GEN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER JANUARY/2013
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GEN Africa Symposium in Sekem
Dr.Ibrahim Abouleish with Kosha Joubert
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Editorial by Kosha Joubert and Leila Dregger
Everywhere on our planet people are coming together to make a difference. In their villages, towns and regions they are sharing new and old insights about organic farming and sustainable architecture, about conflict resolution, forgiveness and new economies. They’re restoring ecosystems after pollution and destruction, and mending broken hearts after conflicts and wars. By transitioning traditional communities into ecovillages and building new intentional communities, they are creating research and training centres for a sustainable future. GEN has become the vessel that holds thousands of these initiatives worldwide. GEN has evolved into a rich and diverse global movement for change.
At this moment, we are delighted to share with you the very first GEN Newsletter! While the year 2012 has drawn to an end, new things were born. From now on, the GEN Newsletter will be sent out 4 times a year, showcasing inspiring solutions and examples of resilience from all over our beautiful planet. Thank you to all who gave their time, not only to do wonderful work on the ground, but also to make it visible through words and images. We received many more contributions than we could incorporate – some stories will be kept for the next edition, others will enrich the GEN-websites.
Please share this newsletter with your networks, with friends, cooperation partners and journalists. You might even be willing to translate it to your language! And remember to keep sending us your news (the deadline for the spring edition will be 10th of March).
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News stories from Africa
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The new GEN Africa Council
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GEN Africa Emerging
From December 16th to 19th, 55 representatives from all regions in Africa met in Sekem/Egypt to launch GEN Africa, to formulate a common vision and mission statement, to find a proper organisational structure and to elect a council. It was four days of intensive sharing about the challenges faced by the different African regions, and the possible solutions – a highly effective work time – always accompanied by music and celebration. By Leila Dregger.
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Kenya: For Food Security and Sustainable Peace. Philip Munyasia Ready to Build the “EcoLife-Village”
Philip Munyasia and his organisation OTEPIC have taught and empowered more than 3000 farmers, women and youth groups in organic farming and permaculture practices, peace building, and the use of renewable energy. For this work he received the Ecovillage Excellency Award in 2011. Now, his big dream has come true: He received the donation to buy land outside of the town where he and his team want to build a Permaculture Model Farm and an ecovillage. Its name shall be: EcoLife!
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D.R. Congo: GEN Congo connecting to the East of the Country
The Democratic Republic of Congo can be seen as the heart of Africa. The country is extremely rich: in resources, in biodiversity and in young people. However after many years of conflict and exploitation the Congolese are searching for a new perspective. GEN Congo was first formed in 2009, stemming from research done by Lua Bashala-Kekana (Secretary General for GEN Central and Southern Africa), who at the time lived at Khula Dhamma Eco Community in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Now GEN Cono is connecting with the Eastern part of the country. By Lua Beshala-Kekana.
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Senegal: Restoring Biodiversity
The Eco-community of Guéde Chantier is an example of the vital ecovillage movement in Senegal, Africa; healing the wounds of ecological and social destruction, while restoring the country to its original richness. After 10 years of its existence, the lands around the eco-community are turning green and farmers are making a living again. By Dr. Ousmane Pame.
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Senegal: A Tribute to Coumba Kebbe Thiam (1904 – 2012)
For true sustainability, ecovillages need the wisdom of the elders. For our elders are the link to the past. Through the legacy of their wisdom, they will never be lost when they connect with the invisible world. Dr. Ousmane Pame, Mayor of Guede Eco-Community, Senegal, shares the story of his grandmother.
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News stories from Latin America
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CASA: Building a Sustainability Network
Bienvenidos a CASA! Welcome Home! After several decades of planting EcoVillage seeds, propagating Permaculture, transplanting Transition and cultivating Eco-Barrios, these movements across Latin America are coming together to form a new network that will unite the continent’s diverse sustainability movements. Welcome to CASA,the Council of Sustainable Settlements of the Americas. By Ryan Luckey and Letícia Rigatti.
