Permaculture Relief Corps Forming For Haiti Earthquake
The Remarkable History (and
Possible Future) For Permaculture Disaster Relief
This is a short article I wrote about the
potential of a Permaculture Relief
Corps response in Haiti. Please tell me what you think and if you
know of
any efforts mobilizing to make something like this happen.
Evan Schoepke
http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake-permaculture/
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http://punkrockpermaculture.com/2010/01/13/haiti-earthquake-permaculture/
>
Devastation in Port Au Prince photo:
Carel Pedre via twitter
1/13/09
Yesterday the island of Hispanola was hit with a devastating 7.3
magnitude earthquake near Port-Au-Prince the capital of Haiti .
Many multiple story buildings have completely collapsed including the
major Hospital in the region. Thousands may be killed or trapped in
the rubble and aid is being mobilized from around the world. With
little to no backup power, sewage, water, housing, or food aid systems in
place, Haiti, which is currently the poorest nation in the western
hemisphere, is in a VERY DIRE SITUATION. Without a doubt resources
and expertise are moving en mass to Haiti, but beyond this temporary
relief, what will sustain this nation of 10 million people when it's left
in an even poorer position than ever before? This is where
permaculture design comes in, with an adaptable and ever evolving tool
kit that can be of vital assistance in disaster relief and the long
recovery period to follow.
During the war in Kozovo back in 1999 when displaced refugees flooded
into Macedonia Geoff Lawton and a crack team of eager permaculturalists
secured international aid to design and implement the master plan for the
Cegrane Camp Permaculture
Rehabilitation Project, a large
refugee camp that provided relief for over 43,000 people.
Permaculture Disaster Relief
Geoff created the design around
water capture and storage. The final design called for 7.2 km of
swales, with an estimated water holding capacity of 30 million liters,
greatly reducing the flood potential. Many passive solar strawbale
buildings were constructed by trained locals who quickly grasped the
simplicity and efficiency of this natural building technique. Large
gardens, composting toliets, and chicken tractors all came together in a
very short time span. The skills and systems thinking acquired
during this process may help secure sustainable employment and economic
development for the entire region for years to come.
Another successful implementation of permaculture relief took place in
Cuba during the early 90's when Cuba was suffering from a crippling
petroleum embargo. Working with a grant from the Cuban government
Austrailian permaculturalists, including Robyn Francis, traveled to Cuba
to work with hundreds of Cubans on sustainable food systems design.
Robyn, a well traveled expert in permaculture education in the 2/3rds
(developing) world, helped local organizers use permaculture design
prinicpals and techniques in their urban agriculture efforts.
During this time, worker cooperatives were set up, market gardens and
public transportation flourished, little to no pesticides or fertilizers
were employed, and catastrophic famine was avoided. This
partnership has continued to be highly successful and now some of the
most experienced urban permaculture experts in the world come from Cuba
because of the courageous spirit of the Cuban citizenry. Currently,
the Cuba-Australia Permaculture Exchange (CAPE) is working on sustainable
housing developments using natural building to compliment the work they
began together with urban agriculture
Water Harvesting
There are numerous ways in which
a full-time Permaculture Relief Corps could operate in Haiti in short and
long-term time frames.
Short Term:
Building sewage systems,
composting toilets, compost and recyclying centers, rocket and solar
stoves, temporary shelters (perma-yurts), water catchment, and plant
nurseries.
Long Term:
Permanent natural buildings,
water storage, earth works, renewable energy, permaculture food forests,
broad-scale reforestation, farms, aquaculture systems, health centers and
schools.
In the fall of 2003 a team of international permaculturalists including
broad-scale permaculture designer Darren Doherty arrived in Haiti for a
village relocation after torrential floods.
Design for a new village
Today their team in collaboration with the local community and the
Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment ORE is
working on:
- Low cost relief from floods
- Waste management & recycling to protect the environment
- Hygienic toilets to improve family health
- A community center to bring people together
- Privacy to reduce stress within families
- Green spaces to enhance quality of life
- Fruit trees to generate income
- Utilizing daily wind patterns, heat and cooling cycles
- Covenants to protect their community
Haiti is in desperate need of our assistance which can not come soon
enough. 8 out of 10 Haitians live in abject poverty and need the
long term commitment of folks working for a sustainable and abundant
future. Please check out the links below of organizations
doing great work in this field.
If you are interested in the formation of
a Permaculture Relief
Corps like the one I'm proposing
please email thejulianeffect(at)gmail.com and I will keep you up
to date on the latest developments.
My heart goes our to all those working and living in Haiti right
now,
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Sincerly,
Evan Schoepke (@gaiapunk)
Principal of Gaia Punk
Designs
Permaculture ACROSS
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CAPE
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Chi'Bagoda (bambitat perma-yurts
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non-profit since 2000
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we must create new leaves, in new directions, in order to grow." -
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