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Marc Van Hummelen 's Profile
Marc Van Hummelen
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Joined:
20/08/2011
Last Updated:
11/10/2011
Location:
Waasmont, Belgium
Climate Zone:
Cool Temperate
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Male
Web site:
www.villavanzelf.wordpress.com





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embracing local politics

Posted by Marc Van Hummelen over 12 years ago

or getting local politicians to embrace change

In order to bring change to a local community there has to exist a movement from the bottom up - many people who realise that there is need for change team up and develop new views and alternative techniques to solve problems. But there also has to exist a parallel movement from the top downward. Politicians need to realise that people want change, and must adjust their policy accordingly. But how, from the point of view of a transition group, do you involve politicians? They seem to speak a completely different language and seem to act on a different (slower) rhythm. I've been trying to get local councillors interested in our allotment gardens-project. In an attempt to present the project in a language that they can understand, I used the vocabulary of Sustainable Develoment, referring to the Earth Summit in Rio of 1992 and the local Agenda 21 resulting from that. In my text I compare the basic principles of sustainable development: the ecological, social and economic capital and the balance between them, and those of permaculture: care for earth, care for the people and care for a fair share. In this way I hope to convince them that by supporting our project, and of course our transition initiative in general, they also take a firm step in the implementation of the local Agenda 21, as they are (more or less) required to do, our national government having ratified the '92 Convention on Climate Change. I haven't had word since I sent my presentation, I don't have high hopes for any kind of cooperation, I can but try and hope...

Comments (2)

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David Braden
David Braden : This is a key issue Marc. In Top Down Analysis and Bottom Up Action, you need the "authority" to first, not interfere and second make community resources available. However, I find the bigger problem with activists that believe that protest is the only path to change. I rather think in terms of engaging individuals in the new systems as the basis for political change.
Posted over 12 years ago

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Marc Van Hummelen
Marc Van Hummelen : I appreciate your comment, David. What protest is concerned: we reap what we sow. If you sow protest, more protest is what you're gonna get. Maybe the very first thing we must learn to understand is that the authorities are not the enemy. Only then can the real dialogue begin.
Posted over 12 years ago

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My Badges
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My Permaculture Qualifications
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Full residential PDC course
Type: Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) course
Teacher: Aranya Austin
Location: Turku, Finland
Date: Aug 2011
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Forestry
Type: Other
Teacher: Koen Pans
Location: Hoeilaart
Date: Aug 2001
Other course unverified
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Type: Other
Teacher: Koen Pans
Location: Brussels
Date: Jun 2004
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Compost mentor
Type: Soil Biology/Compost
Teacher: Gerrit Van Dale, Comité Jean Pain
Location: Brussels
Date: Mar 2001
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Other Teachers: Cat Dolleris
Location: Friland, Denmark
Date: Oct 2014

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