I have been interested in sustainable agriculture and buildings for many years, even had some input (other than managing the office) in the active and passive solar housing my architect husband was designing for federally funded owner built housing programs. I haven't so far retired to a nice off the grid homestead, LOL, and don't really expect to, but I still keep up with the development world wide.

Much progress was made in the 1960s, but in the ensuing decades funding and interest has waned. It is disappointing, but understandable when viewed as a failure of faith, rather than simply flaws in the projects or the people--or humanity as a whole.

The latest article from the Baha'i site at BellaOnline.com talks a bit about why I continue to have hope for humanity, the climate, and a better world.

How Faith Will Change the World Today
Historically, core religion has been the primary source of lasting social change because believers are willing to alter behavior and attitudes in order to be 'good.' Bahá'ís think it can happen again.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art181366.asp

Also, here are some off site links to encouraging reports on the last 30 years of permaculture, reversing desertification, and how girls may be the key to changing the world. (You will note that many of the local workers on the videos turn out to be the village women.) YouTube will suggest many many related videos with each of these links, so be warned that time may get away from you while soaking up such proof that it is possible to change the world for the better!

Desert Permaculture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_1cjBQS0yQ
Converting Ethiopian desert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbEM6DCTK3Y
2000 year old food forest in the desert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hftgWcD-1Nw
Reversing desertification: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpTHi7O66pI and another talk by Allan Savory that is about an hour long: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEAFTsFH_x4
Urban permaculture design shows some things any family might be able to do, even if they don't live on a farm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF9IgvjCv84
The Girl Effect: http://www.girleffect.org

Meanwhile, do visit bahai.bellaonline.com for more about the Baha'i Faith and what it's like to live a Bahá'í life -- at least, what it's like for me...

Join free online discussions, view time sensitive announcements and check out interesting external links in the site forum located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=321

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback

Cheryll Schuette, Baha'i Editor
http://bahai.bellaonline.com

One of hundreds of sites at BellaOnline.com