Page 20 - C.A.L.L. #31 - Spring 2009

The Italian community of Damanhur cultivates partnerships with other communities,
both by sending delegations abroad, and by inviting guests to visit them.

Tamera, Portugal

The search for innovative new technologies sent a
delegation of Damanhurians to visit Tamera, an eco-
village in Portugal. Gorilla, Formica, Grillo and Indri
went to learn about some interesting ecological
solutions Tamera has instituted in its community. In
Tamera, energy autonomy and self-sufficiency are
the primary concerns of this unfolding solar era.

The Tamera Solar Power Village is a model for social
and ecological sustainability, decentralized energy,
and for food supplies grown in harmony with Members of Damanhur visiting the Portugese
nature. This first model facility, with a Ecovillage, Tamera
technological core planned to accommodate fifty
people, was developed by Jürgen Kleinwächter. The technical system has a decentralized solar
energy supply that can be built to be 'off the grid'.

The Damanhurian team was particularly interested in new building construction techniques such as
using straw and wood for climate protection, beautification, and harmony with the natural
landscape. The Damanhurians were also impressed with ingenious energy saving solutions like a
solar kitchen that transforms heat into electric energy and a new solar water pump, based on the
Stirling engine, that can transfer water from one lake to another at a distance of ten meters.

The community of Tamera is going through economic hard times similar to what Damanhur
experienced fifteen years ago prior to encouraging free enterprise. The Tamera people were very
interested in learning from Damanhur's experience about complementary value systems.

Tamera and Damanhur are also different in many ways. At Tamera the people live primarily in
tents, they use compost toilettes, open air showers and they have a very good relationship with
the local administration. The delegation was very impressed to see these new technological ideas
put into practice and they are hopeful that a fruitful collaboration will flow between the two
communities.

Sieben Linden, Germany

During the first two weeks of September the Dendera
Association hosted the inaugural straw-bale construction
course in Damanhur. The initiative for the project came
from Inti China, a Damanhurian citizen and member of
Dendera who became fascinated with this style of
construction and studied the technique at the Sieben Linden

Straw-bale construction Eco Village in Germany.

Using straw-bales as prefabricated walls is one of the new innovative techniques for building
large complex houses. Inti's interest in straw-bale construction encouraged the Dendera
community to commit to the project for many reasons; it is inexpensive, sustainable, can easily be

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