>This list is filled with negative people, apparently worshipping >the
>coming apocalypse.
Dale:
I beg to differ. Most of the people on sanet and most in the sustainable ag
community are among the most positive people I know. They don't worship the
apocalypse. They're doing all they can to make sure that it doesn't happen
in their lifetime or anytime in the near future.
I'm not trying to speak for all, but I think most in the sustainable ag
community have a strong, clear and positive vision of the world as it could
be. They see the small percentage of farmers who have broken from the
conventional paradigm (or never embraced it) and are forging sustainable
operations that are economically and environmentally sustainable -- or at
least closer to it than the run-of-the-mill farm. They envision what the
world would look like if this were the rule, rather than the exception, and
they like what they see.
They see thriving rural communities. They see humane livestock systems.
They see a global food system that is just and provides everyone with
sufficient, secure and healthful food supplies.
This is not an apocalyptic vision. Utopian, maybe. But not doom and gloom.
If you sense negativity from this group, it is possibly because they are
negative about business as usual. It might be that they are negative about
the tactics you embrace to reach your somewhat different vision of a
sustainable future.
Are sustainable ag people defensive? You bet. I think that perhaps a
decade ago, they were encouraged that there appeared to be bridges to their
sustainable vision. But lately, very powerful forces appear to be trying to
slam the door shut on their vision. It's easy to get defensive when you see
the window of opportunity shrinking on your vision.
Consequently, you hear a lot more criticism of what's happening today than
you hear about the positive vision of the future. Is that what you
interpret as negativity?
Lester
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