permaculture

[Russ Grayson <pacedge@magna.com.au>]

DISPATCHES from the East Coast... 
...occasional reportage from PacificEdge
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NEWS...

> SECURITY AND SAFETY FOR AID WORKERS
Aid work is becoming  an increasingly risky profession with around 27 aid workers killed by violence in 2001 and at least 48 killed the previous year, according to the UN. The security of aid workers is now a topic treated with a great deal more seriousness among aid agencies than it was in even the recent past. Training in personal security (violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping etc) and in personal safety (disease, risk etc) is now recommended for aid workers venturing into all environments, but especially those where there has been conflict or recent political instability. Unfortunately, the sort of training provided  by security consultants to the major media organisations to video crews and journalists venturing into conflict or high-risk zones, and to field staff of some of the big aid agencies, remains financially out of reach for the smaller aid agencies. This puts their field placements at higher risk.

An understanding of the current political, military and security situation, as well as disease risks in destination countries, is invaluable. The following item has been sourced from Aid Workers Network, an online forum for professional aid workers...

How do you manage the risks associated with your work? Barney Mayhew offers some practical advice on safety and
security for aid workers. Barney (barney.mayhew@aidworkers.net) is an independent consultant based in London.  His work focuses on helping to improve the effectiveness of interventions in emergencies, particularly through training, coordination and support to field
managers.

STAYING SAFE ... WHEN IT ISN'T
By Barney Mayhew

Should aid workers stay out of dangerous areas?  Or should they brave the risks, to help people who are in need? Most relief workers reply that risks can or even should be taken - provided that it will help the people you're trying to serve. If the benefit will be great, and the risk small, the risk is probably worth it.  But if there's a big risk and only a small benefit is likely, then it's best to play safe. How to make the judgement?  It depends on training, experience and information.  Training gives knowledge and skills; experience provides practice in assessing tricky situations; and information provides the factors to weigh up. Risk-benefit calculations are just one aspect of managing a team's security.  Here are some of the other stages:

TRAINING
- many aid workers think this should now be mandatory, before arriving in an insecure area.  Training - teaching a set of
skills - is different from briefing, which only seeks to provide information.

ASSESSING AND PLANNING
- getting to know the situation around you.  The culture, the politics, the different groups, the rhythms of life, and the
things that could cause danger for you.

- thinking through what security measures you and your team need to take, in the light of your assessment.  They should be
written down in a security plan.  It is best if many staff contribute to the plan, and feel a sense of joint ownership of it.

KEEPING INFORMED
- listening to local people; to colleagues; to the UN security officer if there is one; to local police; to the press.
- collaborating with other agencies.  Share information regularly and coordinate security measures if appropriate.

EMBEDDING
- into the local community.  If you have come from another country, building relationships with local people and leaders
will win you friends.  This increases your acceptance by the community, and reduces the dangers to you.

COMMUNICATING
- with your staff and with your headquarters.  Writing regular updates and reports keeps your organisation in the picture,
reassures them, increases their confidence in you and helps them to make good decisions.

- brief your team on the situation regularly.  New arrivals need security briefing on the day they arrive.  It is a good idea for
them to sign a form confirming that they have read the security plan, have been briefed, and agree to abide by the security
measures.

ADDRESSING STAFF NEEDS
- if they have suffered a frightening incident and need comforting.  In case of serious trauma, professional help is
usually needed.

- staff may need gentle but clear reminders of their role in staying vigilant and contributing to security.  If they break
the agreed rules, disciplinary action may sometimes be necessary.

RESPONDING
- to incidents swiftly and well.  Rehearsing the response to the most likely incidents, such as armed robbery, makes the
procedure easier to remember.

EQUIPPING
- with the right tools.  Radios, mobile phones, satellite phones are now normal features.  Less obvious tools are also useful -
such as an aerosol foghorn for each house, office and guard.  It is more effective than a whistle or radio for attracting
attention or frightening away attackers.  Vehicle tools, such as two spare wheels, can also make the difference between life and
death.

Aid workers are facing serious risks each year.  So TAKE CARE!
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> AT RISK - To Bee Or Not To Bee
Nepali farmers hand pollinate crops as native bees vanish

http://www.slowfood.com/eng/sf_sloweb/sf_sloweb.lasso?-database=sf_sloweb&-layout=tutti&-response=sf_sloweb_dettaglio.lasso&-recordID=34544&-search


> TRAVELS IN SEED SAVING - Michel Fanton to visit Ecuador
Seed Savers Network Australia director, Michel Fanton, will spend two and a half weeks in Ecuador conducting workshops and assisting in the establishment of an Andean seed saving network. Michel will conduct five training courses in Ecuador and Southern Columbia and meet with a number of government and non-government organisations on his trip from 10th May - 27th May 2003.

Michel has been invited by "Red de Guardianes de Semillas del Ecuador" (Network of Seed Guardians), a newly formed network consisting of individuals and organisations that aim to preserve Andean food crops. 

