Dear all,

We have published the new courses for Autumn! The price of most of them is: “Pay what you can” plus extra for food and accommodation if needed!

More information in this link.

21 – 22 September

DRYLANDS MANAGEMENT

Introductory course about drylands management. Regeneration and use of natural sources

Two-day workshop with Eugenio Peñalvo Lopez about sustainable drylands management in the long term within the context of the Paraje Natural de Karst en Yesos in Sorbas. We will study the use of low-impact techniques for the regeneration of the vegetal cover and the use of the sources. We will analyse the maintenance of the wastewater and greywater system.

The course starts on Saturday, but it is possible to arrive on Friday. It finishes on Sunday at 17:00 h. Maximum number of participants is 10. Reserved needed.

28 – 29 September

BIOMASS GASIFICATION STOVES

Introductory course of biomass gasification Stoves for cooking. To get familiar with theoretical and practical aspects. Justify the use of biomass as fuel for cooking.

• Understanding the principles of the gasification.
• Recognition of the biomass close to us as fuel for stoves gasifiers.
• Collect and prepare biomass for fuel.
• Understand the main designs of biomass gasification stoves.
• Individualized construction of a stove and its implementation.

Two-day course with Pako Ibañez about theory and practice of biomass gasification stoves: a basic introduction for anybody who is interested in learning about these systems and their components and would like to understand how they work.

It includes: comprehension of the principles of gasification, recognition of biomass close to us that can be used as a fuel, recollection and preparation of biomass as a fuel, comprehension of the main designs of biomass gasification stoves.

In addition, we will study and analyse the importance of biomass as an ecological fuel for cooking.

Each participant will make his/her own stove to bring at home.

The course starts on Saturday, but it is possible to arrive on Friday. We will have a little introduction to Sunseed Desert Technology Project and on the course. It finishes on Sunday at 17:00 h. Maximum number of participants is 10. Reserved needed.

5 October

SEED SAVING: Heirloom & other open-pollinated varieties

Introductory course about seed selection, extraction and storage. To get familiar with theoretical and practical aspects.

With the widespread use of hybrid and modern varieties and the dominance of a few multinational seed companies, we experience an incredibly rapid loss in diversity in our gardens and on our plates. Learn how to select and save your own seeds from different varieties of veggies and aromatics: adapt your varieties to your personal choices and your garden’s needs, maintain and enhance productivity, save money on seeds, interchange with fellow gardeners, become independent from the availability of one or another variety and the international seed business, contribute to the preservation of our cultural and enjoy a closer connection with and deeper understanding of your plants and garden.

The course starts on Saturday morning and finishes at 18:00. Maximum number of participants is 10. Reservation needed.

12 and 13 October

FORMATIVE VISIT TO LOW IMPACT PROJECT

Weekend in environmental and low impact project to learn about alternative ways of living. We will do different workshops on basic principles to live with low impact. The course includes guided tour of Sunseed project, activities cooking with the sun, workshops on biomass gasification stoves, on bread making and introduction to organic gardening theory and practices.

Two-day course for people interested in low impact living and environmental awareness. We will get familiar with some of low impact ways of living.

The course starts on Saturday, but it is possible to arrive on Friday. We will have a little introduction on low impact living and finish on Sunday at 17:00 h. Maximum number of participants is 10. Reserved needed.

19 – 20 October

INTRODUCTION TO ORGANIC GARDENING

This course will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of organic gardening.

Two-day course on organic gardening. Topics covered include: planning your garden around the elements (sun, water, soil, wind), making and using compost and animal manures, irrigation systems, choosing and using tools, assessing soil health (pH, nutrients, organic matter content), basic soil ecology, mulching, home-made liquid fertilisers, plant propagation, crop rotations, saving and storing seeds.

