of land reform meas- to other people. Imagine people tled. They still live there today in ures, we see the emergence of no longer living in constant fear small communities of cooperative stable and peaceful rural commu- and the uncertainty that they may farmers. “They are bound by their nities that produce food for their lose their land, people no longer marginal place in society. They own regions. Moema Miranda fearing that the construction of a lead a hard life.” refers to this in the context of phi- large dam will destroy their farm- losopher-theologian, Ivan Illich’s lands and their entire livelihoods, What could these disadvantaged concept of conviviality. In simple and wondering whether they will communities of small farmers and terms, this means “living together”. be able to feed their children and indigenous people gain from land But Illich adds political meaning send them to school. In this sce- reform? “To begin with, they would to this term. For him it meant self- nario, people may begin gaining a receive technical and inancial determination, which is contrary spiritual connection to the sanctity assistance from the government. to current industrial production of life. If the tensions in Brazilian Today, this assistance goes almost methods. Illich believed that the society were to subside, we would

photo Mukhrino FS' [http://www.ugrasu.ru/international/unesco/] 34 35 Experiencing the Sanctity of Life We must opt for small-scale projects -> Brazil and the notion of local power generation. all live happier lives. Not in the not even enough to make a de- communities without the legal Miranda has her doubts about sense of more, more, more, but in cent living. This is currently the deeds to the land often have to va- Brazil’s economic miracle. She the sense of a good life.” dominant scenario for some 3 cate their land and make way for regrets that the market economy million peasant families. Further various industrial mega-farming has not been thoroughly reformed Farming communities that func- estimates show that there are companies. The threatened com- over the past 10 years of the PT tion well can produce food for some 4.8 million landless peasant munities eventually organise and being in power. And any chances local markets. “Thus, the produc- families in Brazil. This means that some end up taking radical meas- of this occurring remain minimal. tion and transportation lines almost 8 million peasant families ures and resist the corporate land “Brazil is euphoric. Many more grow shorter. Today we observe cannot, or can barely, make ends grab, which often ends to violence. people can consume, which is the strange situation that Brazil, meet. But, for all their efforts, it usually mainly the result of the fantastic for example, has concentrated means the farmers are left holding world market prices that our main its dairy production mainly in the At the other end of the spectrum the short end of the stick. Miranda: export products – mining and ag- South. Milk for the rest of the coun- are the large-scale agribusiness- “This struggle for land is not new; ricultural products – command. try must be transported thousands es that often control over 1,000 it is part of the history of the colo- This is mainly thanks to China. The of kilometres. If you produce milk hectares of farmland where they nisation of our country. If we can President says: ‘There are still poor and other agricultural products on almost always produce cash crops solve the completely skewed land people in Brazil, we have to do a regional level, you could feed the for export such as soybeans, citrus ownership issue, and thus elimi- something about this, we have to metropolises of Rio and São Paulo fruits, coffee, and cocoa. They rep- nate the source of the violence, the grow.’ Criticism is dificult amongst with produce grown in the immedi- resent less than 1 percent of the to- entire country would beneit.” all this euphoria. ‘Our turn has ate area. This would certainly help tal number of farmers but control inally come’, is the predominant lower food prices as a result of the 45 percent of the total farmland. Land reform used to be a high feeling among many people, ‘we much lower transportation costs, This skewed distribution of farm- priority for the Brazilian Labour also want a car, a house, our holi- while farmers would end up earn- land leads to considerable social Party (PT), although it never really days. Stop bothering us with your ing more. If these regions were to tensions. Another factor that leads grabbed the bull by the horns, de- environmental horror stories’.” develop, living there would become to increased conlict in rural areas spite the fact that the president has Miranda is convince that this in- a more attractive option; people is that 20 percent of Brazil lacks been a member of the same party crease in wealth glosses over the would not feel compelled to move any kind of oficial land titles. This for ten years by now. Miranda, a fact that the gap between the rich to the cities and this would take means that anyone can claim this former member of the PT, is dis- and the poor remains profound away part of the burden placed on land, which, in practice, usually appointed. “I will absolutely not and basically unchanged. “We are these urban centres.” means people who do not hesitate minimise the accomplishments of still among the most economically to use violence end up claiming the the past ten years. Thanks to, for ex- unequal countries in the world. Land reform has been a serious land. ample, the bolsa familiar, an allow- Addressing inequality should be at topic for a long time in Brazil. The ance for households that send their the core of everything that the po- concentration of farmland in the Mega-Farms children to school, poverty has been litical sector does.” hands of a very small minority is a In large parts of Brazil, violence is drastically reduced. The indigent source of many conlicts in Brazil. the norm. Farmland is increasing- have become poor, the poor have Almost half of Brazil’s farms are ly being allocated for monocrops joined the middle class. But the rich less than 10 hectares and that is such as soybeans. Small peasant keep getting richer.”

