Nr. 118 - Juli 2012 Insight SEKEM‘s Journal for Culture, Economy, Society and Ecology in Egypt

Rio+20 Conference Sustainability Helmy Abouleish Eurythmy Caravan SEKEM Publishes Editorial Signs Communiqué Reaches Egypt Fifth Report

Dear Readers, SEKEM Urges Action From this last month SEKEM did not Governments to Safeguard Global Water travel to the United Nations Con- On the occasion of the conference „Rio +20“ SEKEM has ference on Environment and Devel- highlighted the in a press release the importance of international opment, more commonly known partnerships for the protection of global water resources. as „Rio +20“. A journey from Egypt to Rio de Janeiro would impose huge costs not only on SEKEM but especially on the environment. 7.5 tonnes of CO2 would be released into the atmosphere by the flight to Brazil only. To that would have to be added the costs for accom- modation, travel and attendance at the event site.

As important as it is that people come together globally and agree on how they want to implement a new global regulatory frame- work for the protection of the environment after 2015: SEKEM’s co-workers stay at home. The money they would have spent in Rio they will rather put to better use by financing new develop- ment projects locally. New biolog- ical sewage treatment plants, for With the help of international funders SEKEM has built several bio-treatment plants for waste instance, which are as small as water that help to preserve the quality of SEKEM’s most important natural resource. you can see on the picture to the right, but highly efficient. They n occasion of the Rio+20 Earth Abouleish signed the document on help conserve water in the most O Summit, a group of 45 chief exec- behalf of the SEKEM Initiative. natural way possible. utive officers announced a major com- mitment to advance corporate water The CEOs outline a range of pub- Nevertheless, SEKEM has a clear management practices, and called on lic policy actions they believe gov- position on „Rio +20“ which we governments attending the Summit to ernments should undertake to make will outline in the following article. make global water security a top prior- meaningful progress on water and Your Team of Editors ity. In a special Communiqué carrying to better leverage the resources the names of all 45 CEOs, the business and capabilities of the international leaders highlighted the urgency of the business community. These include Find SEKEM also on the Internet at: global water crisis, calling on govern- developing policies and incentives ments to step up their efforts. Helmy to improve water productivity and

SEKEM Insight | Juli 2012 | Page 1 Economy

efficiency especially agriculture, SEKEM Offers Co-Workers establishing fair valuation of water Speech and Communication for agriculture, industry, and peo- ple, increasing investment in sanitary Skills Training infrastructure, sharing policies, inno- vations, and tools in order to scale up good practice, and working more Communication, Creativity and actively with the business community, „ Awareness (CCA)“ the new train- private finance and civil society. ing is called that SEKEM has recently begun to offer its co-workers of the “Water is the source of all life. For us, sales departments at SEKEM’s compa- laborate more to put in place the being located in an arid climate, this is nies Atos and Isis. a challenge which we tackle through necessary policies, incentives, and innovative irrigation systems devel- frameworks for effective action. Much of the effectiveness and influ- ence of our communication depends oped in cooperation with international 2. Organic agriculture goes just half on the precise way we speak and on partners”, said Helmy Abouleish, CEO the way - the future of sustainable the power of our voice. Therefore, the of the SEKEM Group. agriculture lies in „organic+“, that participants in the new course specif- is organic production plus global ically learn about the interrelationship frameworks for fairer and more equi- of body tension, breathing and the table trade. Only the two together force of one’s voice. Conference „Rio+20“ will make sure that both earth and humankind will benefit equally. In addition to the speech training The United Nations Conference on in the Arabic language, which always Sustainable Development was held Through the Communiqué, the com- includes exercises in breathing and from 20 to 22 June 2012 in Rio de panies including SEKEM commit to vocal articulation, the courses also Janeiro. Alluding to the 1992 United expanding their water-management concentrate on mastering one’s pos- Nations Conference on Environment practices, which include actions such tures and gestures - body language, and Development it has been called as setting targets on water efficiency, "Rio +20". This year's conference that is. To help co-workers minimize working with suppliers to improve was supposed to meet the following stress, they are being introduced to a their water practices, and partnering three objectives: ensuring renewed method of breathing and muscle relax- with other stakeholders in the field. political commitment to sustainable ation which is easy to learn and can be development, progress measurement, “This Communiqué and the exam- exercised at all times. and continuing problems in the ples of action show that many busi- implementation of already agreed The courses do not directly aim at nesses are ready to raise their game objectives and addressing new and improvements in work performance, even further – urging that govern- emerging challenges. The conference but offer an opportunity for the devel- ments do the same.”, comments Gavin was attended by some 190 countries. opment of one’s personality. This is Power, Deputy Director the UN Global especially appreciated by the partici- Compact, and Head of the CEO Water pants who have so far taken the course. Mandate. From February to June 2012 approxi- mately 30 people have received train- Agriculture’s fundamental role 45 CEO’s Sign Special Communiqué in fighting climate change ing in groups of 5. All 45 chief executives are endors- The aforementioned breathing and SEKEM has been following the pro- ers of the UN Global Compact’s CEO muscle relaxation method was also ceedings at Rio+20 closely and reiter- Water Mandate, a business-focused offered as a short program at SEKEM’s ates its demands concerning the key initiative launched by UN Secretary- Cairo headquarters. „How to relax in role of agriculture in fighting climate General Ban Ki-moon in 2007. The spe- 7 minutes“ the offer is called. Anyone change and protecting our most impor- cial Communiqué was issued at the interested can participate as the tant global common, the environment: Global Compact-hosted Corporate course is offered 20 before and after Sustainability Forum in Rio de 1. Acknowledge the fundamental the lunch breaks in the cafeteria. Janeiro before the official opening of role of sustainable agriculture in the UN Conference on Sustainable All trainings are being conducted by fighting climate change, improve Development, known as Rio+20. Dorothea Walter, a longtime SEKEM and protect the earth’s arable soils, teacher and experienced speech and safeguard water resources, and Bijan Kafi voice coach as well as psychologist improve the health of global flora from . and fauna. Governments, private More information: Dorothea Walter actors and civil society need to col- ! http://ceowatermandate.org/

