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New Moon Updates for December 2009
Pachamama Event Goes Global –
A Success on All Fronts
It was standing room only at The Pachamama Alliance’s Annual Fundraising Luncheon on November 19th in San Francisco. Over 1,300 people attended the event, which had strong fundraising results. And for the first time, an additional 1,000+ people viewed the luncheon via live streaming on the Internet at 250 locations around the world. The hour-and-a-half program included Pachamama co-founders Lynne and Bill Twist, Pachamama program staff from both the Ecuador and San Francisco offices, indigenous partners, and other special guests, including author and luminary Joanna Macy, and Dan Wieden, founder and president of Wieden+Kennedy, the largest independent advertising agency in the world. The event included special announcements about the expansion of The Pachamama Alliance’s work in the world. The organization identified the next four years as being critical if we are to reach the tipping point in human thinking that will be necessary to achieve environmental sustainability and social justice on the planet in our lifetimes. Pachamama co-founders Lynne and Bill Twist announced that a campaign will be launched in the new year to form an “urgency coalition” of organizations that will partner to wake up, motivate and inspire people through a global communication campaign. The campaign will be made possible through the partnership and pro bono support of the Wieden+Kennedy ad agency, creator of many successful global communication campaigns, including Nike’s “Just do it” campaign and the Lance Armstrong "Livestrong" campaign.Luncheon guests got a sneak peek at the newest version of The Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium video for use by volunteer Symposium facilitators. The new video and materials, often referred to as “V2,” will be officially released in mid-December.Click here to watch these announcements, Pachamama Alliance program updates, and other aspects of the event. On that page, scroll down for links to the luncheon video Table of Contents, which includes instructions for watching specific segments of the 1.5 hour event, links for the Luncheon Program, Highlights of Pachamama’s Work in 2009, and a Pledge Card (which you may complete and send to us). Click here to make a gift to The Pachamama Alliance right now to help further this work. Pachamama Supports Cross Border
Network in Gaining Official Status
Photo: Shuar, Awá, and Achuar members of the Cross Border Network seal their commitment with a handprint at the regional meeting in Iquitos.
(From left: Raul Petsain, Bi-national Coordinator Shuar-Wampis, Olindo Nastacuaz, President of the Awá Federation of Ecuador, Silverio Tii, Director of Territories, Achuar Nationality of Ecuador) Photo credit: Melaina Spitzer, Red Transfronteriza para la Defensa de los Territorios Ancestrales, Fundación Pachamama
The Cross-Border Network for the Protection of Ancestral Territories, an initiative supported by Fundación Pachamama, recently completed its second annual Meeting in Iquitos, Peru (11-14 October.) The Encounter brought together 40 participants from 5 countries and representing 13 indigenous groups divided by national borders to share experiences, identify a common cross-border agenda, and develop a work plan for 2010. Countries represented included Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and Brazil, and indigenous groups included Achuar, Shuar, Kichwa, Quechua, Awá, Sapara, Awajún, Huitoto, Shawi, Cocama, Ticuna, Matses, and Cavineño. Pachamama developed the methodology and materials utilized in the event, as well as coordinating the logistics alongside members of the Steering Committee. The event was a success and achievements included; the official formation of the Network, the development of a common trans-border agenda, the development of a preliminary workplan for the five countries in 2010, the election of a new Steering Committee composed of indigenous leaders and their technical teams, and the signing of a joint declaration in solidarity with indigenous groups in the frontiers of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.
Newly Elected Leaders of the Cross-Border Network Meet on Colombia-Brazil-Peru Border
Photo: Steering Committee 2010 of the Cross Border Network meet in the offices of ACITAM in Leticia
Photo credit: by Melaina Spitzer, property of the Cross-Border Network and Fundación Pachamama
Following up from Iquitos, the newly elected Steering Committee made up of indigenous leaders from Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador came together for the first meeting in Leticia, Colombia last month (26-28 October) to plan for the Cross-Border Network’s 2010 activities. The meeting, which took place near the Colombia-Brasil border was organized with the support of Fundación Pachamama and brought together 11 leaders and their technical teams from the 5 Amazonian countries that constitute the Network. Augusto Falcon Peréz, the Secretary of ACITAM (Association of Indigenous Communities of the Amazonian Triangle) and Colombia’s delegate to the Steering Committee said of the symbolic meeting, “For ten years I have dreamed of getting to know other processes, experiences, and brothers/sisters…The fact that you are here is a dream realized, and we have a made a firm commitment to this Network with the highest of expectations. We now have clear and defined allies to work with on the judicial and administrative level in the difficult situation that the indigenous of Colombia face.” This year the Cross-Border Network will focus its work in five areas: 1) Organizational strengthening on a political level, 2) territory and well being, 3) freedom of movement, 4) collective rights, and 5) the formation of leaders and communicators.
