power distribution

When Accountability Is Framed as Aggression: A Case Study from the Finnish Permaculture Association

This email exchange shows how valid concerns about process, conflict of interest, and accountability were dismissed or reframed as personal attacks.

I publish this to document what happens when a culture resists clarity — and how ethics like transparency and fair share are easily overridden in the name of “sociocratic process.”

This is not about attacking individuals. It’s about showing patterns that hinder progress and erode trust.

When Process Overrides Ethics: A Case Study in Permaculture Governance

In 2022, I raised concerns about permaculture certification processes being shaped by people without the relevant qualifications — specifically, the Diploma paths being discussed by non-diploma holders at Suomen Permakulttuuri Yhdistys.

The thread below is from the assosication's Slack workspace. I’m sharing it to document the origins of a conflict that eventually led to my resignation from the Finnish Permaculture Association.