FWOP Membership

 FWOP membership is free to anyone who believes that every person in the world has the right to have a life without poverty. If you believe that everyone should have the opportunity of adequate food and shelter you should be a member of FWOP.

Membership in FWOP is open to anyone with an e-mail address and it is free.

Our goal is to build an electronic voice of 1,000,000 voices by 2013.

Together in solidarity we will speak out for the rights of the poor and organize chapters around the world to give voice, self-respect and hope to the poorest of the poor.

If you can afford to make a donation of $10 it will help cover the expense of creating this network.

If you can afford a donation of $20 we will give a solar light to a family with no electricity so that a child can use the light at night to read and write to improve their education and job opportunities.  To make a donation, click on the Donate Button on the right sidebar.

Are you a part of those that feel it is time to take a stand against hunger, homelessness and the ravages of modern day poverty? By signing up to join the Global Electronic FWOP Network you are telling the world leaders that we need an end to the suffering caused by the uneven distribution of the global resources.

To join, please enter your email address on the right side of this site or click here.   Thank you!

Hundreds of volunteers (424 Volunteers) worked with Rebuild Together-St. Louis to transform a north St. Louis building into a training center for military veterans.

Veterans Front Entrance

The former dormitory of St. Louis Christian College was donated by North City Church of Christ and will be run by the Renewable Energy Training Institute, which provides veterans with skills to prepare for civilian life.

Once it is complete, the facility will include a new wheelchair ramp, fencing and new carpet.  It will also have a patio and garden in the back.

Former Marine veteran Charlie Boyd was thrilled with how many volunteers came to help.

“It’s more than we anticipated for the volunteers to do what they are doing,” said Boyd. ”It’s just overwhelming and mindboggling as we say in the Marine Corps.”

The effort is part of the Home Depot Foundation’s two month Celebration of Service Campaign which honors military veterans.  It started September 11 and runs through Veterans Day. St. Louis (KSDK) — Hundreds of volunteers worked with Rebuild Together-St. Louis and Mission Continues to transform a north St. Louis building into a training center for military veterans.

Veterans Landscape Team

The former dormitory was re-positioned by North City Church of Christ and will be run by the Renewable Energy Training Institute, which provides veterans with skills to prepare for civilian life.  Pastor Robert Lawrence, an Army Veteran himself will serve as the Chaplin to the RETI veterans.

Once it is complete, the facility will include a new wheelchair ramp, fencing and new carpet.  It will also have a patio and healing garden in the back of the dormitory.  The goal is to provide a place of peace, rejuvenation and career training.  Dr. Brune shared that 24 Veterans will cycle through this site every 6 months.  By rehabbing this building, Home Depot has provided 12 private apartment homes for returning veterans.

Former Marine veteran Charlie Boyd was thrilled with how many volunteers came to help.

Veterans Landscaping Side

“It’s more than we anticipated for the volunteers to do what they are doing,” said Boyd. ”It’s just overwhelming and mindboggling as we say in the Marine Corps.”

The effort is part of the Home Depot Foundation’s two month Celebration of Service Campaign which honors military veterans.  It started September 11 and runs through Veterans Day.
KSDK

On September 18^th Mariann Contreras , Edwards Ochao (Pato) Contreras and Stan Ingman met to discuss various items that Mujeres Vigilantes, COFIMICH and FWOP need to consider in building more livable, strong, and sustainable neighborhoods for low income families.

The highlight of our meeting was a visit to some 50 houses under contruction in Sahuayo. The plan is to build 150 houses at this location. Houses measures 7 x 20 meters, have three bedrooms, one bath room and one common living area. At this stage our team also has houses under construction in Zimapan, State of Hidalgo (200) and Sahuayo . Go to www.remuni.org to view a YouTube or click on Mujeres Vigilantes logo on our sponsorship list.

Below you have a photo of Stan, Mariann, Celia (Pato’s wife) , and Pato with children and grandchildren from both families. People are looking at the roof and as you may know families can add a second floor to their house if funds become available.

Citizens must fund street lights. While in Guadalajara Ingman met with Solar Technology ( www.solartechnology.com.mx) to explore the best options to solve this issue. In addition, Syl Flores contacted a solar panel company in Ripley, Ohio to find out if they might have a good solution at a good price. Tom Benjamin is also working on the issue in Virginia. Walmart has a solar flood light that could be another solution.

We are now discussing in more detail how we develop this neighborhood to create a self-managed liveable neighborhood. What committees, what educational programs do we bring to the site, and what links to alternative employment do we create nearby?

