Does a tree have rights not to be cut down? Does a creek have the right not to be polluted and dammed? During the GEN Europe conference in July, Mumta Ito from Findhorn Ecovillage, spoke about the concept of Wholistic Law and a rights-based approach to environmental protection. She launched a working group to bring a 'European Citizen’s Initiative for Recognising and Respecting the Inherent Rights of Nature' (the “ECI”). Now, GEN has adopted the rights of nature in their policy. Mumta Ito … Read more
Europe
Recognising the Rights of Nature
Does a tree have rights not to be cut down? Does a creek have the right not to be polluted and dammed? During the GEN Europe conference in July, Mumta Ito from Findhorn Ecovillage, spoke about the concept of Wholistic Law and a rights-based approach to environmental protection. She launched a working group to bring a 'European Citizen’s Initiative for Recognising and Respecting the Inherent Rights of Nature' (the “ECI”). Now, GEN has adopted the rights of nature in their policy. Mumta Ito … Read more
Series: Who Are We in GEN?
Part 2: Portrait of Michiyo Furuhashi, Japan, President of GENOA In 2011, Michiyo Furuhashi was elected to represent the Global Ecovillage Network of the region Oceania/Asia. The 48-old lives in the Ecovillage and Lightcenter Kohonana Family in Japan, and her main aim and philosophy is to connect sustainability and spirituality. A portrait by Leila Dregger The participants of the GEN Europe conference won´t forget her so easily: Her voice - strong and bright like pure light - made the whole … Read more
Turkey: Roads To Sustainability – Ecovillage Güneşköy Threatened by a Highway Project
Ecovillages are roads to sustainability, yet it appears that the Turkish government prefers highways to destruction. Ecovillage Güneşköy, close to Ankara, and the surrounding forests are in danger. Inci Gökmen and Ali Gökmen, co-founders of Güneşköy, report. Güneşköy - Sun Village Ecovillage Initiative was started as a cooperative by ten people living in Ankara, the capitol of Turkey. Ten years ago, 7.5 hectars of land, located next to a traditional village was bought. No agricultural activity … Read more
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 times … Read more
Ubuntu – I Am Because You Are
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 collect … Read more
Healing of Colonization in Australia Self-Build as a Healing of Colonization in Australia
The Original Sovereign peoples of Australia are traditionally highly-skilled designers and builders of both permanent and temporary living and working structures and spaces. Remains of homes, middens, sacred ritual spaces, and technologies such as fish traps, have been scientifically dated to at least sixty thousand years ago, revealing a highly developed continuous society and culture. As a role model for sustainable living, traditional Original society demonstrates a highly complex and … Read more
VillageLab – a service tool to facilitate the flow of wealth to and from regenerative communities
Gaia Villages Foundation & the Ecovillage Innovation Lab has simplified its name to VillageLab. Though initially based in North America and Mexico, VillageLab hopes to spread its services to the entire GEN network and other networks of sustainable and regenerative communities. Presently VillageLab is looking for beta test projects to include on its crowdfunding site. The group will be publishing their project selection criteria soon - to get a copy please contact them directly. Jeff Clearwater … Read more
Disaster Support in the Philippines Permaculture Aid Yolanda for Disaster Support in the Philippines
How many times have we seen images of refugee camps worldwide with people being forced by wars, or other disasters, to live together under harsh and unbearable circumstances? Sometimes this situation can last over years, and even decades. An increasing number of people in the GEN movement feel that ecovillage processes and practices can contribute a great deal in these situations. A prime example being in communities that are forced to come together out of traumatic or disaster situations often … Read more
Pilgrimage for Truth and Trust Pilgrimage for Truth and Trust in the Holy Land
For ten days, 40 pilgrims - including 2 babies - walked along the tracks of the ancient Nabatean tribes: the "Incense Route" as it is known historically. This time, 2,000 years later, we carried not expensive perfume to Europe, but an urgent question to this region: what does a healed picture of the Middle East look and feel like? How do we create community and bring to an end the conflict that has torn people apart for so long in this area? What important questions should we carry for 10 days, … Read more
