Currents of 2012-02-10

…and we are back after a long silence.

 

It’s been forever since we managed to put an update on this blog. Sorry about that, a lot of things happened.

Our trip to Iceland didn’t work out due to various reasons. It was quite a let down at the time but we managed to have a good time nonetheless. The necessities of life took up most of our time.

 

So now it’s 2012, and there’s something grand in the air.

All the apocalyptic theories aside, it’s becoming very clear that a big shift is in progress, and we’re all here to witness it, and participate.

 

The Star of the North will take shape in a while. We haven’t set a timeline yet, but we’re on it – more details.

What else? Yeah, I made a few adjustments to the blog and more posts will come, hopefully on a regular basis. We have written plenty on paper and are sorting through it to find the gems that we like to share.

So, stick around – and please start commenting with your own ideas. After all, it’s the dialogue between humans that will facilitate progress of ideas and the realization of said ideas.

 

So much from me at this point,

~ Sebastian

Currents of 2011-04-08

Time flies by, like the wind currently roaring through the masts of beautiful Sunthorice, which lies just outside… Spring time is upon this town, and soon the trees will burst forth in cascades of the most delicious green known to man.

Next week Knut and I will start preparing the oak wood for the Star of Husavik. A nice cubic meter of oak from Angeln (an area to the south east of Flensburg) will be processed in the coming weeks. Knut had ordered this back in 2008 but then it was too wet to work with – so it went into storage while he spend more than his last shirt to obtain the material for the Cadeau which went to France that year.

Now the wood is perfect though, and we are very lucky to have it.

Sadly, we still haven’t found a ship which can take us and the star all the way to Iceland. The cargo of about six hundred kilograms will consist of two pieces, each three meters long, one meter wide in the middle and around 12 centimeters high.

But there are other developments, good developments happening in the background. As soon as we can give specifics, this will be the place to find them.

The Manifesto Of 2008

from my archives – the original manifesto for Le Cadeau de Douarnenez, foundation for this project – translations into english and french are available further down

Die Bedeutung des Cadeau de Douarnenez

Dieses Geschenk ist ein Symbol des Friedens.

Das Kreuz ist ein Passstück für die Giebelseite einer kleinen Begegnungsstätte für Menschen aller Nationen, die am Meer stehen kann, mit den Grundmaßen von 6 m x 6 m.

Auf der Rückseite befindet sich ein Bauplan (weitere Zeichnungen liegen bereit) und die Inschrift „Die Zeit des Leidens ist vorbei !“.

Das Gebäude soll von freiwilligen Menschen (aus Feldsteinen, Lehm, Holz oder ähnlichem Material) gebaut werden. So entsteht ein Kunstwerk von Menschen für Menschen. Ein schöner Ort im Gefüge der Natur.

Die Natur leidet, die Menschen leiden, sie haben vergessen miteinander auf ehrliche Weise umzugehen, jedes einzelne Lebewesen ist wichtig.

Sobald das Gebäude errichtet ist, muß das Kreuz wieder mit einem Schiff auf Reisen gehen und an einem anderen Ort seine Bestimmung erfüllen.

So entsteht eine weltweite Friedensmission der kleinen Schritte.

Wenn nur ein ehrlicher Gedanke um die Erde geht ist alles erreicht!

Ich hoffe für uns alle, daß wir zusammen dieses Ziel erreichen!

Das schönste Geschenk was man bekommen kann ist doch das Geschenk, daß man mit anderen teilen kann!

Das Kreuz des Friedens braucht Hilfe!

____________________

The meaning of “Le Cadeau de Douarnenez”

This present is a symbol of peace.

The cross is a fitting piece for the gable end of a small meeting place for humans of all nations, which can be build facing the sea with the basic measurements of six times by six meters.

On the backside one finds The building plans (more graphs are available) and an inscription “The time of suffering is at an end !” can be found on the backside.

The building is supposed to be built by volunteers (from field stones, clay, wood or similar materials). Thus By this means, a piece of art from humans for humans comes into existence – a beautiful place of beauty amidst nature.

