Where: Primary school at Villa de Guadalupe
When: Wed 6.4.11 3pm-4.20
Who: Saul, Chela, Holly (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), community of Villa de Guadalupe (41 adults, incl 7 men, + 8 kids)
Purpose: The first meeting re the planning meeting re the implementation of the Project for 27 cisterns (+1 pilot) to be funded by Sapasma matching grant, in a collaborative project between, the water team (Rotary, Cedesa & the community) & Sapasma.
Meeting began with introductions all round, everyone said their names.
Chela asked me to explain the process of the water project, eg from Pilot to splitting into groups, to constructing the individual family cisterns. The materials & training normally paid for by Rotary funding will in this case be funded by Sapasma.
This project is very important as it is the first one with Sapasma, & important to ensure it succeeds.
This project is not a program or handout, it involves full participation, commitment & learning.
Saul described more about the actual work with wire & cement etc & the fact that it is essential for all to attend the 4 days of the pilot training sessions to know every part of the process.
Working in groups is compulsory, it’s not like you say “I’ve finished my cistern – bye – you have to work with your whole group to complete all the cisterns”.
There is sufficient funding for 53 cisterns with the US$35k pledged by Sapasma.
Rotary also has a donation cheque for $1500 received from Bellingham Rotary Club, this donation will be used to fund the 2 cisterns for the pilots, leaving the 53 cisterns available for families.
27 cisterns will be available for Villa de Guadalupe & 26 for the community of Cienega.
The attendance was recorded – 19 people on the list were present at previous meetings, there was a long discussion between community members re the previous meetings & who was or wasn’t informed of them. It seems the community is somewhat divided on issues, with people complaining of not being advised of meetings. There was also argument about cost to attend meetings, Saul suggested people should contribute 5 -10 pesos towards gas if others drive to the meetings.
Chela – you guys are in this situation because you are not united as a community & working together to resolve these issues. With the experience of working on the cisterns you will learn to work together, & unfortunately we don’t have much time in advance to work on your agreements/co-operation because the project is about to begin. So now you need to decide who is deserving of the cisterns for the first phase, based on past participation in previous assemblies, from the first 1 in Capaderillo on Nov 2010. The first phase of this project will be for 27 families.
The dates for the next meetings were set:
Villa de Guadalupe 1st planning meeting – 13th April at 11am, (with Sapasma)
Planning meeting re the Pozo, set for 12pm (ie after the cistern planning meeting)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Report of 1st recorded visit to Corralejo
Where: Corralejo, under big tree in the centre of the community
When: Wed 6th April 2011 11.30
Who: Chela, Holly, Saul (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 33 adults, 10 kids, + 2 puppies & 4 dogs
Purpose: To discuss the issues re sharing of the well the Corralejo community has, which Villa de Guadalupe & Cinco Senores would like to share.
Pre meeting discussion – approx. 50 families in Corralejo, majority of the men are in the USA working, the age of the community is uncertain, approx. 2 generations.
Introductions & points for discussion/today’s agenda
Cinco Senores – 7 people attending,
San Lorenzo – 2 people attending
Corralejo – 15 people attending incl. Juan Bocanegra – delegado
Villa de Guadalupe – 9 people attending
We introduced ourselves, Chela gave a little history of the collaboration of Cedesa & Rotary on the water projects, including the formation of the Consejo (citizen’s council).
Chela asked for proposals for co-ordinator & record taker, a couple of people pointed to eachother, & we all laughed.
Leonila was elected as secretary (because she can write fastest), & Hilda the Corralejo rep. of the Consejo was elected as co-ordinator for today’s meeting.
Hilda asked (on instruction) what is the purpose of today’s meeting?
- To discuss water
- We’re to talk about the possibility of Corralejo sharing their water with us.
- Humberto said”because Chela told us to & Laura gave us a ride” he’s the young man that has begun working with Cedesa, potentially as a promoter.
- “there’s only a few people from Corralejo community who have come to this meeting, & we cant make the decision for the community, there is a water committee but they didn’t want to come”
- Chela”we’re here to see if we can open a dialogue between the Corralejo & the communities that would like to share the well, what is your opinion & what can you suggest? – Sapasma can intervene but we would like to avoid conflict & just discuss this.”
- Chela “we would also like to talk about the technical aspects, like how deep the well is & the quality of the water”
- “we don’t know that, the water committee does”
- Chela asked if they were invited, & apparently they were but have declined to attend.
- We need to present our findings to the next Regional meeting with the presidencia, as this was one of the topics raised to resolve.
- “we never had water, we did a solicitude & got animated, & worked hard, it took a long time, & the other communities got discouraged & gave up, we stayed the distance”
- Corralejo have had this well for 12 years.
- There was much discussion back n forth about VdG’s involvement or not, & awareness of the meetings, & costs. VdG have apparently made several large payments but according to Corralejo none of the money has reached them, & they believe they are entitled to at least some reimbursement for the large cost they paid to have the well installed, & piped.
- Money has been paid to the presidencia & the large tank & some piping was installed at VdG but there was disagreement between the land owner & the pipes going on their land down to Corralejo from VdG… govt wanted much wider space than was necessary.
- Various amounts were quoted including an amount to build a clandestine well as they were desperate.
- A new pump would be needed as VdG is a long way up hill from Corralejo, & Corralejo currently pay a fee each month for the electricity.
- Chela suggested it is a good idea for the communities to come together to make an agreement & then inform the authorities what they have agreed.
- Leonila said there is very little chance of pulling together a meeting in Corralejo with the water committee, they are not interested, & they fight amongst themselves.
