Different Ways of Changing the Dream of the North

April 30, 2008 | By The Pachamama Alliance

To achieve our mission, The Pachamama Alliance has committed itself to partnering with like-minded individuals and organizations whose motivation is to apply their personal abilities and resources to help “change the dream of the North.”  These individuals and groups come in many forms, with many different backgrounds and skills, and each has shown the change that one individual can create when they apply themselves to reallocating their resources; focusing their time, energy and money on life-affirming goals.

This past March, Alan Smith, a copy-editor from England, sought to bring awareness of the Achuar, and The Pachamama Alliance’s work to preserve rainforests, to people in his circle and beyond, ensuring the Achuar’s continued stewardship of the Amazon rainforest.  Based out of Australia, the World Internet Summit leveraged the power of the Internet to reach out to people worldwide. In just three days, Alan raised more than $51,000 from 450 people  in 19 countries including Malaysia, Hong Kong, Jordan, Ireland, India and more. As one new contibutor from the summit wrote us,

“…Thank you too, for the wonderful work you are doing with the Pachamama Alliance. I found the presentation at the World Internet Summit quite moving and inspiring. In fact, this weekend I am going along to a ‘Changing the Dream’ symposium in Melbourne Australia. I look forward to finding out more about the Pachamama Alliance and its work.”

The word is spreading as individuals take it upon themselves to contribute to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling human presence on this planet.

Another example is Carmen Silva, a producer living in Los Angeles.  She expressed uncertainty about the effectiveness of the tax rebates coming in May.  “A lot of people feel just a little funny about the 2008 Stimulus Rebate.  They are thinking it won’t do much good.  But you actually can do a world of good with your rebate.  Give it to a cause you believe in.”  Carmen found this as a great opportunity to reallocate our energies towards positive goals, “and that’s the simple idea behind 08DONATE.” Carmen has enlisted her friends, raising money to promote this campaign and launch an internet site, 08donate.com.  The Pachamama Alliance is featured as one of her favorite organizations to which people can contribute.