Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura

San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá, Guatemala, Centro América

011-(502)-59901368 • 011-(502)-57868033 • imapermacultura@gmail.com

October 08, 2005

San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Sponsors:

Surely by now you are aware of the devastating effects hurricane Stan has caused the Central American region. The Western Highlands of Guatemala and the Pacific Coast were struck by relentless rains for five days, resulting in major landslides and the bursting of rivers, which swept away homes, roads, bridges and crops, leaving many communities without access to communications, basic supplies or medical attention. In the Lake Atitlán region, department of Sololá, all surrounding villages have been affected, specifically the two largest towns, Santiago Atitlán and Panajachel, with an estimated one thousand deaths and hundreds of people missing.

We respectfully request your immediate financial support in attending to the urgent issues facing the community of Santiago Atitlán.

IMAP is an non-for-profit organization working with rural communities in the preservation of biodiversity, the establishment of food security and environmental education. We are located on the southern shore of Lake Atitlan, 10 kilometers from Santiago Atitlán. Because of current conditions, we have suspended our planned activities in order to concentrate on relief and prevention efforts in coordination with the municipality of Santiago Atitlán and other local and international non-governmental organizations.

Our concern is for the immediate needs of families who are without water, food, sanitation, medical attention and housing. Currently, an estimated one thousand people are being housed in 10 provisional shelters where the sanitary conditions pose a major health risk to the community. In light of our human resources and abilities, we have decided to concentrate our efforts in two areas: 1) securing food for at least one shelter and 2) installing water tanks and purifying equipment for at least three shelters. To the extent possible, we will also work on sanitation issues with respect to the same three shelters, in terms of installing latrines. Donations received by IMAP will go directly towards these efforts.

HOW TO HELP

Please send tax deductible donations to our umbrella organization Permaculture America Latina (PAL), indicating that the donation is for “IMAP Relief Work.”

Permacultura America Latina

723 Allendale Street

Santa Fe, NM  87505

505-989-1695 tel.

505-988-9702 fax

If you wish to send a wire, you have two options:

Use Wells Fargo’s FedWire routing transit number, 121000248 for domestic

wires or use Wells Fargo's Swift code: WFBIUS6S for international wires

Bank Name: Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

City/State: San Francisco, CA (regardless of where your account is

located)

Routing transit number 121000248 or SWIFT address: WFBIUS6S

Account number: 769-0079853

Account title — Permacultura America Latina

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Instituto Mesoamericano de Permacultura
Ronaldo Lec (tel. 59096573)
Rebecca Cutter (tel. 5786-8033)

Oficina IMAP (tel. 59901368)