Tunisia Joins the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.

Today marks the world day against trafficking in persons. On this occasion, it is important to reflect upon the struggles humanity had to endure for decades in fighting slavery. This practice sneaks back into different societies around the world taking different shapes and forms disguised under what is called today as the modern-day slavery or trafficking in persons. This phenomenon is considered to be the third most dangerous and widespread crime around the globe after the trade of weapons and drugs. What we see today of trafficking in persons is nothing new or different from the prehistoric practices of slavery; as they are two faces for the same coin.

The International Labour Organization estimated that around 21 million people are victims of forced labor worldwide. This includes people exploited sexually or at work. It is worth keeping in mind that the exact number of trafficked victims locally or transnationally is not known for the complexity of this crime.

According to the International instruments and definitions, trafficked people are subject to all kinds of actions they are forced to do. This varies from being held as a hostage with no freedom at all, into not getting the full salary as promised or simply working extra hours. Trafficking in Persons refers to slavery in all its forms. The term ‘trafficking’ itself describes the mechanisms and methods of recruitment and mobilization used to isolate and threaten victims to take advantage of them.

“The most desperate and vulnerable are prey to traffickers. To end these inhumane practices, we must go further in protecting migrants and refugees, particularly young people, women and children, against those who would exploit their aspirations for a better, more secure and more dignified .” Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN Message 2016.

This phenomenon spares no one, and all countries are subject to it, and the fight continues and varies between countries as some are bigger on the level of being either sources, destinations, or transits.
In History, this practice which was part of slavery was widespread in the Muslim world and in the North African region. Thousand years before the Christian era, Caravans coming from the south, were going towards Tunisia, Kairawan, the capital of Ifriqiyya. From there, slaves were transported to the coastal ports of the Mediterranean.
The black slave was a common phenomenon in Tunisia’s households. In 1841, up to thirty slaves, mostly women, were bought and sold in the Suq al-Birka. As the slave trade developed in the middle Ages, the “intra-African and Eastern trafficking” got spread over fourteen centuries.

In January 1841, Ahmed Bey announced a decree to abolish black slavery in Tunisia. With this decision, Tunisia has become the first Arab country to break with such institution taken for granted since immemorial times. It took five years for the Tunisian abolition decree to come to its conclusion in 1846. The slave market of Tunis was permanently closed in August 1842, and slavery was abolished in the country making Tunisia the first country in the world to abolish slavery. However, slavery persisted until the early twentieth century in the region. It ended at the beginning of the twentieth century, as the last slave market was closed in Morocco in 1920. But today’s average price of a slave equals less than one tenth of its value during the Roman Empire.
In order to understand the situation of trafficking in persons in Tunisia today we need to look at the new, post-revolution context of the country. Since 2011, Tunisia has witnessed political instability, raise of the unemployment rate, social marginalization and growing economic inequalities. These are the main factors that can make individuals more vulnerable to exploitation.

Geographically, Tunisia’s 1,300 kilometers of coastline facing Italy in addition to its proximity to the island of Lempadusa, make it an ideal transit destination for trafficking in persons.

Politically speaking, the revolution of January 14, 2011 forced Tunisia to enter a new phase of political instabilities and the country has been at crossroads since then, which led to the development of trafficking in persons on both national and transnational levels.

Tunisia is now engaged in a process of institutional reform and democratic transition as it is still working on reforming laws. The Constitution of 1959 was revoked, and the new constitution was adopted in January 26, 2014. Following the political assassinations of opposition leaders, this new Constitution faced major challenges and had been the subject of much debate. It addressed topics such as religion and state and women’s rights. These debates were closely monitored in order to better understand the development of public policies in the fight against human trafficking, based on the interaction of gender.

On the legal side, the revolution created some sort of legal vacuum where attempts of placing a new legal framework took long, especially considering the period of adopting the new constitution. Since 2007, the suggestion of a bill of law against trafficking in persons has started and only recently the draft of this law became ready for adoption by the new parliament.

The security system created an even more favorable situation for crimes such as trafficking in persons as it gave more attention to relatively more serious topics such as terrorism and adopted them as a priority and turned a blind eye to the crime of trafficking in persons and forced labor.

