tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60664851058097070122024-03-05T16:56:38.925-08:00Living Oneness-Vast Evolution BlogStefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-61891707102920137782018-09-25T12:14:00.000-07:002020-02-19T09:55:20.578-08:00Declaration of intent for our perpetual Kin´s Domain! We, Stefan from Austria and Vana from Taiwan, have been
inspired by the book series "<a href="https://www.loveproductions.org/english/anastasia/" target="_blank">The Ringing Cedars of Russia</a>". The
core idea of the book series is to establish a perpetual Kin´s
Domain for one´s family and it is precisely this idea, that has
inspired us to take action and become active. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkE2qd2awUjgc9dnQIVpNvXu4vZxxarJU4l_yqdwcFpCzXbTgmSIoDfIZDeGoCLyC74PTI1U4TAqpphg-CFvEDH1uXmLTpt5atHc-HkOLFjhf5UPtsZxsypFFobi6CVDtiRJeHosGPa4G/s1600/kin%25C2%25B4s+domain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="389" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkE2qd2awUjgc9dnQIVpNvXu4vZxxarJU4l_yqdwcFpCzXbTgmSIoDfIZDeGoCLyC74PTI1U4TAqpphg-CFvEDH1uXmLTpt5atHc-HkOLFjhf5UPtsZxsypFFobi6CVDtiRJeHosGPa4G/s320/kin%25C2%25B4s+domain.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting of a Kin´s Domain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A Kin´s Domain is the dwelling land of a family and it is
approximately 1 hectare in size. This land is surrounded by a
living fence consisting of trees and bushes. It contains a cozy
bright house, an orchard, a pond with pure water, as well as a
forest and a garden. It also may contain designated spaces for
animals, which are part of the family. Ideally, everything on the
land is created with love and in harmony with nature.<br />
<br />
The purpose
of a Kin´s Domain is to restore and increase love and health in
one´s family and to preserve this love in perpetuity. The land
supports what family members need, both physically and mentally.
The land will be passed on from one generation to the next, each
generation making the domain ever more beautiful and perfect. <br />
<br />
We are currently in the process of finding a region we both like,
where we will acquire a big enough land to create our own Kin´s
Domain. It shall become a highly self-sufficient habitat, as well
as a "Space of Love", filled with loving thoughts and feelings. <br />
<br />
On our Kin´s Domain, we will work on perfecting the dwelling land
in the most holistic way, for ourselves and our descendants. We
will create our domain in honor of our wise ancestors. We will
continue to consume mindfully, aiming for minimalism and zero
waste and will continue to deepen our practice of
compassionate ethical living (vegan lifestyle). Our Space of Love shall increase the good
on Earth, so the world becomes a little better, for each and
everyone with whom we share this planet. <br />
<br />
We would like to invite like-minded people to settle on the land
around us. We are following a trend that is already spread out
widely in Russia and Eastern Europe, which together have already
more than 500 Kin Domain settlements. In several regions of
Russia, the idea of Kin Domain settlements already receives
governmental support. <br />
<br />
We recognize the existing legal system and want to work
constructively WITH current politicians and leaders, for a
positive change in society and for the benefit of all people and
fellow creatures! We are certain that the right path forward is
through mutual cooperation. <br />
<br />
We want to take action, so that all people realize, that it is
their fundamental right to have a piece of homeland! Upon request,
each family shall be granted one hectare of land, lifelong and
free of charge, for the purpose of establishing their Kin´s
Domain! This land may not be taxed or sold, but may be inherited.
<br />
<br />
We are convinced, just as the Anastasia book series affirms, that
humanity is ONE family and we are all brothers and sisters!
Accordingly, we can certainly only advocate a path that leads to
love and unity between all people! <br />
<br />
We are certain, the more families live on their own Kin´s Domain
and turn it into a heavenly oasis, the greater becomes the chance
for global peace and prosperity for all! <br />
<br />
May success and inspiration be with us and all like-minded people,
who are finding and starting their own Kin´s Domain. May we all
succeed in the creative construction of beautiful living spaces
for our families, in all countries all over the world! May there
be happy co-creation and joy for all!
<br />
<br />
Written by Stefan and Vana Veda, L.O.V.E. Productions, September
2018Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-10413574288370021172018-07-12T11:09:00.000-07:002018-08-12T11:50:16.747-07:0014 Awesome Reasons Why to Adopt a Plant-Based DietAs more and more people drop animal products for good, you have probably heard about a couple of arguments that are made in favor of a vegan, or a plant-based diet. It takes different reasons for different people to get motivated and start making some changes.<br />
Whether you’re already on your way towards a plant-based vegan diet or just playing with the idea, here are 14 important reasons to think about:<br />
<br />
<h3>
1. Lower your risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes </h3>
Both of these conditions are amongst the most common chronic diseases in the Western world. Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn has been able to reverse even very bad cases of cardiovascular disease by feeding his patients a low-fat vegan diet and saved countless lives. It's widely acknowledged, even by major health organizations, that animal products rich in saturated fat and cholesterol are a major contributor to both heart disease and diabetes. The same diet that improves our arteries can also improve and even reverse type 2 diabetes. (1)<br />
<br />
<h3>
2. Treat or reverse other current health conditions</h3>
More and more major health organizations are now stating that it’s healthy to eat a well-planned vegan diet during all stages of life – and that it’s even favorable to do so because vegans have lower rates of cancer, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, strokes, and even Alzheimer's. A plant-based diet is often times even more effective than medication and surgery when it comes to these diseases! There is also an extensive study showing the connection between casein (milk protein) and cancer growth. (1)<br />
<br />
<h3>
3. Improve your fitness</h3>
Most people fear a loss of energy or muscle mass when abstaining from animal products – but the opposite can be true, if you do your homework. Meat and dairy are especially hard to digest, taking much of your energy and leaving you tired. Adopting a vegan diet does in no way hinder you from reaching your fitness goals and might likely give you a nice boost of added energy and strength.<br />
<br />
No matter what sport you’re involved in and no matter the level of performance you’re shooting for, you get the best nutrition and plenty of protein from a whole food, plant-based diet. You don’t even have to watch your protein intake very much – all whole plant foods contain protein, and it’s of great quality, too. The 40-50 grams you need per day (this is with a large margin of safety) can easily be met by eating green vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts or seeds. Rice is 8% protein, corn 11%, oatmeal 15%, and beans 27%.<br />
<br />
It's also so much easier to build lean muscle on this type of diet and you don't have to go into the whole "bulking and cutting" stuff. If you wish, you'll just be shredded all year!<br />
(1), (3), (4)<br />
<br />
<h3>
4. Eating for World Peace and Social Harmony</h3>
In his book “The World Peace Diet”, Dr. Will Tuttle is revealing the invisible attitudes we ingest at every meal. The World Peace Diet offers an expanded understanding of our culture and our health. It has been called one of the most significant books of the 21st century creating the foundation of a new society honoring the interconnectedness of life.<br />
<br />
The World Peace Diet is one of the first books to make explicit the hidden connections between our culture, our food, and the source of our broad range of problems—and the way to a positive transformation in our individual and collective lives. (2)<br />
<br />
Dr. Will Tuttle concludes: "In order to have true and lasting peace, both individually, as well as collectively, we must end the exploitation and killing of all animals. As we grant peace and freedom to all animals, we are actually granting peace and freedom to ourselves."<br />
<br />
<h3>
5. Resources and world hunger</h3>
50% of grains worldwide are being eaten by farm animals, while millions of children living next to livestock are starving. The meat that's produced in these areas is then being shipped to the 1st world.<br />
<br />
Vast amounts of grains and beans are imported from Africa and South America, so that cows in North America can be fattened up, milked and slaughtered. For growing these foods, vast areas of rain forests are being destroyed, making species go extinct and creating desert-like climates in those areas. The negative consequence: A massive contribution to climate change and world hunger. <br />
(1), (2)<br />
<br />
A vegan diet requires just a small fraction of the land and a small fraction of the amount of water used by an omnivorous diet. Animal products are very inefficient. Due to the animal´s metabolic conversion of the foods they eat, enormous resources are wasted. <b>2,5 acres of land can feed 20+ people on a plant based diet, while on the same amount of land only one person can be fed on beef.</b><br />
<br />
Around 70% of the grain grown in the US alone is fed to livestock - that’s enough grain to feed 800 million people. At the same time, incredible amounts of water are being used to produce animal products. <b>More than half of the water consumed in the United States is used for animal agriculture.</b> Being vegan could save up to 724,925 gallons of water per person each year. Think how powerful this change could be for everyone!<br />
(1), (2)<br />
<br />
<h3>
6. Animal products are dirty</h3>
Every time you sit down to a meal containing meat, eggs, or dairy products, you’re dining on known bacteria, antibiotics, hormones, dioxins, and a host of other toxins that can cause serious health problems in humans. An extremely high percentage of all the flesh butchered every year in the U.S. is contaminated with E. coli, campylobacter, listeria, or other dangerous bacteria that live in the intestinal tracts, flesh, and feces of animals.<br />
<br />
They can cause food poisoning – there are 75 million cases each year, 5,000 of which are fatal. The USDA reports that 70% is caused by contaminated animal flesh. The abuse of pharmaceuticals in factory farms encouraged the evolution of new strains of antibiotic-resistant super-bacteria. But that’s not the only danger associated with dosing animals raised for their flesh with antibiotics. Roxarsone, an antibiotic commonly used on factory farms, contains significant amounts of the most carcinogenic form of arsenic.<br />
(5), (6)<br />
<br />
<h3>
7. We have zero need for animal products</h3>
65.000.000.000(!!) land animals are being slaughtered every year for food consumption. This cruel act of killing all these farmed animals is absolutely unnecessary. We simply do it for taste, out of tradition or due to false beliefs. There is no proof, that human beings must eat meat, dairy or eggs, in order to be healthy and thriving. On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence that a well planned vegan diet is suitable for potentially everyone. (1), (2)<br />
<br />
We are taught which animals are okay to eat and which ones are meant to be pets – It’s a learned behavior called “Carnism”. It creates a distorted view of reality, where we exclude certain animals from your sphere of compassion, while including only specific animals into our sense of brotherhood. (1), (2)<br />
<br />
Let’s not forget that we are not baby cows either who require the milk of their mothers and there’s no need to consume any other secretion besides our own mother’s milk past the first years of age. Needless to say, animals don’t want to die, they love and appreciate life. Unfortunately, we just view them as “farm animals”, a faceless crowd without thinking of individuals with unique personalities and emotions – just like cats and dogs. Once we understand this connection and take appropriate steps, we can finally align our actions with our morals. (2)<br />
<br />
<h3>
8. Save the environment and stop climate change</h3>
Around 18-51 percent (depending on the calculation and source) of man-made pollution comes from the meat industry, putting factory farming ahead of transportation in contributing to the greenhouse effect. What's more, it takes about 40 calories of fossil-fuel energy to create every one calorie of feed-lot beef in the U.S. (compared to 2.2 calories of energy needed to create plant proteins).<br />
<br />
1 pound of hamburger meat equals 75 kg CO2 emission which is about the same as using your car for 3 weeks (at an average CO2 emission of 3 kg per day). And the wild animals have to suffer the consequences as well – Animal agriculture is responsible for 91 percent of Amazon deforestation. The current mass extinction of species is impacting 86% of all mammals, 88% of amphibians, and 86% of all birds. Many of them are facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the near future. But we can change that! Adopting a vegan diet is voting for a planet where all of us can thrive and live our purposes.<br />
<br />
<h3>
9. Try amazing new dishes </h3>
There are over 20,000 species of edible plants in the world, of which merely a few hundreds have been domesticated and farmed. You probably haven’t tried even a fraction of them yet! Looking out for delicious new recipes broadens your horizon, your taste buds, and lets you discover delicious and healthful dishes you wouldn’t have thought of in the beginning. (7)<br />
<br />
You don’t have to cut back on taste at all here: Vegan chefs took home the trophy at the 10th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational with a nondairy cheese winner, and vegan bakers have dominated the butter-and-egg fest that is Cupcake Wars twice. The key is in finding the right replacements or using recipes without any animal products at all. (8)<br />
<br />
