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| End-of-Year Letter from the Director |
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 "Finally, I believe the universe is friendly." - Margaret Gathunguri – India, Spring 2010 |
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| Dear Friend, | December 7, 2010 | |
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When asked by a reporter what he thought was the most important question facing humanity, Albert Einstein replied, “Is the universe a friendly place?” Our collective answer to this question may determine the fate of humanity. According to Einstein, if we believe the universe is hostile, we will forever build bigger walls and weapons; if we feel it is essentially random, we may lack a sense of meaning; but if we resolve the universe is friendly, we will naturally want to understand it better and learn how we can live in greater harmony with each other and the planet. At Living Routes, we believe not only that we live in a friendly universe, but that we are fundamentally interdependent with all life and matter. And, given our “inter-beingness”, it follows that we must find ways to live well and lightly – together! This is why we are so passionate about creating transformative educational programs based in ecovillages and indigenous communities around the world. While not utopias, these communities act as ideal “campuses” to inspire and prepare future leaders with the skills, knowledge, and positive visions to heal a world that is beyond its limits to growth and consumption. What could be more important? 2010 has been an exciting year for Living Routes. I spent the first half in India with my family, teaching again on our semester program in Auroville. It was an incredible opportunity to both reconnect with our core mission and to allow Living Routes to move beyond me as its founder. I returned in July to an empowered and energized team, committed to really pushing the edge of sustainability education. In our 11th year, we have much to be thankful for, including…
Looking ahead to 2011, we are excited to...
In a world searching for solutions, we are excited to expand and deepen our efforts toward creating a more just and sustainable future, but we can’t do it alone. In this global economic downturn, your financial donations have never been more important or necessary to help us offer need-based scholarships, admit local participants, train local staff, and continue to create cutting edge curricula. Please make a tax-deductible donation online or by mail. Together, we can help educate leaders who can build a bridge toward a brighter tomorrow. Your gift will help Living Routes make an even bigger contribution! Thank you. In community,
Daniel Greenberg, Ph.D. |
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| From the 2010 Living Routes' Weblogs... | |
| Semester Programs: | |
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New Program! COSTA RICA: Tropical Ecology, Development and Social Justice in Monteverde "We are incredibly excited to be a global partner with Living Routes. We have spent the last 25 years helping to create a sustainable community and a network of experts in the natural and social sciences who believe that every community contains within it the ability to find equitable and sustainable solutions. We look forward to collaborating with Living Routes students. " -Jannelle Wilkins, Executive Director, Monteverde Institute |
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INDIA: Sustainability in Practice at Auroville "If you want to be challenged in your assumptions, if you want to get a bigger picture of how our world is hurting and how you can be a part of the transformation; Auroville might just be the place for you, like it was for me." -Rebecca Hume, Cornell University, Spring 2010 |
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SCOTLAND: Human Challenge of Sustainability at Findhorn "There's an ethos here, a shared understanding that it is possible to live a life that honors ourselves, each other, and the earth, and the excitement that comes from living that life every day. It's as if the spiritual focus of this community is glue that holds together ecological and cultural values into a living example of what life can look like." -Elliot Cavnaugh, University of Redlands, Fall 2010 |
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ISRAEL: Peace, Justice and the Environment at Kibbutz Lotan "I know that this is the place that I'm supposed to be right now. I feel so grounded. I feel safer here than I ever did in the Sates. I'm not apprehensive about walking around here at night by myself or sleeping with my door unlocked. Yeah, this place feels good. I wish there was some way for me to bring the people I love and the place I belong together." -Rachel Boim, Evergreen State College, Fall 2010 |
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MEXICO: Leadership for Social Change at Huehuecoyotl "I think that a lot of people assume that to live sustainably (or at least in greater harmony with the earth) we need to give up aesthetic pleasures. However this community is a living example of how visually appealing ecovillages can be. It has given me a lot of hope because I feel that this is something a lot of people can get into." -Samantha Dillingham, The New School, Winter 2010 |
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PERU: Ecology, Community, & Indigenous Spirituality in the High Amazon "I learned more about myself and my capabilities in these three weeks than I have maybe in my whole school career. Working together with people for a common cause, living together, traveling, learning, and loving one another opened a piece of me. I ... fell in love with the country and its people, and was inspired to my core with the work being done by Centro Sachamama." -Laura Williams, Southern Illinois University, Winter 2010 |
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BRAZIL: Permaculture at Ecocentro IPEC "Our final design task is to combine all of the concepts of permaculture and design a sustainable school. The building will be efficient, 'green,' and built with natural materials.... It's a daunting task, but we have to do it. We want to do it! It's amazing that we are being given this opportunity." -Rain Araneda, Hillsborough Community College, Summer 2009 |
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USA: Permaculture at Sirius Community "Very few times in my life have I really enjoyed learning about something, and this is one of them. The way I think of it for my future is by creating or helping create an ecovillage, a place where we can be in harmony with nature and life around our home. Where things lay in balance, in a natural order." -Abraham Dorantes, Summer 2010 |
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USA: Green Building and Sustainable Design at Sirius "After experiencing what has been made here out of a true deep commitment from a few people, I am deeply inspired. There is no doubt that I am in the perfect place, and with true commitment and dedication, anything is possible. All this and it's only the first day." -Shaun Smith, Summer 2010 |
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AUSTRALIA: Permaculture at Crystal Waters "My favorite part of being here is the incredible focus on broadening my perspective on how deeply interconnected we are.... Personally, putting myself into such an environment, so lightly trodden on by humans, has really created an amazing sense of appreciation for life in all of the forms by which it tries to express itself." -Gregory Cerrato, University of Tampa, Summer 2009 |