SEKEM Insight | Juli 2012 | Page 2 Economy

SEKEM Day Celebrates 2012 Opening of Heliopolis University SEKEM Publishes Fifth The traditional SEKEM day in , Germany recently looked back on the tumultuous year 2011 and the impact of the revolution on SEKEM. It Report on Sustainable also celebrated the opening of the Heliopolis University in fall 2012. Development

he SEKEM Friends, the German organisations have now decided to he SEKEM Initiative will publish T support organisation of SEKEM, concentrate their forces in order to T its annual report on sustainable on 5 May 2012 again held its tradi- help in realising the opening of the development in late July. The docu- tional SEKEM Day at the Liederhalle university. They see it as their duty to ment makes extensive reference to the in Stuttgart. As Dr. assist in its development through con- exciting but also challenging period could not attend the event, he was rep- tributing to its funding from Europe. of the year 2011, when Egypt experi- resented by his son, Helmy Abouleish. enced a revolution that had a lasting Through the implementation of the influence on SEKEM’s own activity. This year, the day was very much university, a unique step is made that under the influence of the personal also aims at making the next step in In this fifth report, some changes experience of the revolution as wit- the search for a new image of man were made to the reporting methodol- nessed by SEKEM employees and spe- through education. The clubs are ogy. A new introductory part provides cifically Helmy Abouleish, who took to happy when they can count on support readers with a descriptive overview of the stage to give the audience his own from its members and friends. the management practices at SEKEM and the activities and projects in the eye-witness account. With the said conference theme, the four dimensions economy, society, cul- participants began to explore an area The general assembly of the associ- ture and ecology that are carried out of global​​ significance. On the basis ation’s members that was held in the by the initiative. This part begins with of the „World Agriculture Report“, a morning first provided all visitors with a fictional story that is directed at read- study by the World Bank, renowned a comprehensive insight into the work ers who have not yet visited SEKEM. researcher in bio-dynamic farming of the SEKEM Community. The day Its aim is to introduce readers to the Nikolai Fuchs delineated the current then continued later under the the- uniqueness of the initiative itself at its world crisis. Only through a radical matic heading „Give our earth a future peculiar working conditions. - act consciously“. change in consciousness, a different approach to caring for our planet, can Following the introductory part, In his review of the past, crisis-rid- we overcome the global environmen- the new performance report features den year, Helmy Abouleish again illu- tal and social crisis, he said. a thorough analysis of the SEKEM minated the individual events making Group and the SEKEM Development That there are already ways through up the revolution and the conse- Foundation (SDF), the initiative’s which big improvements can be made quences that arose from them. It is non-profit arm. It relies on new was demonstrated impressively by important to learn from the past and and advanced performance indica- Tobias Bandel, partner at Soil & More. discover the proper ways for SEKEM tors (KPI), which have been added Using compost to build healthy soils to develop in the future, in spite of the as part of the ongoing revision of promises healthy farmland and plen- political development of the country, the „Sustainability Flower“ model, tiful harvests. Or, as Helmy Abouleish he said. SEKEM’s self-developed concept of put it with a view to SEKEM’s new sustainability in business. In addi- desert farms: “from lifeless desert Heliopolis University tion, this section deals with topics soils rise thriving cultures”. The fol- Launches Later This year that have not yet been analysed in any lowing panel discussion, moderated report before, for instance, the aspect by Dr. Bruno Sandkuhler, gave an During this period of uncertainty, of „self-realization.“ This indicator opportunity to deepen these ideas. an unexpected development was aims to help SEKEM understand the announced. Now that the consent Sincere thanks go to all volunteers conditions for human well being of its of the authorities for the opening of who contributed to the successful day. employees in order to promote them the University of Heliopolis has been more effectively. Waltraud Bandel granted in full, works are underway to Matthias Keitel ensure its opening in late 2012. You can visit SEKEM yourself: More information: After seven years of prepara- www.SEKEM-reisen.de ! http://sekem.com/Report%20on%20 tion, that means that all supporting www.aventerra.de Sustainable%20Development

