Thursday, December 31, 2015


It is the last day of 2015. Wow.. 2015 has gone very fast but we are very happy at ECO-V as we managed to do so much of work. New developments, new partners, new projects….and many more experiences and achievements.

It’s 2.10 am of 31st December now and I decided to write this blog. Personally for me the year 2015 was started in Bangladesh. I was with BGreen project in Dhaka as a representative of Journeys for Climate justice (JCJ http://www.journeysforclimatejustice.org.au/) in January this year. It was very nice to meet many youth who were trying to combat Climate Change by empowering youth Green leaders. Soon after Bangladesh I had to go to Chennai, India to meet very inspiring group of people who were at “Un-conference”.  That was my second experience of unconference after Boston in 2012. My first experience of an unconference was  as an Eisenhower fellow which I really liked the idea of having “space” for many people rather than limited people presenting their work at a usual conference. Chennai Unconference was named as Diversion and U-turns and it was a real eye opener for me to understand what we are trying to do with ECO-V. It was the write language for our work. Learning, discussing and understanding about un-learning, un-schooling and Eco-versity was very inspiring and helped me to define ECO-V work better than before. Thanks to Manish Jain, co founder of Swaraj University in Rajasthan, India  (https://www.facebook.com/swarajuniversity/) and Nat (https://www.facebook.com/nadarajah.manickam?fref=ts&ref=br_tf) and many others for sharing their stories of unique work in making change.
Some of the participants at Unconference at Chennai

Unconference participants
ECO-V is indeed is on its way towards so called Eco-versity education system with unconditional passion, love and care for Mother Nature.  It is high time for us to announce widely what we are trying to achieve through our work of practicing Deep Ecology, Permaculture, traditional knowledge and practices.  

Another eye opening event for me personally was Fukushima exposure visit. Thanks to ICE network (Interreligious Climate and ecology Network - https://www.facebook.com/groups/InterreligiousClimateandEcologyNetwork/?ref=br_tf)

I got the opportunity to be part of the small team who made this exposure visit to Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant in April.  It was heart breaking yet made me understand how much damage could be done by man- made disasters. It was funny to say it’s a “man made” disaster as the main reason was a Tsunami hit on March 11th 2011 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukushima_Daiichi_Nuclear_Power_Plant ) But the devastation still happening is not just the Tsunami. It was all about Nuclear power and people trying to get rid of radiation.  
Haunted villages in Fukushima

High radiation level even after 4 years


After the exposure visit in Fukushima we had the opportunity to see and learn about Eco temples in Japan who are trying to make a positive impact. It was a better ending in Japan with more positive learning and we all headed to South Korea for the 2nd International conference of ICE Network. Again we had the opportunity to have another exposure visit to Nuclear power plant in South Korea where people are fighting to close it down.  Will they be successful??? Nobody knows?  ICE conference was all about many like-minded people who are trying to make a positive impact to protect Mother Nature through religious practices or rather with spirituality.

Meeting Yeb Sano (http://mashable.com/2014/12/04/yeb-sano-climate-talks-typhoon/) was another great memory I had from South Korea. I would define Yeb who has “power of 1” (the book written by Sharif Abdulah) who is making a change with individual commitment and courage. He was the key note speaker and was really touched when he said that he was going to walk 1000km to Paris at the end of the year. (By now we all are very happy as he did it).

Participating at Rome convergence was my 4th International tour in 2015. “Una terra Una familia” – A world a family,  was the theme of Rome convergence organized by “Green Faith” and “Our voices”. I was so happy to be part of that huge family of spirituality with deferent faith and religious backgrounds Meeting my fellow Buddhists from USA, Vietnam, Nepal, India, South Korea, UK, Japan and some other countries and sharing wisdom with them was so inspiring. We all discussed and communicated one clear message, no matter which faith or spirituality you are into. It was “combatting Climate Change!!!!

Isn’t is fascinating?.

Meeting Yes Sano for the second time in Rome, taking part in the peaceful march while taking a message to Pope Francis and seeing him at St Peter’s Square, participating at mini pilgrimage around city of Rome wih Yeb Sano was highlights of the Roe visit.
With Yeb sano in Rome

At St Peter's square


As a result of Rome convergence, we managed to run our 3rd journey in Sri Lanka in September. It was the “Kolamba Yathra 2015” (https://youtu.be/N8lwLhWiIVc)and was an interfaith journey for sustainability. This was the Sri Lankan journey to Yes Sano’s People’s pilgrimage took place from Rome to Paris in November (http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2015/06/09/faith-groups-in-peoples-pilgrimage-seek-climate-deal-boost-from-pope/). This was also aimed at initiating a conversation among different faith back grounds within Sri Lanka towards combatting Climate Change. Dr. Stephen Bygrave the CEO of Beyond Zero Emission (web) visited us to join with our 3rd Journey which was targeted at  sustainability. Thanks to JCJ for organizing his visit to Sri Lanka and it added great value to Kolamba Yathra. Also this helped us to work jointly with Federation of Environmental Organizations, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Business and Biodiversity forum.
Kolamba Yathra 2015

Some of youth during journey


Contributing towards translating the Buddhist statement on Climate Change, sharing  the video report of Kolamab Yathra for Paris Convergence, were some of our contributions for Global movement towards combatting climate change. UNDP Sri Lanka was highlighted ECO-V‘s contribution towards Environmental conservation through volunteerism on their 60th anniversary. We were one of the partners of celebrating International Volunteer Day of UNV Sri Lanka where we initiated and announced our support towards Sustainable Development goals.