36 37 Decolonisation of the mind

Moema Miranda (1960) grew up in Rio de Janeiro. “My father was an engineer and a communist, my mother a Catholic.” Her Power Generation how things happen here. Our gov- childhood was marked by the military dic- Miranda also dreams of a com- ernment puts its faith mainly in tatorship in Brazil that lasted until 1985. pletely different type of energy. economic growth, based on the “You could be arrested for the smallest “Presently, our energy needs are idea that everyone will then earn things. My father was neither an activist met by mega-projects: huge hy- more. My question is how long nor a militant, but we lived with the con- droelectric power plants such as this model will work. How long stant worry of what might happen next.” Itaipú, Belo Monte, and Tucuruí. will China grow and how long will The negative impact of the neces- it need our agricultural products In my In the mid-seventies, a strong social move- sary dams – with large parcels of and minerals? Petroleum has now ment arose in Brazil with representatives land being looded and expropria- been found off the coast of Brazil. dream, from the church (liberation theology), the tions affecting sometimes tens of What are the risks involved if we concern unions, intellectuals, and grassroots organ- thousands of people – comes at become an oil-revenue-dependent isations, followed by the abertura (open- the expense of Brazil’s neighbours, country? The socialist parties have for the ness), a time during which political refu- because many of these dams are never been overly concerned with environment gees were allowed to return to the country built along Brazil’s borders. The im- nature and the environment. On and political prisoners were released. mediate region around the dams the contrary, they believe that the and nature “An amazing and exciting time. I joined a seldom receives any beneits from full exploitation of production is a small organisation and began to teach at the energy generated that goes necessary phase in the transition is precisely a school in one of the Rio slums while I was to big cities such as Rio and São towards socialism. The environ- the way to going to the university.” Paulo and to large energy-consum- ment and sustainability are there- ing projects such as the mines. We fore put on standby. In my dream, overcome In 1992, Miranda began working for Ibase, have to end this situation. And we concern for the environment and the current the Brazilian Institute of Social and have to get rid of nuclear energy, nature is precisely the way to over- Economic Analyses, which was established which is once again being dis- come the current crisis. In other crisis. by intellectuals who had returned from cussed as an option. We must opt words, it is not something we will exile. Ibase was one of the initiators of for small-scale projects and the no- only do after all the rest has been the World Social Forum (Porto Alegre 2001, tion of local power generation.” ixed.” 2002, 2003 and 2005). “Those forums have been important in the establishment of In Europe, important social issues South-South contacts. Until that time, we such as poverty and unsatisfac- always had more contacts with Europe tory health services for large parts than with other countries in Latin America of the population were addressed and Africa. Our mindset was always only after they started to affect framed by the language and concepts of the wealthier segments of society. Spain and Portugal, the colonisers of our That is how sewers, clean drink- continent. The new South-South contacts ing water, toilets, minimum wages, have contributed to what we call the ‘de- and unemployment beneits came colonisation of the mind’.” in to being. Miranda: “This is not

38 39 photo 350.org

Who’s looking for well-informed and engaged citizens? not many politicians in africa, in any case. So it takes courage to display one’s sense of public Janet Awimbo responsibility. Janet awimbo trains Ecologist, Kenya citizens and organisations in how to be brave. She believes this is absolutely necessary, because Kenyans who express themselves become creative and take better care of their surroundings. Her

collage: Erik (HASH) Hersman; Foreign and Commonwealth Oice; Heinrich Boell Foundation dream is to restore the ancient african palaver, but this time with the participation of women and today’s youth!

40 In a certain sense, I Wanted: Brave People -> Kenya want to recuperate this traditional way of making

Imagine well-informed people, decisions, with However, this form of local govern- control.” Most African politicians who know how to present their people governing ment takes courage, as Awimbo and traditional local chiefs don’t ideas and opinions to others, who notes: “The courage to stop com- like sharing information. Oficials actually listen to each other, who themselves. plaining, to take your life into your at the district and central govern- balance all their interests and vi- own hands, and to actively con- ment levels are unwilling (or barely sions and make decisions together. tribute to the development of your able) to provide information that Nobody wins the-winner-takes- talking as long as necessary until own neighbourhood, community would enable people to make in- all prize, and, meanwhile, every- everyone comes to an agreement. and country.” Awimbo, who lives in formed decisions about their own one is reaching a compromise. The palaver is not hindered by the Kenyan port city of Mombasa, lives. She is not positive about the Authorities who sponsor ‘open agendas and schedules. The palav- supports organisations in Eastern media either: “We have radio, tel- day’ activities explain how they er is a typical African method and Africa that play a role in local evision and newspapers, but jour- govern their jurisdictions. For us relects the African rhythm of life. palaver activities. The “Capacity nalists do not provide us with the for courage” is what she calls it, information necessary to close the The palaver has not disappeared; it is the ability to be brave. “I want to gaps in our knowledge.” The result, still very alive in rural areas, although strengthen that capacity. This re- Awimbo believes, is that many peo- the related notion of self-governance quires people being informed and ple have a distorted world view. has faded into the background. Since feeling responsible for making “They think it is inevitable that the colonial powers began their decisions on how they want to live some people dominate others. Or domination of Africa, the traditional and where.” Awimbo is convinced that change is simply impossible.” chiefs – as the major consultants – that people want this and, “be- came under government control long cause they don’t lend themselves ago. Awimbo considers the palaver to pre-programming,” the results to be an expression of self-govern- are impossible to predict. in the West, this all doesn’t sound ance. “In a certain sense, I want to so incredible – even though many recuperate this traditional way of “We are not as brave as we should things still go wrong here as well – making decisions, with people gov- be,” Awimbo observes. When she but in many parts of the world, this erning themselves. It’s a system that says ‘we’, she means: ‘we, Africans’. is only a very distant ideal. is quite understandable. The elders Too many people prefer hiding determined when the seeds were to behind others because then they When she was dreaming her be planted, and when it was time to don’t have to take action them- dreams of a transparent and dem- harvest the crops, how the harvest selves. “If you speak with them, ocratic society, Awimbo deliber- was to be divided, and what part they say: ‘we don’t know because ately referred back to the ancient of the harvest was for the poor. But no one tells us’.” She also blames African consultation model of the the world has changed. I also want those in power, who are interested palaver, which is a kind of meeting women and young people to be given in keeping others poorly informed. that often takes place outdoors, a place.” She laughs: “We no longer This turns the search for truth into in the shade of a tall tree like the want a group of old men making all an almost impossible task. “It has baobab, where people keep on the decisions.” everything to do with power and

