EcoSur e-magazine
Of cement, chocolate & rum
Although many trendy bars now serve chocolate mojitos, a Swiss and Cuban mix is not obvious. Yet, when it comes to cement, Swiss, Cuban and Indian scientists have tackled one of the world’s lesser known but biggest challenges. As countries develop, demand for housing and infrastructure increases. Concrete is by far the most commonly used construction material to meet these needs, and cement is required to make concrete.
Post-disaster resilence and recovery
Some months ago we reported on a seminar in Guatemala, where the local Caritas had invited EcoSur specialists to pass their knowlege on to a group of young professionals who were interested in this ancient technology. Meanwhile the organizers can show real practical results, houses have been built, a promotional video is being circulated, a lobby group for adobe has been organized and a manual for self-builders produced.
You can downoad the "Manual para la construcción de viviendas con adobe" (Spanish only, PDF, 10 Mb)
Reconstruction in Nepal: a school in the mountains
It is nine months since the devastating earthquake in Nepal, and there are still very few reconstruction projects underway. But in Bhorle, in the Langtang district, EcoSur consultant Ramon Gonzalez from Nicaragua has managed to start the rebuilding of a school.
Read more: Reconstruction in Nepal: a school in the mountains
A trip to the 19th Century in Ecuador
In the small rural community of Chingazo, Ecuador, most of the people are small farmers of very low income. Many of them live in traditional huts or half-finished houses that offer no or little protection from the cold of the Andean highlands and against the ash spewed from Tungurahua volcano, Because of their socio-economic status, these families can not improve their situation on their own.
When the flow of oil stopped: the Cuban experience
For Cuba, the flow of oil stopped suddenly with the collapse of the Soviet Union. While it will be for different reasons and from different causes, the end of the supply of oil is on the horizon. Countries could prepare for the future... if they want to.
The crisis hit all sectors of society. The oil dependent industrial model established during 1959-1990 collapsed with more than 50% cut of the oil supply. The government, however, chose to maintain all social achievements, especially in the areas of education, social security and health.
Read more: When the flow of oil stopped: the Cuban experience
Subcategories
Edition 36 - June 2010 Article Count: 12
Edition 35 - August 2009 Article Count: 3
Edition 34 - April 2009 Article Count: 4
Edition 33 - December 2008 Article Count: 7
Edition 32 - September 2008 Article Count: 3
Edition 31 - June 2008 Article Count: 4
Edition 30 - April 2008 Article Count: 2
Edition 29 - January 2008 Article Count: 2
Edition 28 - November 2007 Article Count: 4
Edition 27 - September 2007 Article Count: 3
Edition 26 - July 2007 Article Count: 3
Edition 25 - May 2007 Article Count: 3
Edition 24 - February 2007 Article Count: 3
Edition 23 - December 2006 Article Count: 6
Edition 22 - October 2006 Article Count: 4
Edition #21, August 2006 Article Count: 4
Edition #20, May 2006 Article Count: 8
Edition #19, March 2006 Article Count: 6
Edition #18, January 2006 Article Count: 6
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Edition #17, December 2005 Article Count: 6
Edition #16, October 2005 Article Count: 9
Edition #15, August 2005 Article Count: 7
Edition #14, July 2005 Article Count: 7
Edition #13, June 2005 Article Count: 7
Edition #12, April 2005 Article Count: 7
Edition #11, March 2005 Article Count: 6
Edition #10, February 2005 Article Count: 7
Edition #9, January 2005 Article Count: 6
Edition # 8, November 2004 Article Count: 8
Edition #7, October 2004 Article Count: 4
Edition #6, September 2004 Article Count: 8
Edition # 5, August 2004 Article Count: 7
Edition #4, June 2004 Article Count: 7
Edition #3, April 2004 Article Count: 7
Edition #2, March 2004 Article Count: 7
Edition #1, January 2004 Article Count: 7
December 2003 Article Count: 5
Dec 2003
- Marketing degree through MCR research
- Impact of clay construction in Orwetoveni
- Masonry apprenticeship at SofoNic
- Distributors are an important link
- News
- Cooking with the sun
- Loja: Ecological City
- Construction professionals host ECOSouth presentation
October 2003 Article Count: 5
October 2003
- SofoNic a committed team (part 4)
- MCR Encounter in Cali, Colombia
- SIRDC MCR tile launch
- Behind the scenes with ecomaterials
- 5-day MCR training program in Zimbabwe
- News
- Bicycle race in Jinotepe
- CD about urban waste management
- Prize to Nigerian CP40 blocks
September 2003 (II) Article Count: 6
Sept 2003 (II)
- MCR premiere in industrial sector in Dhaka
- An Update from El Salvador
- SOFONic Focuses of their work (part 3)
- Making MCR tiles is like making tortillas
- Grupo Sofonias honored as Tech Award finalist
- News
- Followup and quality evaluation in Salvador
- Plaster analysis in Guatemala
- Participative design for urbanization
September 2003 Article Count: 6
September 2003
- Sofonic - Environmental problems (part 2)
- Involving students in research
- Bicycles have great impact in Carazo
- Dynamic regions
- The chain of commercialization
- News
- Followup and quality evaluation in Salvador
- Plaster analysis in Guatemala
- Participative design for urbanization
August 2003 Article Count: 6
August 2003
- High quality MCR in Bangladesh
- Sofonic a committed team
- MCR roof post-Mitch in Honduras
- Batteries or transformers?
