GEN-europe: Latest News

Green Phoenix Congress 2012 - Models for a Culture of Peace

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:16:00 +0100

A conference preparing for a system change for a global culture of peace We think that the needed changes in the world will happen through community models. In these models we test in real life conditions, under different circumstances and scales, solutions in the areas of ecology, economy, spiritual consciousness and social structures. Green Phoenix brings together community practitioners, experts, policy and decision makers, businesses and donors, as well as the general public. Aims: At the surge of a new cycle, a time full of opportunities you are coming:

to communicate and connect with other communities and projects with the support of experts
to learn from the experience of communities and projects and find ways for improvement
to get in touch with innovative ideas for projects.

This year we search for the specific relevance, function and mutual support between different community types in the process of the greater system change. We distinguish between urban, rural, mixed and virtual communities as well as communities in crisis areas. MEETING THE NEEDS IN AN URBAN REALITY More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, including almost half the world’s children. How do just, safe, self-sustaining cities look like? Urban community models exist and will be shared at Green Phoenix 2012. We shall also conceive together a joint urban vision. COHERENCE AND SUPPORT BETWEEN EXISTING COMMUNITIES Our vision binds us together. We have made a conscious choice to live together, sharing our ecological, economical and spiritual questions, and to bring them to a wider attention. Representatives of such initiatives come and share their knowledge and meet others that have made the same commitments. THE POWER OF VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES TO CHANGE THE WORLD Social movements organised with the support of communication technologies, social media, as well as more access to the Internet and mobile telecommunications are an exciting new development of the global world. How can we use these tools to maximise our impact and achieve critical mass for global change? CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION AND PEACEBUILDING IN CRISIS AREAS Representatives from Brasil, Columbia, Kenya and Israel-Palestine communities share information about their specific contexts. Building a sustainable culture of peace is a big priority for them. What can we learn from them? How can we support them in their daily efforts for peace? ADDING EXPERTISE 2012 This congress is the development from the congresses in 2010 and 2011. This year’s GREEN PHOENIX lectures will be centered around the following topics and more:

Applying System Theory to the impending overall system change
Spirituality and money, mainstream and parallel system
Plan B, how will a society/community change when its commons (air, water, food, earth, resources, etc.) are valued on all levels and managed to the benefit of all
Love and partnership in a peaceful culture

METHODOLOGY OF THE CONGRESS Learning and sharing methods include plenum and group work, panels and circle discussions, world café, cultural and artistic contributions in order to feed our body, mind, soul and spirit. INTER-GENERATIONAL AND GENDER AWARE DIALOGUE The organising team is taking extra steps this year to ensure a large spectrum of diversity. In the year of its 30^th anniversary, the Center of Unity Schweibenalp is honoured to host the 3^rd edition of Green Phoenix. Congress fees: Early bird fees (Payment until 1 August): CHF 150.-/person Youth fee (until 30 years old): CHF 150.-/person Full fee: CHF 250.-/person Information on the congress: Corina Simon, corina.simon@schweibenalp.ch Account details: Berner Kantonalbank AG Hauptstrasse 142 3855 Brienz PC 30-106-9 Verein Green Phoenix Schweibenalp, 3855 Brienz Kto.-Nr.: 42767968265 IBAN CH 600 079 004 276 796 826 5 SWIFT: KBBECH22 Food and lodging: At Schweibenalp: According to the room between CHF 85.- and CHF 110.- /night/person with full board in double or shared space. Half price for youth. At Chemihütte Axalp or Brienz: Various prices slightly above. Daily transportation at additional cost. Registration and information: Center of Unity Schweibenalp CH-3855 Brienz Switzerland Tel. +41 (0) 33 952 2000 Fax +41 (0) 33 952 2009 info@schweibenalp.ch www.greenphoenixglobally.wordpress.com www.schweibenalp.ch

Traditional Transylvania

Thu, 03 May 2012 09:03:00 +0100

Provision: The Transylvania School of Self-Sufficiency opens this summer offering one week courses in self-sufficient living. Founders Lars and Robyn moved to Transylvania 3 years ago and discovered one of the last corners in Europe where true sustainability can be found in the majority of its rural villages. Villagers practice self-sufficiency in a way that used to be common practice . They maintain a low impact life style, which is reflected nowadays in our modern eco villages. Provision is a Transylvania-based informal school that offers its student visitors the possibility to get inspired and learn through osmosis from local sustainable practices.
“we wish to make the rich local wisdom available, not only to ourselves, but to our visitors as well. We believe that incorporating traditional, local knowledge is an important element in creating new pathways to a more balanced world.” All of Provision’s faculty live in Transylvania and choose to participate in a subsistence farming life style.
Provision operates on a gift economy basis (donation) and its proceeds go towards helping those living a low impact life style around the village of Alunisu, where Provision is based, to continue.
For more information please visit: www.provisiontransylvania.com