42 43 Wanted: Brave People We no longer -> Kenya want a group of old men taking the decisions. Acting Based on the Truth wishes of the people. They have no As a result, the problems of our idea how they can exercise their time will continue to fester. inluence. We must take responsi- “Everyone knows by now that bility for our own lives. But for the natural recourses are rare. But few igure out if it works. Whether it is record: the breeding grounds are people are willing to seek out alter- same of our brothers and sisters, a good or a bad idea and without not there to replace politics, they natives. They’re afraid that they’ll children, neighbours, friends, and automatically having to join a po- are there to inluence the decision- have to change their lives. This colleagues.” litical party. People have to feel making processes.” also applies to climate change. that, through negotiation and com- People deny that it exists because Awimbo’s ideal is to have “open promise, they can achieve maybe Enhanced governance is not the they’re afraid of the consequences days” during which authorities 70 instead of 100 percent of their ultimate goal; Awimbo wants to of recognising this phenomenon. from all levels of government ex- wishes, but that, in this way, the improve governance over all of the So we need people who are able plain what they do, the decisions other parties will also be satisied.” nation’s natural resources. “It’s our to accept, and act from, the truth. they make and their performances, water, our air, our country – what That is what I mean with ‘capacity and also discuss this with their em- Why not leave this task to the poli- we designate as cropland, what for courage’. They – and in fact this ployers. Awimbo believes this does ticians? Isn’t that why they were land we need to build houses and goes for all of us –must learn to not necessarily entail, for example, elected? Awimbo: “Many people businesses, how extensive agricul- face the truth and act accordingly.” the number of public toilets built, don’t understand that the govern- tural production should be. Those but should focus mainly on inform- ment is there to implement the kinds of decisions.” When people have access to bet- ing the citizenry. “In other words: ter information and are better What have the authorities, from Awimbo’s ideas stem from her pro- able to understand how they are a ministry or a municipal govern- fession as an ecologist; she studies being governed, they can respond ment ofice, done to increase the the relationship between plants, creatively, suggesting their own ‘governance literacy’ of its citi- animals and humans in an effort to ideas instead of simply waiting. zens?” create ecological harmony. This is “And we should have the courage quite tricky because each of the el- and determination to demand the Breeding Grounds ements gets in the way of the oth- Citizens also need to get to work. ers. The solution is a compromise Awimbo encourages them to ex- in which everyone gives in a little. press their ideas about how soci- “I am particularly interested in ety should be governed, and to test how ecology affects people’s lives.” those ideas against the opinions of others. She calls it a breeding Awimbo works together with lo- ground: where people have the cal community organisations to necessary space to safely discuss carefully examine how to preserve their ideas. “If you have an idea special natural habitats, without about your town or your neigh- it having an adverse effect on the bourhood, you need to be able to people who depend on these areas

44 45 Experiencing the beauty of a forest while having dinner

Janet Awimbo (1964) has been At the present, protecting nature and involving anyone can voice people in this effort for over twen- ited from ty years. She focuses on educat- chopping down his or her opinion. ing and training people (capacity trees to create building), so that they can better areas for their bee- So change is employ their talents and skills hives. Maybe others possible. to take their lives into their own can do this, but by hands. She also teaches (local) rigorously protecting governments how to negotiate the forest from everyone, give the local people the power with each other and how to reach you also prevent the peo- to manage and protect their own compromises. She also works on ple who have a vested inter- mangrove forests. They can also social and environmental jus- for their livelihood. In other words, est in actually protecting it from analyse whether protection of the tice, including through the Global with and by these people. “In having access to it.” natural habitat is possible without Greengrants Fund, which she co- Africa, nature preserves are often adversely affecting local ishing. ordinates in Eastern Africa. This precisely where people live. The ‘Nairobi Used to Decide “This is what we are negotiating fund provides small grants to lo- worst thing that can happen – and Everything’ now. Twenty years ago, this would cal groups. “For example, we have which often indeed does happen! Top-down decision-making is the have been impossible in Kenya. given money to a group of people – is that decisions concerning the normal practice in much of Africa. But after much pressure from the who are protecting a mangrove protection of ecologically impor- But Awimbo has observed some people, it now works. Those in forest near the coast. They started tant sites are made at the na- changes. Kenya’s government is power have always considered a restaurant with this money. That tional government level, and thus located in Nairobi, the capital, but the Kenyan people as a source of attracts people who can experi- excludes the people most affected it is in the process of transferring cheap labour, but never as a part ence the value and beauty of the by the decisions. The question thus more and more power to the prov- of the decision-making process. forest.” becomes: for whose beneit are inces. “Nairobi used to decide eve- That is changing now. That gives Awimbo has previously worked you protecting these areas? The rything. Even the notion of ‘local’ me much hope.” for organisations such as the interests of nature obviously do used to be deined at the central Kenya Forestry Research Institute not always coincide with those of government level. That does not What also makes her hopeful is (KEFRI), the World Agroforestry the people. So a balance between work in a large and diverse country how the mass media in her country Centre (ICRAF), the Impact Alliance, the two must be found and com- like Kenya. You cannot govern a are changing. “Fifty years ago, the Pact Kenya and the NGO Resource promises must be made. A forest big city in the same way you do an media were totally controlled by Centre (Zanzibar). She is now a where a community harvests hon- agrarian community. One perfect the government and wealthy busi- senior consultant with Casework ey is essential for the people who solution for all of the different re- nessmen. Now anyone can voice Equatorial, helping individuals and live there: it is their traditional gions is not feasible.” his or her opinion. So change is organisations in coastal Kenya be- way of life. They sell their honey in possible.” come agents of positive change. neighbouring communities. If the The Kenyan government has es- forest becomes a totally protected tablished numerous Community preserve, the local residents can Forests Associations together with no longer use it to cultivate their the local communities in Kenya’s honey and they would be prohib- swampy coastal region. They

46 47 photo Sam Heppard

People are happiest when they feel connected to nature, claims Chee yoke ling. China has become increasingly aware that human well-being has been disturbed by enormous economic growth. yoke ling, has been on the international barricades for twenty years promoting sustainable development, which include her dreams of clean skies over beijing and of revitalised rural communities. “Don’t think it’s just some distant ideal. China has exploited nature over many decades, often neglecting the environment, but it is still able to engage in revolutions: nowhere else can things change so drastically in so little time once the will is there.”