The course starts on Saturday, but it is possible to arrive on Friday. We will have a little introduction to Sunseed Desert Technology Project and on the course. It finishes on Sunday at 17:00 h. Maximum number of participants is 10. Reserved needed. 2 – 16 November- 90 hours (14 days) PERMACULTURE DESIGN COURSE (PDC) International Certification Organized by Cultura de la Tierra Design for life with Permaculture Permaculture offers us new ways of thinking, doing and being that can be used individually or together to create sustainable human cultures in harmony with nature. 90-hour course with International Certification The syllabus includes: ethic and principles, design practice, water and soil management, bio-construction, energy, new economies, ecological and human application: at home, in the garden, neighbourhood, community, bioregion… practice, deep ecology, design with Dragon Dreaming… Facilitators: Antonio Scotti, Kirsty Heron Invited facilitators: Jesús Ledesma, Patricia Cañas Rios y Jef Carrick Antonio Scotti: Designer and professor of permaculture since 2001, Diploma in Applicated Permaculture at the Italian Academy of Permaculture Kirsty Heron: Permaculture Designer since 2005, professor since 2008 in the UK, France, Germany and Spain Costs: 575 € Includes course and materials. Also (ecological) meals and accommodation in ecological and sustainable projects- Sunseed and El Mirador Where: Los Molinos del Río Aguas – a sustainable and self-sufficient eco-village in the Paraje Natural de Karst en Yesos in Sorbas- Almería Application deadline: 8 October 2013 Information and application: info@culturadelatierra.net tel. 639842719 www.culturadelatierra.netHola a tod@s

Ya hemos publicado la informacion sobre los próximos cursos que realizaremos en Sunseed este Otono. Debido a la situación económica, hemos decidido no establecer precios fijos para los cursos( a excepción del curso de Permacultura) si no dejar que los participantes aporten las cantidades que quieran y puedan. Algunos cursos tienen precios por materiales. Para las personas interesadas en recibir alojamiento y comida si que habra una tarifa de entre 15 y 20 euros al día. Muchas gracias Clara

Cursos de Otono en Sunseed: Agricultura ecológica, tecnologías apropiadas, bajo impacto ambiental, sostenibilidad y muchas más.

GESTIÓN DE ZONAS SEMI-ÁRIDAS:

Introducción a la gestión sostenible de tierras semi-áridas. Regeneración y aprovechamiento de los recursos naturales.

21 y 22 de Septiembre Precio Curso: Paga lo que puedas Precio alojamiento y desayuno: 15 euros al dia ( 5€ cada comida extra)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

HORNILLOS DE GASFICACIÓN DE BIOMASA PARA COCINAR

Teoría y práctica sobre la biomasa como combustible ecológico para cocinar. Podrás construir tu propio hornillo!

28 y 29 de Septiembre Precio Curso: Paga lo que puedas Precio material: 20 € Precio alojamiento y desayuno: 15 euros al dia ( 5€ cada comida extra)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

EXTRACCIÓN DE SEMILLAS

Aprende cómo seleccionar, extraer y guardar tus propias semillas de diferentes variedades de verduras y aromáticas.

5 de Octubre Precio Curso: Paga lo que puedas Precio alojamiento y desayuno: 15 euros al dia ( 5€ cada comida extra)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

VISITA (IN)FORMATIVA AL PROYECTO SUNSEED

Principales retos para la autosuficiencia a través de talleres sobre las diferentes técnicas y formas de vida de bajo impacto ambiental: cocinar con el sol, hornillos de gasificación de Biomasa, preparación de pan y mucho más!

12 y 13 de Octubre Precio Curso: Paga lo que puedas Precio alojamiento y desayuno: 15 euros al dia ( 5€ cada comida extra)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

INTRODUCCIÓN A LOS CULTIVOS ECOLÓGICOS

Principios básicos (teoría y práctica) de agricultura ecológica: planificacion, compostaje, sistemas de riego,rotación de cultivos.

19 y 20 de Octubre Precio Curso: Paga lo que puedas Precio alojamiento y desayuno: 15 euros al dia ( 5€ cada comida extra)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

CURSO DE DISEÑO DE PERMACULTURA(CDP)

Certificación Internacional con Antonio Scotti y Kirsty Heron organizado por Cultura de la Tierra.

2 al 16 de Noviembre- 90 horas (14 días)

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto 950525770 sunseed@sunseed.org.uk www.sunseed.org.uk

Visitas Escolares por reserva.

Visitas guiadas gratuitas al proyecto todos los martes: tecnologías apropiadas, huertos ecológicos, cultura del agua, gestión de secano, tratamiento de aguas residuales y visita general al proyecto.

The last 10 days, Sunseed was showing its presence as part of the non-profit-area at the ‘Rototom sunsplash’ Reggae Festival in Benicassim, near to Valencia. We were happy to welcome and inform so much people about Sunseed and the possibilities to be a volunteer with near to nature in such a nice village like Los Molinos del Rios Aguas.

