Letters from Vietnam – The Road to Na Sai
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres, People Systems, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor October 14, 2008
We catch a rare glimpse of an ancient and beautiful culture – the Black Thai people – and applaud the work of a modern day NGO who is working to help improve the lives of these noble people whilst retaining their unique identity – just as a new road threatens their natural, low-carbon existence.
Black Thai Villager in Rice Fields, Na Sai Village, Vietnam
Photos: Craig Mackintosh
A few days ago I had the profound privilege of spending two days in a ‘lost village’ – a tiny community hidden away in one of Vietnam’s border regions. I invite you to share in this rare opportunity by way of the text and images below.
The topography of the landscape, and its remoteness, has isolated the Na Sai village, separating it from modern influences and modern ‘development’. Being here in Vietnam, whilst the world faces a potential "systemic" financial meltdown, is rather ironic, particularly as I compare the vulnerabilities of the outside world with a community like this – a community for whom industrialised society is a seeming universe apart in terms of culture and socioeconomic dependencies.
In many ways, from my observations, if the rest of the world were to sink into the ocean this community would barely notice.
Comments (15)Letters from Vietnam – Arriving to HEPA
Aid Projects, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor October 10, 2008
Hanoi, Vietnam
Photos: Craig Mackintosh
Greetings from Vietnam. Geoff and Nadia and other PRI team members (including yours truly) landed here five days ago – aiming to continue to help develop the work of SPERI (Social Policy Ecology Research Institute), a Vietnamese NGO and sister organisation to PRI.
Comments (1)Permaculture Volunteer Sought for Uganda
Aid Projects, Project Positions, Village Development — by Janice Smart September 30, 2008
Can you imagine yourself preparing a small-scale intensive garden whilst enjoying Ugandan songs, smiles and sweet bananas? If so, this permaculture volunteer position may be for you!
The Network for Holistic Community Development (NEFHCOD) is a small, non-government organisation established in 2005 in the Rakai District, Southern Uganda. NEFHCOD works to empower communities and the needy for sustainable economic development and works predominantly with those living with and affected by HIV/Aids, orphans, invalids and the elderly. Our work encompasses health, education, the environment and community capacity building.
Comments (0)The Development of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration
Aid Projects, Animal Forage, Plant Systems, Trees — by Tony Rinaudo September 24, 2008
Editor’s Note: Arguably one of the most successful land regeneration projects in the world, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneraton (FMNR), beginning in Niger during the 1980s, has revegetated three million hectares of arid land in that country alone – bringing back biodiversity in flora and fauna, increasing soil humus (and thus carbon) content, improving water retention and microclimates, and dramatically improving the health and viability of local communities. It is now practiced on over 30,000 km² of land in the Niger Republic as well as Chad, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Mali. It has been written about in many noteworthy publications (the NY Times, for example), and below we hear about its original development from the man who first discovered the ‘underground forest’. In short, trees have returned to Niger, and they’re bringing prosperity with them.
by Tony Rinaudo,
Natural Resource Management Advisor, Integration Team,
World Vision Australia. Originally published on Leisa
 Children helping to source firewood Photo: Author |
Conventional methods of reforestation in Africa have often failed. Even community-based projects with individual or community nurseries struggle to keep up the momentum once project funding ends. The obstacles working against reforestation are enormous. But a new method of reforestation called Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) could change this situation. It has already done so in the Republic of Niger, one of the world’s poorest nations, where more than 3 million hectares have been re-vegetated using this method. Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration involves selecting and pruning stems regenerating from stumps of previously felled, but still living trees. Sustainability is a key feature of the programme which requires very little investment by either government or NGOs to keep it going. The story in Niger can offer valuable insights and lessons for other nations.
Comments (6)PRI Update – September 12, 2008
Aid Projects, Courses/Workshops, Developments, Education Centres, News — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor September 12, 2008
Every now and again we’ll try to keep you all in the loop as to progress and activity with our work here in the little village of PRI. As always, there is a lot going on, and a lot more in the pipeline. Some of you may well wish to get involved yourself!
