Geese in formation 2011-2

Geese information
Gaia Northern Summer/Southern Winter 2011
education
Together We Fly Further – Celebrating 13 Years
May East, Programme Director

Gaia Education’s originating impulse was given wings in
Denmark in a 1998 gathering of ecovillage educators from
across the globe.

This group later on called themselves GEESE– Global Eco-
village Educators for a Sustainable Earth. Over subsequent
meetings of the GEESE Gaia Education and the EDE curri-
culum were developed. Since then, 97 programmes have
taken place in 22 countries and over 2,500 EDE alumni from
61 countries across all continents have emerged, being the
wind and carrying the wisdom of this global education for
sustainability movement to new heights.

What We Need Is Here From 25-27 June 2011, new and old GEESE will be gathering
again, returning to Denmark after 13 years for a 3-day
Geese appear high over us,
sharing, this time in Duesomegaard, the new farm-house
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds and centre of Hildur and Ross Jackson.
them to their way, clear
This issue of the GEESE InFormation Newsletter is dedicated
in the ancient faith: what we need
to the many alumni who continue to inspire Gaia Educa-
is here. And we pray, not
tion to further develop its programmes responding to the
for new earth or heaven, but to be
urgent issues of our times.
quiet in heart, and in eye,
clear. What we need is here. From organising and assisting new EDE’s, to starting your

From Wendell Berry’s Poem The Wild Geese
own communities, sharing the wisdom of green building
(submitted by Maddy Harland)
and working with the youth; from following your own crea-
tive impulses to reviving humankind’s traditional wisdom
and translating EDE concept into strategic government poli-
cies; from bringing innovation to mainstream organisations
and re-designing the human presence in cities and towns.
Thank You to the many, many alumni from around the
world for flapping strongly your wings and for your dedica-
tion to a Sustainable Earth.

Together we fly further!

Gaia
education Geeseinformation 2011/2
GEESE Testimonials
Alumni from all over the world

After EDE I advised someone making
a housing development and spoke at
a ‘Green Economics Institute’ con-
ference about housing.

Some friends and I met with ‘House
of Fairy Tales’ to discuss making a
children’s project inspired by EDE. Since I participated to the EDE
They gave us their building to organ- in spring 2008, I’ve given more
ise an ecovillage festival. time to engagement to promote
innovation around me: mainly
I bumped into the Green Econom- innovation in the fact to think
ics Institute again, who invited me
differently anytime that a prob-
to work on a book about education.
lem, regarding to people or the
On the EDE course I felt confident
planet, is arriving
in myself and was excited by what
might be possible for the world.
In facts this commitment was
I have met up with EDE friends since, done through two actions:
so the fun continues.
• I’ve taken the role of president
of an environmental and sus-
tainable development com-
Helen Long, UK

mission and I’ve created and
The 2009 EDE at Wongsanit Ashram in Thailand amazed me with its vibrant managed some concrete pro-
community of participants and facilitators. Since then, I’ve focused less on jects for my little town.
societal problems, and more on creative solutions.
• I’ve created an option into
For most of the past two years, I’ve been at Acorn Community in Virginia, a business economic school
USA (www.acorncommunity.org). We cooperatively own Southern Exposure called ‘Manager 21’ based on
Seed Exchange (SESE), a social enterprise specializing in heirloom seeds. the ability to manage a sus-
In addition to working in the SESE office, our gardens, and our communal tainable developement and to
house, I’m helping annually with the Communities Conference at neighbor- discover and promote others
ing Twin Oaks Community (www.communitiesconference.org). Representa- economic models.
tives of communities attend to network with each other and with seekers
of community. The conference includes elements from all four EDE dimen- Thanks to May and all the team
sions, with greater focus on social and ecological dimensions. My work for :-))
the Conference is largely in publicity; however, I also hope to bring more of
what made the Wongsanit EDE so vibrant. Jean-Pierre, Switzerland
Irena Hollowell USA