For some 8 years FWOP have worked with San Martin to make this small settlement more livable. Initially, a gasoline generator from Texas was installed to supply two light bulbs per 10 houses. Later three solar panels were installed to substitute for the generator. Now they use them both. A TV antenna show that someone now watches TV.

Villagers had to walk mile or two to locate a bucket of water. So , our team located a spring some 2 miles away from San Martin. GPS help us determine it higher than San Martin. A gravity system of pipes pushed the water tank to San Martin, and finally lines to each house per water access.

Stan and Pato visited San Martin on 19^th and sat down with Antonio the chair of the village committee. First we learned that the spring went dry some two years ago. Antonio had watched Tom Benjamin do the initial project. So he merely located another site of water in the ravine a site of old water tank and dug a hole and reconnected the system and water continues to flow to San Martin.

Second , the evaluated the generator – solar panel system and determine that we could merely relocate the panels and perhaps secure more sun light and thus , they may not need to use the gasoline generator for electricity.

Our next stop was near Mazamitla and the site of where some 500 houses for low income families. These houses will have some exciting features. Solar water heating systems on the roofs will provide warm showers . Bio-digestor had the bottom of the hill will receive all toilet waste. Methane gas will be piped to individual homes will allow families to cook meals without buying butane gas tanks or burning wood. They also have a rebate for program to reward families who recycle.

Currently, electric boxes are installed. The septic line have been laid out for all houses and come down the hill to be linked to the biodigestors. Finally federal permit will allow them to cut the trees down to then move ahead with constructing houses in November.

National leadership in the hands of women does seem to be on the rise, e.g., Germany , Brazil, Argentina, Thailand and Australia. Their impact is as yet unclear. More impressive is the role of Aung San Suu Kyi , leader of the opposition in Burma.

Perhaps more concrete social change is the work of Dr. Yunus and the creation of the Grameen Bank, which focuses upon micro loans to mostly women in Bangladesh and around the world. In Mexico FWOP has tried to support En Via Foundation in Oaxaca that provides microloans to women in two villages. (www.envia.org ) .

The Green Belt Movement that was organized by Professor Wangari Masthai , Nobel Prize for Peace in 2004 has been empowering women for thirty years across Kenya and Africa. Their goals is now one billion tree campaign . Turk Pipkin is recent film Nobeity focuses in part on her outstanding work. ( www.greenbeltmovement.org )

In Denton Texas , the tree planting goal for 2011- 12 is 30,000. Our local Rotary Clubs working with the 120 or so students from high schools in our District planted some initial trees in July on the TWU campus. UNT -FWOP Chapter, a new Rotary Club at UNT and other clubs in Denton will be asked to complete the task this coming year.

We can not fail to also focus upon the work of Mujeres Vigilantes and the 675, 000 women across Mexico who are building houses for low income citizens, developing employment options, and creating local sustainable enclaves.

As the economist interviewed by Turk Pipkins of Austin, Texas suggests, full paid employment may not be a realistic vision for the future. Thus, creating local sustainable communities or enclaves where families can be protected from the periodic downturns of national economies may be one way to survive with dignity.

Our Board Member, Professor Isidor Wallimann with his colleagues has been working for some ten years to develop a social economy for the underemployed and unemployed of Basel, Switzerland. A Social Economy allows to establish a more formal barter economy to maintain some quality of daily living. Basel as with other models across Europe has created its own local currency ( Bon Netz Bon ). Below is a definition of their philosophy and approach.

“The Social Economy Network Cooperative and its mission

The Social Economy Network Cooperative Basel is a local and regional social movement organization to promote social and ecological sustainability. As such, it is also critical of globalization as presently practiced by the capitalist world market system. Therefore, it issues the BNB as an alternative currency to promote local and regional exchange patterns promoting local economic wellbeing while simultaneously enhancing social and ecological sustainability. However, the network is also otherwise engaged on several fronts relevant to social and ecological sustainability.