<h3>
10. Eating for spiritual health</h3>
Have you ever felt guilty while eating certain animal foods you knew, inflicted suffering on sentient beings? As humans, we are spiritual beings, who, when allowed, will feel a natural love and compassion for our fellow human beings, as well as for other sentient co-inhabitants of our planet. It is against our fundamental spiritual nature to cause unnecessary harm or damage to any living being.<br />
<br />
By choosing plant based meals, we are liberating innocent animals from exploitation or domination. We are choosing life over death and love over selfishness. By granting freedom to those animals who depend on our mercy, we are actually granting freedom to ourselves. We will reap as we sow.<br />
<br />
It is a precious gift that we have bodies, which can thrive on a plant based diet and derive all essential nutrients from plant foods. Making this transition can be a real milestone in one´s personal and spiritual development. (2)<br />
<br />
<h3>
11. Better skin and digestion</h3>
For most people with acne-prone skin, dairy is one of the worst offenders. Unfortunately, many doctors are unaware of this issue and tend to prescribe medication and harsh chemicals in order to improve skin health. The secret lies in what we eat, though! Getting rid of fatty foods (especially animal products) has been shown to reduce acne. (9)<br />
<br />
Water-rich fruits and vegetables can give your skin an additional boost in health due to their high amounts of vitamins and minerals. Their fiber helps with getting better digestion and elimination of toxins which, in turn, clears up your skin even more. In order to additionally improve digestion, remember to chew well, preferably 50+ times per bite. Try not to drink any liquids 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after meals. This will keep your stomach acid undiluted and strong, to help with digestion.<br />
<br />
<h3>
12. Boost your mood</h3>
When you cut out animal products, you automatically abstain from all the fear and stress hormones these animals produced on their way to slaughter, until the very last second. This alone can have a significant impact on your mood and stability. But that’s not all.<br />
<br />
We’ve known that people eating plant-based tend to have healthier mood states—less tension, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, and fatigue. This is due to the higher level of antioxidants in plant-based foods, particularly fruits and vegetables. <br />
<br />
Healthful carbohydrate-rich foods, including brown rice, steel cut oats, and rye bread, help regulate serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is important for controlling our mood. In the evolving landscape of neurological research, a plant-based diet may help in treating symptoms of anxiety and depression. (1), (2), (10)<br />
<br />
<h3>
13. Save lots of money</h3>
Vegan diets can be extremely economical. When you center your diet around grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and seasonal fruits and veggies, you might be cutting your monthly food expense in half. Many of these foods can be bought in bulk and stored for a long time. There are a lot of great options for eating vegan on a budget. But that’s not all! Since healthy plant-based diets can prevent and even reverse chronic diseases, you will have to spend way less money on doctor’s visits and medication. (11)<br />
<br />
<h3>
14. It’s never been so easy</h3>
You might not be aware of this but many supermarket foods are already vegan. There are lots of different plant-based milk options, coconut ice creams, mock meats, and more! This change in culinary preferences of the consumers is revealing itself through data — the market for non-dairy products is skyrocketing and meat alternatives sales are expected to reach $5 Billion by 2020. But not only supermarkets carry a host of delicious vegan foods at this day and age. More and more restaurants offer vegan options, too! There are so many plant based dishes you can choose from these days that you will be positively surprised. If you are a beginner, you will find many resources on the internet, who help you make your switch to a plant based diet. (12) <br />
<br />
Finally, although these are all excellent points. True Veganism is more than just a diet, it´s a profound change in one´s heart. Although diet is the easiest way to start. Benefits are abundant, not just for your health, but for the environment, animals, and future generations. Whole new world of tastes, textures and recipes open up to you. It is absolutely positive life change. As a long time vegan I can attest to this. What I like to point out to my friends who are considering veganism or vegetarianism is to not get discouraged if they don’t succeed at first try. For me personally, a whole foods plant based diet with plenty of raw foods works best. But there’s no right or wrong way to go vegan, so don’t be afraid to try a few strategies, find out what works for you. <br />
Here are <a href="https://nutriciously.com/different-vegan-diets/" target="_blank">15 different types of vegan diets</a>, which one is right for you?<br />
<br />
<h4>
Written by Stefan Veda</h4>
<br />
Sources:<br />
(1) H.O.P.E. What you eat matters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDg7tlEJD64<br />
<br />
(2) Dr. Will Tuttle: www.worldpeacediet.org<br />
<br />
(3) www.veganbodybuilding.com<br />
<br />
(4) www.fromthegroundupfilm.com<br />
<br />
(5) http://www.peta.org/living/food/meat-contamination/<br />
<br />
(6) http://www.earthsave.org/pdf/ofof2006.pdf<br />
<br />
(7) https://nutriciously.com/vegan-recipes-for-kids/<br />
<br />
(8) http://www.cok.net/blog/2012/04/vegans-win-grilled-cheese-invitational/<br />
<br />
(9) https://nutriciously.com/7-ways-to-cure-acne-naturally/<br />
<br />
(10) https://nutritionfacts.org/video/plant-based-diets-for-improved-mood-and-productivity/<br />
<br />
(11) https://nutriciously.com/how-to-eat-healthy-on-a-budget/<br />
<br />
(12) http://vancouverislandvegan.com/resources/<br />
<br />Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-54580362888575135312018-06-04T14:04:00.003-07:002018-06-13T01:03:27.561-07:00Anastasia - The Great Vedrus - Is there Evidence for her Existence? <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphLlOaG0-L86Tcx2XHis2c0SlINfmMTgdVNHgvygq6AxQFQqwv4T_DLCaA3W9xgHghAYegLTtv_PXvnCFzHo0q8X5dfRQ2J7LaNhkmlmUspjigY1vAo447F-gplZXFIT-akWjFNUPb4Bi/s1600/Anastasia.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="327" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphLlOaG0-L86Tcx2XHis2c0SlINfmMTgdVNHgvygq6AxQFQqwv4T_DLCaA3W9xgHghAYegLTtv_PXvnCFzHo0q8X5dfRQ2J7LaNhkmlmUspjigY1vAo447F-gplZXFIT-akWjFNUPb4Bi/s200/Anastasia.gif" width="145" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I exist for those for whom I exist! - Anastasia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A growing number of people have experienced it themselves: No book series has influenced their lives as powerfully and meaningfully as the Anastasia (or “Ringing Cedars of Russia”) book series.<br />
<br />
But what changes the life of one person by 180 degrees, may trigger in another little or no enthusiasm.<br />
<br />
Some say that the book’s main heroine Anastasia really exists, some see her existence as a possibility and others believe that Anastasia is just an invention of Vladimir Megre’s mind.<br />
<br />
No matter how you yourself think on this subject, I want to tell you about a true story of my life in which my friend Daniel had seriously doubted the existence of my wife Vana. I had been friends with him for more than a year at that time and had met him several times during this time and often phoned him. During that time, he had never seen Vana. During a phone call we had last year, he confessed, that he seriously doubted whether Vana really existed, or was just an invention of mine, which made me slightly sad back then. He explained to me that in a confidential roundup of friends they found out that none of them had ever seen Vana, and that she might as well be an invention of mine. <br />
<br />
The image on my website would not be proof of her existence. In this circle, Daniel initially stressed that Vana must exist, but soon he became uncertain and doubts arose. In the summer of last year, Vana and I invited Daniel and his dad to have lunch with us. Before the meeting, the following thought made me nervous: "Hopefully Daniel will now believe that Vana is real and not just an invention of mine! It's also not an unquestionable proof when he sees her, because I could have "hired" an Asian girl for this purpose, posing as my wife. I hope he does not have such a thought."<br />
<br />
The meeting went well and Daniel had no doubt about the existence of Vana. I was relieved. <br />
<br />
Perhaps this event illustrates how easily people can be unsettled and what power rumors have. Although Daniel was already a friend of mine, he could seriously doubt whether Vana was real or just my invention. I guess one should not say that Anastasia is just an invention just because one did not see her or does not know anyone who saw her. <br />
<br />
My experience may help to imagine how difficult it might be for Vladimir Megre. He can not simply show Anastasia as proof, and even if he could do that, it would only add to the doubters' doubts. Even if today Anastasia would appear in front of the camera, this would not convince countless doubters of her existence. <br />
<br />
<h3>
What 5 indicators are there, which suggest that Anastasia is real? </h3>
<h3>
</h3>
<b>First indication: </b><br />
Perhaps the strongest evidence is the strong feelings of many readers. <br />
<br />
Many
were so deeply touched after reading these books that they experienced
a significant shift in their consciousness, and the creation of a new
world view. These are often people who have personally felt Anastasia
and her great love, or who have met her inwardly.<br />
<br />
Someone might
argue here, "But the feelings are very subjective. They probably occur
because people rediscover their childhood dreams or yearnings in
Anastasia and her recommended way of life, which can trigger joyful
feelings."<br />
<br />
That may be so in some cases, but I know several
Anastasia readers who had very different dreams. Even in my case, this
assumption is only partially true, because my dreams had more to do with
sexuality, computer games and skateboarding and I felt bored with agriculture
or horticultural activities. <br />
<br />
As I grew older I even saw the
traditional family as a great evil of our time, and saw intentional
communities and natural tribes as the right path to follow.<br />
<br />
So
much in the books did not correspond to my dreams and desires at all!
Still, I have felt more reading these books than any others books I have
ever read! Waves of joy and happiness, or being deeply touched and
feeling gratitude, have permeated me, sometimes while reading the books,
and sometimes in contemplation of Anastasia's work. I have felt
Anastasia's love, in my body cells, in my mind and in my feelings, and
no one can take that experience from me. And even though some may think
I'm crazy, there are countless people who have similar experiences and
every year their numbers are growing. <br />
<br />
<b>Second indication: </b><br />
The existence of the books and the information they contain about past, present and future is another indication.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCgZeTGtLiOoisya2C6TwPF9c_pCtcrkDZcYhC5kFR0sxYe2lxmH9CNAc6FU22H9DbDn1-dYfwNVRdauPlbwL1kU_qNX-Qq8kPn-Fp4vK8XObLJK5_PHOao5bfu-aQsRpiQ9TcL5AueTs/s1600/Anastasia+Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1448" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCgZeTGtLiOoisya2C6TwPF9c_pCtcrkDZcYhC5kFR0sxYe2lxmH9CNAc6FU22H9DbDn1-dYfwNVRdauPlbwL1kU_qNX-Qq8kPn-Fp4vK8XObLJK5_PHOao5bfu-aQsRpiQ9TcL5AueTs/s320/Anastasia+Books.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Much of the lost knowledge of the history of mankind has been brought to light by Anastasia and only gradually was confirmed by various scientists and archaeologists by new findings or insights. Many of her statements about the future, as unbelievable as they may have seemed at the time, have come true or are taking shape.<br />
<br />
A skeptic could argue: "It could also be coincidence that a lot of what she predicted has arrived, besides, some things that have been predicted, did not come true!"<br />
<br />
Anastasia is certainly not infallible and the world is very complex, even for someone of her size. Nevertheless, she described the 1 hectare law over 15 years before its introduction, in a vision of the future of Russia. In 2016, Vladimir Putin actually introduced such a 1 hectare law, but unlike Anastasia predicted it for all of Russia, the Free Hectare law was introduced "only" for eastern Russia(about 1/3 of the Russian Federation), as well as in some other smaller regions of Russia(e.g. Belgorod). In addition to that, Putin has already suggested that within the next few years, this law could be extended for all of Russia!<br />
<br />
Incidentally, Anastasia's grandfather said: <br />
"Anastasia does not prophesy the future, she is creating it!" <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Third indication:</b><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzsMu0xL9l1yKimC9vnANk5D9ZO93wgL6nNDa3snXUOKDxl-myeACI9rBnDRxnTpfJCXG2LjFVrUCNqMybqMaPJLuztOZiipqcvsytZthD21SjXkVw21EB5cFvVmO0EJHqDYj-O1pcEZ/s1600/megre-wladimir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="478" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzsMu0xL9l1yKimC9vnANk5D9ZO93wgL6nNDa3snXUOKDxl-myeACI9rBnDRxnTpfJCXG2LjFVrUCNqMybqMaPJLuztOZiipqcvsytZthD21SjXkVw21EB5cFvVmO0EJHqDYj-O1pcEZ/s200/megre-wladimir.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vladimir Megre</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Already since 20+ years Vladimir Megre is regularly talking about the authenticity of his stories in interviews and lectures. <br />
<br />
A skeptic could now interject: "Megre himself said that the books are a fictitious story!"<br />
<br />
This rumor came about because from 1999 to 2001, Vladimir Megre was filing a lawsuit against a woman who was claiming to "channel" Anastasia and publish a book of "her messages." The court saw no reason why not everyone could "channel" and write down Anastasia's messages, unless Anastasia herself would appear in court and disagree, or if the books were the intellectual property of Vladimir Megre. To protect Anastasia and win the case, Megre was forced to tell the court that his books were "literary and artistic texts that can be attributed to the genre of science fiction," proving that they were his intellectual property.<br />
