Green Week activities - Activités de la Semaine verte
http://www.facebook.com/events/241769825898823/

National Day of Action! Wednesday, 1st February 2012, MRT terrasse, 10:30
With the sustainable development crew!




Journée nationale d'action! Mercredi, 1er février 2012, MRT terrasse 10h30
Avec la gang de développment durable!

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Confronting UNsustainability! A panel about Austerity in a Time of
Ecological Crisis, Wednesday, February 1st
Alumni Auditorium (University Center of the University of Ottawa) at 7pm

L’austérité en temps de crise écologique : une discussion, Mercredi, 1er février
Auditorium des anciens (Centre universitaire de l'Université d'Ottawa) à 19h

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Aboriginal perspectives on environmental issues Monday, February 6th
90 University Lounge at 6pm

Perspectives autochtones sur les questions environnementales
Lundi, 6 février
Salon du 90 Université à 18h

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Farmers' Market Wednesday, February 8, 2012
University Centre, main floor, 9am to 4pm

Marché des fermiers Mercredi 8 février 2012 Centre Universitaire, plancher principal, 9h à 16h

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Let’s Get Some (direct) Action Workshop
Wednesday, February 8th at UCU 206, 1pm
In collaboration with the International Development Week

Atelier d'action directe dans un temps de crise environnementale Mercredi 8 février au UCU 206 à 13h,
En collaboration avec la Semaine du Développement Internationale

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Where’s our Tuition Going? Workshop with the Just Investment Coalition
Thursday, February 9 at MRT 250, 2:30pm
In collaboration with the International Development Week

Où vont nos frais de scolarité ? Atelier avec CIJIC sur l'investissement juste
Jeudi 9 février au MRT 250 à 14h30
En collaboration avec la Semaine du Développement Internationale

Don Mancio Serra de Leguisamo, 1589

"We found these kingdoms in such good order, and the said Incas governed them in such wise [manner] that throughout them there was not a thief, nor a vicious man, nor an adulteress, nor was a bad woman admitted among them, nor were there immoral people. The men had honest and useful occupations. The lands, forests, mines, pastures, houses and all kinds of products were regulated and distributed in such sort that each one knew his property without any other person seizing it or occupying it, nor were there law suits respecting it… the motive which obliges me to make this statement is the discharge of my conscience, as I find myself guilty. For we have destroyed by our evil example, the people who had such a government as was enjoyed by these natives. They were so free from the committal of crimes or excesses, as well men as women, that the Indian who had 100,000 pesos worth of gold or silver in his house, left it open merely placing a small stick against the door, as a sign that its master was out. With that, according to their custom, no one could enter or take anything that was there. When they saw that we put locks and keys on our doors, they supposed that it was from fear of them, that they might not kill us, but not because they believed that anyone would steal the property of another. So that when they found that we had thieves among us, and men who sought to make their daughters commit sin, they despised us."

The Great Conveyor Belt

Bundles and mandalas

By Marcelo Saavedra-Vargas

Andean Chakana

 A personal bundle/mandala

Bundles/Mandalas are sacred symbols we are all exposed to and are capable of creating. There are some straightforward guidelines that will allow you to creatively design your bundle/mandala, based on the teachings you acquire by reading the assigned material, attending class lectures and, more importantly, allowing yourself the proper psychological and transformational space. You are supposed to thoroughly enjoy the process of contemplating your existence in the cosmos, while doing your bundle/mandala. This is a very healing exercise.  

A Bolivian Quechua bundle with aguayo (tissue)

Getting in touch with our Ancestors

Bundles/Mandalas were designed by our Ancestors, either deliberately, unconsciously or naturally, and we can find them in a host of mature civilizations, as Gary Snyder used to call indigenous peoples. Bundle/Mandalas are ethnotext or metatext. They go beyond the written medium and do not rely on mnemonics (the ability to rationally remember and reproduce) but rather ignite your intuitive perception and interpretation capabilities. In this sense this internal conversation you hold with yourself, by doing your mandala or bundle, is sacred.

Once you begin your process of reflecting and actually doing your bundle or mandala you will find you get mysteriously drawn to this process. This is not surprising. This is a visit you pay to yourself! Enjoy it, fully engage and become an indigenous to this planet.

Past experience and painting talent are not prerequisites to making meaningful bundles/mandalas. They can be quite direct and down-to-earth or very abstract. You just need to open your heart and let flow your intuition.

A Bolivian bundle (quep'i)

Some tips to get going with designing your bundle/mandala:

·         You have to be relaxed and calm. This is why I suggest you give yourself time to do this.

·         Connecting:  Perhaps this is the most crucial part of the process. You need to find a suitable psychological space/time and calm your rational mind. Let go past and future events. Inhabit the present. This should express in a relaxed body and creative mind. Imagine yourself or sense yourself (breathing is the best vehicle to go around you). Once you are in touch with yourself gently reflect about what has brought you up to ‘here’ and what is holding and supporting you so you can continue your cosmic journey;

·         Sense the colors that express yourself;

·         Sense the elements that explain you and what you want to become;

·         Sense any patterns, geometric figures or specific objects (if you are drawing, sense the symbols that represent those objects);

·         Sense your surroundings past, present and those to come. Include them gently in your bundle/mandala.

·         Include any other element that would make sense to you.

These are your ‘raw’ materials. Now you can proceed to creating your bundle/mandala.

Creating your personal bundle/mandala

A healing circle (mandala)

Since a mandala is a circle (in Sanskrit) I suggest you complete a departing circle (large or small), acknowledging Pachamama, Taqpacha, all other nations, your own nation, your ancestors, your future generations, the sacredness of your relations, and the beauty of your own self. You can then draw the complementary piece of the already drawn circle (inwards or outwards, depending on your pre-disposition). You can also draw a square. Circles and squares  reflect the parity relations of all things, the opposite but complementary forces everything is made of.

If you are doing a bundle, it is meant to be like the womb of your mother, circular (spherical) in nature. Like with the mandala, be careful in complementing it with the content. The tissue (if you have chosen to have a tissue) is the form and the elements that you put in it are the content. They both complement and complete each other perfectly in a parity relationship. There cannot be a form without content and vice versa.

Now you can start including (drawing, painting, pasting, collating) the elements that you had reflected upon in the previous step. Remember that blank or empty spaces are also very meaningful.

A mandala

Bring to your mind the readings you have been doing and the teachings you have been acquiring. For this specific exercise, you have to include these elements in your mandala/bundle. Gain serenity, lose fear and become truly humble. It is your life; it is your symbolism you are creating. You are safe and peaceful.

Enjoy it!

Paschi!

Jallalla!