Gaia: eco adventure villages & zevolution - how this idea can change / evolutionize the world

Re: activities for high school students

http://believechat.gaia.com — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:31:31 GMT

hi drigo.. =)

me and my friend are strarting our travel and tours business. we are trying to promote beautiful small islands here in the Philippines. We are based in Manila, and right now most of our clients are schools, we are facilitating educational fieldtrips.

we're still on the trial and error stage.. can i ask a copy of the template for proposals? definitely, it will be a very big help to our business.. thank u sooo much.. =)
chatty

Re: activities for high school students

http://roderick.gaia.com — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 16:04:10 GMT

The CAS program! Good stuff... I participated in that in Jakarta for highschool and it was a real learning experience.

Anyhow, although I don't have any contacts in Costa Rica for such programs, I'm sure you could find plenty of eco resorts that will cater for such activities.

Here at united adventures, we are working with a number of the international schools (national plus schools next) to design International Award Program walks, Boyscout trips, and field trips. The schools are hungry for such learning! I imagine you are a teacher or administrator at one such school?

That's really one of the other economic drivers of the ecoresort village concept - catering to schools and their field trips and facilitating the discovery of nature, themselves, farming, art, meditation, and living in an amazing physical space for a few days.

We've found this to be profitable, and very enjoyable. For any eco resort operators out there, let me know if you need a template for proposals and I'd be happy to share.

Thanks for the question Lisa, and do let us know if you've found something already, or your thoughts on what eco-resort operators could do to cater to school programs like the CAS one.

Cheers, and warm regards from the archipelago,

~drigo

activities for high school students

http://sweeplotus.gaia.com — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:16:02 GMT

I am scouting for opportunities for high school students to be involved in eco adventure, stewardship, meditation, art, and so forth. Please let me know if you are aware of any such thing in Costa Rica, especially if it is in the Central Valley. I am helping out with a ¨Creativity, Action, Service¨ programme for these bright and original thinkers. Keep me in mind :-) Lisa

Re: The Dharmahouse Eco community project

http://thaneeya.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:26:30 GMT

Hi Bill,

Sorry for the delay in responding! You can learn more about our project at our website, http://www.thedharmahouse.com, where we have posted a lot of pictures and some write-ups about our current and future organizational ideas thus far.

Any more questions or comments, we'd love to hear them!

Re: The Dharmahouse Eco community project

http://thaneeya.gaia.com — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 11:26:22 GMT

Re: The Dharmahouse Eco community project

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 20:06:39 GMT

That sounds cool. What type of group do you have going, and how is it organized?

I've read plenty of mission statements in my time, but what really makes something like that come together is the group of people working on it, and how they organize to get the jobs done.

And, do you have any pictures of the site?

The Dharmahouse Eco community project

http://spiralman.gaia.com — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 18:31:38 GMT

Hi there, we are the dharmahouse community project in the south of france, we are looking for others interested in our vision to help us set up an eco community based around the Buddha's teachings. please see www.thedharmahouse.com

The Dharmahouse community project

In May 2006 the community moved in and started to live together in an 8 acre property in southern France. The property was previously a farm, and gave us a great opportunity to start to explore our desire for community living in the context of natural surroundings. We started to experiment with growing our own food using ideas based in natural and synergistic agricultural systems. We have also started to explore ecological and sustainable building techniques as a basis for future community building. The present property is serving as a springboard and small-scale temporary model for community living. Our main goal is to establish a co-housing community based around the teachings of the Buddha and environmental concern. Why did we choose Cohousing? And what is it? To start with a dictionary definition Cohousing is:

"a type of collaborative housing that attempts to overcome the alienation of modern subdivisions in which no-one knows their neighbours, and there is no sense of community. It is characterized by private dwellings with their own kitchen, living-dining room etc, but also extensive common facilities. The common building may include a large dining room, kitchen, lounges, meeting rooms, recreation facilities, library, workshops, childcare."

The concept of Cohousing was first established in Denmark in the 1970s; catalysed by frustration at the isolation and impracticality of modern day housing designs, cohousing became an attempt to redefine how our living arrangements can support and develop our human relationships. Taking inspiration from different cultures and traditional village settings, the concept of cohousing is now being developed across Europe, north America, Australasia, and eastern Asia.

