The Island Project

My Dream Island

Abhijit Bhattacharjee is a member of the Island Project, a couchsurfing group that dreams of living in an island community. The following is largely from posts in that group.

I dream of an intelligent island. By intelligence I mean it shall be basic and primitive in the way it coexists with the environment and yet at the same time it shall be receptive to adoption of the most modern technologies which can enhance the quality of our lives, like communication and energy technologies.

While I write this, I keep in my mental image an island in the tropical latitudes, there are strong reasons to assume this. And also a multinational community strength of perhaps 30-50, not including children below 10. A kind of number where the interpersonal relations between each individual is close enough and yet a number big enough for security, a critical mass of essential skills and sane consensus building on matters that face an island community. That also looks like a number which a small island can support. An island of a size say of 1 - 5 square kilometers. That small an island is likely to be found uninhabited today (especially if isolated) and will not be attractive for other settlers and the government to impose its muscles or its laws.

When we were kids there was a science lesson that talked about the 5 basic needs of man. These were 1. Air 2. Water 3. Food 4. Shelter 5. Clothing

In our island project I think we need to worry about the three in the middle and leave the last as an optional for the individual. A bunch of clothes these days, anyway, last a lot many years.

Water : Some islands offer the luxury of fresh clean drinkable water in the water table, which could be drawn out through a few hand pumped tube wells or simply a well. If there is a significant mountain feature, there could also be springs. Coral atolls / Guano islands however beautiful usually do not offer fresh water in underground water tables. Islands of volcanic origin are more suitable. Otherwise water has to come from rainwater harvesting, building ponds and storage tanks that have to be protected from contamination, larvae breeding etc. Rains have to be plentiful, predictable and year round in such a scenario. The tropics generally see a lot of rainfall. Water requirements for the humans and animals, bathing, cooking and washing is a considerable amount of water that needs to be looked at.

Food : Most food should be grown on the island. The island should inhabit only that many people as its ecological footprint can support in a sustainable manner.

Vegetable food : Fruits that can grow on the island. Tropical fruits like bananas, mangoes, papayas, jackfruits are good for the amount of food a single tree can produce and they grow relatively unattended. Coconuts are great too and we must have lots of coconut trees that already grow on that island. Varieties of other fruits and vegetables from other continents that can possibly grow in that island amongst the local flora will be planted. Especially some citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and their subspecies which can grow wild. Small guavas, pineapples varieties that can grow wild for example, many berries and nuts. We will plant spices and herbs. Similarly some vegetables like green tomatoes and others are capable of growing wild and plentifully. Varieties of Colocasia, tapiocas, potatoes, beans and vines. Some soil supplements if required can be provided for. A little fenced in land will be set aside for intensively cultivated crops for our essential needs.

Cereals crops (rice, wheat) cannot be grown easily, but thankfully they can be stored for long. Cereals could be brought from the mainland and stored in an air tight underground granary whose protection from pests and weather we have to take care with suitable arrangements. The cost of cereals is low. Some sugar, tea and coffee perhaps, because these cannot be grown/processed by ourselves. A process to extract coconut oil by a hand operated machine needs to be at place in the island. That oil will be used for cooking.

Animal food : Pigs can consume our waste products and they grow and reproduce fast. Grassland that we have will be looked into to calculate the number of goats and rabbits that it can support. Perhaps a handful of cows for the milk. Deers if introduced can grow wild. Overgrazing has been a reason to make islands inhabitable in the past. Its a very fine balance. Some hens can be left in the island. They are also excellent cultivators. Most islands are free from carnivorous predators, sometimes not even snakes. The few humans on the island shall be on top of the food chain. Animals will be killed (I dont wish to ameliorate that word) with as little suffering as possible near the end of their normal lifespans.

