[Gaviotas] Bienvenue Manfred!

[Heath Synnestvedt]

Welcome!
I don't speak French (yet) though i was born in Canada. Yo si aprendi
espanol en sudamerica, pero aqui en esta lista se usa primeramente el
Ingles.
Like you i was captivated by Alan Weisman's book, and this past May i had
the privilege of meeting Paulo Lugari in Philadelphia.
 Your paragraph below:
>Pienso tambien que necesitamos inventar para el nuevo siglo, un tipo de
sociedad diferente. Una communedad como Gaviotas, aunque no siendo la unica
de este tipo, represente un modelo interesante de experimento.
  ...represents a beautiful accord with what i heard Sr. Lugari emphasizing
in his lectures and conversations: The current state of human development on
this planet is at a point where wake-up calls are well worth acting upon,
and Gaviotas is just one model of a community creating itself as a distinct
organism separate from the prevailing (unhealthy) trends.
  A great number of the questions asked of this man were of what
recommendations he would make for this or that situation. His consistent
answer came with a good-humored smile. Gaviotas came into being in the
desolate tropical plains of a country at war with itself. How to replicate
the way Gaviotas operates in Philadelphia? The specific solutions do not
apply in this context. It is the model of respecting everyone's
contribution, decentralization of power and authority and the creative
generation of local solutions to local challenges: this is what he urges us
to do. Sr. Lugari assures us that although he is seen as the mouthpiece for
Gaviotas and he was instrumental in founding it, he is an ordinary member of
the group, not it's head or leader. "Leaders are for mediocre societies," he
said on a Sunday session.

 Lest i get shunned or worse (it is voting day tomorrow here in the U.S.)
allow me to say that i love taking direction from someone i really deeply
respect, and i enjoy asking people to do things too. On principle, then, I
don't see this as a mark of a mediocre society as it would seem Lugari is
saying. Where it really rings true to me is when force or threats of
violence are employed by a leader to coerce those who follow. Then, surely,
it is a mediocre society at best.

This list is as you heard a great place to come into contact with people who
are in this field of renewable energy systems. I am currently more of a
student of life, love and wisdom than a professional in any field, but i
have met several of those on here too! I suggest putting out a simplified
resume/vision message on here that may attract the attention of someone
looking for a graduate of such a program as you have been doing. There are
countless opportunities available! Be specific and the right one will open
for you.

Be well,
Heath Emanuel Synnestvedt
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