When it comes to the socio-economic context, poverty and marginalization are the main reasons for exploitation of people into crimes such as trafficking, as they increase their vulnerability especially women to fall in the hands of traffickers. The country is facing a major economic set back and the Tunisian economic growth seems rather slow. Contrary to urbanized eastern cities, rural western ones still suffer from inequalities in employment and access to social services such as education and health care. With high rates of unemployment which vary between 31% and 48% among graduates, that facilitates the youth becoming victims of trafficking in Tunisia and out. In addition, due to the lack of stable markets and job opportunities in the formal sector, many citizens are employed in the underground economy representing 85% of Tunisian companies, according to the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). A recent survey by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) suggests that informal employment represents 42% of total employment in Tunisia, absorbing a very important part of the labor force mainly in trade and services. This situation endangers many Tunisians, and increases the risk of exploitation.

At the social level, 15.5% of Tunisians were under the poverty line in 2010 and 4.6% below extreme poverty. Women and children are usually the most affected by poverty, as it exposes them to the lack of schooling, work at a young age and risky situations. The social, economic and cultural difficulties can push people to leave their area and go to the big cities, and even to leave their countries in search of better opportunities, without preparation or the necessary information for local integration and protection from trafficking networks.

Tunisia as any other signatory party was bound to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons especially women and children (Palermo Protocol), in 2003 to meet a certain level of compliance. The pressure from the UN, EU and US State Department started even before the revolution of 2011. The country found itself going behind others in the region as it hasn’t passed its own national law on trafficking until July 21, 2016, hitting by that a lower status on the scale of Tier placements which is Tier Two Watch List . By this tardiness in passing the national Anti-Human Trafficking law, Tunisia was placed on the Tier 2 Watch List for the fourth time in a row. This makes it sit at the same level with countries like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan. For this delay and lack in efforts by the Tunisian government, Tunisia was at risk of getting a downgrade to Tier 3 which constitutes countries such as Syria and North Korea.
However, the country received a waiver to remain its ranking due to the significant efforts it put to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.
Today, Tunisia celebrates with the rest of the international community the fight against trafficking after passing the Tunisian national law 29/2015 related to the prevention and suppression of trafficking in persons on July 21, 2016.

This law consists of 66 articles, and is in line with international commitments made by Tunisia to meet the requirements of international standards which Tunisia has taken, particularly in respect of the Additional Protocol to the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons especially women and children (Palermo Protocol), ratified by Tunisia in 2003.

Tunisians evaluate their new government

Tunisia’s new technocratic government headed by Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa

By Racha Haffar

TUNIS, Tunisia – Hours before the country adopted its new constitution on January 26 , Tunisia formed a new government with Mehdi Jomaa as the new Prime Minister after being selected by political and civil society leaders.

This government emerged from a national dialogue and enjoys consensus support from almost all parties in Tunisia.

Jomaa replaced Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh of the Islamist Ennahdha party, which held office since October 2011.

Laarayedh had been in office since March 2013.

Reactions varied among supporters and opponents to the new formation. The cabinet has been criticized for its controversial choice in continuing with Lotfi Ben Jeddou as Minister of Interior. Ben Jeddou has served in the position since cabinets were reshuffled shortly after the assassination of Chokri Belaid in February 2013. He was criticized for what some see as an ineffective investigation into the opposition’s leader assassination, as well as for his handling of the assassination of opposition politician Mohamed Brahmi last July.

Another criticism is linked to the number of women in the cabinet – three out of 28 members. After all the efforts calling for gender equality in political representation in the constitution, Jomaa’s government includes only two female ministers and one secretary of state.

Some criticism targeted the minister of tourism for traveling to Israel, a trip Jomaa defended. Also, the minister of justice was targeted for allegedly having worked with deposed president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

The opposition leftist Popular Front Coalition made it clear that it has certain reservations concerning this government although it came as a result of the national dialogue.

Hamma Hammami, a leader in the Popular Front Coalition, told The Atlantic Post in an interview that the Front is skeptical about this new government.

Hammami noted that the new government should have removed some ministers such as the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Justice, “who served during the times of the previous dictatorial regime and was known for his injustices and oppression of rights. So, how could he save liberties today?”

“The Minister of Religious Affairs is close to the Ennahdha party and he is an extremist,” Hammami said. “He is against certain chapters in the code of personal status and the constitution. How could Tunisians relax in this situation?”

