SEPTEMBER 2008 : 1st year

SEPTEMBER 2008 : 1st year

GreenFriends-France

02Presentation

Who are we ?

GreenFriends-France is a non-governmental organization whose action is to preserve the

natural environment and working for an harmonious relationship between Man and Nature.

The organization was created in June 2007 and officially launched during a special week-

end in September 2007.

The main goal is to help each one of us to develop the consciousness of Unity between

Nature and humanity and to realize actions helping us to live in a greater respect of Nature.

GreenFriends-France wishes to awaken Love and Respect of Nature but also the feeling of

our personal duty in its protection. To live in harmony with Nature is essential for the future

but also for our personal well-being. GreenFriends is a movement born in India in November

2001. It is an initiative from Mata Amritanandamayi

(Amma), a great Indian humanitarian and spiritual leader.

Originally This movement was oriented towards the

youth but is now broaden to everyone, on a worldwide

scale. In India it is linked to the M.A. Math organization,

an NGO with an ECOSOC consultative status with the

United Nations. Amma has inspired the creation of

GreenFriends-France. Nevertheless to serve ecology in

India and France does not require the same actions ;

although they do have a lot of common points, the 2

organizations can work on different types of actions.

G r e e n F r i e n d s – F r a n c eSEPTEMBER 2008

03Presentation

Our place

The Plessis Farm is located near Chartres, widely known for

its cathedral, which is located at a 120km from Paris. It was

bought in 2002 by Amma’s French organization called

Maison Amrita in order to create Amma’s French Centre.

It is a large farm, a former nobleman manor built partly in

the 13th century with 1300m2 riding stables. Lots of

outbuildings – stables – sheepfolds – sheds – offer large

development possibilities. The whole represents almost

3000 m2 indoor on 6 hectares of land. This place has

become an active, dynamic and living institution able to

welcome many kinds of programs. Since 2002, its residents

and visitors restore the buildings in the local traditional

style. All the combined efforts to work in harmony

contributes to transform this place into a peaceful haven

for everyone.

Touched by this approach, GreenFriends-France decided to

be involved to the life of this Centre and the Plessis Farm

naturally became the headquarters of the organization. It is

on this location that most of the GreenFriends-France

programs and activities take place. This cooperation

between the 2 organizations happens to be mutually

beneficial


04Presentation

The founder of the GreenFriends movement :Amma

Born in 1953 in Southern India, in a small coastal village in

Kerala, Mata Amritanandamayi or Amma realised from

early childhood that the purpose of her life was to help the

suffering humanity. Compassion, love, service and

meditation are the foundations of her teaching and her

commitment to serve others. She initiated a large network

of charitable activities and Amma’s ideal of service and

tolerance has inspired a large number of people all over

the World.Her example and her tireless energy inspire millions of humans beings all over the World,

from the former President of India who gave the 10 first months of his income to the M.A.

Math, lots of scientists, medical doctors, university academics, to simple fishermen from

her native background and to the most destitute ones, whose life has been changed by

her.

Our organization is part of a

large network of

humanitarian and

ecological organizations

initiated by an Indian

woman widely known as

Amma and is considered as

a "Mahatma" in India.

Her life


05Presentation

Humanitarian and charitable NGO

Since 2001, the M.A. Math, Amma organization, has intervened after several natural

disasters (like the tsunami which left South-East Asia as a wreck), bringing first aids and

establishing long term programs of reconstruction

For most destitute people, the organization finances free shelters, food, medicines and

pensions, an orphanage, wedding ceremonies, free legal assistance and residence for the

eldest.Concerning healthcare, the organization founded AIMS hospital in Kochi which is

recognized as one of the best hospitals in Southern Asia. The hospital includes one

thousand beds, thirty different medical services and ten specialized laboratories. The

institution offers free cares to most destitute ones. Amma is also at the origin of the

creation of universities, training centres, development projects, schools and specialized

schools, research centres, etc.…

The founder of the GreenFriends movement :Amma

In the ecological field the GreenFriends movement exists

in India and in other countries and acts for similar goals

but following each country’s needs.

For her contribution in humanitarian action and the way

these actions are done, Amma has been acclaimed by a

very large number of political figures all over the World.

In 1993, she is a main speaker in the World’s Religions Parliament in Chicago and in 1995

for the 50th birthday of United Nations.

