
THE FEDERATION OF DAMANHUR in partnership with GAIA EDUCATION presents the first
ECOVILLAGE DESIGN EDUCATION TRAINING FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN ITALY April 2 – 30, 2011
Based on the Gaia Education Ecovillage Design Curriculum, this seminar is an official contribution to the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005–2014.
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Patch Adams, the American doctor, clown and activist came to visit Damanhur June 21 - 22, 2010. He participated in a discussion with Damanhurian doctors and health care providers to share experiences and perspectives on holistic health care and his dream of a hospital based on fun and friendship. Patch also visited the Temples of Humankind and some nucleo communities of Damanhur before leading the seminar "How to Live a Life of Joy" at Damanhur Crea.
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At this year's Summer Solstice celebration, Damanhur welcomed about 210 people from all over the world, international people living in and around Damanhur, people from Damanhur's centers in Italy, guests from Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Germany and the United States, amongst others countries. Sunday, June 20, Damanhurians and guests participated in the Solstice ritual at the stone circle in Damjl while wearing crowns of wormwood branches and leaves. The community party included a fundraising stand for the Temples of Humankind, handmade crafts and card readings.
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 During the first weeks of June, Damanhur welcomed Inti, an indigenous Peruvian from the Huari lineage, a pre-Incan peoples. Inti travels as a messenger of the wise elders of South America, who have given him the role of meeting groups that are involved in spirituality and community life. According to the vision of his people, Europe represents the mind of the planet and can guide it, linking spirit, emotion and strength.
Inti stayed in Damanhur for one week, and then he left for Norway. Amongst others, he met the Damanhurian with his same name: Inti China, who is also Peruvian. Inti, the guest, also heard about the Temple of Peoples project and has announced a possible return trip to Damanhur in 2011, coming back with a more extended representation of the elders of his people. |
During the first week of June, the Temples of Humankind hosted the Summer Solstice Concert. More than 60 people, mostly Damanhurians, performed in the concert as singers, musicians and dancers. The new Chorus was particularly applauded. The Chorus has been an important pillar of Damanhurian music for many years, and it has been recently revitalized, with voices from many different countries in harmony together.
The program of the concert lasting nearly two hours offered a selection of traditional Damanhurian music and songs, as well as new compositions, with new dance choreography.
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The third Holistic City Festival was held at Villa Sorra near Modena, Italy. The opening presentation at the San Carlo Foundation Hall was given by Elfo Frassino on behalf of Conacreis and Orango Riso, who spoke about the theme of the festival, "A new culture for a new humanism," with nearly 200 people present. About 100 organizations were in exposition at the festival and about 40 workshops were given. A meeting about the National Holistic School was held, and also a round table discussion about laws regarding recognition of communities.
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Tuvan shaman Nikolay Oorzhak and Valdislav Matreitsky, Oorzhak's assistant and Russian-English translator, came to visit and present their cultural traditions. The Tuvan people number about 400,000 and live in the mountains of central Asia in Russia and Mongolia. A strong shamanic tradition is alive in Tuva.
After visiting the Temples of Humankind, the two guests gave a ceremonial public presentation of Tuvan throat singing and music at the Damanhur Crea conference center, with deeply resonant voices accompanied by rhythmic drumming and the sounds of traditional instruments. The shaman recounted, "Only two elements have kept up the life and spirit of my people over the centuries, our songs and the capacity to heal people and animals. This evening, I present both of these experiences to you." He explained that Tuvan singing requires tremendous energy and discipline.
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In Damanhur, the World Summit on Birth was held on May 5 – 9, 2010, with the participation of people from 16 different countries: midwives and doctors, healers and artists, coming together to share experiences and cultural perspectives around childbirth, building a unified movement to create world of peace through the sacred act of birth.  During the five days of the Summit, there were sessions dedicated to: exploring birth in the world, getting glimpses of child birthing conditions in Africa, Asia, Australia, America and Europe, delving into the sacredness and ritual of birth, creating a Spiritual School for the Art of Birth, and defining the role of the doula. Workshops were presented on a wide range of themes: from yoga to facilitate childbirth, to the importance of the placenta, to the psychology and sexuality of birth. Damanhurians shared about the traditions and practices around childbirth and education at Damanhur. An international commission was formed to define objectives and build bridges of cooperation in this area of work.
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