“We have reservations as we want this government to succeed and to do its best so that Tunisia would reach the best situation and break through this crisis, not to stray away from the roadmap,” Hammami concluded.

Aymen Saleh, a young Tunisian student, said he finds this government to be a combination of the previous Constitutional Democratic Rally party of the old regime, and Ennahdha.” This government does not represent me, as the power is split between the old regime and the Islamists. However, all I can say is that I hope they prepare for better elections.”

On the other hand, supporters of Jomaa’s cabinet emphasize its temporary nature. The key task of this government is to keep the country safe and move toward elections, which some officials have said could happen in October.

This government will be tasked with overseeing the country’s affairs as it prepares for new elections expected by the end of this year.

When addressing the National Constituent Assembly on January 29, Mehdi Jomaa said that his government is “temporary” and must finish its work by the end of this year. Jomaa asserted the importance of addressing economic and security problems. “Hopefully this government will get the approval of the Tunisians, the same way it got the approval of the deputies of the National Constituent Assembly.”

“This government is ready and aware of the challenges facing it; however, with the support of the Tunisian people, hopefully we can pass these challenges,” Jomaa added.

“This is a country of a revolution and at the same time a country of dialogue. Its most important legitimacy is the consensual dialogue that all people were involved in to solve our problems. I am sure we can reach the elections in due time and pass the challenges. Now we should work on bringing back the respect to the country and its laws and institutions. We can make Tunisia become like Singapore and any other country we all dream about having.” Jomaa said.

Jomaa called on government and the private sector to work together to create jobs, as unemployment is a big burden for Tunisians.

Rached Ghannouchi, the leader of Ennahdha, emphasized the importance of peaceful rotation of the power. He said that this is an important step during this period.

“This is a nice scene – we were used to seeing death or capture of the old president for the new one to get into power, but now we see three prime ministers next to each other showing that Tunisia has entered the right path to democracy and towards being progressive,” Ghannouchi said.

Mohammed Ali, a banker, told The Atlantic Post that he sees a positive change happening in the country. “As a Tunisian citizen, and like all Tunisians, I expect the best from this government, and we hope some new changes and improvements will take place soon.”

In addition, in his speech, President Moncef Marzouki addressed Jomaa’s government and said, “You are the third government; you are going to face a lot of problems. The previous governments have already added some bricks to this country. You are also going to add some more…We all know how hard it is to maintain security, improve development and take the country through this transition; however, today Tunisia has better anticipations, better spirit full of hope and trust, and today you represent this trust. I believe that you are able to manage this responsibility effectively and lead us towards successful elections.”

In addition to these expectations and criticism, a Tunisian anti-corruption watchdog group Iwatch has launched the ‘Jomaa Meter‘, an initiative aimed at tracking the performance of the newly appointed government of Mehdi Jomaa and to track whether the country’s interim prime minister is keeping his promises or not.

This online accountability meter lists the 29 promises made by Jomaa, including organizing free and fair elections and job creation.

The meter classifies these pledges into three categories: “achieved”, “in progress,” and “not achieved.”

This project is modeled on Egypt’s Morsi Meter, which was launched to track President Mohammed Morsi’s achievements after he took office in 2012.

Mouheb Garoui, president of Iwatch, told The Atlantic Post that he has high expectations of this government. He said that optimism is apparent when you talk to people and even in the media, because this government was chosen by consensus, was designed according to the road map and along with the new constitution.

“Tunisians seem to have more trust in this new government. The arrests of terrorists that happened right after this government took power is seen as a first concrete step towards the new promises made by Jomaa, as he promised to give concrete evidence in relation to the assassinations of both opposition leaders last year.”

“This meter is to assess the public perception towards the whole concept; we got some positive reactions so far. In fact, we want to create a new mindset of accountability towards those who give promises without being held accountable.”

Garoui pointed at the fact that during the previous elections there were many promises without accountability. There were hundreds of programs and political parties, but no one was following and keeping record of the actions of the previous government.

“Now this government will know that Tunisians are following its actions and keeping track of what it does. This initiative will serve the post-transition period, it will become as a tradition for people to track their elected government, and we voted for you, what are you achieving for us?” Garoui asked.

