Ecovillages as a Model of Practiced Sustainability COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE ECOVILLAGES Christiania, Denmark The ecovillage movement is growing: worldwide, new communities and inhab- itants of existing villages and suburbs are consciously choosing the path of sustainable development. In the face of both ecological and economical crises, poverty in the South and social isolation in the urban North, people are coming Spirituality 5. Socially Engaged together to assume joint responsibility for their region, its resources and their social surroundings. In the process they find themselves actors in and creators of their own reality. they seek to consciously re-adjust their Their examples make clear points: our surroundings: citizens who are together ecological footprint can be significantly seeking ecological or social changes in reduced; it is possible to revitalise region- their village or neighbourhood. al economic and energy cycles; and this constitutes an important counterweight The Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) Ecovillages and communities are models to globalisation. Ecovillages enrich has its origins in the intentional communi- of lived sustainability; they inspire their regions with ecological business and em- ty movement: places where people could region and pass on their experience. ployment opportunities, cultural activities, learn and live in experimental ways. In a very practical form, they show how and enhanced attractiveness for families. Today, established communities play an an ecologically and socially sustainable They are therefore an active contributor increasingly important role in GEN as way of living increases our quality of life. to positive demographic change. 2 Highlights from a Global Network: What is an ecovillage? “Ecovillages are established village communi- Did you know? ties or intentional communities that are shaped through conscious interaction of all their commu- nity members. An ecovillage improves the quality • The ecological footprint of Findhorn is half the average of life for humans and at the same time contrib- size of Great Britain. utes to protecting and regenerating the surround- • The Senegalese government has decided to support ing nature. The four dimensions of sustainability 14,000 traditional villages in their journey towards – ecology, economy, social issues and culture – becoming ecovillages. are integrated into one holistic unit.” • Damanhur in Italy has created its own currency. • The Ecovalley project in Hungary combines 100% self-sufficiency, engagement in social work for the whole region and a religious way of living. Ecovillages and communities worldwide combine modern • The first ecovillage in Holland, Ecodorp Bergen, is and traditional knowledge with sustainable innovative initi- being built on a former military base. atives in agriculture, energy, resource management, water • In Columbia, indigenous peoples, refugees and small and refuse management, architecture and social participa- farmers have come together to build peace-loving tory processes. They are a making a decisive contribution communities where no weapons, no violence and no within our society to the quest for local solutions to global alcohol are allowed, in order to counter the violence in problems. the country. • The ecovillage ‘movement’ in Latin America is indeed GEN unites communities from all over the world and links ‘on the move’: with buses, horses, bicycles and people them to members from the sustainability movement in poli- on foot, the EcoCaravanas educate villagers around tics, business and science. the country on ecologically sustainable ways of living. • The ecovillage Auroville was tasked by the Indian gov- ernment to compile a development plan for its entire region. • The government of the Chiang Mai province in North- ern Thailand has decided to work with Ecovillage Transition to transform their entire region into an eco-region. The knowledge and contribution which ecovillages can make to a sustainable lifestyle can be divided into four key areas, or ‘dimensions’. These are further explained on the following pages. Hameau de Buis, France 3 ty ituali Spir CULTURE AND ged ally Enga 5. Soci WORLDVIEW Ecovillages can be found with a Findhorn wide variety of different cultures and world views, but there is The Findhorn Foundation in Scotland Peter Caddy and Dorothy Maclean. always at least one value in com- was founded in 1962 and today has over When they used the messages they mon: respect for life. Responsibility 400 members. It is an ecovillage and an received, the garden blossomed. In the and active involvement with the international centre for holistic learning. end they understood that they were in Earth and all its inhabitants are the The founding principles of the Findhorn a partnership with nature: co-creation. basis for a culture of sustainability. Foundation and community are: It became clear to the founders that This ethic transcends all cultures the answers for mankind to the chal- and religions. • deep inner listening, and acting from lenges of our time had to include our that source of wisdom interaction with all life: “By changing our • co-creation with the intelligence of consciousness and listening to our inner The lived communal experience nature source of wisdom, we can bring about is a permanent school, teaching • service to the world. the positive and sustainable changes us to relate to all life. In this way, we learn responsibility, friendship From their self-description: “Meditation that the Earth needs.” and tolerance, even towards in all its forms – sitting in stillness, sing- More: www.findhorn.org those beings with different ing, dancing, contact with nature, work- appearances, feelings, thoughts ing – all of this puts us in touch with our or beliefs. In order to express inner source of wisdom. Before every and fill life with our connection to group activity we tune into each other Earth and its creatures, differ- and into the work at hand. This leads ent ecovillages take different to a feeling for our joint motivation and paths, create a variety of rituals, purpose. In that way we can act in a way and reactivate old traditions. that benefits everyone – the individual Even communal living itself can as well as the group and life itself.” be treated as a path to greater Deep inner listening inspired the estab- awareness, incorporating daily lishment of the first Findhorn Gardens, chores, mutual help and service planted by the founders Eileen Caddy, in harmony with Creation. 4 The Community in Schloss Tonndorf – Culture in the Midst of Life The intentional community in Schloss the elderly in the day-to-day activities, concerts, readings, exhibitions and Tonndorf brings together families or creative exchange and mutual sup- markets, attracting some 7000 visitors and individuals who have been living port in the realisation of professional each year. Every month there are Info together since 2005 on this property, visions. Café afternoons for visitors wanting to situated to the south of Weimar. All find out more. And recently Weimar’s of the members share a desire for a Thomas Meier, co-founder and archi- and Erfurt’s tango enthusiasts have self-determined, meaningful life, with tect explains: “We offer regular tours been regularly sighted floating through mutual support in day-to-day activities through our site, between building the castle foyer.” and a stimulating, social atmosphere. containers and bobby cars. Partici- pants are school children staying at More: www.schloss-tonndorf.de These “self-selected kin” are testing the Tonndorf school hostel or hiking liveable alternatives together: a freely groups from the vicinity. We also chosen and non-dogmatic group of organise and host public festivals and people that can be certain of mutual solidarity. For their residence, they chose an abandoned listed building with the ‘cultural landscape’ surround- ing it – a feature which often presents rural district leaders with difficulties. Communal life in Schloss Tonndorf offers a chance to shape different aspects of life together in an inde- pendent way: interaction with children, support for single parents, inclusion of 5 pirituality 5. Socially Engaged S THE ECOLOGICAL DIMENSION Ecovillage Sieben Linden – The energy requirement for heating is Ecovillages show that water, food, Saving Energy with Sustaina- one-third lower than the German aver- building materials and energy can age thanks to good insulation, passive ble Construction be obtained in sufficient quantities in solar, and the use of solar thermal healthy regional lifecycles, all without collectors and geothermal energy. If With some 100 adults and 40 children, having to sacrifice our quality of life. the warmth from the sun is not enough, Sieben Linden in the Altmark region wood-fired heating is used, fuelled of Germany sees itself as a model Energy autonomy: The ecological mainly from the ecovillage’s own socio-ecological project. footprint of any community can be woodlands. reduced substantially with ecolog- Some of its principles: Through its cooperation with the ical building techniques and ther- • Construction criteria with strict eco- ecovillage, the village Poppau, where mal insulation, passive and active logical standards – low-energy and Sieben Linden is located, has once use of solar energy, as well as the passive houses again become an attractive, active and replacement of energy intensive • Heating exclusively by means of growing community with lots to offer forms of transport. wood and solar energy