Message-ID: <19961124121630045.AAA100@smtp.persocom.com.br> Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 12:16:34 +0000 From: Joaquim Moura <mailto:joaquim.moura@PERSOCOM.COM.BR> Subject: Socio-environmental project with WB To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear DEVEL-L Friends,If we never give up, we will reach our objectives. With funding from the World Bank, we (Brasilia/Washington DC Partners committee) are now starting a socio-environmental project just as those we were dreaming to be involved with... This project, developed in partnership with the Government of the Distrito Federal (GDF) and local associations, aims the recovering of the Taguatinga river basin. This river is born in the Distrito Federal region, crosses three satellite cities around Brasilia, then goes southwest and, many miles away, meets the River de la Plata and the Atlantic, between Uruguay and Argentina borders. The project costs amount to US$ 2 millions: US$ 900,000 from the WB, US$100,000 from the GDF, and US$ 1 million in voluntary work, consultancy and resources mainly from the local associations and Partners of the Americas Brasilia/Washington DC committee (our group, which had originally presented the project to the World Bank).
The main river's pollution source used to be domestic/commercial/industrial wastes from three satellite cities (Taguatinga, Ceilandia and Samambaia) which gather together 1,3 million people (most low income rural families recently immigrated from the poor states of the Brazilian northeast). But now the local government (GDF) is launching the new sewage system that will solve this main problem.
So, our project is intended to recover the river's environmental conditions (including the original vegetation along it); to help the small farmers and tillers who work by the river to do it in better and sustainable conditions; to raise the urban population's awareness toward the environment quality and the river's health; to develop income generation activities in partnership with Nature (like ecotourism, water leisure activities by the river etc.).
Our committee collaboration will focus on environmental/cultural/civic/youth development issues, where we have specific expertise: a) the communicative aspects: popular/community organization computing, regional/international networking, coalition building, community newsletter (and other media) on the program development etc. b) income generation alternative sources: organic vegetable gardening and marketing, recycling, microenterprising, cooperativism, popular banking systems, c) local youth development: cultural and ethical issues related to poor (and any) young people's contemporary problems, like violence, drug abuse, sexual diseases, early pregnancy, unemployment etc.
If you wish to collaborate with us, through Internet, we would love exchanging valuable experiences with you. It is very easy to find more information about this 12-month project, now just starting - please visit our web site (below) and click the *latest updates* option; or open directly its specific URL: http://webwrite.com/partners.bsb-dc/lateupdt.htm
Thanks for the interest, Joaquim _______________________________________________________________ Joaquim Moura
Companheiros das Americas / Partners of the Americas Comite Brasilia - Washington D.C. / Committee Comissao de Desenvolvimento da Juventude e da Cidadania / Youth and Citizenship Development Commission ** todas as opinioes controversas sao apenas pessoais ** ** all the controvertible opinions are just personal **
WWW site: http://webwrite.com/partners.bsb-dc