Please email Michel (michel@seedsavers.net) with contact details of people involved in seed saving or sustainable agriculture in Ecuador
and Southern Colombia.
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IN THE MAIL...

> COLLINGWOOD KITCHEN GARDEN ONLINE
Ben Neale, from Cultivating Community (which assists government housing tenants with their community food gardens), writes:

"Dear all,
If you go to this web address and follow the instructions you can see some of the great work that is being carried out at the ktchen garden in Collingwood.
thanks.. Ben"




> PERMACULTURE NOOSA LOOKS TO A SUSTAINABLE SUNSHINE COAST
Marcus Webb, from south-east Queensland, writes about Permacultre Noosa's website:

"The April online edition of Permaculture Noosa "PermaNews" is now available at http://www.permacult.com.au/noosa

Highlights include: "The Potential for Sustainability on the Sunshine Coast - Using Permaculture" - a precise of the ideas generated from workshops conducted by the Permaculture Noosa group; and Keyhole Gardens - What are they? Why use them? How to build one. All articles are archived, so there is a lot of resources to browse through.

Elsewhere on the website:
* the latest version of the online searchable Plants for a Future database is ready for your queries;
* Permaculture Noosa founder, Geoff Lawton was featured by the ABC Rural stories website late last year, and links to an online movie about his work in the desert of Jordan is provided;
* Our Q&A Forum is back online and questions can be directed to Geoff or just read the discussions on permaculture topics.
* The Country Kitchen section has been greatly expanded and nhow features hundreds of webpages on recipes, advice and a kitchen store.

Have a groovy day... Marcus".
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REQUESTS...
Please respond directly to person making request.

> LOCAL FOOD ACTION KIT
Respond to: vanessajohn22@yahoo.com

Vanessa Johns writes:
"I’d like to demonstrate how positive and empowering involvement in belly-up social change can be in Australia, regardless of where you’re at. As part of my master’s degree I’m undertaking a project to be completed by late June 2003. It’s provisionally called the Local Food Action Kit. I’m writing to you as someone with an interest in globalisation, sustainable agriculture, local economies, food, education, advocacy, activism, the future…

The Objective is to collate, edit and provide an overview of the range of resources, information and action strategies for local food in Australia. This is in recognition of the growing evidence for the potential for food-focussed resistance to confront social, ecological and economic crises. 

I hope to provide an overview of the range of resources, information and action strategies for local food in Australia. I’d like to make current resources that are already available more effective, by maximising knowledge about them, and linking together relevant literature, groups, organisations and projects. There’ll be a look at the international context, and inspiration drawn from projects overseas. 

In terms of scope, there will be sections covering the global economy, environmental education, a snapshot of agriculture in Australia, case studies of farmers markets and other alternatives, community gardens, food security, organics, home-growing, genetic engineering, nutrition, activism and advocacy amongst many other things. 

A user-friendly guide is the ultimate goal…with an intended audience extending as far as possible to reflect the diversity of people interested in and affected by food issues. It should inspire greater participation in and consciousness of food issues in communities, organisations, institutions, government and individuals. 

So it would be great to hear more about your work, and how you might be like to be included in the action kit! It could be as a resource, a case study, a contact, a link to your website… it will be a useful way to raise awareness of your work, be included in a directory, and demonstrate the powerful congruence between grassroots action and global resistance. 

Please be in touch…and pass this message onto anyone else you think might be interested…

Warm Regards, Vanessa

Contact Details: Vanessa John, 9 Bunjil Place, Byron Bay NSW 2481. 02 6680 7284

This project is being supervised by Dr Kristen Lyons and Dr James Whelan of Griffith University (GU). Vanessa is studying both Environmental Education at GU, as well as Public Advocacy and Action at Victoria University of Technology. 
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CALENDAR... 

>  Region: Sydney - eastern suburbs
WHAT: COURSE - Organic gardening 
WHEN: Starts 6 May - goes for four weeks. Four Tuesday night meetings (start 6 May), four practical Saturday afternoon sessions in UNSW Community Permaculture Garden.
WHERE: Eastern Suburbs Evening College, Randwick Girl's High School.                
FEE: $115 - concessions available.
DETAILS:  Contents include: site analysis and designing your garden+improving soils and maintaining soil fertility through the use of mulches, compost making and worm production+soil analysis+plants and their characteristics+integrated pest management+container and balcony gardening. 

This is a practical course involving gardening activity on Saturdays. 

: Eastern Suburbs Evening College 02 9387 7400, 
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> RAND CORPORATION REPORT: Infectious Diseases Pose Global Threat.

Diseases like AIDS and SARS pose a worldwide threat; a new study assesses
the security implications of infectious diseases and suggests actions to
meet these public health challenges.

http://www.rand.org/rnb/0403/diseases.html

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PacificEdge Media...
pacedge@magna.com.au
Phone/ fax: 02 9588 6931
PO Box 446 Kogarah NSW 2217 Australia