[Strawbale]Re: [SB-r-us] strawbale help for Iraq

[Mark Bigland-Pritchard // Low Energy Design]

I would have loved to volunteer for this one, but just cannot free up 
any time at the moment.  I hope and pray that they find someone 
suitable.  Did they give any indication of timescale?  (presumably this 
year, and before the snows start?)

I talked last night with a woman who works most of the time running a 
street kids / employment training project in Sulimaniyah (in Iraqi 
Kurdistan), and who happens to be back in Britain for a couple of weeks. 
 (She doesn't know the project, but could probably find out about it.) 
 Her view is that safety is not a major issue in the Kurdish-controlled 
area (though her project does choose to employ guards for its office and 
for her home).  If, of course, the project is further south, near Kirkuk 
or Mosul, then the risks are a lot higher.

I also asked her about access to the country.  She used to have to cross 
semi-legally from Syria, but now can get in without any difficulties. 
 NGO organisers usually fly to Amman (where their organisations' bank 
accounts are!), then on to Baghdad and up to Kurdistan, but she 
recommended that the best way to get in now is through Turkey - closest 
airport is Diyarbakir, then it's most of a day's bus ride across the 
mountains from there, but with much less bureaucratic hassle.

I'm cross-posting this to the European strawbale list in case someone 
can help.  Presumably any volunteer needs to contact you, Eric?

atb,
Mark Bigland-Pritchard
Bristol, England



Athena & Bill Steen wrote:

>Begin forwarded message:
>
>>From: "Eric Brown" <jeneric at infomagic...>
>>Date: July 2, 2004 9:42:38 PM MST
>>To: <absteen at dakotacom...>
>>Subject: strawbale help
>>
>>Hi,
>>
>>My name is Eric Brown and I am building a straw bale home in Flagstaff.
>>
>>I friend of mine stopped by the other day and was asking about straw 
>>and that his daughter in law is in Northern Iraq with a Christian 
>>based humanitarian group that is building a straw bale women’s 
>>center. 
>>
>>Well about an hour ago he called me and told me that they are looking 
>>for a “straw bale advisor” and they want to pay for someone to come 
>>toIraq for about a week and help.
>>
>>Now we all know what is going on in that region so there is an element 
>>of risk but I think the experience would be incredible.
>>
>>My wife and I have discussed the idea of myself going but she is too 
>>nervous about the risk.
>>
>>So,
>>
>>I am trying to get the word out to the straw community and see if 
>>there is any interest.
>>
>>Give me a call or reply and pass this on if you know anyone who would 
>>love to do this.
>>
>>Home 928-556-3132
>>
>>Cell 928 699-3896
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Eric
>>
>Athena & Bill Steen
>The Canelo Project
>HC1 Box 324
>Canelo/Elgin, AZ 85611
>absteen at dakotacom...
>www.caneloproject.com
>
>
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