GEN - News
Global Ecovillage Network News are
published in Permaculture Magazine No. 55
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CIFAL Success |
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A two-day workshop on biofuels held in Scotland in November 2007 completed a successful first year of activities for the CIFAL Findhorn training centre. CIFAL Findhorn is one of a network of 12 training centres internationally under the umbrella of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research that are devoted to providing training in various aspects of sustainability to local government officials and elected representatives. CIFAL Findhorn has run eight training sessions over the last year, with a strong focus on renewable energy and climate change. In addition, it has hosted delegations of local government officials from Vietnam, Korea and Norway. The seminars are attracting a wide range of par-ticipants, including those from outside local government. The biofuels workshop, for example, had participants from Scottish universities, WWF, Practical Action and the private sector. For more information, contact: |
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Eco-initiative in Transylvania
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Douglas Mcfarlane and Sara Meaker have set up a company in Romania, Low Impact Living Transylvania (LILTrans) to attract downsizers and environmentalists to come and live in Transylvania. For more information contact: |
Permaculture Lake in Portugal |
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In November 2007 the first building phase of an extensive renaturation model in Tamera, Portugal was completed with the creation of a large lake.
Austrian permaculture designer, Sepp Holzer, was the inspiration and planner behind the project. The main aims of the lake will be to retain the winter rain for the summer, to combat soil erosion and to create conditions for sustainable fertility. There will be edible gardens and landscapes on its slopes. It will be a regeneration model for desolate landscapes in southern Europe. Thousands of seeds have been sown, trees planted, and tonnes of heavy ‘water shaped’ marble boulders (acting as energetic design elements and works of art) have been put in place. Tamera still needs financial support for this project and they are seeking sponsors for the further construction of the lake. For more details, visit: www.tamera.org or contact Leila Dregger: leila.dregger AT snafu.de |
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Damanhur Wins Ecological Awards |
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Damanhur, the internationally renowned center for spiritual re-search, located in the Valchiusella Valley, in the Alpine foothills of northern Italy has won two awards under the Foundation for Environmental Education’s (FEE) Green Home scheme. For details, contact Macaco Tamerice: macaco AT damanhur.it |
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Japan Hosts 2nd Ecovillage Conference |
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The second International Ecovillage Conference was held in Japan, November 2007, with a packed crowd of environmental activists, university professors, students and Japan’s green press. Green-Power TV have posted interviews and highlights, view them at www.green-power.tv For information, contact Jun Shikit: shikita AT begoodcafe.com or visit: http://begoodcafe.com/main/project/ecvc |
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Tamera Pilgrimage |
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For four weeks a group (which numbered 168 people by the end) walked through Israel and Palestine, led by Sabine Lichtenfels and Benjamin von Mendelssohn from the Tamera ecovillage in Portugal.Collaborations and concrete plans were made towards the creation of the Peace Research Village in the Middle East.Two representatives of the San José de Apartadó Peace Village in Colombia participated in the pilgrimage. It became apparent through their stories that the injustice that has befallen the Palestinians is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a global inhumanity. A young Palestinian said: “The situation of the people in Columbia is even more difficult and dangerous than ours. If they can work non-violently and seek reconciliation, then we must do the same.”The pilgrimage spent time at a hill top just 9km from Bethlehem, belonging to the Palestinian family, Nasar. This location may come to play a longer-term role in the creation of a peace centre for the region. Their vision is to create an ecological training centre for Palestinians and a meeting point for peace.The next vision meeting for the Peace Research Village will take place in spring 2008 along with a community course specifically for Palestinians. At that time, a solar plant will be built on the site as a gift.
For more details, |
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Co-housing Film |
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A new film on co-housing, Voices of Cohousing. Rebuilding Villages in the City, partly financed by GEN-Europe, has been released. For more information view: or contact cohousing AT notsocrazy.net |
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Land Share at Portuguese Eco-initiative
Three couples have so far combined finances and formed a Land Trust to purchase a site as shared land and to create private dwellings in Portugal.
The property is next to Odemira and consists of 10 acres of beautiful land, woodland, and natural wild areas in the Portuguese National Park. The land and buildings are currently in early stages of cultivation and renovation. Additional investors are sought to complete the full secure ownership of the site by purchasing the fourth building plot and an equal share of the land.
For more details, contact: ecolife AT rainbowtradingpost.com
Dutch Ecovillage Wants New Members
The Dutch community, Vlierhof, is looking for new community members who can further develop its international community.
During the Spring of 2008 a new building will be ready and the community, based next to the German border, wants to attract new members to live and work in the community.
In particular, they are looking for people who can help set up the International Center for Communication and Consciousness: to help with marketing, public relations, fund raising, organising the kitchen and household and to coordinate volunteers.
For further information...
visit: www.vlierhof.org
contact Anutosh: anutosh AT vlierhof.org
or Annelies annelies AT vlierhof.nl
UK Sustainable Community Seeks Investors
The group running Trelay Farm, near the north coast of Cornwall, is currently seeking new off-site investors or residents – with money.
The farm was acquired in April 2007 by a non-profit company called SWESE Trelay (South West England Sustainable Enterprises Trelay Ltd). It is being run as a Sustainable Enterprise Community, a mini ecovillage consisting of a 30 acre smallholding.
The group of 11 founder mem-bers have established a lively community which lives in a low impact, sustainable manner and aims to approach self-sufficiency in renewable energy, water, sewage, fruit, vegetables and possibly milk, meat, fish, eggs and honey. They live on co-housing principles with private rooms or cottages, and communal spaces. Their vision is for 12 - 15 living spaces accommodating up to 30 residents, with additional accommodation for visitors and temporary workers.
Eventually there will be a variety of Sustainable Enterprise businesses based at the site, such as renewable energy consultancy, an eco-hostel, courses and crafts.
Jackie Carpenter, one of the founder members, says, “New enthusiastic people are invited to join our embryonic community or to give us financial support; there is plenty of opportunity to make your own sustainable dreams come true here!”
For further details view: www.trelay.org
New Ecovillage Film |
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The Portuguese ecovillage, Tamera, has launched a new, English-language film, The Solarpowervillage and the Idea of the Global Campus. The aim of the film is to raise the international profile of these two initiatives born in Tamera. The Solarpowervillage, which is the brainchild of designer Jurgen Kleinwächter, is a global model village for food and energy self-sufficiency and community knowledge. Meanwhile, the Global Campus is a concept emerging from various Tamera-linked initiatives around the world. For more details, visit: www.tamera.org or contact Leila Dregger: leila.dregger AT snafu.de |
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SUBMISSIONS DEADLINE
...for submissions to GEN-News in Permaculture Magazine No.56
3 March 2008
Contact:
Jonathan Dawson
+44 1309 692 448
jonathan at gen-europe.org
The publishers reserve the right to select, edit or delete material according to the space available.
GEN news are regularly published in Permaculture Magazine. They feature news and short articles from the Ecovillage world worldwide.
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