Oh…well…there are many more events which are coming into my mind that we conducted within 2015. Our contribution towards creating awareness on Consumer issues, spreading awareness on  Climate change and ecology at Good Market on every Saturday, Developing Eco Garden and getting the Organic certification for its products and slowly developing it as a Eco education center, Initiation scientific research on Eurasian Otters (Lutra lutra) in Sri Lanka with the support of Wild Otter India and Conservation Leadership Programme (web) were some of other achievements. Oh…I almost forgot…winning the awards for Environmental Impact” at Annual award ceremony of Good Market was a great appreciation we got for our commitment and passion in serving Mother Nature.
During field research of Otters in Sri Lanka


ECO-V has a new office in Colombo. Thanks to Good Market team for sharing their small but beautiful working space with us. We look forward to expand our services through our second station in Colombo city. We have a bigger programme ongoing and give us more hopes for 2016. That is Youth Yathra 2016 which is “Creating Green Leaders for sustainability and combatting Climate Change”. Thanks to US Embassy and American corner Kandy for providing us financial assistance for this programme where we are expanding our services to Jaffna for the first time in ECOV history, also to Matara and Kandy.  

Well…I am not going to say “thank you for anybody particularly as there are hundreds of names, organizations coming into my mind who helped us throughout our journey in 2015 but as I always say.. ”Thank you Mother Nature” who is giving us space to work, air to breath, food to eat and water to drink and many more services. ECO-V is always there to do our little help to give you a better life!.
Happy Butterflies at Eco Garden

Tuesday, December 1, 2015


Sumunduni Seneviratne the new ECO-V family member reports!!!!

05/11/2015 - The day I met with ECO-V team in Kandy

It’s all about change; even we want it, its bit of hard work, so obliviously heart says why you should take trouble? Ii is better to stay as it is and why you are taking a risk? Then I say to me… “Oh my heart stop being lazy It’s a huge world let me feel living”. I want to be part of Nature and to explore it more and find new knowledge. I’m going to say goodbye to this system, which is corrupting my inner peace.

07/11/2015

Relationships, even we divide them strong or weak, temporary or everlasting, I think there are no such things. We meet people as it is decided, so every one play their own role in life and some time the way they live affect on us but after all we depart. So It’s my leaving from here – my first job since 2014 after my graduation and feeling very happy to know that I was playing a very important role with them.  

08-09/11/2015

Preparation to leave home and getting ready to establish…. It is going to be busy 48 hours in travelling and settling down. Finding my own place on earth need much more sacrifice. Missing bellowed family again living alone is ok…even I’m going to try it at my best...

Started working with ECO-V family….This month at a new place with new duties. Started learning about Eurasian Otters.  I knew them but very little… Thanks to Hanna and Atul from Wild Otters India who gave us this training. Thank you so much for offering such wonderful insight to these little mystery creatures.
Otter team members off to field
During indoor training sessions for Otter Conservation

Second day was full of learning about Non Violent Communication (NVC) session by Shammi Nanda from India and Ramanusha from Sri Lanka. This made me easy on communication methods towards more effective communication when we do public programmes.   
Me, Gishani, Ramanusha, Tharindu and Shammi Nanda during NVC training

Me and Tharindu at a NVC conversation...Ramanusha watching us
So now my own programme at ECO-V is “Youth Yathra 2016 - Empowering Green Leaders for combating Climate Change”,  need more and more work, ok… hard work begins...But I look forward to that…

Ok then goodbye November 2015…Thank you November as it was a change making month in my life!

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Kolamba yathra

I know its not fair to have such a long silence. Since we became active in face book (https://www.facebook.com/groups/119363511453200/) I rarely had time to write a blog. So today I am posting about our new yathra - Kolamba yathra 2015.
The logo designed by Dulshan who is our IT volunteer since 2003

