''' ' ' ' Page 36 RAIN May/June 1984 RUSH An Alternative Commitment to the Oppressed—Pueblo to People, a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, is working with cooperatives and peasant groups in Central America to improve conditions for the poor majority, el pueblo. PTP is opening up channels of equitable economic interchange between Central America and the world through the sale of various crafts made in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. For a brochure describing the crafts and PTP's approach to social change, write to Pueblo to People, 5218 Chenevert #5443, Houston, TX 77004. National Community Garden Contest—The American Community Gardening Association and Glad Bags and Wrap are sponsoring the First Ever National Community Garden Contest, Gardens must be 10 feet by 10 feet or more and include at least 10 people who share responsibilities. Half the space must be devoted to at least four vegetable varieties. Cash prizes will be awarded to 12 gardens in each region; the national winners will receive $15,000 and a trip to Washington, DC, for two garden representatives. For more information, contact Carol Brewster, Eugene Community Gardens, 301 North Adams, Eugene, OR 97402; 503/687-5329. Social Graphics—Two new posters depict the social and economic woes of our country. The Nuclear Arms Race and Alternatives poster (color, 37 X 24 inches) explains the nature of nuclear weapons and how the arms race developed. The poster also depicts the alternative uses to which the money now used for maintaining and developing nuclear weapons could be put. An updated edition of Social Stratification in the U.S., a poster that documents a shifting social structure (“a shrinking middle class") in the U.S. is also available through Social Graphics, 1120 Riverside Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230. The Cold Facts—The Center for Environmental Physiology has just published Hypothermia: The Cold Facts, a publication that contains new information about hypothermia thermometers and an expanded listing of additional sources of information. It is free from the center, 1151 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Environment and Integrated Human Development—The Declaration of San Jose de Ocoa, signed by 35 voluntary development agencies in February in the Dominican Republic, was the product of a five-day workshop on Integration of Programs for Managing Renewable Natural Resources for Human Development. The declaration's aim is to generate awareness internationally on ways to integrate and coordinate activities of public and private agencies in conserving and improving renewable natural resources (water, soil, and forests) while meeting the needs of people. The document stressed the critical condition of natural resources throughout the Caribbeafi region and advised that in order for such responsible, integrated development to take place, not only do the people who inhabit and work the land need to be included in the decision-making processes, but certain social and structural changes might be necessary for just and equitable access to and protection of natural and cultural resources. For additional information or documents, contact Helen L. Vukosin, CODEL Environment and Development Program, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016; 212/685-2030. Peace through Citizen Exchange and Community Service—Volunteers for Peace hosts over 1000 workcamps designed to promote peace by meeting human needs in the U.S., in North Africa, and in Western and Eastern Europe. The workcamps, for which there is a minimal fee, take place during the summer for two to ’ four weeks. To obtain the 1984 VFP International Workcamp Listing, send $5 postpaid to Volunteers for Peace, Belmont, VT 05730; 802/259- 2759. Cooperative Trading—Beginning in February 1983, Friends of the Third World has sponsored a project called Cooperative Trading to help facilitate the importing of food from Third World producers. In the past year it has imported and distributed tons of Nicaraguan coffee. Through the project FTW hopes to both support the Nicaraguans in their fight for self- sufficiency and generate awareness of "coffee politics" in the U.S. Co-op Trading publishes a bimonthly newsletter called Alternative Trading News, which is full of access information, announcements, and related news items. Fora $10 membership fee, you receive the newsletter and information on ordering coffee from Nicaragua and Tanzania. Write Cooperative Trading, 611 West Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802; 219/422-6821. Food and Development—What's Cooking? presents food and nutrition as problems linked to all the fundamental, interacting problems of development—poverty, injustice, and ignorance, to mention a few. This resource material is designed to stimulate debate and action based on the following objectives: (1) to encourage a spirit of self-reliance in the Third World; (2) to provide a basis of knowledge for initiating and supporting systems of fairer food production, consumption, and distribution; (3) to give consumers a means to build up their knowledge and self-confidence through consumer information; and (4) to arouse public awareness of the needs and priorities of desperately poor countries. Order for $5 through Governmental Liason Service, United Nations, Room DC2-103, New York, NY 10017. — Gothenburg, Sweden, will be the site for the Bioenergy 84 exhibition and world conference, June 15-24. This event will feature a special preconference two-day seminar on Bioenergy in Developing Countries, with speakers from around the world lecturing on a host of topics, including "Planting Trees for Fuel, an Example from Kenya" and "Bioenergy R&D for Developing Countries." At the conference itself, the presentations slated will cover biological, technical, economic, and political aspects of bioenergy production and use. A postconference tour to the Swedish province of Dalarna will visit a community that has replaced 90% of its oil with bioenergy. For registration information and brochures, write to Gothenburg Convention Bureau, Kung- sportsplatsen 2, S-41110 Gothenburg, Sweden. CALENDAR Learn how to take an active role in designing, building, and contracting an energy-efficient home at Heartwood owner-builder school this summer during its summer resident Housebuilding courses. Three-week courses provide the opportunity to explore housebuilding both in the classroom and at a construction site, covering everything from plumbing to solar orientation. There are also more specialized one-week workshops, including cabinetmaking, Russian stoves, renovation, practical skills for living in the country. The courses begin in May. Heartwood School, Johnson Road, Washington, MA 01235. A renewable energy expert from the People's Republic of China will be a guest lecturer through June 8 at The Farallones Institute Rural Center. Li Nuanguo, known for his publications on biomass and biogas, as well as solar and geothermal energy in China, will spend the spring at Farallones and lecture for a course on Appropriate Technology and International Development Strategies. His visit is an important step in a continuing effort by U.S.-based "soft path" organizations to exchange information with China on viable alternatives to traditional Western energy- development patterns. Contact the Farallones Institute Rural Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Road, Occidental, CA 95472; 707/874-2441. June 10 to 16 is Future Week in Washington/ DC, To highlight this special week, the World Future Society has organized World View 84: A Global Assessment of Problems and Opportunities, to be held from June 10 to 14 at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. The
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