Bioregionalism? Interview with Giuseppe Moretti
I: Giuseppe Moretti, what it is, in short, the Bioregionalism?
GM: Bioregionalism is the possibility of renewing our citizenship in the land through a lifestyle that takes account of the need and right for all human and non-humans to live a life of dignity and significant.
I: What are its founding principles?
GM: First of all the earth is treated as an actual living organism divided into bioregions. The bioregions are the natural regions of the earth, luoghi definiti per continuità di flora e di fauna o per interezza fluviale, grandi a sufficienza da sostenere un’ampia e complessa comunità di esseri viventi. L’uomo è parte integrante di tutto questo, ma non il suo signore e padrone. Il bioregionalismo non è una ideologia, ma una attitudine di buon senso e di umiltà di fronte all’evidente divario tra la mente dell’umanità e la mente della natura, la cui complessità e i cui meccanismi sono di gran lunga più complessi e misteriosi di quanto l’uomo, nella sua presunzione, pensa di conoscere e pretende di voler guidare. L’idea bioregionale è quindi l’occasione di re-impostare il nostro ruolo sulla terra in termini di rispetto, reciprocità and equality in respect of the Whole.
I: When he caught on in Italy and with what results?
GM: The idea bioregional arrived in Italy in the mid 80s years older, thanks to a group of people linked to the journal AAM Terra Nuova. After a few seasons fervent and fruitful interest waned and was then taken up by the newspaper in the early 90s Wild Side. Subsequently been strengthened through training of Italian Bioregional Network, which is good to say, it is not a structured organization in the conventional manner, but rather an informal gathering in the sense that there are no directors, managers and accountants, But activists, who in their place-bioregion, are involved in the practice and dissemination of the concept. So there is, and the Bioregional Network as long as there are those who believe and share the common feeling of being part of a set of relationships that includes so all our fellow men, but also, as said Etain Addey, all our relatives: those with wings, those on all fours, those that swim and those that crawl. This approach, of course, has not resulted in large numbers in terms of visibility, but more and more people contacting us, especially young people, and participate in our meetings and initiatives. We also created a new journal "Quaderni bioregional of life" (with a drafting traveling in order to involve as many voices as possible) that alternates with Wild Side, the first exit at the solstices, equinoxes and the second to.
I: How many people practice the philosophy Bioregionalism?
GM: In Italy the numbers are the ones I mentioned earlier, although many are in fact unknowingly Bioregionalism. Globally, the movement is much broader, the United States, where he began, a "Directory" published by Planet Drum, in 1994, had more than 250 groups. In Mexico, the movement is very active, as well as in Canada and in other parts of South America. It would not be outdone Australia, Asia and Europe. The fact that we do not feel is much talk in the attitude of Bioregionalism hard to look after, to 'do more than look. The bioregional movement is a movement rhizomatous, spreading love in the sense that following the rhythms and patterns of nature than those offered by the company.
I: You like it did you know?
GM: belong to the so-called 60s generation, and since then I have never ceased to be interested and to scrutinize the ideas of alternative movements that were happening in those years in an almost dizzying. I met the bioregional idea when I had already decided to return to earth after a period of employment in the city, reading the quarterly California CoEvolution Quarterly (the same as the famous "Whole Earth Catalog"), which in 1981 devoted a special on Bioregionalism. For me it was a great relief and encouragement to continue the journey undertaken. Then I met personally the forerunners of this movement: Peter Berg and his wife Judy Golhaft, Freeman House, James Koller, Gary Lawless, Nanao Sakaki and Gary Snyder, and began to publish Wild Side.
I: What does re-inhabit a territory and why someone should do it today?
GM: Re-live is to see themselves and their place with new eyes, means to perceive the importance of living in a healthy and diverse, it means finally understand that the health of the seas, forests and fauna depends on our own health means understanding that the right to liberty and social justice of the people depends on our own freedom and justice.
Everything is connected to one another on this earth. The water cycle of the earth is one large river basin and the catchment area in which we live (we all live in one of them) is the context of our practice-remember that a river basin is in fact a bio-region and vice versa. Taking care of your catchment area, its bioregion means therefore take some responsibility here and now, faced with problems that are now on a global scale; that's why today is important re-inhabit the earth in bioregional sense.
I: Belonging to the network Bioregionalism means rejecting modernity?
GM: The modern world is the world we live in, and then, whether we like it or not, it is no longer refuse, but we can choose. We choose to heat water with wood or solar panels, rather than fossil energy, we choose to grow the food we eat or buy from environmentally conscious producers and free gear from global speculators, rather than by large retailers; We can choose to ignore the trends and buy only the things we actually need, rather than being slaves of a system that consumer their own reason for being.