Introduction
The Kolamba Yathra for Climate Change is the 3rd Yathra of Eco Friendly Volunteers (ECO-V). Previously, ECO-V has conducted two other Climate Yathras: the KelaniNadee Yathra - a river journey for climate justice (2011), and Paapedi, a bicycle journey for climate justice (2013). The Kolamba Yathra takes place on 19th September 2015, with support from Journeys for Climate Justice (JCJ) Australia, Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO), the Good Market, Foundation of Goodness and IUCN Sri Lanka.
The Kolamba Yathra: An Interfaith Journey for Sustainability is a one-day program with at least 100 youth of diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds walking around the city of Colombo-- the commercial capital of Sri Lanka-- to create awareness on Climate Change.
The youth who are taking part in Yathras gain exposure to ‘green activities,’ serving as a gateway to personal and community behavioral change, while establishing groundwork and support for them to become ‘Green Youth Leaders.’ After participating in the Yathra, these engaged youthwill have an opportunity to conduct their own ‘green project’to combat climate changewithin their own communities, through the facilitation and support of ECO-V.
Objective
1.      The main objective of this Yathra is to raise awareness of climate change issues across the Colombo public, to engage religious and political leadership on climate change action, and most particularly to engage youth in modeling and action for eco-friendly, sustainable methods, climate change education and adaptation, mitigation and biodiversity restoration and conservation efforts.
2.      It is intended to support the global event, the “People’s Pilgrimage” which is gathering a global ‘critical mass’ of grassroots and spiritual leaders in an interlinked global ‘climate Yathra’ or pilgrimage, collecting climate stories, and gathering local voices and messaging to bring to the global leaders at the pinnacle inter-governmental climate talks, COP 21, in Paris this November and December2015. This is undertaken in concert with the Pan-Asian ICE Network, the African ‘We Have Faith’ climate caravan, and the Our Voices platform.


Methods and Strategies
ECO-V calls for youth participation through social media, print and electronic media and through various other environmental networks and their platforms.  100 youth at minimum, representing Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Muslims, are expected to participate. All Yathrees (the youth who will walk in the Yathra) will visit a selected religious institute from above the mentioned religions during the Yathra day along a pre-planned route. They will discuss respective practices and perspectives (including their own) on climate change and sustainability.
Once the 100 youth Yathrees are selected, all will be briefed regarding the Kolamba Yathra route within Colombo city, along with the education and awareness-raising activities planned for the general public. From start to finish, the entire event will be environmentally friendly, and all youth will be trained on such eco-friendly organizing and eco-friendly lifestyles in general. Youth volunteers will make props, banners and other material for raising awareness before the date and will be thoroughly prepared for the event.
The Kolamba Yathra starts off at 9am on 19th September from the Good Market Racecourse, and loops back around to the Good Market by 2pm. Participants will then prepare for a 4 pm public event open to all, featuring Dr. Stephen Bygrave, the CEO of the Australian Beyond Zero Emissions, several Sri Lankan governmental ministers, a diverse representation of Sri Lankan faith leaders, and children of the Colombo community. This public event will take place by the car park of the Colombo Racecourse where the Good Market open-air event is held.
We invite the Sri Lankan corporate sector, NGOs and INGOs, government and inter-governmental agencies to join with us in these collaborative efforts, through contributions of funds, in-kind donations, time,and energy and in-person participation in this Climate Yathra journey.  Climate change brings with it an urgent call to action, and we need everyone, from all walks of life, to come and join together in solidarity for climate justice.  Through education, outreach and action, we can strive to care for and protect all beings on this beautiful blue planet.

Expected and Planned Outcomes
1.      The walk (Yathra) will raise public awareness on climate change issues.
2.      Messaging will be broadcast Island-wide and globally through media.
3.      Enlisted social media will help to spread the message more broadly.
4.      A large photograph of the Kolamba Yathra participants, youth leaders, faith leaders, special guests and children of Colombo will be taken. This photo will include sign boards with key messages from Sri Lanka, to be taken at this occasion, to support and contribute towards Pan-Asian messaging at the COP 21 Climate Talks in Paris. 
5.      Youth who participate in the Yathra will learn more about Climate Change, and (inter-) faith-based actions towards sustainability and ecologicallyfriendly initiatives.
6.      Youth will work further with faith-based groups to strengthen and enhance their sustainability initiatives such as building eco-friendly religious institutions as a part of a community youth initiative (within 2 years).
7.      A video report and written report will communicate the Sri Lankan experience, concerns and messages regarding climate change, to be shared nationally, regionally and across global platforms.

Organizers and Partners
1.       Eco friendly Volunteers (ECO-V) http://www.eco-v.org/eco-v/
2.       Journeys for Climate Justice (JCJ) Australia www.journeysforclimatejustice.org.au
3.       Federation of Environmental Organizations (FEO)www.feosl.org
4.       Good Market, Sri Lankahttp://www.goodmarket.lk/
5.       IUCN Sri Lankawww.iucn.org/srilanka/
6.       Sarvodaya Movement http://www.sarvodaya.org/
7.       Foundation of Goodness http://www.unconditionalcompassion.org/indexc.php
8.       Center for environmental Justice http://www.ejustice.lk/
9.       Global Eco-Village Network, Sri Lanka http://genoa.ecovillage.org/
10.    Undertaken with peripheral support and engagement from the ICE Networkhttp://inebnetwork.org/ice-network

11.    People’s Pilgrimagehttp://peoplespilgrimage.org/ and Our Voices http://ourvoices.net/ We Have Faithhttp://www.pacja.org/index.php/en/ -or- www.facebook.com-We.Have.Faith, and The Green Faith Network: www.greenfaith.org