We brought the ” Mini-Cana-Yurt’ made by the Ecoconstruction Department to the Festival and a lot of visitors learned about what we are doing, and practically try out things. We want to gave a special thanks for our neighbours and friends from the Mirador, who came to support us and lend us their nice and big Bus ” On the road”. Also, thanks to Patricia Canas, the previous Communication and Education Coordinator at Sunseed, who is now in the project Cultura de la Tierra, and also came to support us. Moreover, thanks to all Sunseed team, not only those who came to the Festival to support us but also for those whose stayed at Sunseed and keep the project running while we were away. We had several presentations of the Biomass Gasifiers Stoves and also present the project at the ‘Stone of Socrates’ of the Rototom Sunsplash Festival. We informed people about being volunteer or staff member in Sunseed, what potentials one can develop while living and working within the nature and helping her with low-impact living. Our stand was placed in the “Vivir La Energía area” where we could participate in many different workshops on bio-intensive agriculture, Rio Abierto Dancing, Contact and Herbal medicine among others.  Our friends from Manos a la Tierra and La Nigredo were there and we had the chance to meet other projects like ” El Huerto del Pozo” and ” Arquitectura se Mueve”. Moreover, we could participate in different talks and social forums about permaculture, inconditional love as well as attend to the talk by Mariano Bueno, a very famous Spanish expert on organic gardening and eco-construction  and writer of many books. Moreover, we could enjoy nice music and attend workshops in other areas of the Festival such as the ones in the African Village where we could dance, play the drums and cook African dishes.  We would like to thanks to all the people of the organization and all the people that was working there with different stands such as the people from the Falafel and Crepes Stand “Alibaba”(who after the Rototom visited Sunseed and cooked for us one night :)/ and also the beautiful Elfs from Italy who nourished our mornings with warm bread and our nights with delicious pizzas! We cannot confirm how many people got to know Sunseed thanks to the Rototom, but we can say that at least 300 persons visited the stand which make us feel very satisfied! Hopefully, we will come back next year! Here another video about the Rototom and how one year more is working towards being a more sustainable Festival! More pictures in our Facebook La semana pasada Sunseed pudo comunicar su labor en el Festival Internacional de Reggae “Rototom Sunsplash” en Benicassim, cerca de Valencia, como parte del Área sin ánimo de lucro. Nos alegró mucho poder informar a más de 400 personas que se acercaron al Stand de Sunseed sobre las posibilidades de vivir y trabajar cerca de la naturaleza en un pueblo tan bonito como Los Molinos del Río Aguas. Nos llevamos al Festival la “Mini Yurta de Cana” construida por el Departamento de Eco-construcción, lo que atrajo a muchas visitantes que se acercaban pidiendo información sobre lo qué hacemos. Hicimos numerosas presentaciones del Hornillo de Gasificación de Biomasa y también una presentación del proyecto Sunseed en el “Bastón de Socrates” del Festival Rototom. Informamos a la gente sobre como ser voluntari@ o miembr@ del staff en Sunseed, qué potencialidades se pueden desarrollar viviendo y trabajando en la naturaleza y ayudándola con un estilo de vida de bajo impacto ambiental. Nuestro stand estaba en el área “Vivir La Energía”, donde pudimos participar en muchos talleres diferentes, como por ejemplo sobre agricultura bio-intensiva, la Danza Río Abierto, Contact y Herbología. Estaban ahí también nuestros amigos de Manos a la Tierra y La Nigredo, y tuvimos la posibilidad de encontrar otros proyectos como “El Huerto del Pozo” y “Arquitectura se Mueve”. Además, pudimos participar en diferentes conferencias y foros sociales sobre permacultura y amor incondicional, así como asistir a la conferencia de Mariano Bueno, un famoso experto español en jardinería orgánica y eco-construcción, autor de numerosos libros. Además, pudimos disfrutar buena música y participar en talleres en otras áreas del Festival, como las del African Village donde pudimos bailar, tocar tambores y cocinar platos africanos. ¡Queremos agradecer a todas las personas de la organización y a todos los que trabajaban en los diferentes stand, como los del Stand de Falafel y Crepes “Alibaba” (que después del Rototom visitaron Sunseed y una nochecocinaron para nosotros :)/ y también los maravillosos Elfos desde Italia, que nutrieron nuestras mañanas con pan caliente y nuestras noches con pizzas riquísimas! No podemos confirmar exactamente cuántas personas pudieron conocer Sunseed a través del Rototom, pero podemos decir que por lo menos 300 personas visitaron el stand, y eso nos dio mucha satisfacción! ¡Esperamos poder volver el año que viene! Por último, queremos agradecer a nuestros vecinos, Diego y Sheila de El Mirador, haber venido al Festival a apoyarnos y habernos dejado su furgoneta como transporte. Tambien Agradecer a Patricia Canas Rios, ex-coordinadora de Comunicación y Educación de Sunseed, y ahora parte del proyecto Cultura de la Tierra, haber venido al Festival ayudar. Por último, desde el departamento de Comunicación y Educación queremos agradecer a todos los voluntarios y staff de Sunseed su apoyo y trabajo para que ir al Rototom fuera posible, tanto los que vinieron como los que se quedaron en Sunseed. Gracias!!! En el Rototom Sunsplash European Reggae Festival uno de los principales objetivos del Rototon Sunsplash es convertirse en un festival sostenible. Por ello, cada año se cuenta con más y mejores métodos para llevar esto a cabo. 20th Rototom Sunsplash Love Edition http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13hkgq_festival-sostenible-rototom-sunsplash-2013_music

