Albert Bates

Albert Bates (born January 1, 1947) is an influential figure in the intentional community and ecovillage movements. A lawyer, author and teacher, he has been director of the Institute for Appropriate Technology since 1984 and of the Ecovillage Training Center at The Farm in Summertown, Tennessee since 1994.

Bates has been a resident of The Farm since 1972. A former attorney, he argued environmental and civil rights cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and drafted a number of legislative Acts during a 26-year legal career. The holder of a number of design patents, Bates invented the concentrating photovoltaic arrays and solar-powered automobile displayed at the 1982 World's Fair. He served on the steering committee of Plenty International for 18 years, focussing on relief and development work with indigenous peoples, human rights and the environment. An emergency medical technician (EMT), he was a founding member of The Farm Ambulance Service. He was also a licensed Amateur Radio operator.

Bates has played a major role in the ecovillage movement as one of the organizers of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), and served as GEN's chairman of the board (from 2002 to 2003) and president (from 2003 to 2004). He was also the principal organizer of the Ecovillage Network of the Americas and served as its president (from 1996 to 2003). In 1994 he founded the Ecovillage Training Center, a "whole systems immersion experience of ecovillage living." [ [http://www.thefarm.org/etc/index.html Ecovillage Training Center] . The Farm, Summertown, TN. Retrieved on 20067-06-22.] He has taught courses in sustainable design, natural building, permaculture and technologies of the future to students from more than 50 nations.

In 1980, Bates shared in the first Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize) as part of the executive board of Plenty International.

Published works

Bates is author of many books on law, energy, history and environment, including:
*"Climate in Crisis" (1990),
*"Voices from The Farm" (1998) with Rupert Fike
*"The Y2K Survival Guide and Cookbook" (1999)

His latest book is "The Post-petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times", published in 2006. [. [http://www.newsociety.com/bookid/3927 "The Post-petroleum Survival Guide and Cookbook: Recipes for Changing Times" (2006)] . New Society Publishers.] In it Bates examines the transition from a society based on abundant cheap petroleum to one of "compelled conservation." The book looks at the ways of preparing for this transition. He regards the coming change as an opportunity to "redeem our essential interconnectedness with nature and with each other."

In his introduction, Bates outlines the realities of declining fossil energy and global climate change. He puts forward a "twelve step petrochemical recovery program," from post-growth economics through methods to conserve fresh water, manage wastes, generate energy, produce and store food, and travel without the aid of fossil fuels. As a review by Ryan McGreal states: "The central message in this book is sustainability and permaculture. A recurring theme is that every waste product is something else's food, and that the most sustainable arrangement works with the prevailing conditions, not against them."McGreal, Ryan (January 10, 2007) [http://www.raisethehammer.org/index.asp?id=481 "Reviews."] Raise the Hammer, Hamilton, Ontario. Retrieved on: February 25, 2007.] McGreal summarizes Bates' proposals for human adaptation as follows:

:"Instead of wasting energy trying to fight nature, it makes more sense to understand nature and use it to your mutual benefit. This, of course, means the end of one-size-fits-all industrial solutions and a return to decentralized, idiosyncratic plans based on local conditions."

References

External links

* [http://culturechange.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=163&Itemid Where's the reset button?] "Culture Change," March, 2008. Accessed: 2008-03-20.
* [http://transitionculture.org/?p=254#more-254 The Curse of the Were-Rabbit as a Post-Apocalyptic Utopia] "Transition Culture," Feb, 2006. Accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.lifebridge.org/news10/index.htm Dreaming A Sustainable Environment] "The Bridging Tree," Summer 2002. Accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbp1.html Technological Innovations in a Rural Intentional Community] "The Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society," 1987. Accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbp17.html When Architectural Design Fosters Community Goals: The Oneida Mansion House] "Communities Magazine," Summer 1997. Accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbp5.html The Karma of Kerma: Nuclear Power and Natural Rights] "Journal of Environmental Law and Litigation," Univ. of Oregon School of Law Vol 9, Page 3 February, 1988. Online version accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbseattle.html The Gospel of Chief Seattle: Written for Television] "Natural Rights," Spring 1990. Online version accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbwaco.html Showtime in Waco] "Communities Magazine," Summer 1995. Online version accessed: 2006-06-11.
* [http://www.thefarm.org/lifestyle/albertbates/akbp12.html Contemplating Megadeaths: Cultural Memory and Cataclysmic Events] "The Permaculture Activist," Summer 2003. Online version accessed: 2006-06-11.