In short, we have to do is to go beyond modernity and recover common sense, however, that the wilderness teaches us all the time, and that is: consume without waste, to produce without destroying, live and let live.
I: And the technology?
GM: Ever since man has learned to chip the rocks to extract spearheads the technology they have never left. Today we live in a world addicted to technology, invented more to meet the yearnings of a world overconsumption, which need to be real life. The technology itself is neutral, is the way it is used that is often wrong and, in many cases, criminal.
I: In which you make the relationship with the movement of the decline and happy with the other movements "related"?
GM: In the '60s, my generation wore ripped jeans and patched, not because it was fashionable, but because he had refused the consumer, myself for 14 years I wore the same jacket in jeans, so I figured if we do not agree with the movement of "Happy Degrowth. Indeed, congratulations to this movement for the timing of accrual and the good work he is doing. As for the other movements I would say that we are fully interchangeable, in the sense that many of us are also supporters (and vice versa) of the Ecovillage Network, the new farmers of the CIR, the seed collectors antiques, Seedsevers, the purchasing groups, ethical finance, appropriate technology, the Mileage Zero, etc ... This
at the individual level, but what is lacking is a more concrete collaboration between all these groups, networks and movements, on issues and themes that, in fact, from time to time may require the contribution of all. In this regard seems to be an upcoming meeting between the various networks and movements in the meeting of CONACREIS, Modena Apennines in May (event still to be confirmed). We believe that the tide of change is not the prerogative of one group or a few, but that all, according to their skills, knowledge and specificity, can be a source and focus to make more incisive and concrete change that the company all must do.
I: You are a 'changing of hippies?
GM: We are an evolution of all those with imagination, creativity, and perseverance have, over time, sought to improve, both spiritually and mentally, yourself first and then the company, thus reducing both the ' human footprint on the planet that the arrogance of power and greed of a few on people and nature. We have failed? From what we see seems so, but it is also true that this is a long path, which requires time, patience and dedication. The important thing is not to stop 'sow', and in this we Bioregionalism c'abbiamo made the call.
I: What is going on in Italy and the world-wide socio-economic?
GM: To answer this question just ask an old-fashioned farmer, who would tell you that no frills "with nothing you have nothing." We live in a world of appearances and massive speculation on the skin of honest people and biological diversity of the earth. I do not know the world economy, and economists fear that even they themselves know too much: so many are the mess that over time have been devised to ensure that losses are always the weakest. David H. Thoreau warned "Simplify, simplify."
standards and conduct simple, honest and above all informed by an awareness that when you remove one part you must return the other hand, should be the foundation of every economy and every company in the world. From what we hear about, this crisis can be an opportunity for reflection and change, and therefore positive (in its severity), but so far the decisions seem only palliative, a way to survive the system a little 'longer.
I: Do you think the bioregionalism will soon become "normal"?
GM: Unfortunately not. The world today is so steeped in the myth of power, whether political, economic, or religious (with all that implies), unlikely to give up the privileges acquired. What is at stake is turning over a complete way of understanding our being here on earth, it is not just a change in government, or a more equitable distribution of wealth (though this in itself would be a good result), it is rather a step backward and forward, this time at last the entirety of the Whole, of which we are a small part.
I: Do you think the city should "disappear"?
GM: The city should not disappear, they must change. The city must be understood and designed as one with the surroundings, with the bioregion where they belong. The city should serve as centers of aggregation of people, things, products and knowledge to serve the rest of the bioregion, in order to improve the living conditions of people and at the same time, make it light and balanced our ecological footprint and the bioregion on the planet.
I: What is the role of Etain Addey?
GM: Etain Addey, in the bioregional movement, has a role appreciated by all, and is continuing to give his testimony in terms of, eg, knowledge, humanity, humility, spirituality and hospitality. Etain know the word that goes beyond words. Takes you by the hand and reveals the secrets of the meadow, the forest and the human soul. Etain did not need to re-inhabit the earth, you live in the land and the Earth.
I: How do I contact you?
GM: In the blog of Italian Bioregional Network you can find the list of referees for several bioregions, or regions of Italy, which ask for information, addresses, appointments and so on. Otherwise, contacting the Web itself:
morettig@iol.it I: E to become Bioregionalism? GM: To become Bioregionalism there are no schools or special courses. First, it is a journey within oneself, in the "wild side" of the mind. Because only finding oneself, one's true humanity, and thus its essence, which is at one with nature, you can start the path that leads back to 'home'. It is a long and tiring and sometimes frustrating, often simply because the reality prevents us from translating theory into practice, but this should not discourage, sometimes it takes just slices of time, nature, and sharing to go over at every turn. What is needed is the power of vision, and then along the way, you can meet people and books that recount the experiences of those who are walking along the same path.