• You can choose to join it as a donor or as an activist

• Donors can choose how to use their money: for a fund to support volunteers or for a specific department

• Activists can organize fundraising events, lectures, presentations and participate in festivals to publicize Sunseed’s activity

Sunseed Desert Technology is relaunching Sunseed’s Donors and Activists Net: Friends of Sunseed (FoS). The Communication and Education Department has been working for more than two months on its design, planning and implementation.

Some of the aims of this relaunch are to strengthen the relationship with all the people that visit us every year, to keep a constant and active contact with them and to make them part of the organization even from a distance. In addition, we would like to consolidate a stable and durable net of social and economic support that could allow us to continue developing our vision.

People who would like to join can do it as activists raising Sunseed’s voice in their neighbourhoods or among their friends, or as donors through monthly contributions that would permit Sunseed to continue demonstrating and communicating low-impact lifestyles, as well as increasing the number of volunteers. Both figures have a fundamental role in Sunseed. Obviously, one thing does not rule out the other: one can be an Activist and Donor at the same time, or can switch from Activist to Donor (or vice versa) at any time.

Today, July 25^th, there has been a presentation of Friends of Sunseed for the volunteers, coordinators and assistants that are currently living at Sunseed. After the presentation of the network and the different ways to take part in it, the volunteers were invited to think about the initiatives they can develop to communicate Sunseed’s activity in their countries.

We are sure that this project will help us to continue developing, demonstrating, investigating and communicating forms of low-impact lifestyles thanks to the wide community of volunteers/visitors/activists/donors that visit us every year.

If you want to know more about Friends of Sunseed, visit our new website and contact us at any time in case of doubts or suggestions.

More information at Friends of Sunseed Website: http://sunseed.wix.com/friendsofsunseed

If you are interested in supporting or helping us even without being part of the net Friends of Sunseed, contact us at any time.

We hope to see you soon among our Friends and maybe among our volunteers here in Los Molinos.

– Las personas podrán elegir unirse a ella como donantes o activistas.

– Los donantes podrán elegir donde va dirigido su dinero y destinarlo a un fondo para apoyar a voluntari@s o para un departamento en concreto.

– Los activistas podrán organizar eventos de recaudación de fondos, charlas, presentaciones y asistir a festivales para publicitar el trabajo de Sunseed

Sunseed Tecnología del Desierto ha decidido relanzar la Red de Donantes y Activistas de Sunseed ( Friends of Sunseed- FoS) . Para ello, el departamento de Comunicación y Educación lleva más de dos meses trabajando en su diseno, planificación e implementación.

Unos de los objetivos de relanzar la red es fortalecer la relación con todas las personas que nos visitan cada año, mantener un contacto constante y activo con ell@s y hacerles participes de la organización también desde la distancia. Además, pretendemos consolidar una red de apoyo social y económico estable y duradera que nos permita continuar desarrollando nuestra visión.

