XMind

Two approaches to Higher Education

1. The mainstream, industrial, neo-liberal paradigm, traditional Academy - focus is technical routes to wealth for the few

   1. A leading edge, agro-forestry/permaculture paradigm Praxis - focus is ecological and social regeneration for all

1. Essential characteristics of Gaia University

   1. actively democratic & community directed

      1. student works for own & community goals

      2. owned by branches

   2. promotes

      1. Topic

      2. de-installation of colonization & the patrix

      3. eco-social enterprise

      4. libertarian socialism

      5. parecon-participatory economics

      6. innovation

   3. values practical eco-social intelligences

      1. farmers

      2. artizans

      3. artists

      4. traders-micro enterprisers

      5. promotes transition & new thinking

      6. combines study and getting things done

   4. locally led and mutually owned planetary franchise

      1. Topic

      2. combines local autonomy with economies of scale

      3. links eco-social progressives in international real-work networks (work-net)

   5. 'chaordic' (chaos mixed with order) design requires modest investment

      1. Topic

      2. low cost entry

      3. open source

      4. flexible, adaptable

      5. flat, open structure helps maintain participation and zest

      6. class system diminished

      7. village scale possible

   6. causes 'brain gain'

      1. Topic

      2. local intelligences multiplied

      3. young adults help rebuild home communities whilst finding new meaning in the transition from the industrial to the agroforestry paradigm

2. Essential characteristics of traditional Academy (mostly Northern Hemisphere Universities)

   1. is heavily penetrated by neo-liberal corporations

      1. R & D serves corps, not the people

         1. theft of intellectual property

         2. colonization continues

         3. cultural direction dominated by commerce

      2. ways of thinking must support: -

         1. endless economic growth

         2. 'free trade'

         3. USA as legitimate empire

         4. profit over eco-social goals

   2. is too 'academic'

      1. too much theory, not enough practice

      2. values conceptual argument over getting things done

      3. uses limited forms of intelligence

   3. is heavily invested in capital infrastructure and salaries

      1. unwilling to adapt into village scale organizations

      2. expensive services

         1. excludes people of modest income, especially rural

      3. centralized in metro areas

   4. is an old style pyramid

      1. slow to adapt

      2. hostile to newcomers

      3. rejects new ways of thinking

      4. exhausts innovators

      5. subjugates knowledges

      6. strengthens class structure

   5. is primary mechanism in 'brain drain' to wealthy countries

      1. impoverishes intelligence base of rest of world

      2. adds to sense of local inadequacy

      3. frustrates young aspiring adults

3. Some influential thinkers for Gaia U

   1. Margaret Wheatley

   2. Noam Chomsky

   3. Edgar Morin

   4. Ivan Illich

   5. Proudhon, Kropotkin, Marx

   6. Bill Mollison

4. Gaia U Founders

   1. Alejandra Adler

      1. Caravana Arcoiris por la Paz

      2. Huehuecoytl Ecovillage, Mexico

      3. Global Ecovillage Network

   2. Andrew Langford

      1. Permaculture Academy of Britain

      2. Designed Visions (permaculture design practice)

      3. Conker Shoe Company