Sun, 04 Mar 2007

Anthroposophical drugs prevention and therapy in Thailand

BANGKOK (NNA) – A congress dealing with issues of drugs prevention and therapy on the basis of the anthroposophical understanding of the human being took place for the first time in Bangkok at the end of last year.

The congress was attended by 80 Thai judges, including the highest judge for family law. A doctor had specially travelled from the Philippines to attend the meeting since the issue of a holistic approach to drugs therapy is alive there too. Congress speakers were Dr.  Olaf Koob, Noemi Böken and Jasmijn Mulder.

Dr.  Olaf Koob, lecturer and well-known author of various medical and psychological guides, developed his therapy concept as the co-founder of the Sieben Zwerge therapy centre on Lake Constance in Germany: the work there is based the anthroposophical understanding of the human being.

Noemi Böken is involved in various innovative ventures with her international eurythmy projects. It was, among other things, her work in Bangkok’s youth prison which led to the congress.

Jasmijn Mulder from Holland is currently working as an art therapist at a Waldorf initiative in Bangkok and contributed an introduction to painting therapy to the congress.

Dr.  Koob began by telling the two fairy tales of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and Sleeping Beauty, which illustrate the two sides of the drugs problem. He went on to describe the effects of stimulant and sedative drugs and gave a concrete introduction to the four phases of therapy: agriculture, a trade, drama and the integrative phase.

The participants followed his explanations with interest and growing enthusiasm.

Aspects which were introduced and practiced included form drawing and black and white drawing. In eurythmy participants learned about the inner aspects of the vowels. At the same time elements from the work in the youth prison were demonstrated and experienced.

The congress ended in Thai style with a traditional dance and gifts for the speakers. The closing ceremony was particularly moving, in which each participant tied a cotton ribbon blessed by a monk on each speaker.

The event was extensively reported in two Bangkok newspapers, including an interview Dr.  Koob. There is currently great interest in introducing the described measures as part of drugs rehabilitation in Thailand and many opportunities have opened up. Experienced people, such as social and curative educationalists, Waldorf teachers, farmers, are sought in Europe who would have the time for and commitment to such a project.

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Item: 070304-02EN Date: 4 March 2007

Copyright 2007 News Network Anthroposophy Limited. All rights reserved. See: www.nna-news.org/copyright/

More NNA reports at: www.nna-news.org/en/

Triodos und GLS Bank take 5m euro holding in Sekem Group

NUREMBERG NNA) – The two leading ethical and ecological banks, the German GLS Gemeinschaftsbank in Bochum and the Dutch Triodos Bank in Zeist, have taken a holding in the Egyptian Sekem Group.

A corresponding agreement was signed at the world’s largest organic trade show, the BioFach in Nuremberg, Germany, last month.

According to the banks, their participation will take the form of a stake of 2.5m euros each, amounting to about 20 percent of the Sekem Group’s shares. This will give each of the banks a seat on the Group’s supervisory board.

The Sekem Group is seen as a model for a sustainable, environmentally friendly development model.

Both banks had worked closely with Sekem for several years and had supported the company to develop into a prosperous and coherent agricultural business, Triodos Bank said in a statement. “Over the last ten years the company has enjoyed exponential growth,” the statement continued. Thomas Jorberg, chairman of GLS Bank, welcomed the cooperative approach of two of Europe’s leading sustainable banks: “We are proud to intensify our partnership and create a more direct link with the Sekem Group.”

Peter Blom, chairman of Triodos Bank, added: ”Sekem proves that a company can be successfully supported by a number of different partners. Together we can expand across borders.”

NNA/end/ung/cva

Item: 070304-01EN Date: 3 March 2007

Copyright 2007 News Network Anthroposophy Limited. All rights reserved. See: www.nna-news.org/copyright/

More NNA reports at: www.nna-news.org/en/