Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Environmental Protection through Illustration and Action

Azerbaijan is at a critical junction and ripe for environmental investment. The 2010 Human Development Report, a United Nations publication, ranked Azerbaijan 67th out of 169 countries which indicates that food, industry, and security are at adequate levels to allow for attention to turn to environmental concerns. Although the general population in Azerbaijan recognizes environmental problems, trash on the ground, the sour smell of burning trash, and sediment and litter filled water ways, they have very little information or knowledge about what they can do to change these conditions. This project aims to not only educate youth and community members in Ganja about environmental protection, but also to illustrate a behavior change through relevant and realistic action that will lead the community towards accountability. The illustrations will provide an example of how to take control of their future and create self-help possibilities. After seeing the benefits of recycling, both economic and social, and learning about the importance of environmental protection, the community’s behavior towards trash will start to change.

Goal: To Increase Environmental awareness and accountability in the Ganja Community through, illustrating plastic recycling, water management, and environmental education.
Objectives
-After 2 months, 20 project members will be trained on environmental protection and prepared as trainers for further training.
-After 7 months, 1000 kg of plastic will be collected from NGOs, restaurants, and community organizations.
-After 6 months, 600 youth (from 20 schools and community organizations) will have been informed about environmental protection, the project goal, and project planning through project member presentations.
- After 4 months, drip irrigation and environmental information signs will be installed in Ganja’s Nizami Monumental Park.
-After 6 months, a video will be created by project members documenting the project and sharing the projects message and accomplishments

A few pictures from one of our trainings....





Saturday, September 1, 2012

To My Brother...

There are things I fight for and things I fight against...
I fight to remember the contours of your face, the lilt in your voice...
I fight to hold tight to memories that are already wearing paper-thin...
I fight to find you in smells and sounds and sensations around me, a world away from you...
But I fight against turning you into a legend, a fictional hero, a snapshot of fleeting perfection.
You were flawed in brilliant and beautiful ways - and that's what the world fell in love with.
It is our imperfections that make us...that made you...authentic, original, breathtaking.
I fight to hold on to the reality of you, to the simplicity and goodness and brokenness that made you ours.

Always Fighting for You,
KJ


"Nothing is as it has been,
and I miss your face like hell,
and I guess it's just as well,
but I miss your face like hell."
                              - The Head and the Heart