People and planet are one, says Anima Mundi: Permaculture, Peak
Oil, Climate Change and the Soul of the World. Australian
director Peter Charles Downey’s film advocates permaculture, a
“science of resilience” for mindful and sustainable living. Old
paradigm blues With thoughtful discussion, exciting music,
montages and archival footage, Anima Mundi shakes loose old
beliefs. When you hear a 1950’s announcer call pollution
“necessary” so we can enjoy “a chicken in every pot,” you’ll
cringe at our outdated world view. Overconsumption and reliance
on dwindling oil supplies threaten our survival, leaders and
scholars say. Downey interviews them to explore solutions. What
is permaculture? Permaculture is a practice of cultivating land
sustainably, relying on renewable resources and self-sustaining
ecosystems. It treads gently on the Earth. David Holmgren, who
co-founded permaculture, summarizes the philosophy and design
principles behind it. Examples from Holmgren’s book Permaculture
Principles and Pathways include