Here goes:
Comments (3)Permaculturist Wanted – for Uganda
Aid Projects, Project Positions — by Rowe Morrow July 19, 2008
A great opportunity for growing food and teaching permaculture alongside about 300 children’s big smiles, songs and dances in south-western Uganda
Are you planning to travel to Africa? And do you like a challenge? If so, then we would welcome you for six to twelve months as ‘permie in residence’ at our Sabina Children’s Home.
Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Rakai Primary School and Home for Children has just completed a ‘toe-in-the-water’ four day intro permaculture course (facilitated by Rosemary Morrow and Dan Palmer) with local officials, primary school teachers, and staff from the home.
We wanted to see if there was enough interest to commit to permaculture and go forward with a full PDC and site development.
Comments (1)The Permaculture Research Institute Signs MoU with Muslim Aid Australia
Aid Projects — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor July 9, 2008
 Geoff Lawton and Iman S.I. Partoredjosigning the MoU at the historically significant location of Botany Bay |
As yet another sign of the growing recognition of permaculture’s crucial role in helping restore health and sustainability to both land and communities, the Permaculture Research Institute is pleased to announce we have just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Muslim Aid Australia, with the intention of pooling resources and knowledge to further the shared goals and commitment of each organisation – to reach the broad ideal of a peaceful and sustainable world.
The full MoU can be downloaded here (PDF). This was signed at the historically significant location of Sydney’s Botany Bay on June 23, 2008.
We look forward to working with Muslim Aid Australia in bringing long term solutions to people within their network.
Comments (2)The Permaculture Master Plan – Permaculture Centres Worldwide
Aid Projects, Community Projects, Courses/Workshops, Demonstration Sites, Education Centres — by Craig Mackintosh PRI Editor June 26, 2008
Imagine a world of peace, health and low-carbon prosperity. Well, we’re going beyond imagination, and are working on full implementation. It’s our aim. Watch (and share) the clip below to get an idea of what we mean.
Permaculture Design Course In Liberia – a Resounding Success
Aid Projects, Courses/Workshops, News — by Warren Brush June 21, 2008
by Warren Brush, Co-Founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis
The first graduates of a Permaculture Design |
Back in March we celebrated the first graduating class of a Permaculture Design Course in Liberia’s history. Liberia had been in the throws of a brutal civil war since the late 80’s when the Permaculture movement was making its way around the world and was unable to get into Liberia until now, four years after the cease fire and peace building ensued.
We had 19 official graduates of the course which took nearly a month to complete as we had to translate into the local Lorma language. There were six other attendees who completed 3/4 of the course and who will complete it at a later date which will bring the graduating class to a total of 25. Many of the graduates shared how this was a historical moment for Liberia as Permaculture is seeding new ways of agriculture and living into their part of the world and deeply into their world-views.
Comments (5)Journeys To Africa With Warren Brush
Aid Projects — by Geoff Lawton April 14, 2008
Warren Brush, a Permaculture designer and educator and the co-founder of Quail Springs Learning Oasis and Permaculture Farm has a blog about the work he is doing in Africa.
Click for more…
Appropriate solutions to the challenge of Tanzania
Aid Projects — Tags: africa, aid, Tanzania — by Geoff Lawton November 19, 2007
Note: This is Part II of a two-part series. Click here to read Part I.
When we arrived in Tanzania, just as when we arrive in most third world countries to do this kind of work, the most serious issues to deal with initially are firstly sanitation, toilet systems, then drinking water, then fire wood systems or sustainable fuel systems, then diverse interactive food production designs.
Tanzania was the same. We stayed in the same town of Musoma where we taught the course regularly visiting the main proposed project site in a village called Kinesi which is 45 minutes by taxi boat across Lake Victoria. This is where the NGO Global Resource Alliance main work focus is situated.
The PDC course was conducted in Swahili which has a lot of Arabic in it and so I could understand some of the Arabic words that were spoken. 40% of the Tanzanian population is Muslim and having worked in a lot of Muslim countries, understanding the culture was therefore easy for me. This helped me relate to the students and the local people in the area.
