Despite Capitalism

One might think that capitalist culture was rampaging ever onward in its globalisation path. However, there are signs that those who turn the other way are beginning to wear a path that others can follow.

In the UK we have had the Town and Country Planning Act since 1949, a piece of legislation designed to support industrial agriculture which has effectively rid the land of all but the wealthy. However, things are begining to change in the provinces. In Wales the Lammas community recently won its planning appeal in terms of permitting permaculture to be accepted as an 'agricultural' criterion.

A wedge is now driven into the indutrial agricultural system, at least in Wales which is arguably more forward thinking in its sustainability policies than England. It is also clearly more enlightened as to what counts as agriculture in the future, despite in the excessively corporate driven land management consultants who usually advise planning appeals.

More are studying Lammas' decision carefully in order to begin their own legal permacultural settlements. A vision of things to come: www.lammas.org.uk/ecovillage/planning.htm