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GLOBAL GATHERINGReflecting back with a dear friend on our lives, our work and travels; we began to speak of people we mutually know, have worked with, and learned from. They represent awide array of individuals on many continents. They are activists, organizers, and spiritualagents who have against extreme odds and forces pressed on to create transformative programs, organizations and systems that address human issues and have had a broadimpact on situations of poverty (both physical and spiritual).Truly leaders, these individuals have called forth principles, organized people aroundthose principles and established systems that respond serving significant numbers of  people. They have confronted existing tensions that limit human potential by addressingissues that include hunger, poverty, war, the misuse of natural resources, and the declineof indigenous cultures in lieu of the drive for commercial market economies.These individuals have formed new kinds of communities and responses that demonstratenew possibilities for humanity’s evolution. The approaches, methods and strategies,although grounded in certain cultures, are nationless and provide, we believe, the seedsfor new ways of organizing as a human community.We began to envision the possibility of gathering these people in one room and ponderingwhat would they say about their experience? How have they made what they doscaleable? What are the forms of governance and leadership that can transcend nation-states? If they were all together what would emerge? And, who will replace them in thefuture?The initial gathering will be to plan and mentor a series of global activities to respond tothe issues at hand -- respond with a system that can massify this type of leadership of shared values with solid practices, networked communications and engagement.Each leader will be asked to bring with her/him another person with initiative and interestto be part of a leadership/governance network that is cross sector, diverse, inclusive andgrounded in solid methodologies and systems that create better quality of life.Attached is a preliminary list of the organizations and their respective founders/leaders.(We need to add Javier Vargas and his current activities, Lynne Twist and Pachamama,Mara DelliPrescoli of the Educational Travel Conference, the New River Foundation andPacific Integral…..also wanting to incorporate some African involvement)Addends: PARTICIPANTS FOR THE GLOBAL GATHERING; USING EMERGENCETO TAKE SOCIAL INNOVATIONS TO SCALE
 
PARTICIPANTS FOR THE GLOBAL GATHERING
 
COMPARTAMOS -
The largest micro loan financial institution in LatinAmerica now serves over 700,000 mostly women in Mexico. In June of 2006they became a bank. Compartamos began working with World SHARE in1988, undertaking training from FINCA field workers, learning from Grameenand sending representatives to the Economic Institute at University of Colorado.Initiated by young Mexican entrepreneurs with high levels of education, their dream to create a more viable Mexico is being realized. Jose Ignacio Avalos(confirmed)
 
EARTH -
Escuela Agronoma Regional Tropico Humedo (Costa Rica) – Thissustainable agriculture university is providing experiential, innovative educationto students from all over Latin America. Located in and still operating a banana plantation, EARTH is experimenting with creating paper from banana mulch,operating organic areas of production, and providing profound internships toengage students in experiences that will inspire them to return and contribute totheir home communities. Founded on a vision of a sustainable world, EARTHseeks to be engaged with and support other initiatives with this same vision. Dr.Jose Zaglul (confirmed)
 
Sarvodaya
(Sri Lanka) – This village development movement is active in morethan 10,000 villages throughout Sri Lanka (2/3 of all the villages in the nation)and provides villages with a development process that is based on spirituality.Founded over thirty years ago by Dr. A.T. Ariyaratne, a recipient of the GandhiPeace Prize, the vision is that of welfare for all through a process of “we build theroad and the road builds us”. Visits to the movement in the mid-90’s resulted ininvolvement in Sarvodaya USA, a network of US-based individuals, linked by alist-serve, who support the premises of community action through participationand seek to develop similar activities in US communities. Dr. Ariyaratne
 
Auroville/Village Action
(India) – Auroville is an international communitylocated in southeast India and founded in 1968 to be “the city the earth needs”. A protectorate of UNESCO, people from nearly 40 nations reside in Auroville anddemonstrate a new form of community focused on achieving human unity.Created from the philosophy and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother,Auroville has settlements working with appropriate and alternative technologiesas well as sustainable food production. A natural resources miracle, Auroville hassucceeded to plant over two million trees and create a forest out of a desertwasteland. One of the activities of Aurovillians is their relationship with thesurrounding Tamil villages. An initiative called Village Action addresses poverty, empowering communities and expanding consciousness and equity.Bhavana Dee
 
 
Grameen Bank 
(Bangladesh) – This well-known village bank movement for women provides access to credit and a path to improved well being to 3.5 millionrural poor women. Grameen has served as a model for many community bank and micro-credit programs throughout the world. Created from the premise inIslam of trust, according to founder Muhammed Yunus, the program hasorganized women to declare “sixteen decisions” which proclaim actions dedicatedto human dignity such as “I shall have a vegetable garden”. Visits to Grameenresulted in participation in intensive training in the field of micro-credit andmicro-finance. Dr. Muhammed Yunus
 
SHARE de Guatemala
(Guatemala) – This integrated rural development program works with families and communities in the rural highlands. Servingapproximately 60% indigenous communities, SHARE de Guatemala focuses onfamily health and sustainable agriculture. Mayan communities hold a vision of the world that includes humans as part of nature rather then external to nature. Amember of the Global Gathering team is a founder of SHARE de Guatemala.(They are now starting a solidarity tourism program with VolunTours.) DavidArrivillaga (confirmed)
 
ASEQUIA INSTITUTE
(Colorado, USA) – In the southern area of ColoradoHispanic ranchers have been engaged in sustainable practices for many centuries,using techniques brought to the area from the Pyrenees with the Spanish settlers.Currently this population is one of the poorest in the region. The AsequiaInstitute is a land trust initiative, recently founded to assist Hispanic rancherscreate trusts to hold their properties for future agricultural/ranching use rather than for the development of seasonal, second homes. Although struggling withenvironmental and global economy issues as these ranchers find it difficult tocompete, they recently united to send support to the Tzotzil people of Chiapas,Mexico in an expression of solidarity. Dr. Devon Peña (confirmed)
 
Los Ninos
(Mexico/US/Canada) – Los Ninos is a community developmentorganization engaged in organizing communities and training “agents of change”.The program also incorporates a development education program, offering U.S.students an opportunity to experience Mexico, in particular the border region.Founded 34 years ago, the organization has a rich history of institutionaldevelopment including a historical path where traditional charitable give-awayactivities were transformed into actions focused on empowering people to achievetheir potential. A Global Gathering member is the executive director of thisorganization. Now the home of VolunTours, this organization has been providingeducation and travel for 30 years. Elisa Sabatini (confirmed)
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