The Instituto de Permacultura Chile held its final meeting for the year with our friends from Maiwe Ecovillage. El Manzano extends a heartfelt thanks to this team of pioneers in Chile; changing the world one mind at a time. 2009 has been a very busy year getting organised, and we have achieved many positive things!

In 2009 we formed a team, developed a shared vision, created a culture of working together, created public events and explored being in economy together, designed a website and logo, we mobilised a network, made many more small and large steps, sin prisa sin pausa. The team have defied the odds and deflected the criticisms, to maintain a positive and dynamic group experimenting with organisational structures and decision making processes.

It is very obvious that this team understands the global realities and the implications for Chileno people, and the contribution that the permaculture and the wider sustainability community can play...if we just get organised. We hope that many more join us in 2009 to lift the level of understanding in Chile and put sustainability at the centre of debates around development and economy.       

And to all of you, our colleagues and friends, we consider you inspirational leaders in this country doing something powerful, ´´building the road as we walk it´´. Thank you, thank you, thank you, the international permaculture community is watching and supporting you to do something that hasn’t been done before, we think you are already making a big difference! Hasta pronto amigos! Kia kaha (stand strong) as we say in New Zealand. Also a special thanks to Rodrigo Blum and Jose Castro for taking a leadership role and holding us all together, your work has been pivotal.  

The instituto website www.permaculturechile.org is now under construction. You can read more about the vision and mission online.