Fishing: A manner to fish in the waters close by. An easy arrangement can be a creek where water gets in at high tide to bring some fish, crabs etc that are left into the nets. These we can consume with some discipline. Limited spearing may be permitted in a reef closeby. We shall learn ways to salt and preserve fish and meat when plentiful.

Meals will be cooked in a community kitchen to enforce discipline, reduce wastage, saving of firewood and avoid duplication of efforts.

Some alcohol can be produced by ourselves. Tobacco and Marijuana if opted by consensus can grow wild.

We shall learn to eat only as much as we need.

Shelter: Bamboos grow wild and replace quickly. Our homes shall be made of bamboo walls, and thatched roofs made of coconut leaves, underlined perhaps with polythene sheets. Storage areas will be underground in earth sheltered cellars, lined with tar for moisture proofing.

Many tropical islands are volcanic in origin and lie in earthquake prone areas. Bamboo huts are free from the risk of earthquakes and all housing shall be at least 15 meters above sea level to ensure protection from Tsunamis. All islands are not threatened by powerful cyclones.

Some carpentry skills will be employed in preparing functional pieces of furniture from local hardwoods, bamboos, cane etc. Sleeping is on the floor on grass mats.

There will be a community centre around a large courtyard that shall compose of the administrative office, the kitchen and dining hall, a communication center with telephone and Internet access, some recreation, library, television and the central storage areas. Single members shall be offered housing around the community center. Current couples can be housed a little distance away in units, if preferred. There shall be a small health centre with the basic medical facilities attended by one of the doctors if resident in the island or else by any volunteer.

Key Skills: The island needs to have members that bring in skills that are critical to our survival. These would be permaculture, energy, communication, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, fishing, sailing, carpentry, food preservation, basket weavers, tree climbers, network administrator, landscape artist, radio enthusiast, botanists, cuisine artists, boat repairer, electrician, plumber, sewage treatment, zoologist, beer maker and so on. And that knowledge will be shared and retained in memes which will be our invented culture. A multinational commune is particularly attractive in that sense because it becomes a pool of knowledge and culture multiplied by that many times.

Source of income: Amongst the islanders themselves, there will no concept of personal posessions. The islanders themselves have no use of money but we could be looking out for some income to pay for the technologies that we invest in, to buy some petroleum products and the cereals we buy. Also other simple expendables which is a long list of items that includes things like paper and batteries. We need to build and maintain a kitty for larger investments that come our way.

That source of income could be

1. Outsourcing : There shall many qualified individuals amongst us who can offer many different services to the mainland remotely over the computer network. This is voluntary and the income is not personal but it does get that person prestige in the community for his/her contributions. But a culture of elitism or classes will not be espoused. These can be software and other services, creative work like writers and artists, scientific work, research etc. We can produce handicrafts, bead necklaces, candles or whatever else we can that can be sold by our non islander associates in the mainland to bring in revenues and our self dignity wherever possible. My aspiration is a highly reputed centre of excellence, perhaps software, perhaps biotechnology. All of these can bring in considerably large savings for this community. The actual cost per individual per day in the island should be as low as the equivalent of $2 per day with all the technological infrastructure cost included. This is not a ridiculous figure. This is indeed the cost of living of most living people in the world today.

2. Research Activities : The island and its unique exercise is capable of producing valuable data for sustainable living, renewable energy research, housing, permaculture, environmental conservation, marine biology, closed ecological systems etc. This can be paid for from grants. Little things like manning a lighthouse or radio station in a remote island can be a valuable service. Collection of weather and seismic data, ecological data and samples. Or resident conservation work for turtles, birds and other species.

3. Donations from philanthropists.

4. Visit passes : Non islanders who visit and stay can be charged per day. There shall be a quota for the number of such visitors which should be only about 5% of the total population. It is not to be a tourism destination. Only people who are desirous to share our way of life for a few days at a time. Some of them may bring in fresh knowledge and expertise.

5. Other sources : There can be other sources of income like reality television, live-cams, sale of souvenirs etc. But anything thats overly commercial or intrusive to our way of life is not recommended.