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Gaia

Bem!!! foi e está sendo muito bom participar e apli-
Sometimes

car o conhecimento compartilhado, entendendo
the heart is

as facilidades e dificuldades, minhas e de todos, o
stronger and

que me faz recordar que estamos aqui para nos ca-
all you can

pacitar a ver com olhos mais amplos e elevados, de
do is laugh

forma a beneficiar o maior número de seres com os
at the crazy

quais entramos em contato. Foi muito bom aspirar
way things

participar do curso em 2008, e ele acontecer em
turn out…

2009 e 2010 na comunidade onde vivo. Sigo no caminho, cultivando as
amizades e expandindo os conteúdos discutidos e vivenciados em outros
Have been

ambientes, tecendo essa rede e fortalecendo as conexões. “Vinho novo
busy with

em garrafa velha”!!!!! Adorei a analogia!!!!
Permaculture
– teaching
courses – Taís Fonseca, Brazil
transition
towns,

Over the past few years I’ve been working hard to create a residential
affordable

centre where we give youngsters aged 14 to 18 an exciting education in
housing,

sustainable living. The course is run on a remote and uninhabited Scot-
sustainable

tish island and the program combines a variety of adventurous activities
food...

Community gardens, seed saving, with a practical experience in sustainable living. www.isleoflunga.co.uk

One of the most valuable things that the EDE course gave me was a con-
sea shepherd, yoga, meditation,

nection with a network of fun and like minded people. We share ideas
community living + food with

and give each other the support and encouragement that we need to help
friends; sharing the heart, being

make great changes in the world!
the strongest force, sharing the
heart, building and deepening
understanding and connection. Ben, Scotland

The EDE is no longer a

As a result of the EDE course in Findhorn I got really enthusiastic and
memory and group of friends

inspired to work on the conceptual and graphical optimization of the
somewhere else in the world.

EDE course content. It is my personal mission to inspire people towards
insightful sustainable action in creative and relevant way. I did already
Each time I connect with

some conceptual and graphical design work in co-creation with GAIA
Findhorn and the spirit of Gaia

education.
Education, it uplifts me, it is
giving me encouragement to
continue walking my path. Dominique Weemaes, Belguim

Mathew Cook, Australia

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Gaia
Há cerca de 20 anos venho estudando a questão da
dinâmica ambiental, a social e suas repercussões na
saúde do homem. Como médico, me especializei em
saúde … quando o Programa de Educação Gaia foi trazi-
do para o Rio de Janeiro, graças a articulação feita pela
ong Terra Una, não pensei duas vezes em fazê-lo. ….
Senti então que meu DNA estava sendo reprogramado
e que as minhas ações, em todos os sentidos ganhava
novas cores. Atravessei um portal sem volta, a minha configuração mudou e
Since EDE 2010 in Sieben Linden I agora, percebo que as pessoas param pra me escutar sobre estas questões,
founded with other women Atelier que querem se envolver, conhecer mais e realizar mudanças individuais e
Famous, a creative transition atelier coletivas. É como se uma chave tivesse sido ligada. Mas não é um milagre,
for recycling & fashion. We work acho que o EDE permitiu que eu vislumbrasse uma nova maneira de abordar
with other volunteers to make beau- o problema e por isso as pessoas estão mais receptivas. Esse fenômeno eu
tiful creatures from waste materials considero divisor de águas na minha vida. …Junto com o EDE, veio o curso
and fabric. We join in events and do de Cidades em Transição e este realmente abriu as portas para uma nova
workshops on craftwork like spin- dimensão. A dimensão de que temos que encontrar um caminho de resil-
ning, knitting, crouchet and dying iência nas cidades, comunidades, bairros, etc. E é aí que eu tenho a minha
wool with herbs. We now have two melhor participação. Estou tentando implantar o movomento de Transition
branches for this working place, em Petrópolis/RJ, na perspectiva de realmente contribuir com a grande mu-
where people can join us, without dança. Viva o Gaia!! A minha vida mudou a partir dele e sou muito grato ao
any money involved. universo por isso. Paulo Sá.