In 2002, she received the Gandhi-King Award for Non-Violence and Peace, after Nelson

Mandela and Kofi Annan, at “le Palais des Nations” in Geneva.

In 2003, 2 millions people, including the President of India, celebrated her 50th birthday.

On 24 July 2005, The United Nations offered to Amma’s organization the special

consultative status at ECOSOC, in recognition for her humanitarian activities.

To know more about Amma : www.amritapuri.org (India) or ww.amma-europe.org (Europe)

International recognition


06Presentation

Some Greenfriends

Michel Dombre is the chairman of GreenFriends-France and is coresponsible for the landscape projet concerning the surrounding green spaces

Involved in organic farming and he’s been active in many environmental organizations for 35 years, having held high responsibilities in industry, Michel is particularly interested by shaping the Amma Center’s natural surrounding spaces into a place of Beauty and Harmony in the respect of Nature.

Claire Carrat is the treasurer of GreenFriends-France, an “ecological cook” and initiated the use of many ecological techniques at the Center.

A teacher, Claire is getting actively involved in bringing more ecological consistency. Supporter of a life of simplicity, she particular likes to cook with solar ovens, test ecological ways of preserving food and enjoy preparing the delicious organic bread made at the Amma Center.

Bri. Dipamrita Chaitanya is the vice-chairman of GreenFriends-France et in charge of Amma Center.

Moved since childhood by a thirst to learn and understand, amazed by Nature’s beauty, intelligence and mysteries, she got the chance to live strong experiences of communion with nature. Dipamrita wishes to develop a living ecosite at Amma Center, a place of ressourcement, a place of discoveries, in harmony with the laws of Life and Nature.

Mathieu Labonne is a member of the Board of Directors of GreenFriends-France and is the driving force behind several projects

Basically a space engineer, formerly a researcher on climate changes for the French government and now an expert in carbon auditing, Mathieu keeps on moving on its path to consistency thanks to the organization ; He has initiated diverse projects using his engineering skills, his love for Nature and because he believes deeply in the values of the organization.Dorian Spaak co-manages the BABEL project and organised the 1st youth retreat in Amma Center.

An engineering student in Land and Environment Management in UTC and EPFL, graduated from a journalism school in India and passionate by ecological, constructions particularly made in earth clay, with the organization Dorian has found a way to live more deeply his relationship with the World, with others and with Nature.


07Our approach

The serious ecological problems that threaten the future of the Earth and its inhabitants are

the result of our behaviour towards the World and Nature. In our opinion, they reveal the

current relationship that the modern world lives with the environment. For those who feel

intimately the link with the natural environment, the willingness to get involved in order to

preserve Nature becomes obvious.

It’s by encouraging one’s awareness so that one will become active for one’s own change,

thus we could hope to embrace the fundamental and needed stages of evolution. It implies

to take a different approach of our environment and a reenchantment of our way to see the

World.

This understanding of our interaction with Nature, starting a new communication, will

create the space within us for an inner ecology that would nourish a consistent outer

ecology. Actually the reasons of today’s crisis are much deeper than just economical or

technological. They take roots in our inner relationship with Nature and Life.

GreenFriends-France has been created to serve a right relationship between Man and

Nature.

.In order to create a new way of living which would be more respectful towards nature, the

organization is proposing a certain number of actions


08Our approach

This new vision needs the example made by persons and places . The only effective and

right approach to create a more sustainable and respectful way of living is to remain

consistent and to set an example. And that’s how has been slowly created a model ecosite

in Amma’s French Center, the farm which is the headquarters of our organization. This

model place must demonstrate that living places which are deeply respectful of Nature are

more favourable to our search for happiness.

The perception of harmony which emanate from this site helps us to deepen our link with

Nature. We wish that this site will serve ecology beyond all sort of ideologies, beyond any

kind of activism, and simply incarnates this consistency and peace that we’re looking for in

our life.

Ecology is actually a path to consciousness and leads to

consistency in our actions and in our relationship with the

World. In today’s World, this consistency is not always

easy to set up. But it is a path, which is to be walked step

by step, and if we are truly committed, with sincerity, but

also with rationality and awareness, supported by Amma’s

message of love, tolerance and service.