First Ecovillage Day celebrated in Ecovillages all over the world

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0100

With communities participating in Spain, the UK, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, South Africa and many more it was a beautiful and diverse symbol - an expression of our hope for a collective change towards a more sustainable future in this world.
Activities ranged from presentations, fire ceremonies, open spaces to prayers, shared meals, tree planting, music and guided tours. One of the highlights was a mutual time of silence all around the globe, where many ecovillages and communities gathered to unite in their shared vision for 45 minutes. Here is a short report from the community of Son Rullan, Spain: "Earth/Ecovillage Day was simply beautiful and beautifully simple. The meditation was attended by about 20 people and the evening talk I gave about GEN and Gaia Education by about 40 ... with coming and goings there might have been about 45-50 folks who showed up. The open space went well. Elisabeth Sathouris was one of the surprise guests who offered a talk during open space." We hope you had a wonderful Ecovillage Day 2012 and look forward to hearing about your plans for next year to feature them on our website and the website of our partner Earth Day Network. For more testimonials and pictures from participating ecovillages, click here.

Legal Precedent

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:06:00 +0100

A recent decision made by the Court of Appeals of Turin (Italy) represents an important step forward for the legal recognition of communities.
The case involved a lawsuit brought against Damanhur Community by a former community member on the grounds that when she was living there she performed subordinate work as an employee of Damanhur.
This person lived at Damanhur for about 10 years and participated fully in community life – using her skills to grow the community and in turn freely partaking of all community facilities and services, as do all the people who choose to live in community. From the community’s point of view, instead of doing subordinate work as an employee, even though compensated, she was contributing to the growth of the community as stated in its constitution, which she chose to follow when she joined Damanhur.
In the first lawsuit this argument was only partially accepted, recognizing that the former citizen received fair compensation for her work, but measuring the situation with the traditional regulations regarding work. In the appeal, the lower court ruling was overturned, upholding Damanhur’s argument that there is no subordinate work in community, even if compensated, because people who live in community decide freely, and based on motivations other than just money, how to invest their time and energy. The verdict quoted Damanhur's constitution: "Work has spiritual value and is understood as a gift of oneself to others. Through it everyone takes part in the spiritual and material activities of the people carrying out tasks as they are necessary."
For the first time, a court in Italy recognized that a community is not a business, and therefore it is not subject to traditional work laws. This is a very important precedent towards the legal recognition of communities and ecovillages as a separate class of organizations, something GEN-Europe and the Italian communities have been working on for several years.

Ecovillages Conference in Russia

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 08:56:00 +0100

About 200 participants from all over Russia participated in the ‘Ecovillages for Sustainable Development’ conference held at the Saint Petersburg Forest Technical University on March 22-23, organised by the newly formalized Russian Ecovillage and Eco Initiative Network. Aiming at presenting the ecovillage concept and ecovillage movement to a wider audience, the conference attracted participants from regional and local authorities, big and small NGOs, students and teachers as well as representatives of Russian ecovillages. GEN Europe was represented by council members Robert Hall (Sweden) and Toomas Trapido (Estonia). The purpose of the conference was to present the phenomenon of ecovillages, to show it’s potential and find ways of co-operation with governments, universities and NGOs active in the field of sustainability. The conference was organised in the frame of the ‘Ecovillages for Sustainable Rural Development’ project and sponsored by the Swedish Institute.

“Best Practice” - Transition To Resilience

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:14:00 +0100

The Transition To Resilience program (TRT) is a partnership of GEN-Europe and seven other European organisations, which brought together a team of experts in the field of community, social, economical and ecological sustainability which enabled the creation of a two-year training for agents of change in the design and implementation of successful projects for sustainability. Following the recent completion of the team’s journey and presentation of its outcome, the program has been recognised as a “Best Practice” , a model for other future programs, by the EU life-long learning Program.