Las personas que deseen unirse podrán hacerlo como activistas llevando la voz de sunseed a sus localidades y redes de amig@s o como donantes haciendo aportaciones económicas mensuales que permitan a Sunseed continuar demonstrando y comunicando formas de vida de bajo impacto ambiental, así como aumentar el número de voluntari@s. Ambas figuras tienen un papel fundamental en Sunseed. Claramente una figura no excluye la otra: una persona puede ser tanto Activista como Donanteal mismo tiempo o puede pasar de Activista a Donante(o vice versa) cuando quiera. 

Hoy, 25 de Julio se ha realizado una presentación de Friends of Sunseed en Sunseed para los voluntarios, coordinadores y asistentes que residen aquí. Tras la presentación de la red y las diferentes formas de participar en ella, se ha invitado a los voluntari@s a pensar en el tipo de iniciativas que pueden desarrollar para comunicar la labor de Sunseed en sus localidades. 

Estamos seguros de que este proyecto nos ayudará a continuar desorrollando, demonstrando, investigando y comunicando formas de vida de bajo impacto ambiental gracias a la amplia comunidad de voluntarios/visitantes/activistas/donantes que nos visitan cada año.

Si quieres saber más sobre Amigos de Sunseed (Friends of Sunseed), no dudes en visitar nuestra nueva página web y contactarnos para cualquier duda o sugerencia.

Si estas interesado en apoyarnos o ayudarnos de cualquier manera sin pertenecer a la red de Amigos de Sunseed, no dudes en contactarnos. Esperamos verte pronto entre nuestros Amigos y, ojalá, entre nuestros voluntarios aquí en Los Molinos.

Más información en la web de Friends of Sunseed:

http://sunseed.wix.com/friendsofsunseed#!spanish-home/ceci

         

by Magued Mohamed.

On Thursday 4th of July 2013, a seminar entitled Limits to Growth was held in Sunseed. The moderator presented the contents and the predictions of a scientific book entitled “limits to Growth” which was published in 1972 by the Club of Rome, whose aim is to discuss short-term thinking in international affairs regarding unlimited resource consumption in an increasingly interdependent world. Then he compared its predictions to a scientific paper entitled “A comparison of the Limits to Growth with thirty years of reality” by Graham Turner which was published in 2008. Finally he discussed his prediction of CO2 emissions’ curve based on the book‘s Standard Run scenario of the pollution curve. In 1798, an English Anglican priest published an anonymous essay on the principle of population which sparked a massive interests and controversies. In contrary to the optimism of the Zeitgeist, the outcome of the book was pessimistic. He concluded that people will die due to famine and diseases and emphasized “Doomsday Scenario”. What made this essay influential is not the religious tone in it but the mathematical and scientific arguments on which it was based. The main argument was that people grow exponentially whilst resources grow linearly. This essay inspired Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Charles Dickens and others. However, the data in the twentieth century did not tally with these predictions as world population grew, agricultural yield increased due to green revolutions and disease were taken care of by the advancement of medicine. In an attempt to reexamine these predictions, Club of Rome commissioned a group of scientists from MIT led by Dr. Donella Meadows to investigate the matter. The commission used a simulation computer model called Wordl3. Five variables were examined in the original model, on the assumptions that world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion have an exponential tendency to grow. On the other hand, the ability of technology to increase the availability of resources grows only linearly. The main purpose of The Limits to Growth was not to make specific predictions with numbers and values, but rather to explore how exponential growth interacts with finite resources and to show their tendencies. Data from 1900 to 1970 were fed into World3. Three scenarios were generated: Standard Run; Comprehensive Technology and Stabilized Run.

Fig 1: Standard Run. Standard Run (the actual business-as-usual situation) has parameters reflecting physical, economic and social relationships where these parameters were maintained in the World3 model at values consistent with the period 1900-1970.

Fig 2: Comprehensive Technology. Comprehensive Technology (the optimistic scenario) which attempts to solve sustainability issues with a broad range of purely technological solutions; assuming resources are effectively unlimited; 75% of materials are recycled; pollution generation is reduced to 25% of its 1970 value; agricultural land yields are doubled and birth control is available world-wide.