09Our actions

Supporting the ecological development of Amma French Centre

Improving the ecological consistency at Amma’s centre but also in everyone’s life

Workshops and events to encourage one’s initiative to act

Ecological services and actions

Preparing the creation of ecovillages as new ways of living

The board of Directors is the bearer of the values and the approach chosen by the

organization. During the GreenFriends-France founding event it has defined 5 main

axis of action for the organization which are more or less a priority :

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Motivations

GreenFriends-France is involved in the ecological development of Amma’s French Centre.

It concerns both buildings and natural spaces. The motivation is to create a model and

educational ecosite, a reference place for one’s ecological path.

Today this central axis in our activities includes :

Help the ecological development of Amma French Center

On old buildings

The Plessis Farm is a set of buildings of great historical and architectural value

and is getting renovated to welcome more and more people. GreenFriends-

France accompanies this ecological renovation in the respect of the local

traditional style and by using ecological materials

On natural spaces

The Farm includes 6 hectares where lives a fauna and a flora which are mainly

wild. In the respect of the balance between nature and culture, we’re

progressively setting up these spaces and supporting Nature’s blossoming. This

project includes an ecological consistency and a search for harmony with

Nature’s laws.

On new places to live

Many new buildings could be built on this site. It would particularly be wooden

houses, bungalows for retreat in solitude and a residence for elders. For instance

a straw-clay bungalow has already been built.

Our actions 1 G r e e n F r i e n d s – F r a n c eSEPTEMBER 2008

11Our actions

Some realized or on-going projects

Extension of the organic garden

Since Maison Amrita arrives in the Plessis Farm, an

organic garden has been set up. In 2008, the voluntary

work of Gilles Penin, an organic farmer, helped to double

the size of the garden which now occupies more than

1000m2. A large part of the vegetarian food eaten at the

Amma Centre comes from this organic garden.

A straw-clay small house

A small house including 2 “retreat rooms" is now

completed. The frame is mad from wood (oak) collected

in the old buildings of the Farm and the walls are made

with straw and clay. The construction of this site gave the

possibility to many people to learn ecological building

basic techniques.

An ecological apiary

With the help of the famous beekeeper-poet-sculptor

Maurice Chaudière we introduced in 2007 many beehives

at the Amma’s Centre. Their survival in a context of

chemical farming is a day-to-day challenge. The first

honey harvest, in august 2008, was very encouraging.

The restoration of the traditional bread oven

The Farm’s old bread oven has been restored in the

respect of the traditional style and is now used to

prepare the bread, with local organic wheat flour, but as

well pizzas, cakes and other “delights of the Farm”.

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12Our actions


BABEL European youth project

The BABEL project (“Bois, Abeilles et Biodiversité pour une

Ecologie Locale”) bas been initiated by a group of young

members of GreenFriends-France in the frame of the “Youth

in Action” European Union program. The positive support

from European Union came in Summer 2008 : 9000 Euros to

realize the project.This project, which will last from end 2008 to end 2009, aims at implementing the ecological

technique of Rameal Chipped Wood (RCW) in Amma Centre and to build an original architecture

piece, a small retreat ecological house where the walls will be inhabited by bees. This project focuses

on soil fertility, biodiversity and bee preservation.

The project will also include a social dimension, with the participation of young people from poor

areas near Paris and handicapped people, and will have as well an artistic dimension. This “bees

house” will be unique and completely ecological, including wood, straw, earth, stone and a vegetal

roof. A movie will be shot to follow the inner path of the participants and will be show in cinema

festivals.

This project integrates sustainable and inclusive activities mixing ecology, historical heritage, social

inclusion, creativity and knowledge and know-how transmission.Thermal solar

In Summer 2008, two engineering students from prestigious French Engineering schools have studied

the possibilities to install solar thermal panels to produce hot water. This project was the start of a

large on-going thinking process regarding the installation of renewable energies in the Centre,

respecting the architectural heritage of the site

Plantation of a little woodland and a bigger orchard

In December 2008 and February 2009, more than fifty trees will be planted in Amma Centre in addition

to those which are already there. This long-term initiative will create a place of quietness and retreat

by the creation of a little woodland. These trees will be blessed by Amma during her programs in

France and sponsored by voluntary which will be encouraged to take care of them in the future.

More than thirty fruit trees are growing in an organic environment . A large apple-tree orchard will be

added during this plantation.

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Motivations

As we create a model ecosite, we also need to think about the best ways to maintain it on a

daily base in order to be consistent. It means a day-to-day organization on site and a

careful maintenance. It also means that one has to learn how to behave ecologically and to

awaken awareness in one’s actions. This approach serves more consistency on everyone’s

life.