Photo: Ticuna Elder Mikaela shares the traditional dress worn by the Ticuna in their initiation ceremony for young women known as “Pelazón.”
Photo credit: by Melaina Spitzer, property of the Community of Macedonia, el Pueblo Ticuna and Fundación Pachamama
Following the meeting, Fundación Pachamama conducted site visits in two Ticuna and Cocama communities on the shores of the Amazon River in Colombia and in meetings with leaders and elders Pachamama learned of new threats to indigenous territories in the Amazonian Triangle and strengthened connections with new potential members the Cross-Border Network. The mixed Ticuna-Cocama Community of Macedonia is renowned for their artisan crafts, but is at risk of losing their language and culture to increasing threats brought on by extractive industries, mega-projects, evangelical influence, and globalization; a clear example of the need for strengthened cross border networks.
Awakening The Dreamer in Beirut, Lebanon Inspired and organized by Lebanese national Rony Mecattaf, an Awakening the Dreamer Symposium was recently held for more than 100 participants in Beirut as a follow up to a conference held by a local bank, BankMed, as part of their Happy Planet Initiative . Rony was trained as a Symposium Facilitator in France and was a co-facilitator at the large Algerian Symposium held earlier this Summer. To co-facilitate, he invited Jon Symes, the Outreach Director of the Pachamama Alliance in charge of International Symposium expansion, and Aline Wauters from Belgium who brought a valuable breadth of culture and perspective to a Symposium that included the Minister of Environment for Lebanon.
The symposium was very well received, once again proving that it can transcend differences of culture, awareness and language. The feedback was excellent. BankMed is interested in exploring a partnership, about 50 people want to be trained as a Symposium Facilitator - 12 of who were able to attend a one-day training the very next day (training group name, Dream Green). A full training is planned for the coming months.
The new version of the Symposium (V-2) clearly communicates a more international message than its predecessor and a sharper action focus. There is a real sense of hope and action birthed in a population who have been oppressed and disempowered by centuries of invasion, violence and warfare. Lebanon is also a valuable entre into this region of the world, perhaps the most open of the Arabic countries in the region, and one with a huge transient population of expatriates. This immediately opens up links into other parts of the world and of the greater middle east. We have much to learn and much to offer through our work with this group, its definitely a place where a continuing investment of energy will lead to powerful results.
Rony and the other Lebanese hosts were warm and generous, traits shared by many in this country, and the guests had several fabulous experiences of hospitality. Perhaps the best being the invitation to a Sufi prayer meeting organized in the guest’s honor. Jon Symes said “Tthis experience has done so much for me to help me see my own unexamined assumptions about culture, religion and life in this part of the world. I'm grateful to the people I met who were reaching out with open arms to breakdown the divisions which have sprung up between our worlds and I recognize the chance we have through our work and our relationships to be a bridge between these worlds; I for one want to help others feel more connected with our brothers and sisters in the Arab world.”
More from the ATD Youth Initiative
The Awakening the Dreamer Youth Initiative
was officially launched in November!