Chee Yoke Ling Third World Network, China

48 49 The Miracle of Blue Skies -> China

Chee Yoke Ling, points out that exists, it could become part of a the countryside is becoming less under increased pressure, not only people who, like her, live in a city new, more sustainable China. “I sparsely populated. The elderly in the peasant villages but also like Beijing, with its twenty million hope that bicycles will once again have stayed behind and often take in the metropolises. Meanwhile, inhabitants, have a lot to complain dominate the streets of Beijing, care of the grandchildren while the the sprawling cities and factories about: the blanket of smog that combined with an eficient and parents work in the cities. This has take up increasingly more valuable is always hanging over the city, sustainable public transport sys- to change, Yoke Ling insists. With farmland. fuelled by trafic emissions. The bi- tem, with buses and metros that well-targeted policies it must be “Restoring the balance between cyclists who once illed the streets operate on green electricity. And, possible to breathe new life into what is urban and non-urban”, of Chinese cities have had to make of course, I long for the great mira- rural communities so that future says Yoke Ling, “is essential for the way for the massive streams of cle of inally seeing clear, blue skies generations can once again grow future well-being of the Chinese.” cars purchased by the growing again, day after day.” up being raised by both parents This means that the sharp distinc- middle class. Meanwhile, old neigh- and that the youth no longer has tions between the city and the bourhoods fall prey to relentless to lee the countryside to ind a job countryside need to be minimised. demolition and bulldozers, making I hope that in the city. The two should be complementary place for even more of the same and not in an adversarial relation- apartment and ofice buildings. bicycles will once Contrast ship. There is a need for smaller Yoke Ling was born in Malaysia again dominate Nowhere in the world is the con- cities and a revitalised country- and is not the complaining type. trast between city and countryside side. “Today, every small peas- She prefers to look at what re- the streets of greater than in China. The coun- ant dreams of sending his or her mains and what may come. “The try has made an enormous effort children to the city to study. But if city still has authentic neighbour- Beijing to produce suficient amounts of there were suficient facilities and hoods and communities. In three food to feed the rapidly growing local services, this would no longer minutes’ time, you can walk from Yoke Ling’s dream does not stop population. The famines of the be necessary. I hope I’ll have a a six-lane highway to the old city, at Beijing’s gates. The human di- past have been practically forgot- chance to see a migration reversal with its small streets and houses mension, she observes, demands ten. But while agrarian production out of the cities with people return- arranged around a courtyard. much more attention in China. The has expanded immensely, rural ing to the countryside and once There, it is quiet and you can still restless migration of millions of incomes have remained far below again getting in touch with nature hear the birds.” Chinese in search of employment those of the urban Chinese. Large and the land.” Not all is lost, is what she means. and higher wages has caused an parts of the country remain impov- Rural impoverishment is part- And because ancient China still explosion of urban sprawl, while erished. Social cohesion has come ly due to the deicient agrarian

photo Remko Tanis 50 51 The Miracle of Blue Skies Restoring the balance between what -> China is urban and non-urban is essential for the future well-being of the Chinese. photo http://ersatzkafee.blogspot.com/ knowledge of the average Chinese Ling believes that some of the key life. Millions of people have lost the public, to say: ‘We’re going to farmer and the tiny plots of land elements of the new approach are the feeling of belonging some- do this differently’.” millions of farmers rely on to feed respect for nature, a revaluation of where. This has to change.” She their families. There is a lack of traditional knowledge, the use of denies that behind many alterna- In the countryside, social protests modern agricultural educational local materials, appropriate mod- tives there’s a desire to return to against pollution and impoverish- opportunities. Meanwhile, the ern technology and people-centred the good old times, when life was ment are not unusual, and these larger producers have become ad- management. “Many solutions are still clear and simple. “It is pre- signs can no longer be ignored. dicted to intensive agricultural already available. We know what cisely about the combination, the The Chinese government has an- practices, which increase water ecologically intelligent agriculture clever use of what is old and what nounced various measures to im- and soil contamination. As usual, on the community level looks like, is new.” prove the living standard in rural the planners have turned to a tech- what a sensible diet looks like, areas. Modernising agriculture is nological approach, which means how we can increase the farmers’ Constraining the a core element of these plans and giving an important role to geneti- productivity without polluting the Metropolises the provision of social services in cally modiied crops. ground and the water supply. The The oficial development model is rural areas are priorities on the Yoke Ling has, both at home and important thing now is to convert increasingly a subject of discus- agenda. A positive development, abroad, always actively resisted this into policies. The knowledge sion in China, says Yoke Ling. For says Yoke Ling: “The current 5-year unbridled technological interven- is there. What we need to do is ap- a long time, the starting point has development plan signals a con- tions such as genetic manipula- ply it.” been that people should better scious attempt to seek a better tion, which she believes seriously Yoke Ling sees parallels with move to the city where, simply put, balance among the environment, threatens China’s biological safety. movements in other parts of the one inds the best services but this social and economic dimensions.” She believes that Chinese plan- world, from the Occupy movement idea has come under increased Changes often occur rapidly in ners should be seeking a new, more in the West that started in New criticism. Increasingly, there are China; take, for example, the ex- ecological strategy. The irst signs York to the revaluation of indig- arguments for decentralisation, for plosive rise of organic agriculture. of change are already visible. “I enous knowledge and ways of life rural development and for limit- Until some years ago, there was no work with Chinese partners who in Latin America. “People eventu- ing the sprawl of the metropolises. demand for organic food products regularly visit the countryside ally get tired of a lifestyle that Yoke Ling: “Urban trafic and pollu- at all. But after a number of large- and the indigenous communities, merely focuses on more consump- tion make life increasingly miser- scale food scandals, things began where there are the early signs of tion. Things are brewing. People able in many cities. People live in to change. The urban nouveau a revitalisation of local life. There are thinking actively about ‘urban apartments that are just too small. riche began demanding more reli- is more hope that the young will reorienting’. And the core element On weekends and holi- eventually return, armed with the that traverses all these initiatives days everyone lees the knowledge they acquired in the is that people have to regain con- city, which in turn leads city, which they can combine with trol of their own surroundings. to huge trafic lows. traditional knowledge. They can Because this makes them happier: This is not the kind of life thus beneit from the combina- spending more time in their com- we want to lead. That is tion of the best of both worlds and munity, participating in a joint why we need people who continue to stay in touch with the venture such as a city garden, and have the political cour- land.” feeling part of social and cultural age, with support from