The announcement of the government occurred as the National Constituent Assembly members prepared to begin a final vote on the country’s new constitution.

Racha Haffar is The Atlantic Post’s Tunisia Correspondent, based in Tunis.

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Small Copenhagen town offers residents a free spirit lifestyle

A colorful house reflecting the free spirit of its residents.

By Racha Haffar

CHRISTIANIA, Denmark – “You Are Now Leaving the European Union,” reads a sign at the border of Christiania. The small Denmark town, with nearly 900 residents, is markedly different from the rest of the country in its style and spirit. The mission of Christiania, residents say, is for it to be a self-governing and self-sustaining society free of psychological and physical destitution.

A walk through Christiania reveals an array of sights and sounds. Stands on the streets sell macrobiotic food, jewelry and beads. The main attraction in the area, however, is hashish, a cannabis product smoked in pipes. Christiania is the only place in Denmark where the sale of cannabis and other soft drugs is allowed, and its presence is easily noted by the sweet smell emitted by burning it, which wafts through street corridors and around colorful buildings.

Christiania, which proclaims itself an autonomous and self-governed entity, is based in the heart of Copenhagen, and has grown in popularity as more people are seeking out the relaxed lifestyle associated with Christiania. The town has also become an attraction for tourists and visitors to Denmark, who find appeal in its unique flag, ethics, anthem, laws and constitution. The town’s residents consider Christiania to be not unlike a large commune.

Zid Syddysse, the press attache at the information office of Christiania, told The Atlantic Post that his last name is actually an adopted name taken from the area he lives in. The people of Christiania, he said, do not like to be given titles or be referred to by their professions or their real last names. Rather, the residents consider themselves to be “humans,” denoting an egalitarian social structure.

According to Syddysse, the idea for Christiania first came to fruition 44 years ago, when, in 1971, an absence of political power that extended to the area and the recent exodus of soldiers from a former military base left a surplus of land that was largely unattended. A group of squatters, many from surrounding regions who desired the extra land, began using the area as an extended living space.

Those who moved into the area eventually decided to found Christiania as an alternative to mainstream society.  Its residents also hoped to prove that building a community could be a gentle process that wasn’t financially burdening or destructive to the environment, as traditional building processes could be. Many building materials used by early Christiania residents are environmentally friendly.

“We are the first to introduce this separation of garbage waste system to the government, which we see as a big success,” said Syddysse.

Syddysse added that the increased media attention Christiania received also brought the federal government’s attention. “We faced some problems from the beginning,” he said, “as we liked to smoke weed and there was a problem with us selling illegal drugs. The government looked at our Christiania as a trashy place.”

But Syddysse added that Denmark’s government began to change its opinion of Christiania after it came to light that the town was also hosting a wealth of young families and children. Today, Syddysse said, Christiania is largely heralded as a success.

But it was also important for Christiania to follow some formal processes as far as owning land and buildings went, said Syddysse, adding that this didn’t necessarily have to compromise the town’s values of autonomy and a laissez-faire economy.

“Recently, we bought some of the buildings. We didn’t do that to just say that we have a paper [declaring ownership of] this land. With the new paper of ownership, we can carry on keeping the area shared by everybody,” said Syddysse. “It’s all about the sense of the community.”

Syddysse added that the Christiania community considers itself a model for challenging the traditional Denmark lifestyle. “When it comes to our laws, we have a constitution, and a ‘Lex Christiania’ document which shows how we organize meetings, laws, daily life and the whole living situation in the town,” he said.

There remains considerable tension between Denmark’s federal government and that of Christiania, Syddysse added, noting that it expects Christiania’s residents to respect federal law but gives little recognition to the laws or lifestyles promoted by Christiania’s own government.

Syddysse said that since Christiania’s government signed documents required by Denmark’s federal government in order for the town’s residents to own land and houses, the population has gained a degree of freedom. However, Christiania’s residents are still subject to sanctions if they do not follow federal laws, he said, which includes getting permission before constructing new buildings.

“There are a lot of new regulations,” said Syddysse, noting that the federal government has appointed inspectors to oversee the management of Christiania. He speculated that reason for this oversight is the prevalence of cannabis sales in Christiania, which have been blamed for isolated cases of violence and gang activity in the town. In 2005, a 26 year-old Christiania resident was killed and three others were seriously injured in gang-related violence centered around the cannabis market.