Expanding on this definition of cohousing within the context of the Dharma, we are seeking a ‘practicing neighbourhood', a sangha to provide nurturing and supportive conditions for our spiritual lives. Our common building could perhaps be a Dharma hall, to again support our practice, where we could come together to share, discuss, meditate and support each other. This could also be a place where Dharma teachers could come and lead retreats from time to time.

In the on-going development of this project we are keen to discuss the social, economic and environmental aspects of cohousing. What follows are some of the benefits of cohousing and also some of the issues that we will be looking at in our discussions when we come together in August of this year (1st-5th). I am sure many more questions and discussions will be raised when we meet, this will give us a chance to inquire into what best direction we can take this project in the years to come. A chance to dip in to the sea of possibility! Maybe a few different visions of community will emerge from these discussions, maybe a few different communities could start - the beginnings of small network?

Let's see......

Personal space / freedom within a community setting

Cohousing is unlike the ‘commune model' of community in that it gives you your own personal boundried space in the form of a seperarately owned dwelling. This of course gives you the choice of when you wish to be among others or just with your immediate family / alone. Two of the traditional key conflicts occurring in intentional communal settings have been around a lack of personal space and the sharing of finances. Cohousing communities address these potential banana skins by giving the individual autonomy over both of them. Community does however include many people, making it hard to satisfy everyone's needs all the time. Plato spoke about the conflict between ‘the one and the many'. e.g. One person's freedom to dance all night negates their neighbours' freedom of peaceful sleep! How is this held within the confines of a intentional community?

What is your notion of community? How are you at making compromise?

Democratic self-determination

The ability to have some control over decision making. Entering into a collective decision making process where people feel they are being heard and have some influence over the way they live. I'm sure we have all had the experience of poor communication with a landlord / freeholder / organisation that does not share our value base. Feelings of disempowerment and separation from what matters to us can soon arise. A lot of cohousing communities use a consensus model of decision making (see this article on the Consensus Decision Process in Cohousing for more info). What are our experiences of decision making processes?

See also 'On Conflict and Consensus: a handbook on Formal Consensus decision making'.

This book is free to download from www.ic.org/pnp/ocac/

A shared vision

Implicit in the early stages of forming a cohousing project is a clear understanding of our aims, values and expectations, and their formalisation in writing. It would seem this has to be established prior to any commitment into a project. It has been a common problem in many communities that don't establish these ground rules to begin with. They are indirectly setting up a potential timebomb for dispute later on down the road. Gary Moffatt highlights this point in his essay ‘Why Do Communities Fail?':

"Part of the problem doubtless lies in an over-optimism which causes those taking part to waive some of the fundamental prerequisites for selecting companions in the venture, i.e.:
A shared analysis of what social change is needed and how the members of the group will work and live together to bring it about.
Common agreement to a written set of principles outlining what the group expects from each member and what each member expects from the group.
A mutual understanding of the conditions of living together; what standard of cleanliness will be maintained, how work will be divided, extent to which individual privacy will be maintained, degree of communalization of property and so forth.
A commonly accepted strategy for furthering the group's ends.
Without these prior agreements, a group's chances of working together over a long period of time for common goals are most remote. The difficulties of finding enough people to rent a house or work a piece of land often tempt those starting such a project to waive some or all of these requirements. The easier it is to get a group of people together, the more easily it will fall apart in midstream when it fails to meet all the members' diversified expectations."

One person's vision of community maybe wanting to be away from all technology in a rural setting, completely off grid only wanting to be with those that spend most of the day in silent meditation. While another person has an internet business and 3 children needing to be close to a town school. We need to know from the outset what it is we are looking for. What differences are we not prepared to accept?

Personal / spiritual growth

"The ego does not go with laughter and caresses. It must be chased with sorrow and drowned in tears." (a Sufi saying)

There are of course many challenges in living with just one person. How are we going to be with 10 or 20? What is the essence of what pulls us towards community? To many community is the holy grail of the spiritual life. It is a chance to break down the narrow confines of our self-interested ego. A chance to work towards a deeper feeling of interconnectedness with others, a sharing and belonging to a group or sangha on the spiritual path. This of course is a beautiful vision of how we could lead our lives, and the way many people do, but how idealistic are our notions of what this will really be like?

