Sustainable economy

[Guest guest]

In light of the proposed sale of Europes largest ISKCON farm, New Vraja

Mandala in Spain, I might take the opportunity to enclose this paragraph

which I have just received from the Burke Rochford,Jr. Prabhupada Centennial

Survey (1996): A Summary of the Final Report:

 

section entitled Recommendations:

 

Building an Economic Infrastructure.

"As this report has amply demonstrated, devotees - especially householders

- have been forced to seek employment outside of ISKCON'S communities. The

results of this trend have not always been beneficial to ISKCON or to the

spiritual lives of devotees themselves. ISKCON members working outside are

less likely to remian as involved in their religious practices, are less

involved in and committed to ISKCON, are more involved in outside

conventional culture, and less committed to a Krsna Conscious worldview."

 

"I recommend that the GBC immediatley establish regional economic committees

comprised of devotees who have proven themselves productive businessmen and

business women and/or economic strategists. I say regional because I expect

that while a movement wide economic strategy might be possible, it is more

likely that economic plans will vary by region, country and perhaps even by

community. These planning committees should be given authority to develop

economic proposals, raise funds to launch business and amintain a degree of

autonomy that allows for working without being compromised by political

considerations.. I think the goal of these committees should centre foremost

on employment for devotees, not raising money per se. Entrepreneurial

activity that is labout intensive and capable of employing large numbers of

people should be favoured. Computer businesses may be profitable, for

example, but they are usually incapable of employing sufficinet numbers of

people. Work, not profit, should be the fundamental goal." (E. Burke

Rochford. Jr.)

 

 

Therefore as I have recently suggested - Eco businesses in the industry of

recycling organic matter would fit right into these suggestions of Mr.

Rochford, especially as this is a prime industry for govermnment funding.

The farms could be registered sites which would mean you would have a

limitless supply of finished compost on which to grow limitless amounts of

'Organic' food, for which there is an ever increasing demand. this could in

turn create limitless amounts of work for the oxen.

For example, at present in Europe Supermarkets' demand way out strips the

supply.

I have been studying this for the last year and am about to embark on a

venture here in the UK. On a small amount of land you can deal with tens of

thousands of tons of material.

 

My personal view is that city temples could fund this kind of project which

would raise far more laxmi (i.e. in the UK you get paid 28.50 per ton, by

the government, to receive this material through your gate) than could be

acheived by raising money by collections. ISKCON could build its first Eco

industry and offer a thriving economy to encourage new commers to partake.

But we must remember this is not the work for Sannyasis. It is the work for

householders.

 

Your servant,

 

Radha Krsna das.