See Below For:

Who We Are:
Purpose, Mission and Goals:
Initiatives:
Leadership:
About our Icon:

Who We Are:   We are a Coalition of metropolitan New York region networks and organizations whose missions and goals are similar to those of WiserEarth.org and the vision of Paul Hawken and his associates.  Founding members include (see details in next paragraph): The Coalition for OneVoice; The New York City Sierra Club; One Spirit Learning Alliance; Neighborhood Energy Network; We the World; The National Service Conference; Student World Assembly; InterSpiritual Dialogue in Action; the Earth Values Caucus at the United Nations; and the Climate and Energy Caucus at the United Nations.  We meet reguarly through the auspices of NYC's vibrant Coalition for OneVoice (and its new fully interactive website www.coalitionforonevoice.org) and also often in association with the studio of famed tree artist Anders Knutsson (www.andersknutsson.com).  We welcome any and all persons, organizations, and networks in the New York City region to join us in uniting around and supporting the wider vision articulated at www.wiserearth.org.  Simply query us if you'd like to join us; see our mission and goals below.

Here are our Coalition-member details, all of whom will profile as organizations at WiserEarth:  (* means member of OneVoice Coalition; ** means Accredited NGO of the United Nations Dept. of Public Information)--* www.coalitionforonevoice.org; www.nyc.sierraclub.org; * www.onespiritinterfaith.org; www.neighborhoodenergynetwork.org; *, ** www.studentworldassembly.org; *, ** (InterSpiritual Dialogue) www.isdna.org; *, ** www.wetheworld.org; *, ** www.nationalserviceaeu.org; ** (Earth Values Caucus) www.cwed.org/earthcaucuspg.htm; (Climate and Energy Caucus) www.energycaucus.org.  

Purpose and Mission:  To collaborate with any and all persons, groups, organizations, networks and communities in the New York City region in uniting around and supporting realization of the vision shared by us and www.wiserearth.org. 

Goal:  To develop a growing community of dedicated persons, organizations and networks in the New York City area which can work together to address as many issues as possible across the breadth of our shared visions, interests, constituency mandates, and abilities, focusing especially on environmental issues and their inherent relationship with spiritual, ethical and human rights concerns.

Initiatives:  
     Initiative 1:  see TreeFriends below
     Initiative 2:  serving the Group Membership Projects of our group members

     Initiative 3:  2008 Fall/Winter Course Offering on Hawken/WiserEarth agenda

     Initiative 4:  3-days of Events for International Day of Peace, Sept. 19-21st.

Leadership Team:   Coalition for OneVoice:  Dr. Kurt Johnson, Jane Hughes Gignoux, Emily Squres, Len Belzer, Richard Schiffman, Gerard Senehi, Rick Ulfik; New York City Sierra Club:  Dan Miner; Earth Values Caucus:  Eleanor Rae, Alayne O'Reilly; Climate and Energy Caucus:  Dr. William Gellermann; We the World:  Rick Ulfik; One Spirit Learning Alliance:  Michael Pergola, Dr. Kurt Johnson; National Service Conference:  Dr. Kurt Johnson; InterSpiritual Dialogue in Action:  Dr. Kurt Johnson; Neighborhood Energy Network: Lois Sturm.  Special Advisor:  Paul Hawken.

About Our Icon:  " The Great Copper Beech" by Anders Knutsson (www.andersknutsson.com).  The New York City Metro Coalition is working with Anders and his New York studio as part of one of our New York City Initiatives.  Anders is known worldwide for his iconic tree portraits. 

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Initiative I: "TreeFriends"

Many, if not most, New Yorkers have very little opportunity to connect deeply to the natural world on a regular basis. We live in a man-made world of computers, electronic switches and devices, using artificial light sources, and underground transport. Concern about global warming or the environment may seem remote and unimportant compared to the pressures of our immendiate day-to-day lives. Whether we hang out in a third grade classroom, a Wall Street board room, a CVS stockroom, an upscale ad agency, or a high rise corporate cubicle, the world of nature has precious little chance to intrude.

