Words and actions between people of different colour, gender, or religion are often charged with unconscious racism or sexism. GEN is creating communication tools to become aware of old patterns to be able to change them. Some people are our helpers by making us aware of our automatic prejudices. One of them is Elena Ball from Next GEN. The first time I learned about GEN I spent some months in Senegal moved by questions such as "Who am I?", "Where do I belong?", "What do I want to do in my life … Read more
Africa
Namibia: Visolela "Rosa" Namises´ Path from a Freedom Fighter to a Wise Woman: I love the world!
Visolela is a participant of the River of Life project, that was started in the first women's EDE course in South Africa in 2012. Women support each other to realize their strongest dreams. The story of an impressive woman, by Leila Dregger. Visolela Namises’ most eye-catching feature is her hairdo: Black and grey dreadlocks curl down to her hip. A style quite provocative in Namibia and other African societies, where in public life one would rather appear spick and span. That Visolela has not … Read more
Africa: Women´s Projects against Rural Exodus – The Example of Tiyeda Abalah, Togo
"Africa will become independent when the intellectuals of the continent connect to their roots. When academics, instead of taking a white collar job, share and improve the lives of the people in their home villages." Following the completion of her studies in Literature at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, 30 years ago, Tiyeda Abalah, (56, from Togo), moved with her husband Séda into his home village Baga. During the last GEN Africa conference, CIDAP in Baga was elected Ecovillage of the … Read more
GENTLE POWER – Thoughts on a New Women’s Movement Based on Communities
Worldwide women are struggling for power and emancipation. For a world in which women can take their place without positioning themselves either above, or below, the man; without fighting or having to imitate him. A culture of partnership where the genders, as equally strong poles, complement and love each other. A world in which violence against women can no longer happen. One in which women can come together and cooperate for the well being of all creatures on this planet – and for a new love … Read more
Editorial GEN International Newsletter Winter 2013: Healing Colonialism
"Let´s work with the self-organising power of love." Dear friends of ecovillages worldwide, We are putting together the last words for this newsletter during the GEN Africa Conference in Nairobi. For five days we have heard, seen and shared with upcoming African leaders: young people from slums who are empowering themselves to food sovereignty, energy autonomy, art and self created job opportunities; well educated academics returning to the villages they come from to share and improve the … Read more
Ubuntu – I am because you are Mugove Walter Nyika tells his story
Mugove Walter Nyika, council member of GEN Africa, was born in Zimbabwe and is a Permaculture teacher in Malawi. He speaks about his memories, about the abundance of nature in his childhood, how it was destroyed, and how the wounds of nature and of the mind can heal. “The name my parents gave me is Mugove, which means 'gift'. I grew up with my grandparents in a village 200 km south of the capital, Harare, in Zimbabwe. From an early age I learned from my Grandfather to plant trees, to … Read more
NextGEN in Togo Interratree - a locally owned ecovillage and education center
It has been an exciting year for NextGEN, the youth movement within GEN. Inspired youth from around the global have been busy connecting young people with the ecovillage movement and empowering them to build the world of the next generation. One of our latest initiatives towards creating this world is focused on constructing a locally owned ecovillage and education center in Togo, West Africa. Cynthia Tina, NextGENNA Representative, reports. NextGEN International Representative, Nick Joyce, … Read more
Sri lanka: Healing colonialism Sri lanka: Healing colonialism by reconnecting with lost forests
In the five hundred and twenty three years since Columbus’ world changing voyage, the biodiversity of our planet has steadily been slipping away from us. It is becoming widely acknowledged and understood that the so-called 'green revolution', that has dominated global agriculture policy and practice, is steadily stripping away the diversity in the human and natural realms. GENOA Ambassadors, Trudy Juriansz and Sion Zivetz, report on the restoration of nature in the wake of colonialism. Twelve … Read more
Mexico: C.A.S.A. and rainbow caravan Mexico: C.A.S.A. and rainbow caravan for peace in huehuecoyotl ecovillage
After one year of existence, the C.A.S.A. Mexico branch of the Latin American Ecovillage Network is very active. Fernando Ausin-Gomez reports from the second annual meeting and the EcoCaravans Gathering. Imagine what it must be like to hold the memories of 13 years criss-crossing Latin America on a caravan of buses promoting peace councils throughout indigenous communities, favelas, schools and rural areas. Imagine trying to process and convey ancient indigenous legacies during prophesied … Read more
NextGEN in Togo: InTerraTree A locally owned Ecovillage and Education center
It has been an exciting year for NextGEN, the youth movement within GEN. Inspired youth from around the global have been busy connecting young people with the ecovillage movement and empowering them to build the world of the next generation. One of our latest initiatives towards creating this world is focused on constructing a locally owned ecovillage and education center in Togo, West Africa. Cynthia Tina, NextGENNA Representative, reports. NextGEN International Representative, Nick Joyce, … Read more