- Both communities asked for our presence at their assemblies, they said it would keep things calmer & more productive, as these assemblies are usually pretty contentious.
Cinco Senores described their water situation, they only have water from the river (during summer very shallow & slimy) they can not dig wells because too much hard rock.
Juan Gonzalez also does not have water.
It seems to make sense for Cinco Senores to join with Juan Gonzalez & ask for a well.
Option seems better for VdG to have their own well, & share with San Lorenzo, than to try to resolve the current issue & to have to pump the water such a long way & all up a steep hill.
Maybe there is a concession that could be bought for VdG & legalise the clandestine well?
It was suggested that we (as a team) go to visit the water committee here in Corralejo & ask if they will attend an assembly on the topic of the well.
General discussion – Saul described a little about the sanitarios secos workshop, they met & wrote up the solicitud, then Holly worked for hours to get it sorted to present to the presidencia. Solicitudes are not just a list of names but a cover letter & also signatures of the petitioners.
Enrique (from Cinco Senores) asked about a solicitude for rubbish collection, Chela & Holly suggested recycling & compost would be a better option.
The meeting finished at 1.40pm
We were treated to a meal of rice, nopal, soy & avocado, beans & tortillas with delicious aguas of Strawberry & Jamaica.
Following lunch the team & some of the Corralejo community walked to the houses of some of the water committee reps. One member came to a mini meeting at which we briefly described what we were trying to achieve, ie a meeting with the committee & the Corralejo community to decide what they were prepared to offer with regards sharing the well & what they expected in return, ie what conditions they wanted to impose.
This meeting lasted approx. 25mins. Margarita will see what they can arrange (15th April not possible)
When: Wed 6th April 2011 11.30
Who: Chela, Holly, Saul (Cedesa), Laura (Rotary), 33 adults, 10 kids, + 2 puppies & 4 dogs
Purpose: To discuss the issues re sharing of the well the Corralejo community has, which Villa de Guadalupe & Cinco Senores would like to share.
Pre meeting discussion – approx. 50 families in Corralejo, majority of the men are in the USA working, the age of the community is uncertain, approx. 2 generations.
Introductions & points for discussion/today’s agenda
Cinco Senores – 7 people attending,
San Lorenzo – 2 people attending
Corralejo – 15 people attending incl. Juan Bocanegra – delegado
Villa de Guadalupe – 9 people attending
We introduced ourselves, Chela gave a little history of the collaboration of Cedesa & Rotary on the water projects, including the formation of the Consejo (citizen’s council).
Chela asked for proposals for co-ordinator & record taker, a couple of people pointed to eachother, & we all laughed.
Leonila was elected as secretary (because she can write fastest), & Hilda the Corralejo rep. of the Consejo was elected as co-ordinator for today’s meeting.
Hilda asked (on instruction) what is the purpose of today’s meeting?
- To discuss water
- We’re to talk about the possibility of Corralejo sharing their water with us.
- Humberto said”because Chela told us to & Laura gave us a ride” he’s the young man that has begun working with Cedesa, potentially as a promoter.
- “there’s only a few people from Corralejo community who have come to this meeting, & we cant make the decision for the community, there is a water committee but they didn’t want to come”
- Chela”we’re here to see if we can open a dialogue between the Corralejo & the communities that would like to share the well, what is your opinion & what can you suggest? – Sapasma can intervene but we would like to avoid conflict & just discuss this.”
- Chela “we would also like to talk about the technical aspects, like how deep the well is & the quality of the water”
- “we don’t know that, the water committee does”
- Chela asked if they were invited, & apparently they were but have declined to attend.
- We need to present our findings to the next Regional meeting with the presidencia, as this was one of the topics raised to resolve.
- “we never had water, we did a solicitude & got animated, & worked hard, it took a long time, & the other communities got discouraged & gave up, we stayed the distance”
- Corralejo have had this well for 12 years.
- There was much discussion back n forth about VdG’s involvement or not, & awareness of the meetings, & costs. VdG have apparently made several large payments but according to Corralejo none of the money has reached them, & they believe they are entitled to at least some reimbursement for the large cost they paid to have the well installed, & piped.
- Money has been paid to the presidencia & the large tank & some piping was installed at VdG but there was disagreement between the land owner & the pipes going on their land down to Corralejo from VdG… govt wanted much wider space than was necessary.
- Various amounts were quoted including an amount to build a clandestine well as they were desperate.
- A new pump would be needed as VdG is a long way up hill from Corralejo, & Corralejo currently pay a fee each month for the electricity.
- Chela suggested it is a good idea for the communities to come together to make an agreement & then inform the authorities what they have agreed.
- Leonila said there is very little chance of pulling together a meeting in Corralejo with the water committee, they are not interested, & they fight amongst themselves.
- Both communities asked for our presence at their assemblies, they said it would keep things calmer & more productive, as these assemblies are usually pretty contentious.
Cinco Senores described their water situation, they only have water from the river (during summer very shallow & slimy) they can not dig wells because too much hard rock.
Juan Gonzalez also does not have water.
It seems to make sense for Cinco Senores to join with Juan Gonzalez & ask for a well.
Option seems better for VdG to have their own well, & share with San Lorenzo, than to try to resolve the current issue & to have to pump the water such a long way & all up a steep hill.
Maybe there is a concession that could be bought for VdG & legalise the clandestine well?
It was suggested that we (as a team) go to visit the water committee here in Corralejo & ask if they will attend an assembly on the topic of the well.
General discussion – Saul described a little about the sanitarios secos workshop, they met & wrote up the solicitud, then Holly worked for hours to get it sorted to present to the presidencia. Solicitudes are not just a list of names but a cover letter & also signatures of the petitioners.