TreeFriends is an initiative intended to invite our urban neighbors to get to know and build long-lasting relationships with some of our most powerful, influential, and magnificent fellow beings--our Trees.

Anders Knutsson is a Swedish-born painter and long time resident of New York City. For the last 14 years he has been painting some of our most impressive examples of the life form we often take for granted--the Tree. These paintings are in no way landscapes; they are true portraits. A fine portrait, one that can actually move the viewer, is not merely a good physical likeness. Rather it manages to capture the inner, spiritual being of the subject. When we gaze at the Mona Lisa or a Rembrandt portrait, we are inevitably drawn into relationship with another being. Something in our own inner knowing connects with the essence emmanating from the artist's rendition. Anders' Trees are such portraits.

The plan is to show some of the Knutsson Tree portraits in a public space in Manhattan (and hopefully later in the other boroughs), collaborate with performing artists--musicians, dancers, poets--to create a multi-sensory experience for New Yorkers, as well as visitors. These program would vary depending on the type of group attending. For instance, there would be different school programs to suit the interests of primary, middle, and high school students. Some programs would be interactive and energetic, while others might be more contemplative evoking guiet and stillness.

We hope to tie in TreeFriends with concrete actions sponsored by organizations working to protect, plant, and/or nurture trees and forests both locally and worldwide. Some of the activities may be out of doors in the parks and wildlands of the City, where we can join with urban park rangers, biologists, and others to actually explore and celebrate the City's little-known world of trees.

TreeFriends is currently in the early stages of development. We are reaching out to creative people in many fields who have a passion for the natural world in order to introduce them to Knutsson's Trees. Invariably on these occasions, people are drawn to the power, magesty, and intimacy of the portraits. In addition to engaging people in the arts, we are seeking New Yorkers with a history of making things happen to improve our way of life here, imaginative folk of all kinds who are willing to be the change we want to see in the world.

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Initiative 2:  Support of our Group Member Projects

Ongoing meetings of the Circle have each been reviewing ongoing projects of the Group's members and providing support, especially endorsement support.  We will continue to examine the projects of our individual Group members to see what air and support the Circle can provide.

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Initiative 3:  Fall/Winter 2008 Course Offering in Hawken/WiserEarth Vision

Dr. Kurt Johnson, at One Spirit Learning Alliance and Interfaith Seminary:  Message of the Mystic Heart, B:  The Common Core of Human Wisdom and Care of the Earth—Modern Spirituality, World Shift and the  Environmental Issues Confronting our Earth Today

This informational and discussion-based “short-course” extends the vision of world change in Brother Wayne Teadales classic The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World’s Religions to the arena of science and care of the earth.  In the context of OneSpirit’s work with www.wiserearth.org and other vehicles of world change, this course provides the context from the world’s religions and spiritual traditions for “Earth-Care” and recognition of the major global environmental challenges of today, drawing from (1) Brother Wayne’s work, (2) a recent series produced by Harvard University on this subject, (3) the comprehensive view of world shift and environmental concerns articulated by Paul Hawken in his bestseller Blessed Unrest (2007) and his www.wiserearth.org.  Dr. Johnson further draws from his participation in the Humanist Institute’s ecohumanism work, the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s “Dialogue of Science, Ethics and Religion” and, in conclusion, provides a succinct overview of today’s environmental challenges in the context of the modern Integral thinkers, particularly the Integral theory and Integral ecology of Ken Wilber. 

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Initiative 4.  Sept. 19-21 International Day of Peace Events including the Sept. 20th WORLD SHIFT TO PEACE FESTIVAL.   The circle is an active participant in creating three events in New York City over the International Day of Peace weekend.  NYC Metro Coalition will participate with its key member Coalition for One Voice in the World Shift to Peace Festival (see Events herein) on Sept. 20th at Fourth Univeralist Church Landmark on the Park, a day with inter-religious leader Matthew Fox and concurrent workshops and presentations by OV organizations and individual members concerning environment, peace, social justice, wellness, and many more themes.   More information on this premier NYC event can be found, along with registration instructions at www.onespiritinterfaith.org.