SEKEM Insight | Juli 2012 | Page 3 Kultur

Eurythmy on the Banks of the Green River The SEKEM eurythmy ensemble participates in the world-wide project „Eurythmy Caravan“ that was recently founded on the occasion of a symposium on social eurythmy at Alanus University Alfter, Germany. SEKEM so brings eurythmy to the remote deserts of Upper Egypt.

more than 40 degrees Celsius, every- one enjoyed breathing free again.

Eurythmy in the Desert and With the Employees

The audience consisted of employ- ees of the farm and guests of a local non-profit organization with which SEKEM has a long history of coop- eration. All viewers experienced eurythmy for the first time. And even the camels could not turn away and watched the show with interest in passing. They seemed particularly interested in the music to which they listened very attentively. As a conclud- ing highlight of the event all spectators were encouraged to become active themselves and to join the rhythm of the chorus performing to a text by Participants in the project eurythmy caravan on the SEKEM farm in Minya. Khalil Gibran: „Give me the flute and sing, because singing is the secret of n 17 June 2012 the “Eurythmy railway stations, in pubs, on streets eternity. And the sound of the flute O Caravan’s” artistic eurythmy and squares, in nursing homes, police remains, even if life withers.” ensemble moved to the SEKEM stations or in public schools etc. Initiative in Egypt. The participants in Meanwhile, the first stars began The caravan reached its final des- the caravan were male and female stu- to appear in the desert sky, and the tination on the SEKEM farm at Minya, dents of eurythmy at SEKEM as well as „silence of the night was spreading a desert valley located about 250 km teachers from the SEKEM school, and like a sea in his chest, a heart beat- south of Cairo. The plants that have some of the trainees of the SEKEM ing in your sleep“, as Gibran puts it. only recently been planted in the bar- Vocational Training Centre (VTC). Everyone enjoyed the peace and tran- ren valley are slowly transforming the quillity of the desert as a benevolent Students of the University hot landscape into a „green river“ that force that filled everyone with strength Alanus develop project winds through the arid desert and gives it new life. and encouragement. „It was as if even The idea for the Eurythmy cara- nature eagerly followed the eurythmy van had been born on the first social Under the title: „Eurythmy on the performance“, said one of the appren- banks of the green river“ Arabic eurythmy symposium in 2009 at the tices participating. „It was as if heaven poetry by Jalal el Din Rumi and Khalil Alanus University in Alfter, Germany. and earth touched - and in the middle Gibran was performed under the open In the period from July 2011 to was eurythmy“, said another. June 2012, all participating euryth- sky in a dusty plot of desert as a stage. mists worldwide will carry eurythmy The music of Erik Satie supported the Martina Dinkel throughout the world precisely into enchanting atmosphere. In the even- those places where she cannot usually ing, after performing eurythmy on a More information: be seen. They perform, for example, in hot desert day with temperatures of ! http://www.eurythmie-karawane.de

