Pictures!

Hi! Marina and I (Johnny) are currently sitting on Vera's couch while we wait for Colin, Jim, Dan, and Vera to come back from the hardware store. Before they left, we all met with a furniture maker in Vera's neighborhood. He spoke to us about the different kinds of wood that are available and whether they would make the water taste weird or not. As we were getting ready to leave, he said, with a huge smile on his face, "I vote for Barack Obama! No McCain! I kick McCain's legs out from under him!" (Dan translated this for me after I heard him say Obama.) It's truly incredible how international Obama is. Although it's amazing that 200,000 people turned out to see him in Germany, I think it's even more amazing that this craftsman in Rio Branco, Brazil (described by another Brazilian as being "in the middle of nowhere") is this familiar with Barack Obama and U.S. politics. It is really fascinating.

Anyway, we thought we'd take this time to post some pictures!

"Today's Goal: Building The Box"

Vera!

Vera's neighborhood as seen from the car.

Outside Vera's house.

On the way back from meeting with the craftsman. Vera's house is on the left.

Marina preparing the water testing equipment to take into the jungle. You can see all the donations we brought on the bed behind her.

- Johnny

Team Photo at JFK

This team photo was taken at JFK in NYC just before the team boarded the plane for Brazil.

The Team is in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil!

Saturday 26 July 2008

I spoke with Marina this morning. She sounded great - full of energy. The entire team is doing well. They are out buying supplies and will construct their first spring box today. They'll leave Rio Branco for Assis Brasil, Acre, Brazil mid-day Monday. 

TBS

July 2008 Implementation Trip underway

Friday 25 July 2008

I spoke with Dan in Sao Paulo today. The JFK to Sao Paulo trip was fine. They are scheduled to arrive in Rio Branco, the state capital of the state of Acre, late this evening. I will attempt to contact them on Saturday AM.

- Prof. T. B. Soules
EWB UMass Amherst - Amazon Team Faculty Advisor

Team Prepares for July 24th Departure

The Amazon Project Travel team, comprised of two professionals and three students, are preparing for their 10 day trip into the Brazilian Amazon beginning on 24 July 2008. During this implementation trip, the team will implement improved springboxes which have been designed and prototyped for the community of Assis Brasil. To follow the teams progress while in-country, visit our blog and show your support for the EWB UMass Amazon Project!

Meeting Notes - 4/9

Implementation Trip Movie – Amanda and Johnny

Diaphel needs to email Pro/E drawings to gmail account

Tom – harvesting Brazil nuts can assist rubber tappers economically. It’s common for rubber tappers to harvest and sell the nuts.

Brian designed procedure for constructing springbox.

Tom and Brian are submitting a summary of the local resources.


Brazil Night
- Diaphel got portable toilet for Brazil Night - $60 delivery/pickup
- We have – DJ, Barn
- We don’t have - Food

Items
• Kayaking Trip ($75)
• 1 hour massage ($40)
• 4 Movie Passes ($20)
• Broadside Book shop gift certificate ($15)
• Skera Gallery ($10)
• iTunes ($25)
• Happy Valley ($30)
• African Recycled Plate ($20)
• Einstein/DaVinci ($20)
• Wool Scarf Knitting Kit ($12)
• Running Kit ($25)
• Custom Welcome Sign ($20)
• EWB Spring Cleaning (3 hours / 7 people)

Fundraising Trips
• Tuesday morning (4/15) 10am – 12pm
• Wednesday afternoon (4/16) 2 – 4pm
• Friday afternoon (4/18) 12 – 3pm

Wednesday April 23
• Meeting at Craft Center to make decorations

Meeting Notes - 4/2

Sorry it took me so long to post these...

Seattle Conference
Café Solar

• help coffee-producing countries in Central America produce coffee more sustainably and affordably
• Café Solar sells the coffee these countries produce and uses the money to further assist the people

need to economically develop communities in need, so that they can provide themselves with the capacity to get out of poverty

• view them as customers rather than charity cases – focus on creating wealth as opposed to eradicating poverty

Social
May 3rd – Brazil Night

• need to do more fundraising
  
• currently only have 10-12 items
• Dr. Ergas donated Kayak Trip for Two with Gourmet Lunch
• Caitlin working on invitations for professors
• Julie working with Western Mass Professional Chapter
• Johnny going to see barn on Saturday and will send estimate of numbers of round and long tables to Luzia
• Luzia contacted a table/chair rental place who offered to donate the tables/chairs for free, but we have to provide transportation
• We’re going to Northampton this Saturday to do more fundraising. We will be meeting in Perrell at 1:00. All are encouraged to come.
• Johnny and Amanda will be working on the video, which will be presented at the event.
• Dave and Tom are working on contacting food places.

Things left to do:

• set up teams (tiki torches, tables/chairs, items)
  
• group to go get the food right before the event
• donation baskets/posters (for small items)
• non-alcoholic drinks
• MANY other things

Technical
Implementation Report due April 20
Plans for trip:

• implementation of two new springboxes
• water testing
• education component (pamphlet)
• new health assessment (re-evaluate the community’s needs)

Economic aspect

• possibility of helping community to sell their brazil nuts in order to make a profit (along the lines of wealth promotion rather than pure charity)