Page 13 - the NOISE October 2012

relying on the application of modern, indus- trial “improvements” to food production. One of the strategies of the Green Revolution was to re-purpose the war industry left from WWII into a food industry — it was literally a swords to plowshares card. Chemical plants that pro- duced explosive gun powder could be modi- fied to produce fertilizer, assembly lines that produced tanks could be retooled to produce combines and heavy machinery, chemical weapons were modified to become herbicides and pesticides.
Such a massive shift in food production was financially viable because much of the infra- structure was already in place and paid for by the war generation who helped by doing such things as recycling metal and rubber and grow- ing their own food in “victory gardens.” With the application of large-scale machinery, row farming, chemical fertilizers, chemical herbi- cides and pesticides, food production could be engineered to produce greater yields. Later came the application of laboratory driven ge- netic engineering to modify plant yields.
These “improvements” did drastically in- crease the exportable food supply of mod- ernized countries, and many believe that this panacea of food was one of the major factors of the world population spike. These new food systems caused massive ecological impacts. The massive mono-crop fields that stretch out over the horizon destroy local ecologies, the chemical run offs pollute local water tables, the systems “burn out” the nutri- ent cycle in the local soil requiring higher and higher chemical inputs, and food production systems are completely dependent on gas powered vehicles and equipment. With this came the destruction of local ecologies, re- source hyper-consumption and the destruc- tion of hundreds of generations of tried and true cultural ecological wisdom.
In addition to all of this, one of the main cul- prits in creating a non-sustainable world was the invention of waste, one of the few true hu- man inventions. Synthetics, as well as perfectly natural materials that could decompose, such as paper, wood, and food are “dumped” in ways that do not allow them to decompose. Ecology,
as a natural process, is inherently “up-cycling” — it gets stronger over time, as decomposi- tion leads to greater nutrients in soils that then in turn feed healthier organisms, and thusly more sustained growth. But, by the creation of a constant flow of waste stored
where it cannot be utilized, we are down- cycling the ecology, making it weaker as time goes on.
While we see our non-sustainable culture is due primarily to the architecture and in- frastructure inherited from only the last few generations, so too is it quite obvious that in order to become sustainable again, we need to drastically — and quickly — change our architecture and infrastructures, which are fundamentally, merely expressions of how humans should live. Those beliefs are grounded in rampant industrial intelligence, rather than ecological wisdom to provide a beneficial standard of living for all.
Although the previous design paradigms were created in an attempt to provide food, housing and improved lifestyles, what the design concepts of these systems missed was a philosophy based on how humanity should live in accordance with the environ- ment. This is where Permaculture Design comes in, providing a design system ethi- cally similar to those guiding the Modern era, yet integrating a belief that humans should live in harmony with the fluctua- tions of Nature, rather than combating it.
RECOMMENDED READING:
Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Suc- ceed by Jared Diamond
The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs and Jason Epstein
| Wes Ozier, a graduate of Arcosanti and the ECOSA Insti- tute of Ecological Design, is cur-
rently compiling a book out of his column originally appearing in this magazine 7 years ago. wesozier@mail.com
Nikki Czech was elected Mayor of Jerome May29,2012attheageof27. Ihadthe opportunity to sit down with her over a cup at a favorite café. Here are highlights from our con- versation:
Is it pretty much a Monday through Friday type of job?
No, it’s volunteer. [laughs] in many ways, Yes, but not 8 hours a day. I can make appoint- ments as necessary, and travel around the valley, get the checks signed ... It’s been very interesting. My concept of Mayorhood is shift- ing a little bit. It’s a work in progress; I’m work- ing on my meeting skills. [laughs]
Correct me if I’m wrong: this was your first time running for Jerome town council?
I was appointed in late October [2011], be- cause of two openings that ... opened up. So, Ikindofgotafeelforwhatitwasliketobe on council.
So you didn’t have any idea you were going to be the Mayor? When the election comes up, whoever has the most votes is then Mayor, is that how it works?