Diana Leafe Christian, the respected community author who wrote 'Creating a life together' gives us a clear sense of this when she states:

"My observation of "the successful 10 percent" (of communities) taught me that it's all in the willingness of the potential new member or cofounder. If he or she has what I call "high woundedness" (hey, don't we all?), it seems to only work if the person simultaneously has "high willingness" - to grow and learn and change. I have seen several forming communities in recent years - even those with powerful vision statements, fine communication skills, and good consensus training - break apart in conflict and sometimes lawsuits because even just one member didn't have enough self-esteem to function well in a group. The person's "stuff came up" - as everyone's does in community - but theirs was too destructive for the community to absorb. When a person is wounded and having a difficult time in life, he or she can certainly benefit from living in community, and, ideally, can heal and grow because of the support and feedback offered by others. But a certain level of woundedness - without "high willingness" - appears to be too deep for many new communities to handle. I believe one deeply wounded person can affect a group far more than 10 healthy people, because of that person's potential destructiveness to the group. Such a person can repeatedly derail the community's agenda and drain its energy."

Quite a sobering paragraph! What are we to make of this? How high is our willingness? How do we deal with those whose 'stuff is too destructive for the community to absorb'? What will our policy be?

Security, safety and support

There is a security, safety and support to be found for both oneself and ones family in the community setting. As relationships within the community grow, networks of support can be put into place. Maybe someone has some form of disability / illness that requires the support of others from time to time? Maybe a more elderly resident is not able to go shopping on a particular day? Maybe families can take it in turns to take children to school or form some kind of crèche to support working parents? Of course the benefit of positive people looking out for eachother's welfare makes for a very safe secure environment. As Corporal Dan Kelly states "Safety is in knowing your neighbours - not in walls and barriers."

Environmental economics

One of the key financial aspects of an intentional community that assumes the cohousing model is that owning your home keeps you in touch with the economic world, providing you with the ability to sell up and move on should you choose or need to at any point in the future. Depending on the dwelling you would choose to live in you could also save money i.e. living in a cob house that has built-in passive solar designs alongside solar hot water and wind energy systems could save you a lot of money in build and electricity costs.

(see www.simondale.net/house/family.htm)

Even renovating a ruin or another form of self-build? Could we access the shared skills and resources of the community to cut down expenses? What skills do we share between us? Having lower overheads also means having to earn less, being able to spend more time with friends and family and on retreat.

The environmental impact of this form of community has many implications. Shared community spaces can cancel the need to live in overly big homes. Transport can be shared and pooled, again cutting down on expenses and carbon emissions. Creating a community design around permacultural and natural farming models creates a positive environment to maximise resources, grow food and develop a closer bond to the land. Growing our own organic food has tremendous health benefits and again brings financial savings.

Incorporating this way of living can produce positive working environmental models for the wider communities in which we live. Liz Walker invites this challenge for cohousing communities in her essay 'Stepping stones to sustainability, What cohousing communities can learn from ecovillages':

"In my experience, ecovillages are distinguished from typical cohousing communities by emphasizing a holistic approach to ecological, social, economic and spiritual design. Ecovillages typically incorporate green building, organic food production and on-site businesses. They are oriented toward learning from experimental systems and teaching the lessons learned.
Some cohousing communities integrate many but not all of these features. I offer a challenge to other cohousing communities to consider not only adding on some of these eco-features, but also serving as a catalyst to learning, teaching and organizing local sustainability initiatives. The world needs your inspiration."

Some possibilities

We have started looking around at potentially suitable properties and found some exciting prospects in two departments that near to us at present; the Gard and Ardèche. There are some very interesting old-style hamlets that can have up to 10 properties of various sizes within them as well as land attached. An example of one place we went to visit in the Ardèche mountain ranges had 7 properties and 75 adjoining acres. A rough estimation of 7 households purchasing this property would have worked out at €50,000 Euros per household (that's about £33,600 British Pounds and $62,000 U.S. Dollars). This is an average price of course, as some houses / flats were smaller than others so would have had a lower market value. However the gist is that property here is still very reasonably priced at present! We are mindful of rising property prices and would like to aim to try and buy somewhere in the next 12 - 24 months, hopefully before property prices rise too much. There would be some legality to work through with this option as we would need to get official agreement to divide up such a property, and work out how to perform such a task in an agreeable way to all.

