diff --git a/content/blog/pay-it-foward.rst b/content/blog/pay-it-foward.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..13b1f6a --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/pay-it-foward.rst @@ -0,0 +1,76 @@ +:title: PAY IT FORWARD +:author: Marco Bonfanti +:date: 11 Aug 2021 +:slug: pay-it-forward +:tags: syntropic, agroforestry + +:summary: Community Inclusion Currencies are an important step in the transition towards the re-appropriation of the value of a bond + + +.. image:: images/blog/pay-it-forward1.webp + +*Community Inclusion Currencies are an important step in the transition towards the re-appropriation of the value of a bond: material, emotional, ecosystemic, voluntary! Looking deeply, at the base of this structural concept lies the spontaneous inclination to sincere gratitude towards a heartfelt exchange, illuminated by participation and awareness in the care of the unconditional Gift.* + +At the heart of the NGO **Grassroots Economics** lies the dream of enabling marginalized communities to take responsibility for their livelihoods and their future. The mission is to support prosperous economies built by thriving communities. + +.. image:: images/blog/pay-it-forward2.webp + +But what is meant by this term, which is soaked more and more by a blanket that is somehow inviolable? + +**Economy** derives from the Latin oeconomĭa, "house management": I take the liberty of interpreting it, under the simplistic but inclusive lens of the good savage I am, as the **ability to sustain** one's own life and that of the group to which one belongs, perhaps even appreciating its creation. But why, instead, in trying to move forward in our lives, do we live in omnipresent anxiety? + +This deep emotion that accompanies us from time to time has its origin in the perception of being born in **a world of scarcity**: it is nourished by the primary and intangible condition of a companion with whom each of us relates on a daily basis: **money**. We find ourselves in a reality in which we depend on money to live - the phrase "the cost of life" testifies - suffering the effects of its lack, because in order for something to become an object of commerce, it must first be made limited. From the immersion in this great illusion we have come to consider scarcity as the nature of reality, building an uncontrollable desire within our minds: **greed**, a reflection of the perception rather than the truth of this insufficiency. + +The modern experience of money is the product of **fear**, the fruit of identification with the self, of being in danger, forgotten and, ultimately, of feeling alone and dying. + +In today's world, it's understandable to think like this: "money is my guarantee, it's what keeps me safe for the future." **It is a vicious circle**. The interest-based debt system creates scarcity; hence the self-protective reaction towards accumulation: the flower of fear, the root of social injustice; in this way, inequality is rampant, promoted by decentralization of costs and hierarchical power. The last link that closes a chain of addiction is our approach: we hypothesize our dreams into money, transforming it **from a means to an end.** + +Money is a system of social agreements, meanings and symbols that develops over time. It is, in a word, a **story**. It is up to each of us to believe in it, imagine a possible transformation and make decisions to act towards the construction of a new one. + +It is not only our attitude towards money that must change, we must create new types of this medium of exchange that embody and reinforce the changed attitudes; they go to the core of **what it means to be human**: our understanding of the purpose of Life, the role of humanity on the planet, the relationship of the individual to the human and natural community; also what it means to be an individual, a self. After all, we experience money (and property) as an extension of ourselves; hence the possessive pronoun "mine" to describe it ... + +It is from this drive to appropriation that we realize how the connections with Nature, culture and community have been torn apart, causing the destruction of our sense of identity: **a visceral separation** between the human being and the natural world that surrounds us. + +Yet Life was given to us, we were born free on this Earth: we need to regain the awareness of walking in a dimension made up of an infinite and **magnificent ocean of Commons.** + +**The new holistic economy** will be an extension of the ecosystem, not a violation of it, restoring lost realms of natural, social, cultural and spiritual capital: an inherent rethinking of what we value. + +It means cultivating the uniqueness of each one: a participatory journey that allows us much more control over our Lives and as much creativity we can handle, manifesting a positive impact on the rest of Nature and on our own community. We will be able to manage ourselves and become productive thanks to **intentions**, freeing the primordial instinct of expression through art, music, listening and Love. + +Thanks to **Community Inclusion Currencies** (CICs) people have a way to exchange goods and services and develop projects and businesses, without relying on a global market that appropriates a slice of each transaction, outsourcing awards, costs and, ultimately, responsibility. + +It is a special currency system, typical of an **evolving local human systems**, part of a transition that uses a money free of usury, and purely individual interest and which pours into the visceral development of the integrity of the group in which it flourishes. + +CICs are an internal means of exchange, conceived and put into practice by the community itself, which is **based on Trust**. Just like "normal" money, believing in its value is the essential prerogative (as indeed any type of token ever used), but instead of relying on a universal capitalist system led by corporations, it is based on and nourishes **locality** in its entirety, keeping its richness within it. A circle that closes, shrinks and expands in an equally recognized way, in which the links between the beneficiaries are intensified and form the foundations for the rediscovery of the **Truth of Interdependence.