The OFM participates as founder of UMA - Universidade Livre da Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rain Forest Open University), a virtual, non-profit NGO, located in the Convent of Santo Antonio of Cairu (1654), in a small Atlantic Village, within the State of Bahia, Brasil. UMA has been founded by a group composed of entrepreneurs, scientists, poets, lawers, journalists, medical doctors, engineers and artists; consacrated to SAINT FRANCIS, oriented by the franciscan charism and the holistic view "THINK GLOBALLY AND ACT LOCALLY". UMA sees man at the very centre of the environment, acts through holistic education and concientization of the Atlantic Communities and supports eco-responsible projects, on its strategy to preserve the Planet Earth, with the men for the men. UMA belongs to all of us, therefore, we convoke the franciscan international commuinity to partake on it, bringing ideas, suggestions, projects, etc. For further informations please contact Eduardo Athayde, e-mail edu.fib@fib.br UMA : GOALS FOR THE PLANET EARTH The holistic vision " think globally and act locally " reveals a paradigm in a global scale at the turn of the millennium. The overwhelming international recognition of environmental problems generates, in a natural way, phenomena such as a zeal for preserving the environment; explosion of citizenship feelings; development of intuition through spirituality; transdisciplinary interactions among sciences; growth in faith; changes in job forms and work relationships; and a need to share accumulated resources - to compensate the perverse effects of the globalization process. The same wave that navigates in virtual space bringing the saga of speculative capital, crumbling old structures and seeking for opportunities to migrate; also revolves the heart of societies, rekindling the essential values of ethics, harmony, working together, well-being and the need for survival. The new paradigm exposes man's eagerness to grow in his own essence, in the center of nature, precisely what one wants, by instinct, to preserve, guaranteeing the continuation of the species, allowing life to perpetuate. To organize some of these global processes and “ act locally “ is the mission of UMA - Atlantic Rain Forest Open University, a virtual NGO, headquartered in the Santo Antonio Convent of the Franciscan Order - charismatic pioneers in the defense of the environment - in Cairú, State of Bahia, Brazil; UMA is dedicated to improving the quality of life of the Atlantic Communities, through education, understanding and support to environmentally responsible enterprises, seeking the preservation of the environmental heritage with man, and for man. Founded by a group of professionals, artists, journalists, scientists, religious leaders and business people, UMA bestows its contribution to reach the global goals for sustainable development of Planet Earth. Founding Members OFM - Order of Friars Minor - Guardian of the Convent of S. Antonio - Fr. Hilton Botêlho Pierre Weil - French writer, PhD in psychology, president of the University of Peace, Rudolf Muradian - Russian physicist, PhD in astrophysics, professor at the University of Moscow, recipient of the Lenin Prize, member of the Papal Science Academy of the Vatican, José Eduardo Athayde de Almeida - Administrator, businessman, director of ATA Nelson Cerqueira - Journalist, PhD, director of Faculdades Integradas da Bahia Myrian Fraga - Poet, director of the Jorge Amado Foundation, Regina Coeli - Journalist Roberto Lopes Pontes Cunha - Economist, businessman, president of Ananda Consult, Daniel Athayde de Almeida - Lawyer Estacio Ramos - MD, Immunologist, director of the Timo Laboratory, Luís Visco Spínola - MD, Ophthalmologist, surgeon, director of Santa Luzia Hospital, Wigberto Azevêdo - MD, Obstetrician, director of Promédica Dario Ahnert - Agronomist, PhD in genetics, researcher at Ceplac João Cox - Economist, director of Odebrecht Holding, Barcino Esteve - Engineer, director of Beel Construction Company and Terwal, Sérgio Faria - Engineer, professor at Federal University of Bahia, director of Codeba José Peroba Filho - Environmental engineer Pictures of the Friary where UMA is located: Picture 1 - Picture 2 - Picture 3 - Picture 4 - Picture 5