[Sdpg] Natural Building in Thailand

Sun Sep 22 21:57:51 PDT 2002

(Feel free to pass this onto interested friends,
listserves and newsletters. Thanks! Spreading the word
like this is effective and we are glad not use paper
flyers. NOTE: Like many, we've been innundated with
junk mail, so if you email and it bounces back, keep
trying. If you want to be taken off this list please
contact janell at kleiwerks.com)

NATURAL BUILDING IN THAILAND
November 2002 - February 2003

GREETINGS,
You are welcome to join in any or all of the earthen
building projects that are happening in Thailand this
winter, whether you are an experienced builder or not.
Starting this November, hundreds of people will be
coming together from different parts of the world to
work with a widespread people's movement of villagers,
grassroots activists, students and others. Since last
winter's collaboration between Kleiwerks Natural
Building (USA), Spirit in Education Movement and
Wongsanit Ashram (Thailand), earthen building in
Thailand has spread like wildfire. This year there are
a number of exciting projects in the works, including
the building of a whole village. The materials and
techniques we will be working with throughout include
adobe, cob, earthen plasters and paints, bamboo,
thatch, stone and other readily available natural
materials.

OTHER EVENTS:
There will be 3 Interfaith Solidarity Forest Walks,
organized by the Hilltribe People of Northern Thailand
and Spirit in Education Movement. There's also
opportunity to participate in classes and make side
trips, visiting different parts of Thailand, including
national parks, meditation retreat centers, Thai
massage and Thai cooking schools, islands, cities and
village communities.

OVERALL SCHEDULE (More details below):
*Building Thailand's First Earthen Village; all of
November, 2002
*Chiang Mai University, Building an Art Home; December
1-10
*2 Interfaith Solidarity Forest Walks; December 3-11
*Dhamma Park, Building a Community Gallery; December
18-28
*Interfaith Solidarity Forest Walk; December
28-January 5, 2003
*Building a Small Cottage; January 9-14
*Jo's Place, Building a Small House and Finishing
Details on Last Year's Project; January 17-26
*3rd Global Community Gathering and International
Children's Festival; January 31-February 11
*Vipassana Center, Building a Meditation Space;
Mid-February
*Natural Building in India; March

GETTING THERE:
You will have to make your own travel arrangements.
The sooner you book your flight, the better. Flights
can cost as little as $600-$700 from the West Coast,
and $800-$900 from the East Coast. You may even find
cheaper ways to get there than this, in which case let
us know! Prices are highest between December 8-26, and
its pretty slim-pickings anywhere near those dates.
Some group discounts will be available. If you are
coming for the Village Project in November, aim to
leave October 28th so you can get in on a likely
discount. Contact janell at kleiwerks.com for more
details.

VISA:
All you need is your passport and you will
automatically be given a 2 month visa at the airport
when you arrive. If you plan on staying longer than 2
months you will need to cross a border and re-enter,
immediately if you wish. This is how to get an
automatic one month visa extension. You can do this
every month for as long as you stay in Thailand. You
can also get a 3 month visa ahead of time from the
Thai consulate in the USA.

COST:
The cost of travelling in Thailand can range
dramatically, depending on how you do it. As for the
building projects, no one will be turned away for lack
of funds AND everyone is encouraged to contribute what
they can, within the suggested sliding scale. Your
contribution covers the program, healthy and delicious
Thai meals (vegan with fish and chicken options),
accomodations (camping or cabins according to the
project), as well as providing scholarships for Thai
villagers and activists. Sliding scales are as
follows: (for the whole month) November Village
Project $300-$1,200; ten day projects $300-$800; six
day project in January $165-$465.

REGISTRATION:
If you are planning to come please email -AND- send
your address, phone number, email, which project(s)
you will be joining, and a non-refundable deposit of
$150 per project, in the form of a POSTAL money order
only, signed to 'Janell Kapoor.' Your contact info and
deposit will then be transferred over to the folks in
Thailand and you will be sent further project details.
The remainder of your contribution can be given in
cash upon your arrival. Please send your registration
to: Kleiwerks Natural Building, c/o Janell Kapoor, 80
1/2 Cumberland Ave, Asheville, NC 28801 -AND- to
janell at kleiwerks.com, once your deposit is in the
mail.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email Janell Kapoor (USA Contact) at
janell at kleiwerks.com. For further questions about
Thailand you can also refer to guide books.
.......

PROJECT DETAILS:

This is the most exciting of all the projects...
THAILAND'S FIRST EARTHEN VILLAGE
November 1-30, 2002
Chaiyapoom Province, Thep Sathit District, Northeast
(about 5 hours north of Bangkok)

In 1999, a group of Thai villagers were displaced from
their land because a dam project flooded them out.
After several years of struggle, demonstrations and
extensive media coverage, they now have land on a
cliff-side next to a beautiful National Forest. They
will re-build their village this November, with the
help of about 500 friends...