SEKEM Insight | Juli 2012 | Page 4 Impressions

Impressions from SEKEM

he connection of the SEKEM Initiative to the German Ulrich Walter GmbH, most known for its success- ful brand “Lebensbaum”, is a story of partnership and even friendship. The close interpersonal con- T nection of more than 30 years led to a warm and close relationship of the two CEO’s Helmy Abouleish and Ulrich Walter. The common business has lead to healthier products for European consumers, better work- ing conditions for Egyptian workers, and a variety of holistic development initiatives for people and environ- ment in Egypt. Interested readers can now learn more about the history of this unusually successful team of two visionar- ies in the new DEG magazine. The magazine reports at length on the two in its latest issue in an article on the „two crazies“ and their dream. The article is available at this location (PDF download in German).

SEKEM Insight | Juli 2012 | Page 5 News in Brief

Damid Launches New GLS Bank Elected „Bank of A New Paradigm for Internet Offerings the Year“ for Third Time Demeter Certification

From now on all patients and every- Already for the third consecutive How can a certification process for one else interested in anthroposophic year, the GLS Bank won the prestigious food products best support the goals medicine can make use of the interac- prize „Bank of the Year 2012“ given and principles of an idealistic venture tive Web 2.0 offerings by the umbrella on the basis of the results of a major such as demeter? There was intense organization for Anthroposophical online survey of client satisfaction. discussion on this topic at the annual Medicine in Germany (DAMiD). meeting of the members of deme- ter international in Slovenia on 18-23. On its website DAMiD has recently June 2012. The 41 participants hail- activated a forum that now invites dia- ing from 18 countries initially heard a logue around the topic of anthropo- lecture by Helmy Abouleish in which sophic medicine. In addition, DAMiD he laid the philosophical foundations now also runs its own Facebook page of the later lectures and workshops which is best used to stay informed that dealt with more concrete issues. about current activities and directly About 20.000 participants rated His considerations were taken into the exchange experiences with DAMiD almost 70 banks in a nationwide sur- following work process to develop a staff, patients, and friends. vey published by the German invest- new certification process for demeter. ment magazine “Börse Online” and the In addition, the demeter institute of German news channel n-tv. According Slovenia was recognized as a member. to the final results the GLS Bank took The demeter members meet first place and received high marks annually in order to advise on how in all categories. The award is given can be on the basis of decisive criteria, such strengthened. 147.000 ha of certi- as the reputation of the bank and its fied area encourages the organization high standards of transparency. Also, to look positively into the future. The participants in the survey put forth positive impact on environmental and the GLS Bank staff’s friendliness and human food security are significant acknowledged the particular quality of and to continue on the chosen path The new Facebook page offers the their professional advice. holds encouraging prospects. possibility to receive timely informa- tion from DAMiD on the latest devel- „The price is a very special honour Source: opments and current events around for us. It reflects the confidence of our the topic of . customers in our work and the ser- More information: Those who make use of the „Like“ but- vices we provide. To having been nom- ! http://www.demeter.de ton will stay informed of further news inated „Bank of the Year“ three years on the DAMiD Facebook page auto- in a row vividly demonstrates that we matically. There is also the possibil- meet the high demands of our cus- ity to comment on the news published tomers - a goal we strive to continue on the site. The DAMiD-Facebook to meet”, said CEO of the GLS Bank, page can be found searching for „the Thomas Jorberg. Masthead: umbrella organization of anthropo- The editors of SEKEM Insight wish to sophic medicine.“ thank all contributors to this issue. The German survey “Bank of the Editor: Bijan Kafi DAMiD also invites visitors on its Year” was first conducted in 2010. The Contact: own website (www.damid.de) to enter customers of GLS Bank and partici- SEKEM-Insight c/o SEKEM Holding the discussion on anthroposophical pants in the survey gave their bank top P.O.Box 2834, El Horreya, Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt medicine and receive in-depth infor- marks in the past two years in all areas [email protected] mation on selected topics. covered by the assessment. Pictures: Seite 1: Bijan Kafi; 4: Martina Dinkel; 5: Myriam Abdelaziz/DEG. Source: DAMiD Source: GLS Bank No republication without written consent by the publisher. More information: More information: ! http://tiny.ly/eA4U ! http://www.gls-bank.de

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