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Colombia: Ecovillages growing together towards a unified movement
After enduring sixty years of armed conflict and malcontent, the people of Colombia are rising to the country’s longing for a life of peace, stability and well-being. Towards this action, the Ecovillage movement is combining with Colombian grassroots organizations of the Campesinos, Indigenous and Afro-decendant people. While the first vital steps have been taken, there is still a long way to go. In order for these powerfully distinctive forces to enter into a co-operative dialogue and partnership, the Ecovillage movement has to be able to incorporate the highly focussed political action of the grassroots movements, says Jorge Calero, Atlantida Ecovillage.
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News stories from Middle East
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Israel/Palestine: Walking for Peace in the War-shaken Holy Land
From 8 – 29 of November, a group of 80 international, Israeli and Palestinian people walked together from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, mainly through the Westbank along the Jordan River. They walked in the name of Grace – after the Grace Pilgrimages that had been initiated by Sabine Lichtenfels, founder of Tamera. Only some kilometres away, bombs fell on Gaza, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. While hatred and fear arose and helicopters flew above their heads, the pilgrims were seeking to lay a base for peace and reconciliation at a deeper humanistic level. Their vision is to found a Peace Research Village in the Middle East.
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Turkey: Ankara hosts one of the first Urban Community Garden Initiatives in the Country
The capital of Turkey, Ankara has become home to one of the first urban community gardens in the country. In March 2012, 2 hectares of unused land in front of the neighborhood association building was transformed using Permaculture design principles, and prepared for seed planting. The interest from people in the neighborhood was enormous, especially from children, who were actively engaged in the process. “Cigdemim Community Garden” now expands their dreams for the future.
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News stories from Europe
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Next GEN: Young Visionaries, a new dream, and the NEXTGen(eration)
At the July 2012 GEN Europe, Africa, and Middle East conference in Hungary, excited and motivated young people from across the globe re-enlivened the NextGEN group in this region of the world. The vision of NextGEN is to support and connect youth of the ecovillage movement, as well as connecting youth with the ecovillage philosophy globally. The dream is that NextGEN will shape the next generation of ‘ecovillagers’ on various levels, and give a space for young people to become active, inspired, and inspiring, within the ecovillage movement.
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The GEN Europe Conference 2013…
will take place in Schweibenalp, Switzerland, from July 7 to 12, 2013. The General Assembly envelops the conference similar to the conference in 2012, on July 7 (all day) and July 13 (also all day). Every participant from Europe can apply for the Grundtvig grants. For more information and to pre-register,
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Scottland: Findhorn Foundation 50th birthday
On November 17, 2012 the Findhorn Foundation Community celebrated its 50th birthday! A year of reflection, dialogues, the renewing of the founding impulse and the planting of new seeds for the future, culminated in a week-long festival of celebration and commemoration. By Robin Alfred.
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Italy: “Olio Caldo quattro” – Hot Oil No. 4 in Damanhur
After 35 years on the quest for self-sufficiency in food, water, art, spirituality, housing, energy, schooling, health, information, currency, clothes, furniture, transport etc., a group of young members of the ecosociety “Federation of Damanhur” in Northern Italy has started a new experiment for independency. By Simon Westermann.
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News stories from Asia and Oceania
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Sri Lanka: ‘The Good Market’ in Colombo opens to boost local producers.
‘The Good Market’, Sri Lanka’s first market featuring the best of all natural, healthy and environmentally and community friendly products, opened in Colombo recently, at the new Diyatha Uyana market stalls, Battaramulla.
NextGEN representative, Trudy Juriansz, has been involved in setting it up. However, it is not just a market!
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Orissa, India: Ecovillage Design Education for Indigenous People
In Orissa, the poorest state of India, Siddhartvillage organized a Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) with 26 indigenous participants from 2nd Nov -30th Nov 2012.
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Australia: Leading edge ecovillage to be built at Narara NSW
Narara Ecovillage Co-operative Ltd. has been successful in securing the Gosford Horticultural Institute land at Narara near Gosford in New South Wales. The Co-operative plans to develop a sustainable community ecovillage on the property in three stages with stage one to be made up of single blocks for homes and duplexes.
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