Page 3 - C.A.L.L. #21 - Spring 2003

From the Secretary’s Desk

Dear Reader,

No matter if you are a member of a commune, co-housing, a co-op or other kind of
intentional community, we are interested in hearing from YOU! What you are doing and
thinking, your latest problems – if any! (Note that the word “commune” in our name is
there for brevity, not for exclusivity. It covers all forms of communal living.)

Winter in Israel is not severe, so that usually the International Commune Desk does not
go into hibernation in that season. However, a unique combination of problems considerably limited our activities. Fortunately,
the world of community doesn’t only turn on personalities, so there is quite a bit to report.

Around the world:

- The Anarchist Communitarian Network (ACN), in its second year of existence, has undergone changes that have greatly
transformed its goals. Interested readers should note the following addresses: http://www.anarchistcommunitarian.net/ . PO Box
6, Liberty, Tenn. 37095, USA. (See page 24.)

- Very interesting, but not publicized, is a lengthy document about Project ECOTOPOLIS, a comprehensive blueprint for an
Ecological, Holistic, and Sustainable Community to be established in Mexico or some other Latin American country. The
initiators can be contacted at: Dr. Miguel García Valseca, A.P. 11. Banderilla, Veracruz, México 91300. mgvalseca@ecotopolis.org ,
mgvalseca@yahoo.com or Dr. Kosta Mathéy, Habsburger Str. 3. Berlin, Germany 10781. kmathey@aol.com , kmathey@web.com

And now a little communal news from Israel:

You will no doubt be pleasantly surprised to hear that, despite all that’s going on in this country, new communal groups are
forming – quite apart from the urban communes of the youth movement graduates. It is a very spontaneous process.

- A group of well-established adults has organised itself to set up a kind of ecology-minded commune in the desert, taking over the
site of a more or less broken-up kibbutz. Yet another group has settled in an old army post in the southern desert to establish an
ecological/spiritual ashram community in the spirit of Osho, an Indian guru with an international reputation.

- We have recently been establishing contact with all sorts of existing intentional communities here, all of them more or less
spiritual. One is a therapeutic community, similar to Camphill, but for retarded people only …. Another, in the heart of the
country, is a well-established Arab-Jewish community, called (in Hebrew and Arabic) Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam (= Oasis of
Peace). It has never been simple to run a completely bi-national community, but the present situation is making it far more
difficult, of course. Their website is www.nswas.com .

Despite the tense situation, some communitarians still dare to come to the country.

- Heading the list are the members of the German Catholic Integrierte Gemeinde, with their steady stream of visitors. They not
only come to Bet Shalmon, their centre near Jerusalem, but also visit kibbutzim and the nearby Arab town of Abu Gosh.

- Dorothy Maclean, a co-founder of Findhorn, and Rosie Turnbull, a long-time member, were here to run workshops on Attuning
to Wholeness and Nature. They visited Kibbutz Tzora and it was very interesting to talk to them - despite the fact that I am not a
spiritual, meditative type.

- Also here were two members from the Atlantis spiritual commune, founder Jenny James from Colombia, and Mary from
Ireland. (See CALL no. 20.) They visited two special kibbutzim, “ecological” Lotan and “anarchistic” Samar, and looked into the
sad Israel/Palestine conflict.

That capitalist saying “money makes the world go round” is unfortunately true, even in most communal circles. Despite
our increasing expenses, the hard-pressed Kibbutz Movement was not able to slightly increase our modest budget. So, a modest
donation from YOU, instead of a subscription to CALL, will be very welcome. And if you know of someone (or some
organization) who might be prepared to make a more serious contribution to our activities, do let us know.

I can’t sign off without a brief tribute to a sincere friend of communal living, Art Rosenblum, who was killed in a car accident
over 6 months ago. Best known for his Aquarian Research Foundation, he was involved in a multitude of good causes. The world
is a poorer place without this colorful figure.

So, folks, do let us - and the rest of the world - know what’s happening with you, either via solrene@tzora.co.il or Sol Etzioni,
Kibbutz Tzora, DN Shimshon, Israel, 99803.

Your faithful and ever hopeful Secretary,
Sol Etzioni

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