The Social Economy Network Cooperative Basel is a democratic network in which each member organization has one vote. In turn, membership is confined to democratic organizations that adhere to the one vote per member rule. All member organizations must also subscribe to the tenets of social and ecological sustainability. Membership organizations may be not-for-profit civil society associations or consumer and producer cooperatives. The latter must demonstrate that membership decides (by the one member one vote principle) on all questions pertaining to the hiring and firing of workers, and to the use of economic surpluses. In sum, the Social Economy Network Cooperative Basel is a democratic network composed of democratic organizations to ensure the democratic control of its alternative currency and to foster economic democracy in general. “ http://www.viavia.ch/bnb/pmwiki.php?n=Main.SocialEconomyBasel

COFIMICH and Mujeres Vigilantes in Mexico have joined efforts to create housing development with low maintence costs and local food production in Mazamitla, Sahuayo , Ocotlan, La Barca and Morelia in the states of Jalisco and Michoacan. In the State of Hidalgo on August 12^th they broke ground for the first 50 houses out of 200 near a Lake and small tourist development. Thus the staff for the resort will have quality housing es and assured work. Visit the two FWOP partners’ website by going to our sponsorship section of this website.

Mexico Powerpoint Presentaion

The Mujeres Vigilantes recently inaugurated a tourist complex on a large recreational lake in State of Hidalgo.

The name of the project is, Sha a’ Aud, was inspired by the “kibbutzin” communities of Israel. The idea behind the project was to combine a community for native or indigenous families with a special business foucs for village men and women to secure a living.

Lic. Ivonne Solis Sandoval, President of Mujeres Vigilantes , came up with idea while visiting Israel on trade mission. Ms Sandoval brought together SAGARPA(Agriculture) , SRA (Agarian Reform) and SEDESOL (Community and Economic Development) from Federal Government to fund the project. The first youtube celebrates the opening of the project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhZ_Us9Pnxg

The project is located near Zimapan in northwest region of the State of Hidalgo. Some 1500 employees will have work that is related to this lake retreat. Zimapan is easily accessible from Mexico City. The next youtube shows the cabanas, the lake and the initial construction of the homes (200) for the workers at the resort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w1PmpvO4gQ

Finally, Lic. Ivonne Sandoval explains the reason for the project in the youtube below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=0KRJmHEA6Ns

Future Without Poverty, Inc. is proud to be a partner with Mujeres Vigilantes and to be a witness of their numerous accomplisments in Mexico. New homes have been built in Sahuayo near Lake Chapala. They started building their network and organization in 2004.

Sarah Sanka’s books on the Not So Big House and Not So Big Life provides one survival option and even a potential solution to avoid economic tragedy and increase life satisfaction. (www.susanka.com) How to protect family life from national economic depression? Children moving back home and merging resources is one concrete step being taken every day in Texas, Ohio and Michigan.

In the 30s USA created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) program as a way to put people to work and earn enough to live.

http://eh.net/encyclopedia/articlecouch.works.progress.administration

With our national, and state and local budgets in trouble, it is hard to create a make-work programs.

In the 1960s after the Civil War in Algeria, USAID cooperated with the government to establish a WPA- type program to put men back to work in conservation projects (USA pick handles from our WPA program in 1930s showed up in an Algerian hardware) . Young volunteers and staff from US-Social Conversation Service from USA and the Algerian Forestry Service managed a program to put some 9, 000 men back to work per year who were paid a few dinars in addition to receiving some oil and wheat ( $1.80 per day). While the political climate is in crisis nationally, perhaps local communities should all consider locally managed WPA type programs.

Mexico- which seems to have few national debts and a growing economy – is designing a massive low income housing program in the rural country side which creates employment as well. However their model is more wholistic. In addition to building small houses (20 meters by 6 meters) they are introducing technologies to reduce daily energy use and costs ( solar water heating on roofs and biodigesters to handle the cooking ). Their concept attempts to go further;. creating ways to raise food for their family nearby, e.g., mini chicken/fish systems , or a greenhouse or community gardens for the community. As the houses go up, of course, hundreds of workers have temporary jobs. With attempts to also set up local enterprises in parallel to the new housing projects – long term sustainability can be built into these new communities.

In the State of Hildago- Mexico, Mujeres Vigilantes is establishing such a community. The first 50 houses out of 200 are to be built in August near an new r cabana resort community on a lake. Thus, new resort employees in new houses will have employment.

In Denton, Texas some residents are promoting localism also. Cardo’s Farm in Ponder is one visible model to promote local food production . (www.cardosfarmproject.wordpress.com ) . The farm market in Denton has more than doubled – even with the extreme weather this summer. Of course, Denton has a long way before local production will have any significant impact on the grocery business in Denton.

“Mission Statement:
Cardo’s Farm Project aims to be an educational model of a sustainable farm, and to provide the Denton Community with healthy food grown in harmony with the natural environment.

