Politics, Power and Permaculture

This episode takes a hard look at politics, power, and why the world feels so upside down right now. Host Geoff Lawton and the team jump from America’s political gridlock to the bold changes happening in Burkina Faso—and what it teaches us about leadership, resources, and real community empowerment. Instead of getting lost in the chaos, the crew keeps circling back to a simple truth: local action beats political promises every time. When people organise, grow food, and build resilient communities, they create real change—no matter what’s happening on the world stage. If you’re tired of the noise and want a grounded path forward, this conversation will get you thinking (and hopefully planting).

Watch the video episode here.

Key Takeaways:

00:00:00 – 00:03:13: Burkina Faso’s Ibrahim Traoré redirects resources to citizens, focusing on trees, food security, free housing—a stark contrast to Western politics.

00:04:17 – 00:07:27: Leaders who try to nationalize resources or challenge global banking systems often face resistance or assassination; debt is used to trap nations and individuals alike.

00:09:21 – 00:10:57: True freedom means liberation from unpayable debt—politicians, left or right, rarely deliver real change.

00:21:22 – 00:22:46: Bill Mollison once said: “Don’t enter a corrupt system to change it—you’ll be corrupted.” Instead, imagine a Permaculture People’s Party with no intention of being elected, only to share its manifesto.

00:23:06 – 00:24:50: Disaster capitalism uses crises to pass pre-written laws and strip freedoms, as seen after 9/11.

00:28:19 – 00:29:14: Companies like Palantir push predictive policing and social credit systems, raising concerns about surveillance and control.

00:31:00 – 00:32:30: Permaculture is a simple, grounded solution to overwhelming global chaos—millions of small local actions could transform the world.

00:44:14 – 00:46:37: Information overload and political tribalism keep people divided; pattern recognition and honesty are key to breaking free. 00:56:11 –

00:57:40: Like forests after fire, collapse can open the way for regeneration—real power is local, patterned, and rooted in permaculture systems. 01:02:40 –

01:03:24: We already have the information we need to act; the task now is to inform, connect, and build alternatives together.