Learn more about the Youth Initiative and get involved: http://awakeningthedreamer.org/youth Learn about the latest activities in South Africa, Ecuador, Oregon,
Maryland and New Mexico:
Consumption Course with ATD Symposium, plus Youth Plans Growing - Ecuador: 52 University students and professionals participated in the ATD Symposium during the Responsible Consumption Course at the Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales Sede Ecuador (Faculty of Latin American Social Sciences in Ecuador) November 15. The Caminantes facilitator team also met to plan Ecuador Youth Symposiums that would include developing parallel activities to complement the full day Symposiums and embed local Ecuadorian information to strengthen the experience. Contact: Valentina Benavides
Pachamama Plett Group Established Extended Program – South Africa: Facilitator Elize presented the Symposium to a group of South African rural youth, mostly teenagers, using only the presenter’s manual--lack of access to technological tools prevented use of audio-visual elements. The very positive response she received illustrates the power of the Symposium’s message even with divers adaptations. The Pachamama Plett team, some with youth related careers, met December 7th and developed plans to reach greater audiences with the ATD Symposium, along with creating an extended two-day program for the Youth, which would include dance, drama and music. Contact: Carole Surya
Seeding a New Dream, Portland State University – Portland, Oregon, US: A powerful and engaging Symposium was embedded in Portland State University’s inaugural celebration of National Sustainability Education Week: Educating for Citizen Leadership. Several participating youth, young adults, and young at heart expressed enthusiasm to bring the Symposium to a younger audience with their reignited hope “committed in action,” as Julia Butterfly Hill invites. The Portland facilitator team, Earth Wisdom Alliance, hosted & facilitated the November 14th Symposium, which they’d collaborated on for several months. The local inter-generational Youth Initiative team met on November 24 developing plans for five Symposiums in the coming year with connections to a variety of other youth related organizations. Contact: Angela Hamilton
 Symposium Woven into Youth Environmental Leadership Week– New Germany State Park, Maryland, US: As part of the Highlands Environmental Leadership Program (HELP) weekend, the Boy Scout Venturing Crew shared the Symposium with 34 high school students and 10 other community members at New Germany State Park in Maryland. Results from the successful inter-generational Symposium included 10 high school students signing up for Facilitator Training and all attendees signing their Commitment poster. The Symposium perfectly complemented the other weekend leadership training activities on teamwork and self-awareness. A candlelight vigil on behalf of countries most devastated by climate change was synchronized with 1000s of other vigil groups around the world Dec 11. Contact: Paul Kazyak
Bus the Change - An Awakening the Dreamer Living School - Mora, New Mexico, US: In late summer 2010, 'Bus the Change' will offer the Awakening the Dreamer Youth Symposium and a complementary whole system curriculum to schools and communities throughout the nation. This will include sharing Permaculture design, Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Justice Circles, performance arts, movement, The Principles of Co-creation, nutrition and Joanna Macy's the Work that Reconnects. Tour facilitators will participate in a multiple week training based at the Hummingbird Community. Training will support youth leaders to embody the transformative nature of the mobile synergy school. Contact: Peregrine Zoe Whitehurst or Clayton Barker
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Facilitator Trainings
The
Pachamama Alliance's Awakening the Dreamer Program makes available
Facilitator Trainings around the world for people who have the desire
and commitment to deliver the Symposium in their own communities and
beyond. For more information on upcoming Trainings, please click here…
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State of the World Forum presents: Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus: Facing the Climate Crisis Corte Madera, CA - January 22nd 2010, 7:00 PM. Recently State of the World Forum (SWF) has partnered with Bioneers and Pachamama Alliance to create a bold ten-year campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020. This is a time for civil society to lead the way since our governments are not acting quickly enough. The Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus is offering a feminine force for change that empowers the full potential of women (and men, too, who wish to explore this approach) to affect meaningful progress towards climate warming reduction goals and a more sustainable, resilient, and just global future. For more information about the January 22 Gathering or the February Conference in Washington D.C., please contact June Timberlake OR phone: 510.364.3226
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 Reduce the Footprint of Your Feast
This season consider holiday entertaining for a small planet. Check out the following guidelines for creating a sustainable holidays. From food and decoration choices, to gifts and invitations, being sustainable doesn’t mean sacrifice. Season’s Greening! For more information, click here...
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 Follow Copenhagen Climate
Change Talks Live 24/7
Are You Brave Enough to Say No
to a High-Stress Holiday?
 By Bill McKibben, Grist.org
If you poll Americans this time of year, far more of them regard the approaching holidays with dread than anticipation. It has long since become too busy, too expensive, too centered around acquiring that which we do not need.
The full story...
Help Us Learn About YouWe'd be grateful for a few moments of your time...
The Pachamama Alliance is conducting a survey to learn more about you - our valued friends who keep in touch with us through the internet. If you could take a few moments to answer some quick questions, it would help us out tremendously.Our online survey is available here. Thank you!
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