<br />
Other than that, we find Vladimir Megre's statements that have been repeated to this day at innumerable conferences worldwide, about the real existence of Anastasia as a human being and about having two children together with her. He also reaffirms this in his books again and again."<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
A skeptic could now interject: "Just because Megre claims that, it doesn’t prove that Anastasia really exists!”<br />
<br />
That's
true. But then you would be accusing the author of being a liar or
cheater. He would be exactly that, since he has been vehemently
advocating for over 20 years that the content of his books and it’s
characters are genuine, including Anastasia and her relatives in the
taiga. Such a person would not deserve fame as an author, but rather be
sent to prison, because of deception and fraud! Or at least to be
publicly outed as a liar. I think, it's presumptuous to judge Vladimir
Megre so harshly, without knowing him personally, especially as his
books have already done so much good for the world and are continuing to
reach ever more people with Anastasia's message! <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Fourth indication: </b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0c7kY3ALFCg7XDw5h_JFdv45Jg_-MtVr6HXkNv9goodCQ5C_uTFksUdwC3uiRJ533MR9fsZ4CdMJZ_MbSwlX_ohTLP9xSlQkQ_Ue_8mj9NS2kZ0rihYYS2QIxK7sc5-T2jPwxsi1Nmf0/s1600/2tYLnyfr0GU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="720" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo0c7kY3ALFCg7XDw5h_JFdv45Jg_-MtVr6HXkNv9goodCQ5C_uTFksUdwC3uiRJ533MR9fsZ4CdMJZ_MbSwlX_ohTLP9xSlQkQ_Ue_8mj9NS2kZ0rihYYS2QIxK7sc5-T2jPwxsi1Nmf0/s320/2tYLnyfr0GU.jpg" width="320" /></a>Some people do not believe in the existence of Anastasia because they can not imagine that a woman like Anastasia would choose a man like Vladimir Megre to spread her message. <br />
Several people who dealt with him say that he is anything but a genius and often behaves anything but intelligently. But that is precisely why Megre is perhaps even the best proof for the authenticity of Anastasia. Despite his unwise personality, the idea of the books is increasingly spreading the world over. <br />
<br />
It is a movement without leaders and as far as I know, this has never happened in that way before! Indeed, to see people strongly changing their lives after reading the books and making great life decisions is something very unusual if it were just a book phenomenon.<br />
<br />
<b>Fifth indication: </b> <br />
Some people believe Vladimir Megre paid somebody to write the content of his books. However, regardless of whether one regards Anastasia as real or not, no one will deny that the information exists, as well as the images that have been born out of that information. So if the information exists, it follows that there must be a source for it. And this can only be Anastasia or somebody of her size, because <b>one can only create what one actually is! </b><br />
<br />
One can see that the information and the created images are very powerful, when you consider the fact that Christianity, as a movement, has taken over 300 years to be noticeably felt! The Anastasia books and the associated movement have only been around for about 20 years and already have a high degree of prominence and influence in society (especially in Russia and Eastern Europe) with corresponding profound consequences. <br />
<br />
If you would like to see a glimpse of what the books have already triggered, you can watch these two short videos on YouTube:<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sggVLb11pUc" target="_blank">1.) Co-Creation (2011)</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkCZ2FeHATk" target="_blank">2.) Kin Homestead Settlements 20 years later (2018)</a><br />
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<br />
<h3>
The power of a great Vision</h3>
<h3>
</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiODcoveVA2zvcS0aCBTZ1wwhdyUQ688WNoif5mkqlHqF9ADqfI3-MpAvFVeUXUSSmaqUTFxvFA3K_5S1kudslUbKTTw0xMXK2Qpuw2dvtYZ9kFSDVHVfiU6VjqC68-2iXpt4dYSBY631/s1600/31959738_1626651164122928_1123395996743630848_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuiODcoveVA2zvcS0aCBTZ1wwhdyUQ688WNoif5mkqlHqF9ADqfI3-MpAvFVeUXUSSmaqUTFxvFA3K_5S1kudslUbKTTw0xMXK2Qpuw2dvtYZ9kFSDVHVfiU6VjqC68-2iXpt4dYSBY631/s320/31959738_1626651164122928_1123395996743630848_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting: Mikhael Shirokov</td></tr>
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It seems as if Anastasia and Vladimir Megre have managed to co-create the greatest “<b>life image</b>” of all time. In time, it will grasp more and more people and unite humanity as one.<br />
<br />
The fact that there must first be great resistance towards this newly created image is logically explainable when we know about the principle of homoestasis. <b>When an idea of a group or culture is met with tremendous resistance, it's either because it's an incredibly bad or incredibly good idea.</b> It is therefore only logical that there have been trials to distort the information of the books and to spread lies about the movement.<br />
<br />
As Arthur Schopenhauer famously said, “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”<br />
<br />
Fortunately, unlike the Christian movement, the Kin’s Domain movement is not about making “believers” of and proselytizing others. Instead, the inspired readers realize the ideas they recognized as right in their own lives and thus become the practical role model themselves.<br />
<br />
<b>They do not change the world by their opinion, but by their living example! </b><br />
<br />
Some say it might not really matter whether Anastasia is fiction or reality, and I can partly agree with that. It is true that the information from and about Anastasia, and the images created by her thought exist, and have an effect on our individual and collective reality. <br />
<br />
However, imagine if my friend Daniel not only doubted the existence of my wife Vana, but even denied it. If I would have then given him Vana’s written messages, he probably would have doubted this information and might have devalued it too, don´t you think so? Even if it would have been important and true information from Vana personally, he might have dismissed it. Doubters should perhaps consider this. <br />
<br />
Could it be possible that great, powerful, practical information for truth, love and world peace is passing by while not being recognized, because of doubt or denial of Anastasia´s existence?<br />
<br />
However, whether Anastasia exists or not is not the most important thing. The most important thing is the information in the books, and the effect that it has on people’s lives. Does it matter where the information came from if that information makes people’s lives and the world better?<br />
<br />
Written by Stefan Veda<br />
Edited by Gabriel Miguel (Anastasia USA)Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-56363642337140247122018-04-22T04:40:00.001-07:002018-07-05T09:17:19.510-07:00Thoughts on the (non)sense of emigration to Russia and why the Kin´s Domain movement is often associated with the "Old Believers"<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="result_box"></a>Again and again, I receive e-mails from people all over who write to
me that they are enthusiastic about the Family Domain Movement in
Russia and that they would like to emigrate there. It is often
tempting to think that happiness lies in a country other than your
own. But is it really the solution to emigrate to Russia instead of
staying where you are? Of course, there is no general response, every
life situation is specific with it´s own needs and requirements. But
how do some people even come up with this idea of emigrating to the
largest country on earth?<br />
<br />
Russia is indeed in an enviable
position. As a great power, it has become politically, economically
and - one must say, by necessity - militarily able to defend its
interests against the imperialistic USA. What country can claim that
kind of self-determination? Russia recently also demonstrated in the
Syrian conflict that it is able to intervene and assert itself in
warlike conflicts in other countries. The Russian standard of living
has increased dramatically in recent years, and prices for real
estate and fuel are relatively low. Above all, however, Russia offers
a huge habitat for acquiring cheap land for the creation of Kin´s
Domain. Although the majority of the country lies in cold climates,
there are now hundreds of settlement initiatives across Russia. The
church in Russia has often deterred the public from the Kin´s
Domain
settlement movement by vilifying the Anastasia books of Vladimir
Megre as sectarian. However, the vast majority of the readership can
not be confused by this because the books represent a holistic and
wholesome way of life for them.<br />
<br />
<span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="Russland hat mit knapp 400 Siedlungen die größte Familienlandsitzbewegung der Welt.">With almost 400 settlements, Russia has the largest kin homestead movement in the world. </span><span title="Wenn man sich jedoch ein allgemein hohes ökologisches Bewusstsein und ein Leben im Einklang mit der Natur erwartet, kann man leider ein bisschen enttäuscht werden.">However,
if one expects a generally high ecological awareness and a life in
harmony with nature, one can unfortunately be a bit disappointed. </span><span title="Das findet man auch in Russland nur vereinzelt.">This can only be found occasionally in Russia. </span><span title="In den Sommern 2015 und 2016 besuchte ich Siedlungen in Russland und beobachtete, dass die meisten Menschen in diesen Siedlungen noch recht städtisch leben.">In
the summers of 2015 and 2016, I visited settlements in Russia and
observed that most people in these settlements still live quite urban. </span><span title="Sie fahren regelmäßig mit dem Auto, kaufen einen Großteil ihrer Lebensmittel im Supermarkt, essen Milchprodukte und kaufen ihren Kindern allerlei industrielle Zuckerware.">They
drive regularly by car, buy a large part of their groceries in the
supermarket, eat dairy products and buy their children all sorts of
industrial sugar products. </span><span title="Das alles obendrauf mit viel Plastikabfall.">All this on top with a lot of plastic waste. </span></span><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="In manchen Siedlungen ist auch Fleisch auf dem Speiseplan einiger Familien."><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="">Although most of the settlers have vegetarian, vegan or raw-food diets, in some settlements meat is also on the diet of some families.</span></span> </span><span title="Nach wie vor finden sich recht viele Frauen, die bei feierlichen Anlässen herkömmliches Make-Up (anstatt Naturkosmetik) und Stöckelschuhe (anstatt bequemer Schuhe) tragen.">There
are still quite a few women who wear traditional make-up (instead of
natural cosmetics) and high-heeled shoes (instead of comfortable shoes)
on ceremonial occasions. </span><span title="Man merkt, dass die Menschen großteils einen städtischen Hintergrund haben.">You can tell that most of the people have an urban background. </span><span title="Außerdem finden sich in vielen Siedlungen Häuser, die mit derzeit üblichen Baustoffen wie Zement-/Beton-/Ziegel erbaut wurden.">In addition, many settlements contain houses built using common building materials such as cement / concrete / brick.</span></span><br />
The profound concept of “Kin´s Domain” is still
not understood or expressed by the great majority of the settlers.
Most people use their land only as a countryside residence during
summer, while staying in the city during winter. Often, the residents
have not (yet) managed to create an easy life that is equal to the
usual standard in the city. People who come from the city to visit a
settlement sometimes have the impression that such a "hard"
life is not for them. They do not want to give up their odorless
toilet, their daily hot shower and other conveniences. In addition,
the ethno-national movement of the "Old Believers", also
known as "Rodnover", has a deterrent effect on some city
dwellers. It is a right-wing religious grouping, which can be found
sporadically in quite a few Kin´s
Domain settlements. It was not until
my second visit to Russia that I became aware of what the Rodnovers
are all about. This religious movement existed long before the
publication of the Anastasia Books. The Rodnovers, with their magical
rituals as well as their ancestral and idol worship activities, are
perceived rather negatively by many people within the Anastasia
movement. In general society, the Rodnovers are viewed as a sect and
unfortunately associated with the Kin´s
Domain Movement. As a result,
quite some people who have not read the Anastasia books yet, grew
sceptical towards the books.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ein Rodnover-Priester liest bei einer Platz-Einweihungs-Zeremonie in der Siedlung Vedrussia aus den schwarzen Büchern vor. Für diesen besonderen Anlass reisten dutzende Rodnover-Anhänger aus den umliegenden Regionen der Siedlung an. Foto: LOVE Productions" class="" data-image-id="6340435669" data-src-height="2592" data-src-width="3888" data-src="https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=708x10000:format=jpg/path/s0f79686b4aa38c9d/image/i813a07e14774b384/version/1524338193/image.jpg" height="265" id="cc-m-imagesubtitle-image-9348153969" src="https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=708x10000:format=jpg/path/s0f79686b4aa38c9d/image/i813a07e14774b384/version/1524338193/image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en">A Rodnover priest reads from the black books at a site initiation ceremony in the settlement of Vedrussia. For this special occasion, dozens of Rodnover followers from the surrounding regions of the settlement arrived. <span class="">Photo: LOVE Productions</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="result_box1"></a> The Rodnovers account for only a small proportion within the Kin´s
Domain movement, which might be in the single-digit percentage range.