Kibbutz Lotan’s Eco-Guide Application

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0100

Many socially and environmentally conscious citizens dream about leaving the grid for good and getting back in touch with nature, but the general lack of sustainable infrastructure and available information (in the Middle East – especially compared to the United States and Europe) makes that task seem completely insurmountable. In response to this problem, Kibbutz Lotan’s Center for Creative Ecology in Israel, which is recognized as one of the world’s most advanced pioneers in all aspects of sustainable living, recently launched a fantastic eco-guide that covers everything from composting to earth architecture and how to get along in an ecologically-minded community. Some of the topics covered in this guide include:

Permaculture
Organic Gardening
Earth Building
Minimum to Zero Impact Cooking
Water Conservation
Compost Toilets
Passive Design Techniques
Community and Ecology

The app – which is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad and requires an iOS of 4.3 or later - was designed by a Kibbutz Lotan intern named Eli Gregory, who according to the Director of Research and Development Alex Cicelsky is “minded and talented” and “combined [Lotan's] work and Permaculture/ Sustainable Communities curriculum into this free resource.” Within each chapter are subchapters devoted to all of the small details of sustainable living. For example, under the organic gardening section, readers can learn about composting, vermicomposting (with worms), natural liquid fertilizer, seed balls, mulching and more. It’s possible to find recipes for earth plasters, straw bale construction, and other natural materials. This is an extremely accessible and practical resource which demonstrates that living the good life – what’s good for both humans and the earth – is less out of reach than most people would believe. There’s only one snag… even though the app is free, you have to have iTunes in order to make it yours. :: Kibbutz Lotan Eco-Guide App

from Green Prophet

Transition to Resilience Training - A Learning Adventure for Change Makers

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:17:00 +0100

This training is the product of a 2-year collaboration between many of the finest European agencies and organisations working in the fields of sustainablity and resilience including: Transition Town Network; Global Ecovillage Network, Permaculture Academy, Centre for Human Emergence, Findhorn Foundation, Damanhur, Sieben Linden, and The Hub Network.

Building on the best trainings available, we take this to a new level - supporting you on an archetypal, heroic journey towards realising, over time, succesful projects that really make a difference. We will facilitate your inquiry into the nature of change on three levels - I, We, and World - all the time grounding your insights into real work and having a real impact. Facilitated by Robin Alfred and Kosha Anja Joubert. For non-uk applicants, full funding for this course (travel, accommodation, food, course fees) can be obtained through the grundtvig in-service training scheme. Deadline: April 30!!!

Food and Accommodation 420 Euro Course Costs 570 Euro.

Further information on the training can be gained by contacting Iain Davidson on iain.davidson@findhorn.org who will be able to advise you on how to apply.

We very much hope you will join us here in Findhorn in December and we look forward to seeing you then.

Kosha Joubert (President, Global Ecovillage Network) Robin Alfred (Director, Findhorn Consultancy Service)

Iain Davidson (Findhorn Foundation)

World Cleanup 2012 started on 24th of March

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:19:00 +0100

On 24th of March, the global civic action named World Cleanup 2012 will be launched by massive cleanup days in Portugal and Slovenia, followed by a cleanup action in Tunisia a day after. The series of cleanup days, carried out in more than 80 countries will continue through the 6-month period of World Cleanup 2012, ending on 25th of September 2012. The aim of the action is to solve illegal dumping problem on a local and global level both short and long term – by engaging large part of the society to the cleanup activity on the action day, raising the issues related to illegal dumping and engaging both experts, political and local leaders to find more sustainable systemic solutions. The initiators of the action are coming from the international civic movement Let’s Do It! – working to join people’s efforts all over the world to make a clean and healthy environment a reality. Two countries, who are organizing the first cleanups on 24th – Portugal and Slovenia, are doing it the second time around. Portuguese organizers are looking to engage as many volunteers as first time, in 2010 – 100 000 people, to clean up enormous amount of illegal dumpsites all over the country. Carlos Evaristo, one of the six initiators behind the action in Portugal, says: “This time around, getting the support of the local municipalities, has been more difficult. It’s clear that they simply have much less resources at hand to help us.” Evaristo together with more than 100 national and local coordinating volunteers have worked for 6 months to prepare for the big cleanup, looking to pick up about 15 000 tons of waste on the 24th. Slovenia is sweeping up the waste also second time around – being the current record holder in the movement, by engaging shocking 14% of the population to the action in 2010, this time they are set on at least repeating the record by engaging 250 000 thousand waste pickers for the day. “Our aim is to help spread awareness on environmental issues and promote voluntary work through our action,” says the head of communication, Polonca Štritof. She adds that the team is also looking to aid in a positive and long-term change in the environmental legislation in Slovenia. Tunisia, who is organizing the cleanup action on 25th of March, has nowhere to look back. The vibrant team has worked hard and fast in a record time of just 6 weeks to gather together 22 different cities all over Tunisia for a joint cleanup day. The turbulence in the country’s recent past has not held the organizers back. Instead they see this action as a way to further express their ownership of their home: "People came together to disengage a dictator, and now, we must come together again, to disengage the pollution in our country," says one of the cleanup initiators, Wassim Chaabane. He admits that the preparation period for the action has been very intense, requiring them to act big and fast: “To introduce the action and raise the issue, we organized a flashmob on 17th of March in the city centre. More than 5000 people participated from boys to girls, from young to old. The idea behind it was that all the people were dancing, until one boy dropped a paper on the ground, then the whole world stopped and stood still. Only after a girl picked the litter up and placed it in the bin, did the dance continue,” said Chaabane. Tunisian team is working together closely with local municipalities to make sure the collected waste gets handled safely: “The municipality, the government will help us to get rid of the garbage and they will move it to a controlled discharge,” said Chaabane. World Cleanup 2012 action calendar can be found here: http://www.letsdoitworld.org/cleanup_dates More information - Homepage: www.letsdoitworld.org Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/letsdoitworld