Enrique (from Cinco Senores) asked about a solicitude for rubbish collection, Chela & Holly suggested recycling & compost would be a better option.
The meeting finished at 1.40pm
We were treated to a meal of rice, nopal, soy & avocado, beans & tortillas with delicious aguas of Strawberry & Jamaica.
Following lunch the team & some of the Corralejo community walked to the houses of some of the water committee reps. One member came to a mini meeting at which we briefly described what we were trying to achieve, ie a meeting with the committee & the Corralejo community to decide what they were prepared to offer with regards sharing the well & what they expected in return, ie what conditions they wanted to impose.
This meeting lasted approx. 25mins. Margarita will see what they can arrange (15th April not possible)
Monday, April 4, 2011
Report of 10th Event Re Tierra Blanca
Where: Primary School, Tierra Blanca Abajo
When: April 4th 9.30-2.30
Who: Saul (Cedesa) Laura, Enrique (Rotary), Waldo Cano + team of promoters (Sapasma) + approx. 50 participants of the project.
Purpose:
1. For Saul to train the 40 families participating in the project in Tierra Blanca – by constructing 2 cisterns (1 at the primary & 1 at the Secondary school)
2. For Sapasma Promoter team to learn the full process of the water projects. Seeing in person the pilot training, & learning more from Saul re the other points.
I arrived approx. 9.40 & training was in full swing. The maya was rolled out on the chicken wire & then more chicken wire placed on top. One of the men was cutting pieces off the maya to grind into hooks for weaving the wire together with the maya in the middle.
The maya lengths are 96 squares long by 16 wide & in each 4” by 4” square, 4 lots of wires are woven.
This full length of wire is then cut into 2 pieces, with the 2nd smaller piece being reserved to make the cone top of the cistern.
Both sets of wires for each pilot was done at the primary school, for Saul to be able to easily train both groups in the same place. Saul was assisted by 2 guys who had completed projects in Vivienda Urbana, great when the trainees become the trainers!! Sharing the expertise.
The kids at the school were buzzing around wondering what was going on.
Everyone was happily participating & concentrating hard to learn the steps.
Please see photos on the blog www.02h2o.blogspot.com
Enrique arrived with Sapasma approx. 11.30am.
The promoters team came & took photos, & asked questions, to begin to learn the process of this project, they intend to replicate, after the initial Sapasma/Water team projects in Villa de Guadalupe & Cienega.
Saul explained what the participants were doing, & talked a little about the construction & placement of the cisterns, dimensions, capacity etc. We then adjourned under a big gum tree to talk more about the whole process, from beginning to end. The Sapasma team all took notes & asked questions.
We programmed our next meeting with Sapasma (ie the first planning meeting with our joint project community – Villa de Guadalupe…)
Sapasma said they would like to come back each day of the pilot to see progress & learn more & asked if this was ok, of course they were welcome…
I left & drove the bone shaking road back to the highway & then back to San Miguel, hot but happy.
When: April 4th 9.30-2.30
Who: Saul (Cedesa) Laura, Enrique (Rotary), Waldo Cano + team of promoters (Sapasma) + approx. 50 participants of the project.
Purpose:
1. For Saul to train the 40 families participating in the project in Tierra Blanca – by constructing 2 cisterns (1 at the primary & 1 at the Secondary school)
2. For Sapasma Promoter team to learn the full process of the water projects. Seeing in person the pilot training, & learning more from Saul re the other points.
I arrived approx. 9.40 & training was in full swing. The maya was rolled out on the chicken wire & then more chicken wire placed on top. One of the men was cutting pieces off the maya to grind into hooks for weaving the wire together with the maya in the middle.
The maya lengths are 96 squares long by 16 wide & in each 4” by 4” square, 4 lots of wires are woven.
This full length of wire is then cut into 2 pieces, with the 2nd smaller piece being reserved to make the cone top of the cistern.
Both sets of wires for each pilot was done at the primary school, for Saul to be able to easily train both groups in the same place. Saul was assisted by 2 guys who had completed projects in Vivienda Urbana, great when the trainees become the trainers!! Sharing the expertise.
The kids at the school were buzzing around wondering what was going on.
Everyone was happily participating & concentrating hard to learn the steps.
Please see photos on the blog www.02h2o.blogspot.com
Enrique arrived with Sapasma approx. 11.30am.
The promoters team came & took photos, & asked questions, to begin to learn the process of this project, they intend to replicate, after the initial Sapasma/Water team projects in Villa de Guadalupe & Cienega.
Saul explained what the participants were doing, & talked a little about the construction & placement of the cisterns, dimensions, capacity etc. We then adjourned under a big gum tree to talk more about the whole process, from beginning to end. The Sapasma team all took notes & asked questions.
We programmed our next meeting with Sapasma (ie the first planning meeting with our joint project community – Villa de Guadalupe…)
Sapasma said they would like to come back each day of the pilot to see progress & learn more & asked if this was ok, of course they were welcome…
I left & drove the bone shaking road back to the highway & then back to San Miguel, hot but happy.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Statistics Update 1 April 2011
Water Projects completed from 1st Jan 2009 - March 2011
Grand Total of 213 cisterns: 8 projects US$125,153
Los torres 52 cisterns - done in several phases.