- Columbian decision-maker gets overview of MCR in Riobamba
- News
- CP-40 blocks now produced in Nigeria
- MCR roof in Angola
- Professors
July 2003 Article Count: 5
July 2003
- Decoding empirical knowledge plaster research
- Training important at Clay House Project - Namibia
- Metal Roof Structures resolve timber scarcity
- SIRDC hosts MCR seminar in September
- News
- New equipment bank in Guatemala
- South-south interchanges: New MCR equipment in Columbia
- CIDEM professor provides expertise in Bangladesh
- A bit of history
June 2003 Article Count: 5
June 2003
- Guillermo, a voice we should heed
- Metal structures for MicroConcrete Roofing
- Cooking stoves and brick production a burning problem
- An ecomaterials workshop
- News
- Aids program in CHP Namibia
- Alfredo in Ecuador
- Pedals for Progress extends in Nicaragua
May 2003 Article Count: 6
May 2003
- Supereconomic houses: an affordable solution for working people
- Gastronomical and Cultural Encounter of Cuy in Riobamba
- Building upwards a simple and affordable ceiling slab
- First ecomaterials workshop in Panama in full production
- Sustainable management of natural resources in Nicaragua
- News
- Las Melidas publishes calendar
- CHP construction goes ahead in Otjiwarongo
- Producing bricks with sawdust briquettes
April 2003 Article Count: 6
April 2003
- Guatemalan tile producers discuss client survey
- Las Mélidas hosts meeting of Salvadorean MCR producers
- Networking Cuba-Ecuador
- Ecomaterials introduced to Ecuadorean universities
- Synergies in Salvador adobe project
- News
- Ecomaterials lecture at the College of Engineers
- A brickmaking village and a university research institute
- Cleanest moulds ever seen!
February 2003 Article Count: 5
February 2003
- Networking from Namibia to Bangladesh
- Investigation about plaster underway in Ecuador
- Managing a MCR Business
- Creative strategy for marketing MCR in Ecuador
- News
- MCR Standards in Zimbabwe
- Guatemala - investigation about plaster underway
- Women tilemakers in Mexico receive enterprise award
- BSHF calendar includes Two decades after the earthquake
January 2003 Article Count: 5
January 2003
- La Betania, just another barrio in a satellite city?
- Cuba: 3ra. ruta ecologica Holguín - Santa Clara
- ECOSOUTH NETWORKING from Namibia to Thailand
- Three MCR Clusters in Ghana
- News
- Women tilemakers in Mexico receive enterprise award
- BSHF calendar includes Two decades after the earthquake, Guatemala
December 2002 Article Count: 5
December 2002
- Coloring MCR tiles
- Visit to housing developments in Colombia and Ecuador
- A creative solution for water catchment
- Networking in Zimbabwe
- News
- Outpouring of questions to the EcoSouth WebSite
- New book by EcoSouth caricaturist Martirena
- Microconcrete technologies used in hotel in the Dominican Republic
November 2002 Article Count: 4
November 2002
- Building materials supply - a strategy for disaster relief
- IYM Slow Food Award to Ecuadorian Radio Station
- EcoSouth Certificate Quality for MCR workshops
- EcoSouth expert in Mozambique
- News
- Technical sheet about sand and mortar mixes for MCR tiles
- Colombia: FENAVIP director appointed vice-minister of housing
- Ecuador: Study visit to housing projects in Ecuador and Colombia
October 2002 Article Count: 4
- Construction in Earth and Clay congress in Germany
- MCR Exposure Course in Cameroon
- Year of the Mountains: From the Andes to the Alps
- News
- Namibia: Adobe Factory
- Ecuador: Producers and students analyze the MCR market in Ecuador
- Nicaragua: Elaborating action program for investigation about plastering
Past editions