GEN presenting Solutions at Planet under Pressure

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 08:58:00 +0100

From March 26-29 the Planet under Pressure 2012 Conference was held in London. Scientists from all over the world gathered to give an update of their insights into the Earth system and the pressure our planet is currently under.

Kosha Joubert (President GEN-Interantional, Executive Secretary GEN-Europe) and Macaco Tamerice (President GEN-Europe) joined the conference to offer a presentation on „Resilient communities: local pathways to meet the energy, climate and resource depletion challenges“.

They examined the role of community-led initiatives in response to resource depletion, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the provision and efficient consumption of energy services.

During the conference, various key speakers expressed the need for science to work hand in hand with civil society initiatives in order to produce more results in the transition of our societies. Kosha and Macaco underlined this point in order for it to become a part of the official conference declaration. Effectiveness does not grow out of working with those in power only (Business/Policy makers)! Science can actively support community-based initiatives like the Global Ecovillage Network and the Transition Town Movement through interdisciplinary research projects.

There are already hundreds of model settlements available across the globe, showcasing that a lowering of ecological footprint can go hand in hand with an increase in personal wellbeing! In the age of the Anthropocene, humans not only have the power to destroy, but also to actively regenerate their social end natural environments. We need improved community sustainability assessment tools to measure and publicize these results and new educational strategies to support the activation of change agents on the ground. We invite students and scientists to reach out to GEN and collaborate with us.

GEN invited to the World Future Council

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:57:00 +0100

The World Future Council endeavors to bring the interests of future generations to the centre of policy making. They inform policy makers about future just policies and advise them on how to implement these. They believe, political solutions for the challenges of our time exist. From 13-18 March a Strategy Meeting under the theme of “Saving our shared future” took place at SEKEM, Egypt, and was joined by Kosha Joubert, President of GEN-International and Executive Secretary of GEN-Europe. During the meeting, nearly two dozen civilisation-saving tipping point policies in the fields of environment, economics, governance and education have been identified, that will be communicated at the Rio 20+ conference. Kosha was invited to share a presentation about the work of GEN, and especially about the Ecovillage Strategy of the Senegalese Government - one of the most holistic policy approaches to longterm sustainability and resilience maybe in the world.

To find out more about the event, please visit http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/recent_events.html

Latin American Ecovillage Gathering

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

The municipality of Cajibio, department of Cauca, Colombia, was the site of a gathering called LLamado de la Montana - Call of the Mountain 2012, the largest global gathering of sustainable ecological initiatives and projects in Latin America. Participating were 421 persons from 26 countries. A festive and efficient convergence of mutually supportive work, community living and respect that brought together people from Germany, Ecuador, Chile, Japan, Spain, Argentina, United States, Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil among other countries, bringing proposals and activities in the areas of ecology, social action and the arts. Cauca, a zone that once was named a center of conflict, is today the scene of transformation; from the 7th to the 14th of January, the brilliant green of its mountains was the backdrop for the Council of Visions, an autonomous movement organized around themes of the earth, peace and good living—Sumak Kawsay.
This process resulted in the creation of the Council of Sustainable Settlements of the Americas—CASA, where permaculture, diversity, unity and collective intelligence are the strengths for social change, practiced by a network of persons, organizations, collectives, artists, ecovillages, eco-neighborhoods, craftspeople, agriculturalists and eco-communities.
The center for meetings was the Maloka Pambasa, meaning “house of everyone”, located in the Atlantida ecovillage and constructed of guadua (bamboo), reintroducing the ancestral practice of the minga (work exchange), and expressing the highest artistic values of sustainable architecture. In the words of Hector Buitrago of the group Aterciopelados “with this event we are preparing ourselves for facing the transformations of 2012 and to fortify the network of conscious artists of Colombia”.