Phase II Project : $21,200
Direct Grant Rotary Club Partners amount committed:
RC SMA Midday Mexico 200
Tallahassee RC USA (Bill Webb) 4000
RC of Sechelt BC Canada (Tom Pinfold) 5000
Paso Robles RC USA (Robert Lata) 500
Tyron RC (Jerry Atkins) 5000
RC of Ann Arbor (Len Stringer) 6000
US$ Total of Rotary funds committed 20700
Plus! $500 donation from Skymed/Linda Scholey $500
Phase III project: $12,200
SMA Midday 200
Tallahassee 1000 DDF 2000
Tyron RC 2500 DDF 2500
Ann Arbour 1500
Sechelt 1500
Trail BC 1000 N/A
Subtotals, Cash and DDF 7700 4500
smcf funding grant 1 $2468 smcf funding grant 2 2235,
Montecillo de Nieto 30 cisterns $16700
SMA Midday 200
Tallahassee 5000 DDF 11500
Vivienda de Arriba 17 cisterns & Cruz del Palmar 28 cisterns for a combined $24700
SMA Midday $200
RC West U $4500
RC Richmond $3500 District 5890 8,000
RC Tallahassee 2000 DDF 6940 6,500
Subtotals, Cash and DDF 10200 14,500
Capaderillo 40 cisterns $21850
Fondo Verde (Municipal funding)
Palencia 21 cisterns $7k Tallahassee RC(+ balance of excess from other projects)
Vivienda Urbana (Cap II) 25 cisterns $3800 dsg Tallahassee, $6k Tallahassee, $7k Walla Walla
Grand Total of 213 cisterns:
Project to begin 4/4:
Global Grant $33,500 just approved: approx 50 cisterns in Tierra Blanca/Juan Gonzalez
$2k donation from New Braumfels RC in Texas combining with $7k from Port Lavaca RC in Texas, to add another 14 cisterns in Tierra Blanca.
Upcoming projects:
Funding g'teed from Fondo Verde $150k pesos 16 cisterns Cinco Senorez & San Lorenzo.
Sapasma (local water Authority) have agreed to do a US$35k match to our Rotary project. Currently working on the implementation plan.
Fingers crossed projects:
$65k global grant application stage with Chinook RC in Calgary Alberta Canada
$200k pesos promised by Fondo verde since we are matching 2 to 1.
Grand Total of 213 cisterns: 8 projects US$125,153
Los torres 52 cisterns - done in several phases.
Phase II Project : $21,200
Direct Grant Rotary Club Partners amount committed:
RC SMA Midday Mexico 200
Tallahassee RC USA (Bill Webb) 4000
RC of Sechelt BC Canada (Tom Pinfold) 5000
Paso Robles RC USA (Robert Lata) 500
Tyron RC (Jerry Atkins) 5000
RC of Ann Arbor (Len Stringer) 6000
US$ Total of Rotary funds committed 20700
Plus! $500 donation from Skymed/Linda Scholey $500
Phase III project: $12,200
SMA Midday 200
Tallahassee 1000 DDF 2000
Tyron RC 2500 DDF 2500
Ann Arbour 1500
Sechelt 1500
Trail BC 1000 N/A
Subtotals, Cash and DDF 7700 4500
smcf funding grant 1 $2468 smcf funding grant 2 2235,
Montecillo de Nieto 30 cisterns $16700
SMA Midday 200
Tallahassee 5000 DDF 11500
Vivienda de Arriba 17 cisterns & Cruz del Palmar 28 cisterns for a combined $24700
SMA Midday $200
RC West U $4500
RC Richmond $3500 District 5890 8,000
RC Tallahassee 2000 DDF 6940 6,500
Subtotals, Cash and DDF 10200 14,500
Capaderillo 40 cisterns $21850
Fondo Verde (Municipal funding)
Palencia 21 cisterns $7k Tallahassee RC(+ balance of excess from other projects)
Vivienda Urbana (Cap II) 25 cisterns $3800 dsg Tallahassee, $6k Tallahassee, $7k Walla Walla
Grand Total of 213 cisterns:
Project to begin 4/4:
Global Grant $33,500 just approved: approx 50 cisterns in Tierra Blanca/Juan Gonzalez
$2k donation from New Braumfels RC in Texas combining with $7k from Port Lavaca RC in Texas, to add another 14 cisterns in Tierra Blanca.
Upcoming projects:
Funding g'teed from Fondo Verde $150k pesos 16 cisterns Cinco Senorez & San Lorenzo.
Sapasma (local water Authority) have agreed to do a US$35k match to our Rotary project. Currently working on the implementation plan.
Fingers crossed projects:
$65k global grant application stage with Chinook RC in Calgary Alberta Canada
$200k pesos promised by Fondo verde since we are matching 2 to 1.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Report of 9th Event Re Tierra Blanca
Where: Steps of new church, under the shade of the big tree.
When: March 30th 2011 2.10pm – 3.40
Who: Holly, Saul, Chela, Jesus (Cedesa) Laura (Rotary)+ 53 adults & 5 kids.
Purpose: to begin the project planning for the cisterns to be constructed in this community with the Rotary Global Grant 25397 as well as a combined donation of $9k (details of donating clubs listed below).
Background: we have been working with this community for almost a year now, first visited in May 2010, but many representatives came to assemblies in other communities before that.
We have managed to achieve funding for this project through the generous grant of Rotary & this is the first planning meeting re the project, to determine who will receive cisterns & begin the planning process.
Item 1 – re the previous meeting this morning the Sanitaria 2 (health dept) has agreed to provide pap smears & mammograms to all women in Tierra Blanca over 35. We began this meeting dividing the women into groups of 10 who would visit on scheduled dates. Jesus arranged this & took the lists of names.
Item 2 – Planning the cisterns project
The global grant 25397 is for 50 cisterns in total, 28 for this community of Tierra Blanca & 22 for the community of Juan Gonzalez.
