April 2103 Kosmos Journal Newsletter

Jay OwenSustainability News

Kosmos Newsletter
Creating the New Civilization for the Common Good

April 2013

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Dear Kosmos Readers,

It’s Earth Day this montha time of remembrance of the many gifts from nature that are the foundation and sustenance of our lives, as well as offering stunning visual beauty to our spirit. It is springtime in New England where Kosmos is published. The buds are about to burst into magnificent color while the birds are creating a symphony of sound. We remember Earth Day with gratefulness.

This month we have been focusing on our broken economy. Many are now open to looking at alternatives such as collective ownership and management of our common resources, new community activism and education for a new economy. Below you will find carefully selected articles about programs in all these areas that are the hope of the future.

We offer Part Two of the Collective Presencing series as background for Part Three that will be published in May in Kosmos Journalon the emerging new paradigm. The featured organization of the month is Mind and Life Institute, where Arthur Zajonc has just accepted the Presidency, and the Dalai Lama has donated over a million dollars for the exploration of the nature of reality, science and Buddhism. We believe that this organization is one of the most important ones in building the new civilization from an enhanced level of consciousness.

Warm regards,

Nancy

EARTH DAY 2013

EARTH DAYAPRIL 22, 2013

Enjoy the many blessings of nature on Earth Day. Many will plan to be outside for part of the day, breathing fresh air, walking barefoot on the soil, searching for wildflowers and standing in awe at the beauty we have been given. Others will be tilling the soil for a magnificent garden or planting trees. Many will reflect and contemplate the sacredness of our Earth and join together to share it’s fruits.

Whatever you do on this day, let’s remember it with gratefulness.

COLLECTIVE PRESENCING

KOSMOS FEATURE ARTICLECOLLECTIVE PRESENCING, PART TWO

“The Circle of Presence: Building the Capacity for Authentic Collective Wisdom” by Ria Baeck and Helen Titchen Beeth is one of the most popular series in Kosmos. In Part One the authors describe a system to achieve collective wisdom by becoming a circle of presence leading to becoming a circle of creation. Part Two asks, what is the groundwork needed, through collective practice, in order to come into presence together as a collective container for a ‘circle of being?’ Don’t miss Part Three that will be published in May on the new paradigm.

MIND AND LIFE INSTITUTE

FEATURED ORGANIZATIONMIND AND LIFE INSTITUTE 

With 25 years of experience, Mind and Life carries forward the fine work done by so many while simultaneously expanding its strategy vision with important new initiatives that bring contemplative wisdom and science one step closer to human living and being. Central to the vision is a long-term project aimed at Mapping the Mind. Read about their strikingnew strategy.

ANNIE LEONARD AND THE COMMONS

AN INTERVIEW: ANNIE LEONARD (STORY OF STUFF) AND THE COMMONS by Jay Walljasper

“What are a few of the most beloved commons in your life and community?” Annie Leonard asked this question to the Story of Stuff team over lunch recently and the conversation lit up as each called out the commons we cherish most. The group identified cultural commons that add such richness to our lives (music, recipes, the amazing murals in San Francisco), physical commons that we use daily (the library, bike lanes and dog parks ranked high)… aspirational commons: hope, passion, commitment, the future. To read the full interview between Annie Leonard and Jay Walljasper, please click here.

SCHUMACHER CENTER FOR NEW ECONOMICS

NEW ECONOMICSCOMMUNITY SUPPORTED INDUSTRY

Kosmos is located in an area filled with community innovation, spearheaded by the newly re-organized Schumacher Center for a New Economics, directed by Susan Witt. The problems and triumphs of shaping citizen-supported economies describe the work ahead for the Schumacher Center for a New Economics. It will be building on thirty-three years of legacy programming in the Berkshires —SHARE micro-loan program, community land trusts, Deli Dollars and BerkShares local currency. It will rely on the universal ideas captured in the E.F. Schumacher Annual Lectures and housed in the library collection. The new strategy involves expanding the original Community Supported Agriculture programs to community-supported industry. We recommend you read thestrategy the Center is supporting.

LEARNING AT SCHUMACHER

NEW ECONOMICSA GRADUATE PROGRAM IN ECONOMICS OF TRANSITION

At last a Masters Degree program in the new economics at Schumacher College designed to shift world views. In an interview with Julie Richardson, designer of the program, she said, “I think that really gets to the nub of the issue of values…whether ecological thinking is enough in itself. Personally, I don’t think it is. I think it can help us learn about life-sustaining systems and principles around resilience and adaptation and cooperation. But I think the issues of our human social systems also have the important question of values.” To read the entire interview, please click here.

GLOBAL ONENESS PROJECT

FEATURED DOCUMENTARY“ELEMENTAL” BY GLOBAL ONENESS PROJECT

“Elemental” is a feature documentary that tells the story of three individuals united by their deep connection with nature and driven to confront some of the most pressing ecological challenges of our time. Here is an opportunity to organize a free screening with 10 or more of your friends to pay-it-forward and pass it along to others. the screening program is designed to engage individuals and communities in dialogue and inspire action. Share our films in any setting: living room, classroom, a community space or business. View the trailer at the Global Oneness Project web site.

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– Anne Hillman, author, educator and poet

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