22 October 2007
Some day, after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness the energies of love. Teilhard de Chardin
The 60th Annual Department of Public Information/NGO Conference took place at United Nations Headquarters in New York 5 - 7 September 2007. Nearly 1,800 representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from over 80 countries attended roundtables and workshops during the 3-day event in order to review the scientific evidence on climate change, including its consequences on indigenous people, water security, land use and the politics of energy - and to make recommendations on solutions.
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Chaired by John Clausen, Findhorn Foundation representative at the UN, the workshop focused on how ecovillages and communities worldwide are contributing to the global effort to minimise humanity's effect on climate change, while locally providing for our energy needs. The fully subscribed workshop presented two case studies: Findhorn Ecovillage and Ecovillage at Ithaca. These communities demonstrated that quality of life is not dependent on levels of material consumption and that we can live good lives, within the capacity of the planet. When we look at ecovillages it is clear that they are creating a middle ground between rich and poor, and that the models they have developed have been proven to work and hold an important key in our transition towards more sustainable societies.
For the last ten years the Findhorn Foundation has been an active member of the international NGO community associated with the United Nations and this week we are pleased to celebrate another United Nations Day, October 24.