Page 22 - C.A.L.L. #23 - Spring 2004

I very much want to foster
Letter from Monika,
Niederkaufungen,
Germany
December, 2003
What is news here with us?
I personally am well and
healthy (which is so
important), and
professionally there are
interesting new
developments:
A few weeks ago I passed
the last test as a trainer in
non-violent
communication and hope
to work in this field in the
future. I think that our
future depends on the
question: if we are in the
position to create peace
(within ourselves, with
other human beings and
also in the political arena).
This is a key point,
especially for those of us
who live in communities
and underwent their
socialization in Western
industrialized countries;
how we wish to live has not
been learned. If we want to
exist without private
property or to make our
decisions by consensus, we
know that these values are
not transmitted by our
society, and that is why our
competence in this respect
is not sufficient.
Violence-free
communication turns out
to be of great help here and
our demand for Eco-
it. My collective granted me balance. Representatives of
complete freedom for the some other large
whole of next year to devote communities (Oekodorf
myself to this aim, and that Sieben Linden, Pommritz,
made me very happy. UFA-Fabrik and more)
will also attend. The main
Last weekend we had at our theme will be what methods
commune a small should the groups use in
meeting/feast to celebrate trying to organize and
20 years since our develop our social
—constitution“ paper was
togetherness. I can hardly
written. We invited people wait for that meeting.
who were here during the
early years of our project, The plan for our new
as well as people who work project - caregivers for the
on similar themes within aged with dementia - will
other parts of society, in have to he postponed until
order to talk over subjects next year, as we have not
like common economy, received a budget yet.
collective work and
consensus decision- Socially and politically the
making. devil has been let loose in
Germany. What is being
Altogether some 70 people planned by the red-green
took part in that meeting local government and the
and many old contacts black central government is
were re-established. A tense truly hair-raising: an
debate on power structures unprecedented knockout.
in collectives occurred. We Many women, youngsters
and needy people will soon
be OUT.
Living in community is
some comfort because the
consequences of these
policies don‘t hit me as
hard. We do take an active
role though; many of our
members participate in
also discussed the question demonstrations and other
of whether collective (protest) actions.
economy can serve as an Here at the community we
anti-model to ruling are in good mood; in
capitalism or does it only contrast to the forecasts,
assist its stabilization. our economy is balanced.
Another question that came But a problem that occupies
under discussion was how our thoughts a lot is the
to succeed in day-to-day housing situation. People
decision-making using want to join us, but cannot
consensus, without find room. This is a silly
delaying the group‘s work. situation.
Next Sunday Klaus-Peter
and I go to ZEGG for the Many regards,
third communes meeting,
which started as a result of Monika
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