Brisbane to Bogota

Well I have been out of Australia for just over 3 weeks and unfortunately I have been sick for most of it and have as yet been unable to see much sustainability in motion. However I have been able to learn and read about lots more initiatives and caught up on some writing about a couple of sites that I visited before I left Australia, including Northey Street City Farm and Balaangala Community Group.

  

The good news is that I am getting better and feeling inspired to write and learn and visit some UK sustainability initiatives (despite the bitter temperatures). I am about ready to go down to Totnes, the UK’s first Transition Town and I’m trying to line up some other visits like the sold out BedZED tour next week, (I am pleading with them to squeeze in one skinny sustainability student.)

 

I was in Thailand for a couple of weeks and while I was there I saw a sign in Bangkok about Bangkok’s Car Free day (which apparently did not happen when I was there) and for any of you who have been to Bangkok you will know what I mean when I talk about it being a prize winning idea to have a car free day there. The city is choking in smog as sputtering traffic travelling at walking speed covers the tarmac in an chaotic sprawl. I think many Bangkok residents (especially street vendors) will revel in the fresh air if Car Free Day ever takes off there. 

 

While I was in Thailand I was also informed about an intentional permaculture community about an hour north of Chiang Mai called the Panya Project. Unfortunately due to being ill I was unable to reach it before I had to leave Thailand, but I will be reporting on this and Bangkok’s Car Free Day over the next week.

 

I’ll sign out for now and wish you all a Merry (buy nothing) Christmas and the Happiest of New Years.