[Ccpg] *PR/Tuesday OCT 28/Permaculture Around the World Series/BUSTAN Negev Desert Israel

Tue Oct 14 11:45:38 PDT 2008

Contact: Margie Bushman
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
(805) 962-2571, email: 
<mailto:margie at sbpermaculture.org>margie at sbpermaculture.org

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
~Permaculture Around the World Series~
Bustan Sustainable Community Action for Land & People
Working at the Nexus of Social and Environmental Justice in the Negev 
Region of Israel
  with
Michal Vital

Tuesday, October 28, 7-9pm 2008
Fundraiser Donation $10
Santa Barbara Central Library, Faulkner Gallery

         Santa Barbara Permaculture Network hosts the second in the 
series "Permaculture Around the World" on Tuesday, October 28 with 
Michal Vital, Israeli Architect and Eco-builder, speaking about her 
involvement with the non-profit BUSTAN, in the Negev Desert of Israel.

         The word "bustan" refers to a fruit-yielding orchard in both 
Hebrew and Arabic and symbolizes the work of Bustan 
(www.bustan.org).  It is a partnership of Jewish and Arab 
eco-builders, architects, academics, and farmers promoting social and 
environmental justice in Israel/Palestine with a focus on the Bedouin 
villages of the Negev Desert.  BUSTAN utilizes the principles of 
permaculture and non-violent direct action across ethnic divides.

         Founded in 1999, Bustan's first project was a two day 
festival in the "unrecognized" village of Dreijatt, bringing together 
hundreds of Bedouin and Jewish Israelis, celebrating cultural 
diversity, mutual education on history and environmental issues, and 
collecting signatures for a petition to recognize the village with 
legal status.  Two months later the village was formerly 
recognized.  In 2003 Bustan organized five hundred Jewish and Bedouin 
volunteers to build an entirely sustainable medical clinic in the 
village of Wadi el Na'am.  This strawbale solar powered structure is 
featured in the book, "Build Like You Give A Damn", and was nominated 
for the Aga Khan Award, one of the most prestigious architecture 
prizes in the world.  At another village a school dump was 
transformed into a water conserving orchard, while teaching children 
about local ecology  In 2007 Bustan moved to Beersheva and opened the 
Green Center and began teaching ongoing permaculture workshops and 
trainings. Bustan views sustainability in both political and 
environmental terms and works for common Jewish and Bedouin interests.

         The Negev is a rocky desert region with dusty mountain 
ranges, dry riverbeds (wadis) and unique deep craters imprinted on 
the landscape.  It is the  largest, yet most peripheral region of the 
country, located in southern Israel, and makes up 60% of Israel's 
land, but only 8% of Israel's population live there.  A fragile 
environment, it hosts Israel's largest toxic waste dump Romat Hovav, 
a nuclear power plant, petro-chemical factories, a waste incinerator 
and other environmental hazards. Local populations already 
marginalized are particularly vulnerable to health hazards caused by 
these. Romat Hovav is located near Beersheva, the main city of Negev, 
and since its opening has had a history of leakages, overflows, and failures.

         Michal Vital is a nationally renowned planner and green 
building consultant and volunteer with BUSTAN since its 
inception.  Michal was one of the team leaders that built BUSTAN's 
strawbale medical clinic, and has planned numerous ecologically 
friendly buildings throughout the country.  She was the lead teacher 
of BUSTAN'S first permaculture course. She will be speaking in Santa 
Monica, Santa Barbara and San Francisco area as part of her Bustan 
Speaking Tour titled "Permaculture for Justice".

The event takes place at the Santa Barbara Public Library, Faulkner 
Gallery, 40 East Anapamu St, in downtown Santa Barbara, on Tuesday, 
October 28, 7-9pm, 2008.  No reservations are required, fundraiser 
donation for BUSTAN $10. For more information please call (805) 
962-2571, or email 
<mailto:margie at sbpermaculture.org>margie at sbpermaculture.org; 
www.sbpermaculture.org. Sponsored by the Santa Barbara Permaculture 
Network and Sustainable Habitats.

Permaculture (PERMAnent agriCULTURE) is a design system based on 
ecological principles for creating sustainable human environments.

-end-

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
    an educational non-profit since 2000
(805) 962-2571
P.O. Box 92156, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
margie at sbpermaculture.org
www.sbpermaculture.org

"We are like trees, we must create new leaves, in new directions, in 
order to grow." - Anonymous

First Annual Southern California Permaculture Convergence August 2008
http://socalifornia.permacultureconvergence.org
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