GAIA - Grupo de Acção e Intervenção Ambiental is a Portuguese environmental NGO formed in 1996.  It was founded in Lisbon in the year 1996 and it is active at national and regional levels. It has offices in Lisbon, Porto and Alentejo. GAIA cooperates with other Portuguese associations and takes part in many European networks. GAIA has a strong activist component, resorting to creative and non-violent direct actions and promoting work from the grassroots in a plural and non-hierarchical way. It addresses ecological problems by criticizing the social and economical model, that exploits and harms our planet, our society and our future generations. In parallel, it looks for positive alternatives for a world based on social justice and ecological sustainability. GAIA is one of Portugal’s leading environmental associations.

GAIA has currently a national campaign against GMO (genetically modified organisms) in agriculture and an international campaign for Seed-sovereignty

GAIA is a member of EYFA (European Youth For(est) Action); YEE (Youth and Environment European); CPADA (Confederação Portuguesa de Associações de Defesa do Ambiente), Plataforma Transgénicos Fora and several other networks.

GAIA is a grassroots environmental organisation

that was founded 13 years ago at a University in

Lisbon, and currently has 2 nodes, one urban group in Lisbon, and a rural group in the Alentejo at Covergence center in Aldeia das Amoreiras. 

GAIA is a member of several national movements,

such as the Platform Against GMO and Critical

Mass. We defend a critical analysis of today's

society, the developing of social, economic and

cultural alternatives, the stimulation of citizen

autonomy, self-training and participation and

finally creative and non-violent direct action to

further our causes.

The organisation is basically run by volunteers

following a non-hierarchical, cooperative

structure.

Examples of our campaigns/projects are: the campaign against GMO 'Free Seeds'; the

Mouraria Social Centre with several activities for

locals; Empowering Community Urban Organic Vegetable gardens; Ecoconsumption campaigns (Eco-Xmas; Buy-Nothing-Day,..).