Green Map projects unite communities! We'd like to share with you this moving story recently published in The Havana Times:
…“Driven by the philosophy that ‘little by little, things get done,’ the group [Red Mapa Verde Cuba - Green Map Cuba Network] has accomplished a number of things, such as preventing a neighboring agricultural cooperative from irrigating their crops with polluted lake water, eliminating small garbage dumps, and putting a stop to the practice of burning off sugarcane before harvest-time.
‘The Green Map has taught us things we didn’t know, but it’s also changed us as individuals. And the children are happy. They not only participate in the map’s preparation, but also in the whole process of dealing with problems. Many times it’s the children themselves who go out to talk to people, to convince them,’ San Jorges says.
When Hurricane Gustav hit the area, the school’s Green Map group realized that due to the magnitude of the disaster it would take time for the government to come up with solutions. And so they decided that it was time to put into practice everything they had learned.
‘We saw the state the school was left in and we decided not to wait for government help. We went to the nearest cooperative, got the roofing material and replaced the roof ourselves,’ says San Jorges, convinced that none of this would have been possible if the school had not joined the Green Map Network.”
Read the complete story by Dalia Acosta (first published by Inter Press Service, Tierramérica network, which is supported by UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank) in English and Spanish (it's also linked with other articles on our In the Media page).
Red Mapa Verde Cuba is led by an amazing team of biologists, ecologist and educators based at Centro Félix Varela in Havana. Over the last decade, they have spread Green Mapmaking to 113 communities across Cuba and shared their low cost, high value methods with our global network through videos, books and presentations, including at last summer's Community University Expo at University of Victoria in Canada. Find out more at this blog, in Red Mapa Verde Cuba's Mapmaker Profile and in this 2004 story. We will feature other locally-led map projects in the months to come.
Green Map's a Finalist, Cast Your Vote!
Our Open Green Map is one of 9 non-profits shortlisted by the We Media Pitch It Contest, cosponsored by Ashoka Changemakers. We'll be presenting our participatory mapmaking platform to the jurors on February 24-26, and you can help us win $25,000 by adding your rating to our entry this week! It's easy, no need to register, just click a star.
Save The Date!
On June 5 2009, World Environment Day, help us celebrate Open Green Map's launch. We'll share more details soon.
Record Growth
In February, we welcomed 5 new projects in one record-breaking 24 hour period! Welcome to these US Green Mapmakers -- Hayward CA, Easton PA and West Philadelphia Area—as well as to Frankonia Germany and Sao Paulo State in Brazil.
Each of these projects is now on the first page of their own remarkable Green Map story, as they access all our mapmaking, education, organizing and outreach tools and adapt them to suit local needs and cultures. Find out more at GreenMap.org's Mapmaker section.
Your support of Green Map is effectively used to support and guide locally-led projects of many different scales and focus issues. We welcome your tax-deductible donations that make a positive difference to hundreds of communities by clicking GreenMap.org/donate to contribute online in any amount. Or send a check to Green Map System, PO Box 249, New York, NY USA 10002-0249. We will be glad to acknowledge donations made in honor of or as a gift to friends and family. Reach us anytime at info[at]greenmap[dot] org - we encourage your ongoing involvement with Green Map System.