Nonetheless, this small proportion has had a rather negative impact
on the impression that society has of the settlement movement. The
Rodnover followers derive their basis for practicing their religion
from the "black books", the so-called "Slavic-Aryan Vedas".* <br />
Based on my visits to about 15 Kin´s Domain
settlements in Russia, I roughly estimate that only about 10 to 20
percent of the settlement populations are Anastasia fans. Another 40
to 50 percent are likely to have read the books once, but seem to no
longer care about it that much and seem to hardly integrate the
knowledge of the books in their lives. 20 to 30 percent of the
settlers have either not read the books or only read a small part of
them. About 5 to 10 percent are Rodnovers, and an even smaller
percentage are Hare Krishna followers. As I said, this is my
estimation based on my experience, and this estimation is intended to
serve only as an approximate guide. <b><span class="" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="">My impression is that exactly those 10 to 20 percent of the settlers, who take the
contents of the Anastasia books to heart and implement the ideas and
suggestions contained therein, seem to have the most beautiful kin homesteads
after a few years.</span> <span class="">With them, I have perceived a
special love and a particularly pleasant charisma, both of the people,
as well as of their animals, plants and their family estate as a whole. </span></span></b><br />
<br />
My friend Eduard, an
inspired reader of Anastasia, lives with his wife and children on his
Kin´s Domain in the settlement of Vedrussia in southern Russia. He
sees the Rodnover movement very critically and feels it as a kind of
occult sect. According to him, out of the several hundred inhabitants
of Vedrussia only a few are Rodnover followers, but these are
responsible for having negatively influenced the image of the entire
settlement. That's why all settlers in the adjacent town would be
associated with the Rodnover sect. Unfortunately, it often happens,
instead of looking closely and differenciate, all people are “put
in one pot”, as we say in Austria. At this point, I would like to
clarify that I am not against the Rodnovers, because I see that they
too have good intentions, and most of them live a much more
nature-loving life than the average person. However, I find it
problematic that their ideology or religion is mistakenly equated
with the Anastasia or Kin´s Domain Movement, despite of their huge
differences. Yes, there are similarities (appreciation of nature and
creation), but nevertheless they fundamentally different from each
other. Just one example to clarify the difference: Anastasia speaks
of <b>a common origin of humanity here on earth</b>, and that all
human beings are brothers and sisters. The Rodnovers, however,
believe in a racial ideology, according to which there were the white
race, the black race, the yellow race and the red race, <b>which had
come from different planets</b>. According to the Rodnovers, these
"races" should not mix. I think this example should make it
clear that these are two completely different worldviews or
ideologies. At this point, maybe someone wonders why the Anastasia
fans do not clearly distance themselves from the Rodnovers. It is not
my intention to explain this and would go beyond the scope of this,
but I would like to mention briefly that they are actually doing it
partly, just not (yet) vociferously enough.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="result_box2"></a>
In addition, in Russia´s countryside tolerance for the fellow human
beings is quite large, they are less upset about what the neighbor
does or does not do, and they accept the conditions more as they
are.<br />
In my opinion, there is still no Kin´s Domain settlement
that really has an exemplary character for society. At least I have
not come across it yet. And here, I think, we, Europeans come into
play. We may not have such a sensible and benevolent government as
Russia, perhaps we do not have such a thoughtful and intelligent
president as Vladimir Putin (whoever believes Putin is the "evil"
may want to check outside the mainstream media or speak to a few
Russians!). Our power and strength, however, lies in our ability to
create a pleasant and exemplary life in harmony with Mother Earth(as
demonstrated through a multitude of <a href="http://www.newwe.info/" target="_blank">eco-communities and ecological projects</a>). We can now rise and take on our task! I think what it
takes now is European Kin´s Domains that give highest expression to
Anastasia's marvellous image of the future! Benefits such as the
freedom of movement in the Schengen area, which is associated with
the EU, could be used to acquire a farm or land where the laws are
favorable for the establishment of a Kin´s Domain. Especially
Eastern and Southern Europe offers a lot of potential. The more
exemplary Kin´s Domains there are in Europe, the stronger will be
the movement, which can ultimately ensure that national and European
policies respond and create legal frameworks that will provide 1 ha
of land for life to any family that so desires; with the right to
pass this on to their own descendants. We are still a long way from
that, but luckily one may dream…</div>
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<br />
<b>Conclusion:</b> Emigrating to Russia is only the best option
for a small minority. For most Europeans and Non-Russians in the Kin´s Domain
movement, probably the most beautiful and productive way to create their Space of Love is to create it in their home country or in a suitable
country in Europe. Even if the political situation in Europe is still messed up; even if corporations and banks manipulate or even control
governments. We, that is, each and every one of us who reads this,
has the power to begin with himself and take steps to change the
world for the better. Everyone can acquire a piece of land for
himself and his family and create an exemplary paradise for himself,
his fellow human beings and his descendants. In many years, it will
probably not matter whether you live in Russia or in the rest of
Europe, because the time will come when there will again be a
continent with a shared culture of awareness, from Lisbon to
Vladivostok. The Kin´s Domain movement will eventually unite the
world as one. Let us enjoy the journey!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-US" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Written by Stefan Veda<br />
<br />
* When referring to "Slavic-Aryan vedas" or "black books" referred to in this context, they mean texts by Alexander Hinewitsch. Hinewitsch spreads the myth that shortly before the year 2000, unknown persons had received secret 40,000-year-old "vedic texts" and had been taken to places where he could see them. He claims that the original texts left to him were engraved on gold plates or drawn on tree bark or papyrus scrolls. Legend says that the texts were kept in secret places in caves by so-called guardians ("saints of ancient wisdom"). The originals were written in "multi-dimensional" runic writing (according to legend h'Arische Runnika / Karune), which were only readable by initiated priests. Outsiders are inaccessible to the originals , which has led to criticism in circles of followers and has challenged credibility. Hinevich claims to translate these texts into Russian since the alleged receipt. His "Slavic-Aryan vedas" appeared as a "black book" but only in 2006. Components of the intended script should be an older fictional "Holy Scripture of the Book of Veles" and a translation of the Icelandic Ynglingasaga. Critics even speak in this context of plagiarism, as parts of the texts were copied. Several other points that speak against the authenticity of the documents are mentioned in Russian in detail in a <a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BC" target="_blank">Russian Wikipedia article</a> . In 2009, both Hinewitsch and his organization were investigated by the Russian Public Prosecutor for "religious extremism". In 2014 Hinewitsch was again charged in Russia. The charge is for incitement to ethnic and religious hatred.</div>
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<style type="text/css">p { margin-bottom: 0.1in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 120%; }p.western { font-family: "Liberation Serif", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; }</style>Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-67555457082445927182016-08-25T08:05:00.002-07:002018-09-20T19:24:51.964-07:00Peace Pilgrim - a peace pilgrim who touches the hearts of many people<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqkCgjF8RF8orwdAQcH72RjaILho2JYihKdoEp4dRMg1BvRnAZUuO54vHToWLa0WTLXksi-HldKiYFWcoDvn52UQuN0DGf5Rm-sWpBUg8-5qI95woOpPoe4t50ZEeV-BvcI3UhoXdWm5z/s1600/peacepilgrim+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqkCgjF8RF8orwdAQcH72RjaILho2JYihKdoEp4dRMg1BvRnAZUuO54vHToWLa0WTLXksi-HldKiYFWcoDvn52UQuN0DGf5Rm-sWpBUg8-5qI95woOpPoe4t50ZEeV-BvcI3UhoXdWm5z/s1600/peacepilgrim+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<div class="cc-m-textwithimage-inline-rte" data-action="text" data-name="text" id="cc-m-textwithimage-8883916969">
<i>by Stefan Shin Veda</i><br />
<i>Edited by Thalia Forest</i><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 27.2px;">"If you realized how powerful your thoughts are, you would never think a negative thought.” - Peace Pilgrim</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 27.2px;">Some weeks ago, thanks to my wife, I came across the book “Peace Pilgrim.”</span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;">She was so enthusiastic about it that I decided to have a look and actually ended up reading the whole book.On the</span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;"> </span><a href="http://peacepilgrim.com/" style="color: #367714; line-height: 27.2px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.2s ease-in;" target="_blank">website</a><span style="line-height: 27.2px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;">you will be able to find the book in various languages, for free!</span><span style="line-height: 27.2px;"> </span></div>
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Peace Pilgrim was a woman who lived and was active in North America. Her exact birthday and birth name are unknown, because she didn’t reveal them to the public. On January 1, 1953 she began her pilgrimage for peace, walking through the USA and Canada. Her pilgrimage lasted 30 years. No one can say exactly how many miles she walked, because she stopped counting after 25,000 miles.</div>
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The most impressive thing for me was her deep trust in God and in life. She didn’t keep any personal possessions (she didn’t even carry a backpack) and she didn’t use or accept money, even if it was offered to her. She also never asked for food or shelter. She lived in full trust, knowing that everything she needed would be given to her. </div>
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When she wasn’t offered accommodation, she just slept in nature or under a bridge. She was not one to start a conversation with people -- her blue tunic with the slogan “Walking 25,000 miles on foot for peace” stimulated people to approach her and ask questions. </div>
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She once fasted for 45 days, but otherwise she almost never went hungry. On her hikes she often just ate what she found in nature -- wild fruits and berries and a variety of herbs. She was a vegetarian and loved fruits best.</div>
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She would hike northward in the spring and southward in the fall. She didn’t do this to have nicer weather for herself (she became very heat and cold tolerant through being outdoors in nature), but because during the warmer seasons more people would be out of doors, and so more people could receive her message of peace. </div>
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Over the years, Peace Pilgrim became well known nationwide. She was invited to give countless speeches and TV interviews and she was the subject of many newspaper articles. </div>
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<b>Her central message of peace remained the same over the years:</b> <span style="font-family: "arial black";"><b>“This is the way of peace: Overcome evil with good, and falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.”</b></span></div>
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In the book you will read deeply touching and impressive experiences from Peace Pilgrim’s life and get a powerful transmission of spiritual wisdom and truth. She tells about seemingly dead-end situations in her life and how, through the power of pure love and inner peace, they always turned out well.</div>
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Every human for whom inner and outer peace is important should read this book! The book opens hearts; it inspires and expands one’s horizons. One might even get motivation to simplify and to concentrate more on the essentials of life. Peace Pilgrim is an inspiring example of how little one needs to be fulfilled, to be happy and to live in inner peace. </div>
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My heart gives thanks to Peace Pilgrim, for the precious gift that she has given to human and non-human beings alike, through her truthfulness, love and inner peace! She continues living in many hearts. Her active peace work is still delivering its fruits today, and certainly will continue to do so for a long time through her book. </div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Conclusion:</span> Must read!! But beware, your perspective on life can be dramatically altered and profound experiences of peace may manifest while reading! </div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;"><span style="color: #993300;"><span style="color: black;">“Unnecessary possessions are unnecessary burdens. If you have them, you have to take care of them! There is great freedom in simplicity of living. It is those who have enough but not too much who are the happiest.”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">--Peace Pilgrim</span></div>
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Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-48317852720207507422016-03-27T03:04:00.002-07:002016-04-07T00:32:31.013-07:00Homesteading settlements in Russia (Part 2) - The Kovcheg settlement and the "Eco-technology Festival" <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH0FPyumfXY8B-yM27YkzBRvVvzcZNrpqiEKKRwMAXl24fwMOQZ93xRG3AXfefeovMfC7nH8m-8EFu0i4wWRr-uavZmw5J12uugmgAmYFrsTdJlO48nCFybu7GdRUlH_aunrwudjylH1Al/s640/DSC01409.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Nina(left) on Elenas family homestead</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I arrived at the station in
Maloyaroslavets I was picked up by an Internet contact named Dmitriy
Vatolin and his neighbor Nina. They both live in "Kovcheg",
a vegetarian eco-village in the Kula region. It was founded in 2002 and
received official village status in 2009. The trip there took about
an hour, although the village is located only 30 km from
Maloyaroslavets. The reason for the long drive was that the last 14
kilometers of the route was a dirt road with large potholes. The road
was in bad condition and Dmitriy had to drive slowly, and drive
around the holes as much as possible. In spite of his efforts, it was
a very bumpy ride that I would not want to do regularly. Nina told me
once that in Russia there is a joke asking the question: "How do
you recognize a road in Russia? Quite simple: as long as you can
walk on it, it can be driven on!" They told me that during the
Russian Campaign Nazi Germany had underestimated the bad roads in
Russia, to the benefit of the Russian population. When I arrived in
Kovcheg we drove at a walking pace through the village. On each side
of the hedges family domains were to be seen, sometimes already large
in size, sometimes quite small. We drove past the community center,
school, the fire station, store and through the village.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGDnMT8qg5x1uQxBaF1qj_AWpGIl0OrwqJUUsS1kcjDUSFG33zXjK6o_L37vUO_zYTtHsJ3WNTQb478pts6Wh5cYTkAiB0HbE_BuuI-0qlZk9YbzrgefWdZQwdkT5MPMQkawp9k8FUwE-/s400/DSC01339.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Street in Kovcheg, to both sides well grown hedges.</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We let Nina
out of the car and then drove about 150 meters further until we
reached Dmitriy's homestead. Just as Andrey had in Slavnoje, Dmitriy
also lives on the edge of the settlement, near the woods. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dmitriy lives together with his partner
Valia, and her 2 children from a previous marriage, on their
1-hectare homestead. Throughout the year he has his own honey from
natural beekeeping and is largely a raw foodist.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqriMYXHDkbSb-XS37BWvTprS4joLQAGQoRyzkLOfmWbazYmWqw5VXYgvSlM5rPOHQ_f8tp8r10Rw82QOo0V5fKDQr_Ujq-S92c5Nm5zB7kU3zp0KoJQVxp_DZljAWEJCtQCh5G37vgmfq/s320/DSC01520.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dmitriys self-made Solarbox for melting bee wax</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the week
that I lived at his house, he ate only fresh vegetables from his
garden for lunch and dinner. This was mostly a mixture of red and
yellow tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, salad greens and berries. Valia
and the children ate cooked food alongside the raw food. We spoke in
English, so the children and Valia had a chance to practice the
recognized world-language.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7_LIgN1R1NGykhvkdEUjqJf7MXgKu4I7VrrfAYX7YRv3-ygCwSdPgKjKMqikYCol9lXG6UMrAuuU4YPLcLfrWuPdOZ7NBQICHoNBK4QqFWPV_4asuo5pGj4PbnYhDUbEB6u2xclS0RF2/s320/DSC01329.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dmitriy with neighbour goat</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The special thing about Kovcheg is that
the land was given to the community free of charge by the regional
government, however, only for a 50 year lease. The land previously
consisted of barren fields and meadows with very poor soils. But
within a few years it has been transformed into a beautiful
settlement, with living fences (hedges), an abundance of trees and
houses for families in which children are born. During a walk through
the village Dmitriy showed me the most varied and innovative houses.
