01071 Succession and Invisible Structures
The human race's prospects of survival were considerably better when we were defenseless against tigers than they are today when we have become defenseless against ourselves. — Arnold J. Toynbee
These notes are from an Oklahoma City permaculture design course taught by Scott Pittman of the Permaculture Institute in New Mexico, Fall 2011, during a presentation I gave on invisible structures.
In permaculture design, we apply natural patterns to human cultural issues.
Let’s ask ourselves what happens in nature when something seriously damages an ecological system.
The principle of succession goes to work. The first plants to sprout are not what will grow into the mature trees later in the cycle. They are the pioneer species that move in to the damaged area, reproduce rapidly and grow quickly to cover the soil and begin the process of healing. After the pioneering plants lay the foundation by accumulating nutrients and fixing nitrogen, the second generation plants come in, followed by the third generation and so on as the ecology evolves from one form to another. It may linger for a while in certain forms and persist for very long periods of time in one or more forms.
The lists below developed in a brainstorming session after my presentation on invisible structures (which largely consisted of the previous material in this Invisible Structure section). The particular geography of those contributing to this list was Oklahoma. To repeat this analysis for your area, first you need —
— long and thoughtful observation so that you (1) understand the tribe(s) of your area, (2) invest time, (3) build relationships.
Observations of memetic evidence of an extremely damaged cultural ecology.
These are the memes (ideas) that support the present system.
Use lots of stuff.
Bigger is better.
Borrow lots of money.
Specialize as much as possible.
Experts know more than you or me.
The boss is the most important.
Violence solves problems.
Convenience is a virtue.
Because I say so.
We own the planet.
Faster is better.
Fast and cheap is better.
It’s impudent to think that humans can change the planet.
Climate change is an easy way to implement socialism.
Consume more to promote growth.
You must spend time doing things you don’t like so you can have some time to do things you want to do.
Nature doesn’t matter.
Humans don’t need a relationship with nature.
Humans are the most important organism.
Success = money (lots of it).
Some people don’t count.
Corporations are people.
There is one right way to be in the world.
Productivity, efficiency, profitability rule.
Sustainability is for hippies.
Trickle down solves poverty.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
Don’t worry your pretty little head, the men will take care of things.
You can’t speak against the tribe.
If you are not rich you are lazy.
There are only two ways — if you are not for us, you are against us.
There are 100 years of natural gas.
Pioneering Species
The first generation of change memes to heal the damaged cultural ecology.
There are the memes that can lay the groundwork for change in a beneficial direction.
They develop an ideological resistance to the status quo.
Stewardship
Frugality
Sharing
Cooperation
Conserving
Conservation
Simplify
Kindness
Function is beauty.
Listening is important.
Go local.
Community
Economic renewal
Transparency
Honesty
Authenticity
Historical memory
Understand and value traditional and indigenous cultures.
Personal responsibility and accountability.
In nature, pioneering species would grow prolifically and produce lots of seeds so that a large territory could be colonized quickly. There will be a significant increase in diversity in the plant life of the area. Many of the plants will be nitrogen fixers and nutrient accumulators. They create conditions where further layers of succession can occur.
Second Order Change Agents
These memes move the process along, at an accelerated pace and depth of impact. They support civil disobedience to the status quo by promoting the withdrawal of consent via changes in lifestyle and creation of new communities.
People start doing things that are reflected in these ideas.
Doing is good.
Being the change.
New tribes organically develop.
Multiple tribes (diversity continues to increase).
Less conformity.
What’s easiest is not always best.
Turn from mass media to live forum/personal interrelationships.
Restoration of the commons.
Ethics become important.
Voluntary sacrifice for the greater good.
Peace
Understanding of what has really happened (historical reality).
Crap media grew because we lost ways to express ourselves in artistic ways. Now we develop a new appreciation for, and blooming of, active participation in the arts and cultural activities (more than passive viewing).
Third Order Change Agents
This is the revolution that overturns the old order. With the work done by the first two orders of change agents, the cultural ecology continues to evolve into healthier forms, perhaps at some point leading to a punctuated equilibrium in the forms of —
- Educational Revolution
- Economic Revolution
- Political Revolution
— where a significant amount of change for the better occurs in a short period of time.
If we have done a good job developing our ideological resistance and civil disobedience, the transition will be managed and peaceful instead of becoming chaotic and violent.
Permaculture itself is a new tribe. The purpose of permaculture teachers is to help us find each other.
Additional Reading:
Ecotopia and Ecotopia Emerging, by Ernest Callenbach
Carol Flinders, “Keeper of the Keys” essay, from Laurel’s Kitchen (by Laurel Robertson)
Paul H. Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson, "The Cultural Creatives.” New York: Harmony Books, 2000. ISBN 0-609-60467-8.