But Syddysse said that Christiania’s people overwhelmingly embrace the notion of living peacefully. “We just want to live our life the way we want it, not how others tell us,” he said. “We have people from all over the world living here in harmony, and even the abandoned ones from society can find a home in our town.”

To date, Christiania’s community has successfully established an alternative healthcare center, three kindergarten schools, a youth club and a post office. Over two hundred of the town’s residents have built their houses themselves, and it now boasts a rapidly expanding population of over 670 adults, 280 children, and 300 pet dogs.

“The benefit from being a big family,” said Sydysse, “is that it gives us a sense of protection. We organize everything together and help each other [develop] closer bonds. Christiania is safer than other places outside of the city.”

Syddysse added that Christiania’s residents pay taxes like the rest of the Danish population, which makes them equally productive citizens. Christiania’s citizens, who employ a form of direct democracy in politics, also hold meetings open to the town’s public. Up to 500 citizens can attend these meetings and raise topics that concern them. The mood in these meetings is respectful, as people listen intently to speakers and try to reach a consensus on how to deal with problems.

“For us, freedom in Christiania is ‘something we feel,’” said Syddysse. “Everybody here is free because we do not have the same hierarchy which exists in the society of Denmark.”

Kim Sunderen, who has worked as a coordinator at Christiania’s health clinic for the past twelve years, told The Atlantic Post that everyone is welcome in this center. Its services are free for all residents, and outside visitors, too, are welcome to use its facilities.

Sunderen said that for him, Christiania represents an alternative to the outside world’s selfishness and overbearing bureaucracy. “We use direct democracy of consensus where we take things easier and slower,” he said. “Decisions take longer here but all people understand what is going on in the process.”

Sunderen added that life can be difficult enough without the constraints of traditional society, and that Christiania allows him to embrace a Buddhist-like lifestyle that is relaxed and relatively carefree.

“The freetown is not only Christiania, it is inside ourselves as a symbol of a wish of an honorable life with self-respect intact, even if you do not live up to societies’ norms,” said Sunderen. “It’s where freedom and responsibility are inseparable, linked together by love.”

Jenny Sjöstrand, a Swedish traveler who stopped by Christiania to visit, told The Atlantic Post that she admires the lifestyle the town’s residents embrace.

“I can move to Christiania and express myself freely without anyone questioning my way of acting, whether I’m weird or not,” she said. “I don’t restrict myself, I just go out to the streets without caring about whether I’m smiling, crying, feeling very empty or wearing strange clothes.”

Sjöstrand added that Christiania has an attractive, small-town feel to it, which aligns with her vision of what life should be like. “I can envision myself living here,” she said.

Racha Haffar is an Atlantic Post contributor based in Dubai, UAE and Tunis, Tunisia.

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Self-discovery a vital part of Denmark’s folk high schools

Denmark’s Krogerup school, based in Copenhagen, is one of several folk high schools in the country, which employ unique teaching styles.

By Racha Haffar

HUMLEBAEK, Denmark – The folk high school, called “Folkehojskole” in Danish, is a special informal adult education school that originated in Denmark in 1844. For the Danes, folk high schools symbolize both a movement and a modern institution dedicated to the concept of lifelong teaching and learning. The folk high school also stands as one of the most original contributions Denmark has made to theories about popular education, giving students the power and motivation to explore and discover themselves and the world they live in.

The folk high school Krogerup, based in Humlebaek, was founded by Hal Koch in 1946 as a way to promote democracy in the midst of World War II. Koch wanted his school to focus on topics such as citizenship and democracy. Since the school’s founding, Krogerup has remained a place for democratic discussion where students and staff actively participate in public debate. The school has also been a source of many inspirational stories and has been lauded as a success by students, their parents and teachers.

Kyaw Thuya, a 25 year-old student from Burma, said his life changed significantly after he attended Krogerup. As a Buddhist monk, Thuya said he plans to return home as an educator and civil society activist with a new outlook on what freedom means after studying media, peace and conflict resolution, creative education, democracy and human rights.

“I used to hear people talk about these things on the radio and I never understood what they meant,” said Thuya. “I became determined to learn more, and I started to understand that so many wrong things were going on in my society.”