52 53 People eventually get tired of a Twenty years manning lifestyle that merely focuses on more the barricades consumption. Malaysia’s Chee Yoke Ling (1959) is an in- ternational heavyweight, one of the vet- erans in the long and ongoing debate on able foods, followed by the increas- United Nations, NGOs and cam- sustainable development. She was closely ingly aware young people. Yoke paigns, and by relying on our own involved in the preparations for the 1992 Ling: “People are increasingly will- strengths – we could change the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and, as an ing to pay slightly more for sustain- world, make it more sustainable.” NGO representative from the Third World ably produced food. And this goes But the next twenty years saw and an oficial member of the Malaysian hand in hand with the revaluation that ideal pretty much disappear. delegation, she played an important role of farming.” Meanwhile, China Instead of cooperating, proit- in the conference. Today, twenty years has climbed among the world’s driven competition increased. But later, she is still a prominent igure in the top countries in area of farmland with a view to the Rio+20 confer- debate, for example at the UN Commission devoted to organic farming. At the ence, Yoke Ling once again sees on Sustainable Development and the same time, however, China uses some hopeful developments. “I still Convention on Biological Diversity. She is a more fertilisers and pesticides dream of social equality, justice, popular guest at international conferenc- than any other country. A similar and living in harmony with nature, es, where she speaks as easily about the contradiction can be observed in and of a lifestyle that its this vi- dangers of genetic manipulation as about the energy sector: China is not only sion. To see that more and more international trade or how climate change the world’s largest coal consumer, young people are struggling for affects developing countries. but for some years now it has also sustainability and for a different Yoke Ling studied international law at been the main investor in wind and way of life is an enormous source the universities of Malaya (Malaysia) and solar energy. China is full of these of inspiration to me.” Cambridge (UK). She is the director of pro- kinds of contradictions, observes grammes of the Third World Network, an Yoke Ling. But she, being the eter- international network that advocates for nal optimist, believes the glass is the rights of people in developing coun- half full with rapid changes exem- tries and for a fair distribution of public plifying the tremendous dynamic goods such as clean air and water, and also quality of contemporary Chinese encourages a type of development that is society. ecologically sustainable and satisies hu- Yoke Ling has been concerned with man needs. living in harmony with nature ever since her student days. “As stu- dents in a developing country – in my case Malaysia – at the time we were very interested in the debate surrounding the Club of Rome’s limits to growth. We wanted to learn from the West and avoid the mistakes made there.” It was a time of optimism, she recalls. “We believed that – with the aid of the

photo http://www.ivanwalsh.com/ 54 55 The Good Life

Europe should get prepared for the worst, as far as Eduardo gudynas is concerned. From now on, we’ll have to manage without latin american minerals and agricultural products . this leading social ecologist from montevideo wants to selectively disconnect the continent from the global economy as a way of first sorting things out internally in latin america. However, life in the near future will be much soberer than it currently is. “luxury will be very, very expensive.”

Eduardo Gudynas Centro Latino Americano de Ecologia Social, Uruguay The Good Life In my ideal, of course luxury -> Uruguay is still possible, but it will be very, very, very expensive.

Digital watches, with their ex- To lead the good protagonist should departure from conventional capi- tremely environmentally unfriend- life is at the core be the quality of talist economic ideas. Ever since ly batteries, will no longer be af- of Gudynas’s ideal life, and not in- Latin America was ‘discovered’ by fordable because of the heavy tax vision of society. creasing the gross the Europeans, it has been a con- levied on cadmium, mercury, and In Spanish: el buen domestic product.” stant provider of important raw lead. This should be no problem be- vivir. But his in- He laughs: “The materials for Western economies. cause we can simply start wearing terpretation of a concept of buen Despite all the leftist rhetoric, it manual-winding or self-winding good life is very vivir includes good has not changed much in recent watches again. Like digital watch- different from the computers and times. While agricultural products es, many other consumer items typical land of milk other technology. and meat have long been the chief of the global middle class such as and honey. Buen To put it simply: in exports, in recent decades this has a second car, air conditioning in vivir is the Spanish my dream, we don’t been complemented with petro- every room, bigger and latter TV translation of stop building bridg- leum, gas, coal, other minerals and screens – are unfeasible from an some indigenous visions, such as es and we don’t reject Western agrifoods. Not only Europe and the environmental perspective. That the Kichwa sumak kawsay. This physics and mathematics to build United States, but also newcom- is why we have to drastically miti- concept is diametrically opposed them. But the size and the materi- ers like China and other emerging gate these consumer desires. The to the Western image of man and als used to build those bridges will economies, have become eager alternative to our current waste- nature, in which the well-being be different. And they will bridge buyers of Latin American products. ful lifestyle is a sober but good life. and prosperity of the individual rivers and ravines in other places, The new part of the equation is the That is Eduardo Gudynas’s vision. come irst. Gudynas: “The underly- i.e., where they can contribute to important role that the state plays To be sure, he looked up the term ing principle of buen vivir is that local and regional transportation in mineral exploitation and the dis- austero (austere) in the dictionary. well-being can only occur in a com- needs, and not where they con- tribution of the revenues amongst Indeed: sober, plain. “In my ideal munity, which is social but also tribute to meet the needs of the a greater part of the general popu- society, of course, luxury would encompasses nature. After all, man global markets.” So, technology lation. But the basic idea – that of still be an option, but a very, very, is part of and not contrary to na- is still very necessary, “but future Latin America as a cheap raw ma- very expensive option. This is be- ture. Buen vivir thus goes beyond consumer products will last much terial provider – has remained un- cause the prices of things will be Western dualism where nature op- longer than they do today, for dec- changed and nothing is being done an honest relection of their social poses society, and the individual ades, even. There will also be more about the negative environmental and environmental costs.” Thus, opposes the community.” options to repair them. This will impact or Latin America’s depend- increased taxes and economic re- create jobs and generate much less ence on foreign demand. forms will render mineral extrac- Gudynas warns that leading a waste.” tion much more expensive. “The good life should not be considered Gudynas offers a couple of exam- royalties that the mining sector a “return to the past” of pre coloni- A left-wing breeze has been blow- ples to substantiate his harsh as- pays will increase substantially. al times when the great indigenous ing for quite some time now over sessments: “Bolivia is increasingly One ton of iron will be much more cultures of South America reigned. the Latin American continent, exporting food crops, while a large expensive. And thus a great many “I do not advocate a return to the which sometimes blows like a hur- part of its population lives in pov- consumer items as well.” societies of hunters and gatherers ricane. But, alas, this has for the erty and is starving. In Colombia, in the forest. The point is that the most part not caused any radical agriculture is dominated by the

