[Strawbale]Building Without Borders

["BWBNewsletter" <BWB@lists....com>]

NEW BWB RESOURCE:

Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global
Village
by Joseph F. Kennedy, Co-founder of Builders Without Borders
New Society Publishers

Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global
Village describes the current efforts to create sustainable shelter
for the billions currently underhoused or without homes. Through
chapters, case studies, tech boxes and profiles, it surveys the
pioneering efforts of people around the world to create lives of dignity
without destroying their natural habitat to do so. It makes the case for
empowering local peoples to create houses for themselves, and advocates
for education about sustainable building practices as a means to house
the homeless.

This book demonstrates hard won knowledge about the possibilities and
challenges of addressing the global housing crisis in an ecologically
sustainable way. It directly challenges most ?development? efforts as
being ineffective at best and destructive at worst, but also offers a
different path, with a series of case studies to back this up. It takes a
holistic approach to the problem of housing provision worldwide, and is
consistent in its analysis that education and training are the key
factors to solving the housing crisis.

It champions vernacular traditions, while acknowledging that those
traditions must evolve to address changing cultural, ecological and
technological situations. By including a wide variety of authors, from
many differing countries, academic backgrounds, etc. the book is a true
cross-section of the wide variety of activities currently underway. By
eschewing an academic tone, it is accessible to ?regular people? who want
to make a difference, while remaining a useful resource for
professionals. The book gives a grounding in the various issues facing
those that hope to address the terrible state of housing worldwide, and,
while not being prescriptive, points to ways of addressing these
situations that will be truly sustainable.

The book is composed of chapters that lay out general issues relating to
sustainable construction in a global context. Each chapter is followed by
several case studies of particular projects illustrating themes brought
up in that chapter. Scattered throughout the book are ?tech boxes?
detailing particular technological advances in sustainable construction
that can have wide application or inspiration. Finally, several
?profiles? honor pioneers in this field. The book also includes an
annotated bibliography for further research.

Building Without Borders is profusely illustrated with photographs
of real projects. By focusing on the hopeful vision of people working
together to solve a problem common to humanity, the photos provide a
?human touch? to this work, showing the excitement and joy attendant to
this most meaningful work  to ensure that everyone has a home.

Joseph F. Kennedy is a member of the Builders Without Borders Steering
Committee and faculty member of the EcoDwelling Concentration, Culture,
Ecology and Sustainable Community Program, New College of California.
Along with his extensive personal travel, research and hands-on projects
in this field, he co-authored The Art of Natural Building and
contributed to Alternative Construction: Contemporary Natural Building
Methods. Kennedy lives in Sonoma County, California.

This book is available directly from Builders Without Borders at a
special introductory price of $22.95 plus postage, which is $25 via media
mail and $28 via priority mail.  You can also request it from your
favorite bookstore.

To order your copy, please send a check to Builders Without Borders, 119
Main Street, Kingston, NM 88042.  For credit card orders call
505-895-5400 or email
mail@BuildersWithoutBorders....