Thuya participated in a Krogerup course called “Crossing Borders Global Studies.” After completing a six-month semester, Thuya’s fellow students raised money for him to stay at Krogerup for an additional semester, finding him to be an inspiration. “I found it even more beneficial to stay here longer in order for me to learn more and be able to help my country,” he said. “My personality has changed as well. I became more responsible, sensitive to my duties towards my country and aware of the positive changes I can achieve.”

While in Burma, Thuya was enrolled in school for a time with a group of students who, like him, were very passionate about their studies. Now, with the knowledge he gained from his experience at Krogerup, Thuya said he is confident about his aspirations coming to fruition.

Garba Diallo, director of the Crossing Borders course, told The Atlantic Post about some of his students’ stories he feels are worth sharing.

One student, Khalifa Kante, a 35 year-old student from the Gambia, was a student at Krogerup two years ago. He has since returned home and established a non-governmental organization called Youth Without Borders. Nearly five hundred youths are involved with his organization, which focuses on skills training, taking care of the environment, cleaning the streets, constructing healthcare clinics and helping local farmers.

Ibrahim Ali, a Ghana native who is now in his thirties, attended Krogerup in 2011. After finishing the semester, he returned home and founded his own school, Youth for Change, which educates children who cannot afford private or even public schooling.

Krogerup’s Danish students, too, find inspiration from the education the school provides them. Traveling abroad as part of the curriculum helps the students accumulate a broader knowledge and form an eagerness to apply what they have learned to real-world scenarios. Some students get inspired and start campaigns to raise awareness for certain causes. Last April, a group of students started a campaign called ”Ministry Blackout” in response to a law passed by the Danish parliament limiting public access to information.

“I believe this is the most important educational supplement to young people,” said Diallo, who added that it is important “to keep the idea of lifelong learning in practice. Because everyday is a great chance of learning.”

Krogerup’s principal, Rikke Forchhammer, told The Atlantic Post that Krogerup students carry the education they receive at the school with them for life. There are “no exams, curriculum or grades which usually put the students under a lot or pressure and stress,” said Forchhammer. “People around the world should try this and help the youth learn for their own benefit.”

She told the story of Jesper, a 19 year-old Danish student who came to Krogerup in 1988 and joined a singing class. He didn’t know that he was gifted at singing, said Forchhammer, and wound up singing very well, eventually going on to join her choir group in Copenhagen.

“As a music teacher, I think the most inspiring thing is to nourish talents that people are not aware of and trigger the passion out of them,” said Forchhammer. “This can happen in folk high schools.”

Forchhammer added that the experience of students succeeding is inspirational for both them and their teachers. “It gives you a lot of self-confidence to discover something you didn’t know exists in you,” she said.

The current head of the school board at Krogerup, too, did not know he had a hidden talent. Simon Emil Ammitzbol was 19 when he first enrolled at Krogerup, and soon discovered that he had a passion for politics. He eventually went on to become a prominent politician and a member of the Parliament of Denmark for the Liberal Alliance.

“Ammitzbol turned out to be a good debater and learned how to stand up for his beliefs, which all started in this place,” said Forchhammer. “We know that we change a lot of people’s lives by being in a boarding school, as they learn about respecting each other, responsibility and speaking up for themselves.”

Forchhammer added that she’s been able to see Krogerup’s students undergo significant personal change during their stay at the school. “The real change happens when you give them the opportunity to decide for themselves and take responsibility for their actions, lives and learning,” she said. This, she added, gives students “a lot of self-confidence because they believe in the positive change they can add to their lives and futures.”

LoAnn and Stan Olson, a married couple from Japan who run their own marketing organization, told The Atlantic Post about the experience their son, Stig, had at a folk high school in Norway, and how his education there marked a turning point in his life.

Stig, who enrolled at the school at age 18 to participate in a nine-month course, had always been shy and initially had difficulty building relationships with his Norwegian classmates. But the new environment turned out to benefit Stig, they said, as he discovered a passion for sports and decided to pursue sports studies as a career. After returning home to Japan, Stig was accepted at a university to take courses in “the study of the body.”

“He was actually going to do something irrelevant to his passion, but after his experience he had the chance to thoroughly think about what he wants to do with his future,” his parents said. “It was the whole process of spending nine months doing new things and relating to new people.” A trip Stig took to Kenya as part of the curriculum also proved to be a life-changing experience for him, his parents said.