Additionally he also mentioned that they now have a fire station in
Kovcheg because some houses had already burnt down. I was very
surprised by this, but it showed the laxity of the Russians in this
regard. Fortunately nothing happened to anyone, but they learnt
their lesson, and they now conform to the safety distances for stove
and chimney construction in wooden houses.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtAF21WIq09VegMzNLe5xlSR4eiEIhMd-jWTiMEYg4Mshyb02LUuhG1b_RZGTbacn24vXqubY-cn4XxArpRmuaPTKm0Tp1wfUuouvfkTX6vFKiDHyVty2kfZTH_bpLGKTcLubC2ITPIXfr/s400/DSC01261.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Community house facing south</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first building in Kovcheg was the
Community House which was built right in the center. This house has a
kitchen and several rooms, which are used as classrooms for school
lessons or as dance, art and seminar rooms. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU_uLjPMh84SmJQrVPqBzIl9V24xBblFBunYJ0Fm9is__emPuyEMnPxgV9TEVEQjDinhlwg0qUwHDonGhF8E5Uu6W1-7_-n8wFs3pg4_QdggTQuBbRNHYZDhspJm57ZDv8uImJSSjhsYRq/s320/DSC01269.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A classroom</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Community members also
gather here for meetings whereby decisions are made with a 75 percent
majority vote. I was impressed by the fact that in this eco-village
consisting of 79 families, many classes such as dance, Aikido and
yoga, are held several times a week. As the Community House is in the
center of the village it can be reached by a short walk or bike from
all homesteads. The advantages of everyone living on 1 hectare of
land could be seen in this settlement. It is more compact and
people can reach their neighbors, the community center, store or
community sauna easier and not be tempted to use a car as I
experienced in Slavnoje, where some people owned 3, 4 or even 5
hectares of land. Personally, I find a size between 1 and 1.4
hectare per homestead is optimal. Depending on their wishes and needs
a family should be allowed to occupy a correspondingly large
homestead. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmG7MxkYQmNdeq-DDRK4sE2Hu5QvBoZ0Ak75o0fbzvHRXqSLyFGDIsb9J58woPFi_QHzSpC0_vle6Zg6jg9aSx86TTXJZJ0ggPDcZR80zKqgzLB2zVUhSf2KUjURhz4Fr8h9u_gC-zFovK/s400/DSC01282.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Community house facing west</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2lm8XMR_gOFavjXdngsro0zn7VoqOoy4r04wnn2bUUyK-9i63TWmHdI4bcfX1S6jVgoH8RN_QayuRL9VcH3JB0StOWoHm4BYdN49QbET-ozHzA66OB42t8LwE9qf6erMJiVN9Py91bkB/s320/DSC01442.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Map of Kovcheg with family photos</b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2lm8XMR_gOFavjXdngsro0zn7VoqOoy4r04wnn2bUUyK-9i63TWmHdI4bcfX1S6jVgoH8RN_QayuRL9VcH3JB0StOWoHm4BYdN49QbET-ozHzA66OB42t8LwE9qf6erMJiVN9Py91bkB/s1600/DSC01442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What I liked in the community center was the large map of
Kovcheg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> This was made from images of individual families on their
domains. So you could see exactly where each family's place in the
village was. I thought that was a great idea! In addition to the
community center there is a building for the theater. There I was
able to watch the children of Kovcheg rehearse “Alice in
Wonderland". Incidentally the school lessons in Kovcheg are
taught, organized and planned by the parents themselves. It is
therefore a style of homeschooling where skilled parents band
together to educate the children, each according to their abilities.
Once a year the children need to take an exam at a state recognized
school in the nearest town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day I was invited by Ludomila the
English teacher to facilitate an English lesson for the Kovcheg
students. I told the students a little bit about myself and my work,
then I showed them <a href="http://www.newwe.info/" target="_blank">my film "A New We", a film aboutEuropean Eco-Villages</a>. At the end, I gave
Ludomila and the school my film and they were very appreciative. One
day I was invited to their family domain for tea. She lives in a
beautiful wooden house together with her husband and four children.
There I also met a friend of theirs, a Krishna devotee who had
formerly lived in Kovcheg.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfsAjroyGbzuyofYknw__0IzhziOIVsBh6bFS-MKgZmTBFLYFBfqylSNWsd8X2_OSPTV_2RgUCeF9iq9upESwcBz2TUwF9kRYdFRVXxoBK7TtshmWL4tQJYX2sx8eOhN0oMhidv9CCJSF/s640/14HouseKovcheg.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The house of the English teacher</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One morning I went to the natural pond
belonging to Dmitriy (this pond had no liner, no concrete or similar
substrate, the water was held in only by a compacted clay layer), I
did a few acrobatic exercises that I enjoy and relished the
subsequent swim. It was nice and warm and after I had climbed out of
the water, I let myself dry in the sun.
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTpVz7n_YCrg-0wcBixQF92cCiI0gVWDUK6-kJVkFfIdjyyVDt5sQO01Xs2VxN6apJ8kB6EqnhVczC4a7RsDX9XYwmMSZ8WkhkBhBAt9jw3KaluiyRTYCRyfxInFjzYd19CgQ-bg2weSy/s640/DSC01445.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Music rehearsal in the common house</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What differentiates Kovcheg from many
other settlements I have seen, is that the land does not belong to the families
themselves, but a legal entity, a kind of cooperative, which they
describe as a non-profit company. Each family sort of rents the land
from this cooperative. Incidentally, this is the main point of
contention in Kovcheg and has caused the villagers to be divided into
3 camps. One group wants to keep it the way it is now, the second
group wants the families themselves to be able to "own" the
land, and the third group is neutral and either won't, or isn't able
to, clearly position themselves.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PFaf9HYnPHoIpsopmiTHE6KsI4FKE_NlRejsFLGPNrqmgokyjR6oz8r-IqNpQpZshZBX2yJMY9cLYuMis2TkdcM02RoDd46JpkOGGEriKFu8Va-fEaQAIRpPy0x0FbPXQqwqIzS7bHQc/s400/DSC01225.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Path between two homesteads</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was surprised to learn that in
Kovcheg, in contrast to the settlement of Slavnoje. every family has
exactly 1 hectare of land. Everything is precisely structured, the
homesteads run exactly parallel to each other and are separated by a
three meter wide path. The domains are not square but rectangular and
south-facing. In this way they each gain plenty of southern sun
without taking any from their neighbors. The paths and roads in
Kovcheg are unpaved and have a width of about 6 meters.
</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWWv3ryiSGJ9JrE2nTl_djxLB6qZmaAxke94m-dT587QvMKuJEBpYshnQ52F1Z2jNVPO7rcb2u3e9Qq_TFgNWL04WkTN2n-OJAClROm69PXJ6ht-AAI1HyAA_2H4qpduSRK4rOmnkZ6Ae/s640/DSC01288.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The shop in Kovcheg</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Kovcheg there is a shop with food,
magazines and DVDs. It is open for 1 hour a day and offers
vegetarian food. The food is not certified organic, which is normal
in Russia, because organic certification is not yet as widespread as
elsewhere in Europe. This is relative to the fact that among other
things, the unsprayed share of food in Russia (produced by allotment
holders and wild crafting) is substantially larger than in Europe,
and therefore people in Russia have a correspondingly lower demand
for organic food. They also consider food mostly organic when its
from their own gardens anyway. A market also takes place in Kovcheg
now and again. This is usually organized in conjunction with another
public event. At this market the residents sell products from their
family domains and miscellaneous goods. What I also found interesting
was the Kovcheg text messaging service. 95% of residents subscribe to
this service. They regularly receive text messages with important
news. If one of the residents wants to share something important,
they can do this by directing the appropriate message to the
voluntary Text Message Service Manager. Then all the people of
Kovcheg get the message. An important message could be for example:
"New store opening times! From Wednesday from 10-11am", or:
“The market will take place this Saturday morning”, or “Valia
is building her roof, helping hands welcome" This messaging
service is paid for by the Community company.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are two fees, which the residents
in Kovcheg pay. The first of these is an annual fee, which is used
for the maintenance of roads and streets, as well as the
infrastructure of the village. The second is a direct charge, which
is used for community buildings. If someone wants to leave the
village for good, they get back a good portion of the money for the
community buildings, but nothing from the annual fee.
</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the woods around Kovcheg it was the
same as in Slavnoje, there was an abundance of mushrooms and I was
allowed to enjoy both their harvest and consumption. Once I took an
extensive walk with Dmitriy through the woods. We surveyed his
forest beehives, high up on the trees, in order to entice new swarms
of bees. He was happy because they were successful, and seven new
swarms had settled in the hives. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYH_aCBYCWFHdRsN0u2aC_HzHmm03sVtkx12-i8mTnaULJb-XK5H-GVQ653tM4rHUhH9Xby9LmjnR3LfHjAvOOUZI5ilpzNbiWke-clTzyv7tLAcoLtx-LpV2rap8nRS-f3hGG0TRp1qY4/s320/DSC01365.JPG" /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Additionally we wanted to go into
the depths of the woods, because he had mounted motion cameras there
to film wildlife. On the way we found an incredible number of
raspberries and I was pleased to see how Dmitriy was in heavenly
rapture eating the berries. Back at home, he showed me the pictures
from his cameras. I saw infrared shots of wild boar, deer and a fox
and found this very enjoyable. But I experienced an even greater joy
watching Dmitriy. He was as pleased with the recordings as a small
child and showed them to me enthusiastically. It was really lovely to
watch an adult who has something he can really be happy enjoying, as
much as a small child -who still can- does.
</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The toilet on Dmitriy's homestead was
simple, as with most other family homesteads. A small building with
a hole in the ground. You just squat down and do your business. At
the end of the toilet session you throw sawdust over the excreta and
the matter is settled. During my time in Kovcheg my friend Nina
introduced me to various different people and we visited their family
homesteads. I found three homesteads particularly noteworthy. On
one lived Mikhail, Valia's ex-husband. He runs a nursery on his land
and grows a variety of pine and conifer trees, including the Siberian
Stone Pine (colloquially known as the “Siberian Cedar”).
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was nice to see such a variety of
different conifers. He sells his trees through his online store and
he can live well from this.
</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ww3-MiwxzU_lvpZLFYicVEQCpD1x0BwkenBddKYOx2yvnXWzRFoTrIsdCHh85lTS9BiQ21KCp-0tgViIQvJLmtNQG3cn3mEuuGaQIUaA51NLFgjT0t6dZfHKJxw4AMRBxNXB2y5Q6t2g/s320/DSC01448.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the entrance of Michails nursery-homestead</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The second homestead I want to mention
here is Elena's. She and her husband manage the theaters in Kovcheg.
On her homestead everything is very "German" and tidy.
They were constantly apologizing that it was not properly looked
after because they don't have the time to clean-up and maintain it,
but I thought everything looked nice and tidy...</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb5tdLPkl-XbD1ujZIQ_Sjyd6mEqz__tK4kO7CW1IEj14MNraiqYCbtEohklJOVikimk4_NCS8Hd0LcRPh82B8JSbX_wZZ4ib6AHwGvwqnkayGISnZ7HUDvixhrLNlJHCbG6OY3EO0jj-/s1600/DSC01405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpb5tdLPkl-XbD1ujZIQ_Sjyd6mEqz__tK4kO7CW1IEj14MNraiqYCbtEohklJOVikimk4_NCS8Hd0LcRPh82B8JSbX_wZZ4ib6AHwGvwqnkayGISnZ7HUDvixhrLNlJHCbG6OY3EO0jj-/s320/DSC01405.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elena`s homestead</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WLaMOdK_BLIXAYEma8zJcLdtIC7CE9cyNtBipQTsCFat4xZJoRPF1K7Y_qhdeWDL5XWwurQGZhJwKHmSdTdPfdtzZ_E6pwfgASS_VaiTA4Ad-rWlzHQViPYncCS8QbGA0_GgVebd2KZ_/s320/DankeDaniel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Elena and Stefan with siberian pine tree(Pinus Sibirica)</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And the third family
homestead, which I found particularly interesting was that of
Tatjana's. She was one of the few people in Kovcheg who actually
implemented the ideas and practical tips from the Anastasía books.
Accordingly her family domain is beautiful and the energy was
noticeably higher compared to the energy of other homesteads. At her
place I had my first encounter with an old Russian healing method
called "Pravilo". In this technique the whole body is
stretched, both the hands and legs are pulled in four directions.