Comments (1)The challenge of Tanzania
Aid Projects — Tags: africa, aid, Tanzania — by Geoff Lawton November 9, 2007
Westerners don’t realise how big the problems are in most third world countries. To a large extent they are created by the promise of modernism. Greatest of these problems however in third world countries include
- a need for good diversity of food production of an eco systemic style
- good waste system design for grey water
- appropriate toilets
- garbage disposal methods
- good drinking water systems
- a sustainable fuel system.
To first world countries these things are important not just because of the momentary guilt we feel when we see those pretty little starving children on tv commercials asking us for donations, but because the most important promises of “modernism” can provide solutions that will save millions of lives (mostly chilren) and millions of dollars in aid.
Third world people need to fully understand their own problems and the problems of their own lands, and then how they can deal with it themselves without any outside help.
It comes down to a few basic but important things and when these are understood, Third World Populations can actually design their own solutions to their own problems.
Comments (3)IDEP emergency response to flash floods in Aceh & North Sumatra
Aid Projects, News — by Geoff Lawton January 3, 2007
Dear Friends of IDEP, Two years after the Indian Ocean tsunami devastated the province, Aceh is struggling with a new disaster. Torrential rains over the past week have triggered flash floods and landslides which have forced around 300,000 to flee their homes on the island of Sumatra, with Aceh and North Sumatra provinces the worst hit.
As of yesterday reports showed that about 100,000 people were stranded by floods which have claimed at least 110 lives. Water levels, which rose to as high as five meters in some places, have been receding, but today the sky was dark again with clouds. We pray that the rains will not start again.
Officials say a combination of heavy rains and widespread unregulated deforestation are to blame for the flash flooding. By removing dense vegetation the ground is less able to absorb heavy rainfall, creating torrents of water that quickly overwhelm river systems.
Click for more…
IDEP Yogyakarta Earthquake Response Update No 2
Aid Projects — by Murray Gray June 2, 2006
About the situation on the ground around Yogya at this time
The latest reports put the death toll from the Java quake at over 5,800 and sources estimate that some 647,000 people have been displaced and are in need of basic food and shelter.
As night falls over Java, international news services and eyewitness reports from our partners in the field inform us that while more aid appears to be arriving at the now open airport in Yogyakarta. Yet many people whose homes have been destroyed are facing their fifth night without food, shelter, water or even basic medical aid. Assessments from our partners in the field suggest than many thousands more people will spend further nights with out their basic needs met.
Our partners are coordinating with local organizations to identify places where many of the larger NGOs have yet to arrive and are focusing their efforts of delivering emergency aid to areas.
About IDEP’s Emergency Response Activities happening now
Drawing on relationships established during the Aceh disaster, IDEP started working immediately with partners on the ground in Yogya. When the banks opened on Monday, IDEP emptied out its emergency reserve funds (US$10,000) and started wiring money to the partner groups.
Rp 30,000,000 (US$ 3,200) was sent to Kelompok Peduli Bencana / KAPPALA for purchasing emergency supplies of food, shelter and basic medical supplies. This group is running a 24 hour mobile clinic program which is reaching the most remote areas that have little or no other aid whatsoever.
This excellent initiative is in desperate need for vehicles and medical supplies to be able to expand their mobile clinics outreach. Any kind of vehicle that is rugged and can be modified into a mobile clinic such as Kijangs or Panthers would be wonderful. Ideally 4 wheel drives so that the team can continue to access hard to reach isolated places. The team says they are able to increase their current fleet of 2 vehicles up to a maximum of 8 vehicles, should support be available. If you are able to help with this
PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY if you are able to donate funds to purchase medicines and other supplies please go to our website: www.idepfoundation.org/idep_donate.php
Comments (0)Simacai, North Vietnam
Aid Projects — by Murray Gray April 23, 2006
Just a quick one. Here’s our project site in North Vietnam at Simacai near the Chinese border working with Mong people!
Comments (7)