I also developed a workshop which
Paulo Klingelhoefer de Sá, Brazil

combines permaculture and uses
Dragon Dreaming dreamcircles for He participado en el EDE de Barcelona año 2007-08. En general la in-
making designs. It includes many ex- luencia del curso Ede a sido muy positiva, me ha hecho concretar mejor
ercises I took home from EDE. las ideas sobre ecoaldeas y como llevarlas a la practica, también ha sido
muy util en el respeto a la diversidad ya que me lo hizo mucho mas evi-
dente. En Tenerife hemos hecho algunos intentos de concresión de una
ecoaldea pero de momento no ha llegado, aunque si trabajamos en red
Chatharina

varias fincas intentando asociarnos en proyectos conjuntados. Tambien
de Bruin,

hacemos todo cuanto esta en nuestra mano para difundir esta maravil-
Germany

losa idea de las ecoaldeas a traves de talleres en nuestra finca renacer y
de la pagina de nuestro proyecto: www.cultivando.org

Un saludos a tod@s y buena caminada.
Efrem Scarmatto Ibarburu, Tenerife

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Gaia
EDE for me I could get a lot
was such as a of knowledge
terminal sta- and wisdom to
tion or hub build commu-
airport. In nity from the
the EDE, I got programme
know about but I was also
Permaculture so inspired by
and I started to other partici-
take a course pants of EDE
of P.C. Also, by who are now
listening about my friends. I
the Transition Town (TT) in the Mr. Hide Enomoto’s also got a clearer vision for future, and have a strong
lecture in the Social dimension, I started to join the conviction about my thoughts. There were things that I
TT seminar and established the TT Kamakura where could put on practice at home soon after the EDE pro-
I lived, and helped to introducing a local currency sys- gramme ended, and that helped me to change my ac-
tem and building a eco-house with natural materials. tions. These experience that embedded deeply in me
became a base of my thought to make a sustainable
I became a good friends with the EDE staff, Etsuko and
community for my future.
Fumimi, and we visited ecovillages and communities in
Denmark, Italy, Swiss, and Sweden last year. That I have I live in Tokyo without job right now. I plan to take a
never imagined before, but it gave me a huge inspira- job-training from a Not-for-Profit Organization, Com-
tion and shock. munity Building Centre in Chiba. I am also working to
promote the macrobiotic & health program in order to
The biggest change was quit my job that I worked for
restore the traditional Japanese food-culture, and en-
last 30 years and decided to live in a community. As a
vironmental education in order for the city to shift to
result, I moved to country side for that purpose. Leav-
more sustainable community.
ing from Tokyo area was also not expected. Looking
back the last two years, I am so surprised the degree
of change of my life since my friend who asked to join
Ms. Saori Totsuka

EDE and friends in the professional coach circle and
the Permaculture circle still remain where they are.

Tohru Suga, Japan

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Gaia
EDE受講の体験はあなたにとってどのようなもので、

あなたの人生にどのように影響を与えたでしょうか？

EDEでの体験は、コミュニティにすばらしさと難しさの両方を感じる
ことが出来たことが一番の体験でした。

木の花ファミリーでのリアルなコミュニティとEDEコミュニティとの
対比も大変興味深いものでした。

EDEが私に与えた影響は、まさに今後の人生の舵を示してくれるもの
でした。

実家が大きな変化の最中、次の時代のモデルプランとして大いに勇気
づけられました。

EDE参加したことで、何か変化はありましたか？

資本主義や今の体制からの脱却、次のステージへの道しるべを得たことで、

迷うことなく、エコビレッジ建設を選択する後押しをしてくれました。

現在、どこにいますか（働いていますか）？　何に関わっていますか？

地元豊橋にいます。今年の夏から本格的なエコビレッジ用の建物の建設が

始まろうとしています。

来年には、形になったものがみなさんにお見せすることが出来ると思います。

ただ、それもスタートであるのでしょうが・・・

Mr. Kazuhiro Sano

The experience with EDE was the one with the reality. Full of motivations, know-how and hints for the next step
that inquiring how I relate myself to the world and live for future. The interaction with various practitioners
was exciting and content of the EDE led my awareness to the conviction. Since I wanted to have my own field, I
moved to Koganei-city where the Transition Town movement is active. I live in a shared house in Mitaka-city.
I work for a delivery company in order to earn money. I joined the Eco-housing project of the Transition Town
Koganei and established a working group for screen image and create visual archives of various kind of activities,
lectures, and interviews that are related to the Transition Town Japan. I also joined the experimental garden of
the “Millenium City Kichijyoji” and the “Future Village”.
Mr. Yoichi Kajima

