Solution Library - Global Ecovillage Network

Gift-economy Social Permaculture

Regions: GEN Africa, GENNA, GENOA

Areas of Regeneration:
- Culture
  - Wisdom & Innovation
- Integral Design
  - Contextualised Design
- Ecology
  - Seeds, Food & Soil
- Economy
  - Planetary Boundaries
  - Sharing & Collaboration
  - Social Entrepreneurship

A gift economy, gift culture, or gift exchange is a mode of exchange where valuables are not traded or sold, but rather given without an explicit agreement for immediate or future rewards. This contrasts with a barter economy or a market economy, where goods and services are primarily exchanged for value received. Social norms and custom govern gift exchange. Gifts are not given in an explicit exchange of goods or services for money or some other commodity. Property is not a thing, but a … Read more

Wood fired oven, bread workshops

Languages:
Location: Undefined

Part I - Build a traditional wood fired oven for your community Part II - Establish weekly bread, pizza and baking activities in your wood fired community oven Oven Building Workshop - Part I Using primarily locally sourced materials, rock, clay, sand, brick, water, the workshop will build a functioning oven over the course of several days, up to a week. Planning the oven´s location for regular use as community oven and large events. Best practices, training proper use … Read more

Economics For Transition

Language:
Location: Schumacher College, Dartington Totnes, TQ96EA, Undefined

https://www.schumachercollege.org.uk/courses/postgraduate-courses/economics-for-transition There is an urgent need for a radical rethink of our economic system. We need new thinking and new models that recognise the challenges we face now, rather than blindly following the path that has led us into the converging crises we now face. These models will enable us to both mitigate the impacts and adapt to these inter-locking crises – including climate change, biodiversity loss, the peaking in … Read more

Localisation-economics of happiness Promoting the renewal of local communities, economies and cultures

Regions: GEN Africa, GENNA, GENOA

Areas of Regeneration:
- Social
  - Diversity & Cohesion
  - Leadership & Governance
- Culture
  - Vision & Purpose
- Economy
  - Planetary Boundaries
  - Sharing & Collaboration

The answer lies in shifting away from economic globalization towards localization. Whereas the global economy demands monoculture, both human and ecological, localisation is a process that adapts economic activity to diversity -- a fundamental principle of life. The worldwide localisation movement, including local food and finance, ecovillages, permaculture and transition towns, demonstrate that local economies rebuild our connections to one another and to the natural world – connections that … Read more

The Ethics of Sustainable Thinking A framework for making moral and ethical choices

Regions: GEN Africa, GENNA, GENOA

Areas of Regeneration:
- Social
  - Leadership & Governance
- Culture
  - Vision & Purpose
- Integral Design
- Economy
  - Planetary Boundaries

some choices are “right versus wrong” and most people only take a moment of reflection to come to the proper decision. Some choices are more complex and might be viewed as “right versus right”. From a sustainability perspective, there are six suggested categories, that can help guide our decision making Individual versus community. Global versus local. Law versus truth. Short term versus long term. Toxic versus non toxic. Justice versus mercy . We can also consider the pros and cons … Read more

People Care PDC

Date: 17 – 31 July 2015
Languages:
Location: Zelenkovac, Mrkonjic Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina

We increasingly recognize the vital role of a healthy community in addition to raising awareness of the sustainable ecosystem. We recognize the importance of effective interpersonal relationships and also the relationship of the individual to him/herself . Usually the focus of the PDC is to strengthen the ecosystem. From there, the pattern is transferred to other systems such as the social, the monetary system, the educational system, etc. By designing the People Care PDC we have developed … Read more

Ecovillages and Climate: COP20, Climate Injustice and the GEN World Summit

December 29, 2014

By Robert Hall, Managing Director of Global Ecovillage Network – Europe During the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima, Peru, the governments of the world gathered in December, 2014 to discuss their contributions to the reduction of carbon emissions. The aim of the meeting in Lima was to prepare a much-need, far-reaching agreement in Paris in 2015. But the negotiations were stuck in the old paradigm, unable to think outside our present system to find solutions to the … Read more

What is an Ecovillage? – by EarthDeeds Models of Living Well Together in a Post-Oil World

August 11, 2014

Ecovillages, by definition, are communities striving towards high quality lifestyles that have low ecological impacts. As such, they are modeling how we can live well and lightly together in a post-oil future. But even with their focus on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and voluntary simplicity, ecovillages will never be able to reduce their impact to zero. In addition to reducing their ecological and carbon footprints, ecovillages also need to consider how to account for … Read more