This was a treat for the body and the mind. I also found the grove
of trees at Tatjana's particularly special. She buried her mother on
their land and planted a tree there. It looked beautiful and I felt
very moved by it. She didn't want me to photograph this place and I
completely accepted this. It was a sacred and intimate place for
them. Otherwise, I was able to photograph everything I wanted.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhay2JMwzzI89fv_J9HdHY9GS9en4S2_72UDBdUes5aEkqdpYQbHYUF7wt8rAru_TkwnFyZHB-OjaN6IYBKehEciYgLP6whh131Td8XYnuR6T8aSMSGe_cMyUv7woRz4cVgjZHaq0ccPiBK/s400/DSC01376.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tatyana's house</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHa7W5V8L3xjSVhEtMkMfKoNDkJU1Q-ty0kGrMy8rO6xp3s5XCrxu06mmjY68JZPPiYeIL09O64czi4Bx0_FK0fXcBuhsw9GlKf1UpAr-yw0dgkWfB_N3VXxv60x3gyGIvSVlRBhXvVTp5/s400/DSC01350.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Doing Pravilo</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMUSWbsB-6-_3_gpFNBjz-QNIKlnoflmZ8alPUBSaqiYt83fk2LKEucjOxT9UePjFohGjY8ALhdUrtc2RT3yhgwyXJK2aUXikZBRhO8UfxsD7Dh5DTDTR2Vc9LWeGl03gsWXX0iW2J4Wx/s400/DSC01378.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tatyana's Earthcellar</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2jAw1MRGGyzDn7PJGBgNP7MQt3NCRrfmnn2mPL07tr26f_UBt72HptBCpGgNq2rKcDiAn9btwgvQVSnXsaL4cJj8_P_CL9knEV8aZk7afnVmTYxHUBF5fyDBKu6FiX2cRkcb84IzB28ik/s400/DSC01395.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tatyana's pond</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One evening Dmitriy and I rode bikes to
the community sauna. This operates daily throughout the year. I
think three times a week there are men's sauna, three women's sauna
and one time family sauna. The sauna is located next to a small
river with a beautiful swimming area. First you sweat properly in the
sauna and then dip into the cold river to bathe. It was a pleasant
experience that was repeated many times. In the foyer of the sauna we
took breaks to rest and drink good tea, sweetened with Dmitriy's
honey. A nice experience! The sauna serves as a great place for
health and relaxation, at the same time it is a place of natural
communication and organization and provides space to discuss various
matters. An example of this was that in the sauna we met a man who
fells, processes and sells wood in Kovcheg. Dmitriy told him that he
wanted to order more wood from him and he was ready to buy it. So the
communal sauna and other community facilities provide natural,
regular contact and communication can flow naturally, without the
need to use the phone for every little thing. There are plenty of
opportunities to meet each other in the flow of life.
</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZofUidTFSX0u_SYvq05vXiy5y6PcDyjA-krl_4TzYIX0uVdacyHrHNhJXtaQJdMgh8JVfQ7mIAu_ZKHhr6nlyHsMCI0ObQJVIBqcfU3vIlntHkWTPIRy3qqzRfhyphenhyphenivzEpe8el2ykogz-/s320/DSC01480.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The bridal pair</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZofUidTFSX0u_SYvq05vXiy5y6PcDyjA-krl_4TzYIX0uVdacyHrHNhJXtaQJdMgh8JVfQ7mIAu_ZKHhr6nlyHsMCI0ObQJVIBqcfU3vIlntHkWTPIRy3qqzRfhyphenhyphenivzEpe8el2ykogz-/s1600/DSC01480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One day we were invited to a wedding in
Kovcheg. People came, both from outside and from within the
settlement. The bridal pair took us through their land and told us
what they had already done and what they wanted to create in the
future. Following this was a colorful buffet. As a gift I gave the
wedding couple unhulled pinenuts from Siberia, which they rejoiced
over.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFQigpMwEyRjImCecUapAaBOSDfsA3w_Is6dkP_-XwWRHotaElJwxb1ajq7UjrLUQlcR22N_W-nPj1a-ikQlGmiVZkmBonHNe-lxaLTQIlK5hVxtMWHPqXRe2lMlXxWN_xjz33NxCW0z7/s320/DSC01470.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bridal pair with guests</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Towards the end of my trip to Kovcheg,
Nina invited me and her neighbors to come to an "Eco-technology
Festival". I accepted this offer gladly. We drove about 3 hours
to the festival, which took place on the community grounds of a
settlement called "Everlasting Family".</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I found the festival very enjoyable.
People came together from different settlements and had an ideal
opportunity to exchange. There were several tents, tipis, stages or
free places in nature where people offered workshops, shared their
practical knowledge and experiences. Topics included natural
parenting, organic technology vs. technocratic technology,
self-sufficiency, music, natural construction and cleaning, the
conscious procreation of children and many other topics were
facilitated. I took part in a beautiful healing and prayer ceremony
for the freedom and happiness of all beings. There was dancing in
the evening and a beautiful campfire where a bard offered his
beautiful songs. People slept in their own tents in the meadow or in
the woods. At the festival I got to know many, very dear people, and
whenever people realized that I wasn't from Russia, they were very
interested and beamed at me.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkauogFlCQL5gSSS6p0EyJIZ6A-5DQEvkfrHZVCA3wsw32bY2Y4B0P2GUpx63t6SpjeNs18olIFay5oGreHvKkD4O32gQNfJvOHHNUBaMx9u9joJL7PYHknb39_2d3j-RlFRmQPZwLNjEC/s640/DSC01503.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Svetlana, Stefan, Nina and Maria at the festival</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They were mostly curious and wanted to
know what lead me here to Russia. Once I had a long conversation with
two lovely women from Moscow, named Maria and Svetlana. I asked them,
amongst other things about their attitudes towards homosexuality. I
wanted to find out for myself, by empirical field survey, what the
general attitude towards homosexuality is in Russia . They told me
that homosexuality is regarded as a disease in Russia. However, it is
a curable disease. Svetlana said that she herself was a therapist
and told me that she had already healed several men of homosexuality.
One of them is now a good friend of hers. She practices a method by
Arny Mindell, called Process Work.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvKMEbZKLRg5Eq8aQJaapg4wbjMo2XpPeDMao50lkGylp15CLIqEEDVDoKOi-VsAgeOSMqT3xZZh34oOM9dSxsmErlRxlRHgNKJONxat5D-NL_mvPRmts5iNd01KjFVIAfVVWL9ROKPWH/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A workshop in nature</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAUdULkg1txvlqf3_ZIgnmunk20c_jT8Z0KrQpdo6BMTNLz19uoi-PI2d55rwoe8QBX7WQkfdMCHqV6RROsLaYnk50Kmp9dNP8eDjGTn-dtpQ7G_l7Y7IvNlSIradfLnMGQTAIKatIoi6/s320/IMG_0054.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bread and salt is given during a peace ceremony</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvKMEbZKLRg5Eq8aQJaapg4wbjMo2XpPeDMao50lkGylp15CLIqEEDVDoKOi-VsAgeOSMqT3xZZh34oOM9dSxsmErlRxlRHgNKJONxat5D-NL_mvPRmts5iNd01KjFVIAfVVWL9ROKPWH/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAUdULkg1txvlqf3_ZIgnmunk20c_jT8Z0KrQpdo6BMTNLz19uoi-PI2d55rwoe8QBX7WQkfdMCHqV6RROsLaYnk50Kmp9dNP8eDjGTn-dtpQ7G_l7Y7IvNlSIradfLnMGQTAIKatIoi6/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A conversation with a Russian bard
particularly stands out in my memory. Unfortunately I do not remember
his name. He was an estimated 50 years young, lived for several years
in New Zealand and radiated a lot of positive energy. He told me he
was sure that we were living in a period of total upheaval and it
would take a few more years until massive changes would result for
the positive. He told me that in 1985 he had been able to predict
that the Soviet Union wouldn't be around much longer. He began to
tell people that the Soviet Union would be gone in a few years.
People thought he was crazy because the political-military power
structure seemed too overwhelmingly big and powerful. But he was
right, and it came faster than many could imagine. And we are at such
a tipping point now. His prediction for the coming years and decades
inspired me and gave me a good and confident feeling.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, it will be good on earth, and we
are here!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Written by Stefan Veda</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">for life, love and truth!</span></div>
Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-81088461244847040022016-03-02T00:08:00.001-08:002016-03-06T03:09:54.604-08:00Family homestead settlements in Russia! A ray of hope for humanity? (Part 1)<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV4wsOLWCOwjEr7uZAy2xHS3ot5CEaBMLmatkU8FAmQYgBvDmWRHncrmx-IUqYIitd5ISD1H_3MMBrgT8d2M3odq7hc3xhlkwMIJwD3Vs4usFygdF0R1eB00ZD23gIMTFHmhh_L8abR2iV/s640/ANT_6480.JPG" /></div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The
rise of Russian Eco villages is of great interest to many
people currently searching for meaningful, healthy and
community-orientated lifestyles. In this report Stefan Wolf recounts his
extraordinary experiences staying with Russian families who welcomed
him into their lives. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: start;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);">In 2011 the Anastasia </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">series of books by Vladimir Megre opened up a new way of perceiving Russia and its society </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">for
me. Prior to reading these books I had zero interest in Russia. However
the historical and visionary stories revealed about this land and its
inhabitants, as well as the family homestead movement inspired by the
books, appealed to me.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I
then released a German documentary in early 2015 about the family
homestead settlement “Slavnoye” and through this I was in contact
with the Director of the film <a href="http://www.loveproductions.org/english/ode-to-nature/" target="_blank">Andrey Shadrov.</a> He lives with his
family in “Slavnoye” so I made enquiries as to whether I could
stay with him for a few days. Andrey agreed and so it came about
that in August 2015 I embarked on a 4 week Russian journey. I
prepared for my trip by acquiring the basics of Russian language and
writing that I felt appropriate. In particular the words “vegetarian”
and “vegan” were very important to me, as I was anxious that as a
vegan in Russia I wouldn't get enough to eat. Fortunately this fear
quickly turned out to be an illusion when Andrey and his brother
Eugen collected me from the airport. Eugen explained that he was a
Raw Foodist and that in Russia there are increasing numbers of
vegetarian, vegan and raw food enthusiasts. I felt a sense of
pleasant relief!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplarblRz7q4D1a-NyyxZTR_ypQGL9s_x6PrzE9u3o6NrCxzBXHRIPX_ihbYqiaDvkwujvK4DPOiBOOZw5qfZIt7rKLeYQxoqeeqCp3Ky2gX8U_fiYhwGlkcVyi-vm0xs-ePtAAu45Ij08/s320/1.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>In
the “Slavnoye” settlement</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On
the way to the settlement Eugen told me that he would stay with us
for a few days before going to his parents who were based half an
hour away from the Slavnoye settlement. I asked him about Vladimir
Putin and he replied that most Russians considered him a good
president. Before Putin became president the average life expectancy
in Russia was 60 years and the death rate was higher than the birth
rate. In the meantime the life expectancy has risen to 70 years and
the birth rate is higher than the death rate. According to Eugen,
the rates of crime and corruption have decreased significantly, the
standard of living increased and the Russian people have restored
their love for the Nation again thanks to Putin. Generally speaking
the residents of Slavnoye also like Putin due to his support for the
idea of family homesteads. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">When
we arrived in Slavnoye we needed to drive through the entire
settlement as Andrey lived at the far end. I was then very warmly
welcomed by Andrey's wife Tatjana. After a delicious dinner of
homegrown potatoes and vegetables I retired early to recover from the
long journey I had made from Taiwan. </span>
</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
next morning we awoke to fruit and watermelon for breakfast followed
by a delicious green smoothie with energy-giving greens from the
garden. </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After
breakfast we walked into the forest. I almost didn't believe my eyes
at how many </span>chanterelle<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
mushrooms there were. In a short time the basket was filled. At home
Tatjana prepared delicious meals with the mushrooms and dried the
rest to store for winter. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBVCVl2X4E0DIRN9wmUBa6SRHqIiGLLGkGazGoQRBa-dq7Dx50INfoOp6-i3OPYd9H0HpcETgK0B3XXviJRsTpe80D3kfG3AeyHVEUL7u3kJYTWxEuaIns8HTFvb4YvbVmpNeLiAhs19-N/s320/7.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In
the afternoon I was invited to enjoy the Russian sauna on Andrey's
land. For me the idea of using a sauna in the heat of summer was
unusual, but according to Andrey, in Russia people sauna the year
round.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFcUarrSczhk9K1tnA3wix_x0U-AKpWFJUe-TYbuqMgCrlT3FM3kpW6cREALNWDNWKdcfs6Z2aeJy_4VEsKYtnZeAJhts656UhyphenhyphencSdwBkccO5rLxOC7AguBGoYF3G-jem8VazY1RmquHa/s320/29.JPG" /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">150
families have a homestead in Slavonoye, but the majority are only
seasonal residents. A lot of them still work in the cities and only
come to their homestead recreationally. I spent my first week in
Russia at Slavnoye with Andrey, his wife Tatjana and son Luchic at
their family homestead. I couldn't speak Russian except for a few
sentences and they also only spoke a few sentences of English and
German. Nevertheless we succeeded in being able to communicate
simply, but above all, we understood each other well at a heart
level. For complex conversation Andrey and I used computer
translation programs (Google or Yandex translator) which helped
greatly and worked very well. I stayed with them in their hand-built
wooden house and had my own room so I was granted insight into their
harmonic family life.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Homeschooling,
decision-making processes and increasing self-sufficiency</b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Three-year
Luchic was in my opinion an exceptional boy. In the week of my
visit I didn't see him cry once. Although he repeatedly stumbled
while running in the woods or on the gravel road, and a few times he
fell pretty hard, he didn't cry. Everything Andrey and Uncle
Eugen asked of him he undertook in a serene, but determined way.
