Two strategies for peaceful co-existence - insights and inspiration from Krishna Valley and Health in Harmony
In this presentation two case studies are introduced to describe two alternative strategies for peaceful co-existence. Krishna Valley is an Indian cultural centre and eco farm in rural Hungary, and is one of the largest and oldest ecovillages in Europe. The 280-hectare farm was established in 1993, with the purpose of educating people about the values of ancient Vaishnava culture, self-sufficiency, organic farming, cow-protection, vegetarianism, and natural, God-centered lifestyle. The center of the community consisting of 150 monks and families is the Radha-Syamsundara temple, surrounded by agricultural lands, a goshala with sixty cows and oxen, a botanic garden, homes, a school, a guesthouse, a pure vegetarian restaurant and other guest facilities.
Health in Harmony is an international nonprofit which aims to save tropical rainforests while helping locals to maintain their livelihoods. To do so, Health in Harmony raises donations and operates health clinics in tropical areas in Indonesia, Brazil and Madagascar. The organization’s fundamental community organizing method is called radical listening: a practice which is sensitive to the needs of the locals. The joint efforts of Health and Harmony and locals in Indonesia have reduced the number of households reliant on logging for their livelihood by 90%, and contributed to a 67 percent decrease in infant mortality in the population of 120,000 people serviced by the program’s medical center. To stop logging, the communities are helped with access to affordable quality health care and training in organic farming and small-business management were necessary.
Krishna Valley follows a God-centered lifestyle of their spiritual tradition with strict rules guiding everyday behaviour, while Health in Harmony’s radical listening is a flexible approach that empowers locals by listening to their needs. Both strategies are proven to enhance and maintain ways of peaceful co-existence.