Fig 3: Stabilized Run with stabilized population and capital. Stabilized Run (the rational scenario) has stable population and capital, with the forces tending to increase or decrease them in a carefully controlled balance. In order to do so, the capital and the population are constant in size with constant rate and that all rates are kept to a minimum. This target can be achieved by either enforcing negative feedback such as the pollution; the depletion of resources or the famine or by weakening positive feedback such as reducing birth rate or reducing capital growth. The authors concluded that if the current growth trends continue unchanged the limits to growth will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years (2072); the most probable result will be a sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity and recommended altering these trends to establish a sustainable conditions of ecological and economic stability through a state of global equilibrium; the sooner the better. The concept of “sustainable development” instead of economical growth is a direct result of this essay. A comparison of the limits to growth with 30 years of reality by Graham Turner was published in June 2008. The author stated that the recommendations of Limits to Growth to reach a stabilized world were not taken. The analysis showed that observed data after 30 years compare favorably with Standard Run scenario and indicates the particular importance of understanding and controlling global pollution. Prediction of CO2 emissions from the year 2000 to 2100 based on the book‘s Standard Run scenario of the pollution was presented.

Fig 4: estimated CO2 emissions Gtons/Year.

It is predicted that CO2 will increase until the year 2035 reaching (20.16Gtons) then decrease with different rates until it reaches (0.8064Gtons) by 2100.

Fig 5: estimated CO2 emissions with 15% error.

When a 15% margin of error is introduced to the model, CO₂ will increase until the year 2035 reaching (17.136 Gtons) then decrease with different rates until it reaches (0.68544Gtons) by 2100. The following table reflects the measured data by US Energy Information Administration and predicted values.

Year	estimated data without error margin	estimated data with 15% error margin	measured data
2000	5.76	4.896	6.586
2001	6.12864	5.209344	6.612
2002	6.49728	5.522688	6.797
2003	6.86592	5.836032	7.087
2004	7.23456	6.149376	7.400
2005	7.6032	6.46272	7.707
2006	7.98336	6.785856	7.917
2007	8.36352	7.108992	8.109
2008	8.74368	7.432128	8.251
2009	9.12384	7.755264	8.246
2010	9.504	8.0784	8.591
2011	9.792	8.3232	8.885
2012	10.08	8.568	9.709

References:

• Teklay W. Asegehegn, 2011, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) lecture notes
• Graham Turner, 2008, A comparison to the limits to growth with 30 years of reality, CSIRO
• Meadows, D.H. ,1972, the limits to growth, universe books
• ORNL, 2011, Global Fossil-Fuel CO2 Emissions, accessed from: http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/emis/tre_glob.html accessed on 12.01.2012
• CO₂ emissions data from US energy information administration, accessed from http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?tid=90&pid=44&aid=8&cid=regions&syid=2000&eyid=2011&unit=MMTCD

