Post by Stefan Pasti on May 26, 2012 17:13:03 GMT -5
From the Section "The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)/Gaia Education/Findhorn Foundation" in the IPCR document "A Multi-Angle View of the Debt Crises" (at www.ipcri.net/A_Multi-Angle_View_of_the_Debt_Crises.pdf )
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)/Gaia Education/Findhorn Foundation
a) (from the “About Us” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/aboutgen.html ) (paragraph 1)
“The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is a growing network of sustainable communities and initiatives that bridge different cultures, countries, and continents. GEN serves as umbrella organization for ecovillages, transition town initiatives, intentional communities, and ecologically-minded individuals worldwide.”
b) (from the “Vision and Mission” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/vision-mission.html ) (paragraph 1)
“We envision an expanding network of communities, businesses, NGOs, media, educational institutions, governments, foundations, writers, researchers, educators, students, and citizen activists exchanging information and experiences globally to enhance our individual and collective capacity for living sustainably in community, at the present and for future generations.”
c) (from the “Vision and Mission” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/vision-mission.html ) (paragraph 3-5)
“Goals:
To provide networking services in the form of information, encouragement, tools, examples, and leadership in developing and demonstrating sustainability principles and practices.
Through information exchange, advocate a community lifestyle to individuals from all walks of life, for them to cultivate balanced, healthy and sustainable living --- socially, spiritually, economically, and ecologically.
To serve as a think-tank, incubator, international partner organization and catalyst for Ecovillages, ecovillage-related projects, and lifestyle models that expedite the global shift to sustainability.”
d) (from “What is an Ecovillage?” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/ecovillages/whatisanecovillage.html ) (in subsection “Background”)
“The motivation for ecovillages is the choice and commitment to reverse the gradual disintegration of supportive social/cultural structures and the upsurge of destructive environmental practices on our planet.
“For millenia, people have lived in communities close to nature, and with supportive social structures. Many of these communities, or ‘ecovillages’, exist to this day and are struggling for survival.
“Ecovillages are now being created intentionally, so people can once more live in communities that are connected to the Earth in a way that ensures the well-being of all life-forms into the indefinite future.
“Ecovillages are one solution to the major problems of our time - the planet is experiencing the limits to growth, and our lives are often lacking meaningful content. According to increasing numbers of scientists, we have to learn to live sustainably if we are to survive as a species. The United nations launched its Global Environment Outlook 2000 report, based on reports from UN agencies, 850 individuals and over 30 environmental institutes, concluding that ‘the present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option.’”
e) (from the “Ecovillage Design Education” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/education/ecovillagedesigneducation.html ) (paragraphs 1 and 2)
“The Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) course is a program of a GEN partner, Gaia Education. This new initiative was launched at Findhorn in October 2005 by a group of Ecovillage educators calling themselves The GEESE (Global Ecovillage Educators for Sustainable Earth.) The key program is a UNITAR-endorsed 4 week holistic introduction to designing sustainable settlements based on the GEN ‘living and learning’ principle. In four weeks you get an overview of all you need to know to design sustainable settlements all over the world.
"Gaia Education promotes a holistic approach to education for sustainable development by developing curricula for sustainable community design. While drawing upon best practices within ecovillages worldwide, Gaia Education works in partnership with universities, ecovillages, government and non-government agencies and the United Nations."
f) From the preamble to a 116 page “Ecovillage Design Curriculum” document (accessible at the Gaia
Education website) (see
gaiaeducation.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=62 )
“We live in a rapidly changing world that is transforming before our very eyes. Humanity is now being challenged as never before to grow in wisdom, maturity, and understanding. A plethora of deep and pressing concerns is calling for our immediate attention, concerns such as: Earth's environmental degradation, including the loss of precious topsoil and forest cover, the encroachment of deserts, thedepletion of fisheries and aquifers, the loss of habitat and the extinction of species, etc.; the glaring and increasing disparity between rich and poor leading to exploitation, poverty, and the associated regimen of malnutrition and over-population; the disintegration of families, communities, even entire cultures; unrestrained urbanization resulting in social alienation, displacement, and feelings of disconnection with the natural world; the dimming of a sense of spiritual awareness and purpose; global warming and ozone depletion; etc. And now, looming on the horizon is “peak oil,” with its coming adjustments and retrofits, including the probability of ongoing conflict over access to the remaining energy reserves.
“All of these problems are quite real and, by now, well-documented; but gaining awareness of the extent of the problems is only half the project of becoming educated these days.
“Amidst these intense challenges, and largely catalyzed by them, lies the prospect for tremendous growth in human potential and consciousness. People and communities all over the globe are coming together to reclaim responsibility for creating their own living situations – at local and regional levels. In the process, they are overcoming prior limitations and developing new talents, skills, knowledge and approaches. Paradoxically, many of the most innovative solutions rely on a timeless, perennial kind of
wisdom that seems to have been disregarded recently. The potential for a refreshed, renewed, revitalized humanity goes hand-in-hand with meeting the challenges of our present Age.