The "Mun yuen" community is a unique group of
villagers who are creating a self-reliant sustainable
community in Northeastern Thailand. One way to reach
this goal is to use earthen building techniques for
housing. We invite you to come help and share in this
learning project. It is bound to be an extraordinary
experience.

In total we will build 1 main meeting hall, 21 houses,
2 saunas and 1 storage building for rice. The efforts
under this program will yield a prototype for other
communities wishing to live in harmony with nature.

Participants will have the opportunity to not only
learn about natural building, but exchange on
community, culture and ideas with villagers and each
other. Special guests will be there from Thailand and
abroad, including experienced natural builders,
community organizers and activists, architects,
researchers, Buddhist meditation teachers and monks,
musicians, artists and others.

Along with the building, there will also be guided
plant walks in the forest, swimming in the nearby
lake, meditation, dancing, music, ceremonies, as well
as a number of special presentations in which we will
look at earthen dwellings from different perspectives
including: education, environment, community,
spirituality, health, local wisdom, society and
economy, gender roles, art and aesthetics and natural
architecture for the 21st Century.

Please note that the camping is primitive and the
weather can be chilly in the evenings. You will need
to bring your own tent.
...
BUILDING AN ART HOME AT CHIANG MAI UNIVERSITY
December 1-10, 2002
Chiang Mai, North (about 12 hours north of Bangkok)
Join a group of students, villagers, researchers and
architects, as we will be build an Art Home on the
campus of the University.
...
2 INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY FOREST WALKS
In Support of the Indigenous People of Northern Siam
December 3-11, 2002
Samoeng District, Chiang Mai Province AND Pai
District, Mae Hong Son Province;
North (about 12 hours north of Bangkok)
These walks started 8 years ago at the request of the
Hilltribe People. The intention of the walks is to
bring an international and interfaith moral witness to
the struggle of indigenous peoples in their efforts to
evolve their sustainable way of life and protect their
sacred lands in the face of modern development. It is
also a unique opportunity for personal growth through
Buddhist meditation and the wisdom of the forest
dwellers. You will be walking with a group of about
20, experiencing wilderness and contemplation in the
deep jungle forests. We highly recommend these walks,
especially if you are involved with permaculture, deep
ecology, community organizing, ecovillages and
indigenous peoples' support. Folks from wealthier
countries are being asked to contribute (raise, if
need be) $500 to help support the walks happening,
which includes scholarships for Southeast Asian
activists and contributions to a  village fund. For
more information: visit www.sulak-sivaraksa.org;
contact ashram at cscoms.com or
michel at thecourtofeden.org.
...
DHAMMA PARK- BUILDING A COMMUNITY ART GALLERY
December 18-28, 2002
Lampoon, near Chiang Mai, North (about 12 hours north
of Bangkok)
A spiritual education center with an emphasis on art
and nature. You will need a tent.
...
INTERFAITH SOLIDARITY FOREST WALK
December 28-January 5, 2003
Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province (about 12
hours north of Bangkok)
See just above for details.
...
BUILDING A SMALL COTTAGE
January 9-14, 2003
Chiang Mai Province (about 12 hours north of Bangkok)
This project has been scheduled especially at the
request from college students who want to participate
during their Winter Break.
...
JO'S PLACE- BUILDING A SMALL HOUSE, FINISHING AN OLD
ONE
January 17-26, 2003
Sritan Village, Yasathon, Northeast (about 8 hours
northeast of Bangkok)
Join our original team at Jo's Organic Farm (see
'project photos' at www.kleiwerks.com). We will build
a small home and use earthen plasters, paints and
decorative bottlework to finish the community building
that was started last year.
...
3RD GLOBAL COMMUNITY GATHERING AND INTERNATIONAL
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL
January 31 - February 11, 2003
Ban Thor Phan, Moo Baan Dek, North (about 5 hours from
Bangkok)
...
BUILDING A MEDITATION SPACE
Mid-February, 2003
Nakorn Sawan Province, Central Thailand (about 4 hours
north of Bangkok)
Join one of Thailand's leading Vipassana teachers at
his new meditation center.
...
NATURAL BUILDING IN INDIA
March, 2003
Further details will be sent at a later date.
.......

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email Janell Kapoor (USA Contact) at
janell at kleiwerks.com. For further questions about
Thailand you can also refer to guide books.

ORGANIZED BY:
Spirit in Education Movement and Wongsanit Ashram,
Thailand
  www.sulak-sivaraksa.org
  ashram at cscom.com
Kleiwerks Natural Building, USA
  www.kleiwerks.com
  janell at kleiwerks.com

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