Another idea to look at would be a ‘Retrofit cohousing neighbourhood'. This differs from a purpose-built neighbourhood in that residents start with a few existing homes on some land, and then find innovative ways to adapt the houses, alleys, backyards and courtyards to make them more pedestrian-friendly and community-oriented. By nature, retrofit neighbourhoods are unique, and each community would control its own timetable of work and developments, depending upon financial resources and availability of adjacent properties / building permissions. There have been some interesting projects in the USA of Cohousing groups converting farms and even old factory buildings to great effect.

It could also be possible to buy some land with existing planning permission and build from stratch using permacultural models as a design basis. This would obviously be a longer-term project as the whole community infrastructure would have to be laid down. Lots of planning involved!

These are some possible avenues we could follow, and there are many variations of properties we could eventually buy. These final decisions will be formed by the others getting involved with this project.

We have had a lot of emails from you regarding this over the last couple of years and I'm happy to say that next summer we will be holding a community retreat for those of you serious about getting involved (see our cohousing retreat in August www.thedharmahouse.com ). The retreat will give you the chance to meet the existing community and get involved in discussion about what our ideas are regarding the project, as well as to spend some time together working on the land, sharing formal meditation sessions and listening to Dharma teachings.

The ‘Dharmahouse community project' is differentiated from the ‘Dharmahouse / Maison du Dharma' retreat organisation. The ‘Dharmahouse community project' will be a privately funded housing scheme whereas the ‘Dharmahouse / Maison du Dharma' retreat organisation is registered as a non-profit organisation under French law to run Dharma retreats and courses in Permaculture.

Please join our Yahoo group (see website for details) for ongoing updates and information on both the community project and our retreats and courses.

Further reading...

An inspiring piece on community by Zen philosopher David Loy:

"But here is the interesting question, I think. If as I now think we have a pretty good sense of how the intellectual process of meditation works to help develop prajna, nondual wisdom, what's comparable for working on the heart level? What I would now say, what seems to be the case, is that you don't work in this heart level so much in meditation, although there are meditations that help it, but I think the heart level has to do with developing love, with purifying and extending our love, and the most important way that we work on this is not by sitting, facing the wall, but in community with our friends and families, with our wider circle of community that we help to develop, which provides the opportunity, which provides the place, for this love to be worked out. In the situations that arise in dealing with other people, it allows us to see how the way of love can help us to let go of the kinds of resistances and selfishnesses that normally tend to limit our way of relating to other people. It seems to me that when we really do this sincerely and over a period of time, then what we get is a sense of a community of love. Love is not simply something that is an attribute of me that I am expressing and bouncing back and forth with other people. It is not just a subjective process, but that we start to realize that out of this community of love we are participating in something deeper than us, and then we begin to see that love isn't something that belongs to me, it is not something that I have or show, but that it is something that I participate in."

YE water program

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:13:28 GMT

Hey, I read about this... Rod, do you know the status of the project currently?

ABOUT US

Thousands of communities in Indonesia are in dire need of sustainable technologies to address the lack of safe drinking water as well as other impairing environmental problems. Recognizing the need for technical volunteer outreach programs to aid such communities, the YE Water Program was founded in June 2004 as part of Yayasan Emmanuel.

Projects - Future Projects - Pulau Macan

The setting of this project is a tiny private island just north of Java in an area known as "the thousand islands." There are two groups of people that occupy the island: 1) the local residents that are paid to take care of the island 2) the owners/visitors that come for vacation about twice a month. Pulau Macan is an ideal location because it has a relatively controlled environment and is convenient distance from Jakarta.

Pulau Macan literally means "Tiger Island" in Bahasa Indonesian, even though there are no tigers on the island. The people of the island (specifically the owners) are environmentally conscious of the potential for developing sound solar energy, rainwater collection, wastewater and solid waste treatment alternatives. YE Water Program was contacted for assistance, and from our preliminary assessment and survey we have defined the following general objectives to achieve once resources allow:

1. Promote environmental education & awareness

2. Upgrade solid waste management

3. Establish appropriate water treatments

For further information about Pulau Macan, you can visit:

http://www.pulaumacan.com/

changing the world by bringing cultures together

http://sami.gaia.com — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 17:41:13 GMT

The best, and most fun travel I have experienced is in bringing people together. When I travel I want to know what THEY think, how THEIR culture, customs, religion, thinking, works. I want us to be able to visit in humility, to contribute in environmental and social ways.

