May 18-20, 2007
Joshua Tree Retreat Center
Contact: Kristian Beadle
Email: info@imdoingit.org
Website: www.reverentialecology.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com see “Joshua Tree Retreat” Group
Transportation: www.zimride.com
(Note: early registration discount before April 15th)
Community Solutions for the Future Hot Age
A Retreat in the Joshua Tree Desert, May 18th-20th, will discuss solutions to climate change
How will communities in the Western U.S. be affected by global warming?  Can we expect water scarcity, energy shortages, and heat waves?  And if so, how will we deal with these challenges?  Attention has been placed on mitigating the effects of climate change, but what about adapting our communities to fit the new landscapes we will likely inhabit?
This spring of 2007, at the Joshua Tree Retreat Center, a group of experts, students, and community members will come together to develop this vision.  As our landscape changes, we will need a change in our mindscape: our mentality and approach to community design.  The retreat is hence named, “Transforming Mindscape and Landscape: Envisioning and Designing Hot Age Communities”, and will take place May 18th-20th.  The desert environment is a symbolic setting to consider the issues that communities will face in the future Hot Age – the age of global warming.  The design of community solutions, however, will apply not only to the arid landscapes of Southwest U.S., but also wet landscapes like the Pacific Northwest and tropical zones such as Hawaii.  Panelists and participants from those three regions will be present at the retreat.  The focus of the discussions will be on all aspects of community design for the Hot Age: water management, energy efficiency, permaculture, and social practices.  Presentations of poetry, art, and music will be integrated throughout the event.  The programme will be a mix of discussions, workshops, and hands-on activities.
The purpose of having an inter-generational retreat is to bring youth and elders together for a meaningful dialogue.  The retreat will span a diverse group, ranging from Oakland’s high school kids – who will perform an evening of spoken word – to experts from Hawaii and Canada, bridging the excitement and knowledge of traditional peoples.  A healthy mix of students, members of organizations, progressive companies, and community participants will be present.
Hosted by the Institute for Reverential Ecology, the popularity of this annual retreat grew over the past three years while based in Zaca Lake Retreat Center, Santa Barbara County.  The retreat was a source of inspiration for the students of the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC), which has worked to implement the values of sustainability throughout the University of California system.  The BIG NEWS is a recent approval of the American University and College President’s Climate Agreement, which presents an opportunity for California’s continued leadership in climate issues.  The CSSC is now proud to co-host this year’s retreat.    Whereas past retreats inspired concrete steps towards sustainability, the Joshua Tree retreat will catalyze new directions for the challenges we face with climate change.  To encourage early registration and planning, a special discount is available for participants who sign up before April 15st.
Local, organic cuisine will be served at the retreat.  Bio-fuel buses and vans will run from major centers to transport participants.  Carpooling will be encouraged through www.zimride.com.  Students with cost considerations should contact their local coordinators for reimbursement and sponsorship opportunities.  See www.reverentialecology.org and www.facebook.com “Joshua Tree Retreat” Groups for more information.  For questions and concerns on any of these topics, please contact info@imdoingit.org.
Register online at www.ReverentialEcology.org
INVITED RETREAT & WORKSHOP PRESENTERS / GUIDES:
Sarah Crowell, dancer, community activist, Executive Director, Destiny Arts
Heather C. Flores, Certified Permaculture Designer
Randy Hayes, Rainforest Action Network & Int’l Forum on Globalization
Scott Horton, eco-artist, writer, and editor of Permaculture Activist
Brad Lancaster, permaculture teacher, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands
Andy Lipkis, environmentalist, President/Founder, TreePeople
Art Ludwig, author and designer of sustainable water systems
Dennis Rivers, communication skills activist, creator of www.NewConversations.net
Vandana Shiva, world-renowned environmental thinker, activist and scientist
Clayton Thomas-Müller, campaign organizer for Indigenous Environmental Network
Randy Udall, Director, Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE)
Adam Wolpert, Founder of Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, artist, eco-activist