Other notable participants and their most significant contributions were:
    Alberto Ruz of the Rainbow Caravan “this is a gathering of tribes, a council of cultures. It points towards the apex of global cultural integration”.
    Pedro Medina, Colombian businessman and cofounder of Yo creo en Colombia (I believe in Colombia) “these have been 5 days of the greatest learning of my life; it’s necessary that this movement reach the different circles of Colombian society”.
    Holger Hieronimi, expert in permaculture and founder of Tierramor “today it’s not enough to be sustainable, we can’t sustain the form of life that we’re presently living, we need to develop a regenerative culture”.
    Emilio Fiel Miyo, recognized globally in the area of planetary change “machismo (male chauvinism) negatively affects men and women, therefore feminine liberation takes place in both by means of awakening creative energy. This gathering is a call to all the warriors who make up humanity, accept us as we are, integrating our light and our shadow”.
    Bruno de Sacha Wasi, an Amazonian Andean farmer with more than 45 years experience in developing technical knowledge of permaculture that gathers Latin American ancestral wisdom, brought us present to the fact that “the earth knows what it needs, and the indigenous people who have known how to listen to it are key players in the sowing of the new humanity”.
    Diana Leafe, member of the council of the Ecovillage Network of the Americas and ambassador of GEN Europe, explained the fundamental aspects of Holocracy, a system of harmonic and horizontal organization that appears in her book “Creating A Life Together”.
    Barbara Stützel of ZEGG forum, shared her experience as an ecovillage member, a mature process that transformed a women’s prison into an ecovillage and that has been in development for 20 years.
    Rikki Nitzkin, weaver of networks and founder of the Straw Construction Network “we have the right and the responsibility to create the world that we want to live in”.

This year the Council of Visions was integrated as a mandala whose center is planetary unity, and whose petals are the different councils: art and culture, ecology, economic solidarity, networks and social movements, spirituality, healing, young people, education, new time and ecovillages.
In synthesis, a gathering that bore witness to the relevance of change and reaffirmed the global agreement towards unity, solidarity, transformation and sustainability; a gathering for the new humanity that practices a form of living that’s in harmony with the earth, both in the country and in the city.
For 2013, four simultaneous regional gatherings will be held: in Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, Quindío and Antioquia. And open to the possibility of including other regions as well.
If you dream, spread the word, disseminate it as one note or how you prefer to, notice in whom what you do resonates.

Earth Day - Ecovillage Day 2012

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 13:50:00 +0000

The Global Ecovillage Network is partnering with Earth Day for an annual Ecovillage Day to coincide with the honouring of Gaia on April 22nd from 2012 onwards.

We will celebrate the beauty, friendship and hope that communities all around the globe create by opening our doors for a worldwide Ecovillage Day!

On April 22nd, Earth Day, we ask you to reach out to those around you by organising a market, special meal, games, café, workshops or whatever you feel inspired to and invite others to share your dreams and get a taste of your solutions for a sustainable future. Don't hesitate - anything from a presentation or tour through your village up to a full-fledged mini-festival is more than welcome and will be presented on the Earth Day and GEN websites!

If you are interested in organising an event, large or small, the GEN-websites - in partnership with the Earth Day website (http://www.earthday.org) - will support you in announcing your activity:

- Visit http://www.gen-europe.org/ed2012
- Enroll your event by filling in the online form
- We will list your event on the Earth Day website and the GEN-websites
- We would appreciate greatly if you could send us a short report (a few lines) and some photos after your event

Also, there will be a mutual time of silence - 45 minutes of meditation to honour the diversity of our networks, connect in our hearts and send out a blessing for all the work done by so many to restore justice and safeguard life for future generations.
Times will be 9am in Rio, 12am in Dakar, 2pm in Berlin, 4pm in Moscow and 9pm in Tokyo.