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Gaia
As a Project Manager and Permaculturist from South Africa, and, with fairly Some 5 years after my EDE, and
competent holistic design skills, I was blown away by the holistic and inte- a journey of continued learning, I
grated approach towards sustainability imparted at the 2006 Findhorn EDE. am now confidently teaching EDE
I very soon adopted these newfound EDE concepts in my development pro- principles within my Permaculture
jects, ranging from grass roots community development type projects to pro- courses and embedding the same
gramme management of government capital development projects. Some of within my project work where ever
my EDE applications include: possible. However, one never stops
learning, especially about sustain-
• After seeing “The Power of Community – How Cuba Survived Peak Oil”
ability – the final frontier!
on the EDE course, I visited Cuba and cycled around the western part for
3 weeks visiting numerous “organoponico” projects and meeting two of
the main characters in this documentary. Upon returning to South Af-
Ezio Gori

rica, I gave several screenings of the Cuba DVD followed by a talk on my
experiences in Cuba and the relevance to Peak Oil, Climate Change and
Transition Initiatives. www.permaculture2012.co.za/pages/34586#5

• Translating EDE sustainability concepts into strategic policies and plans
for rural / peri-urban development projects for various government en-
tities, which included a framework for an agri-village model to stimu-
late economic livelihoods in rural areas and also for the rehabilitation
of farms handed over to communities arising from South Africa’s Land
Reform Programme. www.permaculture2012.co.za/pages/34586#7
and www.permaculture2012.co.za/pages/34586#12

• The formulation of a “Strategic Framework for Sustainability”, which
is an ongoing research project that uses ecological footprint data in a
strategic framework designed to show how Humanity needs to curtail
its ecological footprint in order to sustainably contain the soon to be 9
billion people by 2040. This ongoing research project has been shared
with some like minded people, but it will hopefully be developed fur-
ther as teaching material, a paper, a higher educational qualification.
www.permaculture2012.co.za/pages/33426

• The co-establishment of my home base, Wirikuta New Moon Centre in
Durban, into a teaching centre that practices the emergence of sustainable
living within community. www.permaculture2012.co.za/pages/34612

• The EDE teachings culminated in my website designed initially as my
Permaculture portfolio for the award of a Diploma of Applied Perma-
culture Design at the 2010 UK Permaculture Convergence, but also
as a body of knowledge for Permaculture and sustainability.
www.permaculture2012.co.za

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Gaia
Joining the Ecovillage Design Education
To keep things short, we started and Training of Trainers courses helped
our own eco homestead next to me build up the knowledge, skills and self-
awareness to care, love and be responsible,
a future eco village with a B&B
using critical thinking and taking action in
called Tuwa The Laughing Fish.
society - on national or international levels.
Through these lessons, practicing and shar-
We are off the grid with a fully
ing, my understanding of the personal, com-
automated gasifier system. We
munity and institutional levels deepened.
have biogas for cooking and
our ponds are full of happy Ta- In the EDE, I learned how to understand my-
self, others and the environment in order to
lapia fish which our guests can
connect and communicate with the needs,
catch and then we serve during
willingness and skills in me and around
dinner in numerous prepara- me. It helped me see and reflect more on
tion possibilities. the life aspect of society and the world and
how to change and be a change or supporter
We celebrate food and our gar- for others. Starting from knowing there is a problem, to understanding the
den is lush with a variety of cause of the problem and possible solutions, to knowing how to bring these
tropical and sub tropical veg- solutions to all four dimension of life - the worldview, social, economy and
etables and we are blessed with ecological dimensions.
a lovely orchard with trees like In the worldview aspect, I learnt how to understand and analyze the value of
mango and lychee. the paradigm or belief system that shaped me.

We are currently working with In the social aspect, I learnt about living in community by building relation-
the [surrounding] community ships, non-violent communication, self-awareness, involving process and
having common goals. In the economy aspect I learnt how to build up the
in the transition town move-
foundations of a community with spiritual values, stability and sustainabil-
ment to unite and retrofit with
ity in eco-friendly production systems, counter-balancing consumerism and
other local initiatives. capitalism. In the ecological aspect, I learnt about introducing biodiversity in
farming and about permaculture vs. monoculture, creating sustainable and
John Vermeulen, Philippines regenerative systems.

