Operation OASIS to bid for EU water funds

Operation OASIS to bid for EU water funds FREdome Visionary Trust | April 24, 2011 at 3:11 pm | Tags: agroforestry, agroforestry in spain, arid lands, carbon cycling, Climate change, desert, EU LIFE, forestry, FREdome Visionary Trust, irrigation, Operation Oasis, rain in Spain, treated water waste in forest irrigation, waste water | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/pgwuH-ch

Southern Spain will be a target area to identify partners for the Operation OASIS demonstration

The Operation OASIS project, supported by the FREdome Visionary Trust, is to apply for funding to demonstrate the principles of the OASIS system on European soil.

After a comprehensive discussion between volunteers, expert advisers, partners and the Scientific and Technical board, we have identified the “Water” strand of the European Commission’s LIFE + Programme as the best fit for a bid for funding.

LIFE + is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU. The fund is divided into different “themes” such as climate change, water, soil, waste & natural resources, forests, innovation and biodiversity. Our problem was that OASIS matches nearly all these objectives so the big challenge for the team was to identify the key driver from a European aspect.

Greg Peachey, the project director, reports;

“For the early pilot demonstrations, both the wastewater donor and recipient sites will reside in Europe. Whilst there will be a number of further European sites that will benefit from induction of a moist microclimate, when we scale up and replicate the project in earnest in conjunction with the Middle East, benefits will become concentrated either within or outside of Europe.

“Our choice of funding strand needed to reflect the immediate concerns of Europe: in order to maximise our relevance to the Water fund objectives, we will seek a source of wastewater that threatens the Andalusian coast with pollution.”

Southern Spain will be a target area to identify partners for the Operation OASIS demonstration: the team has until mid July to identify prospective partners and mount a joint bid.

Notes

The originator of the Overseas Arid Soil Irrigation (OASIS) Solution is Andrew K. Fletcher. For more information about Operation OASIS go to the project website www.OperationOASIS.com

For more information about the LIFE programme visit the EC website

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/

Drought and Heat Create Hazardous Fire Conditions in Texas

Drought and Heat Create Hazardous Fire Conditions in Texas

So far in 2011, more than 1.4 million acres have burned in Texas. Some 800 fires have occurred throughout the state, burning 401 structures and costing two firefighters their lives. Why is fire activity so extreme in Texas this year? This image, made with data collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite, reveals high temperatures that contributed to hazardous fire conditions.

Willie Smits restores a rainforest | Video on TED.com

Willie Smits restores a rainforest | Video on TED.com

This is an amazing video of hope that reaches the very soul of Operation OASIS

PRESS RELEASE: CAN TREES MAKE IT RAIN?

NOTICE OF A PUBLIC EVENT
Hosted by Friends of the Earth
Chaired by Sheila Doyle, Co-ordinator, Friends of Earth  Hemel Hempstead and District
Date:  18 April 2011
Place:  Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Location: The Quaker Meeting House, 1 The Alleys, St.Mary’s Road, Hemel Hempstead HP2 5ZB
Time:  8pm
Cost:  FREE

Greg Peachey

Speaker: Greg Peachey, Project Director,  Operation OASIS and founder of the FREdome Visionary Trust
Planting trees in the desert to absorb carbon emissions is a radical idea – but could it become a reality?
That is the question for debate with charismatic community organiser Greg Peachey, founder of the St Albans-based FREdome Visionary Trust.
Greg will be in Hemel Hempstead next week to give a presentation on the Trust’s latest project: Operation OASIS. The project aims to reverse the build-up of atmospheric carbon dioxide by establishing forests in areas of the world that have become desert.
“Increasingly, areas of the world are becoming more arid. Action is needed urgently to prevent species loss, and reduce conflict over scarce resources like food, fuel and water,” says Greg, 52, who has given up a successful career in management consultancy to pursue his personal convictions.
The principles of Operation OASIS were debated at an open meeting of an All Party Parliamentary Group last November. Since then the idea has attracted support from cutting-edge environmental scientists around the UK and representatives of the UK shipping industry.
“Recently, Herts County Council came on board to help us bid for research funding from the EU LIFE  +  Environment programme. The idea has support from scientists in Germany and America.  With the support of networking organisations like the Executive Forum and Rotary Club we have recruited a team of highly-qualified and motivated volunteers from around St Albans and Hemel Hempstead to drive the bid. The UK Trade & Investment Environment & Water team are keen to help. This could be a tremendous opportunity for Hertfordshire to shine.”
Paul Harris, the Green Party candidate for Gadebridge local borough council elections and sitting parish councillor for Great Gaddesden, is an enthusiastic supporter of the project: he says,
 “Trees are a win – win for everyone! They are the foundation of all life. They absorb CO2, they give back oxygen, they regulate temperature and rainfall,  they bind soil together and prevent flooding. Sustainable forestry enables more food to be produced, increases bio-diversity, provides work and generates fuel.“
Anyone with an interest in environmental issues is welcome to come to the meeting to find out more about Operation OASIS, which includes radical proposals for job creation in the Hertfordshire area.         
Ends
 For more local press information contact Suzanne Watts Communications Officer for the FREdome Visionary Trust,  Operation OASIS Project             01442 398466      , email  Suzanne.watts@fredome.org.
Note to Editors
The FREdome Visionary Trust is a not-for profit voluntary organisation.
Projects include:

• Watford Celebration – an annual cultural diversity event attracting more than 2500 people annually
• Show the World and WECare – a talent-promotion and fund-raising project run by FREdome Youth Encouraging Adults (YEA) social network of under 18’s
• FREdome Ideas.org – a community ideas database sponsored by St Michaels Catholic High School,Watford  
• Carbon Cycling – the missing link in the Carbon Debate – an all-age debate at the Houses of Commons in November 2010 – winner of a Global Entrepreneurship Week High Impact Event Award 
• One Minute to Save the World – audience vote winner of the global film competition with “Stop Global WAR-ming”, shown in Copenhagen 2009, and UK Houses of Parliament.   

Providers of support to the FREdome Visionary Trust Operation OASIS project include:

• Climate Week
• Cradle to Cradle Network Europe
• East of England European Partnership
• Friends of the Earth Hemel Hempstead
• Global Entrepreneurship Week
• Green Frontier
• Hertfordshire County Council Funding Support Office

More information:  http://www.fredome.org
Blog: http://fredome.wordpress.com/