King of the Planet
Charles III and the Great Reset
The Sayings of Abu Francis
I say, the measure of a man is not what he says people ought to do, but what he himself actually does.
When thinking about the greatest environmentalists in history, King Charles III doesn’t really come to mind. He’s been called everything from cold and cruel, to dotty (British for “mad or eccentric”); from a prat and a twit (British for “idiot”), to a pro-natural medicine quack and anti-GMO alarmist.
Yet, “possibly the most significant environmental figure in history” is exactly how he is described by Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England.
“For 50 years, he’s been involved with discussions about tropical rainforests and deforestation, sustainable agriculture and farming, water, food security, climate change,” says Juniper, whose Natural England is like a government-sponsored Sierra Club. “He’s accumulated vast knowledge on these subjects and has been extremely driven and hard-working in making a contribution on it.”
It seems Charles was quite moved by the European Conservation Year (1970 – same year as the first Earth Day in the U.S.). The 21-year-old prince volunteered to head up the Countryside Committee for Wales.
“We are faced at this moment with the horrifying effects of pollution in all its cancerous forms,” young Charles said at the inaugural meeting. “There is the growing menace of oil pollution at sea … chemical pollution discharged into rivers from factories and chemical plants … air pollution from smoke and fumes discharged by factories and from gases pumped out by endless cars and aeroplanes.”
Obviously, pronouncements by politicians and business leaders haven’t amounted to much as pollution and climate change have continued to roar towards the cliff like a runaway lorry (British for “18-wheeler”). Actions, however, best reveal the measure of a man and Charles has been acting like a permaculturist for decades.
As the eldest son of the monarch, he got Duke of Cornwall added to his titles – and control of some 135,000 acres of farmland spread across 23 counties. In 1980, he added Highgrove estate with 340 acres of farmland.
Highgrove was developed as a sustainable residence, featuring organic gardens, composting of kitchen waste and a reed-bed sewage system. There’s rainwater collection, solar panels on the roof and biomass boilers and heat pumps to provide heating and hot water.
About 400 solar panels help run Charles’ Duchy Home Farm operations
Adjacent to Highgrove, the 900-acre Duchy Home Farm pioneered a CSA (American for “veg box scheme”), sold organic produce to grocery stores and restaurants, and – not unlike Paul Newman – launched Duchy Originals, a premium organic food and drink brand to benefit the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund.
In a move that inflamed New World Order conspiracy buffs, Charles endorsed the “Great Reset Initiative,” an economic recovery plan drawn up by the World Economic Forum in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a June 2020 video, Charles said nature must be at the heart of human society.
"Nature's contribution to the global economy is estimated to be worth $125 trillion annually," he said at the World Economic Forum is Davos, Switzerland. "We must – rapidly – realign our own economy to mimic nature's economy and work in harmony with it."
Creating a sustainable food system in harmony with nature on a village scale sounds like a permaculture plan to me. The question remains as to how much of a champion Charles will be now that he is king of Britain. Most commentators quickly point out that royals – especially monarchs – have no business wrestling in the mud of policy.
“My life will, of course, change as I take up my new responsibilities,” Charles said in his first official address as king. “It will no longer be possible for me to give so much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply. But I know this important work will go on in the trusted hands of others.”
Juniper of Natural England has his eye on Prince William, not only next heir to the throne (should the monarchy last) but new Duke of Cornwall. He said William used his speech at Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee in June to mention issues of climate change, deforestation and loss of wildlife.
Maybe William can continue to transform Highgrove and Cornwall. All our grassroots actions at the local level are crucial, especially when all the monarchies and oligarchies are sending us all to the brink. But at this late hour, our planet could also use a new William Wilberforce, someone with top-down power.
Wilberforce, who died in 1833, was a British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade. For 20 years, he led the parliamentary campaign against the British slave trade, resulting in the Slave Trade Act of 1807.
Charles may be our man, I say. William may be our man.
What say you?
