In the present paper, we intend to show that when it comes to the topic of sustainability, a considerable amount of strong and motivating bottom-up civil society initiatives exist, working for positive social and environmental outcomes. Nowadays, from all industrialized countries, Denmark has the most eco-villages in proportion to its total population (Hansen 2009; Aagaard 2017), and here, the network and movement of eco-villages is quite powerful and well-organized. The role of Denmark was very significant and influential for the development of the Global Ecovillage Network (GEN) as well, having the idea evolved from the cohousing practices. Taking these facts into account, we identified a potential for knowledge and skill transfer, where (Danish) eco-villages could pave the way by showing good practices, alternative organizational forms, low-tech solutions and other crucial ingredients for a socially and environmentally sustainable future.
Our critical investigation is focused mostly on the topics of social metabolism, housing, food provision, aspects of communality and local democracy, as these are the main areas, where eco-villages can offer various small-scale solutions and alternatives.
The destructive global impacts of growth mania
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