58 59 The Good Life -> Uruguay

The point is that the protagonist should be the quality of life, lower sector. The lowers are a term that can- and not increasing the gross mainly exported to the United not be translated States. The country itself has to properly.” And we domestic product. import an increasing proportion of should deinitely its food. We really need to put an not consider this end to this in a radical way.” More concept as a fully with a laugh. “We Instead of export-driven econo- recently, open-pit mining has been developed idea will disconnect our mies, Gudynas foresees Latin booming because of the global either. continent from the American economies that will be scarcity of certain metals and min- global economy in more regionally focused. “Trade erals. The resulting environmental Gudynas under- order to determine between South American countries damage is signiicant, Gudynas scores that buen our own econom- will increase. Instead of buying a points out: “Even Uruguay, an vivir has noth- ic strategy. The table and chairs from China, we’d agricultural country, isn’t able to ing to do with the quantity of raw be much better doing this our- escape the large-scale mining op- Western debate about zero growth materials that we will eventually selves on a regional level!” erations.” or negative growth. “Zero growth be exporting will only be about or negative growth might be a con- 10 percent of current levels. Only In Gudynas’s vision, self-reliance Gudynas believes that the mis- sequence of this approach, but not what is left over will be exported.” will replace globalisation as the take that all leftist South American a pre-condition or assumption. The An additional effect of this strat- new perspective. The countries governments make is that they be- over-consumption by some groups, egy would be that many social and continents will basically have lieve that development is the same for example, the very rich, has to and ecological problems would to fend for themselves. And this as economic growth. That is why decrease. In that sense, there will automatically subside once the will have far-reaching effects, “al- Latin American countries continue indeed be less growth. But, on the continent turns to a policy that in- though it’s not the same thing as to export enormous quantities of other hand, some sectors do need volves using its natural resources isolation,” Gudynas points out. “We raw materials. Gudynas also con- to continue to show growth, for ex- for itself. This, of course, means can export our surplus food and siders it “naive to think that pov- ample, education and sanitation. that the total amount of raw mate- other goods, provided production erty can be reduced by exporting The end result of this approach rials that Latin America needs will meets social and environmental more raw materials. We need an may be growth or no growth.” be much lower than what it is cur- standards. And I see no constraints autonomous development strat- rently exporting. Moreover, studies at all regarding the provision of egy that comes from within.” Buen vivir will also have important will be conducted to measure the services.” He suddenly takes on a consequences for other economies, social and environmental impacts reassuring tone: “And, of course, Mutual Trade Gudynas predicts, because the un- prior to issuance of contracts for we’ll always be exchanging books The strategy of buen vivir is a con- bridled exportation of raw materi- any large-scale projects or mining and music with the other conti- cept that has been incorporated als to Europe and North America, operations. Gudynas predicts that nents.” into the new constitutions of both or China and India, will eventu- this will signiicantly reduce explo- Ecuador and Bolivia, and is being ally have to come to an end. “They ration and exploitation. widely discussed throughout South will no longer receive our coal and America. It literally means ‘leading gas. So, you better be prepared for a good life’, although “in fact, it’s winters without your fuel,” he says

60 61 Only what is left over will be An expert in sustainable exported. development strategies Eduardo Gudynas was born in 1960 in Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo. He graduated as a social ecolo- Agriculture is the Basis necessary, regions of the president. gist and wrote his thesis on the In Gudynas’s dream, agriculture will turn to region- Instead, we need environmental movement in Latin forms the basis of the economy, al forms of govern- to seek a true bal- America. Today, he is the Director so that food sovereignty becomes ance “which will ance between the of the Centro Latino Americano reality for an entire continent. not be based on na- various political de Ecología Social (CLAES) in “When this process has been fully tional boundaries powers. We need Montevideo. His ield of expertise is implemented, it will mean no more but on the region’s to increase citi- sustainable development strategies malnutrition. And since agriculture needs. The Lake zen participation, for Latin America, with an emphasis is good for employment, everyone Titicaca region, for particularly where on protecting nature, the situation will have a job and poverty will example, is cur- larger projects are of agriculture, regional integration, be reduced to 0 percent.” Organic rently governed concerned. The bal- and globalisation. farming will be practiced on half by both Peru and ance of power will of the farmland, with the actual Bolivia. A regional eventually shift Gudynas has participated in the distribution of production depend- government would perform this from the urban areas to the prov- publication of various editions ing on the ecological capacities of task much better, because it would inces and rural regions.” of the Global Environmental each region. The starting point is consider the needs of the entire Outlook of the UN Environmental that each region should become as lake basin area.” There isn’t much time to lose, ac- Programme (UNEP). He has been a self suficient as possible. Which cording to Gudynas, because if member of the UN climate panel is, of course, not entirely possible, Gudynas is convinced that large something signiicant isn’t done IPCC since 2010. He has written Gudynas admits. “Uruguay is bet- metropolises such as São Paulo soon, the damage to mankind and a dozen or so books, which have ter at producing organic meat than and Buenos Aires have exceeded nature by the current lifestyle may been mainly distributed in Spanish- potatoes, which we can only grow their human dimension. “They are be irreversible “I hope that the speaking countries. He is also the here if we use a lot of pesticides. losing inhabitants to medium-sized petroleum will run out soon, or at author of numerous scientiic pub- You have to increase production cities that are more spread across least reach its production peak lications. Gudynas quite regularly in the best areas with the best the continent. Today, almost all because then we still have enough shares his opinions in various Latin conditions. Which is quite a dif- of Latin America largest cities are time to repair the damage done by American media outlets. ferent concept from the notion of located along the coast. A strat- our current lifestyle. If it ends up food sovereignty because this is egy of reorganisation would en- being a long-term process, I will be- not something that will be decided sure better distribution between come increasingly pessimistic.” by individual countries in Latin urban areas and the countryside.” America, but by the ecological ca- He quickly adds that one should pacity of its many regions.” not enforce migrations out of the urban areas. On the contrary, the And that brings him straight to entire continent needs to become the issue of governance, which, much more democratic. “We have he insists, must also change. Latin to seek alternatives to presiden- American countries will maintain tial democracies, which concen- their sovereignty. But, whenever trate executive powers in the ofice