I really can’t say I was elected Mayor. I was appointed by the council, who referenced the town code, which states “whoever received the most votes in an election, should become Mayor,” if they want to be.
So that’s how it goes, whenever there’s a new Mayor in town?
Yeah. I don’t think there has ever been a campaign for mayor here in Jerome.
How long have you lived in Jerome?
I think it’s 5 years, yeah.
Did you ever think, when you first moved here, some day I’ll be Mayor?
Well I’m from Prescott, and I could hardly imagine living here. When I was a kid, I used to always wonder “what do people DO here in Jerome?”
Did you have political aspirations when you were younger? What brought you to where you are today?
I don’t know! I have no idea! I am tenacious, I’m kind of stubborn in nature, but I wouldn’t say that I had political aspirations when I was younger. It’s pretty much a work ethic that I would say, got me, anywhere. In all of my situ- ations: working in the vineyard, then with the college, and here as well. People trust me, for some reason! [laughs]
So are you the youngest mayor that Jerome has ever had?
I’ve asked staff to research this for me, but I think so. [laughs] it has been alluded to, the fact that I am, yeah. But not the youngest mayor in Arizona. Nogales has elected both
a 19 year old and a 20 year old. But yes, here in Jerome. I mean, I can imagine someone younger in the early days of Jerome, but peo- ple have shaken their heads and said “No.”
Have you had much feedback from the peo- ple in town, either positive or negative, having to do with your age?
Yeah. Actually, it’s all been positive, interest- ingly enough. Jeromians, for some reason, are really amped to have a young mayor.
I know for myself, being from the younger generation here in Jerome, I was pretty excited when you became Mayor. One of my first im- pressions coming to this town was that there are a lot of people here, the older generation, who are very set in their ways, and it’s been difficult to get stuff changed. So it’s nice to see someone from Generation Y getting appointed. That’s very cool. It’s an exciting time in Jerome.
It is, and I think it’s working out quite well. We have some long standing members on council, that have been involved for over 20 years, 30 years, and their input is invaluable clearly, so I think it’s a really nice mix of fresh blood, if you will, and some older stability.
Is there anything you’d like to see change while you’re Mayor? Either completed, or put into motion while you are in office?
We actually took a tour of the Hotel Jerome (on Hull Avenue, above the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery), which, every council, to my knowledge has tried to address the poten- tial of. It’s three stories of interesting stuff up there! [laughs] There’s a lot of structural issues with the building, to the point where it would cost somewhere around $5 million to get it habitable.
But at the same time, after taking the tour, even with all of the debris and bat poop up there, I couldn’t help when I got home that night to think about the potential of that space. If we added a second entrance, the oc- cupancy could be upped, and since the facili- ties floor plans are made up for a hotel, with co-ed bathrooms, and group showers and whatnot, I couldn’t help but think “this should be a Hostel, with extended stay rates.” Kind of a communal living situation. I would love to have that vision on record. It would be a great starting off point for lots of creative people, both young and old.
Can you talk about the new ordinance passed in town, regarding the upcoming Presidential election and corporate contributions?
Right. I believe it was an ordinance that gave personhood to Corporations. So for me, it really came down to a base feeling of the way that was worded. The reason why corpo- rations become corporations, is so they actu- ally have less responsibility, and so, to give them the political rights of a singular person, but to not give them the responsibility that a singular person has, I thought, was a little lopsided. That’s really the reasons Jerome felt strongly against it.
Last question, having nothing to do with be- ing mayor: you’re stranded on a desert island; what are the three albums you would want to have to listen to? I know I’m kind of putting you on the spot here ...
Okay, I can do it! [laughs] I really like the Black Key’s album, Brothers. It’s been a while since I’ve really listened to it, but I think I’d still want it with me, that’s Tori Amos’ Boys For Pele. It’s pretty rich and kind of wild. And my third would be a little more melancholy. The new album from the National, called High Violet.
| Scott Chase is a screenwriter, comedian, & music store owner who hails from Jerome. scottdavidchase75@yahoo.com
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