“The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) believes the most promising and effective way to deal with all these issues is through education….”
f) From an introduction to “Ecovillage Design” coursework at the Findhorn Foundation website:
(at www.findhorn.org/programmes/programme353.php/ )
[Note: also accessible at that webpage—A 7 minute video titled “Gaia Education: At the Cutting Edge of Sustainability”]
“Gaia Education Design for Sustainability - Training of Trainers - Incorporating Transition Towns Training
13 October - 9 November 2012
presented by the Findhorn Foundation in partnership with Global Ecovillage Network and Gaia Education
Based on Ecovillage Design - an official contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
Facilitated by:
Pracha Hutanuwatr - Director, Wongsanit Ashram, Thailand
May East - Director, Gaia Education
Michael Shaw - Director, Ecovillage International
Iain Davidson - Lecturer, Findhorn Foundation
and Findhorn Ecovillage experts
You are invited to join this four-week comprehensive programme based on the four core pillars of the Ecovillage Design: the social, worldview, ecological and economic dimensions of sustainability.
The programme content draws on the experience and expertise developed in a network of some of the most successful ecovillages and community projects across the Earth.
Design for Sustainability Training of Trainers is an advanced course based at the Findhorn Ecovillage providing a practical forum for learning and developing skills needed to work effectively with design for sustainability at all levels. It comprises four separate week-long modules, which may be attended as a whole or separately.
Social Design - Week 1: Oct 13–19
Building Community & Embracing Diversity
Communication Skills and Feedback
Facilitation and Decision-Making Processes
Conflict Facilitation
Personal Empowerment and Leadership
Celebrating Life: Creativity and Art
Economic Design - Week 2: Oct 20–26
Shifting the Global Economy to Sustainability
How Money Works: Community Banks and Currencies
Right Livelihood
Social Enterprise
Legal and Financial Issues
Ecological Design - Week 3: Oct 27–Nov 2
Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design
Appropriate Technology: Water
Organic Agriculture and Local Food
Appropriate Technology: Energy
Green Building & Retrofitting
Worldview - Week 4: Nov 3–9
Holistic Worldview
Listening to and Reconnecting with Nature
Awakening & Transformation of Consciousness
Personal Health, Planetary Health
Socially Engaged Spirituality and Bioregionalism
The EDE is being introduced to the world at this time to complement, correspond with, and assist in setting a standard for the United Nations' Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014.
The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)/Gaia Education/Findhorn Foundation
a) (from the “About Us” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/aboutgen.html ) (paragraph 1)
“The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) is a growing network of sustainable communities and initiatives that bridge different cultures, countries, and continents. GEN serves as umbrella organization for ecovillages, transition town initiatives, intentional communities, and ecologically-minded individuals worldwide.”
b) (from the “Vision and Mission” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/vision-mission.html ) (paragraph 1)
“We envision an expanding network of communities, businesses, NGOs, media, educational institutions, governments, foundations, writers, researchers, educators, students, and citizen activists exchanging information and experiences globally to enhance our individual and collective capacity for living sustainably in community, at the present and for future generations.”
c) (from the “Vision and Mission” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/about-gen/vision-mission.html ) (paragraph 3-5)
“Goals:
To provide networking services in the form of information, encouragement, tools, examples, and leadership in developing and demonstrating sustainability principles and practices.
Through information exchange, advocate a community lifestyle to individuals from all walks of life, for them to cultivate balanced, healthy and sustainable living --- socially, spiritually, economically, and ecologically.
To serve as a think-tank, incubator, international partner organization and catalyst for Ecovillages, ecovillage-related projects, and lifestyle models that expedite the global shift to sustainability.”
d) (from “What is an Ecovillage?” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/ecovillages/whatisanecovillage.html ) (in subsection “Background”)
“The motivation for ecovillages is the choice and commitment to reverse the gradual disintegration of supportive social/cultural structures and the upsurge of destructive environmental practices on our planet.
“For millenia, people have lived in communities close to nature, and with supportive social structures. Many of these communities, or ‘ecovillages’, exist to this day and are struggling for survival.
“Ecovillages are now being created intentionally, so people can once more live in communities that are connected to the Earth in a way that ensures the well-being of all life-forms into the indefinite future.
