It was a sweaty afternoon in the Sky Cabin with only a bell jar of fair trade artisan cacao to offset the meeting that was taking place on the third floor amidst ancient law books and half clothed young men telling me about the merits of bioregionalism. Wait. Fair trade artisan cacao and half clothed, athletic, handsome, intelligent, and socially aware young men..... telling me, as I sweat profusely in a hot room three stories up, wishing I too could be half clothed, about bioregionalism. Blue eyes bearing into my very soul, hard muscles covered by sunkissed skin, glistening with perspiration... mouths moving.... oh, the heat must be getting to me... What the hell is bioregionalsim again?
"Bioregionalism recognizes, nurtures, sustains and celebrates our local connections with: Land, Plants and Animals, Springs, Rivers, Lakes, Groundwater & Oceans, Air, Families, Friends, Neighbors, Community, Native Traditions and Indigenous Systems of Production & Trade."
Right. Right. Okay. So it is the idea that we are all apart of the living planet divided by natural geography into bioregions. So we are supposed to think of our piece of the world as a bioregion and connect to the local culture, its flora, its fauna and act as the guardians and stewards to our little patch of the global quilt.
"So is this some kind of attempt to overthrow every known government on the planet by the Green Party?" I had to ask. It sounded thrilling, rebellious, and noble but, kind of challenging.
"No. Its a perspective." Gregory Landua answers.
"So if we divide into to little bioregions all over the world then does that mean that the states of the United States of America no longer exist? Or countries? Or currencies? Or presidents? Are we trying to deconstruct and reorganize everthing and everybody on the planet or is it like, total anarchy?" Sweat drips into my eyes and I inhale another spoonful of warm chocolate, pulling my clinging t-shirt away from my wet torso.
"No. I think you are slightly confused about what bioregionalism is. Its just a way of thinking. It doesn't mean we are attempting a coup or a reorganization of entire governments. This perspective and way of thinking, once shared by more and more people, will eventually effect positive change in local and national governments though." Amusement flickers in his steady eyes.
So a bioregion is defining an area by its topography and cultural and climatic similarities- its sociology, its ecology, and its geology. Try thinking like a watershed. For example, "What happens downstream when I do something upstream?"
How do bioregions communicate? How does the guy downstream tell the guy upstream to stop pouring packets of old tapioca into their stream? They have a meeting of the bioregions to come together and talk about concerns, share information, discoveries, and stories. Its called a Congress. Not like the American Congress. The Webster Dictionary says Congress is:
1 a: the act or action of coming together and meeting b: coitus 2: a formal meeting of delegates for discussion and usually action on some question 3: the supreme legislative body of a nation and especially of a republic 4: an association usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations 5: a single meeting or session of a group
So representatives of the bioregions, which exist and are recognized all over the world even if you didn't know about it! meet annually to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of their bioregion. What's your bioregion? Do you know?
The 10th Continental Bioregional Congress is meeting this October 3-11th 2009 at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee and there will be representatives from the bioregions of the Americas (that's North AND South people!) gathering in once place to discuss how to preserve, restore, and enhance life.
Sounds pretty good, huh. Everyone lives in a bioregion. Even you. You should check this out. Saving the world just got alot sexier.
Also, check out Greg Landua, site organizer of this year's congress and Director of the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee. If you have any questions about bioregionalism by getting confused with green anarchy or if you need some artisan chocolate- now you know where to go.
He makes chocolate, too!
http://www.booyacacao.com
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