(Please Distribute Widely)

Eight people wanted for Gaia Project delegation to El Salvador, Nov 17th - 
25th

The Gaia Project, in conjunction with the Salvadorian Center for Appropriate 
Technology (CESTA), is very pleased to invite you on a unique journey to El 
Salvador. Nine years ago, the Sierra Club of BC formed a partnership with 
CESTA - a community-based grass roots organization committed to finding 
solutions to the environmental and social problems created by El Salvador’s 
twelve-year civil war. Last year an earthquake struck El Salvador adding more 
destruction to communities in this country. To assist CESTA in handling the 
growing number of visitors interested in their projects, and to share these 
projects with a larger audience, we are working together to develop a 
long-term eco-tourism program. 

We are currently forming a delegation of interested people to join us on our 
first pilot eco-tour, which will run from November 17th to 25th, 2002. This 
eight-day exploration will take us to visit CESTA’s innovative projects 
throughout the country.  We are looking for eight people with a strong 
interest in community development and environmental sustainability issues, as 
well as an adventurous spirit, to help us in the fine-tuning of these tours. 
This will be an excellent opportunity to network with CESTA staff and learn 
about their pioneering work in alternative technologies, as part of an 
intimate group. 

Our long-term vision is to establish regular programs in El Salvador, in 
order to promote 
two-way education and offer environmentally sensitive, alternative employment 
opportunities for Salvadorian communities. Using eco-tourism:  "responsible 
travel to natural areas which conserves the environment and sustains the 
well-being of local people", we wish to assist Salvadorians in reversing the 
impacts of environmental degradation, poverty and war. By educating Canadians 
about how our lifestyles impact peoples’ lives in El Salvador, our programs 
will facilitate an ongoing exchange of knowledge, technologies and 
understanding between North and South. 

ITINERARY 
Day 1 ­ Sunday, November 17th 
All participants will meet at the Casa Gaia in San Salvador, by 8:00pm 
(Airport pickups will be arranged in advance for all people arriving into El 
Salvador). A group welcome and orientation will be held this evening, along 
with a light dinner. 

Days 2-7 
We will spend the next week traveling by private vehicles to CESTA’s various 
project sites and surrounding communities. Locations we will visit include: 
* The Monsignor Romero Memorial Forest of Reconciliation ­ where 75,000 trees 
have been planted to commemorate each individual who died in the civil war. 
We will also visit points of cultural interest, as this area was very active 
during the war. 
*  The Ecocentro Cojutepeque ­ a demonstration site used to bring the 
principles of permaculture to farmers from around the country; we will see 
composting toilets, adobe buildings and organic gardens. This is also an 
excellent location for wildlife viewing. 
* The Ecobici Workshop ­ where CESTA staff work with local people building 
wheelchairs and turning bicycles into corn grinders and generators for 
pumping water. 
* The Marine Ecocentro ­ located in beautiful Jiquilisco Bay, a project 
dedicated to educating Salvadorians about endangered sea turtles, and complex 
mangrove forest ecosystems 
* Other activities will be arranged depending on the interests of the group. 
These may include a trip to La Libertad to try surfing, visiting museums in 
San Salvador or hiking one of El Salvador’s many volcanoes. 

Day 8 ­ Monday, November 25th 
Travel home 

COST 
As a pilot project, we are aiming to keep costs as low as possible. The 
tentative maximum trip cost is $700.00 CAD.This cost does not include airfare 
to and from El Salvador. This cost includes all transportation within El 
Salvador, airport transfers, accommodation, three meals per day, all program 
activities, guides, and translators. Airfare*, travel insurance, visas+ and 
personal expenses are not included in the trip cost. 

* The average cost for return airfare from Vancouver to San Salvador is 
$900.00. It is also possible to fly in or out of Guatemala City or San Jose, 
Costa Rica, for approximately the same cost. For detailed flight information, 
please contact Mackenzie Travel Service (250) 847-2979, or your local travel 
agent. Continental Airlines offers the best connections from Vancouver to El 
Salvador. They can be contacted directly at (800) 525-0280 or visit their web 
site: www.continental.com. 

+ A ninety-day travel card is issued upon arrival in El Salvador, for 
US$10.00. An exit tax of US$28.00 is payable when departing from the San 
Salvador airport. HOW TO REGISTER 
A non-refundable deposit of $100.00 CAD is due by September 20th. We accept 
payment by cheque (please make payable to Sierra Club BC ­ Gaia Project) or 
credit card. As we are limiting our group size to eight people, we encourage 
you to reserve a spot as soon as possible. The balance of payment is due by 
October 10th, 2001. Upon receipt of your deposit we will send you a complete 
information package with travel and medical details, as well as general 
information about El Salvador. 

To register for the program, or for more information, please contact Kim 
Sierra Club of BC ­ Gaia Project 
Tel: 250-384-1534 
Fax: 250-384-4214 
email: [log in to unmask]        <A HREF="http://webmail.dal.ca/redirect?http://www.gaiaproject.bc.ca">http://www.gaiaproject.bc.ca</A>. 
   


Erin Jordahl
Director, Iowa Chapter Sierra Club
3839 Merle Hay Road, Suite 280
Des Moines, IA 50310
515-277-8868
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