** + +It is an invitation to come **back to the roots**, thanks to which to remain down to Earth. In doing so, we realize the importance of caring for what we all share, becoming aware of our role on the planet. Our existence does not necessarily have to be destructive; indeed, we have the possibility of putting into practice **the reunion of a permanent, regenerative culture**. + +.. image:: images/blog/pay-it-forward3.webp + +**Syntropic Agroforestry**, included in a **Permaculture** holistic design framework, is one of the best techniques for regenerating soil, protecting ecosystems and producing abundant crops in a sustainable way. Community Inclusion Currencies can be the way both to finance their development and maintenance, and at the same time food forests establish a solid foundation for the intrinsic value of currencies, producing a variety of easily tradable essential goods. + +We learn from Nature, the greatest teacher: we can **merge communities in an ecosystem of Trust**, creating beneficial mutual relationships in which to be protagonists. Through the awareness of belonging to the Commons, we remember to have **responsibility** (= ability to respond) towards it, just like any other species with which we share this existence. + +**"You didn't come into this world, you came out of it. You are not a stranger"** - Alan Watts + +I deeply believe that the greatest evolution that the human being can undertake, now more than ever, is that guided by an **inner spiritual path**. Wondering why this Life has been given to us can break down the barriers we have created within and lead us to the **Peace of our hearts**: the prerogative of a prosperous expansion in concentric circles that comes to include the Other. We flourish in the maturity of making conscious choices, at the service of sustenance of what is common good, giving value to the foundations of a simply shared Life. + +**We are stewards** of the cultivation of an interdependent ecosystem, intrinsically constituted by cooperation, evolution and acceptance of succession... the natural law that dictates the constant alternation of Life and Death, apparently opposite but deeply united poles. We are beautifully unique beings and at the same time no different from the smallest grain of sand. From here we come and here we will return, flower of the **impermanence** of every thing. + +Let us accept ourselves as part of a larger organism, for which our destiny is dictated by the ability to **rediscover the Truth:** ourselves, the Other, Nature… we are One, together! + +*PAMOJA*, we have the potential to restore Unity. + + +`by Marco Bonfanti `_ + + + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/content/blog/syntropy-in-practice.rst b/content/blog/syntropy-in-practice.rst new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f16964b --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/syntropy-in-practice.rst @@ -0,0 +1,51 @@ +:title: Syntropy in Practice +:authors: Shaila Agha and Janet Treezer +:date: 12 Aug 2021 +:slug: syntropy-in-practice +:tags: syntropic, agroforestry + +:summary: It was simple, when they saw first hand what a food forest could do for not only their plates, but their pockets. + +.. image:: images/blog/syntropy-in-practice1.webp + +One knows not what to expect when traveling in Kenya. Our intense traditions and cultures vary as much as our favorite fruits do. + +Rolling hills dotted with pebbles that seem they were laid by God himself filled the horizons as we traversed what seemed like the smoothest asphalt roads this traveler has ever been on. + +The roadside is accompanied by a beautiful heavy canopy of acacia and jacaranda. My heart feels overwhelmed with happiness for all the shades of trees. Why is it then that Kisumu county has only 2.5% forest cover? My answer came to me a few kilometers later when I saw the acres of mono cropped maize ahead of me. Pioneer signs placed proudly on the living fences struck an ever further blow. Monsanto welcome here. + +It is said that the Dholuo enjoy a variety of bitter greens, the western tribes value their diverse mbogas (vegetables). Although I was excited to try these delicacies and carry home some indigenous seeds, I later came to learn that this was not the easy task I had thought it would be. + +There are plenty of fish in the sea, and Lake Victoria can compete with this abundance. + +As we slowly crossed the lake on the ferry, I carefully watched the fishermen cast their nets into the blue green lake waters and minutes later pull out a furious bounty. How then does one encourage Syntropic agriculture in a place that has everything they could ever need? + +When crossing the ferry, it became clear to us that our mission to bring an experimental Agroforestry design to the fishermen of Rusinga Island would be no easy task. It required a demo, a pilot on just one person's shamba (farm) to enlighten them on this revolutionary method. + +It was simple, when they saw first hand what a food forest could do for not only their plates, but their pockets, they would leave the fishing to their brothers and move on to more diverse cuisines. + +.. image:: images/blog/syntropy-in-practice2.webp + +Syntropic Agroforestry as a Self Supporting System +******************************************************** + +Syntropic Agroforestry is a system that regenerates soil and therefore creates resilient food producing ecosystems. It mimics natural forests where we have different layers according to the plants' need for sunlight. The **emergent strata** coconuts, okra, papaya and eucalyptus trees, **high strata** eg mangoes, avocados, moringa, the **medium strata** bananas and the mulberry and the **lower strata** eg pineapples and coffee. The beds are covered by mulch representing the leaves that fall and cover the ground in the natural forest. Logs are layer on the paths and mulched to bring mycorrhizal fungi as would fallen trees in the natural forest that decompose. + +The plant diversity is created just like in the natural forest where we have fruit trees, biomass, nitrogen fixers, irrigation plants like grass and water storage plants like cactus, aloe vera and sisal and different types of vegetables especially before the trees grow to maturity. + +In Syntropic agroforestry no chemicals are used as the soil is built using organic matter and bio. Pests or diseases are seen as agents of the department of optimization of life processes and therefore part of the ecosystem. Their management is achieved by building a stable system in the soil. + +The system works as a self supporting system as below: + +* **Irrigation System** - In this system of farming, grass line is very essential. It stores water that supplies water to the