A few months ago we praised the work of Surfers Without Borders (read it here) - the team of surfer / artist Aubrey Falk and Permaculture designer / Educator Loren Luyendyk . As we mentioned, one of their planned trips was to work with local communities in Mexico - to work on projects such as enviro-murals, water catchment, filtration, dry composting toilets and more.
And this is exactly what they've been doing for the last few months, blogging regularly on the way...
Settled in the small rural town of Barra de La Cruz for the last couple of months, they've been learning about local law:
To deal with this recurring dilemma of “who’s right, who’s wrong”, Barra de La Cruz has created a democracy of the people. As an indigenous town they are left mostly alone, free from most government financial support. This means a small health clinic and no federales.
The community makes all the rules; and if you don’t like them you can leave. If you break the rules, the “banda” may come to escort you out of town with sticks and machetes by their sides. Unruly people are banned from town. They recently constructed a new gate on the road into town, which is locked promptly at 9 p.m. and doesn’t open again until 5 or 6 a.m. If you’re in you’re in; if you’re out, you’re out.
There is also a President and vice-President appointed each year, with each town resident getting a turn at public service - from the police to serving food at the beach, and bi-monthly impassioned town meetings. With such an balanced community the pair have found it difficult to become integrated but are seeing some acceptance as they work town leaders on ideas such as their Water Bottle Refill Program, a Slow Sand Filter to make water transport in the town easier, and teaching local schools art lessons, where no such program existed before.
I'll be including updates regularly on Nollie from what SWoB are up to - but to keep tabs on their latest news yourself check out their blog - www.surferswithoutborders.blogspot.com
Love this? More green on Nollie:
Faltown Skateboards release recycled longboard | Scottish Snow Film 'Slush' Online Now | Surfers without Borders artistic eco style | interview with Eco surf legend David Rastovich | Green bags made of recycled skateboards | Eco friendly camper van
