Organised by the
eco-village network of Portugal,
26 – 28 August ‘05
(Great photos + info : http://portugal.ecovillage.org )
A Gathering for Green Life ---
| Event report for the Global
Eco-Village Network
Organised by the
eco-village network of Portugal, (Great photos + info : http://portugal.ecovillage.org )
|
|
“A vida
verde é a nossa vida quando ouvimos o nosso coração
ao mesmo tempo que ouvimos a mãe
natureza.”
— The green life is our life when we hear our heart
at the same time that we hear the mother nature.
“Encontro Vida Verde” — as a first green gathering in Portugal reached out and brought people together from across the spectrum of society – people who respond to a more simple, ecological and intuitive way of living. The event did not focus only on intentional community but looks to eco-society from these first intentional steps, so it is an inclusive focus.
Over 200 people including children and families, the limit set for the event interested in finding more sustainable, meaningful, natural and cooperative ways of living came to the event. Such ways we realised combines older traditions that work with nature with modern appropriate technology and understanding.
A group of young people from the Portuguese eco-village network, committed to eco-village principles organised the event, but very few people participating actually live in an eco-village – yet.
You could tell that stepping onto the land again in a welcoming way was a good experience for many whose elder generation had given up traditional land use and ownership.
One of the delights were the local people turning out, neighbours from nearby settlements – curious, interested, elder generation, all with memories of the land – doors they half expect to see closed on a traditional way of life they had grown up with.
Over the three days, other local people – who still retain the old skills – became our teachers, and showed how to build “taipa” rammed earth walls, “xisto” stone/slate foundations, “barro” a bit like adobe but a cement like mix of clay+earth with water, and “cal” lime plaster. Our neighbour Sr. João showed us traditional agriculture and we took turns in ploughing with the burro, the Portuguese donkey.
All around one could see demos and groups doing practical hands on activities as well as self-development workshops of all kinds. Bread was baked from an earth-oven each day. Local organic food was prepared in a refitted kitchen, some cooked in solar ovens. Yoga, Tai Chi, Meditation, non-violent communication, traditional dancing took place alongside natural spinning, paint-making and soap making, for example.
“In fact it already began”, said Nelson Avelar, some two months before the event at a weekend work camp. The 3 days of the gathering were just a window for experiencing life as part of community – a continuing sense of group-mindedness.
To organise the event the group:
– took an eco-village starting out in an ideal environment needing infrastructure, and new members, but well-resourced naturally and with the local people.
– ran several working camps in the months leading to the gathering. Volunteers came from across the country.
– held the event – a snapshot over 3 days – demonstrating, sharing, practising eco-village living in a group-bonding cooperative way.
– and now aims to provide continuity to support our connections, our resource sharing and access to land – these are some of the strands we want to develop.
So many people yearn to reconnect with our hearts, with our roots, with the earth. The event showed that relearning and valuing the traditions our elder generations have almost abandoned is a wonderful way. The elder people and neighbours - some got involved and joined in - were inspired in many ways and could revalue their own memories and traditions by seeing, reexperiencing and even sharing with the younger generation.
During the event, the organisers, or facilitators, met daily in circle – and related what each felt the prevailing feelings and needs of the people were – and by such awareness took actions that would help connect people in realising their needs. I was struck by the ease and ability of these young people to liberate themselves and speak and respond freely for the people.
EVV, like the growing global eco-village network, is a movement and is mobile. It is a gathering. It is a window on building eco-community and eco-society and so it naturally continues like a well-spring ...
EVV can happen at any eco-village or eco-Quinta in Portugal, Iberia and beyond. It can help seed new ground by reaching out and involving local people and internationally.
Organising EVV is for any committed people to come forward from the network of eco-villages. A meeting in Lisbon is taking place early in November to take EVV forward into 2006.
People across the eco-village network are a resource of skills and services that can be shared. EVV want to introduce the possibility of exchange trading via a resource directory.
Sustainability workshops will be offered at Arco-Iris Village, the first home base for EVV.
Such eco-quintas and eco-villages as Arco-Iris, Alentejo, are One of many where we can all feel at home, included, part of an eco-society.
by
Jonathan Evelight ola@rainbowcommunities.org
Eco-villages
Portugal + Encontro Vida Verde – “Nelson
Avelar” ecoaldeias@net.sapo.pt
and
"Sofia Duarte" sofiad@netcabo.pt
Web:
http://portugal.ecovillage.org
Arco-Iris
eco-village: Quinta do Arco-Iris ecolife@oninet.pt