Hep to improve ecological consistency in one’s life and in Amma Center

Cooking ecologically, in particular with solar ovens.

Claire and Marie cook deliciously in Amma Center. After a

workshop with the Bolivia Inti organization, Claire has

started to use solar ovens to prepare candied fruits, jams

and a solar parabola to cook meals in Summer. Healthy

and ecological solar energy in our plates ! Claire also uses

many ecological techniques to preserve food. That way,

we can benefit from the garden’s gifts, all year’s around

Maintaining the garden and the apiary

The garden is maintained by the help of many voluntaries

with more or less skills and supervised by Gilles, the

organic farmer of the Centre. A group of amateur

beekeepers takes care of our pollen-gathering

inhabitants !


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Some realized or on-going project

Help to improve ecologicalconsistency ine one’s life and in Amma Center

Dry composting toilets

several dry toilets have been installed in Amma Centre in

order to save water and turn our excrement in useful compost

for the flowers. We encourage visitors to discover and use this

simple way to save lots of a water. A training workshop is

planned at the Amma’s Centre at the end of December 2008.

Compost

All organic waste are separated from other wastes and used

to create compost to fertilize the garden.

Ecology in each one of our acts

We started to place many little inspiring cards in the Centre to

awaken ecological consciousness in our day-to-day acts, in

particular regarding light, heating and water consumption.

The set of these cards is under progress and should help us to

integrate all these small acts that make a difference wherever

we are !


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Motivations

GreenFriends-France proposes diverse kinds of activities to encourage one’s path to

ecology. Actually we think that promoting an easy access to ecological techniques will help

more people to move on the path to individual consistency.

Lots of people wish to move on this path but feels unmotivated by a feeling of loneliness

having to cope with unusual choices. Our training workshops and meetings are to set to

guide one’s choices.

These events are actually grouped under 3 main categories :

Propose workshops and events

Our actions

Eco-trainings will learn us

techniques for a better alliance

between practice and theory

Forums, bigger events, help us

to think about outer or inner

ecology.

Youth retreats are mixing

practical ecology, artistic

workshops and sharing

moments in order to open youth

to ecology as a path to oneself,

to others and to Nature.

Eco-trainingsForums

and meetings Youth retreat

3 G r e e n F r i e n d s – F r a n c eSEPTEMBER 2008

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Some events during our first year !

Propose workshops andevents

Our actions

Launching week-end

On 21, 22 and 23 September, the organization celebrated

its birth during a special week-end, rich in workshops and

meetings. It was the occasion to present the work axis of

the organization and to welcome everyone’s ideas.

It was also the occasion to share joyful moments together

with different workshops,in a natural surrounding

including a “inner meeting with the trees”, an

introduction to solar cooking, a botanical walk to discover

edible and medicinal wild plants and fruits and followed

by a qi-gong workshop.

To celebrate the birth of the movement, an oak has been

planted. This act was carried by a special atmosphere and

a very strong meaning : trees are symbols of self-sacrifice

and oaks are symbols of longevity and strength. This oak

is placed at the entrance of the little woodland that will

be planted at the end of 2008.

This was also the occasion to listen the very famous

“nomad-piano player” Marc Vella on the International Day

for Peace and to share our ecological approach with the

Karma Ling Buddhist monastery by an inspiring talk from

Lama Sengue.


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Some events during our first year

Proposer des stageset des rencontres

Nos actions

Forum on “CSA”

A community supported agriculture (CSA) is based on a local

partnership between a group of consumers and a local farm, set on

a distribution system of “baskets” composed with seasonal farm

products.

Ecotrainings to learn how to grow organic food, to learn bees

ecology and alternative beekeeping, to learn how to cook with

the Sun… …

Different training events took place during this first year, in

particular because of the venue of Bolivia Inti organization, which is

expert on solar ovens, and Maurice Chaudière on beekeeping, fruit

trees grafting and wild resources. A whole cycle around the way to

cultivate one’s own organic garden and orchard (fruit tree pruning,

soil natural fertilization, seeds preservation and seed-bank

management, the basis of organic farming …) occurred between

March and June 2008.

First youth retreat : « ecology, a path to oneself, an openness

to the World »

In July 2008, took birth the GreenFriends-France youth retreats with

eco-workshops during the morning like organic gardening or eco-

building, artistic workshops during the afternoon and lectures at the

end of the day.

