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Aaliya Butler

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Aaliya Butler rated a book it was amazing

Principles of a Permaculture Economy

by Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr. (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading, economics, permaculture-economics

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Aaliya Butler said: " As a young, Black economist with roots in South Africa, I'm constantly seeking economic models that challenge the status quo and offer a more equitable and sustainable path for the future, especially for the Global South and emerging economies like t As a young, Black economist with roots in South Africa, I'm constantly seeking economic models that challenge the status quo and offer a more equitable and sustainable path for the future, especially for the Global South and emerging economies like the BRICS nations. Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr.'s "Principles of a Permaculture Economy" offered just that – a refreshing and thought-provoking exploration of an alternative economic paradigm.

Smith's book resonated with me on several levels. Firstly, his framing of economics through the lens of permaculture, a design system inspired by natural ecosystems, is incredibly compelling. It challenges the extractive and often exploitative nature of traditional capitalist models, advocating instead for an approach that prioritizes balance, regeneration, and interconnectedness. This resonates deeply with my African heritage, where respect for nature and community are paramount.

Secondly, I appreciate how Smith seamlessly blends capitalist principles with lessons from nature. He doesn't advocate for a complete overthrow of the system, but rather a reimagining of it. He recognizes the power of markets and innovation, but insists on integrating them within a framework that prioritizes social and environmental well-being. This nuanced approach, I believe, is crucial for gaining wider acceptance and driving real change.

The book's emphasis on local control, cooperation, and the circulation of wealth within communities is particularly relevant for developing nations. It offers a pathway for these countries to build resilient and self-reliant economies that prioritize the needs of their people over profit maximization for multinational corporations.
While the book provides a compelling vision, I would have appreciated more concrete examples of how a permaculture economy could be implemented on a larger scale. Addressing the complexities of global trade, technology, and existing power structures would further strengthen Smith's argument.

Overall, "Principles of a Permaculture Economy" is a must-read for anyone interested in a more just and sustainable economic future. It's a powerful call for change, offering a unique blend of capitalist principles and ecological wisdom. I believe this book holds valuable lessons for the Global South, particularly the BRICS nations, as they navigate their own economic development and seek to create a more equitable and harmonious world. ...more "

Dec 27, 2024 04:21PM · see review

Aaliya’s Quotes

“Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.”
― Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

tags: science, superstition

284 likes

“In regards to the price of commodities, the rise of wages operates as simple interest does, the rise of profit operates like compound interest.

Our merchants and masters complain much of the bad effects of high wages in raising the price and lessening the sale of goods. They say nothing concerning the bad effects of high profits. They are silent with regard to the pernicious effects of their own gains. They complain only of those of other people.”
― Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

tags: business, class-warfare, economics, labor, money, profit

123 likes

“Man is an animal that makes bargains: no other animal does this - no dog exchanges bones with another.”
― Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations

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“The man whose whole life is spent in performing a few simple operations, of which the effects are perhaps always the same, or very nearly the same, has no occasion to exert his understanding or to exercise his invention in finding out expedients for removing difficulties which never occur. He naturally loses, therefore, the habit of such exertion, and generally becomes as stupid and ignorant as it is possible for a human creature to become. ”
― Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations

tags: economy, stupidity, work

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“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.”
― Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, Books 1-3

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