Civil Rights Equality? Or Not?

The Gaia Foundation was founded in 1984, when there was much concern about how ecological degradation, poverty and inequity were growing. Gaia was formed to explore another way.

We chose 'Gaia' because this is the name of the ancient Greek Mother Goddess Earth, and also the name of James Lovelock's 'Gaia Hypothesis', which recognizes that our Earth is a living, self-regulating whole.

Gaia's mission is to work in partnership with those who are committed to ecological governance through restoring cultural and biological diversity, which we believe is the basis for building ecological and community resilience. When we understand the dynamics of the eco-system in which we live, we are more likely to respect the laws of the Earth in a mutually enhancing way.

We work with local and indigenous communities who take for granted that 'If we destroy the Earth we destroy ourselves.' We see that the multiple crises which we are facing now - from climate change and global economic collapse to community breakdown and species extinction - are all interconnected and require, therefore, a unified response at a deeper level of thinking. 

We are a small team who work with a wide network of individuals and organizations in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe in order to create vibrant, diverse, just ways of living on our planet, and so to counter the consequences which we see inevitably arising from the concentration of unaccountable power and control in the hands of a few.

Activities involve: support to pioneering people and projects, strategic planning, networking, fundraising and financial management; coalition -building, strategic planning, advocacy, research and information exchange on key issues; raising awareness and influencing policy to better protect the social and ecological integrity of the planet.

Community initiatives, field projects and advocacy are supported in South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Publications include books, reports and audio-visual materials. Regular briefings are issued on Climate-Biodiversity-Livelihoods are circulated, along with news on Community Ecological Governance, and we are developing an Earth Jurisprudence Resource Centre.

Our Gaia Learning Centre in London hosts a programme of talks (Gaia Evenings), workshops and other events with international and inspiring guest speakers. The office has a Code of Ethics, and staff assume a personal responsibility to live ecologically in the workplace and at home.

LINKS TO SOME OF OUR PARTNERS:

• African Biodiversity Network
• Biowatch - South Africa
• Environmental Monitoring Group - South Africa
• Fundação Gaia - Brazil
• Fundacion Gaia Amazonas - Colombia
• Green Belt Movement - Kenya
• Institute for Culture and Ecology - Kenya
• Institute for Sustainable Development - Ethiopia
  
• MELCA Mahiber - Ethiopia
• Mupo Foundation - South Africa
• Navdanya - India
• Porini Association - Kenya
• RAINS - Ghana
• SEED Trust - South Africa
• Wilderness Foundation - South Africa