“They really know how to raise a child” I thought. Also, I
never felt that he was disturbing me, as I have often experienced with other
children, because he always knew how to entertain himself and our
contact was based on mutual respect. To me this child was like
an angel. Perhaps the reason for his harmonious nature is based
on the fact that he was conceived in love on Andrey and Tatyana's own
family homestead, in their hand-built home?</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Or maybe
because Tatjana spent the pregnancy on the homestead, Luchic was born
in the house, is now growing up surrounded by various flora, flowers
and trees his parents planted for him and that now provide him and
his family with real food? Perhaps these are some of the reasons
that may explain why Luchic is so harmonious. It is probably
also due to the natural, wise and clear way in which he is being
raised, as well as the harmonious and loving relationship of his
parents. Moreover, life in the community would certainly be
supportive of his development. Not to mention the beautiful
songs with truly good lyrics that are sung almost daily with or to
Luchic, accompanied by Andrey on guitar and Tatjana's flute. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Luchic
will not have to go to a school outside Slavnoye, because the
community's residents have created their own non-state school, where
parents jointly teach the students. Once a year, students must
pass an examination at a state school. This type of
homeschooling can be practiced in Russia up until the commencement of
high school. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Decisions
by vote</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #212121;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Incidentally
the community residents make strategic decisions for the settlement
by majority vote (75 % ) during a general meeting .</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">
Additionally they are also able to call on other communities for
advice and they have a Chairman in the settlement, who is elected by
the residents. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On
one occasion Tatjana showed me some photograph albums. In the
pictures I could see the change that had happened on their land. From
its beginnings as a barren field they have transformed it into a
living oasis with lots of trees, a beautiful wooden house and several
smaller buildings, a fountain and gardens. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">More
and more people are able to achieve an income through activity
undertaken at their homestead or in the community. In addition,
their self-sufficiency increases. Water self-suffiency is 100
percent achieved through their own wells and according to Andrey
about 50 percent of their food needs are achieved on average by
self-sufficiency.</span></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mt645xlCJkPy2DsZvEWWFfZucGg3rFO2jaE1zRYXKz9_FnVs-fhHsHP4KH7ThkdvfL1Zovv9y-6eaPyzuuqp-IFqg5IWmX8BjBtb9l-Q1PT42PIjTbknsUGKrUPjrm4_phBO9307FM6d/s320/87.JPG" /><br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJv29d8N8gY30Q-Y8_kS4bHnTXnMxY9BxZhuh9v8QGo4sIuUAI0F8cAfcT5GaOQce-1M2XkpPTRPobsXBrRo89_5xDVZ-uPsV6ysoYNHk6pSys0MSotdpOM5KXwyAOVW3UXg-EeRT5ZIQP/s640/33.JPG" /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>"Illegal" homes </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One
day Andrey and his two sons took me on a tour of Slavnoye. We
visited some people that featured in the film Slavnoye, and I took
pictures. We also went to the lake of Slavnoye, a two hectare
natural lake created by Sepp Holzer and sponsored for the benefit of
the entire settlement by a businessman who lives in a homestead next
to the lake. It was a pleasure to swim in this lake. </span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p75Rl9HLUcKb2Lu8HdnGx23X4OR_rVnbVLG2274xJlZamf8OlZ9D-49zpGmmhyphenhyphenf70NrExis9l1Sviz7Uhuu9MlewSbZIomGlSl85wB0uyd7pt3nYlnFlqqMQFakAagBVyIucfc8voWun/s320/54.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">What
was impressive to me was that each house really was unique and
individual. There are no two houses that look similar. This
is due to the fact that people designed and built their homes
themselves to their own specifications. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">All
the houses in Slavnoye were built illegally, which means that they
have no official address and officially the inhabitants live
elsewhere. But in Russia, nobody cares all too much about these
things. Nevertheless they hope that a future law will make it easy
for them to legalize everything. There are already ways to
legalize, but at the moment they would bring practically no
advantages and the disadvantages would include higher payments.</span></span></div>
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<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogt5ohPat35MyiHNWFEWMeotLz1HXT4grPL3DrAlrH_IxyvjpdBmFvxk4WMVwlaTHD2wJPCij2PlsRB5Jj31Q5ObmGKGKDGztrJ8vcfGaoZP5lwIWmIh7F5IAz0GhHxJkmELm-tu0rwVm/s320/DSC01188c.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>The
settlement "Living Picture" </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One
day we went to the neighboring settlement "Living
Picture". There the co-founder of the settlement had
invited us to his 67th birthday. It was a big birthday party on
a mown lawn next to a large river and there were an estimated 150
guests. There was a great vegetarian/vegan buffet and numerous
children and adults enjoyed the variety of dishes. On stage
there were musical and dance performances including Andrey and Tatjana with their uplifting songs, who incidentally are professional musicians. They have a wonderful Album called "Ode to Nature"*</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">At
this birthday party I met Rita and other people from the "Living
Picture" community. Some of them including Rita, could
speak very good English and we had nice conversations with each
other. So it came about that Rita and her husband Ivan invited
me for the following Sunday to their homestead. I accepted this
invitation enthusiastically, especially as it meant I would get to
know the neighboring settlement better. </span></span>
</div>
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<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshElI9fVVYPbjhIErZdqB0X7mQLQJ8y-qJM1oHrSJ01mA2VH9DbGrIvky2aeftOTKdqNLpkohW1A2OGhhT0C5xBQXzyeZ5uUhaqdplnTf8D8RE8kOc5Jl_faZfhb7HOGx685i6K5bQU3U/s320/DSC00944.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>As
a guest at Rita and Ivan's homestead.</b></span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S-mMZGxtZE__JJUnyEfpZc3BvdeKMdbNJ3KfPvi5Em2vw2Kqtp6Vp4Zmylo2jtyP1yscuacH12d1pbQWDJlcZI0OudUKoHgP_eeWlMSDzo3XLvww5q_YeoMGHuvqk01I26M6920c32VX/s1600/DSC00920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4S-mMZGxtZE__JJUnyEfpZc3BvdeKMdbNJ3KfPvi5Em2vw2Kqtp6Vp4Zmylo2jtyP1yscuacH12d1pbQWDJlcZI0OudUKoHgP_eeWlMSDzo3XLvww5q_YeoMGHuvqk01I26M6920c32VX/s320/DSC00920.JPG" /></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On
Sunday Ivan picked me up by car. We drove on the gravel road
that leads through Slavnoye to the community of "Living
Picture". We had to also traverse a river and a steep incline
that would probably be impossible in rainy weather without an
all-wheel drive vehicle. Arriving at the family homestead of
Rita and Ivan I was initially surprised by their beautiful,
self-built eco-house and the beauty of their land. Both are from
Moscow, about 30 years old, ethically motivated vegans and have lived
for 3 years on their country homestead. In such a short time,
they have achieved so much. I was very impressed with what they
have done. They built the first straw bale home in their
settlement and have achieved remarkable results in the garden as well
as natural, peaceful beekeeping. Rita and her friendly neighbor
Svetlana greeted me and Ivan apologized that he had to leave again
because his neighbor needed help with building a roof on his
house. Yes, even on a Sunday there is work to be done in the
settlement. We agreed that we would pay him a visit later at his
neighbors. After Ivan had gone Rita showed me their house and their
land. Her neighbor Svetlana accompanied us wearing her six
month old baby in a sling. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSwTAnTlI8pjLBCyQtFIawEXxibqc6kNSDIO48bb3-pzZcwXrTrgfOHOZjaX78fzdjKQa_Lf6fBe_1MkwuL88GX5Dg3gEyiUIDYK4q-mHBIdKNT3Dn2Ea3cy9vrVRnMgHfka-N5UqOkYv/s320/DSC00927.JPG" /><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It
looked bright and neat, a space of love was already recognizably
felt. Rita showed me an apple tree, which was previously a wild
apple, with thorns and inedible fruit, and which has now mutated into
a "good" apple tree, with entirely different leaves, no
more thorns and now has edible fruit, which improve in taste from
year to year. She told me that she has achieved this through regular
communication with the tree. Truly amazing what is
possible! Co-creating with nature holds so much potential and
there is still much to discover! After a tour of the land, she
showed me her house and told me about the process of building. They
built most of it themselves, but the neighbors also lent a helping
hand every now and then. The interior of the house had a warm
and cozy atmosphere. The straw bales were coated with adobe and
then the walls were plastered with lime to create a beautiful white
color. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To
strengthen me in the kitchen home-baked, yeast-free bread was offered
with a spread made from their own honey and flaxseed paste
(called "Urbetsch" in Russian). This tasted so good to
me and I wasn't even aware it existed until now. “Unbelievable
that we do not have this”, I thought. In no health food store
have I ever seen linseed spread.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoTJFqiz9XCDZnEABRpMroBACSDMtgi_AE6OjUkyIzBqUoyP3ZswLSgN-UaVHWOplRqMTmv1OqeAFFdX9AuVYesJIs_ucyl_G9Txpy7U78xpa1Wmc_gRYKnUnna2CXXZU-v9KCupISavYC/s320/DSC00958.JPG" /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">It probably doesn't taste so
good pure, but in combination with honey from the land it was a
delight. Then Jenya came to visit and invited us to his and his
wife Anja's Homestead.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9usGG6pkB7mX0mquiS4uQ7NboOpopvNBhDhUIes5acIvJplRxewYCUgG-JHTqk9_v54OspoqE_V4kWByY9hJfVC1oVCD4FLdwRYASXP7PmO29UhKNZRvKiWZF2oNizp71_aNjegQI6Sh/s320/DSC00961.JPG" /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Prior to this we took a walk through the
village, and we visited Ivan, who as I said, was helping a neighbor
in house construction. I was amazed at the size of this house
the neighbor was constructing.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPjAkAzMjIRv_gh4xUPNyrlZyNplw9LrkCROX0dYx9ZoTUQHlGq4fL1fRYQ_7AblKN6JhqDuQxTRVOlqlmrK0cbhMmg3bwrovK72dZQqWlQT94WRyvBzQsH2cFMdjmQTzwEZ_xHwyByUw/s320/DSC00966.JPG" /></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Quite in contrast then was the
home of Jenya, which was a small, two-story wooden house. Of
course, he had also built the house himself and his child had come
into the world there. Again, the energy of the house was good,
it was bright and clean. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXgW_TPFgo1tGj5dUqGt_YZpFRa5bRv_loVydXx9CPubVKli0y_iP6hRG8xfK0dTyu9Zl8yWL3SxdHoykha9CV0fD53msu44aYiSpLvhEqPPPHEKi2YWxiXn1sUED75BpM0q9pzN0R4MV/s320/DSC00973.JPG" /></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Professions
- as multifaceted as life </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As
Jenya and I are both filmmakers, we had discussions about our
work. He has a Film company with Anja in England and has made
documentaries about their travels through most of Asia. He
also runs a successful web shop, which offers various natural
products. In regards to professional backgrounds in the
settlements I came to know people from all directions. From
doctors, filmmakers, artists, musicians and artisans, to the mining
engineer, nursery owner, beekeeper, online store owners or
self-sufficient, every possible occupation was there. When we
were back at Rita's homestead, we went to the birch forest, where I
filmed a nice interview with Rita. She told me of her
background, from their way to their own family homestead, the
building of their home, and many more interesting things. The
resulting Interview contains invaluable pearls of experience and
knowledge from Rita and is offered free to download from the online
shop at loveproductions.org</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Heartfelt
farewells </b></span></span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On
the last morning at breakfast there was one final private concert for
me from Andrey and Tatiana, which naturally pleased me very
much. Then Andrey and Elisey took me to Moscow. </span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In
Moscow Andrey, Elisey and Andrey's mother brought me to the station,
waited with me for the train and then there was a heartfelt farewell
along with hugs. I travelled in the direction of the Kovcheg
ecovillage. The train journey there would take two hours. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">To
be continued ... </span></span>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Story by Stefan Wolf (Stefan Veda)</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="j-module n j-header " id="cc-m-8979541669" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #3b454a; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 30.6px; padding: 5px; text-align: start; word-wrap: break-word;">
<h3 class="" id="cc-m-header-8979541669" style="color: #4a8c27; font-family: 'Antic Slab', serif, google; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px;">
*The album "Ode to Nature"</h3>
</div>
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<div style="line-height: 27.2px;">
<strong>Andrey & Tatyana Shadrovi</strong> are two Russian Bards who are changing the world through their songs!</div>
<div style="line-height: 27.2px;">
Finally you can get the full album with a Digital Booklet of two of the best bards of Russia!</div>
<div style="line-height: 27.2px;">
The Album comes as a Digital Download with a Booklet containing all original Russian lyrics, as well as the English translations. </div>
</div>
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<div class="j-module n j-text " id="cc-m-8979542469" style="font-family: 'Maven Pro', sans-serif, google; font-size: 16px; padding: 5px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<ul style="line-height: 27.2px; list-style-position: outside; overflow: hidden;">
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;">15 Unique Songs by Andrey & Tatyana Shadrovi</li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;">Songs with beautiful melodies and uplifting lyrics</li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;">incl. Digital Booklet</li>
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Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-1378629575668356332016-02-13T05:53:00.001-08:002016-02-13T05:53:54.254-08:00Rita´s family homestead in Russia<div style="background-color: white; color: #78654a; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
In August 2015 Stefan interviewed Rita from Russia. She and her husband live on their own family homestead in a settlement called "Living Picture". Rita revealed profound insights and experiences she gained over the last years, while living on her land. <strong>This Interview is a must watch for all people who read the <a href="http://ringingcedars.com/" style="background-color: transparent; border: none; color: #7e8611; cursor: pointer; float: none; font-stretch: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: static; transition: color 0.2s ease-in; z-index: auto;">Anastasia books(ringing cedars of Russia)</a></strong> or who are interested in creating their own family homestead and live happily.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #78654a; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<strong>Enjoy 35 Minutes with Stefan and Rita</strong> and get inspired, lifted up and <strong>happy</strong>! :)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #78654a; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QYwJ76KpAZg/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QYwJ76KpAZg?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #78654a; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<strong>Content:</strong></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; color: #78654a; font-family: tahoma, geneva, verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; list-style-image: none; list-style-position: outside;">
