[Falkor-info] You are invited to Ecotopia 2007

[info@falkor.org]

Forwarded on behalf of EYFA & GAIA:

+You are invited to Ecotopia 2007-Migrations+

This year Ecotopia will take place between 4 - 19 August in Aljezur in the
south of Portugal.

[What is Ecotopia?]
Ecotopia is a two-week activist camp and an open event for everyone
interested in environmental and social justice issues. Ecotopia takes
place every summer since 1989 in a different country. It is organized by
EYFA (European Youth For Action) and hosted by local grassroots
environmental organizations. This year, the 19th Ecotopia will be hosted
by GAIA (Grupo de Ac=E7=E3o e Interven=E7=E3o Ambiental)(http://gaia.org.pt/=
).
Ecotopia is a place for networking, learning, exchanging experiences and
spreading information about environmental, social and political issues and
campaigns. Several hundred people attend Ecotopia each year to share
skills, to discuss alternatives and to address a wide range of themes and
issues like strategies for actions and campaigns, racism, xenophobia,
homo- and queerphobia, creative dissent, alternative media, social
centers, sustainable building and infrastructure, organic/fair trade food
and farming, climate change, biological diversity, GMOs, etc.

[This years' theme 'Migration']
Ecotopia covers a wide range of issues but has each year a particular
topic that stands out. This year we look particularly at the theme
Migration. There will be a 3 days Migration Focus on the venue from 10th
to 12th of August.
Throughout these 3 days there is space to discuss the reality of a
'Fortress Europe', of detention camps and different kinds of repression on
'illegal' people, and to share experiences in the struggle for equal
rights and global freedom of movement for all. In the setting of Ecotopia
we will also look into the reasons and effects of urban-rural/rural-urban
migrations and address the global increase of environmental refugees.

[Community]
Ecotopia is horizontally and self-organized. It brings an alternative and
environmentally-friendly way of living and organizing into practice: DIY
(do-it-yourself), consensus decision-making, waste recycling, a
vegetarian/vegan organic kitchen and the usage of alternative energies as
much as possible. It is strictly forbidden to use non-ecological
stuff(soap,shampoo etc) in the camp. Everyone is asked to involve
themselves in decision-making processes, the daily creation of the program
and the running of the camp. During the 2 weeks, participants can use
Ecotopia as a platform to spread information in the area and to organize
local actions or cleanups.

[Location]
Aljezur is a small town in the south of Portugal situated in the Southwest
Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park in the Algarve region. The
landscape is dominated by cliffs, clear sand and dunes. It is known for
its archaeological and historical richness. Once founded by Arabs in the
10th century, the Aljezur of today has a mixed population of 2700
inhabitants. Most Aljezurians make their living from traditional
agriculture with sweet potato and peanut being typical products for this
region.

[Alternative Economics]
Ecotopia's economics are based on the Ecorates system - an alternative
economic system developed by EYFA, which is based on living standards and
income of people rather than financial markets. Ecorates currency is used
in Ecotopia and in many other meetings and magazine subscriptions with the
aim to create fair prices to balance the economical differences between
countries. Please help us update the Ecorates by filling in the Ecorates
questionnaire (http://informal.benn.org/?db=3D63)Thank you! For more
information on ecorates see www.eyfa.org/ecorates

[Take part]
We would like to invite everyone interested to come and want to contribute
to the program by giving workshops, presentations, discussions and
screenings on the theme of migrations and any other interesting topic or
environmental issue. Groups and individuals are welcome to present their
work, and also to network and plan meetings within Ecotopia.

If you plan to attend Ecotopia please register online
(http://informal.benn.org/?db=3D60)and if you also plan to give a workshop
please fill in the workshop form (http://informal.benn.org/?db=3D61)

If you need a visa to come to Ecotopia, please contact Salome
(salomeribeiro@gaia.org.pt) till 30st of June 2007 the latest, better NOW!

If you want to apply for travel reimbursement, please fill in the
registration form before 2nd of July 2007.

[PrepCamp]
Every year, before Ecotopia starts, there is a Preparation Camp of 1-2
weeks in the venue for setting up the infrastructure of the camp. This
year Ecotopia Prep-Camp will start 23rd of June 2007. If you want to
participate the PrepCamp, please mention this while filling in the online
registration forms.

One of the best ways to come to Ecotopia has always been the Ecotopia
Biketour.(http://thebiketour.net/)

Bring your projects, ideas, creativity and your tent to Ecotopia!!
EYFA & GAIA
ecotopia@eyfa.org
www.ecotopiagathering.org/
www.gaia.org.pt
www.eyfa.org

--=20
Stichting Falkor I.C.Y.
Postbus 1649
9701 BP Groningen
Netherlands
+31(0)50-3145412
+31(0)6-15231228


----- End forwarded message -----
--=20
Stichting Falkor I.C.Y.
Postbus 1649
9701 BP Groningen
Netherlands
+31(0)50-3145412
+31(0)6-15231228