The EDE inspired me to integrate and build connections to what I’ve learned
to walk in my life. I learnt that I can make my dreams happen. With commit-
ment to learning, practicing and sharing, and the confidence to facilitate and
raise other’s awareness, these experiences can be transferred into action
among family, friends and community.
[Editor’s Note: John has
now also co-organised
and facilitated in the
Philippines EDE] Eka Ratawit, Indonesia

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Gaia
Hello to All from Estonia!
The EDE course gave me many
I participated in 2006, EDE for trainers in Findhorn. ideas, resources and confidence
Wow, almost 4 years ago. So for me the EDE training in my work with conservation
gave the impulse to search more in this field, gave me volunteers and ecology students.
confidence to speak up and after course I have been We have run a workshop on
practicing mainly on ecological module :) So what have sustainable living in Pucon and
I done so far to create a better World in few words. the EDE course has been a great
inspiration for our participation
I have built several strawbale houses (biggest is over 100 m2), rocket stove, in our Transition Town Initia-
also some smaller structures with natural materials. I have been giving lec- tive in Pucon, Chile, with plenty
tures on EDE topics in Universities and also abroad in Baltics. I have lead of ideas to help enrich meetings
several workshops on building with local materials, straw and clay. I in- and group actions.
vited foreign specialists (USA, Denmark, Australia) to run a workshops and
seminars here in Estonia about different uses of natural building materials
Jerry Laker, Chile

(two projects were supported by EU funds).

This year I have composed a curriculum of “Sustainable building and Resto- Since November, old friends
ration”, that is for teachers skill conversion in vocational schools in Estonia. have been gathering from all
Curriculum is approved by Estonian Ministry of Education and Research over France. We are elated to
and first trainings will start in autumn 2010. tell you all we will be starting in
March to re-shape an old farm
Today me and my lovely wife are creating a training centre for healthy life- in the Gers, besides the Abbaye
style and self development. We are working on two fields - Horse Therapy of Flarans. Four families, in two
(Equine Assisted Learning) and sustainable living condition (permacul- houses and two apartments, will
ture). All buildings in this area (18 hectares) are from straw and clay or be re-connecting with animals, a
from reused materials. We have currently 10 horses and 4 children and huge community garden, cereal
some smaller domestic animals like dogs, sheep, cats, hens. and hay fields, and generally the
forest and the elementals. Close
I can add to my today’s work with gratitude a “logo” – Inspired by GAIA to an old Templar site above us,
Education. Thank you all for your work and deep bow to founders of this we endeavour to connect the ele-
curriculum! mentals, and recreate with them
the sacred landscape.
With lots of Love, Eve Camolli, France
Sven Aluste, Estonia

Further testimonials can be found on the Gaia Education’s NING site: geese-gaiaeducation.ning.com

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Gaia
The EDE’s Place in our Changing World
Michiyo Furuhashi

The world is changing! The Lehman
shock, mega earthquakes in New
Zealand and Japan and the explo-
sions of nuclear power plants – all
these incidents are indications that
human beings need to awaken our
consciousness.

I strongly feel the concept and
practice of ecovillage living leads
human kind to live in harmony with
all others on this planet and the EDE holds a very important role in raising
awareness of this kind for all. Many participants have changed their life styles
while others have started actual communities.

As for the coming GEESE meeting, my hope and expectation is to know each
other, to deepen our relationships as leaders of the countries we represent,
furthering collaborations and confirming the importance of understanding the
worldviews that have been introduced in the EDE curriculum. I think it is a very
basic component of community living.

I translated the EDE curriculum into Japanese with members of the Japan Eco-
village Promotion Project three years ago. I was first introduced to the curricu-
lum by Hildur Jackson in June, 2006. I read it and felt an urgency to translate
it because natural disasters were increasing drastically and ecovillage living
helps affected people re-establish their lives in ways that are healthier than
before these disasters. That was the first motivation of the project, confirmed
after Japan’s recent mega earthquakes, tsunami and the nuclear power plant
explosions. I now intend to approach Government, introducing them to the
EDE context. Advice and information from other members will be a great help.