Bio: Cardo’s Farm Project is located in Ponder, Texas. Our biodynamic and community farm is in its first season. We have cultivated nearly two acres of land to grow and provide healthy produce to the Denton community. Our vegetables are available for purchase through partnerships with the Cupboard Natural Food Store and The Denton Community Market, and to enjoy at Hannah’s Restaurant and The Chesnut Tree Restaurant. We’ll also have a presence at this year’s Denton Red Bud Festival.

Vegetable production is one part of an integral system on the farm. Other important parts of our working farm includes seventy laying hens, two Jersey cows and a calf (through a partnership with Moon River Ranch Diary of Krum), a flock of ducks, and wheat grass and sunflower sprouting.

As a major part of our mission we look forward to establishing workshops, children’s educational programming and community work parties.” ( website) .

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/938707707/cardos-farm-project-an-experiment-in-community-agr?ref=email

FWOP has been in discussion with Flint Michigan residents about the extreme poverty this city has been facing for many years. As houses are destroyed in urban Cleveland , land is being converted into vineyards and gardens.

In conclusion, thinking globally and locally and acting both locally and globally seems to be the mandate for our mutual sustainability .

Raanan Katzir , a retired agricultural extension agent from Israel , has been a FWOP partner for many years. Since 1993 , Raanan has been teaching across all parts of Chain on such topics as efficient irrigation, mitigation of salinity soils, simplified hydroponics, micro-farming and combating desertification. As our work in Flor de Campo expanded the economic well-being of residents we could see the expansion of agricultural production near the houses. ( See photo below)

Having worked some years in Central America, he is well able to deliver his material in Spanish. Raanan joined FWOP members in meetings and field trips to Mazamitla, San Martin and Flor de Campo in the State of Jalisco, Zacatecas in State of Zacatecas and Tecoman in the State of Colima. With his recognized expertise, he has consulted and taught in many other areas across Mexico.

He has had a special link to the Institute for Simplified Hydroponics near Puebla, Mexico ( http://www.carbon.org ) . Raanan has worked with the FWOP to construct various models for a “micro-farm” that can increase sustainability for households and local neighborhoods. http://www.microfarms.com Our colleagues are integrating such models into the new housing areas built by COFMICH in Mazamitla (500) , Sahuayo (250) , Ocotlan (250) and Morelia (3500).

In the Fall woman from Mujeres Vigilantes will be in Israel to study agriculture. We hope that Raanan and the woman can meet in Israel. Yvonne Sandoval, President of Mujeres Vigilantes visited Israel in 2010 and was impressed with many models of “sustainability” found in the kibbutzims in Israel . Mujeres Vigilantes in the State of Hidalgo where they are building a resort cabana tourist community with new homes for the resort employees. The outlines for this model came from Yvonne’s trip to Israel. Basic model is to attempt to integrate work near more eco-friendly housing .
Raanan was lecturing in Guanajuato in February 21011 and this Summer is has been lecturing in Japan. If possible , we hope to have Raanan rejoin FWOP in western Mexico to assist our team in Mexico.

Agricultura Sostenible
Raanan Katzir
Resumen CV Tel Aviv, Diciembre 2007

Actualmente: Director de SACOG, “Sustainable Agriculture Consulting Group” (Grupo consultor en agricultura sustentable)

Agrónomo, MS.C en Agronomía de la facultad de agronomía, Universidad Hebraica de Jerusalém. Cuarenta años de experiencia laboral en el Ministerio Israelí de agricultura en las áreas de extensión agrícola y protección vegetal.

Coordinador nacional de investigación y extensión agrícola, jefe de la oficina de cuarentena nacional y director de proyectos internacionales en países en desarrollo en el marco de la agencia israelí para cooperación internacional. ( MASHAV).

Ha dirigido estudios de post grado en Francia, Sudáfrica y en USA. Ha participado en decenas de conferencias internacionales. Publicadas decenas de artículos relacionados a su trabajo profesional.
Manejo eficiente del Ingles, español, Francés y Hebreo, como lengua materna.
Ha realizado decenas de conferencias y misiones de consultoria en países en desarrollo, en Sudamérica, África, Europa central, China, India y Oceanía.
En los últimos 20 años se ha especializado en Agricultura Sustentable, enfocándose al manejo sustentable de recursos naturales como suelo, agua, cultivos, zootecnia, clima y recursos humanos, con el objetivo de obtener producción agrícola y seguridad alimenticia. El planteamiento básico es el de un manejo holistico integrado para conservar los recursos naturales para su futura habilidad para generar alimentos y evitar disturbios agro ecológicos. Miembro de la asociación Israelí de Ingenieros, La Sociedad Israelí de Entomología y Fitopatología, y la Sociedad Internacional de Desarrollo (SID).
Secretario General de una ONG llamada OISCA-Israel conectada a su ONG madre en Japón que se ocupa de la educación ambiental de los jóvenes, reforestación y actividades de desarrollo internacional.
Actualmente, Director del Grupo Consultor en Agricultura Sustentable (SACOG), dedicado a enseñar y consultar en Israel y en otros países industrializados y en desarrollo.

