Thoughts and Words by: Grace McGrade - Photo Credits: Ciska van StuijvenbergImagine an alternate universe, where people are self-governing, sovereign, and focused on nurturing environmental and social change. Imagine alternative currencies, gift economy and a “we” focus. Relationships with substance and joint purpose. Imagine quitting your nine to five and having the leisure to focus on delving into the subconscious, on growing what you love and building a system that serves … Read more
gift economy
What is an Ecovillage? Reflections from the Network
An ecovillage is an intentional, traditional or urban community that is consciously designed through locally owned, participatory processes in all four dimensions of sustainability (social, culture, ecology and economy) to regenerate their social and natural environments.GEN’s definition of ‘ecovillage’ is broad, allowing for many different kinds of communities and projects to be recognised. Because each ecovillage is designed by the people who live there, according to their vision, … Read more
The Tsunamika Doll: Auroville’s Symbol of Hope for Tsunami Survivors
Auroville, a community in South India aspiring towards human unity, was among the many communities hit by the December 26th, 2004, Indian Ocean Tsunami that was caused by an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. From out of the disaster and devastation emerged many projects, bringing community spirit back within Auroville and connecting Auroville to its neighbouring Tamil villages. One of the beautiful stories is one of a little doll named Tsunamika, shared by Kavitha Urvasie Selvaraj.The … Read more
the Great Unification Inspiration for the End: "Free Your Choice" - the Great Unification
Yan Golding, a yoga instructor, permaculture teacher, dancer, and community builder, co-founded a pioneering eco-community called Khula Dhamma in South Africa, organised and co-facilitated the first Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) in Brazil, and is now living in Southern Portugal where he intends to co-create another ecovillage. He is also part of the steering group that is spear-heading a bio-regional Transition Initiative of the Western Algarve. He unfolds his plan through this poem.Let … Read more
Japan Japan: New collaborations Have Emerged
Spring has come. Under the soft and warm sunlight, Mom’s Lunch-Box Shop, of As-One Community, becomes very busy with orders for local people’s spring events in Suzuka city, Japan. But there is also another reason to be busy this year. Hiroko Katayama / As-One Community Suzuka, representative of GEN-Japan, reports.The members of the As-One-Community are getting busy being guides for the participants of a study-trip. There is a new stream in Japan of people that are facing the real conditions … Read more
Slovenia Slovenia: The Time when Ecovillages were Places Faraway in the Woods is Over
The following article about ECOLISE and GEN, written by longterm ecovillage activist Nara Petrovič from Slovenia, was published in the Delo Newspaper, one of the biggest mainstream media of the country. It can be likened to GEN as it is today: a modern and open movement for global change.What connects us, brings us joy and is good for everyone: for ourselves, for our communities and for the Earth? Can civil society think and plan further into the future than that which currently directs … Read more
GEN History The History of the Global Ecovillage Network: 1991-2015
Ross and Hildur Jackson from Denmark were the driving forces in creating the GEN network twenty years ago. For the first time they share the full story from their perspective. All there experience and information is a great gift especially to the young people who now take over the responsibility for the network.The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) has now existed for 20 years and Gaia Education, which began as a GEN project, is celebrating its 10th year in teaching the principles of living … Read more
Ecolise. Nara Petrovic The time when ecovillages were places faraway in the woods is over
What connects us, brings us joy and is good for all: for ourselves, for our communities and for the Earth?Can civil society think and plan further into the future than those that currently direct global development – primarily politicians and economists? Can an umbrella alliance represent community-lead local development and thereby long-term interests of people and nature, thus radically changing global development goals in Europe or even in the world? These are the questions raised by … Read more
Big Changes in Communities magazine! Now All-Color + 100% Recycled Paper! - Plus Spring Issue "Community for Baby Boomers"
Big Changes in Communities!We’re excited to announce two major changes in Communities magazine, starting with our Spring 2015 issue.Fulfilling a long-held dream of better aligning our production process with our ecological values, Communities is now printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Not a single tree fell to produce our new issue of Communities. We are thrilled to be using this beautiful matte-finish recycled paper from our new printer, Ovid Bell Press, and to be … Read more
Ecovillage Excellency Award, 2014 Aurora Community, Romania
Aurora Community is an intentional, eco-spiritual community and a learning center actively working to be an example on new models of living, sharing the best practices for sustainability, supporting a lifestyle with low impact on the ecosystems of the planet, and spreading a more simple way of living, with grace, beauty and meaning. By Filipa Simoes. … Read more
