Living Routes at Bennington - Sept 9
Gregg Orifici, the Academic Relations Director at Living Routes Study Abroad in Ecovillages, will be on campus at Bennington College on Thursday, September 9. More...
Living Routes at SUNY-ESF on Sept 13
Daniel Greenberg, Executive Director at Living Routes - Study Abroad in Ecovillages, will be on campus at SUNY-ESF on Monday, September 13. More...
Colleges going green: Hype or Hope?
I'm not sure I should be excited or depressed about a recent headline from USA Today that read, "More colleges using green as selling tool.". On one hand, it's great that universities are focusing more on issues such as recycling, energy efficiency, food sourcing, and eco-investments. On the other hand, I get nervous when I see these actions framed with phrases like, "putting on the green to attract students", "incorporating a sustainability message", "jump[ing] on the bandwagon", and "It's a really popular trend." (all direct quotes from the article)
Are universities making these changes because they're the right thing to do or in order to attract students and because "everyone else is doing it"? I suspect it is a bit of both and everything in between. My experience at universities is that there is a generally small cadre of ultra-committed environmentalists, a few curmudgeons who think climate change is a hoax, some marketing folks - some of whom "get it" and some who see it as a good sell, and a whole bunch of folks that probably think it's a good idea, but are too focused on their own topics and courses to pay much attention. Not so different from life outside of academia really.
Perhaps change can happen both ways and eco-demonstration projects - even if they are done for superficial reasons - can help shift people's mindsets. I'm reminded of a few years ago, when some friends worked to make the Dakar Rally (an overland race from Dakar, Senegal to Paris France) Carbon Neutral. Another friend, upon hearing this, threw up his hands and shouted, "That is the HEIGHT of hypocrisy! So now, these egregious drivers get to think of themselves as 'eco-warriors'!?" After a moments pause, my response was, "You know what? Let 'em! Because five minutes ago, they weren't thinking about this AT ALL. And if they start to feel good about being Carbon Neutral, then perhaps they'll start thinking more deeply about what else they're doing and how they might make more changes."
So, to all you University Marketers out there "jumping on the bandwagon" I hope you enjoy the ride as it may take you to places you didn't expect!
*Israeli President Shimon Peres Visits Kibbutz Lotan*
The recent President's Conference in Jerusalem opened with a video that showcased innovative research and development in the Negev and highlighted Reform Kibbutz Lotan's ecology center. To see this work for himself, the President of Israel, Shimon Peres, visited the Eilot Region in Israel's southern Arava Valley. Peres's visit focused on initiatives and leadership the region is taking in environmental education and renewable energy.
Kibbutz Lotan, which has achieved national prominence for its ecological projects, was Peres's final stop. After being greeted by a delegation of kibbutz children, Peres and the kibbutz general director
Mark Naveh toured the Center for Creative Ecology's facilities. The President met the young Israelis doing a year of service after high school who demonstrated the art of making mud bricks. He also learned about assembling a geodesic dome with palm branches from American college students participating in the Center's Peace, Justice & the Environment semester program in partnership with Living Routes and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
More...
Living Routes Celebrates 10th Anniversary!
LIVING ROUTES STUDY ABROAD IN ECOVILLAGES CELEBRATES ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A PARTY IN ITS AMHERST OFFICE.
In its 10 years, Living Routes, in partnership with UMass Amherst, has developed 11 programs in 9 countries — challenging more than 1,000 students from 250+ colleges and universities to gain direct understanding of the environment, service learning, community development, social justice and sustainability living. Based in ecovillages and sustainable communities, Living Routes runs semester, January and summer programs in India, Peru, Israel, Scotland, Australia, Senegal, Brazil, Mexico and at the Sirius community, here locally in Shutesbury.
Local faculty and staff from the Five Colleges, supporters of Living Routes, and alumni from various programs are gathering to:
* Enjoy music, food & drink from around the world & some pre-holiday cheer!
* Meet our dedicated staff and learn how we make things happen
* See a short Living Routes slideshow of program highlights
* Talk with alumni & learn what they are doing with their ecovillage education
Greentree Gazette Magazine highlights Living Routes
Greentree Gazette Magazine highlights Living Routes Sustainability and Field Education Programs in Ecovillages. Read the article by Florence Kizza from the April 2009 issue, and view the incredible photography of one of our alumni, Gabe Pollack.
Sustaining Study Abroad
Please read the article Sustaining Study Abroad featuring Daniel Greenberg, Executive Director, Living Routes.
Study Abroad in Ecovillages-Tim Patterson
Hello from Living Routes!
I wanted to share this great article by TIM PATTERSON about how powerful it is to study in Ecovillages around the world.
Check it out: TIM PATTERSON ARTICLE
I look forward to hearing what you think or to answering any questions you may have...
To learn what students learn and experience day-to-day on one of our programs, check out our student Blogs
There are still a few places left in our January and Spring 09 programs.
Applications are available at Download Application
We also offer need-based Scholarships to help make our programs more affordable.
Best regards,
Gregg
We've moved!
Over the past year we've expanded, bringing on a Program Manager (Alexander Papouchis) and a Technology Coordinator (Michael Pillsbury), and soon we will have a new Financial Manager. We're quickly outgrowing our current location and so we've moved to a new larger office closer to UMASS Amherst.
Our new address is:
Living Routes
284 N. Pleasant St., Suite 1
Amherst, MA 01002
which is on the corner of North Pleasant and McClellan, just 2 doors north (UMASS side) of SilverScape Designs and across from Kendrick Park (the triangular green bordered by North Pleasant, East Pleasant, and Triangle Streets).
Come visit!
Welcome LR's new Programs Manager, Alexander Papouchis
With expanding programs and enrollment, Living Routes is excited to welcome Alexander Papouchis as our new Programs Manager! Alexander received an MS in Environmental Studies from Antioch New England, designed and taught college level curriculum for LeapNow in India, Bali, Cambodia, and Thailand, and designed sustainability focused expeditionary programs in Southeast Asia for GlobalLab.
Alexander was Faculty on Living Routes' Spring 2008 semester program in Auroville, India before joining the office team in late July. He has already done wonderful work developing and consolidating our academic/student handbooks and our health & safety protocols across our programs and managing our new programs in 2009: J-Term in India and Summer in Australia.
So, WELCOME Alexander!
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