Temas profesionales
Curso y Consultoria, 2010
Raanan Katzir

A. Agricultura Sostenible tema general:

El enfoque general de Agricultura Sostenible
La experiencia Israeli en Agricultura Sostenible
Aspectos globales de seguridad alimentaria y agricultura sostenible
Problemas agro ecologicas en los paises en el camino del desarollo
Agricultura Sostenible y seguridad alimentaria
El Manejo sostenible de recursos de agua
Bio tecnologias y agricultura sostenible

B. Temas de desarrollo regional integrado de Investigación Agrícola (R&D).

El systema agricola regional de investigacion y desarollo (R&D)
El servicio de extension agricola en Israel
Investigacion agricola avanzada en Israel
Desde agricultura sustentable hasta agricultura avanzada dirigida al Mercado
Planificacion de proyectos agricolar regionales.

C. El desarrollo agrícola en zonas áridas

Agricultura avanzada en zonas aridas
Las ventajas del riego por goteo
Controlar riego
Salinizacion y el uso de agua Salinas en la agricultura
Desinfecion de tierras por Solarizacion
A forestacion en zonas aridas

D. Otros temas profesionales agrícolas

Agricultura Organica
Agricultura urbana y peri urbana
Metodos de controlar heladas
Evaluacion del Impacto Ecologico
Conservacion de suelos
Biodiversidad, Seguridad alimentaria y conservacion del medio ambiente
Agrobiodiversidad
Agro y Eco Turismo.
Energia de recursos re novables y la agricultura
Agricultura avanzada en invernaderos
El beneficio de hydroponia simplificada
La agricultura y el cambio de clima
El crisis de los precios de los alimentos de comida
Agricultura avazada en Israel
Combatir eladas
Evaluación del Impacto Ecológico (EIA) de proyectos agrícolas y ambientales
Agricultura avazada en invernaderos
Controlar clima en invernaderos
Mitigación de los factores que causan los desastres agrícolas.

El curso sobre la agricultura sostenible está dirigido principalmente a licenciados y estudiantes de doctorado y profesores universitarios. El curso se centra en la gestión sostenible de los recursos naturales como suelo, agua, cultivos, cría de animales, el clima y los recursos humanos, a fin de mantener la naturaleza y la producción sostenible de alimentos y materias primas para obtener la seguridad alimentaria. . El curso se ocupa de historias de casos prácticos, principalmente de la experiencia de Israel y otros. Los participantes serán capaces de comprender y analizar la gestión sostenible de las zonas rurales, la planificación y realización de proyectos de desarrollo rural.
Enfoque similar podría aplicarse para llevar a cabo viajes de estudios regionales de las zonas rurales como de consultoría y producción de documentos sobre la Evaluación del Impacto Ecológico (EIA), aplicaciones financieras por realizar proyectos.
El ajuste por encima de la participación en los temas de las conferencias internacionales.

A week ago, FWOP representatives attended the energy summit at the Discovery Park at UNT and learn more about the Zero Energy Lab House . We then attended the ground breaking ceremony for the Lab House at noon . The Lab House will allow researchers to test various innovations integrated into a total unit to see how well they function , or how well they contribute to energy efficiency and water conservation.

The emerging idea in Denton and in Mexico with support from FWOP is create a zero energy villages, not just single homes. In Denton it could be for an intergenerational communities or a community that integrates all social classes , students , the disabled, and the elderly. In Mexico it villages will remain low income oriented. But , hope knows the future?

We learned recently that the eco house communities in Mexico are integrating various ways to secure a more sustainable future for the families. For example they are moving forward to build three more chicken /fish/kitichen gardens into the homes in San Martin. FWOP is designing a new model a house hold that uses less land. You can see our initial model in San Martin below . In other location they are installing green house to grow vetable for all seasons for consumption and for see in the local market or in region markets.