EWB UMass HAS NEW WEBSITE!

Click here to go to the the new EWB UMass website: blogs.umass.edu/ewbumass/

The Midwest Schools

There were only three chapters in the upper Midwest area that I could find, and only one had info that looked like it would be useful.

First:
http://www.ewb-uiuc.org/node/541
This has a huge PDF with tons of information. Most was related to digging wells/drilling, which doesn't seem to be a problem, but starting on page 21 was some information on pumps.

Second:
http://www.ewb-uiuc.org/enugu/resources/gadgil
This document has into about water safety. I know water supply is the current goal, but when we get to sanitation this may be useful.

Third:
https://udrive.oit.umass.edu/xythoswfs/webui/_xy-3396751_1-t_S9uHOupU
This is actually from a course I'm taking at Hampshire, so it isn't from an EWB website, but I think it may be helpful with the pump project. It has information about pedal-powered pumps, starting around page 12.

~Braegan

Audio Post - 02 Aug 2008 update

The team has left the forest and is en route to Sao Paulo. The project was a success! Listen to the 5 minute audio post for the detailed news. Congratulations team!

- T. B. Soules, Faculty Advisor

Audio Post: Marina's Day 6 Update

Audio Post: Marina's Day 6 Update

A few additional notes in addition to the above audio post: We don't expect to have telephone or email contact with the team until they return to Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil on Friday evening.

We are pleased that things are progressing nicely. Many thanks to Dr. Vera Reis for her help with logistics, transportation, hospitality, etc. Many thanks to Aloisio for his help with wood selection, construction tips and encouragement.

Best wishes to the team during this hot week of work in the Amazon Forest.

- T. B. Soules, EWB UMass Amazon Project Faculty Advisor

We're leaving for the forest in a couple hours!

As I type this we're making a few last adjustments to the box, and getting all of our stuff ready to go. Over the weekend we worked almost non-stop on the box - getting the wood, cutting it to size, nailing it all together, and a bunch of other things. We encountered quite a few problems along the way, but we've been able to get past all of them so far.

Last night we went to Expo Acre, a huge fair in Rio Branco. We saw a rodeo and met up with Geazi and his girlfriend (Bebel). They asked "Where's Marc?" and Marina said to say that they wished him congratulations on getting engaged!

Clara, Marina says that Vera is very happy with the toothbrushes and the toys and she knows that it's because of you. Each child in three schools will receive a bag with pencils, a folder, a toothbrush, and a toy.

Here are some more pictures so that you can see what we've been up to:

At Aloisio's wood shop. I really don't know what we would have done without his help.

Jim, Aloisio, Marina, and Colin discussing how to cut the wood.

Aloisio!

Starting to build the box.

Colin and Dan.

Vera's house.

Marina!

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.