1. The Tar Creek Project, near Miami, Oklahoma. - When mining companies abandoned lead and zinc mines in northeastern Oklahoma in the 1970's, they left behind toxic tailings, collapsing mineshafts, polluted groundwater and air laden with heavy metal on windy days. The students of Miami High School decided a few years ago that something must be done. As a result of their work, the governor of Oklahoma began paying more attention to the situation, and in January of 2000 organized the Oklahoma State Tar Creek Superfund Task Force to investigate. See the Task Force's report . An intern would be able to work in the summer with members of L.E.A.D.Agency, Inc. The local citizens group who will be in the process of starting a research project with Harvard School of Public Health and the Harvard School of Design. Plants could be collected to be sampled for possible use in phytoremediation. The high school has a Toxic Library that an intern could organize so it could be better used. Public awareness events could be planned by the intern, or attend local events that are already occurring.
We have an intern working at Tar Creek; see separate pages for this project!
2. Greenfire sustainable forestry project - "Greenfire" is the "living systems design" endeavor of Dick and Mary Hogan, located on 600+ acres of forest and former farmland in New Marshfield, Ohio (phone 740-664-4028). I met the Hogans at the Friends Committee on Unity with Nature meeting Oct 7 -8 in Toronto. This is the easiest "official" internship to set up, since they are already accepting volunteers to help with the project.
3. Center for Development in Central America - This is an intentional community of 4 adults, one of whom is a Quaker (she visited Palo Alto Meeting), located in Cuidad Sandino, Nicaragua. In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, they have been rebuilding water supplies and teaching sustainable agriculture and appropriate technology for cooking (forests that provide firewood having been either cut or leveled by the storm). The community is prepared to accept volunteers.
4. Greenhouse for Uganda Yearly Meeting reforestation project - This comes from the visit of Christopher Wabuula-Kakala, clerk of Uganda YM, to FWCC and PYM in 2000. Among the many needs in Uganda is a greenhouse for raising tree seedlings to replant forests and orchards; the seedlings are grown by a women's collective, and given to settlers in deforested regions. This is the most difficult project: we would have to buy or arrange for donation of a pre-fabricated greenhouse, ship it to Nairobi, then by truck inland. The intern(s) - two might be less daunted than one - would shepherd the shipment and assemble it on site, then determine what else is needed. There is no precedent for support of volunteers for this project, but hospitality in Quaker homes will be arranged.
There are possible internships available at EarthLight Magazine and the FCUN office, but these are not field-work, but rather learning how to produce publications (contact information provided if requested). We are now exploring the need for interns in Hawaii, to work on invasive species issues.
-Eric Sabelman, Clerk, PYM-CUN
PROJECTS AFFILIATED WITH OTHER GROUPS:
While looking for Quaker-oriented opportunities, I came across a number of non-religious environmental projects, which might benefit by a Quaker presence; for example, "GreenCorps", which trains and places environmental campaign worker/organizers with groups engaged in social actions.
AFSC/IMYM Joint Service Project already has student service projects among native Americans in the US and Mexico. The projects held thus far were designed to connect small intergenerational groups with the work of the AFSC in the regions; based on a commitment to service with a spiritual dimension. Caravans have participated in work projects in Abiquiu and Taos communities (NM) and a demonstration at the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant (CO). They have visited maquiladoras and worker's camps in Nogales, Mexico, and worked with Casa Heberto Sein in Hermosillo, Mexico. They have visited the Tesuque and Santa Clara pueblos (NM) and participated in work projects on the Hopi and Navajo nations (NM & AZ) and a project with the AFSC's Lakota Oyate Oaye program (SD). Projects have also worked with AFSC's Farm Labor and Rural Economic Alternatives Programs and Self Help Enterprises in California's central valley. These are typically a week or two long; the contact is Mike Gray (520-212-4696, email: [email protected]).
Bay Area Action + Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation internships:
YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION - teaching grades 4-8 about creeks, gardens, the Arastradero Preserve, endangered species, etc. Contact: Susan Fizzell 650-962-9876 x 305 [email protected]
ARASTRADERO PRESERVE - The Arastradero Preserve Stewardship Project emphasizes habitat and trail restoration. Contact: Karen Cotter - 650-329-8544 [email protected]
NATIVE PLANT NURSERY - collecting and propagating seeds, and general nursery work; recruit a Technical Advisory Committee. Jim Johnson - 650-364-3768 [email protected]
URBAN AGRICULTURE - The Urban Agriculture Project oversees two local organic gardens that are tended to by volunteers and members of the community. David (Tex) Houston - 650-623-0009 [email protected]
BUSNESS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK - provides support to Bay Area businesses Internships include assisting with membership coordination, web maintenance, newsletter production, and the Annual Business Environmental Network Awards. Contact: Tricia Born 650-962-9876 x307 [email protected]
ENVIRONMENTAL LIBRARY - Internships include assisting with advertising and media, updating some of our special project files, and researching local environmental issues. Contact: Ann Schwabecher - 650-962-9876 x 306 [email protected]
SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT - interns will help research issues and maintain our informational website. Interns will also help coordinate leadership training and public forums. Contact: Peter Drekemier 650-962-9876 x302 [email protected]
WEB DEVELOPMENT - assistance with web development and or research. We could use database experts, programmers, and researchers who want to surf the web to help us develop our EcoGuide.org directory of Bay Area environmental resources.Contact: Mark Bult 650-960-1152 [email protected]
FUNDRASING - Contact: Holly Kaslewicz: 650-962-9876 x360 [email protected]
VOLUNTEER/MEMBERSHIP COORDINATION - Peter Drekemier: 650-962-9876 x302 [email protected]