Nature suffers, humans suffer, they have forgotten to deal with each other in an honest way, every single life is important.

The idea is that once the building has been erected, the cross shall travel onwards by boat in order to fulfill its destiny in other places.

In doing so, a global peace mission of small steps begins.

If only one honest thought manages to go around the earth, much has been achieved.

I hope for all of us, that we can will achieve this goal together!

The most precious gift someone can receive is the one, that can be shared with others.

The cross of peace needs help!

____________________

La signification du Cadeau de Douarnenez

Ce cadeau est un symbole de paix.

La croix est une pièce ajustée sur le coté du pignon d`un petit lieu de rencontre de gens de toutes nationalités, et qui peut être en bordure de mer; d’une dimension de 6 m x 6 m.

De l’autre coté, se trouve un plan de construction (des dessins sont à disposition) avec l’inscription <<le temps des souffrances est terminé ! >>.

Le bâtiment doit être construit (en roche, en terre glaise, en bois ou en matériau semblable) par des volontaires. Ainsi naît, une œuvre d`art faite par les homes, pour les homes. Un lieu joli, structure de la nature.

La nature souffre, les homes souffrent, ils ont oublié de se comporter d`une façon sincere entre eux; chaque individu, par lui-même, est important.

Dès que le bâtiment est construit, la croix doit repartir sur un bateau et remplir sa mission dans un autre lieu.

Ainsi naît, progressivement, dans le monde entier, une mission de paix.

Si seulement une pensée sincère tournait autour de la terre, tout serait accompli.

J`espère, pour nous tous, que nous atteindrons ce but.

Le meilleur présent que l`on peut recevoir est celui que l`on peut partager avec d`autres.

Le symbole de la paix a besoin d`aide!

____________________

Knut Buttgereit

Philosophe Humaniste

The Star Of Husavik

This summer we plan to attend Sail Husavik.

Again Knut will take beautiful oak wood and together we will create the four pointed Star Of The North and then sail it from Flensburg to Iceland.
In order to do something with it upon arrival we would like everyone else who attends the festival to bring some field stones from around their home port…

Just like the equilateral cross in Douarnenez this symbol is a fitting piece for the wall of a small yet sturdy house of six times six meters which should become a meeting point for humans.

It would be marvelous if we manage to build it or at least set the foundation for it – having the star greet anyone passing by port of Husavik would be a great accomplishment though – which is why we ask you all to bring some field stone so we can do this together in July.

Introduction

Hello fellow travellers,

I am Sebastian and I met Knut Buttgereit in the early summer of 2010.

He started his quest in 2008 when he brought the Cadeaux de Douarnenez to France. As time passed so did his project evolve as well. Over time we became friends and noticed that we share common goals and perspectives.

In early 2011 Knut and I decided to take this to the next level, together, and “A New Present” was born.

So what is this all about?

In short, it’s about sending a signal around the globe.  One honest thought – connecting the last living humans.

It’s about doing instead of watching, becoming active and creating change – so we may counter the destructiveness which has crept into so many parts of our cultures.

It is time for humanity to start treating our planet and their fellow (wo)men with respect again. It is time for honesty, empathy and loving kindness to find its way back into our doing, our world.

And we are on the way already. The increasing interconnectivity is bringing forth a change of concioussness, especially among the younger generation which grew up with the whole world available in their pockets. But there’s still plenty of disinformation going around, so many destructive old patterns; there’s corruption, plutocracy, rampant consumerism, and much more.

It’s a complex issue, with a simple solution.

We want to help this global current by promoting honesty & kindness in our interhuman relations, about mindfulness and awareness in our doing.

Let us create the world we want to live in.

Right here and now. Together.

We choose the present and thus shape the future.

On our blog you will find information about what happened in the past, how it all came to be, what we are doing right now, what we plan to do – where we failed, where we succeeded.

And please, feel free.

To leave comments, share ideas, or lend support.

~ Sebastian