Indiegogo

649687

Earth Activist Training 2011

Permaculture, Magic, Social Change

  • Team:

    171893 148214 822783 74553 see more »

  • Location:South Devon, United Kingdom

  • Category:Education

716099

Our Story

Earth Activist Training (EAT) is a permaculture design course with a difference. Over an intensive-two week period we teach permaculture to people who are actively involved in projects promoting positive social and environmental change. Permaculture is a system of ecological design that can be practically applied to transform a piece of land, a community, or even our political and economic systems. Within the course, three mutually reinforcing themes are interwoven: permaculture, activism and magic. These ideas are rarely brought together, but combined they have great power to make our work as activists more effective.


Inspired by the EAT course in the US, initiated by Starhawk, the idea for EAT UK was born on the streets of Prague at protests against the World Bank and IMF in 2000. The intention was to bring the unique blend of ideas within EAT to the UK and Europe. We have now run five successful courses with over 120 participants who have taken the skills and inspiration from EAT back into their campaigns and communities.


The 2011 EAT will take place at Landmatters Permaculture Co-operative in Devon, a project that was set up by  graduates from the 2002 course. All our courses are subsidised through fund-raising in order to make them accessible to people with little or no income.


The Impact

Participants from previous courses have gone on to initiate transformative projects such as land-based cooperatives, urban gardens, and environmental education projects; and have taken permaculture design principles into planning direct action, such as the Camp for Climate Action, events with the No Borders campaign and the 'Grow Heathrow' garden that occupied land threatened by Heathrow airport's third runway. The course has also supported and consolidated the long-term work of participants, including the first permaculture course to be run at a mosque; provocative and inspiring art projects; and a food growing initiative in an inner-city school.


"An incredibly transformative experience. I found the course unique in its combination of Permaculture, Activism and Earth spirituality and I don't think there is anything quite like it at the moment in the UK and probably the rest of Europe. I apply permaculture principles to the way I live, feel more rooted in community, more hopeful about real transformation in the world and more efficient in my contribution."

(EAT participant, London)


What We Need & What You Get

We need cash! We've already raised much of the money for the 2011 course, but we need to raise an extra 3,000 to make the course happen, and to make sure we keep EAT accessible to people without much income. This amount of money will subsidise ten low-waged participants to take part in the course.


We have had a very generous offer from an anonymous donor to match-fund donations up to 1,500. So whatever you contribute will be doubled!!


If we reach our target of 1,500 ($2,500) through indiegogo, along with the match funding we'll have enough to run the course.


What you get:

- 10 - 100: the satisfaction of knowing you are enabling Earth Activist Training to continue in the UK and that you're making a huge difference to the people who participate in EAT 2011.

- The first four contributions of 50 - 100: A beautiful handmade dragon sculpture posted to you.

- 100 and above: A CD of songs from our resident superstar Rooh Star.


Please note, at current rates, 10 = approx. $15


Other Ways You Can Help

Tweet this, post it to your facebook, tell your friends offline and on.

If you know anyone who you think might benefit from the course, send them to our website.


Thank You!

Team on This Campaign: