[Strawbale] Upcoming SB in Israel

[Catherine Wanek <blackrange@zianet...>]

To all our "Builders Without Borders" colleagues,
please note:  They are still looking for a Strawbale Workshop
Leader:


Bustan L'Shalom Strawbale Workshop in Israel

Bustan is a grassroots partnership of Jews and Arabs who are working
to raise awareness of the plight of the indigenous Bedouin population by
promoting sustainable initiatives. Builders Without Borders is providing
educational materials and technical support for the construction of a
strawbale medical clinic. In addition to providing medical care in a
region where adequate medical care is not accessible, it is hoped that
this project will spawn interest in sustainable building across the Negev
where 70,000 Bedouins are living in corrugated tin shanties.

Bustan means ?grove? in both Hebrew and Arabic. Bustan is a grassroots
partnership addressing the plight of indigenous and marginalized people
in Israel/Palestine. Bustan works with villagers who have been denied
access to public resources, and raises awareness of systemic
discrimination through proactive initiatives. Bustan promotes social and
environmental justice ? helping people help themselves.

Wadi Na?am, in the Northern Negev, home to 4,000 people, is unrecognized
by the Israeli government. The population of Wadi Na?am has long been
denied medical services, water, and electricity infrastructure. As a
result, the families of Wadi Na?am live without the most basic
provisions.

The objective of this project is to build a solar/wind powered medical
clinic by means of a community-building work camp. The practice of
adobe/straw building has a long history in Bedouin tradition. The project
is meant to reintroduce these sustainable, low-budget techniques in the
Unrecognized Villages.

What? Join us in Israel, to train and be trained by indigenous
Bedouin and local Israelis in alternative building techniques. During a
6-day work camp, volunteers and the community of Wadi Na?am will build a
solar-powered, strawbale medical clinic. Art and music workshops will be
held for children and families. Lectures about unrecognized villages,
sustainability, and Bedouin culture will combine modern information with
ancient wisdom.

Who? Bustan?s coalition of NGO?s invites people of all traditions
to join us: activists, appropriate technology engineers, green builders,
musicians, artists, environmental lawyers, organic farmers, alternative
practitioners, peace educators, and writers.

Where? Wadi Na'am village, is an unrecognized village next to
Israel?s toxic waste incinerator in the Northern Negev. It is home to
4,000 citizens in need of medical services.

When? Join us for Earth Day 2003. Come to the Holy Land of
Israel/Palestine for Pesach and Easter. The Medwed Work Week begins
Friday April 18th?25th, 2003.

How? For $800 per person (outside of Israel/Palestine), mobilize
to build with villagers and activists. This cost will cover all program
activities, your accommodations in the village, guides, translators,
reading materials, and 2 meals daily.

Strawbale Builder/Trainer Opportunity
An experienced strawbale builder who can train others is sought for
this workshop. Due to lack of funds, at first we are seeking a volunteer
trainer. If we cannot locate a volunteer, we are very willing to pay
someone. Please contact us for more information.

Contact Information:
Devorah Brous, bustanlshalom@yahoo...
mail: Bustan, P.O. Box 309, Madison, NJ, 07039
phone in Israel: 001 972 53 711-800
http://www.bustanlshalom.org

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