progress, promise, and project ecuador.

Lots of exciting news at the virabrations project.’s headquarters!

Here’s what’s been happening: A few weeks ago, we made it over the $1,000 mark due to generous donations and support from friends, family, neighbors, strangers, and donation boxes which we have placed in numerous businesses in Germany. Our first event, the Gemeinschaftlichen Satsang, was a mind expanding experience filled with kirtan, yoga, meditation, organic / vegan food, and positive vibrations. The location was superb, thanks to Naturgarten Schönegge, and the sun shone down as we danced in the fields with Monika Althaus.  Our second event, Filmnacht Unter den Sternen, was cancelled (twice!) due to unfavorable weather conditions but we were not distraught as we know that the universe works in mysterious ways. The film night will be rescheduled for late summer. Finally, two wonderful people, Craig and Karia Lanken, created an uplifting and magnificent party at their house this last weekend with a silent auction whose proceeds were donated to the virabrations project. , raising around $500! The auction was filed with exquisite art created by Kelly’s late stepdad, Jimmy Shambo, and donated by her angelic mother, Dorrie Shambo. Vintage T-Shirts and Albums were donated by Karia’s marvelous mama, Micki. 

the virabrations project. is excited to announce that we will be launching a campaign entitled project ecuador. in July. This campaign is going to kick our fundraising efforts into high gear, concentrating on spreading digestible bits of information to all walks of life!  We have two large scale events planned (Munich, Germany and Akron, Ohio), a few smaller fundraisers, and tons of awareness building! Plus, our new website will be launched soon!

One more thing…please remember to check our Facebook and blog page for new items and services up for bid on our online silent auction. Ashley Suzelis‘s healing facial will be presented until Thursday, June 20. After that, we will have another great item or service ready for your bids. Even if you are not interested in the item or service, sharing word about the online silent auction on Facebook is always appreciated!

The support we have received from the wonderful people we know in Ohio and Germany has been overwhelming, words cannot express our gratitude. Interest and awareness is being spread through our efforts and through so many Global Seva Challenge participants, all over the globe. At this point, the virabrations project. has raised about $1,500 and over $45,000 has been raised for Off the Mat, Into the World. We are educating others about these pertinent issues in Ecuador and the Amazon Rainforest! the virabrations project. and Off the Mat, Into the World will be successful in reaching their goal, we just know it!  

Thanks to everyone who has embraced the virabrations project., whether it be in mind, body, or soul. We love you all!

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Earth Day Celebration: Honoring our Mother.

On 19 April, the virabrations project. called on our local community to gather for a night full of conversation, meditation, and vegan food, as well as to, hopefully, ignite the acceleration of awareness on a local level. Although our gathering was small in numbers, a strong sense of community and drive were undoubtedly present. Conversing about our dependency on oil and the urgency of the issues Ecuador is facing, concerning the infringement of environmental and human rights, allowed us, as a community, to discuss ways in which we can act locally to positively shift global matters.

Please help us expand our local community (in Germany or in the United States) to ignite positive global impacts.

We would love for you (and your friends and family) to be in attendance at our next events:

18. Mai: Gemeinschaftlichen Satsang: Naturgarten Schönegge.

Cancelled due to rain, new date coming soon! Benefiz-Open Air: Filmnacht: Der Zauberer von Oz

Artists, leaders, crafters… online silent auction (year round).

As always, the virabrations project. thanks you for your support!

Why Ecuador? Why Oil?

One of the biggest issues facing the health of the environment and all species on earth is our dependence on oil. This reliance on oil has led us to sacrifice our planet’s biodiversity and indigenous peoples for the love of industry and economic expansion. Over the past few weeks, numerous oil leaks, spills, and contaminations have happened across the globe. According to an npr.org statistic, there is an average of 280 oil spills every year, with 3.5 million gallons of oil leaked from the pipelines. These oil blunders contaminate waterways, pollute the soil, and contribute toxins and carcinogens into the environment.

This past week, Ecuador’s second largest oil pipeline burst leaking 250,000 gallons of oil into the earth. People have asked the virabrations project., numerous times, why focus on Ecuador when there are problems all over the world, including those in regards to oil.