Peaceful World Travel Club envisions travelers as mindful and engaged visitors. It encourages "first world" people to own their transformational first world hospitality centers, b&bs, small hotels, gathering places - and not to own "third world" ones, but to help the local people own their own and benefit from tourism while engaging the visitors.

Travelers benefit from visiting other cultures, not implants of their own culture imposed on other cultures. "Cultural and commercial imperialism."

This is such a wonderful world-changing topic and I invite all to discuss and join together here and at www.peacefulworldtravel.com

Sami Sunchild
founder Peaceful World Foundation
and Red Victorian Peace Center Bed & Breakfast

Re: Can they?

http://roderick.gaia.com — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 18:38:40 GMT

What a wealth of knowledge in this thread! So many links to explore, so much good knowledge to drink from.

Again a special thanks to all those who contributed, and just a small reminder to our recent members to please read through this thread if you haven't already :~) and if you'd like, to get a glass of wine, put on your favorite inspirational music, and continue the thread...

Sunstar brings up an interesting possibility - from my limited experience with small islands in the 'Far East,' it doesn't seem like edible plants grow very well. The family that looks after the island has been attempting to grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits for years with no results. But I'm committed to discovering what can be grown there, and how, and how to improve yield, etc.

Currently, we have 4 chilli plans that are growing well, a tropical fruit vine called Marquisa (similar to passion fruit, I think), some ginseng plants, and that's it so far. It's the dry season here now (but we're approaching the wet season), so it's been rather tough to keep the vegetation on the island green and healthy. But I'm hoping during the coming rainy season that we'll find a way to get a lovely, nutritious, and organic garden growing sustainably, and promise to post pictures as we do...

Peaceful World Travel Club

http://sami.gaia.com — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 16:18:22 GMT

Peaceful World Travel Club is for all independent peace-making travelers and peace-making, friendly hosts. Help create this Club at www.peacefulworldtravel.com Your ideas, participation, support, partnership, donations, nominations all are invited.

How are things on Tiger Island?

http://telesterion.gaia.com — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 00:35:42 GMT

Hey Rodrigo, just checking in, i don't know when the busy season would be there, how are things going on the island?

Have you made any improvements to your web presence?

Re: Can they?

http://roderick.gaia.com — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 18:59:31 GMT

This is what the pod is all about... practical sharing of technologies, inspiring people to go forward with their own ideas, exploring the possibility of collaboration, posting websites like www.tribewanted.com to see examples of what others are doing.

It IS possible.

This is a wonderful way to inspire our world, and issue in the change that we all know must come forth... is coming forth. These places can be catalysts where we can really put our best ideas and experience into creating little paradizez :~)

I've got lots to post on recent developments, but I'll start here with a slightly updated version of the vision for the island...

Please excuse the recent absence folks, family is in town, and having a small battle with my cable internet provider so am stuck with dial-up, but I'm LOVIN the great energy, enthusiasm, and meeting of minds transpiring on this pod! A special thanks to Sunstar for sharing his incredible wealth of knowledge and enthusiastic support. Thank you, Sun!

------------------------------------------

(vision below is written as if it already exists - although in reality we are making the first steps towards it... if you'd like to be on my United Adventures mailing list with updates on the island and our other enterprise areas, please email me at unitedadventures@yahoo.com - yes we are working on a new website!)

Tiger Island Eco Adventure Personal Growth Resort Vision

Getting There

Getting to and from the tiger island can be done in many ways. You can rent a chopper or hire a plane to get to a nearby island, and then be picked up by our boat. You can charter a number of yachts and private boats, all pre-approved for quality. You can take a fast ferry from a neighboring public island. Or you can take our very own United Adventures partner ship: fast, comfortable, safe and powered on bio-diesel.

The Island’s Environment

The natural beauty is incredible. Clear waters and live coral reefs abound. The islands grounds are kept meticulously clean. There’s an aura of peace, colorful nature, and many perfect areas to enjoy the natural beauty of the island. There’s even a hydroponic or organic vegetable garden where delicious veggies are grown. The island garden is beautifully landscaped to show off tropical island vegetation varieties, as well as a few international plants that grow well in the local environment. At night, solar powered lamps light up the island’s paths, and accentuate the beauty of the island ecosystem. This includes lighting up reefs for night snorkeling.