Also available, thanks to 2 separate direct donations is US$7k from Port Lavaca Tex RC & $2k from New Braumfels Tex RC, we will combine these donations to provide $9k for a total of 14 cisterns.
Altogether in this community there will be 42 cisterns available + 1 tinaco (plastic tank) – this divides into 2 pilot cisterns (1 provided by the GG & one provided by the $9k donatin) & 40 individual family cisterns.
We began by talking about the numbers of cisterns we have funding for, & then the roll was called, listing all of those present/absent. 35 people on the list were present.
One woman was absent & it was discussed as to whether she was eligible or not, it was decided she would receive a cistern since she has been participating fully up until now.
Cata (president of the consejo) mentioned that if you are going to allow people in the project who are absent then you need to take responsibility to fully inform them of the events of the meeting they missed.
There was a discussion between the community about a previous meeting Tierra Blanca had held without us, several people complained of not being informed, & different methods of informing the community were discussed, including the possibility of a notice board, which people would have to view themselves, this was discounted as it has not worked in other communities, possibly because of low literacy rates…We need to work out how we can involve everyone in the assemblies that are regarding the health of the community, “some people didn’t even want to take 5 minutes to complete the census we did”
Chela asked how are we going to animate everyone? Talk to your neighbours, constantly mention the issues & see if you can encourage people to come to the meetings, put up notices…
There are others in the meeting not on the list +5 , & one person to receive a tinaco (small water tank – as she is elderly & cant participate as well & we don’t have enough funding for a cistern for her).
The decision process as to who was eligible & who were not, was based on the previous participation in the project up until now. It was a little contentious as some people complained of not being informed of previous meetings. A solution to this was agreed – the first 2 people on the list will advise everyone else on the list of the next meeting, then the next 2 on the list & so on.
It was decided that there would be 5 groups of 8 families working together.
The groups were decided & listed, to include 2 leaders/co-ordinator, 2 abaniles.
Next came the decision as to where to do the pilot cistern builds.
There was discussion about the kinder (30kids) v Primaria (approx. 95kids) v Secondaria (approx. 55 kids).
Although Saul mentioned the younger the children are the more affected they are by the contaminants it was decided to do them at the Primaria & the Secondaria.
Saul then called our supplier Talego to confirm if they had materials in time for the pilots to begin on Monday 4.4.11 (the community was very keen to start asap), Talego confirmed. So pilots were confirmed to begin on Monday.
Next was to decide which groups would work on which pilot, it was split 20/20 (+ 1 tinaco person),
They all agreed to start at 9am & work to 5pm each day.
Saul described the list of tools they would need to bring with them, including wheel barrows, ladders, sifting frames buckets etc, & someone was arranged to bring a grinder to make the gancho/hooks for the wire weaving process.
Everyone left happy & in high spirits looking forward to beginning on Monday!!
Next meeting: 4.4.11 @ Primary School at 9am to begin the 2 pilots.
When: March 30th 2011 2.10pm – 3.40
Who: Holly, Saul, Chela, Jesus (Cedesa) Laura (Rotary)+ 53 adults & 5 kids.
Purpose: to begin the project planning for the cisterns to be constructed in this community with the Rotary Global Grant 25397 as well as a combined donation of $9k (details of donating clubs listed below).
Background: we have been working with this community for almost a year now, first visited in May 2010, but many representatives came to assemblies in other communities before that.
We have managed to achieve funding for this project through the generous grant of Rotary & this is the first planning meeting re the project, to determine who will receive cisterns & begin the planning process.
Item 1 – re the previous meeting this morning the Sanitaria 2 (health dept) has agreed to provide pap smears & mammograms to all women in Tierra Blanca over 35. We began this meeting dividing the women into groups of 10 who would visit on scheduled dates. Jesus arranged this & took the lists of names.
Item 2 – Planning the cisterns project
The global grant 25397 is for 50 cisterns in total, 28 for this community of Tierra Blanca & 22 for the community of Juan Gonzalez.
Also available, thanks to 2 separate direct donations is US$7k from Port Lavaca Tex RC & $2k from New Braumfels Tex RC, we will combine these donations to provide $9k for a total of 14 cisterns.
Altogether in this community there will be 42 cisterns available + 1 tinaco (plastic tank) – this divides into 2 pilot cisterns (1 provided by the GG & one provided by the $9k donatin) & 40 individual family cisterns.
We began by talking about the numbers of cisterns we have funding for, & then the roll was called, listing all of those present/absent. 35 people on the list were present.
One woman was absent & it was discussed as to whether she was eligible or not, it was decided she would receive a cistern since she has been participating fully up until now.
Cata (president of the consejo) mentioned that if you are going to allow people in the project who are absent then you need to take responsibility to fully inform them of the events of the meeting they missed.
There was a discussion between the community about a previous meeting Tierra Blanca had held without us, several people complained of not being informed, & different methods of informing the community were discussed, including the possibility of a notice board, which people would have to view themselves, this was discounted as it has not worked in other communities, possibly because of low literacy rates…We need to work out how we can involve everyone in the assemblies that are regarding the health of the community, “some people didn’t even want to take 5 minutes to complete the census we did”
Chela asked how are we going to animate everyone? Talk to your neighbours, constantly mention the issues & see if you can encourage people to come to the meetings, put up notices…
There are others in the meeting not on the list +5 , & one person to receive a tinaco (small water tank – as she is elderly & cant participate as well & we don’t have enough funding for a cistern for her).
The decision process as to who was eligible & who were not, was based on the previous participation in the project up until now. It was a little contentious as some people complained of not being informed of previous meetings. A solution to this was agreed – the first 2 people on the list will advise everyone else on the list of the next meeting, then the next 2 on the list & so on.