The reason of these meetings is to propose to young people who are

at the beginning of their professional life or during their studies,

means to discover a deeper relationship with their environment and

to be active in their day-to-day life to create a way of living that

respects Nature.

On 2 and 3 February 2008 a GreenFriends-France forum on CSA occurred at Amma’s Centre with a

good energy sharing nice moments and inspired presentations by a bunch of French and

International experts, all involved in social, economical and ecological questions related to

agriculture.


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Motivations

It is GreenFriends-France wishes to propose step by step its services outside the framework

of the Amma’s centre and to spread the work done at “la ferme du Plessis” and to

participate with humbleness and modesty to the creation of a world that would be more

respectful of Nature.


Propose ecologicalservices

Our actions

Reducing year after year the ecological footprint of

Amma’s programs in France and Europe

Every year in October and November,Amma the founder

of the GreenFriends-France movement and our source of

inspiration travels all over Europe to meet people that are

touched by her example and her message. Very large

manifestations gathering tens of thousands of people

take place. GreenFriends-France tries to make these

peaceful events as ecologically exemplary as possible by

proposing a vegetarian food, partly organic, by installing

dry composting toilets, by sorting out waste for

recycling…


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Propose ecologicalservices

Our actions

Carbon auditing of Amma’s Tour in Europe and off-setting

Mathieu Labonne, member of GreenFriends-France, is

recognized by the French government to realize official

carbon auditing in order to count greenhouse emissions

taking place directly and indirectly because of an activity.

We’re actually thinking of doing the carbon auditing of

Amma’s venue in Europe, mainly in order to off-set the

emissions with renewable energies projects and

reforestation programs in France and India.

Educational visit of Amma Center for schools

From September 2009 we wish to propose to primary

schools many workshops to be chosen from, thus

allowing them to discover the ecological realizations of

the ecosite. It can be ways of discovering the natural

environment, learning basic techniques of organic

farming and beekeeping, playing in Nature, building one’s

own solar oven… Many members of GreenFriends-

France, including teachers, are actually working on an

high-quality educational content of these workshops.


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Accompany the creation of ecovillages

Our actions

The ecovillage concept is the synthesis of the best ecological choices. 75% of the French

greenhouse emissions comes from heating, transport and food production and one can

understand the interest of self-sufficiency, efficient eco-building, locally-produced

renewable energy and local, low meat-based and organic food.

But the ecovillage concept is much more than an ecological concept, it is also a place of

sharing, of life in community and the return of the community’s traditional values , where

everyone had a place, where nobody was excluded and where the social aspect was a

vector of happiness for everyone. This concept gives answers to a complete vision of

ecology, including the social and economical needs of humanity.

An ecovillage gathers people, with different skills, but sharing the same ideal of a life filled

with sharing, exchanges and respect of Nature.

GreenFriends-France believes in the future of such a concept and is thinking about the best

way of supporting the creation of a first ecovillage before proposing its experience on a

wider scale, being at the service of a more ecological and more blossoming way of living for

all.

An ecovillage is the gathering of people in rural or

urban areas trying to maximize their well-being and

at the same time trying to minimize their ecological

footprint. An ecovillage gives a large place to self-

sufficiency in the respect of the ecosystems and of

economical and cultural relocalization


21Participation

Support our actionsOur projects need financial supports, in particular we need donations.

All people involved in the organization are unpaid and voluntary, thus the whole donation goes

straight into the realization of a project. Cheques are to be made out to GreenFriends-France

Become a part of it !GreenFriends-France projects need very diverse skills.

We do not have all of them. Please do not hesitate to propose your service and to come and

participate to the different projects.

Receive our newsletterTo be informed of the progress of the organization, the evolution of the projects, the different events

and programs going on, please ask (by email) to receive our electronic newsletter GreenFriends-

France our electronic newsletter .

Everyone is welcome to bring his time, motivation and skills to

the different GreenFriends-France projects.

22Contact

phone : 00 33 1 47 49 71 52 (Claire Carrat - treasurer) or00 33 6 77 40 30 98 (Mathieu Labonne – member of the Board of Directions)

email : Contact : [email protected]

And of course you can visit our website :www.greenfriends-france.org

GreenFriends-FranceCentre Amma, Ferme du Plessis, 28190 PONTGOUIN


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SEPTEMBER 2008 : 1st year

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