Sanitation: Facilities for bathing and washing shall be made as much common as possible. The sewage will be treated in a manner which does not effect the environment in any harmful manner and is not a nuisance to the inhabitants. The toilets will be common also and it will be seen how some of the organic wastes can be recycled into the system. Urine into a fertilizer for example. Soaps and detergents can be avoided altogether. There are also purely herbal alternatives. A single cemented overhead water tank can offer us the luxury of tap water. The tank can be charged from a natural head through siting.

Healthcare: A small medical facility with capabilities to offer first aid and common essential drugs.

Education : There shall be a small island school for the children upto the age of 10 and Internet facilities and a library for the elders. The island in its current conception is not considered suitable for the education of children after the age of 10. Similarly, a consensus needs to be built about what is the minimum age to gain admission to the island as a young adult.

Security : The islanders shall look into how they need to secure themselves from marauding vandalisers or risk at sea.

Transportation : The islanders shall have one reliable engine propelled boat suitable for moving its stores from mainland and transportation of upto 5 passengers at a time. The fuel for this boat will be stored in the administrative center in an underground cellar. The mainland or the nearest larger habitation should be at a radius of about 50 kilometers.

Energy : The island shall try to install a wind generated power facility which should be adequate to meet the power requirement of the inhabitants. If there is a stream or a river there may be a watermill. Lighting shall be using LED powered lights, residents encouraged to sleep early, TV watching and dining as a group activity, no heating or air-conditioning. We may actually be running an energy surplus. Solar energy can supply energy for isolated locations. There shall be a back up diesel generator. Perhaps something that can also run on coconut oil.

Communication : The island shall have an adequate number of computers which shall be networked locally by cable and wireless. There shall be a gateway which shall connect to the Internet through a suitable bandwidth using appropriate affordable technology of the day, satellite or wireless. Perhaps VHF connectivity to the next habitation and HF connectivity to rest of the world. There are existing HF based communication networks which allow email communication between yacht owners. Television thankfully is accessible over satellite from any part of the world.

Inventory: We shall maintain an inventory of items that shall be donated by arriving members and others, which shall contain the items that we are likely to need, like seeds, tools, essential spares, books, music and items of personal use. But not for trash collection, especially plastic. A pool of toys for our children originating from many nations.

What shall be the price tag to get this going ?

That depends a lot on where we choose to be and how we go about this.

We could simply choose to settle in a suitable island of our choice which is under the sovereignty of a benign people. Or else we can decide to buy an island through subscription or donation. There could be many models. This is most affordable in developing world where the price tag is not into the millions. Fortunately, these countries are in the tropics.

I think it would be possible to raise a large part of the initial funding from a donation from an individual, through demonstration of our sincere purpose and some activism in this regard. There are many billionaires who are also dreamers. Some of them already own islands. May be one can allow us to live out this dream.

What kind of a island should it be.

It should be an island in the tropics which has good soil and is supportive of trees that we plant there. An island of volcanic origin is likely to offer some relief with most parts high above sea level but we dont want a rocky outcrop or a steep boulder. It should be nice flat in the middle, habitable. It should be between 1 to 5 square kilometers in size. Thankfully there are many islands of this size and they are not inhabited.

It should be some distance away from habitation but not so far away that we find difficulty in maintaining our supplies or meeting emergencies. This is a conflicting requirement but I keep the figure of 50 kilometers because that distance is fordable by a small boat as ours, and that range is possibly the outer limit of wireless data connectivity between moderately raised features (50 meters asl) at both ends.

So what is life going to look like there ?

To rise early with the other animals, to take a walk by the sea with the others, do some work, watch the plants grow, teach the children something, engage in discussions and learning, dance to our music around the fire into the night, express our sexual urges freely and sleep on most nights not long after sunset.