It was decided that there would be 5 groups of 8 families working together.
The groups were decided & listed, to include 2 leaders/co-ordinator, 2 abaniles.
Next came the decision as to where to do the pilot cistern builds.
There was discussion about the kinder (30kids) v Primaria (approx. 95kids) v Secondaria (approx. 55 kids).
Although Saul mentioned the younger the children are the more affected they are by the contaminants it was decided to do them at the Primaria & the Secondaria.
Saul then called our supplier Talego to confirm if they had materials in time for the pilots to begin on Monday 4.4.11 (the community was very keen to start asap), Talego confirmed. So pilots were confirmed to begin on Monday.
Next was to decide which groups would work on which pilot, it was split 20/20 (+ 1 tinaco person),
They all agreed to start at 9am & work to 5pm each day.
Saul described the list of tools they would need to bring with them, including wheel barrows, ladders, sifting frames buckets etc, & someone was arranged to bring a grinder to make the gancho/hooks for the wire weaving process.
Everyone left happy & in high spirits looking forward to beginning on Monday!!
Next meeting: 4.4.11 @ Primary School at 9am to begin the 2 pilots.
Report of 8th Event Re Tierra Blanca
Where: Tierra Blanca under the big tree by the Church & steps of new church.
When: March 30th 2011 11.40
Who: Holly, Saul, Chela, Jesus (Cedesa), Dr Marcos Adrian Ortega(UNAM), Laura (Rotary)+ 53 adults & 5 kids.
Purpose: To discuss the issue of unusually high early mortality rate in Tierra Blanca, findings of the census carried out by Jesus with Cedesa & the community, with an aim to beginning a full epidemiological study in this community to ultimately resolve the high death rate from cancer occurring here for more than 30 years. (According to the community).
Background
Cedesa & Rotary have been working in this community with an aim to providing water, during community assemblies the issue of high death rate by cancer in this community was raised.
Cedesa subsequently carried out a census with the assistance of the community, to gather more data to determine a pattern. The census found that there was a high concentration of deaths 81% around a specific area of the community, thus indicating a potential environmental cause (as opposed to the previously thought genetic aspect).
With this information we would now like to illicit the assistance of experts in this field to potentially pinpoint the cause & ultimately (ideally) a solution to this major ongoing issue in this community.
Water has been mostly ruled out in these early stages, as 3 communities share the same water source & yet Tierra Blanca is the only community reporting this issue.
Cedesa & Rotary have reached out to Dr Marcos Adrian Ortega of UNAM Juriquilla & the meeting has been arranged.
Meeting begins
Chela gave intro & explanation of water studies by UNAM, of the region’s water issues, including contaminants, she described briefly the 8mth diplomada of water studies that was held at Cedesa, given by Dr Ortega to approx. 120 campesinos from 80 communities.
Dr Ortega mentioned the following: the information was all about the subject of water in this area, the 7 municipalities that share this aquifer, the Rio Laja is the main source to aquifer, it is 7000 miles long, the management of the water use in the area, the fact that water being used is pre-historic, 10-25,000 year old water, it is not being recharged, the aquifer is too deep, the water does not reach there to recharge it.
Arsenic causes cancer, fluoride causes damage to the cellular makeup of bones & teeth, many kids in this area don’t have teeth, they have degraded. There are 10-15,000 cases of fluorosis in the San Luis de La Paz area (Palencia),
50 communities in this SMA region are affected by fluoride contamination.
Causes probs with bones, teeth, brain, major organs. Kids are not able to learn, it affects info processing ability.
“why haven’t the ranchos been told?” one man asked.
Because the authorities have not analysed the water for these chemicals before 2000. There is a big problem to report this to the communities as there has to be an alternative & they have not found one, hence the cisterns are the answer. They need to stop drilling the wells & provide cisterns.
The older water is warmer & so it absorbs the fluoride & arsenic from the rocks, high levels of silica too.
Cedesa is showing people how to build cisterns, this resolves the issue, but you need to start now, don’t drink the water from the pozos here!
Chela – this is info about the water & we’ve talked about this before but we are also here to discuss the problem of cancer that exists in this community.
An average of 6 deaths per year can be attributed to this since 2007 (& figures not avail before then).
Jesus spoke, he described the study he & the community had carried out & the findings, that 81% of the deaths seemed to be concentrated in one geographic location, so maybe something environmental. He invited Dr Ortega to work with us to try to determine the cause/cure.
There are cases where there is no certainty cause of death so these have not been recorded, hence diff. between our stats & official govt. stats.
Jesus described the meeting with Dra Mejia, Lucy, Irma, Jesus & I, on the subject of the need for investigation of this issue & that the govt. is collaborating on this effort. Govt. have offered free pap smears & mammograms, as some of the cancers are breast cancer…
He explained that last year we made a commitment to Tierra Blanca to begin work on this issue & have been working since then to get the meeting with govt & action.
Dr Ortega is here to help us begin investigations on causes, maybe testing the soil in the area of the higher death rate, it maybe that there is radiation in that area,
Some people began describing the symptoms of people they had lost
“pain front & then back, & had shivers, supposedly cancer of the lung, but maybe cancer of the breast”
“that person was in the states, they have been operated on but can not identify the cause, or diagnose properly”
“a mother had liquid on the lung, said couldn’t identify the cause, symptoms started in the arm, then shivers, none of the Drs know what the cause is, they weren’t sure it was cancer”
“Lots of people have left, some went to Tamaulipas because they thought Tierra Blanca was the problem, but they all died there – you can’t run away from cancer”
“1st symptoms coughing, coughing, & shoulder hurts, Dr mis-diagnoses it”
“Dr will not cure you, they just send you from one Dr to another & charge you more & more, but no results”
“People that come here (ie marry into this area), get sick too”
Dr Ortega said he would like to come back with teams to take samples of Water, Air & Dust/soil.