With the growing discrepancy between rich and poor in many countries, albeit
to different degrees, the application of the EDE in societies affected by socio-
economic poverty is another exciting area.

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Gaia
I started to live in an actual ecovillage, the Konohana Family, in January 2007. Through
actual ecovillage life, I felt the importance of having and sharing certain worldviews,
helping us pursue a genuine purpose within community life, in harmony with oth-
ers. The EDE is really needed to help societies appreciate and feel this.

I recently read out the curriculum of the EDE to
my community members at our daily community
meeting. We all shared our thoughts and feelings
around it, deepening our understanding and con-
firming the importance of practicing this kind of
life, a life which models a new society.

I am looking forward to meeting you physically and spiritually in order to expand this
valuable lifestyle for a sustainable future.

Gaia Education Welcomes Michiyo and Potira to the Board
Gaia Education welcomes Michiyo Furuhashi and Potira Preiss to its Board of Directors. Michiyo from Japan, and Potira from
Brazil, join the existing Board of Jane Rasbash (Scotland/Thailand), Jonathan Dawson (England) and Ross Jackson (Denmark).

Profile: Michiyo Furuhashi Profile: Potira Preiss
Michiyo is a member of Kono- Potira is a biologist with a
hana Family, a leading ecovil- wide experience in the field
lage in Japan. Here she is in of sustainability education,
charge of ecovillage education socio-environmental projects
and is also a vocalist in the and consultancy. She has been
Konohana Band. Her other roles involved with the Social Forum
include being a board member of the Global Eco- in Porto Alegre and is active in many international
village Network (GEN), where she is also a country movements. She is currently taking her master de-
representative for Japan, and vice-president of the gree on Rural Development at the Federal University
GEN Oceania & Asia (GENOA) region. Michiyo organ- of Rio Grande do Sul, while her SME 2P focuses on
ized the first EDE in Japan from 2008 to 2009 and sustainability and cultural education. Potira has been
as a co-representative of Ecovillage Japan Network involved with Gaia Education since 2006, from a stu-
(EJN), collaborates in leading the ecovillage move- dent to EDE course coordinator and facilitator, and
ment in Japan. now member of the Board of Directors.

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Gaia
Mexico EDE: Huehue Ecovillage, February 2011
Arnold Ricalde

Huehuecoytl (Huehue) Ecovillage hosted its second EDE course in February
2011. Located in the small town of Santo Domingo Ocotitlán, in the state Mo-
relos, Huehue makes a perfect setting for the EDE: an ecovillage surrounded by
beautiful mountains, presenting the perfect opportunity to pursue many of the
goals set by the EDE. Circles, living amongst nature, healing, theory, field trips,
music and a connection to earth and each other were all present in the course.

The first EDE held in Mexico took place in 2005 through a collaboration of NGOs
including Organi-K and members from Huehue, with Max Lindegger leading
facilitation. It was a time during which rich seeds were sown. Subsequent to
the EDE, the Mexico City Institute for Housing requested a course on best prac-
tices for their architects and engineers. A total of 120 participants completed
these 72 hour courses, which although emphasised design, included all four
EDE dimensions. Further collaborations between Huehue and the Government
of Mexico City have resulted in fairs & festivals promoting ecovillage wisdom
(ecotecnias), sustainable housing programmes and tax benefits to individuals
and businesses alike who implement ecotecnias best practices.

Registrations for this first and the two subsequent EDEs at Huehue have been
high. Once again this year we had to turn down participants in consideration
of our capacity and available resources. Both Huehue’s 2008 and this year’s
course had an attendance of 35 participants.

One of the most rewarding gifts of the EDE course is the family that is being
created through this type of learning. Participants of this and prior courses are
thirsty for more information and attend many of the year round social, cultural
and environmental events. They become part of the ecovillage family in an
organic manner.

The EDE courses have also been a great pillar on the Eco-barrios courses that
we are implementing in Mexico City. Alberto and Odin Ruz, together with
Organi-K and the support of the Delegación Coyoacan, are working in 5 barrios
of the city, implementing the ecovillage principals and raising awareness to
transform the social, environmental and awareness view.

