Ecovillage Transition in Action – Voices of Transition

Ecological Dimension – Project Portrays
4 Topics
Grow seeds, food and soil through regenerative agriculture – Ali and Inci Goodmann about the Project Knidia in Turkey
Clean and replenish sources and cycles of water – Markus Dittrich about the Project Tamera in Portugal
Work with waste as a valuable resource – Nara Petrovič about the Project “Let’s do it. More clean up days” in Slovenia
Increase biodiversity and restore ecosystems – Ashley Brown about the Ecosystem Restoration Camps Foundation in the Netherlands
Social Dimension – Project Portrays
6 Topics
Nurture diversity and cohesion for thriving communities – Katerina Varella about the Project Mikros Dounias in Greece
Practice conflict facilitation, communication and peacebuilding skills – Maja Turniski about the Suncokret centre for community development in a rural region that suffered heavily from the civil war and the recent earthquake.
Enabling all to engage in lifelong learning for a sustainable future – Rüdiger Bachmann and Kira Petersen about the School in Schloss Tempelhof in Germany
Promote health, healing and wellbeing for all – Ole Underland about the Hurdal psychiatric Recovery Center in Norway
Strengthen responsible and accountable administration and politics – Elidth Brown from the Project TSIMoray in Scotland
Maggie Fyffe – about the Project Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust in Scotland
Cultural Dimension – Project Portrays
4 Topics
Nuture mindfulness and self-reflection – René Hirschi about the Project Herzfeld Sennrüti in Switzerland
Reconnect to nature and embrace low-impact lifestyles – Svetoyara Caciurenco about the Project Busha Toloka in the Ukraine
Enrich life and celebration – Macaco Tamerice about the Project Damahur in Italy
Engage actively to protect communities and nature – Carolin Waldmann about the Extinction Rebellion in Scotland
Economical Dimension – Project Portrays
3 Topics
Reconstruct the concepts of wealth, work and progress – Luisa Kleine about the Project Region im Wandel in Waldkappel/Germany
Cultivate Social Entrepreneurship for Regeneration – Mieke Elzenga about the proejct Liber Terra in the Netherlands
Use banks and currencies that strengthen communities – Christian Gellerie about the Project Chiemgauer currency in Germany
Integral Design – Project Portrays
5 Topics
Identify assets, needs and leverage points – Christiano Bottone about the Project MIT in Italy
Engage all stakeholders in designs for the future – Thomas Meier about the Project Schloss Tonndorf in Germany
Adapt solutions to scale and context – Duncan Crowly about the Project Transition Town in Lisbon/Portugal
Spread core patterns of regeneration – Alexander Clark about the Project Meadows in the Making in Scotland
Build alliances across all divides – Communities Program Hungary
Previous Topic
Next Topic

Spread core patterns of regeneration – Alexander Clark about the Project Meadows in the Making in Scotland

Ecovillage Transition in Action – Voices of Transition Integral Design – Project Portrays Spread core patterns of regeneration – Alexander Clark about the Project Meadows in the Making in Scotland

Short summary:

Alexander Clark is the sustainability services manager for the University of St Andrews and he manages the environment team and transition team. The environment team according to him, is mainly about the service delivery, making sure that they keep the lights on, and the bins empty, but also looking at how to move forward to tackle climate change, whether it is pushing the University to become net zero by 2025, or whether it is becoming “sustainability positive” and making sure they are addressing the nature emergency and engaging staff and students and also looking at how the campus can adapt to the challenges of climate change. Some of the projects he is involved with, are community ones such as St Andrews Use, looking at end of term reuse scheme, trying to encourage students to donate items either for charities of for new students coming to the university. Another one is meadows on the making, trying to enhance biodiversity within the campus, or others to look at sustainable travels and trying to encourage people to opt for a bike during their time in St Andrews and to involve more environment team focused projects. For example, they work very close with the catering teams, looking at sustainable food, and making sure they have an action plan providing more low carbon food alternatives, working on managing waste, and making sure they are supporting more sustainable options of waste management and also trying to be more energy efficiency as well. He also works as a councillor for Fife council and the St Andrews Trust and his focus is to collaborate and work with community-led initiatives to try to make a differences on peoples life and the community.

“… all the successful I think is really that partnership and collaboration working, I think when you can find some ground that people can relate to and you can show that well, if you work on something we both want, we can work together on that and we can get a solution that’s going to be practical for us all and yeah, that partnership and collaboration is the most important aspect”.

Alexander Clark
Short Version
Long Version
Previous Topic
Back to Lesson
Next Topic
Post a comment

Leave a Comment