PERMACULTURE & PEAK OIL: Beyond 'Sustainability'

David Holmgren is co-originator (with Bill Mollison) of the permaculture concept and author of the recent book, PERMACULTURE: Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability. He talks about the need to move beyond the lulling hope that 'green tech' breakthroughs will allow world-wide 'sustainable consumption' to the recognition that dwindling oil supplies inevitably mean a mandatory 'energy descent' for human civilization across the planet. He argues that permaculture principles provide the best guide to a peaceful societal 'powering down." http://www.holmgren.com.au/htm...

Channel: News & Politics
Uploaded: July 19, 2007 at 1:32 am
Author: eon3

Length: 25:27
Rating: 4.88
Views: 24600

Tags: beyond david descent energy green holmgren oil peak permaculture sustainability tech

Video Comments

kendanielone (August 3, 2008 at 3:21 pm)

What percentage of Americans do you think would live in rural areas if we converted to permaculture?

Rawmodel (July 20, 2008 at 4:52 pm)

Wonderful video...it will inspire you to do the same. Check out my project at Rawmodeldotcom...again, great video. Act now while you still can.

maranatha2000 (July 6, 2008 at 7:23 pm)

Gr8 to hear an optimistic view on the issue. All I've been hearing is doom and gloom. Fanx for postin this vid and expanding my perspective:)

WakingMindsDOTorg (June 14, 2008 at 7:19 am)

Basically Trying to Converge The Digital Scene with the Sustainability/Green Scene.Anyone into this sort of thing?check it: WakingMinds . Org

newculture (May 25, 2008 at 4:17 pm)

Nice interview. Good points on sustainability and permaculture.

SerVerdadeiro (May 21, 2008 at 8:10 am)

LUV

Chaffinch4 (April 20, 2008 at 7:21 pm)

Cuba has achieved miracles and after a lot of pain I suspect the US will survive. Not so sure about us Europeans! Can the UK survive on one acre per person? The hard truth is that without cheap energy many countries appear to have population levels that will be impossible to maintain PO.

Chaffinch4 (April 20, 2008 at 7:16 pm)

Europe reached the peak of its sustainability around 1500?! Post PO farming without mechanical aid or artificial fertilizer would be v hard -- especially for a nation where few are farmers or even used to physical labor. Canada has about 3.5 people per sq km compared to Russia (8.5), US (35), Mexico (52), Cuba (101), France (110), China (138), UK (250), Japan (340), Netherlands (478), Bangladesh (1020) and Singapore (1261). I don't have figures for land usable for organic farming.

egsnyder (April 11, 2008 at 3:54 pm)

Great mind opener. It's nice to see an expert calmly discussing the powering down of society which is of course inevitable as we deplete the world supply of petroleum.

tubeuser71 (April 8, 2008 at 12:02 am)

I am just beginning to think about all of this and i am very happy to have heard your ideas and takes on things. You have got me thinking. I will be actively reading, listening and studying ideas and thoughts on solutions. I hope the solution is a co-operative one. I sincerely hope that self-interest at the cost of humanities interest does not get in the way. Thanks for your thoughts. All the best Scott, Jay and Poe.