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Elders in the EDE: Beatriz Vera Pozzi Redko –
Being an Elder in Contemporary Times
Beatriz Vera Pozzi Redko, EDE São Paulo

To be an elder in modern times is a continuous challenge. Contemporary
society contains much bias and prejudice against elders, something I as an
elder am constantly up against.

The young generations either seem to find it difficult to accept or do not
realise that we currently have four generations living together on Earth, all
four of which are equally responsible in re-constructing a better world.

For us elders to be accepted we need to speak in the language of the youth.
Our wisdom is heard when it is communicated through the right channels and
in the right way. I am learning a lot with my grand children: if I share with
them something in their own language, like a strategic computer game, they
open their hearts and we communicate better. We elders need to re-invent
ourselves every day, and we have all the tools if we want to do it.

The main challenge is to get the over 60’s enthusiastic to participate in the re-
construction of a better world. A good number of them have low self esteem
and believe nobody wants to talk to them. To transmit the enthusiasm of the
EDE is to construct a better world for all citizens. This is a major mission, one
which goes hand in hand with engaging everybody living in the crusade for a
better, more just and more sustainable planet.

Have you been an elder in the EDE and would you like to share your
story? Or perhaps you are not an elder but would like to share your case
studies and/or experience of the EDE and GEDS programmes? What has
changed for you since attending these courses? Whatever your angle,
we would like to hear from you and possibly publish your article in this
newsletter! Send us your story by sharing it on the Forum pages of Gaia
Education’s NING website: geese-gaiaeducation.ning.com

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Gaia
Japan EDE: September 2010 – July 2011
Deepening Community amidst Natural Disaster
Etsuko Hayashi and Yoji Kamata

Japan’s second EDE started in September 2010 with monthly three-day work-
shops held by the EDE’s steering committee, co-sponsored by the Atelier for
Development and the Future (ADF) and the Japan Eco-village Promotion Pro-
ject (JEPP) and supported by alumni of the first EDE.

EDE Japan: www.ede-japan.org
Atelier for Development and the Future: www.ari-edu.org

The EDE was due to complete on 2nd April 2011 when the East Japan great
earthquake disaster struck. Final dates for the EDE were shifted to May, and
now July, as the nuclear accident unfolds.

The Asian Rural Institute (ARI) is the venue of the second EDE. A community
based learning centre, it provides practical training on organic farming and
servant-leadership for rural leaders in Asia and Africa. EDE and ARI are sup-
porting and learning with each other.

The 20 participants, aged from 27 to 64 years, include NGO staff, professors,
regional development consultants, government officers, organic farmers, and
so forth.

Japan’s second EDE has a unique programme and application for participants:

1. The participation fee practices an economy of sharing – set by a sliding
scale, students are empowered with the choice to select an appropriate
fee based on their income.

2. Adjusting to Japanese living conditions, the period of the learning is set
over a span of 9 months (now 11 months due to postponement), with
monthly three-day programmes.

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Gaia
3. We created a dimension of “Health and Food” in addition to the four di-
mensions and placed “Orientation and Introduction to Ecovillages” at the
beginning of the programme and “Total Ecovillage Design” at the end
of the programme. During the eighth session, participants will decide
where their upcoming fieldwork will take place: ecovillages, transition
towns, permaculture sites and organic farms are options.

4. Wisdom from intentional communities has been complemented by the
traditional wisdom of existing, non-intentional communities of Japan.
Transition Town training has been included in the social dimension.

During Worldview, Shugen-dou (‘nature worship’), a traditional Japanese spir-
ituality similar to tantric Buddhism and Shintoism and which was prohibited
during the modernization of Japan, was practiced. Students found this very
enriching, concluding that more should be enjoyed and learnt from Japanese
traditional wisdom for community living. Additional topics of this dimension
included the earth-based psychology of process work, council of all beings
and the composition of an EDE community song.

The Environmental dimension contained new ecovillage design elements ap-
propriate to Japan (e.g. the Japanese mountain ecovillage) and adjusting to
Japan’s unique bioregional and living conditions.

