The Pachamama Alliance is seeing promising results from its first steps in the creation of a Green Plan for Ecuador, including endorsement of the plan from the country's newly elected President, Rafael Correa. After months of preparing a policy proposal for such a plan, working to put it in the public consciousness and to gain political support, the concept has really taken off. The Green Plan policy proposal captured the attention of key presidential candidates during the electoral campaign in Ecuador, paving the way for a plan to proceed for the entire country of Ecuador. The Green Plan initiative seeks to ensure sustainable development, cultural continuity, indigenous territorial rights and biodiversity conservation of the Southern Amazon region in Ecuador (Pastaza and Morona Santiago Provinces), by assembling socio-economic development options as alternatives to petroleum extraction and expansion.

In an effort to gain public visibility, Pachamama's Ecuadorian entity, Fundacion Pachamama, worked with seven other non-governmental organizations to translate the Green Plan into a public policy document elaborating a number of policy options in environment, macro-economic and petroleum sectors. The policy options document became "Ciudadanizando la Politica", (Democratizing Politics) the main goal of which was to reach the presidential candidates and have them (and their political parties) include the policy options within their presidential campaign platforms (the presidential election took place in Ecuador in December).

In order to reach the political sectors, the Green Plan public policy proposal was presented through a wide array of communication media (radio, television and press). In addition, it was presented in public forums in five cities across the country, which were attended by civil society and local leaders who showed their interest and support towards the Green Plan initiative. The public proposal was presented to the main political parties and presidential candidates (Correa, Noboa, Roldos) through public events and work sessions. The overall reaction was very positive. Four political parties gave comments to the public policy proposal, expressing their interest to include it within their government plans.

The results of the initiative are promising. Most notably, newly elected president, Rafael Correa's, government plan endorses the Green Plan policy proposal. The political support of the idea has been mentioned by several elected government officials, who, through public interviews, have expressed their commitment towards declaring a petroleum moratorium and developing new and alternative socio-economic options for the Amazon and the indigenous nationalities.

The public visibility and political support that the Green Plan has attained during these months is promising. This has opened the door to engage with organizations public and private, local, national and international to rethink development in the Amazon, and Ecuador in general. These are important first steps in a hopeful and exciting process.

Getting off to a powerful start in 2007, the first Symposium in New York City was held on January 13th, with more than 70 people in attendance. Mayor Michael Bloomberg sent a personalized letter welcoming symposium participants, acknowledging their dedication to future generations and to working together to find solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing us today. On that same day, in Tucson, Arizona, a Symposium was presented to a group of over 80 renowned business leaders at an international conference, to the response of rave reviews.

These Symposiums launched a year of significant expansion. In 2006, the number of people who have attended a Symposium grew by 500%. Given the rate at which volunteers are hosting, producing and facilitating, it is our intention and estimate that the number will increase exponentially another five times in 2007, reaching as many as 25,000 people.

It is the volunteer-based network of Community Leaders and Facilitators who are making it happen - a true grass-roots effort. Teams have been formed in 9 communities nationally, while 6 more are in formation. They are located in Marin County, California, Sonoma County California, the Philadelphia and south Pennsylvania area, New York and New Jersey, Boston, Massachusetts, the South Bay Area, California, Los Angeles, California, and the Contra Costa County, California. We intend to grow and expand this network to 75 active communities putting on Symposiums around the world by the end of this year.

The success of the New York Symposium exemplifies this teamwork, as it was the result of 16 committed and passionate people working together to fulfill a common vision. It was acknowledged by all that the hero of the day was Rocio Yanez, whose vision and commitment brought the Symposium to New York. As a presenter, she had the audience of over 70 in hearty applause when she drew on her own life. Rocio offered that she cleans apartments for a living, and she would continually think about how she could personally make the world more environmentally sustainable. She began using green cleaning products and educating her clients, many of whom have now gone "green." Rocio did not stop there. As an Ecuadorian, she was committed to making it possible for Ecuadorian students in the area to attend and understand the Symposium and its message. She arranged for their attendance and rented the translation equipment necessary for their participation. Then she enlisted her son-in-law, Franklin, to do simultaneous translation of the Symposium for Spanish speaking participants. However, the spirit of the first New York City Symposium shone brightest when one of the Spanish speaking venue staff, whom Franklin had invited to put on the translation earphones and listen in, pondered for a moment and then smiled broadly, fascinated and inspired by what he was hearing.

If you would like to participate in bringing the Symposium to your community, you can call Eve Libertone at 415-561-4522 ext. 107 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

By Monte Hayes, Associated Press - January 16: Rafael Correa vowed to put Ecuador's poor ahead of foreign debt payments as he was sworn in as president yesterday, at an inauguration attended by members of the growing club of leftist Latin American leaders. For the full story, click here...