62 63 “Your Own Tomatoes Really Are Sweeter”

Zenaida Delica Willison UNDP, Thailand

photo http://jefwerner.ca/

a healthy countryside leads to healthy cities. to arrest or at least slow down the seemingly unstoppable migration to the mega-cities requires increased investments in education, health care and transportation in rural areas, says Zenaida Delica Willison. “In the countryside, we can live a long and happy life.” Once she retires, she will move to the countryside together with her husband as ‘living proof’ to manage a demonstration farm and lifestyle centre near the

64 mega-city of manila, in the Philippines. “Your Own Tomatoes Really are Sweeter” -> Thailand

“My father was 103 years old tre for the promotion of a healthy use scooters or motorbikes.” The when he died a year ago. In lifestyle, including vegetarian- W stands for Water, which under- the countryside, he ate his ism, called the Talumpok Lifestyle scores the importance of “drink- own healthy fruit and vegeta- Center. The ground loor is used ing a lot of pure alkaline water to bles, and he drank alkaline for lectures, workshops and for help neutralise the acid levels in water from a stream. I know, enjoying meals. The second loor our bodies. At least eight glasses a it’s an ideal situation that includes the bedrooms. There is day.” The S, for Sunshine: a source deinitely doesn’t exist eve- also a church. “In 1986, my life of vitamin D. The T stands for Trust rywhere, but I want his life to changed radically when I joined in God, which Willison says is at serve as a testimony that living the Seventh-day Adventist Church. the core of a righteous lifestyle. R in an unpolluted environment It is the best thing that ever hap- stands for Rest: we need at least with basic but suficient facili- pened to me.” eight hours of sleep every day, ties offers a certain guarantee The idea is that this project will Delica Willison claims, plus a full that one will live a long and serve as an inspiration for others day’s rest every week. The last T happy life.” to get involved. Delica Willison and stands for Temperance. “Do not But one must match words to her husband want to show city use anything that is bad for your deeds and Zenaida (Zen) Delica dwellers that life outside the city body, such as alcohol, tobacco or Willison is exactly this kind of also has its signiicant advantages drugs, and don’t exaggerate the person. She will be retiring this and charms. “The way you lead good things either.” year from the United Nations your life can serve as an example The farm is not yet fully operational. Development Programme (UNDP). to others. There are never any ab- “We are busy planting trees. Fruit trees She hopes to establish her own solute guarantees that what you such as mango, coconut, banana, avo- demonstration farm that will fea- do will have an impact. But, in your cado, papaya, and tamarind. But also life, you have to do what you can mahogany and nara. And there are The way you lead within the realm of possibilities.” also vegetable gardens.” A lot of peo- The lifestyle they are promot- ple have come to look, especially city your life is an ing is patterned after NEWSTART: dwellers from Manila and Batangas. The N stands for Nutrition. Delica “They enjoy coming here, to get away example to others. Willison: “You have to eat the right from the polluted city and become foods in the correct quantities and reinvigorated by the country life. After ture organic agriculture together at the right time. We will teach they establish themselves here they with her husband, who also works people how to cook well and with will begin to offer seminars, lectures or for the UNDP. They already own 5 good ingredients.” The E stands visitors can enjoy Zenaida’s brother’s hectares of land in Batangas City, for Exercise. “We need to be active: bonsai garden or his koi carp pond. about 100 kilometres outside of move, walk, ride a bicycle, climb, People will be able to camp here by Manila. “I am fortunate that my etc. Even in rural areas, people are simply pitching a tent. Guests will not husband and I feel the same way.” no longer used to walking far to go be required to pay, although most visi- There is already a lifestyle cen- to work or school for example: they tors donate some money for cleaning.

photo Sandor Weisz 66 67 “Your Own Tomatoes Really are Sweeter” -> Thailand

After their stay, visitors return to their tive has always focused on the local ter lack of discipline. Not only is urban lifestyles because very few peo- community.” trafic a stinking mess, but it is ple are willing to get their hands dirty. also next to impossible to walk on And farming is not easy, I know from Dreaming Our Own Dreams a sidewalk or get around easily my own experiences. When people are As a young student in the early because of how shops, restaurants still young, they hear that they have seventies, Delica Willison was and workshops sell their goods. to get good grades in school, that they actively involved in opposing Regulations are not enforced. We have to study hard so they can get a then-Filipino President and dic- are so unhealthy because of the nursing job or something equivalent in tator Ferdinand Marcos and his lifestyle that urban living pro- the United States or Europe, and there wife Imelda. Delica Willison was motes. If the countryside were to attain a luxurious lifestyle. That is the eventually arrested in 1974 and For example, because they are be redeveloped, we could encour- mentality of entire generations of received a substantial prison term. completely unprepared. This goes age people to go and live there.” Filipinos: their hope lies in the West. So She was imprisoned together for natural disasters such as ty- why should they learn to plant toma- with her two-year-old daughter. phoons, but also manmade disas- Magnet toes and grow fruit?” Yes, a diploma is She was eventually released after ters. Thus, it is important to design The economic possibilities that important, but not at the expense of a spending 801 days in prison due to prevention, mitigation, prepar- cities offer act like a magnet for holistic lifestyle. international pressure organised edness and emergency response the rural population, for whom the Delica Willison believes that an by Amnesty International. “But we measures. It is my job to point this economic prospects are indeed out to governments, organisa- “very small” and the chances of im- Children have to experience how it is tions and people in general.” She provement virtually nonexistent. has been based in Bangkok since “Because it is becoming more and to taste the fruits of your own labour. 2005, where she works as a UNDP more dificult to be a farmer due advisor in the ield of disaster risk to the land issues, farmers end up integrated approach is necessary have to dream our dreams and be reduction. migrating to the city where they of- to make country living appealing prepared to pay the price to make She admits it was ‘pretty tough’ ten end up joining the growing in- again. “This should begin at school, those dreams come true.” putting her ideals into words, “be- formal sector. They are then faced where youngsters could learn how Delica Willison studied nurs- cause there are so many problems with housing, health and safety is- to plant tomatoes in school gar- ing, sociology, business adminis- in my country that are scream- sues. If something unforeseen hap- dens. They should be taught to ap- tration and public health in the ing to be addressed all at once: pens in their lives, if they suffer a preciate this type of work. Children Philippines and development corruption, unemployment, low setback, this can quickly turn into have to experience how it is to taste practice including humanitarian productivity. But if I had to start a personal catastrophe. Because the fruits of their own labour – they and refugee law in England. She is somewhere, I would start in the they have nothing and nobody to really do taste sweeter!” considered an expert in the ield of countryside. I want to encourage fall back on. In the countryside, The demonstration farm and the life- disasters and disaster risk reduc- farming once again.” at least they could still grow their style centre are seamlessly aligned tion and has built up an impressive This desire obviously comes from own food.” with her great desire: the revitalisa- track record. “Natural hazards turn her dislike of Asia’s mega-cities. It won’t be easy to convince farm- tion of agriculture and the revalua- into a disaster only when vulner- “Practically all of Asia’s cities are ers to remain behind in the rural tion of the countryside. “My perspec- able people are not able to cope. terribly congested. There is an ut- areas, or to encourage former