by Magued Mohamed . On Thursday 4th of July 2013, a seminar entitled Limits to Growth was held in Sunseed. The moderator presented the contents and the predictions of a scientific book entitled “limits to Growth” which was published in 1972 by the Club of Rome, whose aim is to discuss short-term thinking in international affairs regarding unlimited resource consumption in an increasingly interdependent world. Then he compared its predictions to a scientific paper entitled “A comparison of the Limits to Growth with thirty years of reality” by Graham Turner which was published in 2008. Finally he discussed his prediction of CO2 emissions’ curve based on the book‘s Standard Run scenario of the pollution curve. In 1798, an English Anglican priest published an anonymous essay on the principle of population which sparked a massive interests and controversies. In contrary to the optimism of the Zeitgeist, the outcome of the book was pessimistic. He concluded that people will die due to famine and diseases and emphasized “Doomsday Scenario”. What made this essay influential is not the religious tone in it but the mathematical and scientific arguments on which it was based. The main argument was that people grow exponentially whilst resources grow linearly. This essay inspired Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Charles Dickens and others. However, the data in the twentieth century did not tally with these predictions as world population grew, agricultural yield increased due to green revolutions and disease were taken care of by the advancement of medicine. In an attempt to reexamine these predictions, Club of Rome commissioned a group of scientists from MIT led by Dr. Donella Meadows to investigate the matter. The commission used a simulation computer model called Wordl3. Five variables were examined in the original model, on the assumptions that world population, industrialization, pollution, food production and resource depletion have an exponential tendency to grow. On the other hand, the ability of technology to increase the availability of resources grows only linearly. The main purpose of The Limits to Growth was not to make specific predictions with numbers and values, but rather to explore how exponential growth interacts with finite resources and to show their tendencies. Data from 1900 to 1970 were fed into World3. Three scenarios were generated: Standard Run; Comprehensive Technology and Stabilized Run. Fig 1: Standard Run. Standard Run (the actual business-as-usual situation) has parameters reflecting physical, economic and social relationships where these parameters were maintained in the World3 model at values consistent with the period 1900-1970. Fig 2: Comprehensive Technology. Comprehensive Technology (the optimistic scenario) which attempts to solve sustainability issues with a broad range of purely technological solutions; assuming resources are effectively unlimited; 75% of materials are recycled; pollution generation is reduced to 25% of its 1970 value; agricultural land yields are doubled and birth control is available world-wide. Fig 3: Stabilized Run with stabilized population and capital. Stabilized Run (the rational scenario) has stable population and capital, with the forces tending to increase or decrease them in a carefully controlled balance. In order to do so, the capital and the population are constant in size with constant rate and that all rates are kept to a minimum. This target can be achieved by either enforcing negative feedback such as the pollution; the depletion of resources or the famine or by weakening positive feedback such as reducing birth rate or reducing capital growth. The authors concluded that if the current growth trends continue unchanged the limits to growth will be reached sometime within the next one hundred years (2072); the most probable result will be a sudden and uncontrollable decline in both population and industrial capacity and recommended altering these trends to establish a sustainable conditions of ecological and economic stability through a state of global equilibrium; the sooner the better. The concept of “sustainable development” instead of economical growth is a direct result of this essay. A comparison of the limits to growth with 30 years of reality by Graham Turner was published in June 2008. The author stated that the recommendations of Limits to Growth to reach a stabilized world were not taken. The analysis showed that observed data after 30 years compare favorably with Standard Run scenario and indicates the particular importance of understanding and controlling global pollution. Prediction of CO2 emissions from the year 2000 to 2100 based on the book‘s Standard Run scenario of the pollution was presented. Fig 4: estimated CO2 emissions Gtons/Year. It is predicted that CO2 will increase until the year 2035 reaching (20.16Gtons) then decrease with different rates until it reaches (0.8064Gtons) by 2100. Fig 5: estimated CO2 emissions with 15% error.

Did you know that there are scholarships to attend 1-week training in Spain ( at Sunseed Spain) covering ALL costs(incl.travel and accomodation)?

_ –>We are very happy to announce that we have being accredited to run the course  LEARNING FROM THE NATURAL WORLD – Is there a place for nature rights and the ecoCitizenship in Europe? in March 2014 funded by the European Union Grundtvig Program. This would not have being possible without the work of Martin Hyams and Roberto Bortoletto. Martin has being the assistant of the CE department for 3 months and already participated in the application and organization of last year Grundtvig seminar ” Seeding Change”.  Roberto, a student from the University Ca Foscari was doing an internship funded by the Erasmus program. They both work together in the research, design and application of the course. Maybe, they will be back in March to support the implementation of the course.

Learning from the natural world

an In-Service Training Course

Sorbas, 24 – 29 March 2014

Sunseed Desert Technology in Southern Spain will be running the course Learning from the natural world – is there a place for nature rights and the ecoCitizenship in Europe? This is a European granted In-Service Training (IST) course funded through the Grundtvig Lifelong Adult Learning Programme. It is designed for people working – full-time or part-time, paid or unpaid – in adult education, training or community activism.

Running from 24th – 29th March 2014, the course will be located in Sunseed at Los Molinos del Rio de Aguas in the Natural Park of Karst en Yesos de Sorbas. Los Molinos del Rio Aguas is characterised for being off-grid and low-impact as well as for its several organic gardens.

The course has been developed as a response to the local and global situation of economic and environmental crises. The course is innovative and unique, and poses questions such as:

• how can we bring the natural world into the learning environment?

• how can we create spaces that nurture learning for liberation?

• how can we facilitate experiential and participatory learning styles?

Morning sessions are practical activities that introduce the work of different departments – organic gardening, appropriate technology and sustainable living. Course participants will join the community (household rota, job allocation, community announcements) to reflect practical aspects of ecoCitizenship and nature rights.

