Good, resilience building news, from Chile

This just came in from Grifen Hope in Chile. Grifen is a permaculturalist and visionary who has been living there for quite a number of years now. The response to the situation there is exemplary and an inspiration for all of us as we prepare for uncertain futures. There are lots of practical things that are being requested here, and you just may find one of them fits with your knowledge base, contacts or resources. Please read on...

Chile Shakes and the World Changes: by seconds and degrees

Hola Friends, We are just over a week out from the big shake, battened down the hatches and secured the sitution. We realise that we are blessed and uniquely prepared to make a big difference in the restoration of Bio Bio Chile. Can you help us to invest in the resilience of our small rural community in Chile post quake as a living model of local resilience that can be replicated throughout the region?

Vision is seeing things as they will be

We intend to quickly establish a model of disaster response that can be widely replicated in the Biobio region, and invest in the foundations of long term resilience in other communities like ours. We have established a strong foundation over the last few years here, and now we need your support to make the most of disaster as an opportunity for catalysing change.

We intend to install basic systems for water and food security for 80 people and to reconstruct two damaged houses for 9 people in two families. This will be implemented in coming weeks and months in collaboration with local, regional and national government, the permaculture institute of Chile etc. We have a multidisciplinary team of permaculture professionals and volunteers on standby willing to go, supported by a large network of people throughout Chile. We want your help, the collective intelligence of our international learning community. Invest in our transition.

There are many ways you can help

1.    Donations can be made through the Permaculture Research Institute http://permaculture.org.au – please reference ´´donationchile´´. Information will soon be posted on thei website with details of the proposed project and regular reports.

2.    We need information. Do you have design(s) for permanent / emergencia small quick houses 35m2 with local bio materials. We are thinking round pole timber post and beam with earth bag footings (with recycled adobe), light straw clay (harvest time now) insulation walls floor and ceiling.

3.    Construction details for Ferro cement tanks in Español, or any kind of water tanks.

4.    Information on pumping solutions for shallow groundwater, and for drip irrigation – on flat sandy soils with no stream flow and 1300mm rain.

5.    Anything about grain mills.

6.    Ideas for large water storage in sandy soils.

7.    Woodstove / rocket stove stuff in Español.

8.    Recommendations for machinery that may be available in Chile.

9.    Advice on small scale solar generation.

10.    Advice on round pole construction techniques, and milling and drying of small diameter eucalyptus glutens y nitens, large old macrocarpas and of 25 year untreated pine.

11. Volunteer; we need more hands, especially people who are skilled in construction and technology, in working with people, managing groups, facilitating etc, food growing and preservation, communications and reporting etc, etc etc.

Read full report from New Zealand's Grifen Hope in Chile