Ecotopia is an international gathering of young people from all over Europe involved or interested in environmental and social justice issues. Ecotopia takes place every summer since 1989, each year in a different country. It is organised by EYFA (European Youth For Action) and by a local grassroots environmental organisation as host organisation.

Ecotopia is a place for learning, exchanging experiences and spreading information about environmental, social, political and other issues. Around 200 - 600 people attends Ecotopia each year, to share skills and discuss about a wide range of themes related to environmental problems: climate change, transport and mobility, GMOs, organic food, eco-building and sustainable infrastructure, global politics and global economic system, strategies for actions, experiences of campaigns, alternative media, migration, racism and xenophobia, cultural issues...

Ecotopia is also a functional model of self-sustainable community that puts into practice the principles of an environmentally friendly life-style: waste recycling, vegetarian kitchen, consensus decision-making, the use of alternative energy...Ecotopians participate in regional actions and clean ups, try to get local people interested in ecological problems and empower local organizations.

Ecotopia is horizontally and self- organized; everyone is asked to take part in running the camp, solving problems and decision-making. And everybody is responsible for creating the program!

Ecotopia operates on the ecorates system - an alternative economic system based on living standards and income of people rather than financial markets, which means that you pay for food at Ecotopia the same amount as you would pay for it in your own country.

Because of negative environmental effects of air travel (air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, damage of the ozone layer, etc.), Eyfa does not reimburse flights!!.
One of the best ways to come to Ecotopia has always been the biketour.

2008 Turkey

2007 Portugal

2006 Slovakia / photos

2005 Moldova

2004 Netherlands

2003 Ukraine

2002 Ireland / photos

2001 Bulgaria

2000 Finland

1999 Romania

1998 Germany

1997 Scotland

1996 Czech Republic

1995 Poland

1994 Romania

1993 France

1992 Bulgaria

1991 Estonia

1990 Hungary

1989 Germany

Ecotopia is an extraordinary event, created when people from all over Europe meet and try to shape their own ideal community for two weeks. It's self-organised and run horizontally. During the camp all decisions are taken by the participants at the morning circles, and everybody is responsible for creating the programme, solving problems and running the daily tasks.

CAMP LIFE and DECISION MAKING at ECOTOPIA

Day-to-day policy at ecotopia is made by consensus at the daily morning circle. This is when the day's activities such as workshops, actions, recreational activities and important housekeeping information are announced. People volunteer to help out with various tasks, e.g. collecting firewood, picking up water for showers, cooking, cleaning, etc. There are no hierarchies, all ecotopians have equal rights. Kids and adults, local people and those from other countries, all have the same privileges and responsibilities on the camp life. Equality also means that all people coming to the camp are asked to take part in the everyday tasks and in the decision-making. Where possible, ecotopians participate in regional actions and clean ups, try to get local people interested in ecological problems and empower local organisations.

Everybody who joins ecotopia is expected to put some effort for the organisation and the effective running of the gathering. It means that everybody has to take part actively in one of the daily working groups so that the teams can rotate and everybody is equally able to work, attend to the workshops and rest at ecotopia. People volunteer to help out with various chores, e.g. collecting firewood, collecting water for showers, digging toilets, cleaning, etc. To really experience life in a sustainable community try to volunteer for all of the tasks at least once. If you see something should be done, do it!

We strongly disapprove discriminatory types of behaviour such as sexism and racism. Moreover, ecotopia brings together people of diverse ethnic backgrounds who have very different traditions relating to relationships, environment and everyday life. We ask all the ecotopians to have a high cultural sensitivity. Be patient and friendly and -essential- respect the local community that is hosting ecotopia.

CONSENSUS

Working with consensus means that we all try to move forward together rather than going with what a majority want, so we don't vote - we just keep talking to reach a solution for everyone ! Consensus works better when everyone wants it to work, so it's very important to be constructive. Meetings which work by consensus do not have a chair but do usually have a facilitator. This is someone who -with consent of the group- helps structuring the meeting. The facilitator's main tasks are to make sure everyone speaks in turn and to make the group aware of the time limits.

The facilitator should also keep an eye on the structure of the meeting and so is more likely to introduce different techniques or to summarise the current state of the discussion, although anyone can do this. Apart from the facilitator, other specific roles will be the note taker (who should take note of the decissions reached), and a vibes watcher (sometimes it is important to watch out for people getting upset/tired/stressed or who are unhappy with the decission but don't feel able to say why). It is better if the facilitator and vibes watcher are not part of the meeting themselves (if possible).

Structure of a Consensus Meeting

The meeting starts with the facilitator, time keeper, note taker and vibes watcher being appointed, followed by the agenda and time limits being agreed by the meeting. The facilitator will also make any necessary practical announcements at this stage. The topics on the agenda are then discussed. Each discussion continues until everyone agrees -if someone blocks a decission then the discussion must re-start on the basis of those objections. Everyone has the right to block a decission they really can't live with, although this is rare. People also have the option to stand aside ("I'm not doing it but I won't stop you"), but in most cases true consensus can be reached. During the morning circles working groups can be formed to further discuss a specific idea or problem later on during the day, and report back to the morning circle the next day.

How to make it Work

The two golden rules are to be constructive (it's not valid just to disagree or block, explain your reasons, offer your alternatives or commitments) and to wait until it's your turn to speak. Other things that may help are:

Listen
Make sure you understand what is being discussed, especially if you need a translation. Try to get all information about a point before you support or criticize it.

Explain
Make sure people understand your position and your proposals, especially if you are being translated.

Be as brief as you can.

Be flexible, Be patient.
Contradictions in the decision-making process are O.K.

Do not feel isolated.
We are all here with the same motivation.

Support the facilitator if the meeting starts to get out of control.
Find more information on consensus decision making at:
http://eyfa.benn.org/wiki/ConsensusDecisionMaking
http://www.open-organizations.org/view/Main/OpenOrgGuideConsensus
http://www.consensus.net/ocaccontents.html
http://seedsforchange.org.uk/free/consens#proc