You find a poster for Ecovillage Day 2012 as a download here. Please feel free to print it, share it online (facebook, twitter, ...) and invite your friends to join. Thank you!

We look forward to see many communities joining in this attempt to show the world the rich diversity ecovillages have to offer.

And one more thing: Our partner Gaia Education has joined the exciting UN lead campaign Green Dreams Around the World, created to give voice to the dreams of thousands of individuals as a contribution to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, taking place in June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. Especially for Ecovillage Day, you are invited to join the global conversation on the Future we Want by recording and sharing your Green Dream?

Simply follow these two steps:

Video record your dream for the future you want and email to dhkeobve0zs2@m.youtube.com. Visit http://green-dream.co.uk/post-your-dream/ for more information.
Share your dreams and acts with us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/geneurope

If you have any questions, please contact Jonathan at jonathan.k(at)gen-europe.org

Gaia Trust: Celebrating 25 Years!

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:21:00 +0000

Gaia Trust was founded in 1987 on the initiative of Hildur and me with the support of eight or so Danish colleagues. Our objective was to support persons and organisations that were working for a more sustainable and spiritual world. We had no funds to speak of, the initial capital being about £1,000. However, I had been working for the prior 5 years developing and testing computer software to analyse and trade foreign currencies, a relatively new concept at the time.

My trading results in the marketplace were exceptionally good, so I donated the rights to Gaia Trust in return for 10% of the new company, Gaiacorp, of which Gaia Trust owned 90%. Over the next 5 years or so, Gaiacorp became a major international player in the currency options market and built up a net worth of about £20 million. We then had to decide how to best use the funds.

We decided early on to support projects that were not getting support from elsewhere, so that we might make a difference. Our view was that we knew the problems and we knew the necessary solutions. The major barrier was implementation.

Therefore, we decided to support the people that were actually implementing what we considered would become the mainstream lifestyle in the 21st century when things started to fall apart, namely ecovillages, although the name “ecovillage” did not exist until we and Robert Gilman coined it in 1991. Later, we added a second major program, education in sustainability principles, which led eventually to the establishment of Gaia Education.

While Gaia Trust has supported many other smaller projects over the years (over 300 in about 40 countries), including the first permaculture course in a dozen or so countries, GEN and Gaia Education have been and continue to be the two major projects that we have supported and continue to support. None of this would have been possible without an enormous contribution of time and energy by thousands of activists around the world, and for that we are very grateful.

I think we can all be proud of our accomplishments, but the battle is far from won. At the first meeting of Gaia Trust, I said that this project was probably going to take forty years to complete. We have still 15 years to go, so let us not rest until the job is done.

From: Gaia Education

Ecovillage Meeting in Hungary

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:50:00 +0000

The wind of change is blowing on the world and this wind also came to the XI. Winter Meeting of Ecovillages in Krishna Valley, Hungary. On the first sight it just stirred up the sparkling snow, but one could indeed feel that it started to wake up something within the people. The topic of the forthcoming oil (and energy) crisis was hanging in the air. We knew that it is not just a scenario any more, it is an inevitable fact. But rather than paralysing the hearts, it gave motivation for people to act. Although Hungary is not a big country, the number of ecovillages increases almost every year. This time a new ecovillage initiative called Zöldzugoly ('Greendale') presented itself. They are a group of approximately 20 families who just recently bought a beautiful piece of land close to three already existing ecovillages in the southern part of the country. The 'Old Ones' - ecovillages that started 20 years ago - also gave their presentations and answered the questions, since almost half of the participants were newcomers who wanted to know more about them and their network. On the first evening the theme of self-sufficiency of a household was considered through a scientific point of view. We enjoyed the energetic and detailed speech of a young researcher who examined the needs of an average family for food and water. With that he estimated the size and type of land, the minimal amount of money and time to start a self-supporting farm. There was also time to discuss more urban approaches. We heard some examples about city dwellers who took a step towards growing their own food or helping farmers in the countryside to keep ethic agriculture alive. Moreover there were some colourful ideas about what to grow in a metropolis when we have to reclaim city parks or break up the asphalt to create gardens, which tools will be the most precious when working with tractors won’t be an option anymore. All in all there was a buzzing atmosphere where everyone was looking for new relationships, and a way to cooperate with the others. Hopefully we can hear (and write) about the successes of these cooperations soon. (The presentations - in Hungarian - are available here.)

