Cartoon Kate is something of UK-alternative-institution. Her first, fab cartoon book was ‘Copse’ the cartoon book of tree/road protests.
She has produced much fine, thought-provoking work about environmentalism, squatting, eco-protest and more. Including the Calais refugee camp cartoon, 'Threads'. Awesome! Help her to fund its printing and distribution.Have a good look around her website.
German-based duo of artists, Detlef Kelbassa and Corrina Kuhn. Working in a diverse range of mediums, much of their work focuses on the relationship between nature and man. Installations and experiments in the cabinet of curiosities! Links to their main site and Facebook page.
The Kibbutz in Israel have been famous as examples of intentional communities. Economic challenges have led to changes in the economic and social structures.
The second link is from John Carson who stayed in a kibbutz and compiled cotes to help would-be visitors.
La Caravana (Rainbow Peace Caravan)
Links to the history of La Caravana, a mobile eco-village project in South America. Much respected eco-nomads.
An ecovillage that is being developed with government support in the Pembrokeshire area of Wales in the UK.
The website describes the concept for the Lammas ecovillage as: “that of a collective of eco-smallholdings working together to create and sustain a culture of land-based self-reliance. The project supports a permaculture approach to land management – in which human beings are considered an intrinsic part of the ecosystem. As a result the approach to environmental management is one of stewardship for future generations rather than exploitation for short term gain.”
There are now many property companies providing ‘guardians’ for commercial and residential properties. These are UK links, but the schemes also exist across Europe.
They can provide a cheap from of accommodation, but there are challenges too. Some of the big commercial sites offer some communal possibilities.
Here’s a link to one.
And a look at the down-sides of the ‘reality’ of some schemes from the BBC magazine.
Commune/intentional community in Monterey Bay, USA.
‘There’s nothing like home’ video with Nikki Silva, one half of the Kitchen Sisters. A nice video plus a link to Sally Bookman’s description of La Selva Beach Community.
“Halfway between Dogpatch and Shangri-la”.
Canadian off-grid, tight-knit community with over 400 permanent residents. Described in a recent article as a ‘secret island’ near Vancouver. ‘Statistics Canada’ says it is the most highly educated community in British Columbia. The residents say that they are ‘not’ an intentional community. They do offer places for WWOOFERs.
A link to the residents’ site, and to an article that includes an interesting (if rather glamorous) video.
Their site states: “La Via Campesina is the international movement which brings together millions of peasants, small and medium-size farmers, landless people, women farmers, indigenous people, migrants and agricultural workers from around the world. It defends small-scale sustainable agriculture as a way to promote social justice and dignity. It strongly opposes corporate driven agriculture and transnational companies that are destroying people and nature.”
In the UK, its linked organisation is called the Land Workers’ Alliance.
Agriculture, conscious living, protest. This is:
A 50 year-old campaign of resistance against the construction of a second airport near the city of Nantes, in western France. This resistance culminated in the establishment of a self-organised autonomous zone, known as the ZAD. Over 40,000 people have taken part in creative acts of disobedience to defend this zone.
Links to their official site and a film about the resistance.