The Island’s Structures

Structures on the island include several eco-friendly cabins for simple but comfortable accommodations, a large communal space at the ‘clubhouse,’ several charming outdoor bathrooms with eco features, and several thatched tropical huts, reading areas and a tree house for getting intimate with nature, and as the perfect spots for guests to spend time together. Where possible, local renewable materials, and often recycled hard wood from old boats, are used in the construction process. Special emphasis is placed upon key technologies and structures to provide sustainable, inexpensive energy (wind and solar energy), fresh water supplies (through rainwater collection systems and possibly reverse osmosis), and intelligent waste management (composting, including ‘humanure’ systems, recycling).

The Island’s Programs

The eco-adventure-personal growth resort inspires harmony – it facilitates the natural feeling of connectedness to nature. Our design and staff / paradise hosts are intentionally focused on facilitating incredible vacation and personal growth experiences around the discovery of living in harmony with and appreciating Mother Nature. Our paradise hosts are trained to equip our guests with simple techniques and strategies that guests can implement in their own lives back home to experience the benefits of living in harmony with nature. Such quality of life improvement programs involve, for example, organic vegetable gardening, holistic health augmentation through yoga and nutrition, and the creation of healthful natural environments in our living and creative / work spaces.

Our design and staff / paradise hosts are also intentionally focused on facilitating the pleasurable experience of human interaction and connectedness / harmony. This can be as simple as being very attentive to the needs of guests, to introducing families and groups of friends to group activities and games, to making connections among guests who previously may not have known each other. The resort is a paradise of often like-minded beings where connections and friendships are built that potentially last life times. The human connectedness element is further facilitated through highly effective and enriching group experiences, whether they be for organizations or families. This would include a particular strength in coaching corporate or organizational clients to achieve a vision through effective team synergies and leadership. Facilities on the island include a small ropes course, and other obstacle courses that are common or not so common in other outbound training facilities.

More subtly, the Tiger islands resort is designed in a spiritual light. Architecture and programs reflect an appreciation of spiritual experience. From meditation and reflection zones (huts, reading spots, tree house), to peaceful statues depicting Buddha in meditation and other peace-inducing spiritual figures from various faiths, to hosting courses lead by modern-day spiritual coaches and ‘gurus’, the resort is also focused on connecting itself and her guests to the Divine.

The Resort’s Humanitarian Commitment

As a research center focusing on living in harmony with nature, with our common humanity, and with the Divine – the fruits of our endeavors are intended have wide-ranging impacts in the regional community that may also be applied internationally. Paradise hosts and architects continually ask and redefine the questions of how we can best live in harmony with our natural surroundings, how we can best and sustainably enjoy the fruits of nature, how people of different socio-economic and cultural backgrounds can live or spend time together in harmony, and how we can most effectively manifest common visions to evolve our own and regional quality of life. Based upon the belief and understanding that present regional and global conditions are significantly shaped by spiritual and religious beliefs, the resort is also a grounds for workshops, discussions and small conferences that seek an evolved understanding and appreciation of common spirituality that facilitates outer and inner peace and harmony.

For the Resort’s environmental and humanitarian initiatives, a separate non-profit organization exists to receive and manage funds, conduct research, sponsor regional initiatives, and publish findings for regional, national and international audiences.

Environmental Commitment

Besides conserving and where possible enhancing the health and beauty of the natural environment upon the resort’s premises, United Adventures is also committed to applying identified, successful strategies and technologies to the Pulau Seribu region. These would include appropriate and inexpensive technology initiatives such as the design and distribution of wind-energy systems using simple car batteries and alternators, the implementation of composting, ‘humanure’ systems, and island seawater farming techniques for the sustainable and autonomous provision of vegetables and staple foods, and inexpensive ceramic coral re-growth technologies to support regional eco-tourism. Collaborating with international research institutions and island-based eco-resorts, Pulau Macan is committed to contributing towards furthering research and implementation of inexpensive, sustainable strategies and technologies that will allow for a blossoming of eco-adventure-inspirational tourism across Indonesia and in other gorgeous places around the world. Our purpose is to regenerate and sustain gorgeous natural environments, and inspire people to be the stewards of those environments and live in harmony with Mother Earth.

Out of the city and into place

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:22:12 GMT

Exactly out of the city and constant demands and draws on consciousness to see the abundance surrounding and to share As simple as that . the biggest transformations come in this place. Sun

Re: What If? I have a dream...

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:19:52 GMT

Yes Another fantastic doer! it is inspiring to see those who are doing it. Sun and all over the planet i think we are all asking in some little way a bit where can some of us co create something? We do have the combined skills http://www.celestinemessages.com/flash.cfm www.celestineprophecy.com Sun

Re: What If? I have a dream...

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:16:10 GMT

Drigo Your layout includes all the details.. All of them important for the practical holistic element. It has to work as the future of ALL capital is in this sort of regenerative weekend exporation have you read or heard Exp[erience Economy? it lays it all out The experience is the whole issue AND the experience including health and healing education learning Growth Spirit Food adn Play adn Exercise or Sleep and Dreamtime Llibrary of prctical tools and PLACE most of all place your personal journey from manifest to do is the one that seems most real. yet we all know that ocmmunity and place and expoerience will create some new places adn visions that HAVE to work financially it is the new model. Learning Playing Groing healing and Spirtuality all in one. yet It can be simple no. Your details are impeccable.. Dont evern let you clear vision go. And the centers best suited might be as you say the ones close enough for weekend travel for the average person and since most are experiencing the need for transformation on a weekend these places will provide just such a thing. they are cropping up all over th epanet in as many ways as there are people. Sun

Re: Can they?

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:39:25 GMT

yes they can! \ News from the Agro Expo II in Indonesia, July 2005! Many of you have been asking for our update on current activities of Sonic Bloom in Indonesia and the world. Here it is. Let us share the recent experiences of the International Agro Expo 2005 in Semarang, Indonesia, July 11 to 17, 2005, which was attended by 20.000 people. This week long event was organized by our exclusive distributor for Sonic Bloom, Harry Harryanto, the Governor of Central Java, the Department of Agriculture, and the agricultural minister of Indonesia. Many Agricultural ministers, attaches and staff from countries in their region attended. We were so fortunate to have the agricultural ministers of Afghanistan, Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Peoples Republic of China, Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Suriname, Royal Thai, Republic of Uzbekistan, Republic of Yemen, the US Embassy, and other countries tour some Sonic Bloom pilot projects on the bus tour to the expo. They were witnessing first hand some amazing 30 to 100 per cent Sonic Bloom increases in production and were overwhelmed with the successes. Harry Harryanto gave the opening speech followed by the Governor of Central Java, Mr. H. Mardiyanto, and the Agricultural minister. The gala dinner the night before was at the foot of Borabutho, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, at the most prestigious hotel in Semerang. At this unique international event that brought together so many different people and cultures, some of the most famous cultural dancers and singers displayed their extraordinary art form. Harry Harryanto was seated with the speaker of parliament and the Chinese agricultural ambassador. The ambassador from Thailand and Pakistan joined in the celebration and sang along with the cultural songs. The Sonic Bloom booth was praised as one of the highlights of the Agro Expo by visitors and ministers. We have been growing plants there since February, and the production was considered as stunning and almost unbelievable by the Indonesians and governments alike. We grew corn, tomatoes, maryama beans, cantaloupes, melons, flowers, salad mixes, eggplant, vegetables and crops. Harry and I and his wonderful staff were very happy to share the theme "SONIC BLOOM IS THE ANSWER" for that part of the world as well as the planet. Many visitors commented: Seeing is believing! Because of this expo we can share the gift of Sonic Bloom with even more countries. I give my deepest thanks to all those involved in this wonderful sharing of agricultural experience and cultural technology. One of the highlights of this trip, I was invited to lecture at a pilot project training center to a 30 some new student technicians. They have come from a Tsunami devastated region. Sonic Bloom works very well in these intolerable new saline conditions. So when the student technicians they can go back to their towns and villages and help feed the people were all other methods have failed. Also our special thanks to the American Embassy, and the American Agricultural Commissioner, for coming to the expo, and all their support. Cheers, Dan Carlson

Re: Can they?

