Last month the Greek people decisively voted into power the anti-austerity Syriza party. Greece is once more in the global spotlight. At the Centres Gathering in Pelion, we are extremely fortunate in being able to present a number of passionate, sharp, intelligent and fun guest speakers, who will demonstrate what we can learn from Greece today. And Greece’s present may well be everyone’s
future! This makes the Gathering in Greece unique, and a real learning opportunity for participants.
Jen Hinton from the Post Growth Institute in Athens will provide an overview of the complexities of the Greek situation with a number of interactive tools, such as the “Greek Debt Crisis” game that she
co-developed. This zooms out from the Greek situation to the systemic issues involved, framing the crisis in a more global, holistic perspective.
We also wish to showcase some responses to the crisis within the wider context of sustainability, such as local community currencies. Kalikalos Holistic Centre participates in the local TEM currency, which we have found to be an excellent way to engage with and build connections to local community organisations, providers of goods, tradespeople, and services. It has provided a lifeline in harsh economic times, and is an example of real resilience-building and sustainability in action.
Christos Papaioannou, one of the founders of the Exchange and Solidarity Network of Magnesia, (TEM, the community currency) will be able to share with us the hand-on practical and management issues around creating, running and using a local currency.
Filming of Mamma Mia took place at our venue, the Damouchari Hotel
What else make the Gathering in Greece so unique?
The extraordinary beauty of the Greek landscape! Pelion, the summer home of the Greek Gods! The enduring generosity, hospitality, mutual support, and positivity of the Greek people! And the fact that the Gathering will be held in the same location as the film Mamma Mia, in the delightful garden bungalows and apartments where Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth stayed!
We welcome you to Damouchari. Come to Pelion, Greece!
Some additional links and information;
The Post Growth Institute is a collaborative project dedicated to imagining a world beyond economic expansion that creates positive futures for all.
Your host, Apostolis, at the Damouchari Hotel
It’s mission is to build and empower a broad-based global movement for identifying, inspiring and implementing new approaches to global well-being, building on the existing aspects of our world that are sustainable in order to create resilient futures. This includes strengthening ecologically and socially sustainable practices, while recognising the physical limits of the Earth.
Here is an article about the TEM system;
http://www.theguardian.com/
An NPR podcast discusses how TEM is fostering a new sense of community;
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/29/
And here is a translated link to TEM’s official site;
And finally, one Findhorn Community member’s opinon of what you what you need to know about what is happening now in Greece;
Leave a Reply