“Ecovillages are one solution to the major problems of our time - the planet is experiencing the limits to growth, and our lives are often lacking meaningful content. According to increasing numbers of scientists, we have to learn to live sustainably if we are to survive as a species. The United nations launched its Global Environment Outlook 2000 report, based on reports from UN agencies, 850 individuals and over 30 environmental institutes, concluding that ‘the present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option.’”
e) (from the “Ecovillage Design Education” section, at gen.ecovillage.org/education/ecovillagedesigneducation.html ) (paragraphs 1 and 2)
“The Ecovillage Design Education (EDE) course is a program of a GEN partner, Gaia Education. This new initiative was launched at Findhorn in October 2005 by a group of Ecovillage educators calling themselves The GEESE (Global Ecovillage Educators for Sustainable Earth.) The key program is a UNITAR-endorsed 4 week holistic introduction to designing sustainable settlements based on the GEN ‘living and learning’ principle. In four weeks you get an overview of all you need to know to design sustainable settlements all over the world.
"Gaia Education promotes a holistic approach to education for sustainable development by developing curricula for sustainable community design. While drawing upon best practices within ecovillages worldwide, Gaia Education works in partnership with universities, ecovillages, government and non-government agencies and the United Nations."
f) From the preamble to a 116 page “Ecovillage Design Curriculum” document (accessible at the Gaia
Education website) (see
gaiaeducation.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=62 )
“We live in a rapidly changing world that is transforming before our very eyes. Humanity is now being challenged as never before to grow in wisdom, maturity, and understanding. A plethora of deep and pressing concerns is calling for our immediate attention, concerns such as: Earth's environmental degradation, including the loss of precious topsoil and forest cover, the encroachment of deserts, thedepletion of fisheries and aquifers, the loss of habitat and the extinction of species, etc.; the glaring and increasing disparity between rich and poor leading to exploitation, poverty, and the associated regimen of malnutrition and over-population; the disintegration of families, communities, even entire cultures; unrestrained urbanization resulting in social alienation, displacement, and feelings of disconnection with the natural world; the dimming of a sense of spiritual awareness and purpose; global warming and ozone depletion; etc. And now, looming on the horizon is “peak oil,” with its coming adjustments and retrofits, including the probability of ongoing conflict over access to the remaining energy reserves.
“All of these problems are quite real and, by now, well-documented; but gaining awareness of the extent of the problems is only half the project of becoming educated these days.
“Amidst these intense challenges, and largely catalyzed by them, lies the prospect for tremendous growth in human potential and consciousness. People and communities all over the globe are coming together to reclaim responsibility for creating their own living situations – at local and regional levels. In the process, they are overcoming prior limitations and developing new talents, skills, knowledge and approaches. Paradoxically, many of the most innovative solutions rely on a timeless, perennial kind of
wisdom that seems to have been disregarded recently. The potential for a refreshed, renewed, revitalized humanity goes hand-in-hand with meeting the challenges of our present Age.
“The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) believes the most promising and effective way to deal with all these issues is through education….”
f) From an introduction to “Ecovillage Design” coursework at the Findhorn Foundation website:
(at www.findhorn.org/programmes/programme353.php/ )
[Note: also accessible at that webpage—A 7 minute video titled “Gaia Education: At the Cutting Edge of Sustainability”]
“Gaia Education Design for Sustainability - Training of Trainers - Incorporating Transition Towns Training
13 October - 9 November 2012
presented by the Findhorn Foundation in partnership with Global Ecovillage Network and Gaia Education
Based on Ecovillage Design - an official contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.
Facilitated by:
Pracha Hutanuwatr - Director, Wongsanit Ashram, Thailand
May East - Director, Gaia Education
Michael Shaw - Director, Ecovillage International
Iain Davidson - Lecturer, Findhorn Foundation
and Findhorn Ecovillage experts
You are invited to join this four-week comprehensive programme based on the four core pillars of the Ecovillage Design: the social, worldview, ecological and economic dimensions of sustainability.
The programme content draws on the experience and expertise developed in a network of some of the most successful ecovillages and community projects across the Earth.
Design for Sustainability Training of Trainers is an advanced course based at the Findhorn Ecovillage providing a practical forum for learning and developing skills needed to work effectively with design for sustainability at all levels. It comprises four separate week-long modules, which may be attended as a whole or separately.
Social Design - Week 1: Oct 13–19
Building Community & Embracing Diversity
Communication Skills and Feedback
Facilitation and Decision-Making Processes
Conflict Facilitation
Personal Empowerment and Leadership
Celebrating Life: Creativity and Art
Economic Design - Week 2: Oct 20–26
Shifting the Global Economy to Sustainability
How Money Works: Community Banks and Currencies
Right Livelihood
Social Enterprise
Legal and Financial Issues
Ecological Design - Week 3: Oct 27–Nov 2
Whole Systems Approach to Ecological Design
Appropriate Technology: Water
Organic Agriculture and Local Food
Appropriate Technology: Energy
Green Building & Retrofitting
Worldview - Week 4: Nov 3–9
Holistic Worldview
Listening to and Reconnecting with Nature
Awakening & Transformation of Consciousness
Personal Health, Planetary Health
Socially Engaged Spirituality and Bioregionalism
The EDE is being introduced to the world at this time to complement, correspond with, and assist in setting a standard for the United Nations' Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014.