The international meeting of civil activists and spiritual and religious leaders to which Radha Krishna Dasa, as director of the Eco-Valley Foundation, was invited, was held parallel to the big climate summit, aiming to influence and offer “windows of hope” to the political leaders. In fact, the decision-makers gathered in Copenhagen frequently attended the Bottom Meeting’s events, lectures, exhibitions and films where they learned about a number of sustainable cities and eco-village initiatives, as well as other fresh ideas to overcome the world’s ecological, social, spiritual and economic challenges. Many of them heard Radha Krishna’s presentation about the Eco-Valley farm community in Hungary, an internationally known and appreciated eco-village project that is based on the spiritual principles of sustainability established by the ancient Indian scriptures, the Vedas.

Following the instructions of Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Eco-Valley (or Krishna-valley) was established in 1993 by ISKCON leader Sivarama Swami and a handful of dedicated devotees. Their aim was to create a community where members of each household can lead a sustainable, environment-friendly and God-centered life. Sixteen years later, there are 150 devotees living on 550 acres of beautifully cultivated land. They have built sixty-three buildings including a new temple, family homes, cow stables, a school, an art studio, a bakery, a guesthouse and several new roads. They grow their own grain, fruits, herbs and vegetables, and have planted 250,000 trees, which give shade to tens of thousand of tourists visiting and learning from them each year. The Eco-Valley community is 100% self-sufficient when it comes to food, producing ten times more grain and seven times more honey than its residents actually need. Their biggest challenge for the next couple of years will be to increase their energy sufficiency by planting more windmills and solar panels and taking advantage of the geothermic energy sources.

Although the Hungarian Eco-Valley project is considered to be one of the world’s most successful self-sustaining communities, Radha Krishna Dasa says that there are many similar eco-villages around the globe. ISKCON itself has several dozen, but unfortunately, it appears, there is not enough communication and cooperation between them.

“The Copenhagen Climate Conference was a great venue to meet similar-minded, dedicated people,” Radha Krishna says. “It inspired me even more to reach out and exchange ideas with all those who are willing to work together for a better future.”

Then, the question naturally arises: with all the good intentions, valuable presentations, yearlong negotiations and enormous efforts by thousands of people from all over the world, why did the Copenhagen Climate Summit ultimately fail?

Radha Krishna Dasa explains that as long as the main considerations of the politicians remain closely connected to economic gain or loss, there will be no breakthroughs in solving the critical environmental problems. “Unfortunately, the leaders of society are very reluctant to inspire people to change their habits and live more responsibly, get out of their cars and consume less. What to speak of asking them to become vegetarians and shutting down the slaughterhouses, which are responsible for 51% of the world’s greenhouse gas emission, and are even more polluting than cars.”

According to Radha Krishna, there are no shortcuts or easy ways out. The only solution is a substantial change of consciousness on the individual level: each and every person`s commitment resulting in actions towards a more sustainable life. “We should all pull our heads out of the sand, for one is not only responsible for what he does, but for what he does not do.”

By Krishna-lila devi dasi (Krisztina Danka, PhD.)

Source: ISKCON News

At the beginning representatives of each ecovillages gave an introductory presentation and told a bit about the happenings of the last period. They also described the method of joining.
Delegates of Krishna-valley expressed that everybody who is interested in getting involved in life of Krishna-valley for shorter or longer period are most welcomed, though only Krishna believers are aloud to settle down in the Valley. In the other hand anyone can settle down in the neighbouring Somogyvámos. If you are longing for village life, garden, clear are, dynamic and creative community you can find it there and you can participate in this Europe-wide unique eco-program as well.
The delegates told the following too: “We would like other parts of Somogyvámos to be turned into an ecological attitude, cultural and folk handwork centre – a model village. This previously aging, dead-end village has already developed a lot in the last decade. Thanks to Krishna-valley the elementary school and the post office could be kept and 30 000 tourists visit the village per year. In the last couple of years more and more people by houses in Somogyvámos.”
In between the presentations village tours were organized in the Biofalu part of Máriahalom. On these tours guests were invited to enter those houses which have special stoves built in. These stoves called “finish stoves” or mass stoves. All of them are hand built and have a different shape, but thanks to their special structure they burn wood perfectly as they gasify it and they radiate heat effectively inside the building with the lowest level of lose through the chimney. These special stoves will be tested in the next four new built houses in Krishna-valley as well.

Thanks to the great work of the staff of Natural Lifestyle Foundation Agostyán (http://tea.uw.hu) – the organizer of the event – and Biofalu (ecovillage initiative at Máriahalom http://www.biofalu.hu) – the host of the event the all program went very well even with the unexpectedly high number of guests. And special thanks for GEN-Europe (www.gen-europe.org) for financial support of the event.

Next ecovillage meeting in Hungary will be at summer. Until than, we wish all the best for existing ecovillages, for new initiatives and for enthusiastic community seekers too.

Szilvia Rév, Pártha dász, Gábor Tóth