The Earthquake disaster was a huge event in the lives of all participants and
staff, producing an environment which has changed our lives and psychology
alike. Our connection as a community has become deeper by sharing our
hearts with each other in meetings held independently.

While revival of community, society and economy in Japan is on the fore-
front everywhere in Japan, how the EDE presents the necessity of commu-
nity and keeps answering the needs of society, in areas suffering and sites
which need revival, is one of the big topics challenging us as we come to
completion of this EDE.

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Gaia
Italy EDE: 2nd April – 1st May 2011
Italy’s First EDE is hosted by Damanhur Ecovillage
Macaco Tamerice

This year the first ‘Italian’ EDE was held at
Damanhur from April 2nd to May 1st, 2011.
It was a truly international course with 27
participants coming from 18 different countries,
including Brazil, South Africa, Mexico, China,
Russia, Morocco, Ukraine, Canada, USA and many
other European countries.

The diversity was enriched by the different age
groups represented. Ten participants were under
27 (the three youngest being 19 years old), while
the oldest participants were over 60.

The course was facilitated by two EDE veterans (Kosha Anja Joubert and Martin
Stengel) and myself. Many Damanhurian guest speakers and facilitators
came in to share and inspire, amongst which was Lemming Cactus for the
economic dimension.

The course offered a great and very holistic learning adventure. Living
together with 26 other people for four weeks in a confined environment
accelerated social learning opportunities.

The good organic food cooked by loving chefs helped to keep positive
energies high while the weather and exploding spring flowers added their
part: the sun was shining almost throughout the course with temperatures
for April unusually summery.

The four dimensions were interwoven, as was theory and practice.
Participants had the opportunity to visit Damanhur, the Temples and
different nucleos (the more intimate Damanhurian communities in which
15-25 people live). There was a field trip to showcase Damanhurian social

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Gaia
and political interaction with our
direct environment (bioregion); a
social experiment in the woods;
hands-on growing of organic food;
and the building of a strawbale
house, grounding what participants
had learnt.

Meditations, singing, dancing and
sharing were an integral part of our
everyday group process, creating
the platform for a dense emotional
learning experience where new
knowledge and personal growth
went hand in hand.

Thanks to the inspiration of the
course, many participants intend
to implement their own projects in
their countries. A mailing list and a
facebook page were created to stay
in contact and continue our fruitful
exchange. During the course a com-
mon project (GEN4EST) was created
and a group will come to the GEN-
Europe conference in Tamera in July
2011 to present it. Several of the
participants are hoping to run EDEs
in their countries next year.

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Gaia
Upcoming EDEs Certified and Re-certified
Around the World Programmes

The 2010/2011 UOC Online Pro- y Céu do Mapiá, Amazon
gramme and Gaia Curitiba EDE com- y EDE Lilleoru MTÜ
plete at the end of June. & Estonian Ecovillage Network
Israel’s Kibbutz Hukuk, Spain’s Son y EDE Bahia
Rul-lan and Brazil’s Terra Una Eco-
y EDE Findhorn
village and Gaia Brasilândia EDEs
are currently under way. y EDE Huehuecoyotl
y Living Routes – Lotan, Israel
The final sessions of the Japan EDE Céu do Mapiá
have been postponed and the EDE y Living Routes – Auroville, India
will now complete in July. y Living Routes – Findhorn, Scotland

Ecoaldea Huehuecoyotl, Tepoztlán,
Morelos, México
9th – 24th July 2011
www.organi-k.org.mx

Brazil, Ecobairro Salvador
22nd July 2011 – 4th December 2011
www.ecobairro.com.br
Gaia
Brazil, Gaia Rio
education
4th August – 27th November 2011 The Park, Findhorn
www.ecobairro.com.br Forres IV36 3TZ
Morayshire, Scotland
United Kingdom
Germany, Sieben Linden
administrator@gaiaeducation.net
12th August – 11th September 2011
phone: +44 1309 692011
www.siebenlinden.de
Company Limited by Guarantee
Registered in Scotland No 353967
Scotland, Findhorn Scottish Charity No SC040839

1st – 28th October 2011 www.gaiaeducation.net
www.findhorn.org

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Geese in formation 2011-2

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