[GSBN] New GSBN Membership Nomination - Mike Deveria - Building in Ukraine - Baling Equipment Needed

[David Arkin, AIA]

Hello Global Straw Building Network:

Greetings from California and CASBA, where we just wrapped up the West Coast Natural Building Conference.  

Mike Deveria was one of our speakers, sharing his efforts to assist with building in Ukraine, with straw.  Last Fall he and his team made a proposal for rebuilding at three sites as part of a ‘Hackathon’ supported by Modulina.  https://www.modulina.eu/modulina-becomes-the-sponsor-of-the-main-circular-prize-at-rebuild-green-hackathon-2024-in-ukraine/  He wrote us then:

"Since our bienniel meeting (ESBG2023) in Denmark last September, where I invited two Ukrainian women (Kateryna Pylypchuk and Alissa Ban’kovska) to be our keynote speakers, I have formed a group, The Alliance for Bio-based Construction in Ukraine (ABCU). Kateryna invited us to take part in a Hackathon this September so I contacted various Ukrainian straw bale builders including Oleksii Brusnitsyn and Artem Ryzhkov. The team has grown to 15 members including Lesya and Taras, half are Ukrainian and the rest from western Europe. On my way to the Hackathon kick-off event in Vinnytsia last weekend (Sept 21), (organized by Kateryna and Alissa), I called in to see Lesya, Taras and family and was introduced to the mayor of Kopychyntsi. He showed a lot of interest in the possibility of building an ecovillage there. Our team’s proposal in the hackathon is to offer straw bale building training to psychologically and physically handicapped veterans, widows and family members with the aim of building a straw bale ecovillage including housing and a recuperation center for them. The presentations for the hackathon, (several teams are taking part), will be on October 23 in Kyiv. I plan to be there and to give our presentation in person.”

At our conference Mike reported their team did not win; they finished a very close second.  But they caught the attention of the Mayor of Chortkiv, who wants to make his city the ’Straw Capitol’ of Ukraine, and are now working there.  

Mike is on the board of ESBA, second from left in the photo of ESBA’s board below.  

I’m writing today with three asks:
1) a welcome to this nomination of Mike Deveria to join the GSBN list
2) on his behalf, any support you might offer to ABCU (see pics from the CASBA Conference below), and
3) if you know of baling equipment to ship to Ukraine, please let him know:  mikedeveria at strawbuilding.eu <mailto:mikedeveria at strawbuilding.eu> 

Thanks all, 

David Arkin / ATA & CASBA




*  *  *  *  *
Arkin Tilt Architects
Ecological Planning & Design

David Arkin, AIA, Architect
LEED Accredited Professional
CA #C22459/NV #5030/OR #6738

1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA  94710
510/528-9830 ext. 202
www.arkintilt.com

"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."
— A. J. Muste
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