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:33:36 GMT

Rodrigo Aloha I did not go into the benefits of coconut as a food and the oil qualities (which are unique But I thought as a practical side bar I should mention that coconuts and their elements are a super-food par excellence and they are very very sturdy and adapted to your region over centuries.. They withstand hurricanes and typhoons while imported plants don’t fare as well though the element of a botanical garden via the ministers of agriculture there in Indonesia through Dan Carlson (www.sonicbloom.com) possible to get samples of all possible plant that CAN grow there that are food producing including the now famous cacao or raw chocolate which is the rage in raw food circles could make it even more fantastic. The 25 ministers of agri. there is Indonesia and the government brought in Dan Carlson to isse sonic bloom to increase agricultural yields as they are importing 60 % of their food and the population will double I the next ten years. The results were amazing. Yet for tiny island crops and just the right blend of as many coconuts as you can get on the shoreline and as far inland as possible is step 1. The 25 ministers of agriculture for AALL of Indonesia are former military heads (passive and peaceful) and they all have the same personal goal of creating gardens of Eden on their properties and around Indonesia. See the notes on www.sonicbloom.com about the agricultural expo in Indonesia that Dan spearheaded last year and some of the dramatic results in yields.. In planting a garden of Eden on the 2 tigers you can increase growth rate by ten tims to create a better garden feel and landscaping (all by hand small scale) and increase food fruit trees. Every year hundreds of thousands of people yearn for something more than mere eco tourism and adventure and relaxation and yet they don’t need fancy expensive hotels they want real and kind people and maybe a library of book and dvds and such on the conscious evolution and of course some snorkeling and diving equipment and then if possible some nurturing bodywork? Talk? Quiet and meditation? The hammock therapy! I have seen that the millions of people that come to Hawaii put up with a lot of hype and pay enormous funds to be here and see what they thought they left at home your place and places like it that support the local people in crafts and small infrastructure combied with the abilities of those using networking and the internet Like the "Tribe Wanted" idea Bill shared (but not so TV and glitz oriented but with that bit of adventure and yet more for people who want to get away from that a bit..makes the potential here something very very unique . I have seen personally countless places like this in the Caribbean in places you see in islands magazine and places lime that that are little getaways and they are basic .. More to come soon Keep the vision going it is how every "impossible" dream came about and this is easy compared to some visions. Sun

Re: HOW Can we? Imagine in detail!

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:06:18 GMT

Yes BILL Re: HOW Can we? Imagine in detail! The details and practicalities are something passionate people with a magical project do amazing things. yes even just sharing on the e version now is great. never before in the history of advertising adn networking have we have a global netork to bring in ehough people to any such place to make it stand on its own..or even jsut envision the beauty of it And our friend Rod is already doing it he has a lot of passion about this and avery great heart it feels like and he is a doer doing it. I was really suprised to see the paragliders I have many friends here that are devoted paragliders. Yesterday at Makapuu beach in Waimanalo I was on the beach laying looking up at the cliffs above the beach and I have a returning insights from many years ago that the white sand and the blue water and sunny blue sky and air and life force and the paragliders and hang gliders and bodysurfers were all in an altered state very much like a trans -dimensional heaven of sorts It was literally a time out heaven on earth not just a nice place in nature but really vibrationally heaven on earth where peple were functioning in their passion for the moment which was all that was important.. It seems we can offer that when we find that many or most people have not experienced that especially in a tropical arena. Having drank over 100,000 coconuts worth of coconut water in the past 35 years from Central America to Islands in the Caribbean to Hawaii and Indonesia I can say that is a divine thing in itself....though many think of it as nothing more than an exotic indulgence. Simple pleasures like this and quiet adn the possibility of an environment like this in a area where the local peple are open to all new experience and sharing (some great peple there) it is something we all see the potential in. I am excited by Rod's commitment.. it is what this takes. I feel that the possibility of seminars there and a healing center are viable yet presume some homework and more networking. having lived in the tropics for may decades now it is hard to beat.. now to take micro climates adn micro learning and healing to these areas to they dont seem remote to commited guests. I hope I can hear more from this group on this. Sun

Re: websites fro eco villages

http://sunstar.gaia.com — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 23:46:57 GMT

Bill thanks so much for sharing that fantastic link. A diverse group... And some interesing backgrounds in the practicalities of eco and sustainability and alternate energy and the basis of How to make the venture non stressful and intimate adn community based. The internet What a place. Sun