The Greening of San Miguel. A Video Documentary - Derek Burrows
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If
you are thinking a year ahead, sow a seed. The ambient air temperature difference between an urban heat island and a vegetated area can be as much as 2-10 degrees F. The temperature measured directly above man-made surfaces can be as much as 25 degrees F hotter than the air temperature beneath a forested area (Akbari et. al., 1992; Simpson and McPherson, 1996).
Download
the video - Quicktime Download the video - Windows Media Player Video is approximately 20 megs long. |
About
the project
This
is the beginning of a long term video documentary of the planting
of a Colonia, (neighborhood) which is devoid of trees. The
documentary will include interviews with people who live in the colonia,
residents involved in the physical planting of the trees, the involvement
of the children in the neighborhood and, over a period of three years,
tracking and documenting the effects of the trees and the planting
project on the people involved. To date, the planting of one street
has been filmed and two others will be planted and documented shortly.
Interviews have already begun with residents of one street and more
will follow. A project is now underway to involve the children of
this colonia in creating their vision of a neighborhood in the future.
This seven-minute video showing the first planting stages of this
project is now being used to look for funding and to show residents
of the colonia what they have already done.
More info:
In
July 2006 a series of tree plantings began taking place in San Miguel
in the Colonia la Paz. Spearheaded by the San Miguel Garden
Club and Sarah Clancy, a
member of the garden club. The role of the club in this project is
to promote the greening of San Miguel. To date, Sarah, together with
neighborhood participants has planted two streets, each consisting
of approximately 12 trees. The plans of the club are to plant the remaining
streets of this Colonia, with a total goal of 5 streets. It is the
hope that this community effort will be duplicated in other Colonias
in San Miguel
I
see this project as being far reaching. While the greening is important
it is also important to me that the members of each community feel
that they own the project and are in charge of it. Equally, and
maybe even more so, the children as the next generation must feel they
are a part of this event and that these trees and plants are both their
responsibility as well as their legacy. My hope is that the filming
of this process will positively affect the way children and adults
view green space changes as they come to physically, emotionally and
spiritually take ownership of trees.
This video documentary
will be used to promote the greening of various colonias throughout San
Miguel and will be shown in libraries, schools and communities as
an educational and informational tool to interest communities in considering planting
opportunities available to them.
Project proposal available on request.
For more information: email Derek