Water can be radioactive & this can deplete when it goes to the other communities.
Dr O. proposes to return in 1st wk of May with a team to take samples, also possibly measure radon (very difficult to measure as it is gaseous & hard to catch)
He will also look a the possibility of initiating contact directly with the Epidemiology dept to begin with specialists, re the institute of micas in Leon.
By June the results will be expected.
In this way we will be involving the municipality, State Dr & Unam in finding a solution.
Chela explained that we hadn’t abandoned Tierra Blanca (long time between visits) but that it takes a lot of time to pull all of this together.
“Gracias – we really need help, we are dying & we never know who’s going to be next – we’re really concerned for our kids”
“here when we cleaned our water pipes they were really red” Dr O said this is likely high iron.
He said we will do a complete study of the water & what is contained in it.
Don’t just expect the university to resolve this, it will take the whole team, Cedesa, Rotary, the community, the municipality & the University, all working together to find the answers.
Chela described a little about the Consejo & that these are the kinds of issues it can work on.
Jesus asked to be advised if any more people develop the symptoms, as we would like to give special treatment to these cases.
Chela – we would like to ask you to make a commitment to being healthy too, not to eat junk food but to please eat healthy food, because your body is already dealing with an overload of toxins in the dust, air & water, you shouldn’t introduce junk food into the mix too.
Q&A for the Dr
“are the analysis costs going to cost us?”
Unam is already doing similar costs at the same time, & so will absorb the cost.
If we find problems then Municipality will be asked to contribute with costs, for example when we did the full study on water, all the municipalities contributed to this study, although at that time the SMA municipality contributed the least.
Fluorosis is very severe, causes problems with fetal deaths, infertility, sexual disfunction, brain, teeth, bone & major organ damage. Actually more dangerous than Arsenic. Prevents ability to learn, slow blink relex is a possible cause as shows speed of brain process, no retention, no ability to process.
Next meetings
UNAM – Juriquilla – Water Project team 10am 3.5.11
2nd wk in May come to take samples at Tierra Blanca (with team)
2nd wk in June return with results of samples
We adjourned for lunch, then after lunch had the project planning meeting…
See separate report…
When: March 30th 2011 11.40
Who: Holly, Saul, Chela, Jesus (Cedesa), Dr Marcos Adrian Ortega(UNAM), Laura (Rotary)+ 53 adults & 5 kids.
Purpose: To discuss the issue of unusually high early mortality rate in Tierra Blanca, findings of the census carried out by Jesus with Cedesa & the community, with an aim to beginning a full epidemiological study in this community to ultimately resolve the high death rate from cancer occurring here for more than 30 years. (According to the community).
Background
Cedesa & Rotary have been working in this community with an aim to providing water, during community assemblies the issue of high death rate by cancer in this community was raised.
Cedesa subsequently carried out a census with the assistance of the community, to gather more data to determine a pattern. The census found that there was a high concentration of deaths 81% around a specific area of the community, thus indicating a potential environmental cause (as opposed to the previously thought genetic aspect).
With this information we would now like to illicit the assistance of experts in this field to potentially pinpoint the cause & ultimately (ideally) a solution to this major ongoing issue in this community.
Water has been mostly ruled out in these early stages, as 3 communities share the same water source & yet Tierra Blanca is the only community reporting this issue.
Cedesa & Rotary have reached out to Dr Marcos Adrian Ortega of UNAM Juriquilla & the meeting has been arranged.
Meeting begins
Chela gave intro & explanation of water studies by UNAM, of the region’s water issues, including contaminants, she described briefly the 8mth diplomada of water studies that was held at Cedesa, given by Dr Ortega to approx. 120 campesinos from 80 communities.
Dr Ortega mentioned the following: the information was all about the subject of water in this area, the 7 municipalities that share this aquifer, the Rio Laja is the main source to aquifer, it is 7000 miles long, the management of the water use in the area, the fact that water being used is pre-historic, 10-25,000 year old water, it is not being recharged, the aquifer is too deep, the water does not reach there to recharge it.
Arsenic causes cancer, fluoride causes damage to the cellular makeup of bones & teeth, many kids in this area don’t have teeth, they have degraded. There are 10-15,000 cases of fluorosis in the San Luis de La Paz area (Palencia),
50 communities in this SMA region are affected by fluoride contamination.
Causes probs with bones, teeth, brain, major organs. Kids are not able to learn, it affects info processing ability.
“why haven’t the ranchos been told?” one man asked.
Because the authorities have not analysed the water for these chemicals before 2000. There is a big problem to report this to the communities as there has to be an alternative & they have not found one, hence the cisterns are the answer. They need to stop drilling the wells & provide cisterns.
The older water is warmer & so it absorbs the fluoride & arsenic from the rocks, high levels of silica too.
Cedesa is showing people how to build cisterns, this resolves the issue, but you need to start now, don’t drink the water from the pozos here!
Chela – this is info about the water & we’ve talked about this before but we are also here to discuss the problem of cancer that exists in this community.
An average of 6 deaths per year can be attributed to this since 2007 (& figures not avail before then).
Jesus spoke, he described the study he & the community had carried out & the findings, that 81% of the deaths seemed to be concentrated in one geographic location, so maybe something environmental. He invited Dr Ortega to work with us to try to determine the cause/cure.
There are cases where there is no certainty cause of death so these have not been recorded, hence diff. between our stats & official govt. stats.
