Contact: Margie Bushman
Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
(805) 962-2571, email: margie@sbpermaculture.org

SANTA BARBARA PERMACULTURE NETWORK
Presents:
Permaculture & Sustainable Aid for the 21st Century:
How to Change the Paradigm of Emergency Disaster Relief & Development
to a Model of Life Affirming Assistance

3 Day Conference
Evening Lecture with Geoff Lawton, Friday, June 30
Workshop July 1 & July 2, 2006
Santa Barbara City College West Campus, Fe Bland Auditorium

        As Americans we have often thought of emergency disaster relief in terms of sending aid to other countries, after Hurricane Katrina we also see a need to know how to respond in a better way to our own natural disasters.  Natural disasters, wars, famines, how does the human family respond to each other’s needs during these overwhelmingly stressful times? What new models can we create to assist each other better? 

        Join renowned permaculture teachers and designers Geoff Lawton, Nadia Abu Yahia, and international aid worker Andrew Jones, on July 1 and July 2, 2006, as they share their experiences working around the globe in recent disaster zones and longer term refugee camps, existing from circumstances the world may have already forgotten.

        The model of aid permaculture has to offer is vastly different from conventional aid, it includes long term development, land care strategies, and allies itself strongly with the eco-village movement, which incorporates ecological design and natural building techniques for even temporary structures.   Permaculture recognizes that most people have an innate need to help when disaster strikes, and a huge cost to cultures if systems aren't designed with viable ways to both assist and be assisted whenever a need might arise.

        Permaculture is a design system based on ecological principles for creating sustainable human environments, and is one of the most holistic, integrated systems analysis and design methodologies found in the world.  Originally coined from the words PERMAnent agriCULTURE, it has evolved to one of permanent or sustainable culture with consciously designed landscapes that mimic the patterns of nature.

        Geoff Lawton is the Director of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia, assuming the position from Permaculture founder Bill Mollison.  Lawton has worked for clients that include communities, governments, aid organizations, non-government organizations and multi-national companies. Lawton has served clients in 17 different countries, including Jordan, Iraq, Egypt , USA, Mexico, Macedonia,Vietnam, Costa Rica, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, England, Denmark, Australia and the South Pacific. A recent project in Jordan is documented on a video called Greening the Desert available for viewing on his website (www.permaculture.org.au). 

        Nadia Abu Yahia (Lawton) was born in the Dead Sea Valley in Jordan. She learned traditional ways of land use from her father, an expert farmer and herbal healer of Palestinian, Bedouin descent. She later went on to complete her permaculture diploma in design, education and site development and has recently become a registered permaculture teacher.

        Andrew Jones has 10 years of international experience in emergency response, post conflict
development and rehabilitation, working extensively for CARE International, the United Nations, and various NGO’s such as SurfAid International.  Jones is a board member of the Permaculture Research Institute in Australia and Director of the consulting firm, Full Circle (www.fullcirclellc.com). He has worked in the Middle East, South Pacific, Asia, Europe and the United States, most recently in Indonesia in a post-tsunami recovery context.

        The conference takes place at the Santa Barbara City College West Campus, Fe Bland Auditorium, 721 Cliff Drive.  The lecture is on Friday, June 30, 7pm, cost $15.  Workshop, Saturday, July 1, 9-5pm, and Sunday, July 2, 9-4pm.  Workshop cost is $120 with pre-registration, $140 at the door, Students $100. The Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, SBCC Environmental Studies Program, Nutiva, and Hopedance Media sponsor the event. For more info and registration, contact: Santa Barbara Permaculture Network, margie@sbpermaculture.org; 805-962-2571; www.sbpermaculture.org .



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