With all the cooking, growing trees, teaching the kids, basket weaving, salt making, salting meats and professional work through the day, there will not be an awful lot of time remaining. And if there be, why worry about it.

I was once wondering about the quality of life of the lowly butterfly as it fluttered its wings moving from flower to flower. I wondered how much happiness was there in her life. And then I had to wonder, just how much happiness should be the fate of the planets supposedly most intelligent species? How much daily laughter, how much work, how much leisure.

In effect we shall be living our lives in two planes. In a sophisticated plane as true modernists, we shall be open to intellectual stimulation arriving through our virtual connection to the other parts of humanity. And another at a very basic primitive plane where we shall connect directly to raw nature, environment and an awareness of our being in it.

Its been called simple living and high thinking. And its perhaps the best life one can find. The ideas described here echo closely to the concept of an "Ashram". Knowledge sages of the Indian heritage thousands of years ago lived this and prescribed this for their pupil. They were extremely productive in this environment.

Here is to find out what we really need and what it takes to obtain it while being in harmony with nature, without stealing from the future, destroying, stripping it bare of resources and life, filling it up with smoke. To overproduce to serve no real needs. A rejection of greed and consequent slavery. Here, there is only spring and winter, rains and sunshine, full moon nights and starry skies. To live long and disease free lives without fear and stress.

Are we talking of a community which shall be a bunch of anarchists. I would tend to think not. I think the desire to be an anarchist is a reaction to the oppression. We would want our island to be the opposite of anarchy. It shall have a liberal but responsible constitution whose code of conduct, discipline we shall have to follow with our lives. We wish to be a living example that it is possible to be. This may sound Utopian but I think such things can become a lifestyle of choice into the future.

Each member shall have his duties and responsibilities cut out. It is as far from anarchy as I can think. I can only envisage trouble arising from sexual politics, but that may have to do with how we understand our sexuality. Here is an experiment to find what is that way for perennial harmonious non-violent lives for humans. If we are to approach this as a getaway for simply merry making, its life, like a prophylactic, is destined to be limited.

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While writing all of this, in my mental image are the Andaman Islands in India. These are astounding 576 islands of which only 26 are inhabited. With a modern airport and a capital town with a population of a 100,000 in the vicinity, yet 900 kms away from mainland in India.

In fact, some of the oldest living tribes of the world, untouched for 60,000 years by rest of civilisation survive in the Andamans, proving how suitable these islands are for living sustainably by humans with no external inputs. A most extraordinary landscape where tropical rainforests start where the coral reefs and the sandy beaches end. The soil very fertile. Everything you need already grows there.

Incidentally, this is not far from where the film "The Beach" was filmed. A sad film on a good plot.

If ever there will be such a thing anywhere in the world, some of you I am sure, will surely be there.

--59.93.216.96 00:20, 19 December 2006 (EST)

Image:Http://www.andaman.org/BOOK/chapter8/Sentineli-beach.jpg

The beach at the Sentinel island in Andamans. The people in the image are Sentinelese who have had virtually no contact with the rest of civilisation till today. Image credit: Andaman.org Our aim would not be to colonise islands where they live or effect their lives in any manner. There are many other islands where no tribes live. In fact we are only inspired by them and they enjoy our highest respects.

Update on the quest for the dream island:- After traveling the Andaman islands off the beaten track for the past few months I have found the dream island .It is no where near the sentinel island which is off-limits to everyone even the army.The water is crystal clear.Dolphin and whales are all over the place. There is an island called the Avis island which has already been take on a 30 year lease by a company called barefoot based in haverlock. Will go back to pursue my dream further...--Navinkurian2002 07:45, 21 January 2007 (EST)

Plato saw Diogenes washing lettuces, came up to him and quietly said to him, "Had you paid court to Dionysius you wouldn't now be washing lettuces." Diogenes with equal calmness answered, "If you had washed lettuces, you wouldn't have paid court to Dionysius."