Jesus described the meeting with Dra Mejia, Lucy, Irma, Jesus & I, on the subject of the need for investigation of this issue & that the govt. is collaborating on this effort. Govt. have offered free pap smears & mammograms, as some of the cancers are breast cancer…
He explained that last year we made a commitment to Tierra Blanca to begin work on this issue & have been working since then to get the meeting with govt & action.
Dr Ortega is here to help us begin investigations on causes, maybe testing the soil in the area of the higher death rate, it maybe that there is radiation in that area,
Some people began describing the symptoms of people they had lost
“pain front & then back, & had shivers, supposedly cancer of the lung, but maybe cancer of the breast”
“that person was in the states, they have been operated on but can not identify the cause, or diagnose properly”
“a mother had liquid on the lung, said couldn’t identify the cause, symptoms started in the arm, then shivers, none of the Drs know what the cause is, they weren’t sure it was cancer”
“Lots of people have left, some went to Tamaulipas because they thought Tierra Blanca was the problem, but they all died there – you can’t run away from cancer”
“1st symptoms coughing, coughing, & shoulder hurts, Dr mis-diagnoses it”
“Dr will not cure you, they just send you from one Dr to another & charge you more & more, but no results”
“People that come here (ie marry into this area), get sick too”
Dr Ortega said he would like to come back with teams to take samples of Water, Air & Dust/soil.
Water can be radioactive & this can deplete when it goes to the other communities.
Dr O. proposes to return in 1st wk of May with a team to take samples, also possibly measure radon (very difficult to measure as it is gaseous & hard to catch)
He will also look a the possibility of initiating contact directly with the Epidemiology dept to begin with specialists, re the institute of micas in Leon.
By June the results will be expected.
In this way we will be involving the municipality, State Dr & Unam in finding a solution.
Chela explained that we hadn’t abandoned Tierra Blanca (long time between visits) but that it takes a lot of time to pull all of this together.
“Gracias – we really need help, we are dying & we never know who’s going to be next – we’re really concerned for our kids”
“here when we cleaned our water pipes they were really red” Dr O said this is likely high iron.
He said we will do a complete study of the water & what is contained in it.
Don’t just expect the university to resolve this, it will take the whole team, Cedesa, Rotary, the community, the municipality & the University, all working together to find the answers.
Chela described a little about the Consejo & that these are the kinds of issues it can work on.
Jesus asked to be advised if any more people develop the symptoms, as we would like to give special treatment to these cases.
Chela – we would like to ask you to make a commitment to being healthy too, not to eat junk food but to please eat healthy food, because your body is already dealing with an overload of toxins in the dust, air & water, you shouldn’t introduce junk food into the mix too.
Q&A for the Dr
“are the analysis costs going to cost us?”
Unam is already doing similar costs at the same time, & so will absorb the cost.
If we find problems then Municipality will be asked to contribute with costs, for example when we did the full study on water, all the municipalities contributed to this study, although at that time the SMA municipality contributed the least.
Fluorosis is very severe, causes problems with fetal deaths, infertility, sexual disfunction, brain, teeth, bone & major organ damage. Actually more dangerous than Arsenic. Prevents ability to learn, slow blink relex is a possible cause as shows speed of brain process, no retention, no ability to process.
Next meetings
UNAM – Juriquilla – Water Project team 10am 3.5.11
2nd wk in May come to take samples at Tierra Blanca (with team)
2nd wk in June return with results of samples
We adjourned for lunch, then after lunch had the project planning meeting…
See separate report…
Friday, March 25, 2011
Desarollo Social building cisterns too!!
Desarrollo Social is the Social Development department of the local Municipal Government.
We have been working with Desarrollo Social for a couple of years now & have good news to report.
We (Saul & I) met with Desarrollo Social (Miguel, Estefan & Felipe) on 25th March.
Subject of the meeting was to collaborate on our cisterns projects.
Desarrollo Social have 2 cisterns projects in planning.
One as part of the Vivienda Sustentable project & a cisterns only project.
They will be constructing cisterns the same model as ours.
They would like to follow the Cedesa model, ie involve the communities in the labor component of the project but the funding comes with it's own set of stipulations as it is Federal funding.
This model will include the participants contributing 15% of the cost of the cisterns, & a contractor will be enlisted to manage the project & construct the cisterns.
The participants unable to afford the 15% contribution will be able to pay in installments & this will not hold up the construction.
They are planning 268 cisterns at this point.
We discussed which communities we were working with to ensure there was no overlap.
The Desarollo Social priority is given to communities with no water, as opposed to those with contaminated water.
The need is great, it's very good we're all working together on this!!!!
We have been working with Desarrollo Social for a couple of years now & have good news to report.
We (Saul & I) met with Desarrollo Social (Miguel, Estefan & Felipe) on 25th March.
Subject of the meeting was to collaborate on our cisterns projects.
Desarrollo Social have 2 cisterns projects in planning.
One as part of the Vivienda Sustentable project & a cisterns only project.
They will be constructing cisterns the same model as ours.
They would like to follow the Cedesa model, ie involve the communities in the labor component of the project but the funding comes with it's own set of stipulations as it is Federal funding.
This model will include the participants contributing 15% of the cost of the cisterns, & a contractor will be enlisted to manage the project & construct the cisterns.
The participants unable to afford the 15% contribution will be able to pay in installments & this will not hold up the construction.
They are planning 268 cisterns at this point.
We discussed which communities we were working with to ensure there was no overlap.
The Desarollo Social priority is given to communities with no water, as opposed to those with contaminated water.
The need is great, it's very good we're all working together on this!!!!
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