Re: dream

Victorio:

Ronald's comments are right on.  For the reasons he has described and 
for additional reasons which can be summed up in the term "social, 
ecological and economic sustainability," I am part of a group that is 
working on creating an ecovillage on the west coast of Canada.

Ronald didn't answer your question, though.  Nor do I have "the 
answer" but you only asked for a hint.  You asked about the financial 
aspect of building an ecovillage.  Here's the hint: A village needs 
people.

Start a group.  Establish a means for members to put down some money. 
Provide ways for the members and others to invest (not only money, 
but time and effort) in the project.  Many ecovillages are organized 
on a consensus decision-making model.  Ours is based on cohousing and 
permaculture design.  We have a cooperative structure with members 
and investment shares.  Sweat equity is a way anyone can invest in 
the project by turning their efforts into equity.  Voluntary work by 
members is also important and builds community.

Your idea of going to Auroville shows a strong desire to learn about 
ecovillages.  There are also ecovillages and sustainable communities 
closer to you in South America.  A community that you might want to 
learn more about is Gaviotas in Columbia.  It has been in existence 
for about 30 years and has achieved 100% energy self-sufficiency. 
Although not listed in the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN), there is 
a book about it.

GEN lists six ecovillages in Brazil:

1. Ceu do Planalto, Santo Daime,  Acre  ..  Brazil
2. Comunidade Lar Nicanor, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
3. Comunidade Vale Dourado, Pirenopolis, Goias, Brazil
4. Fundaçao Terra Mirim, Simoes Filho, Bahia, Brazil
5. Instituto de Permacultura e Ecovilas do Cerrado (IPEC), 
Pirenopolis, GO Brazil
6. Lothlorien, Palmeiras, Bahia, Brazil

If you haven't already consulted it and want to find out more about 
ecovillages or locations, the Global Ecovillage Network is an 
invaluable source:

http://gen.ecovillage.org/index_body.html

You have begun a journey.  Via con dios,

Michael Hale
Yarrow EcoVillage
Chilliwack, BC Canada



At 2:31 PM +0700 7/1/03, jjpop wrote:
hi,
let's share whatever we have so that we all know that we have another avenue
to go.
pop thitadilaka
PTA



At 8:08 PM -0700 6/30/03, Ronald Greek wrote:
Sir,

To start, I wish you and your client the best of luck,
and success.

Now that the mass of humanity spans the globe, in
numbers that quite probably greatly exceeds the
carrying capacity of the world, we all need luck.

Given the technology of today, and the overpopulation,
it appears the most rational living situation is in
some form of "eco-village" - a community established
in such a manner that not only all of the NECESSITIES
of life are provided from the property of the village
residents, but to truely meet the "Ecological" aspect,
where the village has under it's ownership and control
sufficient land that can be left in a "natural" state
the the village does not dominate the landscape.

My personal view is that humanity should not devote to
the exclusive use of humans more than 10% of any given
ecology.  We are at this time, I'm sure you will
agree, WELL beyond this.

The current global population is not being sustained
by renewable resources, rather, it is sustained by the
use of fossil fuels, both as energy, and as material
for making products, and for artificial fertilizers.
Once the fossil fuels are no longer cheap and
abundant, the present "house of cards", upon which the
bulk of humanity depends for life support, will
collapse.

Prior to that time, it is essential that some secure
enclaves be established, at which knowledge, skills
and experience are preserved, and it is taught and
clearly understood that growth in population is a
grave error.

Before the fossil fuel era, the maximum sustainable
population was under 2 billion.  Due to the mess we've
made, in the post fossil fuel era, it is probable the
sustainable population will be significantly less.

In recent years, worldwide humanity consumed over 27.7
billion barrels of oil per year.  Reasonable estimates
are that there is about 800 billion barrels remaining.
  The highest, wildest guess is around 1,200 billion
barrels left.

Do the math, even without any annual increase in use,
there are not that many years left.

Note also the logic from economic theory, well before
the last drop of oil is burned, it will no longer be
cheap and abundant.  When it is no longer cheap and
abundant, the current global socio-economic-industrial
infrasturucture MUST collapse.

Stepping back further, once sufficient people realize
the threat, and decide to take action, THEN is when it
is too late to take any such action.

I do not have an on-paper design, but I do have
specific thoughts for eliminating dependence on
external inputs to an "eco-village".  I would be
willing to share these notes with anyone who desires
them.

R. Greek
Yuma, AZ, USA


--- VictÛrio Rojas <[email protected]> wrote:
>  Hello for all!!
>
>  I'm an brazilian architect, and a very special
>  client have a dream!!: 'make'
>  an ecovillage!!
>
>  A long time I believe that these 'models' of
>  occupation are the solution of
>  a many problems of the city...and the humans....
>
>  She (the client) have the space (wonderful!!), but
>  the money......
>
>  I want like to know if have a financial for this
>  places.....
>
>  Thanks very much for your attention,,, if you want
>  to know more or take me a
>  hint, please send an e-mail....one thing is a fact -
>  this dream will be come
>  true!!
>
>  Creation and Information
>  Love and Light
>
>
>  VictÛrio
>
>

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