Current models to promote modernization in developing nations are not effective or sustainable because they do not address environmental, cultural and social concerns together from a whole systems perspective.
Environmental issues such as land preservation, pollution remediation, ecosystem restoration as well as those that relate to social justice need to be coordinated with “policies and approaches that promote sustainable communities” at the local level. Part of this approach involves a new long-range global plan for a sustainable world.
We are helping people to help themselves and that modernization need not imply that the indigenous culture has to be completely eradicated. The Earthcharter is an ethical blue print for a socially just and sustainable world that we are using as the basis for much of our work. OVF will work to improve the quality of life in underserved communities and through this process encourage the rebirth of a contemporary global culture based on an authentic cultural and social identity that is open to the uniqueness that we each bring into the world as the creative people that we are.