From now on, we are an organisation in which we humans collaborate with ‘other-than-human’ life. This means we make decisions about what we do and don’t do together with the plants, animals and elements around us. *(Zoë is Greek for ‘life’, and coop stands for cooperation). As a Zoöp, we contribute to ecological ‘regeneration’: through our actions, we aim to support and improve the health of species communities in our environment. Ideally both in the soil, in the water, on land and in the air. Read more about Zoöp De Ceuvel.
As a Zoöp, we do this by incorporating a Speaker for the Living into our organisation,
as an advisor and ecological counsellor on important decisions. This Speaker for the Living represents other-than-human life. To the best of their ability, this Speaker will help translate the interests of other-than-human life into what we should and should not do. It goes without saying that such a person has extensive knowledge of ecology, animal behaviour and the like.
Our Speaker for the Living is Thijs de Zeeuw – known for, among other things, the Embassy of the North Sea and the new lion enclosure at Artis zoo. Together with him, we will map out who else is actually living (growing, swimming, walking, flying) at De Ceuvel and what these beings can tell us. Throughout the year
we will support them where possible, so that step by step we increasingly truly coexist with the life around us. As a Zoöp, we are not alone: together with other Zoöps, we work towards transforming our economy into a regenerative (restorative) human-inclusive ecosystem, a
network of exchange of matter, energy and meaning that nourishes all beings. (This is a free translation of the Zoöp Manifest that we signed)
During the festive opening of De Ceuvel as a Zoöp, children made a video report under the guidance of the Kabaalmakers. See the result here:
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We are a Zoöp – an organisation in which humans collaborate with other-than-human life.
As a Zoöp, we contribute to ecological regeneration. In all our actions, we aim to support
the health of species communities in the soil, in the water, on land and in the air.
As a Zoöp, we anchor this principle in our practice by incorporating a Speaker for the Living
into our organisation as an advisor and ecological counsellor.
The Speaker for the Living acts as a representative of other-than-human life in the operational
sphere of our organisation. To the best of their ability, the Speaker will help translate the
interests of other-than-human life into what we should and should not do.
As a Zoöp, we follow the Zoönomic Annual Cycle and carry out interventions in our Zoöp
and its surroundings that promote our ecological integrity.
Zoöp stands for Zoöperation: cooperation with zoë – (Greek for ‘life’). Together with
other Zoöps, we work towards transforming our economy into a regenerative,
human-inclusive ecosystem, a network of exchange of matter, energy and meaning
that sustains all bodies in their existence.