Afternoon workshops focus on:

1. Using the natural world to inspire practical learning and active participation

2. Is there a future for the ecoCitizenship and for “nature rights” within Europe?

3. Paulo Freire – learning methodologies to enhance the learning experience

4. “I have a dream” – celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s watershed speech

ACCOMMODATION & VEGETARIAN MEALS 250 euros

TUITION FEES/MATERIALS 650 euros

Application deadline: 1 September 2013

Interested to find out more?

More information at our Website courses

Contact Clara Ruiz de Gauna at sunseed@sunseed.org.uk or phone (0034) 950 525 770

Estamos muy content@s de anunciar que hemos sido acreditaos para hacer el curso “Aprender desde el mundo natural- ¿Hay espacio para los derechos de la naturaleza y la ecoCiudadanía en Europa?” para marzo del 2014 a traves del Programa Grundtvig de Aprendizaje Permanente para Adultos (Grundtvig Lifelong Adult Learning Programme). Esto no hubiera sido posible sin el increible trabajo de Martin Hyams y Roberto Bortolleto. Martin, quien ya trabajo el  pasado ano en la solicitud, diseno e implementacion del seminario GRundvig ” Semillas de Cambio”, ha sido asistente en el departamento de Comunicacion y Educacion de Sunseed durante 3 meses. Roberto es un estudiante italiano de la universidad Ca Foscari que ha realizado unas prácticas en el departamento financiado por el Programa Europeo Eramus. Ambos han trabajado en investigar posibilidades de financiacion para el curso asi como en su diseno y presentacion para ser candidato a ser un curso Grundtvig. Todos en Sunseed hemos recibido esta noticia muy felices.

Aprender desde el mundo natural

un curso de formación Grundtvig

Sorbas, 24-29 de Marzo de 2014

Sunseed Desert Technology en Almería realizará el curso Aprender desde el mundo natural- ¿Hay espacio para los derechos de la naturaleza y la ecoCiudadanía en Europa? Es un curso de formación(IST- In-Service Training) garantizado por la Unión Europea, será financiado a través del Programa Grundtvig de Aprendizaje Permanente para Adultos (Grundtvig Lifelong Adult Learning Programme). Está diseñado para aquellos que trabajan- de tiempo completo o media jornada, remunerados o no remunerados- en el ámbito de la educación de adultos, entrenamiento o activismo de comunidad.

El curso se realizará desde el 24 hasta el 29 de Marzo en Sunseed, en Los Molinos del Río de Aguas en el Parque Natural de Karst en Yesos de Sorbas. Los Molinos del Río de Aguas se caracteriza por la vida bajo impacto ambiental e independiente de la red eléctrica y de agua, así como por sus numerosos huertos ecológicos.

El curso fue desarrollado como respuesta a la situación local y global de crisis economica y ambiental. El curso es único e innovador y plantea cuestiones como:

• ¿Cómo podemos llevar el mundo natural al ambiente educativo?

• ¿Cómo podemos crear espacios que promuevan la educación para la liberación?

• ¿Cómo podemos facilitar estilos de aprendizaje a través de la experiencia y participación?

Las sesiones por la mañana y actividades prácticas que introducen el trabajo de departamentos diferentes- huertos ecológicos, tecnologías apropiadas y vida sostenible. Los participantes al curso se unirán a la comunidad (en rotación doméstica, en la asignación del trabajo asi como en los anuncios diarios de la comunidad) para reflejar aspectos prácticos de la ecoCiudadanía y los derechos de la naturaleza.

Los talleres por la tarde se concentran en:

1. Utilizar el mundo natural para inspirar el aprendizaje práctico y la participación activa

2. ¿Hay un futuro para la ecoCiudadanía y los “derechos de la naturaleza” en Europa?

3. Paulo Freire- metodologías de aprendizaje para mejorar la experiencia educativa

4. “I have a dream”– celebración del 50° aniversario del discurso parteaguas de Martin Luther King

ALOJAMIENTO & COMIDAS VEGETARIANAS 250 euros

CUOTA DE INSCRIPCIÓN/MATERIALES 650 euros

Fecha límite de inscripción: 1 de septiembre de 2013

¿Te interesa saber algo más?

Mas informacion en nuestra sección de cursos.

Contacta con Clara Ruiz de Gauna a sunseed@sunseed.org.uk o

teléfono (0034) 950 525 770