October 2003
SofoNic - a team committed to the environment
Achievements
- A center that promotes the genetic improvement of livestock with two seed banks, a corral, drinking tanks, and feed, as well as veterinary products.
- Five systems of micro-irrigation that serve as technological references for the communities focusing upon sustainable vegetable production as well as planting of fruit trees.
First MCR encounter in Cali, Colombia
ECOSouth held the first MCR Encounter to promote and disseminate MCR technology in Cali, Colombia, on September 29, 2003, in conjunction with the opening of the ProCoNat MCR workshop. This also helped form a strategic alliance among the ECOSouth Network, and the ProCoNat Foundation (Natural Construction Processes), SENA (Center for Construction of the National Apprentice Service) and SINDICONS (Colombian National Union of Construction Workers).
Behind the scenes with ecomaterials
Fernando Martirena
In a visit to an ecomaterials workshop, the visitor cannot have a clear idea of the R&D behind this result. Experienced scientists from Cuba and Europe have worked many years, costly equipment has been used, and many experiments have been carried out.
MCR Launch in Zimbabwe
Two years ago, at the end of the II International Ecomaterials Conference in Santa Clara, Cuba, Dr. J. Kuchena committed himself to organize an event in Southern Africa. On September 19 he complied with a MCR Tiles Launch in Harare.
News - October 2003
Bicycle race in Jinotepe
Hundreds of spectators lined the route to watch the First Closed Circuit Bicycle Race in Jinotepe, Nicaragua on September 21. The race is part of a program of Pedals for Progress and EcoTec to bring bicycles to the people, and under the auspices of the Nicaraguan National Cycling Federation. 127 participants covered a distance of 1.4km and were divided into the four categories of children, youth, mountain bikes and racing bikes.
CD about urban waste management
EcoSouth has edited and published a CD that draws together experiences of five country teams within an ITDG project. Urban Waste Management for Small Scale Energy Production documents low-value urban management in Cuba, Kenya, Senegal, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The CD is available through CIDEM and ITDG.
Prize to Nigerian CP40 blocks
At a construction materials exhibition in Abuja, Nigeria, where many local producers presented their blocks and bricks, the engineering association awarded first prize for best quality blocks to EcoMat Limited. EcoSouth experts initiated this CP40 workshop for the Saint Paul Mission this year.
