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Envirochild
is
a growing and diverse group of residents of Hout Bay,
dedicated
to transforming our
suburb into a healthy, sustainable, prosperous
and
united community |
SOME HELPFUL DEFINITIONS
Sustainable
- that which can be maintained indefinitely using local resources and energy.
Sustainable communities
are those where children are healthy, safe and free to
explore their environment, and can look forward to a
future of abundance.
Click
here to
join our Community and chat to us.
We welcome your feedback
and towards improving
this initiative |
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We believe that the principles of:
* collective community effort
* permaculture,
* people empowerment and
* localising
will enable us to help Hout Bay transition into a sustainable place for
our children to live.
We are also convinced
that this is our best chance of meeting the impact of
* growing population
* climate change
* resource depletion
* pollution
* energy constraints
* poverty and
* rising food
and fuel
costs.
With its wealth of human
and natural resources and spirit of goodwill, Hout Bay
has the potential to become a model community that will
inspire other communities that are making the transition
to sustainability. We hope to do this with your help.
The Hout Bay Green Faire
held on 28th Nov 2009 attracted 87 stalls showcasing
sustainable technology, green products and services as
well as talks, movies and children's green edutainment.
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Envirochild's Current Projects
HOUT
BAY GREEN FAIRE
is a showcase of
sustainable eco-friendly lifestyle options such
as eco-housebuilding, solar & wind power, energy
& water saving devices, composting toilets, how
to grow organic and more.... Next one is in
November 2010.
GREEN
DRINKS
is held on the first Wednesday evening of every
month. This is a networking forum, where
like-minded people can come and meet, discuss
hot topics and listen to the inspirational
monthly speaker.
GREEN
PEAS
promotes growing organic veg courses, and weekly
organic veg delivery.
BIO-DIESEL PROJECT
using recycled cooking oil from local
restaurants to run diesel cars.
SA ENVIRO-CHALLENGE
promotes the use of low flow showerheads which
saves 50% of electricity and water with each
shower.
EARTHBAG BUILDING
using sandbags instead of bricks to build
houses, which are cheaper, have better
insulation and are easy to use.
We assisted
RUBBELS and the RECYCLED MARKET,
who encouraged all the Grade 3 learners from Hout
Bay to create arts and crafts from rubbish to
sell at the Green Faire
COMMUNITY VEGETABLE GARDEN
called “A Doorway to Sustainability” on a piece
of public land next to Imizamo Yethu. A long
term vision to
teach those interested to grow organic
vegetables in a doorframe space of 2x1 m2.
GREEN LIVING SHOP
Coming
soon to Hout Bay - watch this space
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We welcome
your interest and urge you to get involved
and contribute your ideas or to support our
projects in whichever way you can. |
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 Our
goals
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To empower our community to respond effectively to
energy and infrastructure limitations.
- To educate towards
energy efficiency, conservation awareness and a
reduction in consumption.
- To propose and
actively work towards workable solutions for the
integration of townships into Hout Bay that
provide adequate, shelter, security and
amenities.
- To
host regular
Green Faires
to promote the use of environmentally friendly
and efficient products and the importance of
growing our own food.
- To build
community consciousness and strengthen the local
economy through supporting local initiatives.
- To host monthly
awareness building
talks on a variety of topics to do with more
conscious living.
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The
ACT LOCAL Campaign
Grow Local
Developing local food security through
flourishing gardens, community greenhouses,
and community farms
Buy Local
- Promoting
buying local whenever possible, and
supporting local independently-owned
businesses.
Eat Local
- Promoting the
support local restaurants especially ones who buy
locally grown produce and donate their oil for biodiesel
Build Local
- Encouraging the
use of sustainable materials from as close as possible.
Employ Local
- Promoting the
use of local labour wherever possible, creating jobs
wherever possible
Conserve local
- Encouraging
residents and businesses to get involved in conserving
our spectacular natural heritage
Local Energy
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Catalyzing appropriate community responses
to the current energy crisis, developing
sustainable local renewable energy sources
Local Water
saving
- Encouraging the
practice of reusing washing water for flushing, or
redirecting it through filters to gardens, using low
flow showerheads, etc.
Local
Learning
- Encouraging
everyone to teach what they know to the community,
knowledge, skills, ideas for a greener planet
Local Sharing
- Encouraging the
sharing of land, tools or skills you can share
with members of the community. See
www.justfortheloveofit.org
Local Currency
- Encouraging
barter and trading and a less money dependent society.
Join the Community Exchange and trade your skills,
services and wares for other peoples skills, services,
crafts, etc without using money.
www.ces.org.za
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Lets
create solutions!
...by galvanising community interest to actively generate
solutions and initiatives to deal with challenges such
as housing, township integration, school capacity,
quality of education, primary health services,
recreational amenities, roads and transport, crime and
economic inequality.
We plan
to work hand in hand with the municipality, city
council, police and other institutions but recognise the
limitations they have for addressing all the issues and
so aim to play a more proactive role as 'concerned
citizens' instead of 'apathetic complainers'.
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Given the potential
disruptions ahead resulting from possible political, climate or inflation
crises....
Resilient
Communities
(self-reliant for the greatest possible number of their needs)
will be
infinitely better prepared than those who are dependent on globalized systems
for
food, energy, transportation,
health, and housing.
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With its multiple themes,
strategies, projects and events, this Campaign presents
positive pathways of engaging citizens, communities,
business and government to take the far-reaching actions
that are required to create a workable solution for
sustainable living in
Hout Bay.
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