Sustainability is oftentimes discussed within the realm of technological solutions, policy measures or innovations. This could be called the ‘outside’ of sustainability. However there is also a growing awareness that at the base we are intricately connected to all life. This could be called the ‘inside’ of sustainability.

On the 25th and 28th of January and 1st of February the event series about indigenous knowledge took place. The aim of the series was to create a space where we can learn firsthand from indigenous people about topics such as identity and land, to create a space where personal, indigenous experiences can be shared. It concerned different aspects of knowledge and epistemology, compared to what is discussed at university. The importance was laid on indigenous knowledge systems and included different people from different indigenous communities from all over the world.

Together with Build you Movement, the Sociology of Development and Change group at WUR, and Centre for Space, Place and Society (the Political Agency at the Grassroots cluster), we organised a two-day online seminar on the 9th and 16th of November about Activism in times of Covid-19. 

As part of her quest for inner sustainability Evelien facilitated a talking circle on December 10th with a focus on ‘Reconnection and Inner Sustainability’. Before the talking started a meditation was guided by Teresa to start grounded. One of the participants shares the experience:

In the Seriously Sustainable Week we co-hosted a few activities with the Green Office, Boerengroep and many other organisations. Despite the challenges posed by an ongoing pandemic, we are rather pleased with the outcome.

Do ecovillages provide us with a sustainable alternative for the future? With this question in mind we organised an online event, shared articles and a video these last weeks. It does sound very ecologically sustainable, but is this the case and what about social, cultural and economic sustainability?