Netzkraft Movement

CESTA – Friends of the Earth

Km 4 1/2 Calle a San Marcos 392
San Salvador
El Salvador

Contact person: Ricardo Navarro

+ 503 2213 1400; +503 2213 1444
+ 503 2220 6479
cesta@cesta-foe.org.sv
http://www.cesta-foe.org.sv

Topics

  • Environmental organization
  • Media project
  • Educational policy/project
  • Volunteers are welcome.

About us

Centro Salvadoreño de Tecnologia Apropiada (CESTA) / Friends of the Earth El Salvador was founded in El Salvador in 1980 and joined FoEI (Friends of the Earth International) in 1991.

Friends of the Earth International is the world's largest grassroots environmental network, uniting 76 diverse national member groups and some 5,000 local activist groups on every continent. FoEI challenges the current model of economic and corporate globalization , and promote solutions that will help to create environmentally sustainable and socially just societies.

CESTA has some 3100 members spread among 27 local groups. Every three months, CESTA publishes a Spanish-language magazine called ECONCIENCIA, as well as numerous books and pamphlets on more specialised technical subjects.
CESTA's core national campaigns focus on solid wastes, marine issues, and sustainable transportation.

The organization participates in the following FoEI campaigns:
• Climate Change
• Forests
• Sustainable Societies
• Wetlands

CESTA also has four "ecocentres" where appropriate technologies are developed and put into practice. One such centre has an urban focus, another is a permaculture school where workshops are given on a permanent basis, while still others focus on forest and marine issues.

One of CESTA's programs trains people to build and repair bicycles, "bici-carts" and wheelchairs. Besides generating skilled labor and jobs, the "Ecobici" project raises consciousness about the environmental benefits of cycling.

CESTA's community projects construct dry composting latrines to stop contamination of precious water supplies, promote organic agriculture to cut down on the need for costly chemicals and encourage the use of efficient stoves to lessen dependence on scarce fuel wood.

A third branch of CESTA scrutinizes legislation for its environmental implications.
In Guazapa, a region that was bombed heavily with napalm, CESTA is working with young people to create a living monument to peace. The goal is to rejuvenate the barren environment by planting a tree for every person who died during the war. Over 65,000 fruit bearing and medicinal trees have been planted in this "Forest of Reconciliation."

Ricardo Navarro ist the Founder of CESTA.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.