February update

On the work front, we are pleased that Maria has resumed her translation work, this time with Compassion International. She is able to do the work from home, and in her own time. Andrew will undertake further consultancies with the same organisation, first in Guatemala (April), and Peru (October). He continues his work helping ASOCIANA with research and writing.

After a long lapse, with only one hour flown in 2007, Andrew is back on track with his flying, and will be undertaking deforestation monitoring flights in the coming months. The reason for the quiet spell was that the aero club planes were and still are out of action (one crashed, the other has major engine troubles). A fellow student on the flying course has bought a Cessna 182, and this is the one Andrew will use for survey work. For those of you interested (and according the children, there are not many) we have included a unique piece of video of the man himself executing a take off from Salta aero club

Video clip of Andrew taking off from the aero club in Salta

A number of trusted folk have been appointed by the Salta government to head up the environmental agency (SEMADES). They have yet to define a clear policy concerning deforestation, but at least seem keen to put the breaks on. Andrew has written and will be publishing a statistical summary on the current status of deforestation in Salta, with the aim of establishing a base line for monitoring what occurs under the new government. With the help of an experienced author and editor has finally managed to complete writing a book on the situation of the indigenous people in Salta. He is now putting the finishing touches to the epistle, which should all being well, be in local bookshops in a few months time.

On a slightly different front, and with generous support from our home Church in St Albans, we are coordinating a conference in August aimed at getting local churches to consider where they stand vis a vis the environmental problems that increasingly affect Salta. We are very encouraged by the reception the idea has been given in different quarters, including institutional backing being given by A Rocha, and Fundación Kairos, one of Argentina’s leading Christian organisations.