Marion Institute
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The Marion Institute was established in Marion, Massachusetts in 1992. The Institute is a think-tank dedicated to promoting innovative, practical and replicable solutions to a wide range of environmental and social-justice challenges at the root-cause level.
Under the direction of Callum Grieve, the Marion Institute supports pioneering projects that promote ground-breaking sustainability curriculum, socially responsible investing, exploration of belief systems, alternative approaches to healthcare.
The Marion Institute seeks to identify and promote key innovators - and actively fundraise on their behalf - so as to act as a catalyst for change. The Institute was a champion of - and the sole North American fundraising channel for - Dr. Wangari Maathai and her Green Belt Movement several years before she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
Fundraising by the Marion Institute has helped the Green Belt Movement to plant some 30 million trees in Kenya and beyond.
"When there were few who believed in what we were doing, here, in the Green Belt Movement – when our little tree-planting movement often suffered repression, violence and jail time – the Marion Institute always stood by me. The Institute has generously helped raise financial support and awareness for the work of the Green Belt Movement. But more importantly, they have been a deep source of inspiration, emotional support and sustenance for me. Every tree needs water at its roots. It would not have been possible to plant all these trees and hope without the support and friends and partners like the Marion Institute." - Dr. Wangari Maathai
Other Marion Institute-sponsored projects include the work of Paul Hawken and his Natural Capital Institute, Gunter Pauli's ZERI Learning curriculum and two dynamic Internet resources: a learning site, metahistory.org, written by John Lash, and an audio interview site, futureprimitive.org, managed by Joanna Harcourt-Smith.
"Marion Institute provides support and insight to emerging initiatives that make a profound difference in the world. Their work does not show up at the head of the parade, but is often the reason there is a parade at all. The Institute shows up early and presciently to bring forth the most innovative people and projects in the world." - Paul Hawken
As part of the PBS Body & Soul series, Gail Harris interviewed Dr. Thomas Rau, medical director of the Paracelsus Klinik in Lustmühle, Switzerland. Dr. Rau has been active as a hospital physician in rheumatology, internal medicine and general medicine. He has also trained students in naturopathic healing methods. A first of its kind, the clinic combines holistic medicine, naturopathic treatments and biological dentistry. The Marion Institute's Paracelsus Biological Medicine Network is dedicated to promoting the work of Dr. Rau and his biological medicine in North America.
[edit] "Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change" conference
The Marion Institute is also the main presenter of Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change gathering - the northeast Bioneers conference site. In 2006, Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change became the largest Bioneers satellite conference. Presenters at the 2006 conference included Paul Hawken, Ray Anderson, Van Jones, Janine Benyus, Billy Parish, Lynn Margulis, Stephan Harding, Margo Adler, James McCarthy, Julia Butterfly Hill and Nancy and John Todd.
In its work, the Marion Institute remains committed to uniting people who want to heal the planet – and themselves – by encouraging a deeper understanding of the past, a dynamic experience of the present, and a passionate vision of a healthy future.
[edit] External links
Bioneers by the Bay: Connecting for Change conference
