Where biomimicry seeks design solutions from the natural world, Community Ecological Governance looks to Nature to derive human governance systems, built upon a foundation of ecoliteracy.
Community Ecological Governance (CEG), how human communities have evolved their governance systems in keeping with Natural Law, is a topic soon to be brought to life in the second of our Earth Jurisprudence courses in September.
The laws of the humans must be replaced with the laws of the land; for we must remember that we are not the owners of the land. Colin Campbell (Resurgence, July/ August 2009).
A symptom of modern life, made possible by unchecked economic growth and consumption, is climate change. There is another, equally dangerous consequence that is not, as yet, so widely written about: the loss of bio-cultural diversity. It is widely believed that so-called “developing” countries of the global South should aspire to the industrial development model if they are to enjoy comfortable lifestyles and general prosperity. Many of us now know that this lifestyle of “prosperity” is literally costing the Earth and our children’s future options.
Paradoxically, the very peoples and cultures threatened by the globalisation of western development hold the ecological knowledge and wisdom that, when respected and nurtured, can restore their ecological, social and economic resilience which “development solutions” are actually serving to eradicate. This is where the concept of Community Ecological Governance is set to play such an important role.
…we encourage community dialogues for elders to talk about and reflect on how we traditionally governed ourselves in relation to our natural environment. In one of our first CEG meetings, elders identified the issue of Sacred Sites as a priority…Traditionally, in certain sacred places it is taboo for people to cut wood, kill animals or harvest and therefore these places remain biodiverse. Outside of those places there were still strict rules about harvesting, hunting and taking care of springs or other aspects of our surroundings. Different people have different roles in taking care of the wider environment, according to clan, gender and age. Much of this knowledge used to be taught during initiation. The youth involved in our processes are now saying they’ve been robbed of this knowledge because their parents haven’t sent them for initiation, they are only getting a western education…
…The resurgence of African wisdom and spirituality must be brought back in a practical way to deal with climate change, enrich our biodiversity and have truly viable livelihoods.
Mphatheleni Makaulule, Mupo Foundation, South Africa (Resurgence March/ April 2008)
The global economic crisis heralded by the so-called “credit crunch” is symptomatic of the human/ Earth crisis which many commentators have already forewarned will be far, far worse – a crisis that has already affected many local and indigenous cultures and many more are now bracing themselves for worse to come. These people, whose ways of life and inherent Earth wisdom have sustained healthy ecosystems and human communities for thousands of years, are in danger of being further dispossessed in the intensified scramble for land and for their sacred sites to supply insatiable consumption to feed economic growth.
The Elders’ meeting by Lake Victoria liked the idea of Earth Jurisprudence, although it is not a term they would naturally use themselves. Nevertheless, it brings together and formulates something of their own understanding and outlook in a way that they see as relevant to the needs of the present time – not only their own needs, but also the needs of a globalised culture that urgently needs to find ways of accommodating diverse cultures within a unified legal framework. It touched them deeply that the simplicity and naturalness of their customary ways may yet hold a key to a balanced and healthier future for nature and for humankind.
Ian Mason, Director of the Earth Justice Legal Resource Centre. (“Living with Nature’s Laws”, Convivium, 2009).
In September, Schumacher College is proud to be hosting our second short course on Earth Jurisprudence, looking at how Community Ecological Governance works in practice. We will welcome visiting teachers: Mphatheleni Makaulule, community leader from South Africa; Liz Hosken, Director and co-founder of The Gaia Foundation; and Colin Campbell, a full-time sangoma – a practitioner of herbal medicine, divination and counselling – in South Africa, who co-runs a traditional training school and initiation center.
Our challenge is to reconnect with our own Indigenous path – with our own origins and the inherent laws that govern life in the place where we live. Liz Hosken (Resurgence, July/ August 2009).
Earth Jurisprudence and Community Resilience: Learning from Africa , 21 – 25 September
Visiting teachers will showcase the working principles of a living Earth Jurisprudence in the context of Africa, with some input from the Amazon and Europe as well. This course will show how specific local and indigenous communities are working to restore their governance systems which are rooted in their ecosystem. For further information on the course content and teachers, click here.