<li>0:00 - 0:40 Introduction</li>
<li>0:40 - 2:20 Being trapped by parents ideas until the age of 15</li>
<li>2:20 - 4:00 Starting to question her life and having realizations</li>
<li>4:00 - 5:50 Coming across the Anastasia books - loosing all fear</li>
<li>5:50 - 7:50 Homeschooling, Music college, Making money</li>
<li>8:45 - 9:55 Finding a group of people, Realizing the dream of a family homestead</li>
<li>9:55 - 12:55 Finding her home, <strong>building their own straw bale house</strong></li>
<li>12:55 - 20:20 The importance of building your own house, the building process,....</li>
<li>20:20 - 22:10 About the importance of enjoying the path and taking enough time</li>
<li>22:10 - 28:10 About land size, relationship to animals and plants, having children...</li>
<li>28:10 - 34:50 Think global - act local, being one with everything, creating paradise on earth...</li>
</ul>
Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-43685160878711343852016-01-28T22:40:00.000-08:002016-01-28T22:40:07.081-08:00Stefan’s Story of Filming 'A New We'<div class="j-module n j-text " id="cc-m-5461929069" style="background-color: white; color: #3b454a; font-family: 'Maven Pro', sans-serif, google; font-size: 16px; padding: 5px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<em>Written by Vana, co-founder of loveproductions.org</em><br />
<em>Edited by Carollyn Oglesby Thalia Forest</em><br />
</div>
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<figure class="cc-imagewrapper cc-m-image-align-1" style="display: inline; float: left; height: auto !important; margin: 4px 20px 4px 0px; max-width: 100%; position: relative; width: auto; z-index: 1;"><img alt="" class="" data-src-height="768" data-src-width="576" id="cc-m-textwithimage-image-5461928269" sizes="(min-width: 210px) 210px, 100vw" src="https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=210x1024:format=jpg/path/s0f79686b4aa38c9d/image/i8c34a0c9ceca7496/version/1330083721/image.jpg" srcset="https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=210x1024:format=jpg/path/s0f79686b4aa38c9d/image/i8c34a0c9ceca7496/version/1330083721/image.jpg 210w" style="display: inline; left: 0px; max-width: 100%; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" /></figure><div>
<div class="cc-m-textwithimage-inline-rte" data-action="text" data-name="text" id="cc-m-textwithimage-5461928269">
<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">“I had no money, and even less experience. I just had the will, the desire, and the determination, and I believed that I could do it and would stick to it until it was realized! “</span><br />
<br />
It's always encouraging to listen to Stefan's filmmaking story. I want to share it here, for those who have dreams but see their dreams as too distant and maybe even impossible to realize.<br />
<br />
<em>What caused Stefan's movement?</em><br />
<br />
In April of 2009, Stefan returned to Europe after visiting several eco-communities in New Zealand and Australia. He wanted to visit eco-communities in Europe and to search closer to home for a potential place to live with his beloved friends. At the same time, he thought he could make a documentary which would give people a nice overview of the well-established ecovillages and communities in Europe that already existed. He thought that such a film could help in the world, and perhaps even save some lives.<br />
<br />
He had no experience with filming. What he had was the urge to bring a film like this into existence. This urge gave him the power to learn filmmaking and editing by himself, with the help of an experienced friend. He learned quickly, completing the filming and the filmmaking, with some help from his friends, in only 10 months.<br />
<br />
It was quite astonishing to me to see how much work he did and how much he was able to learn in such a short time. He told me that through the whole process he knew there were angels helping him; otherwise he couldn't have done all of it alone. When people asked him about the most difficult thing he experienced during film making, his short answer, "sometimes the movie software crashed," made them laugh. He was grateful that things went so smoothly, as if there really were angels always nearby, supporting his vision.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">“I regularly did a prayer to the “universe”, to god and the angels, that I might be used as a tool to manifest this film. All of this was too much to handle for just one person, so I asked them to give me the right impulses and I promised to follow those impulses/intuitions and to trust them. I made it clear that it should not be a film made by my small ego but that THEY should act through me, and I opened up for this and had trust ... and miracles did happen... very often ... both small ones and big ones. The biggest miracle is that this film could be realized even though I had literally no experience! “</span><br />
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<em>How about the financing of the film making?</em><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">“If I believed that I couldn't make the film without the money, then nothing would have happened! “</span><br />
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So he started with zero money. He borrowed money from his sister for the camera. He borrowed some cash from a friend, and he borrowed money from his father to buy a laptop for cutting the film. He was willing to go into debt because he just knew he had to make this film so that the world could know about these great and inspiring eco-projects.<br />
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He had no sponsors. His goal was to make a professional film, maximizing the quality of the delivery while minimizing the equipment and money. He kept the costs down by cutting his travel expenses, often sleeping in the car that he bought for 300 euro. His simple way of living saved much money for the film.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">When we are truly interested in a subject, we have unlimited potential to learn, and to realize our dreams quickly and efficiently.</span> This sort of inspiration is in high contrast with the way we were taught in school, where the competition and the performance may have left us with hard and stressful memories. There we didn’t choose what we wanted to learn; we were mostly forced to do what others wished us to do, what others thought was best for us. Without joy, without curiosity, it takes much longer to learn a subject, and very often the information we take in is not retained.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">That Stefan could learn so much in such a short time, because of his enthusiasm, is a good example of how people's learning can far outstrip what the mainstream educational system provides.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">This brings me to a subject of great interest for a powerful and healthy future. Unschooling and homeschooling are becoming more popular, and for very good reasons.</span> Many parents have realized that the conventional school education does not bring out the best in their children, in fact, in many cases it can cause children to lose their love of learning, can actually slow their learning and affect their ability to feel joy in learning. It is much more natural and fun to learn through life experience and through individual choice. If we want children to reach their highest potential, some measure of autonomy in learning is both appropriate and necessary.</div>
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Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6066485105809707012.post-10197745615707281402016-01-16T07:40:00.001-08:002016-01-28T22:36:33.919-08:00My ideal ecovillage<span style="background-color: white; color: #3b454a; font-family: "maven pro" , sans-serif , "google"; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27.2px;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">What the film <a href="http://www.newwe.info/" target="_blank">A New We</a> shows and demonstrates is that there is not just one way to live in a</span><span style="font-weight: 700;"> community or in an eco-village, but there are many ways. Thus each of us has to find out for him or</span><span style="font-weight: 700;"> herself what the individual needs are and which eco-village model serves these</span><b> </b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b454a; font-family: "maven pro" , sans-serif , "google"; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 27.2px;">needs best.</span><br />
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The range of the modern term "community" is big and it goes from an income-sharing commune, to a student-flat or co-housing project<span style="color: black;">,</span> all the way to a modern eco-village. All of those have community characeristics and <span style="color: black;">have</span> benefits, as well as certain disadvantages.<br />
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After seeing all of this variety of communities and eco-villages during the making of A New We, what is my personal ideal <span style="color: black;">eco-village</span>?<br />
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My personal ideal eco-village unites the advantages of the community lifestyle with the advantages of the individual private lifestyle. That means the structure of the eco-village is set up in a way that it offers a personal land for each (soul)-family of about 0,5 ha to 1 ha in size, which allows them to create a <span style="color: black;">space of love*</span> on it and to be the owner of this land.**<br />
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On the other hand there is the village center as a "community-playground" which is owned by all members(likely through an association) and where the advantages of community-life are being explored and experienced. Here you have community buildings and materials, like a common washing-machine, beamer for presentations and films, activity-hall, everything free-shop, etc. You can join common activities like yoga, presentation, etc...or just have a chat with other people. There are no fixed common shared meals(but can happen if organised by people who wish so), but rather spontanious coming togethers for food e.g. Picnic in the grass. Cars are outside of the settlement and there is an organised car-sharing-circle.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">What holds the people in this eco-village together is their common shared values and bright visions and aspirations for the entire creation.</span> Love for all is the basic principle and motivation shared by those people.<br />
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What is I think an advantage of this model is that it gives the individuals and families great freedom. Since every (soul)-family has its own space of love they do not need to spend energy to discuss about redundant things like: "Shall we put the tomatoes there or here?" And then having a discussion about it for an hour because 20 people are having a different opinion about it...<br />
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The people in my ideal settlement just agreed to a general standard of arrangements like "only organic farming, respect and care for all living beings, etc..." Thus the people enjoy great freedom and individuality, while experiencing the joy of having like-minded neighbours and friends around with whom they can share, interact and have various projects.</div>
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At your own space you can create a paradise oasis in cooperation with the diverse plants, animals and insects. A big variety of fruit and nut trees, berry-bushes, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, flowers and other plants make your life shiny and give abundance. Everything in this space of love will serve and love you and your beloved ones, from the smallest flowers and grasses to the biggest trees thereon. It is the perfect place for your ongoing self-realization and for becoming the best you can be.<br />
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Of course there are also disadvantages in my ideal eco-village. One is that you might need more money because you will purchase/use a bigger piece of land. Another is that the sharing of resources is limited to a certain extend. E.g. it would be much more cost-efficient and environmental friendly to live in one big house as a commune and share one toilet, bathroom, kitchen, etc... however this disadvantage can be compensated due to the very simple lifestyle of the various people in this settlement. And as mentioned above there is still a significant amount of resources which can be shared in the village.<br />
<span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">To give the shortcut for my ideal eco-village:</span><br />
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<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Around 10 ha of land.</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Between 10 and 100 family homesteads(about 1 ha each)</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Around 1 ha community space in the center</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Individual landownership over family lands</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Common landownership over community center place</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Common shared values: "peacefood"***, sustainability, spiritual growth, Ahimsa, etc.</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Every community part-taking is voluntary and is done out of free will</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Other shared values: thriving for peacefood-self-sufficiency, nature-close lifestyle, etc.</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Unschooling project for the children</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">To be inspiring to other people through our simple, happy and healthy life</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Use of sustainable energy, compost toilets, reed-wastewaterplant, etc...</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Common use of various resources like washing machine, beamer, cars, etc...</span></li>
<li style="padding-right: 1em; position: relative; right: -1em;"><span style="font-weight: 700 !important;">Trial membership for newcomers for a period of time</span></li>
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*Space of love is a term described in the books of Vladimir Megre in the ringing cedars series. It refers to a space where a family has created a so called family-domain – a place which is a self-sufficient aiming paradise garden with a house and provides for all the needs of the adults and children thereon. It also supports them in the unfolding of the tremendous potential which lies in human beings. The space of love is the material, outer extension and expression of the internal spiritual self.<br />
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** That does not mean if they would leave the village that they <span style="color: black;">could</span> sell the land to anybody, but instead the members of the village need to agree to the new person who wants to buy the land and live there.<br />
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*** The term peace-food in this text refers to an ahimsa(non-violence) kind of food. Since it is difficult to get ahimsa food from animals due to their and our nature it refers predominantly to plant-based foods. These are easier to get in an ahimsa-way(especially fruits) and thus is contributing to the global peace-field. Peace-food does not exclude animal foods like honey, milk or eggs if they are given voluntarily and freely by the animals. However it excludes products where violence towards animals has (probably) taken place. This is in no way a disadvantage for us since our bodies are designed to live and thrive on a plant-based diet and many living examples proof that.(Dr. Will Tuttle, Storm Talifero, Dr. Douglas, etc...)<br />
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Written by<br />
Stefan Veda<br />
Creator of "A New We" and Co-founder of L.O.V.E. Productions</div>
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Stefan Vedahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13723146139605053286noreply@blogger.com0