Inspired by their son’s experience, the Olsons decided to start their own folk high school in Japan with the goal of bringing youth together to learn from each other.

“We are in a different stage as we picked up the idea, gathered a team of professionals, set our vision clear, and chose a very fun and interesting spot in the mountains of Japan,” said the Olsons, who chose Nagano Prefecture, in central Japan, as the location for the school. “It is a very suitable area for the youth,” they said, “where they can practice different activities and sports, do some organic farming and live energetically within this smaller community.”

The Olsons also said they plan to have their folk high school include courses dedicated to personal growth and understanding one’s own body. “If a person can work with his body’s energy,” they said, “they can maintain a positive and powerful energy in their lives. They will not be prone to be sick, stressed or nervous. Consequently, by being powerful, you can empower others and that is how the circle of affecting each other starts.”

The Olsons added that the main focuses of their school are organic farming, basic practices of daily life, energy practices, human rights education and intercultural dialogue.

“When Danes get the chance to go to a folk high school, they have a better performance in university life,” they said. “We want to create a platform with many modalities where young people can participate and lead their own learning, developing freedom and vitality. This is the basis for them taking the lead in their own lives and communities.”

Racha Haffar is an Atlantic Post contributor based in Dubai, UAE and Tunis, Tunisia.

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In Denmark, ecovillages provide an alternative to mainstream society

An ecovillage in the Denmark community of Hallingelille is shown in this undated photograph.

By Racha Haffar

ZEALAND ISLAND, Denmark – On the Danish island of Zealand sits an ecovillage composed of 20 families.

The goal of an ecovillage is to become more socially and ecologically sustainable than other communities. And Zealand’s ecovillage of Hallingelille certainly reflects these philosophies. Colorful and whimsically-shaped houses are nestled in forests that sit beside a pristine lake. Inhabitants describe living on the compound as “a dream come true.”

The success of Hallingelille is mainly the result of Suzana Maxen’s work. As Hallingelille’s founder, Maxen had imagined a community where people lived with the values of communal integrity and lifestyles that respected the environment. She also wanted residents to care for the well-being of one another rather than only be self-interested.

The ecovilllages movement, which began in Denmark in 1995, gained traction following the creation of the National Association of Ecovillages. The movement has since spread worldwide, but Denmark remains the country with the highest number of ecovillages per capita.

In 2000, Maxen posted an announcement in local Danish newspapers in an attempt to gather people with like-minded values representative of the ecovillages movement. She wanted people, she said, who would be “walking the talk.”

The people who responded to Maxen’s announcement reached a consensus that they wanted to break away from mainstream Danish life for something different.

Maxen’s message certainly piqued interests. Today, 50 adults and 35 children live at Hallingelille. But finding residents for the village wasn’t always easy.

“At the beginning it was actually difficult to gather people and make them agree to start the village,” said Camilla Nielsen-Englyst, who helped found Hallingelille and now works for the community as a board member and as a member of the welcoming committee. “We were a group of dreamers with big visions. We wanted to establish a sustainable village with all its centers and houses, a hospital and a school.”

Nielsen-Englyst added that it was difficult to find available land to settle on. By 2005, she and other founders were able to find space to build 22 houses in addition to a common house that would serve as a space for celebrations and meetings.

Hallingelille is a community without a formal set of laws, but decisions affecting the community are made democratically through consensus. There is also a five-member board in place with a chairman, each member elected to a one to two-year term. Meetings are also held every Monday, where residents discuss issues pertaining to the village and solicit courses of action.

One of the biggest challenges to the ecovillage system is people who want to take initiative on their own without getting help from professional experts. This has been seen in cases where professionals are needed to do things like build houses, wire them for electricity, and install sewage systems. But eventually, said Nielsen-Englyst, community members realize that such projects are difficult to undertake without professional help.

“We need support from other communities to help us in constructing ours,” said Nielsen-Englyst. “Local municipalities were a bit skeptical at the beginning and didn’t help us with what we needed,” she added.

The houses at Hallingelille are especially distinct in their architecture and function. All houses are equipped with solar energy panels and water pipes that collect rainwater for use it in toilets. Many of the houses are built from materials that have been recycled and are ecologically friendly. Residents augment this eco-friendly trend by sourcing food from outside communities that would otherwise be discarded.

