Christian Aid invites viewers to invest in global eco-house

-01/10/06

The churchesí re


Christian Aid invites viewers to invest in global eco-house

-01/10/06

The churchesí relief and development agency Christian Aid will be transporting visitors to the Grand Designs Live show (6-8 October 2006) from the heart of Birmingham, England, to a green and global village. The aim is to raise awareness of the charityís work addressing the impact of climate change in some of the worldís poorest communities.

Grand Designs Live is based on the successful talkback Thames series for Channel 4 TV, which is presented by design guru Kevin McCloud. The show is committed to being as green as possible. Presenter Kevin McCloud says: ìSustainability has moved from being a fringe issue to something that touches every aspect of our lives.î

The eco-home is inspired by Christian Aid-supported communities around the globe. The home will feature four separate displays representing how each of the communities is adapting to climate change, how they are dealing with the consequences and protecting their surrounding environment.

Visitors to the display will get a feel for life in Honduras, Central America, where people are tackling deforestation, preparing for hurricanes and increasingly heavy tropical storms.

Bangladesh and Indonesia are spotlighted in the Asia section which will look at the implication of rising sea levels and flooding. While in Africa the focus is the latest drought and food crisis in Kenya.

The final part of the display focuses on the UK and Christian Aidís campaign to encourage people to take action on climate change by reducing their own carbon emissions, adapting their homes and campaigning with Christian Aid for more government action to stop global warming.

Eco-design features will include walls that are built using sustainable techniques that not only protect the environment but can also protect their inhabitants from disasters. The display will also show how communities in the developing world are embracing an eco-friendly way of life. The Honduras home features a strengthened rammed-earth wall, insect-repellent decorative paint taken from local plants, a recycled tyre defence wall and tree replanting.

In the Asia section visitors can step up onto a home raised on stilts to avoid flooding, featuring biogas and emergency assistance packs, whilst in Africa the homes feature ventilation systems, rain water collecting butts and solar panels.

People will also be able to support Christian Aidís work by ëpurchasingí a virtual Present Aid gift, some of which are featured in the home, including tree saplings and solar panels.

When you buy a gift the money doesnít necessarily buy that item. In order to make sure your gift has the maximum impact, local partners and Christian Aid choose the precise gifts needed for each community. But they guarantee each financial gift will be put into a closely related fund that supports development, energy, emergencies and disaster preparedness, agriculture and livestock, health including HIV/AIDS, water and environment, education, training and campaigning for global justice.

The Grand Designs show takes place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Aid says IMF and World Bank face legitimacy crisis 26/09/06; Christian Aid says Government has not gone far enough over World Bank; Christian Aid gifts from Present Aid; Christian groups say abstinence-based HIV strategies are harmful; Christian Aid signals concern at Afghan NGO killing; Christian Aid warns of trade talks walk-out after leak; Time to get tough with World Bank and IMF, says Christian Aid; Tory leadership candidate attacks Christian agency on trade; Christian Aid warns of further devastation Haiti; Christian Aid calls for anti-poverty strategy to tackle HIV]


Christian Aid invites viewers to invest in global eco-house

-01/10/06

The churchesí relief and development agency Christian Aid will be transporting visitors to the Grand Designs Live show (6-8 October 2006) from the heart of Birmingham, England, to a green and global village. The aim is to raise awareness of the charityís work addressing the impact of climate change in some of the worldís poorest communities.

Grand Designs Live is based on the successful talkback Thames series for Channel 4 TV, which is presented by design guru Kevin McCloud. The show is committed to being as green as possible. Presenter Kevin McCloud says: ìSustainability has moved from being a fringe issue to something that touches every aspect of our lives.î

The eco-home is inspired by Christian Aid-supported communities around the globe. The home will feature four separate displays representing how each of the communities is adapting to climate change, how they are dealing with the consequences and protecting their surrounding environment.

Visitors to the display will get a feel for life in Honduras, Central America, where people are tackling deforestation, preparing for hurricanes and increasingly heavy tropical storms.

Bangladesh and Indonesia are spotlighted in the Asia section which will look at the implication of rising sea levels and flooding. While in Africa the focus is the latest drought and food crisis in Kenya.

The final part of the display focuses on the UK and Christian Aidís campaign to encourage people to take action on climate change by reducing their own carbon emissions, adapting their homes and campaigning with Christian Aid for more government action to stop global warming.

Eco-design features will include walls that are built using sustainable techniques that not only protect the environment but can also protect their inhabitants from disasters. The display will also show how communities in the developing world are embracing an eco-friendly way of life. The Honduras home features a strengthened rammed-earth wall, insect-repellent decorative paint taken from local plants, a recycled tyre defence wall and tree replanting.

In the Asia section visitors can step up onto a home raised on stilts to avoid flooding, featuring biogas and emergency assistance packs, whilst in Africa the homes feature ventilation systems, rain water collecting butts and solar panels.

People will also be able to support Christian Aidís work by ëpurchasingí a virtual Present Aid gift, some of which are featured in the home, including tree saplings and solar panels.

When you buy a gift the money doesnít necessarily buy that item. In order to make sure your gift has the maximum impact, local partners and Christian Aid choose the precise gifts needed for each community. But they guarantee each financial gift will be put into a closely related fund that supports development, energy, emergencies and disaster preparedness, agriculture and livestock, health including HIV/AIDS, water and environment, education, training and campaigning for global justice.

The Grand Designs show takes place at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham.

[Also on Ekklesia: Christian Aid says IMF and World Bank face legitimacy crisis 26/09/06; Christian Aid says Government has not gone far enough over World Bank; Christian Aid gifts from Present Aid; Christian groups say abstinence-based HIV strategies are harmful; Christian Aid signals concern at Afghan NGO killing; Christian Aid warns of trade talks walk-out after leak; Time to get tough with World Bank and IMF, says Christian Aid; Tory leadership candidate attacks Christian agency on trade; Christian Aid warns of further devastation Haiti; Christian Aid calls for anti-poverty strategy to tackle HIV]