4KEYS NEW book now available

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:39:00 +0000

The latest book from Permanent Publications, Gaia Education and the founders of GEN is an exploration of humanity’s limits to growth and addresses the problems arising from climate change, habitat destruction, population growth and resource depletion. It is an anthology of practical low carbon solutions, tried and tested, from experts all over the world.
Available from www.green-shopping.co.uk

Health by Traditional Medicine in GEN Ecovillage Education

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:03:00 +0000

In developing countries more than 80% of the population haven’t got access to primary health cares because of lack of modern means or facilities. This is why education to health care by traditional medicine can be such a big chance for African countries. GEN together with SOS Environment Senegal have started the project “Back to Nature and Health” in Senegal.
In Western Africa traditional medicine practice has been strictly repressed by colonial law at the beginning of the 20st century. Before that people used exclusively medicinal plants and traditional medicine to heal themselves. Healers learned their knowledge from teachers and observing animals: Mongeese heal themselves from snake bites eating a plant called Rauwolfia serpentina. Cows rubbing on ashew trees to repel ticks and flies. Carnivorous eating plants, herbivorous changing their dietary behavior in case of illness.
As many traditional societies, understanding diseases and recovery required a holistic approach; in every consultation, the healer will “scan” the spirit of the patient before examining his body. He will ask him if he felled a tree recently, if he poured hot water on the soil, if he started a fire in the nature, if he wantonly shot a wild animal, just to know if he respects his environment. The vital energy a healer uses to heal people is spreading from the soil to the trees. And the person who affects nature needs to mend his way otherwise he won’t get better.

Diseases are seen as a loss of vital energy. To recover one needs to get vital energy from nature. Many west African tribes still use to bury their dead with seeds; later if one seed grows better than others and give a tree, this one is identified with the soul of the person, and people will pay the same attention and respect they owe to the late. The tree will be a brother, a friend, a parent. Every piece of the tree is considered as part of the dead person and one that eats it will receive a part of his strength or vital energy. This vital energy is spread in the community.
In these traditional societies biodiversity conservation is a natural way of living. "Back to Nature and Health" does not only help people with malaria, high blood pressure and diabetes -it also refreshes the traditional ecological values.

Doudou Tamba, pharmacist of the NGO SOS environment and coordinator of the project: "Promoting a sustainable use of medicinal plants reduces health expenses and improves the social position of humble people."
The team gathers knowledge about medicinal plants, identifies the healers in communities that keep the knowledge of the traditional use of plants, and teaches the sustainable use of plants by creating botanical gardens in the communities.
Doudou: "Let’s care about our nature, we’ll get healthy and wealthy." Photo: "A famous healer specialised in psychosomatic affections, with whom I use to work during my ethnopharmacological surveys. He is surrounded with his assistants; you can notice the machete used to cut the bark of medicinal plants."
Contact: doudoummt[at]yahoo.com

On the Way to a Natural Water Management for Palestine

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:01:00 +0000

Seven Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals are preparing a Peace Research Village in the Middle East (PRV-ME), after several years of peacework and community-building training in Tamera. After three months the group has made remarkable progress and the vision of a healing biotope in this crisis area has come significantly closer to realisation.
The priority for this first phase of the PRV-ME has been to work towards creating Water Retention Landscapes, especially as water plays such a key role in the region's conflict. The time is ripe for new solutions to the problems of desertification, water scarcity and ecological degradation. In different communities and regions, the idea is being welcomed with enthusiasm and readiness to help manifest the vision of water abundance in this arid land.
A process is now already well underway with the Muncipality of Jericho, which wishes to cooperate in establishing a Water Retention Landscape nearby the city. Aida Shibli: "The prospect of water landscapes in this desert zone, deep below sea level and next door to the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, is truly exciting and inspiring!"
Since December, the women from the PRV group have been hosting regular women's circles, in which Palestinian, israeli and international women study and share for building awareness for women's solidarity.
The next important event will be an International Symposium on Water Retention Landscapes to take place near Jericho on 25th March. The symposium will present the vision of water landscapes, models for peace and a greened desert in the Middle East, with Bernd Mueller, Sabine Lichtenfels and Benjamin Mendelssohn from Tamera, Sami Awad from the Holy Land Trust, Bethlehem and Tamir Yaari from the PRV-ME. The symposium will include a tour in Wadi Qelt as a likely site where the dream of the water landscape can be realised.