Like every society, Hallingelille has its share of problems. However, residents say following a democratic system of government makes solving them much easier.

“There will be always problems but they are constructive,” said Nielsen-Englyst. “We work on conflict resolution in practice in everyday life, and we make sure that we all communicate properly in a manner where no one leaves the discussion with unresolved matters.”

For the most part, living in Hallinglille is extremely safe. Safety and honesty are fundamental principles of its community, and many residents leave their doors unlocked, leave keys in their cars and let their children play outside without much supervision.

Nielsen-Englyst added that every member of the compound has to learn to share responsibilities and chores. “Everyone knows their rights and duties in a very democratic way,” she said.

Individuals also undertake their own projects while living on the compound. Many independently raise vegetable gardens and produce dairy products. Some residents also do small projects on their own houses. Many also practice yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation in their spare time. Altogether, the ecovillage lifestyle is one that attempts to strike a balance between independent and communal work.

The main goal of ecovillages, Hallinglille residents say, is to provide an escape from city life and enjoy a relaxing yet productive lifestyle. Sustainable practices, vegetarianism, daily exercise and outdoor activities are all a part of this. “When you are together you do more, said Nielsen-Englyst. “That’s the strength of togetherness.”

The village receives many visitors who are curious about how Hallinglille residents live. Many also want to know more about the sustainability movement to incorporate aspects of it in their daily lives. Sometimes, the reach of ecovillages is especially broad. Hallinglille, for instance, is collaborating with villages in Ghana, sending materials to help people there build homes in a sustainable manner.

Ross Jackson, the author of Occupy World Street and the founder of The Gaia Trust, develops software that supports various sustainability projects related to ecovillages. In an interview with The Atlantic Post, Jackson discussed the benefits of the ecovillage system over normal societal structures.

Early ecovillages that sprang up in India, Scotland and Australia turned out to be very successful, he said, illustrating the global reach and appeal of the ecovillage system.

In 1995, The Global Ecological Network was launched, after which point Jackson founded The Gaia Trust to support the movement.

“The whole idea is a model for the mainstream in the long run,” said Jackson. “Sooner or later, people will notice that they have to turn inward and start surviving on their own resources rather than importing others’ models.” Jackson added that the movement remains relatively obscure, and that it has received little support from politicians since many are unaware of its existence.

In total, there are about 10 ecovillages located throughout Denmark. The largest ecovillage community is based in the city of Aarhus, in the eastern part of the country.

The early 1970s witnessed a boom in the co-housing concept in Denmark, defined by groups of people living together and sharing facilities. It was this movement that paved the way for ecovillages to take hold in the country. There were elements of socialism in the ecovillage movement, but overall it was viewed as something distinct, and without overt political elements.

The ecovillages movement was formalized in 1995 with the establishment of the National Association for Ecovillages. It is part of the Global Ecovillages Network, which Jackson helped found.

“The Danish government didn’t even know about this, they gave no support as they don’t think in terms of grassroots activities,” said Jackson. “For them, it’s too much top-down rather than listening to what people say and trusting them, they just listen to large corporations. The key is not whether you are rich or not, it is actually in doing things together.”

Though it was initially difficult to get permits to construct ecovillages from local municipalities, Jackson said local governments were eventually receptive to the concept.

“Personally, I see that it will be for the politicians’ own interest to support this movement,” said Jackson. “It is going to bring about a positive change, reduce the Ecological footprint and CO2.”

Meanwhile, a country as small as Denmark is making it easy for people to reach ecovillages. Regardless of where a person is in the country, the closest ecovillage is usually no farther than an hour’s drive away.

For some people, living in an ecovillage is especially attractive for the tightly-knit community it fosters, the privacy and simplicity it affords its residents and the philosophies of sustainability it embraces. Many adherents of the movement say they prefer this societal model to ones instituted by large governments and masses of people who cannot seem to reach consensuses on topics easily.

“We make sure we are all well, happy and satisfied,” said Nielsen-Englyst. “Try it out. It only takes one person to start a dream.

Racha Haffar is an Atlantic Post contributor based in Dubai, UAE and Tunis, Tunisia.

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