The environment

Its been a while since I wrote in my blog so I better get back into the habit. I am embarking on something of a challenge next week. I am going to study architecture and the environment, in Spanish. It`s definitely daunting but it will improve my skills to no end I`m sure.

It was a rushed decision to do the course since, even though it is dirt cheap in comparison to other courses here, it will still put me in financial difficulty, but after biting the bullet and paying the subscription fee, I felt much better. Finally I am returning to study, which I have been eager to do for a while now, and also to the field of architecture.

I am really excited to get back into what I love both architecture and the environment, and to study such a subject in such a volatile and environmentally important area is such a great opportunity. Not only will I be  gaining a very different aspect on the subject from architects who hail from a different school of thought, but hopefully I will also be able to have an input into their point of view. Without being too presumptuous I hope that I can lend some sort of foreign input.

Colombias Amazon region is under threat from international oil and logging companies and the government is way behind on preventative measures to preserve the trees, the water and the peoples of the region. There is an extreme lack of initiative to curb deforestation, contamination and systematic genocide. The country still faces the threat of military action in some remote parts and is too willing to allow multinationals to reap the benefits of its amazing natural resources.

Its the responsibility of professionals such as architects to instill an awareness of the issues that threaten one of the worlds most biodiverse areas, in the people as has been done in Europe and North America. Its a hard nut to crack since money drives policy but just being part of the system that is trying to do something to improve the situation is a privilege and a challenge and one that I look forward to.