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THE
PACHAMAMA
ALLIANCE
A New Voice
In recent years concern over the destruction of the world's tropical
rainforests has reached global proportions. Alarm about the extinction
of species, the permanent loss of potentially life-saving medicinal
plants, the irreversible damage to the delicate balance of the Earth's
climate control system and the tragic disappearance of indigenous
cultures has captured the attention of millions of people around the
world.
 Hundreds of
organizations have formed and are doing important work addressing
virtually every level of the problem. And yet, rainforests continue to
fall, by some estimates at the rate of 10 million trees per day. Despite
our best efforts, the disappearance of our tropical rainforests, like
many other global economic, social and environmental crises, seems
beyond our ability to control. Obviously something more is needed.
The destruction of the
world's rainforests is driven by a complex web of social and economic
forces, many of these a logical result of modern society's worldview --
a view that, although rich in technological insight, is often ignorant
of the value of nature's apparently free and limitless services. It is a
view guided by maximum short-term financial gain while disregarding the
long-term costs of ecological degradation. It is a worldview in which
tropical forests can show up as a cash crop to be harvested rather than
as an irreplaceable ecosystem to be protected. This is not, however, the
only worldview. After centuries of living in harmony with their
environment, indigenous cultures see things very differently. They are
informed and guided by the knowledge and spirit imbedded in nature.
Rather than viewing the natural world as a collection of separate
elements from which humans are apart, they recognize all of creation as
an interconnected web, and each of us as an integral element in this
miraculous and fragile weave of life.
The Pachamama Alliance
believes that our ability to meet the challenges that face humanity as
we make the transition to the next millennium, depends on our ability to
successfully combine the best elements of these two worldviews into a
single global vision, an alloy that blends the intellectual and
scientific prowess of the modern world, with the deep and ancient wisdom
of traditional cultures. This is the commitment which underlies the work
of
The Pachamama Alliance.
 A Call From The Forest
The
Origins of The Pachamama Alliance
The Pachamama Alliance
is a U.S. based not-for-profit organization that was born out
of a relationship
developed between a
group of people from
the modern world and
the leaders of remote
indigenous groups
in the Amazon region of
Ecuador. This relationship was actually initiated by the indigenous
elders and shamans themselves
who, out of their deep
concern for the
growing threat to their
ancient way of life,
and their recognition
that the roots of this threat lay far beyond their rainforest home,
actively sought the partnership of committed individuals living in
the modern world.
Getting Down To Earth
Pachamama's Work
The Pachamama Alliance
is based on the recognition that those of us in the modern world share a
deep connection with the people who call the rainforest their home-each
of us having a critical stake in the health and well being of this vital
element in our global life support system. We also recognize that
indigenous people are the rainforests' natural custodians, and
therefore, key strategies of our alliance focus on strengthening their
culture and empowering their ability to stand for and represent their
own interests.
Another underlying principal of our alliance is based on the recognition
of the pervasive role economics plays in the fate of our rainforests. It
is generally agreed that the Earth's tropical rainforests are its most
valuable ecosystem. Yet, in the economic equations which shape decisions
regarding the use of the Earth's resources, rainforests seldom show up
as adding any value simply remaining in their natural state. Also, the
direct costs to society of having to use technology to replace the
environmental services nature provides are seldom considered.
Pachamama has a commitment both to develop tangible, real-life projects
through which rainforests provide more direct economic benefit standing
than cut as well as to broaden the general economic view so that the
value of standing rainforests and the costs associated with their
destruction are measured and counted. Our work takes place in two
distinct program areas: social and economic development projects in the
South and education and awareness building in the North.
 On The Ground In The
South
Our
Work with the Achuar
The initial work of
Pachamama is
being carried out in
partnership with
the Achuar, an
indigenous group living
in the Amazon basin in
southeastern Ecuador. They are a nation of approximately 3,500 people
occupying
nearly 2 million acres
of pristine tropical rainforest in one of the most biologically diverse
regions of the world. Their territory is accessible only by small
airplane landing on dirt runways cleared from the forest. This
remoteness has been a blessing in that, thus far, no mining, lumber or
petroleum interests have operated in the Achuar territory. As a result,
the rich diversity of the rainforest has remained intact and virtually
untouched, one of the last such treasures left on Earth. The
Achuar
realize they are not immune from the economic appetite and materialistic
allure of the modern world. Petroleum interests are eyeing their vast
unexplored lands and, even though there has been only a limited exposure
to a western money-based economy, a small and growing need for currency
has taken hold. The Achuar now find themselves facing internal pressure
to clear parts of their rainforest lands to introduce cash crops and to
raise cattle.
The Achuar Master Plan
One of the first
initiatives to evolve from the Achuar's request for support is the
development and implementation of an integrated resource management plan
for their territory. The goal of this master plan is to insure the
long-term well being of the Achuar lands and culture. We in
The
Pachamama Alliance are their key partners in this effort.
The Pachamama
Alliance's
primary role with the Achuar is to provide access to technical expertise
and funding to support them with the design and implementation of a
variety of projects integrated within their master plan. These projects
include:
- Developing sustainable
economic enterprises based on the renewable resources of the land
- Capturing and recording
traditional Achuar knowledge and supporting the empowerment and
revitalization of traditional indigenous education and healing
practices
- Strengthening the
Achuar's ability to defend their lands against outside encroachment,
including demarcation, mapping, and legal work to secure clear title
to land
- Supporting initiatives
that strengthen their governing federation and its leadership
The Work In The North
Education and Awareness
A
consistent message that has been delivered by the leaders of indigenous
groups is that one of the most powerful actions that can be taken in
support of the rainforest is to "change the dream of the North."
