The Barichara Story
While setting up for a spontaneous concert in Bogota (Colombia) on May 2nd, a few friends and I played with the idea of doing something 'interesting' with the concert money. A recent visit to a town by the name of Barichara had left us amazed by the beauty of the place and full of curiosity as to why such a place had developed a water-shortage problem. So we decided to use the money to do something to help the situation in Barichara.
Once we had the funds in our hands we felt a responsibility towards ensuring that the money was put to the best use. With that responsibility also came the idea of going to Barichara and putting on another concert there, to create some more awareness around the issue. Someone suggested making a documentary on the Barichara story so friends offered to do so. We then invited various experts and town officials to a press conference in Barichara to discuss it all openly.
It was never our objective to make large sums of money to throw at the problem. The concerts were intimate and the tickets were inexpensive. We simply wanted to learn as much as possible in those few days in Barichara so that symbolically we could place the money into the areas that we felt were the most long-term, intelligent and ecological. Sourcing clean water is a growing issue in the world, so we thought that the Barichara story might be of interest to others. Having no personal, commercial or political interests in Barichara, our desire was simply to help out.
We asked questions and were advised by various organizations, politicians, experts, technicians and environmentalists. One of the people whose work impressed us the most was Karl Schoenthaler, an Austrian professor who lives in Barichara. Karl doesn’t experience the same water-shortage issues like the rest of the town because he has installed a very simple rain-water collection system in his home.
He is a water expert and has studied the region and shown that Barichara´s problem is not so much the ‘shortage’ of water, but a mismanagement of the systems and a mistreatment of the lands causing unnecessary water loss. He has also calculated that the rainwater that flows from Barichara´s streets is sufficient to supply the town, if it were harvested properly. Even more interesting is his knowledge of subterranean water and natural springs and the fact that a number of natural springs are closed even though he has tested the quantity and quality of this water to be perfectly suited to Barichara’s needs.
Based on his studies, Karl has written a proposal that is practical, affordable & ecological and we believe it to be the most solid and intelligent solution for Barichara and its future. We are aware that the local government has already started to move ahead with other plans, and respect that. We just wish to share Karl’s proposal with the public, so that the people of Barichara are aware of the possibilities.
The town of Barichara was built and beautifully crafted in a place where ‘once upon a time’ there was adequate water. Deforestation and excessive monoculture (due mostly to the tobacco industry) reduces the lands ability to retain this water and so we’ve seen Barichara’s land and taps go dry. This is one of the many factors that show, time and time again, that intelligent consideration towards the environment is not just an idealistic dream, but a necessity for quality of life and ultimately for survival.
While we feel the best solutions are the long-term suggestions, we also recognize that Barichara also has an immediate need for assistance. We therefore decided to share the money and help fund various projects:
HERE IS THE SUMMARY OF THE MONEY:Total collected: $16´513.640
Transport, food, sound equipment, printing (production costs) $5´948.640
Total for Barichara= $10´565.000HERE IS HOW IT WILL BE USED:1) Education program & proposals by Professor Karl Shoenthaler:
Pump building classes and lectures in schools, universities and on radio; leaflets informing locals of ecological, long-term & sustainable practices they can adopt. We feel his suggestions are far more affordable, in balance with nature and more reasonably sustainable than other proposals being suggested. Any part of Karl´s proposals that are implemented, we will help fund (for example, the natural waste-water treatment system). Finalizing the documentary about the water problem in Barichara. $2,065,000 pesos.
2) Practical and long-term:
Planting trees, reforestation as the cutting of trees for tobacco monoculture has caused water loss & desertification, reforestation is extremely important for water retention in the future. The reforestation would be around the water well in “Promoción Social”. It’s important to protect this area as currently there are cattle feeding there. If possible, an area of 1000-2000 square metres is to be reforested. We are thinking of Moringa and some others native plants. $1,000,000 pesos.
3) Water tanks:
We will buy 500L water tanks for schools and for some people considered to be in urgent need of assistance. The tanks are to be given with instructions of how to install them correctly for rain water collection as a proposed long-term solution for those involved. $7,500,000 pesos.
Many thanks,
Damien Rice & friends
Further details and photos of the gig can be see on this Facebook page set up by Gala Bernal.
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116462961721588&v=wallPhotographs of Damien's environmental walk in Barichara can be seen on Camus Freidel's Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=11997...f2d168232646aeaalcune foto:
..and so it is.. just like you said it should be.....