Shortly afterwards, starting 29th March, the PRV-ME wish to invite you to conclude their first half year together in the Holy Land and to look into the future of the project in the intensive month-long course “Inner and Outer Peacework”. This will be an adventure of community building and a unique opportunity to connect with the region, to understand the conflict in the Middle-East and to create together a vision for a new peace culture. It will be open for peaceworkers from Israel, Palestine and around the globe. It will take place in various places in Israel-Palestine and will include daily study time, art and nature time, forum and common work. The main partners of the PRV-ME in the region will cooperate together as hosts and teachers in the course: Neviah Academy (Ohad Ezrachi and Shmuel Shaul), Holy Land Trust (Sami Awad) and EcoME. You are most welcome to join. Contact: Uri Ayalon uri_ayalon(at)yahoo.com Photo: The PRV group in Israel Palestine visits the Kibbuz Neod Smadar

With Patience and Efficiency against Tribal Clashes and Poverty

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:59:00 +0000

South Sudan: While in Jonglei state tribal clashes between tribes have taken thousands of lives during last winter, only one hundred kilometers further south, the situation is remarkably different. Even though the local Toposa have a similar lifestyle than the tribes further up north, they have always been able to not let conflicts escalate but to smooth them down. The relative peace in this region goes to the credit of Bishop Paride Taban´s initiatve: the Holy Trinitiy Peace Village Kuron.

„Cows are our money. We need cattle to marry“, Lodate, one of the local Toposa chiefs explains, after welcoming us. “A bride can cost up to 100 cows, depending on her age, beauty, and education.“ Without raiding and stealing cattle in competing tribes, a young Toposa man would not be able to bring up this price. Instead, it would often be his father´s generation to marry the young woman of his choice. But only since the civil war, when warriors of traditional cultures were given modern weapons the conflicts have turned into bloodsheds.
What is the Peace Village doing to prevent it?

Bishop Paride Taban who just celebrated his 75th birthday: "We are offering alternatives, day by day. We provide food security, a minimal health care and a perspective for their young men and women.”
The agricultural project is a key part of the peace village. It encompasses a large Greenhouse with vegetables, a nursery for trees, and a rich garden inside of the compound where Papaya, passion fruit and beans grow in abundance and mixed cultures. A little paradise - while outside of the compound we see a semi desert with people that are only feeding on goat meat, milk and a bit of sorghum.
Michael, the gardener: "Kuron valley could be paradise indeed, the soil is fertile and there is plenty of water in the rainy season. But the locals look down on gardening. I hope that the kids will pick it up and create another future."

The peace villages has a primary school up to the eighth class with 278 pupils, a clinic with a school for nurses, a guesthouse, and a peace makers team: women and men helping with negotations between the villages and tribes and to find peaceful solutions for conflicts.

Bishop Taben was first inspired to found the Peace Village by the example of Newe Shalom/Wahat al Salaam in Israel. When he saw that Jews and Arabs are able to live together, he dedicated himself fully to develop something similar in South Sudan. “Playing football is a very good thing to compete in a non-violent way and to show their strength. After the sports there is always a possibility to share and if necessary to solve conflicts.” According to him, it is crucial to keep close contact to the young people, only so we can avoid conflicts turning into clashes. Lately the peace team was able to help two groups to reconcile after a raid. The stolen cattle were given back. It was one of the many necessary paces towards peace.

Photo: Bishop Paride Taban and his neighbour, a Toposa woman, in the Peace Village Kuron / South Sudan

Permaculture in the Alps

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:59:00 +0000

With 20 members, the community is located at an altitude of 1100 metres in the Bernese Alps in a powerful landscape of waterfalls and lakes. The community is currently occupied with establishing a future model for a permaculture landscape in the alpine region to demonstrate sustainable ways of food and herb production, water management and agro forestry. This is aimed at showing alternatives to the present state of industrial agriculture by supporting a big range of biodiversity, creating habitats and biotopes and fulfiling the needs of plants, animals and humans in one garden. Schweibenalp was founded 30 years ago. The initial focus was to create a spiritual centre for all traditions and spiritual practices. Today the center hosts guests for various courses, seminars and conferences, provides own programs and also share community life with volunteers who stay for a varied amount of time. As a developing community, studying and practicing social sustainability in everyday life and work is emphasised by creating spaces of transparent communication and organizing community intensive times throughout the year to connect in a mutual vision. Networking, with other projects and communities is valued too – hence the new membership in GEN.