ISEC: A Path Breaking Ecologist
9:06 AM Edit This 0 Comments »Justin Raj K.
An interview with Rahul and Alex - coordinators of ISEC
Since its inception in 1975, ISEC (International Society for Ecology and Culture) has been providing Ladakhi leaders with information about the impact of conventional development in other parts of the world while exploring more sustainable patterns of development in Ladakh itself, based on the use of local resources and indigenous knowledge.
Can you explain about ISEC and the basic philosophy behind it?
Rahul: ISEC is a non-profit organization founded by Helena Norberg-Hodge and head quartered at Berkeley, USA. We are concerned with promoting locally based alternatives to the global consumer culture. We are working towards strengthening local markets, cultures, technology and communities.
What all are ISEC’s activities?
Alex: Our activities include ‘Local Food Programme’, ‘Hands-on’ community initiatives, publishing books, reports and conducting conferences. We are also into making and screening films. We are effectively doing local, national and international networking and campaigning too.
Can you brief the mission of ‘Ladakh Project’?
Rahul: It is an ambitious project and one of the largest appropriate technology programmes in the world. We had set up the Women’s Alliance of Ladakh (WAL) in 1994 and Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) in 1978. The latter is now an entirely independent organization. There are also Handicrafts cooperatives and seed-saving programmes. We also conduct Reality tours which bring community leaders to the West in order to balance the over-glamorized image of modern life. We had set up an educational and training centre for Ladakhi amchis or traditional doctors. We are publishing schoolbooks, plays and cultural works in the Ladakhi language.
What all are WAL’s activities?
Rahul: We conduct annual festivals celebrating local knowledge and skills, including traditional spinning, weaving and dyeing, and the preparation of indigenous food. We have regular ‘clean-up’ campaigns aimed at encouraging community responsibility for the environment. You know in 1998, WAL succeeded in banning the use of plastic bags in Ladakh. We also organize programmes like ‘No TV’ weeks aimed at resisting the worst elements of non-Ladakhi culture. We also helped WAL to set up the Local Food Café in 2006 at the Women’s Alliance Centre, Leh. In 2001 a Handicrafts shop was also initiated.
That’s great. So, how far you have achieved your objectives?
Alex: Since its inception, ISEC has successfully made partnership with more than 12 countries. Its directors constitute the Editorial Board of The Ecologist magazine, the UK’s most respected environmental journal. We have published many groundbreaking books and made informative films and screened it worldwide. Its director Helena Norberg-Hodge shared the 1986 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’. These all are the clear signs that our efforts are bearing fruit.
An interview with Rahul and Alex - coordinators of ISEC
Since its inception in 1975, ISEC (International Society for Ecology and Culture) has been providing Ladakhi leaders with information about the impact of conventional development in other parts of the world while exploring more sustainable patterns of development in Ladakh itself, based on the use of local resources and indigenous knowledge.
Can you explain about ISEC and the basic philosophy behind it?
Rahul: ISEC is a non-profit organization founded by Helena Norberg-Hodge and head quartered at Berkeley, USA. We are concerned with promoting locally based alternatives to the global consumer culture. We are working towards strengthening local markets, cultures, technology and communities.
What all are ISEC’s activities?
Alex: Our activities include ‘Local Food Programme’, ‘Hands-on’ community initiatives, publishing books, reports and conducting conferences. We are also into making and screening films. We are effectively doing local, national and international networking and campaigning too.
Can you brief the mission of ‘Ladakh Project’?
Rahul: It is an ambitious project and one of the largest appropriate technology programmes in the world. We had set up the Women’s Alliance of Ladakh (WAL) in 1994 and Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) in 1978. The latter is now an entirely independent organization. There are also Handicrafts cooperatives and seed-saving programmes. We also conduct Reality tours which bring community leaders to the West in order to balance the over-glamorized image of modern life. We had set up an educational and training centre for Ladakhi amchis or traditional doctors. We are publishing schoolbooks, plays and cultural works in the Ladakhi language.
What all are WAL’s activities?
Rahul: We conduct annual festivals celebrating local knowledge and skills, including traditional spinning, weaving and dyeing, and the preparation of indigenous food. We have regular ‘clean-up’ campaigns aimed at encouraging community responsibility for the environment. You know in 1998, WAL succeeded in banning the use of plastic bags in Ladakh. We also organize programmes like ‘No TV’ weeks aimed at resisting the worst elements of non-Ladakhi culture. We also helped WAL to set up the Local Food Café in 2006 at the Women’s Alliance Centre, Leh. In 2001 a Handicrafts shop was also initiated.
That’s great. So, how far you have achieved your objectives?
Alex: Since its inception, ISEC has successfully made partnership with more than 12 countries. Its directors constitute the Editorial Board of The Ecologist magazine, the UK’s most respected environmental journal. We have published many groundbreaking books and made informative films and screened it worldwide. Its director Helena Norberg-Hodge shared the 1986 Right Livelihood Award, also known as the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’. These all are the clear signs that our efforts are bearing fruit.
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