I’ve been kicking the idea of sustainable financial investments around in my head for a few months now, and I’m glad that your article was one of the first ones I found for it’s general overview of Permaculture investments and some general suggestions of alternative ways of investing.

I’d really like to hear about some success stories of Perma investments/cooperatives/funds that have succeeded – of specifics that have worked and why they’ve worked. Do you have some of these you can share with me?

Based on my own thoughts, a successful model for a Permaculture financial investment system would involve a number of conscientious, attentive investors, a shrewd, ethical fund manager well versed in economics and traditional investment systems while still innovative and inquisitive enough to find new investment avenues, and strong links between local nonprofit, private, and public entities so the impacts of investment can be maximized in a community.

I’m sending out feelers for the creation of some sort of cooperative ethical investment fund, and I’d be extremely appreciative of any advice you can provide. I don’t have the ability to attend one of your seminars currently.

Finally, I like your “Popsicle Index,” but it may be a bit too abstract for bureaucrats and businessmen, particularly when it relates to quality of life issues that are abstract enough already.
Best,
Joe

I like your site!
Please take some inspiration here:

http://permaculturemedia.blogspot.com/

Documentaries, videos, ebooks, and news related to permaculture, indigenous people, animal rights, (alter)globalization, activism, ecology and health.

VIEW THE VIDEO NOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4AfA2_fNMM

Families for a Clean Tennessee released a video reinforcing a poll conducted by Insider Advantage. The poll uncovered that more than 80% of voters oppose dumping nuclear waste in ordinary commercial landfills.

The poll also uncovered the following:

* 90% believe nuclear waste should be disposed of in long-term isolation facilities.
* More than 75% of likely voters-both Democrats and Republicans– are more likely to support a candidate for Governor that is opposed to nuclear dumping and the BSFR program.
* Nearly 60% are more likely to support a legislative candidate that is opposed to nuclear dumping and the BSFR program.
* More than 50% have stated they would actively work for the election of any candidate from either party that opposes the dumping of nuclear waste in Tennessee landfills.
* More than 50% support Senate Bill 687, and more than 60% are more likely to vote for candidates that support Senate Bill 687.
* 63.5% believe that under no circumstance should nuclear waste be dumped in Tennessee.

A copy of the poll has been sent to every legislator in Tennessee along with a pledge asking them to support ending the practice of Bulk Survey for Release.

VIEW THE VIDEO NOW!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4AfA2_fNMM

For some posts on the negative aspects of the health bill, check out the posts at http://www.solari.com/blog on health care reform, my article in the archive or on the blog called The Data Beast http://solari.com/archive/databeast. I also did a briefing on the Solari Report on September 17th on why I am opposed to the current reform proposals.

Hope that helps,

Catherine

securities investment

I am enthusiastic about the graph system used in The Economics of Happiness. In any discussion of financial permaculture, how we view “economic progress” or “prosperity” is key. The book suggests that each region determines what they consider to be real wealth and value. This would minimally include the natural resources of the region in their pristine condition, so the loss of water, trees, etc, would actually show up as an economic loss, which of course it is – and a severe one. Other benchmarks for economic success would include quality of life issues, to be determined by the local populations. Things like educational opportunities, the arts, lowered crime rates, affordable housing, suddenly become important economic benchmarks, a big change from our current system which psychotically accepts any exchange of any monies as a “valuable” contribution to GDP (such as the cost of cleaning up Exxon Valdez, war, treating cancer and heart disease, etc).

Anyway, those are some thoughts. Looking forward to seeing the curriculum results! I’m so happy to see this being done…