By Jaime Pérez Molina writing from Copenhagen, Denmark
GAEA new collaborator Jaime Pérez Molina (2015) The way decisions shape one's life is never the way one imagines. It's been a long journey getting to where I am now - working as a consultant for the City Hall in Frederiksberg, Denmark, translating Science textbooks, teaching Spanish and participating in diverse activities that range from Raw Food workshops to Gift Economy Circles. Despite the fact that things never turned out as planned, my motivations have remained almost entirely intact for as long as I can remember. Over the years, my bright, idealistic enthusiasm for saving the world with science became dimmer and dimmer as my understanding of our global society and our economic relations grew. But the Light is back now, and I am ready to play my part in this crazy and beautiful planet of ours.
Since my early childhood, I knew I wanted to do something related to the Animal Kingdom. While other children wanted to be pilots or football players, I, when asked, would say that I wanted to be a Circus Manager - how cute is that? Of course in those days I was not conscious of the terrible conditions in which circuses keep their animals, but you can see how I have always been part artist, part scientist. Sadly, my uncontrollable allergies and asthma never made it easy for me to cope well in nature. Nevertheless, I tried - from my time as a proud boy scout to days as a student of biology at the University of Navarra investigating the influence of environment and food on human health. With an environmental specialization in a nation that rarely supports science - and least of all while Spain slowly paced into a global economic crisis - I felt out of place, so I figured that the next steps should take me beyond the Pyrinées. I had never had thought of leaving my homeland, but I could not see a bright future for myself there at that time. So Copenhagen became my home for the following three years and right up until the present day. I completed my Master’s of science degree in agriculture at Copenhagen University, where I focused on organic agriculture. Through my volunteering on organic farms (Thorshoejgaard), urban gardening projects (Byhaven2200) and many other activities in this fancy hipster city I expanded my knowledge, vision and experience. It was also here that I first encountered biodynamic farming and permaculture.
And so it became clear to me - I want to live in a Forest! Call me crazy, but I truly believe that the current system is corrupt, outdated and unsustainable - why would I want to do something normal, like common research? No more wood to the fire! I know now that although I cannot save the world all by myself, I can do a lot to help. I have the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to catalyze the reaction towards a sustainable paradigm, and I am not the only one.
My personal dream in this life is to find a piece of eroded, deserted land where I can apply my knowledge and abilities to restore the forest: a forest that will feed me, a forest in which I will live and thrive. And if I can replicate that in as many places as possible, I will know that I have done a great good to my community, my country, my posterity and, indeed, the whole world.
Converting unproductive land into oasis of abundance for everyone to enjoy... no small aspiration, huh? Still, life has put plenty of opportunities before me, from Spain to Mongolia, and I am certain there will be more to come; let me speak more about these permaculture projects in future posts!
This is where GAEA enters the picture: as a fantastic platform to develop the tools and knowledge for this much needed change. I believe that all of us, as world citizens, have the power to become “entrepreneurs of life” and to change our local environment. We must stop believing that others will solve the problems of the world and assume that mantle ourselves. We should follow no leaders, and quit their destructive ideals - after all, not even revolution has thus far been able to change the fact that a wealthy few, from pharaohs of old to the bankers of today, still rule over all those less fortunate. The time has come for us to evolve. We must take the responsibility of starting local, sustainable business and activities: from urban gardens to organic restaurants, from exchange markets to gift circles, from local power sources to alternative transport systems. We must begin the evolution from the ground up, making our own decisions instead of accepting those from above, shaping our own reality and cooperating to build a better and more prosperous world for everyone.
So let’s take that power, those skills, that freedom that we have and use them for something good! Let’s start by creating a forum where all of us from around the world can support one another in our efforts.
Since my early childhood, I knew I wanted to do something related to the Animal Kingdom. While other children wanted to be pilots or football players, I, when asked, would say that I wanted to be a Circus Manager - how cute is that? Of course in those days I was not conscious of the terrible conditions in which circuses keep their animals, but you can see how I have always been part artist, part scientist. Sadly, my uncontrollable allergies and asthma never made it easy for me to cope well in nature. Nevertheless, I tried - from my time as a proud boy scout to days as a student of biology at the University of Navarra investigating the influence of environment and food on human health. With an environmental specialization in a nation that rarely supports science - and least of all while Spain slowly paced into a global economic crisis - I felt out of place, so I figured that the next steps should take me beyond the Pyrinées. I had never had thought of leaving my homeland, but I could not see a bright future for myself there at that time. So Copenhagen became my home for the following three years and right up until the present day. I completed my Master’s of science degree in agriculture at Copenhagen University, where I focused on organic agriculture. Through my volunteering on organic farms (Thorshoejgaard), urban gardening projects (Byhaven2200) and many other activities in this fancy hipster city I expanded my knowledge, vision and experience. It was also here that I first encountered biodynamic farming and permaculture.
And so it became clear to me - I want to live in a Forest! Call me crazy, but I truly believe that the current system is corrupt, outdated and unsustainable - why would I want to do something normal, like common research? No more wood to the fire! I know now that although I cannot save the world all by myself, I can do a lot to help. I have the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to catalyze the reaction towards a sustainable paradigm, and I am not the only one.
My personal dream in this life is to find a piece of eroded, deserted land where I can apply my knowledge and abilities to restore the forest: a forest that will feed me, a forest in which I will live and thrive. And if I can replicate that in as many places as possible, I will know that I have done a great good to my community, my country, my posterity and, indeed, the whole world.
Converting unproductive land into oasis of abundance for everyone to enjoy... no small aspiration, huh? Still, life has put plenty of opportunities before me, from Spain to Mongolia, and I am certain there will be more to come; let me speak more about these permaculture projects in future posts!
This is where GAEA enters the picture: as a fantastic platform to develop the tools and knowledge for this much needed change. I believe that all of us, as world citizens, have the power to become “entrepreneurs of life” and to change our local environment. We must stop believing that others will solve the problems of the world and assume that mantle ourselves. We should follow no leaders, and quit their destructive ideals - after all, not even revolution has thus far been able to change the fact that a wealthy few, from pharaohs of old to the bankers of today, still rule over all those less fortunate. The time has come for us to evolve. We must take the responsibility of starting local, sustainable business and activities: from urban gardens to organic restaurants, from exchange markets to gift circles, from local power sources to alternative transport systems. We must begin the evolution from the ground up, making our own decisions instead of accepting those from above, shaping our own reality and cooperating to build a better and more prosperous world for everyone.
So let’s take that power, those skills, that freedom that we have and use them for something good! Let’s start by creating a forum where all of us from around the world can support one another in our efforts.
" I believe that all of us, as world citizens, have the power to become “entrepreneurs of life” and to change our local environment. We must stop believing that others will solve the problems of the world and assume that mantle ourselves."
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