Projects that halt
deforestation are
timely and critical but only deal with the symptom of a more fundamental
imbalance. Ultimately, to assure the survival of our rainforests-indeed
of nature's ecosystems and even ourselves-causes which are deeply rooted
in our modern worldview need to be addressed. Historically, our record
of dealing with issues of environmental degradation provides little
basis for optimism in the face of this challenge. Yet, the historical
record is the product of a different time. Technology now supplies
instantaneous feedback on the consequences of our actions and forces us
to come to grips with the reality of living in the closed,
interconnected system we call life on Earth. The growing sense of wonder
and appreciation we feel for the very same natural systems that we now
see our actions destroy provides the basis for hope. There is a new
possibility that the future will not be an extension of our past. We
have an unprecedented opportunity to live from a new vision-one formed
from the intersection of our technological prowess and a new respect for
the Earth.
Pachamama is committed
to strengthen and clarify this vision and to being a clearinghouse of
new ideas and information that will alter our perspectives and,
ultimately, our behavior. The Pachamama Alliance is a place for
individuals to take a stand of personal responsibility for the well
being of the Earth's global commons. We invite you to join us.
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THE
PACHAMAMA
ALLIANCE
Awakening
the Dreamer
Changing the Dream
The
most critical issue and greatest opportunity
of our time
and
what you can do about it
According to a majority
of the world's experts, there is now overwhelming evidence that our
modern society is headed for a catastrophe. Leading scientists are
telling us that the impact of our industrial system, and the sudden
expansion of humanity's ability to harvest the common bounty of our
planet for short-term gain, may actually be upsetting the balance of our
highly complex and fragile web of life.
There is always a
chance of course, as some point out, that the experts are wrong, and
that human ingenuity will come up with some kind of technological fix
that will avert a global disaster. But with a downside risk so
overwhelming, the potential cost so great, it is grossly irresponsible
to keep doing what we are doing, and not to give this issue the serious
attention it deserves. And yet, it rarely gets a mention in the daily
news cycle, and was never even brought up during our last presidential
election.
It is as if we are
living inside of a dream, sleepwalking toward oblivion, while
self-serving, shortsighted interests encourage our slumber with managed
news, celebrity culture and other weapons of mass distraction.
It has become clear
that our political and commercial institutions are unable to effectively
address this crisis, primarily because they don't realize that they are
looking at an interconnected world through a fragmented lens. The
villain here is not Big Business, the corporate media, the
military-industrial complex, or even those who for personal profit seek
to clearcut our forests, overfish our oceans, pollute our atmosphere or
drain our aquifers. The villain is an outmoded worldview - a way of
seeing the world in which such unthinkable acts appear reasonable,
sensible, and even intelligent.
Indigenous people of
South America, who still live in their traditional Earth-honoring ways,
refer to our modern worldview as our "dream" and have urged us, for the
sake of all life, to "change the dream of the North." Well, it appears
that changing this collective dream of ours will be a
do-it-yourself-together project. It will be accomplished by committed
individuals working in concert with one another, tens of millions of us,
each willing to think and act in a whole new way.
This is one of the
generating principles behind the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the
Dream Symposium. The Symposium explores the link between three of
humanity's most critical concerns: environmental sustainability, social
justice and spiritual fulfillment. Using video clips from some of the
world's most respected thinkers, along with inspiring short films,
leading edge information and dynamic group interactions, the Symposium
allows participants to gain a new insight into the very nature of our
time, and the opportunity we have to shape and impact the direction of
our world with our everyday choices and action.
The aim of the
Symposium is not merely to learn more about the world, but to grapple
and come to grips with the very assumptions that underlie the way we
ourselves see the world and our place in it, and with what each of us
can do - both individually and cooperatively - to move the world in this
new direction. ■
If
you are ready to be disturbed, inspired and moved to action,
if
you are ready to be introduced to a thriving community of
like-hearted, deeply committed cohorts who are actively
engaged in awakening from and changing the dream of
our
modern industrial culture, we invite you to
come
to the next Symposium.
THE
PACHAMAMA
ALLIANCE
www. pachamama.org/atd
for a list of upcoming Symposiums
The Awakening Universe
Neal Rogin
is the communications director of The Pachamama Alliance.
This is a
quick “making of” story from his short documentary,
The Awakening Universe
Q:
What is the message you intended for “The Awakening Universe” to convey?
A:
That we are simply wrong about who we think we are as human beings. It’s
a case of mistaken identity. Rather than being separate from the
Universe and each other we are more than deeply connected; we are an
essential element of everything we see. We are living within the very
matrix of that which created us. Recently I received an email from a 19
year-old young woman who had just watched the film. She said simply,
“Last night I looked up into the stars and for the first time ever, I
saw myself.”
Q:
What, if any, actions, do you hope people will take once they have seen
your film?
A:
Carl Jung said, “Man is the mirror God holds up to himself, the sense
organ with which he apprehends his being.” That is essentially what
Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry are saying in their book, “The Universe
Story,” and what I tried to convey in my film: We are the Universe
reflecting on itself. So whatever actions people take will hopefully
come out of the recognition that we are not separate from each other and
from every thing. Once you understand that we all come from the same
source then you can no longer behave as if you didn’t know that.
Q:
What are you most optimistic about?
A: About the transformation of human consciousness.
With the momentum of 13.7 billion years of success at our back, how can
we possibly fail?
Q:
What are you working on now?
A:
The Pachamama Alliance symposium, which is called
AWAKENING THE DREAMER,
CHANGING THE DREAM. It’s a day-long, interactive group experience
offered in cities in the U.S., Europe, and Australia. Its mission is to
bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling,
socially just human presence on this planet. You can learn more about it
at
www.pachamama.org
The Awakening
Universe is one of
The Spiritual
Cinema Circle's featured January films
Click above for a Free Trial Month during January 2007
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