Permaculture, Fruit, and Nitrogen

[Jon Miller]

Aeson, I never liked SimFarm enough to do what you do, but I do appreciate it and think it is cool. Thanks for the update.

JM

[Sava]

I understand, now, how people at the CIA all those years, when it came to poppin off some leader, they were just like, "pfffft, yeah that guy sucks, take him out"

[Sava]

maybe one day I can have a foreign policy

[Aeson]

why did you choose to live in such a terrible place?

even before the new president came up, not like that society was functioning on all cylinders

For where I am in Bohol specifically... Friendly, hardworking people. Warm climate, clean air ... beautiful, green, lush environment.

And with just a bit of money you can get a lot done.

There's crap everywhere in the world. I don't like Duterte's stance on drugs, but our own war on drugs has been a disaster.

The toughest part are the visa hassles, and the drought the last 2 years. We are getting a nice soak now though, perfectly timed after transplanting hundreds of plants on the Swales.

[Aeson]

Aeson, I never liked SimFarm enough to do what you do, but I do appreciate it and think it is cool. Thanks for the update.

JM

Thanks, it's been an adventure. I'm not much of a farmer myself.

[Aeson]

Here are the two narra (rosewood) trees. This was an old carabao swimming pool that we've been filling in with farm waste and rotting wood/bamboo left over from construction. Was about 6 feet deep from the current level. So lots of organic matter in there.

Papaya and lemonsito (like a small lime) seedlings in the pots on the makeshift table. Normally we'd leave them on the ground, but our new puppies are very industrious when it comes to weeding.

The trees were spaced to allow stringing a hammock between them. Another couple years and they should be sturdy enough for that ultimate purpose.

[The Mad Monk]

Sorry for the insert, but this also now the Philippine Drug War Thread, so...

Philippine Leader Rodrigo Duterte Links Judges, Politicians, Police to Illegal Drug Trade

Originally Posted by WSJ
MANILA—Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte unveiled a list of more than 150 judges, politicians, police and military personnel allegedly involved in the illegal narcotics trade, part of a campaign promise to pursue those linked to drugs.

Mr. Duterte read the list, which he said had been seen by the police and the military, on national television Sunday while attending the wake of a fallen soldier. He said those on the list were “destroying the country” and likened their alleged involvement in the drug trade to treason.

Mr. Duterte ordered police and military personnel who had been assigned to protect the accused judges, lawmakers and politicians relieved of their duties, and told them to return to their headquarters. He also ordered the cancellation of gun licenses to the judges and politicians.

Police and military personnel on the list were to report to face administrative charges, while judges must report to the Supreme Court within 24 hours, Mr. Duterte said.

If “you do not do that, I will order the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the entire Philippine National Police to hunt for you,” Mr. Duterte warned.

Michael Rama, a former mayor of Cebu City, was among those named in Mr. Duterte’s list. A post on his Facebook page said he was saddened by his inclusion in the list. At a news conference Sunday, Mr. Rama said: “We are very much supportive of the relentless drive of our president against drugs. I am very much eager to clear the air, to clear whatever doubts, to clear whatever accusations are being leveled against me.”

“Even how untrue this accusation is, should this be the way and the necessary step to win the war against drugs, I will fully cooperate with the authorities to immediately clear my name and we trust that we will be given the opportunity to present our side and prove our innocence,” Mr. Rama said, adding he supports the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said the military personnel named by Mr. Duterte have already been relieved of their duties and must report to headquarters. “They will undergo administrative proceedings, that is charged, heard and judgment rendered thereafter as part of due process,” he said.

“The [Armed Forces of the Philippines] will be unrelenting in its campaign against illegal drugs. The full force of applicable military, criminal and civil laws will be applied without letup,” Gen. Padilla added.

Mr. Duterte said there were about 600,000 drug addicts in the Southeast Asian country, whether users or dealers, and blamed the involvement of government personnel for allowing the number to grow. “How is it that [it] is in this magnitude?’’ he asked. “It is because government personnel were into it. That’s the explanation.”

Mr. Duterte took office June 30 after winning an election on pledges to crack down on the illegal drug trade, a page from his earlier position as a tough anticrime mayor in the southern city of Davao. He has vowed to wage a relentless and bloody campaign.

Early last month, Mr. Duterte named five police generals—two of them already retired—with alleged links to the illegal drug trade. All five have faced investigations and all five have denied involvement in the narcotics trade.

Local media have counted more than 500 drug-related deaths since Mr. Duterte took office, with many shot by police officers for allegedly resisting arrest, or killed by suspected vigilantes.

Mr. Duterte warned human-rights groups not to stand in the way of the government’s campaign by filing legal complaints against policemen and soldiers for alleged human-rights violations. “I would like to say now—they will never go to prison—not under my watch,” he said. Mr. Duterte didn’t comment on the figure of 500 drug-related deaths.

Even before Mr. Duterte was sworn in, thousands of people turned themselves in to authorities, fearful of being killed. Many have been turned away for lack of space at rehabilitation clinics. Mr. Duterte said military camps will be opened to accommodate those seeking rehabilitation.

Mr. Duterte had said drugs being used in the Philippines, mainly crystal methamphetamine, come from international drug syndicates.

Is Duterte pulling an Erdogan here?

[Aeson]

I don't think so. It's a very small number of officials for a "purge", and doesn't include a lot of public dissenters.

There is a lot of corruption, and at least some high level officials have been protecting drug lords. Hopefully everyone gets a fair trial, and any of those who are wrongly accused have their names cleared.

The corruption clouds the bolded issue too. There are wildly different stories coming out about many of these armed conflicts and killings. Duterte is saying he's going to trust the low level police and soldiers.

[Sava]

you ever have any trouble? any ignorant local give you crap about being a white imperialist?

[Aeson]

No trouble, outside this forum at least

[Dinner]

Aeson look into hugalkulture as a way to improve drought proofing you property, as much as you can, and to increase productivity.

[Aeson]

I haven't tried outright hugelkultur, but probably will build at least a few beds using that technique.

We're using a variation on it in general ... putting a lot of woody material in the bottom of the trenches when forming the swales. That will be continually replenished since it will tend to break down relatively fast in the tropics. We'll do so by chop and drop from the nitrogen fixers and moringa, as well as some when pruning the fruit trees. It should have a similar long term effect.

[pchang]

Duterte is now threatening to leave the UN. I do agree that the UN has been mostly ineffective.