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Sustainability in Bhutan Visiting the Country of the Gross National Happiness Index
Globalization is affecting the life of Bhutan. About eighty percent of food is imported from India even though the country has the capability of growing all its own food. The people are being adversely affected by TV and materialistic values. Mr. Lhundup Dukpa, program director of the School Education Division of Royal Education Council (REC), had been searching for an alternative education system and a more sustainable way of life in keeping with the intrinsic values of natural resources and … Read more
AuERA Living in India Health and Harmony during the Golden Years
AuERA Living is a joint initiative to create a visionary path to retired life in a community that provides one with dignity, harmony and health in a sustainable manner. The goal is to create communities that inspire people to make the very most of life, without many of the concerns that come with getting older. Pullat Devadas Menon reports. … Read more
GEN Celebrating 20 Years in Findhorn Ecovillages Gain More Positive Impact
A silent revolution is presently occurring on our planet. Outside the major conurbations – in villages, slums, and town neighbourhoods – citizens are joining together to assume responsibility for their surroundings, for the nature around them, for social themes, and for their ecological and economic behaviour. In living rooms, in bars and around kitchen tables, ideas are discussed and initiatives are born which directly reduce CO2 emissions, revive communities and create job perspectives. … Read more
Siebenlinden: Sport is Fun! Fitness and Games for a Healthy and Happy Lifestyle in Ecovillages.
In this article, Arturs Polis is interviewing Nadine Koch, in order to explore the importance of a physically active lifestyle in the ecovillage context, drawing from the experience of Sieben Linden and her experience with community living. Nadine (30) is a fitness trainer, certified nutritionist and a role-model of active lifestyle in Sieben Linden. Nadine moved (with a back-pack and bicycle!) to the ecovillage in 2010, after finishing interior-design and ecological architecture studies in … Read more
Editorial GEN International Newsletter January 2015
Ecovillage Transition Strategies for Whole Systems Change - Can Countries and Regions Shift to Sustainability through Community-based Approaches? Dear GEN-Network, dear friends of ecovillages in the world, The Global Ecovillage Network was founded in Findhorn, Scotland in 1995. Gaia Education grew out of GEN and was founded in 2005. This year, GEN and Gaia Education will celebrate our 10th and 20th anniversaries together. From 6-11 July 2015, we will return to Findhorn for a … Read more
Cross the Bridge! My Friend, My Brother! Ecovillage Approach Salaayel in Mauretania
Severe droughts in recent years have had negative consequences, including impacts on the socio-economic life of our people. One of the most serious consequences was the exodus, which forced village communities to lose some of their socio-cultural values: in hospitality, pride, solidarity, and the cultural space of the village. The initiative, Salaayel, rebuilds original values to establish regional sustainability, in order to re-establish the bonds and bridges between villages, cultures and … Read more
Ecovillages and Climate: COP20, Climate Injustice and the GEN World Summit
During the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP20) in Lima, Peru, the governments of the world gathered in December, 2014 to discuss their contributions to the reduction of carbon emissions. The aim of the meeting in Lima was to prepare a much-need, far-reaching agreement in Paris in 2015. But the negotiations were stuck in the old paradigm, unable to think outside our present system to find solutions to the grave challenges facing mankind. We all know it is our disrespect for human … Read more
EcoVillage at Ithaca: National and International Recognition for TREE Neighborhood
Over the past year, ecovillagers moved into 25 completed townhouse-style homes in TREE, the long-anticipated and award-winning third neighborhood at EcoVillage at Ithaca, the largest, and perhaps most well-known ecovillage in North America. In November, 2014 TREE was awarded a coveted Zero-Energy Ready Home certification by the US Department of Energy (DOE). Diana Leafe Christian, GEN-NA – Eastern US, reports. … Read more
“Blueprint” Meeting in Tamera – For Sustainable Aid in Areas of Crisis
In September, a group of specialists, entrepreneurs and representatives of aid organizations came together in Tamera to discuss the possibility of creating a “Blueprint” for coordinated aid measures in crisis and disaster areas. They were invited by Ruth Andrade who called on the friends and cooperation partners of her late husband, Paulo Mellett, to form a team that would continue his work. Leila Dregger reports. … Read more
EDE in 2015 Ecovillage Design Education Programme
Ecovillage Design Education programmes, commonly referred to as ‘EDEs’, are a 125 hour courses which have been carried out over 190 times in more than 34 countries on six continents since 2006. More than 5,000 people have participated in these sustainable design programmes worldwide! … Read more
