Social Sculpture Research Unit
The Social Sculpture Research Unit new site will contain materials relating to processes, practices and connective modes of consciousness that are central to the University of the Trees and our work towards a humane and ecologically viable future. Other related projects -such as Earth Agenda and Agents of Change will also be accessible at: http://www.social-sculpture.org
Greenmuseum
Greenmuseum is an excellent and extensive online resource containing essays, reflections and new thinking relating to ecological art of many different kinds. It profiles both individual artists, collectives and practices concerned with the role of imagination in our work toward an ecologically sustainable future. www.greenmuseum.org
Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World
The Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World (CCANW) is based in Haldon Forest, Exeter. CCANW has grown out of Director Clive Adams' long term engagement with art in nature that has included the promotion of artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, David Nash and more recently, the Harrisons. CCANW presents and faciltates new work exploring the interface of nature and culture -in the South West region of England and further afield- with special reference to trees, forests and climate change. http://www.ccanw.co.uk
UNEP Billion Tree Campaign
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments were encouraged to enter tree planting pledges on the UNEP website with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007. See http://www.unep.org/billiontreescampaign See also http://www.worldagroforestrycentre.org/
The Greenbelt Movement and Wangari Mathaai
The Green Belt Movement provides income and sustenance to millions of people in Kenya through the planting of trees. It also conducts educational campaigns to raise awareness about women's rights, civic empowerment, and the environment throughout Kenya and Africa. see http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/
Atelierhaus Vahle
Atelierhaus Vahle organises symposia and events that promote interdsciplinary and connective thinking and doing, and hosts meetings of the Social Sculpture network. Director, Dr. Christiane Klein also curates contemporary art with a special focus on art in nature. In 2006 Atelierhaus Vahle organised the two and a half day symposium Stetig Wachsen in Darmstadt. Speakers included scientists, Green Party national committee members, local foresters, philosophers and social sculpture practitioners whose presentations linked aesthetics to the ecological crisis, and served to introduce University of the Trees to a wider public. See http://www.atelierhaus-vahle.de
Arbeitskreis Soziale Plastik - Darmstadt
This group meets to explore and develop Social Sculpture processes in the region. It has links to the Omnibus for Direct Democracy (see below). It is coordinated by Mattthias Klarebach. Contact M.Klarebach@web.de 49 (0) 6151 9515 189 or Henning Studte@arcor.de Tel: 00 49 (0) 6151 101 2509
Coalition of Rainforest Peoples
The Coalition of Rainforest Peoples' made a proposal to the world (November 2005) in which a call is being made to see the protection of the rainforsts as our joint international obligation. What is radical about this proposal is the suggestion that as long as people derive their means of existence from wages earned for their labour, instead of a basic income that is not linked to work, then economic survival will take precedence over ecological ways of living. See http://www.earthinstitute/
Basic Income Framework
The group in Europe, initiated by Götz Werner, actively campaigning for a 'basic income framework' is raising awareness about the importance of separating wages from work and the relationship that this has to reducing unnecessary production and use of the world's resources. Although this is a German language site, there are many texts in English.
See http://www.unternimm-die-zukunft.de/
English Texts include:
"A basic income: a basis for the future", Goetz W. Werner, IEP Uni Karlsruhe
"A radical reform instead of trivial reforms", Goetz W. Werner, IEP Uni Karlsruhe
"What benefits will a basic income bring?", Goetz W. Werner, IEP Uni Karlsruhe
UND-Institut for Art, Culture and Sustainability
UND-Insitut (with offices in Berlin and Frankfurt) connects the idea and practice of sustainability with art and culture. UND is collaborating with the Social Sculpture Research Unit on several projects, including a Social Sculpture Today compendium. The annual programme in Weimar led by Dr. Hildegard Kurt and Shelley Sacks looks at connective thinking and practices -from Goethe, Schiller and the Bauhuas to Social Sculpture- and makes reference to projects like University of the Trees as examples of 'connective practices'. http://www.und-institut.de
The Woodland Trust
The Ancient Tree Forum