Knowing Pachamama
I recently attended the Australian premiere of GrowthBusters, thanks to the Stable Population Party of Australia. While down under I had the good fortune to spend time getting to know George Trembath, who wrote the novel, Pachacuti, and organized the Pachacuti Project. Pacha means “the world,” and cuti means “upside down” or “restoring balance.” (Pachacuti was also an Incan emperor about 550 years ago. Pachamama was an Incan fertility goddess, but the term is generally used to mean “Mother Earth.”)
George has been an amazing partner and source of support as I finished and then released the GrowthBusters movie. More about George and Pachacuti in a future post. Today I just want to share this poem from George:
Knowing Pachamama
Attend, my wayward child, to Pachamama.
Know me as your Earth Mother, as the wind at your back and the light on the
way you have lost.
Cast aside your doubts and your disdain of me. Have I not served you well?
Are you not content with the air you breathe, with the sun and the soil that
sustain you and a peace that all spirits crave?
Why, precocious child, do you query my ways and propose your own? Why
plague my lands and seas and plunder your sibling creatures to extinction?
You, like they, are reeds before my wind. Sway with them. Embrace their
species wisdom and quell your unique arrogance. It casts a shadow on your
worth.
Know that my way is a harmony of constant change.
Know that the balance you choose to perturb, I shall restore.
Know that I gave you your origins and your ancestors.
Know too that I govern your offspring and your future.
– G. F. Trembath
Copyright – 2010
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Please explore the Pachacuti Project and join George in making the world a better place.
Recent posts in our Limits to Growth 40th anniversary series have been rather lengthy, so I put on hold our ongoing exponential growth demonstration. Today let’s get back on track. On day one we placed one grain of wheat in a beaker. Each day we double the number of grains. On day ten we doubled the 256 grains to reach 512. Today let’s double that.
If you find this information at all compelling, if you’re concerned about the prospects for a civilization hell-bent to grow forever on a finite planet, please take the Think Small Pledge and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do so. Thank you.
Dave Gardner
Filmmaker
Dave Gardner is the director of the new documentary, GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth, which uncovers the cultural forces that keep us pursuing growth in the face of overwhelming evidence we’ve outgrown the planet.
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