Women in Palestine are under two types of occupation: occupation by Israel, and occupation by the patriarchal society. Aida Shibli, longterm Palestinian peace and freedom worker in both fields, founding member of GEN Palestine (to come), and the Peace Research Village-Palestine (to come), found that creating ecovillages and autonomy on the land is a way to freedom under both occupations. "My soul gets wings when I see you live a life of freedom. I cannot live a free life, I am under many layers … Read more
Europe
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
Colombia: "With a Hope that Open Roads" Daira Quiñones´ Story of Hope and Perseverance.
Daira Elsa Quiñones is a beautiful Afro-Columbian woman who has experienced great bereavement in her life. She is a great singer, a dreamer, and a wave of hope. Margarita O. Zethelius, from CASA, shares her story. In the 5th gathering of Call of the Mountain (the ecovillages gathering of Colombia), Daira came to tell us the story of a dream and a project, and surprised all with her great charisma. She is an ambassador of Afro-Colombian culture, of hope and strength. She brings to the CASA … Read more
Ecuador: Women's Empowerment by Weaving with Native Cactus Fiber
Asociación Mujer y Medio Ambiente, or the Women and the Environment Association, is a group of women who produce 'cabuya' handicrafts as a way of generating income and sustainable tourism in Plaza Gutierrez, a mountain village in the Intag region of Ecuador. Letícia Regatti and Ryan Luckey visited them on one of their EcoCaravan Journeys. The Association began in 1995 when a foreigner in town brought together a group of women to learn and practice weaving and embroidery. The meetings attracted … Read more
For Margrit
Margrit Kennedy, German architect and ecovillage pioneer, ecologist, writer, financial expert, and a visionary of an interest free economy system, died on December 28th at the age of 74. Her Norwegian student, Frederica Miller, remembers her. As a young architecture student, I first met Margrit when she came as an invited guest lecturer to a seminar we gave at the Oslo School of Architecture, called: 'Women, Ecology and Architecture in the early 80's'. She gave a brilliant lecture called "Gyn - … 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
Ecofeminism: The Connection of the Domination of Nature and Women
In this article, Nina Koevots shares with us what she has been learning about ecofeminism in order to raise a discussion amongst people who are interested in social change. While many environmentalists have explained the interrelatedness of continuous economic growth, the expansion of the free market and alarming environmental damage, they have not yet explained that connection with the under-privileging of women. Understanding the links between the exploitation of women and nature can possibly … Read more
How are you Empowering the Women in your Community?
Together with sociologist and feminist Nina Kovoets, we sent out a little questionnaire to the general GEN Europe list to get some data about the situation of women in the ecovillages - at least in Europe. We received 18 replies - which is probably not very representative but gives a taste of what people in the movements feel about women's empowerment and gender roles. Thank you to all who took the time to reply. The majority of the communities and projects that answered have slightly more … Read more
Editorial
Dear Friends of Ecovillages Worldwide, "Ecovillages Empowering Women" is the theme of this GEN Newsletter. The situation of women worldwide still can make us cry when we think of it. Cry for joy at the courage, strength and determination of women to live life in love and peace. Cry with the shared pain of the many situations that still prevent women and children from living such a life. Although mothers in the "Two-Thirds-World" have to be strong to raise their children, often in the most … Read more
