The Pachamama Alliance

Ecovillage Design Education in Tamera, Portugal

EDE course in May 2008, 1^st - 30^th

The UN study on climate change and calculations on Peak Oil indicate once again that our present Industrial Age is nearing its end – and that it is vitally necessary for it to end in order for humanity to have a chance to survive in the future. But what will follow it ? Will it necessarily lead to civil wars and chaos, or are there peacefulalternatives ? Can we also live well and securely without oil, and perhaps even better than we do now ?

Communities, Eco-Villages and PeaceVillages in all parts of the world have been seeking sustainable alternatives for many years. Now they are able to offer their social, ecological, and spiritual experiences as means of survival. Thus we extend to you a heartfelt Welcome to attend the third EDE course at Tamera !

The aim of this International Course – to be presented in English – is to enable participants to gain fundamental knowledge needed for the creation and construction of Eco-Villages and PeaceVillages.

The course will be specifically designed for those who are planning to take an active part in the Earth Changes which are already happening and indeed essential at this time. The course will present four basic cornerstones for sustainable models in this area.

1. Worldview : seeing the world as a whole; understanding why and howwe influence the whole. What does a socially active spirituality look like – one that provides us with the strength which we need to do our part ?

2. Social Perspective : In this area, Tamera has been gathering particularly significant knowledge and experiences for decades. What are meaningful structures for new ways of living together ? How is an understanding developed among people that is able to create both Truth and Trust – including in the very basics of human life ? The world needs models to show how people can genuinely live together without simply repeating forms of aggression and war in the microcosm, so that a new Culture of Peace can be developed on the earth.

1. Economy : How can we deal with money in a way that is healthy and healing ? How can finances be steered into the construction of sustainable systems rather than into war and consumerism ? We will get some insights into Spiritual Economy, Systems of Exchange, and Alternative Currencies.

2. Ecology : The building blocks for the construction of new models. By looking at existing practical examples as well as theoretical modelling, we will become familiar with the three domains of Ecology ( Permaculture, and especially Sepp Holzer’s work in this area ), New Technologies ( Solar technology, and especially Jürgen Kleinwächeter’s work ), and Sustainable Construction ( particularly Mudbricks ).

The EDE Course at Tamera also marks the beginning of the third year in “Monte Cerro” Peace Education. ( For further info see www.tamera.org )

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A special feature this year will be the celebration of the 30^th Birthday of the original Tamera project. Many old friends who have gone their own way over the years will be coming together, and also new partners. The participants in the EDE Course will therefore be able to find out, at a deep level, just how such a project develops over the decades

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EDE is one of the educational courses in the GAIA-Education Programme of GEN – the Global EcoVillage Network ( www.gaiaeducation.org ; www.gen-europe.org ). It is an official part of the “United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005 – 2014”, and is also recognised by UNITAR ( the United Nations Institute for Training and Research ).

Fees (incl. GST / VAT) : 1200 Euros for adults, 600 Euros for young people (up to21)