photo Sheryl Cababa 68 69 Nurse becomes a disaster expert farmers to return to the coun- medicines. But in rural areas, there is Zenaida Delica Willison (1950) was tryside, where there is often the a lot of knowledge about traditional brought up taking care of others. threat of political armed conlict. health practices, herbal medicine In her village, her father was a “Militarisation has a negative and preventive care.” traditional herbalist with infor- impact on local farmers, who are Each region needs to utilise its own mal training who healed people subject to various restrictions. speciic resources and measures. for free using simple means and This is coupled with the increas- A ishing community is differ- medicines using bark, leaves, wa- ing cost of agricultural inputs ent from a peasant village in the ter, and heat. Young Zenaida also such as fertilisers and agricultural mountains. “If you know that a cer- wanted to be a doctor, but her machinery, and the dificulties in tain community is unable to grow parents didn’t think that was a accessing low-interest credit. So, rice or grains, but it excels in mak- good idea. Instead she was encour- any migration back to rural areas ing special handicrafts, then you aged to become a nurse. After two must go hand in hand with various have to support the latter. Each years, she switched to business incentives such as the promotion community produces what best its administration at the Lyceum of of organic farming, setting up and that particular community. Make Batangas, where, like so many of providing good health care serv- sure that these communities can her generation, she got involved ices, and organising the sale of ag- sell their products to each other, so in protests against the dicta- ricultural products. All these things they can take as much advantage torship of President Ferdinand have to occur simultaneously.” as possible of each other’s exper- Marcos. She eventually relocated The city is attractive for many real tise. This requires a proper trans- to Manila. After four years of pro- reasons: there are more economic portation system. I don’t claim testing against the dictatorship, opportunities and children have that this is the only solution, but it she was arrested in 1974 and jailed a better chance of getting a good could be a hopeful step in the right together with her two year old education. “That is true. That is why direction.” daughter. Delica Willison studied it’s not enough to say that people Delica Willison thinks that the city in the Philippines and in England. ‘must’ return to the countryside. will continue to be the centre of cul- She has worked in disaster risk re- Education in rural areas must im- tural and intellectual life. “There will duction her entire working life and prove considerably by, among other always be people going to the cities. If you promote also serves as a consultant for vari- things, paying better wages to the That’s not a development I want to ous organisations. Her daughter teachers so that the good teachers stop. But I do want to see a balanced resilient cities, now works in the same sector as will not abandon rural community approach between urban and rural her mother. schools. Today, the best teachers areas. If you promote resilient cities, you also have to head to the city, where they can earn you should also promote resilient ru- promote resilient more, and the bad ones stay behind. ral areas. The same goes for safety, It’s also equally important to have health care, education, and tourism: rural areas. a good health care system in place. distribute things fairly across the In rural areas, at present, there are country. I’m not advocating lowering no doctors, not even midwives.” This the development of developed are- health care doesn’t even have to be as. But start developing underdevel- expensive. “In the cities, health care oped rural areas. We need to correct is about hospitals and expensive these skewed kinds of development. photo sara / Locket479 70 71 72 73 photo Joe Coyle photo 2012 Both ENDS & Cordaid

Text Hans van de Veen & Han van de Wiel (ImpactReporters) Editing English Bart Plantenga (Uncover) Design & illustrations Joris van den Ende (Baracudah) Printer Booxs.nl Production Nathalie van Haren & Tim Senden (Both ENDS); Eric Fivet, Dicky de Morree & Roos Nijpels (Cordaid) Any correspondence regarding this publication can be sent:

Both ENDS Foundation Cordaid Nieuwe Keizersgracht 45 Postbus 16440 1018 VC Amsterdam 2500 BK Den Haag The Nederlands The Nederlands +31 20 530 6600 +31 70 313 6300 [email protected] [email protected] www.bothends.org www.cordaid.nl

Both ENDS and Cordaid wish to thank CIDSE (international alliance of Catholic development agencies) for its inancial contribution to the translation of this publication.

Special thanks to Emad Adly, Cover photo Farida Akhter, Janet Awimbo, StudioInvisible Zenaida Delica Willison, Eduardo www.studioinvisible.org & the Gudynas, Chee Yoke Ling and Beirut Wonder Forest proposal Moema Miranda. Their openness and creative spirit made this publication possible. photo Joe Coyle photo A collection of seven stories by visionaries from the global South. Both ENDS and Cordaid collected these seven essays to illustrate how visions of a green and fair economy can become a reality. Be inspired!