There are a multitude of causes that the virabrations project. could have chosen to put their efforts towards with the goal of making progressive and positive change. the virabrations project. decided to focus on Ecuador this year because oil dependency is an increasingly important topic. A topic that affects Ecuador, the Amazon Rainforest, and the entire world. Oil spills and the destruction that the extraction of oil causes are harming the environment and all of the species who live on this planet. It is time that we find alternative ways to fuel our consumption. Ways that do not impede on human and environmental rights. the virabrations project. is taking a stand against oil dependency and overconsumption with this cause in Ecuador.

Indigenous rights are also an imperative topic, all over this world, as more and more indigenous become extinct, displaced, and harmed from the inequality that persists from people who feel the need to impose capitalistic ideas on native peoples. the virabrations project is taking a stand for equal rights for indigenous people of world, with our focus on Ecuador.

The picture below shows the oil disasters that have taken place in the last few weeks. As you may have noticed, little media coverage has been devoted to these travesties. Join the virabrations project in supporting the awareness of our dependency on oil.

1. ExxonMobil’s Pegasus Pipeline leak in Mayflower, Arkansas (March 29)
2. Enbridge’s Norman Wells Pipeline leak in the Northwest Territories (4th leak discovered March 30)
3. Suncor, Alberta Tar Sands leaking into the Athabasca River (March 25)
4. Lansing Board of Water & Light leaking in the Lansing Grand River in Michigan (early April, date not confirmed)
5. Canadian Pacific Rail train derailment in western Minnesota (March 27)
6. Canadian Pacific Rail train derailment in northwestern Ontario (April 3)
7. Shell Pipeline leak in West Columbia, Texas (March 29)
8. DCP Midstream natural gas compressor explosion in Guthrie Oklahoma (April 4)
9. ExxonMobil chemical leak at Chalmette refinery in LOUISIANA (April 3) (apologies for the mistake in the pic)
10. S&S Energy oil tanker and gas well explode in Damascus Ohio (April 4)

PLUS:
– 250,000 gallon leak in Equador on April 8
– On-going oil leak in Parachute, CO
– Chevron diesel spill into Willard Bay, Northern Utah (March 18)
– unconfirmed report of spill at Pembina Gorge in North Dakota
– Train derailment in Winn, Maine (March 7) (reported that no oil spilled)
– Weatherford International spill in Alaska North Slope (April 9)
– Bonanza Creek Energy spill outside Greeley, CO
– Chevron pipeline leak in Willard Bay State Park, Utah (late March)
– Suncor Energy leak in Port Moody, B.C.(April 7)

Picture and explanation courtesy of Occupy Santa Fe’s Facebook.

Challenge One: Sucess!

the virabrations project. thanks you for all of your love and support in our journey thus far!

We have surpassed our week one goal with 111 Facebook “likes” and $230 in donations!

We send out a very special thank you to Kelly Kimble Good/Mike Good, Joe Klatka, Sarah Puricelli, Kristin Burns, Christina Bauer/Oliver Hahn, Aaron Brooks, Verena Schindlbeck, Andrea Dale, Kevin Gittner, and our friends in the more than talented Umojah Nation for their generous donations! We cannot extend our thanks enough!

Now, we challenge you to help us gain more support and to spread more awareness about the exploitation of the Amazon Rainforest and the Ecuadorian people.

Our goal is to have 200 Facebook “likes” and to raise $400 by April 1, 2013.

virabrate!

Watch. Share. Donate.

Hello to our friends all over the world! We are so grateful for your support as we move forward on this exciting journey as the virabrations project. With the help of our roommates and close friends, we have created an informational video that you are able to view and share with your community.This video explains a bit more about the virabrations project. and Off the Mat, Into the World’s Global Seva Challenge.

P.s. week one challenge update: We have already gained 57 “likes” on Facebook and received a ten euro donation pulling us closer to our first goal of 100 Facebook “likes” and $100. Keep on likin’, sharin’, and donatin’!

the journey to change.

Herzlich Willkommen to the virabrations project. blog! We are so glad you found us!

Now you are probably wondering  exactly what you are about to discover. What is the virabrations project.? Who is Off the Mat, Into the World? What is a Global Seva Challenge? Why are Kelly and Caitlin trying to raise $40,000? Why is Ecuador battling for indigenous, environmental, and human rights? We invite you to explore our blog, our Facebook and Twitter pages, and join the virabrations project. as we travel on this journey to change.

P.s. Help the virabrations project. reach our first goal! We challenge you to help us raise $100 and accumulate 100 Facebook “likes” by March 17th. You have just over one week! Do you accept this challenge?