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Heart Communication with Refugees If I don´t deal with the fears in myself, I am all too ready to project them on to others.
“If I don’t deal with the fears in myself, I am all too ready to project them on to others,” writes Dolores Richter of the ZEGG Community of Bad Belzig, Germany. She explores the question: how can we communicate with people from a different culture who have lost everything? … Read more
Earthaven, USA Almost Fossil-Free: The Hut Hamlet Neighborhood at Earthaven Ecovillage
Could Earthaven Ecovillage in the southern Appalachian Mountains of the US become, as GEN advocates, “Fossil-Free by 2020”? Diana Leafe Christian reports. … Read more
Hildur Jackson In Memory of a Life Well Lived
In this newsletter, we share in the celebration of Hildur, mother of GEN and Gaia Education, in memory of a life well lived, and in grieving of her passing. Hildur’s life was a song for justice and human dignity. Remembering her, it seems her voice was singing rather than speaking … Read more
Zimbabwe: How Permaculture Can Restore Ecosystems & Communities
Maddy Harland, publisher of the Permaculture Magazine (UK) tells the story of the Shona African community who healed their damaged ecosystems. They restored their springs, rebuilt their soil, regenerated their agriculture and alleviated poverty and malnutrition. Permaculture farming has proven effective all over the planet. In the rural Shona African community in Zimbabwe, five villages of 7,000 people have joined together to form the Chikukwa Project, named after their local chief. Twenty … Read more
For a Better World in Cameroon Bafut Ecovillage Receives Gaia Trust Award 2015
On the occasion of the GEN+20 Summit held in Findhorn Ecovillage, Scotland from July 5-11th, 2015 the Bafut Ecovillage won the Gaia Trust Award as the most inspiring Ecovillage project in Africa. By Sonita Mbah. Sonita Mbah and Joshua Konkankoh, both Better World Cameroon and African representatives said it is a dream come true. They express sincere joy and gratitude to GEN International and Gaia Trust for the priviledge. Sonita said “ I now feel that my 5 years of volunteering is paying off … Read more
Strand Report “Emergencies” Responding to a World in Crises the Whole Systems Way
"How are we responding to crises using a whole systems and regenerative approach?” This was the question that a group of ecovillagers, consultants, volunteers, and other interested participants gathered to explore during a week-long session during the 20th Anniversary of the Global Ecovillage Network in July. Facilitator Sarah Quebatlin and Leila Dregger report. Natural disasters triggered by climate change are responsible for 150,000+ deaths every year and cause millions of people to have to … Read more
Spiritual Practice for Peace 5 Minutes a Day - A New Practice for World Citizens
Do you often feel overwhelmed by daily news? Do you find yourself shying away from stark information, either by assimilating it on a purely rational level, or by stopping to read or watch altogether? Together, we aim to connect to what is happening in our world in a different way - by allowing one piece of news a day to truly touch us. For 5 minutes a day, we practice Global Social Witnessing - making ourselves available to listen, to feel and experience a current piece of news. We … Read more
Australia Multiple occupancy zonings being ‘abolished by stealth’
The NSW Government is set to abolish a successful planning policy that has seen more than 120 intentional communities established across the state over almost 30 years, most of them in the northern rivers. The policy allows groups of people to establish Multiple Occupancies (MO) or intentional communities on land of 10 hectares or more in rural or non-urban zones. by Chris Dobney (first published in http://www.echo.net.au) Just three councils statewide will be exempt from the … Read more
Editorial Newsletter September 2015 Ecovillages Responding to Disasters and Crises
With thousands of refugees and migrants arriving on the shores of Europe on a daily basis, the pain and crises in the world are becoming increasingly impossible to ignore, even in those regions which have felt relatively sheltered for a long time. … Read more
Schloss Tempelhof The first Earthship in Germany
The eco-village and community, Schloss Tempelhof, was founded in 2010. As a visionary place and future workshop venue it is going to build the first approved Earthship in Germany. Thanks to solar power and water stills , these Earthships are almost ‘off-grid’ : not reliant on any external electricity, gas, water and sewerage systems. Construction will begin on September 28, 2015. Stefanie Raysz reports. "Imagine a home that: heats and cools itself, provides its own food and water, … Read more