rest of the farm during dry seasons.It basically cools down the farm. We prune the grass after two months and use the materials for mulching. When the grass is pruned, the rest of the system gets a signal. The biomass gets to grow faster after which the fruit trees start to grow too. This speeds up the succession of the other crops. + +* **Catalyst** - We have crops like maize and sorghum that when pruned, a signal is sent to the rest of the system to mature faster. + +* **Agents** of optimization of life processes- Pests send signals when the plants are not happy. They only attack the crops when the system is not balanced. The plants scream for help when they lack an element like nitrogen. We should therefore listen to the crops by not killing the pests but by adding the missing elements. This could be by mulching or adding in the nitrogen fixing crops like clover, peanuts, beans and any other crops in the legume family. + +* **Mother** of the farm - Cassava provides shade to other trees like coffee that needs little sunlight since it grows faster. + +* **Windbreakers** - Wood trees growing along the boundaries serve as wind breakers. They ensure less evaporation, improve the humidity of the farm, irrigates the top soil and adds biomass to the soil from the falling leaves. + +.. image:: images/blog/syntropy-in-practice3.webp + diff --git a/content/extra/favicon.ico b/content/extra/favicon.ico new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d6b90ff Binary files /dev/null and b/content/extra/favicon.ico differ diff --git a/content/extra/robots.txt b/content/extra/robots.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2caab39 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/extra/robots.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +User-agent: * +Disallow: /images/ +Disallow: /pdfs-downloadable/ +Disallow: /ge-theme/static/images/ \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward1.webp b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward1.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1451d9d Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward1.webp differ diff --git a/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward2.webp b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward2.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a905bc Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward2.webp differ diff --git a/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward3.webp b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward3.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..387504d Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/pay-it-forward3.webp differ diff --git a/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice1.webp b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice1.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d7849b Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice1.webp differ diff --git a/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice2.webp b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice2.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8abc496 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice2.webp differ diff --git a/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice3.webp b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice3.webp new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ddbe139 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/images/blog/syntropy-in-practice3.webp differ diff --git a/content/pages/AboutUs.rst b/content/pages/AboutUs.rst index d83c637..be16558 100644 --- a/content/pages/AboutUs.rst +++ b/content/pages/AboutUs.rst @@ -1,7 +1,7 @@ About us ########### -:title: about-us +:title: About us :status: Published :template: about-us :page-order: 2 \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/ge-theme/static/css/index-styles.css b/ge-theme/static/css/index-styles.css index ae3cb31..88e7a41 100644 --- a/ge-theme/static/css/index-styles.css +++ b/ge-theme/static/css/index-styles.css @@ -16,12 +16,14 @@ margin-bottom: 25px; } .set-height{ - height: 450px; + height: 400px; + /*height: auto;*/ } .img-resize{ width: 100%; height: 100%; overflow: hidden; + object-fit: cover; } .row{ height: auto; diff --git a/ge-theme/static/scrapped-text/reseasrch/article-head.txt b/ge-theme/static/scrapped-text/reseasrch/article-head.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 74cda74..0000000 --- a/ge-theme/static/scrapped-text/reseasrch/article-head.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,19 +0,0 @@ -Red Cross Mukuru Kayaba Rapid Survey Analysis May 2020 -Proof of Impact: Blockchain Community Currencies in Action -A relational analysis of sarafu network: emergence of a monetary ecosystem for the prosperity of the communities -Economic advantages of community currencies -Trade facilitation and community development in the age of blockchain & DLT -DANIDA awarded 9 million DKK for research on Community Currencies -Voucher Systems for Food Security A Case Study on Kenya’s Sarafu-Credit -Community Currency Programmes as a Tool for the Sustainable Development of Informal Settlements: The Case of Mombasa and Nairobi County, Kenya -The case of Sarafu-credits: Examining how a community currency can contribute to sustainable livelihood in informal settlements -Community Currencies in a Development Context, The case of the Sarafu-Credit in Kenya - Challenges of Collective Organization and Institution Building around Community Currencies in Kenyan Slums - The Role of Complementary Currency in Promoting Business Growth in an Informal Economy: Case of Bangla-Pesa -Relationship between Community Currencies and Nutritional Intake of Household in Kibera Kenya -Trust and Spending of Community Currencies in Kenya -Re-imagining Money to Broaden the Future of Development Finance: What Kenyan Community Currencies Reveal is Possible for Financing Development -Complementary Currencies for Sustainable Development in Kenya: the Case of the Bangla-Pesa - Eco-Pesa: an Evaluation of a Complementary Currency Programme in Kenya's Informal Settlements - Complementary Currencies Strengthening the Social and Solidarity Economy: Case Studies from Kenya -Kenyan Businesswomen Transforming Slum Economies through Complementary Currencies diff --git a/ge-theme/templates/base.html b/ge-theme/templates/base.html index 651db94..4d6d294 100644 --- a/ge-theme/templates/base.html +++ b/ge-theme/templates/base.html @@ -55,7 +55,7 @@