Normally, the voice of the poor and extremely impoverished - in particular indigenous people - is not being heard by government departments, and after 66 years of independence in India, these excluded groups are still struggling for their livelihood. The grass roots democracy and empowerment process of Gram Sabha and Palli sabha is not well recognized, and the planning process has not been put into operation effectively. The benefit packages of the government, under different acts, are not … Read more
indigenous peoples
Amalurra Communities based on Femini Basque Country: Amalurra Communities in Basque Country and Spain Based on Feminine Principles
After returning from a trip to the American continent, Irene Goikolea reconnected with the need to awaken to the sacred feminine aspect as an inherent part of the legacy of her people of the Basque country. She was inspired to found the Amalurra communities - which is Basque for Mother Earth - more than 20 years ago. Today, Amalurra has three communities with 150 men and women. In the first part of this article, Irene shares her experience with the female principles; the second part is an … 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
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
Reconnecting with Lost Forests 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 … 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
How Can One Own His Mother? Healing Colonialism and the Indigenous Perspective
Manitonquat, 80, from the Wampanoag Nation, USA, has been a storyteller and activist for community spirit for many decades. With his teachings in books ("The Circle Way" and "Our Original Instructions"), and with his camps, he and his wife Elika have inspired thousands of people to build communities and ecovillages. As a Native American - or Indian, as he prefers to say - he can say a lot on the topic of colonialism and how it can be healed. And he has big news. The good thing about the word … 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
Women’s Earth and Climate Summit Women are Gathering: International Women's Earth and Climate Summit September 20th-23rd, 2013
From September 20th to 23rd, the International Women’s Earth and Climate Summit is taking place in New York, USA. One hundred women leaders are gathering together from the Global South and Global North to draft a Women’s Climate Action Agenda. It is time for female voices to be heard in the right places. Women have been the sustainers of their communities, women have been the nurturers of future generations always. Each garden we plant, each community we build is a cultivation of our future. The … Read more
