Architecture for Humanity

Hey Guys,


In class we have started a new topic, architecture for humanity. We were asked to write what we thought a humanitarian architect is. In my opinion, a humanitarian architect is someone who builds infrastructures and buildings for those who cannot build them themselves because of poverty or disasters. A humanitarian architect is working to help do their part to make the world a better place by building to help those in need around them or around the world.

If i were a humanitarian architect, my hopes would be to help reduce homelessness around the world and make sure that everyone had some sort of shelter to protect them. The world is suffering from so many different issues such as disasters and poverty that something as simple as constructing new buildings in some of these countries can make a big impact a nd even save someones life.

We were also asked to look around a website for Cameron Sinclair who is an architect for humanitiy. We were asked to find a project that we found inspiring from his website. I chose the project of Kutamba AIDS Orphans School. This project inspires me because I feel it is a big issue in the world that needs to be fixed. It is also very good because it is giving homes to those children that have no where else to go as well as providing education and health care for them. Lastly, it is a project that will help get people aware of AIDS and how widespread that it is. I found this project to be very inspiring and that it is a creative and very helpful way of showing the world that we care and showing that we can help.

Here is the link to the project - http://architectureforhumanity.org/node/574

We have also been looking at natural disasters in class. We have had a large focus on the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. We were asked to find one disaster to focus on. I chose the Typhoon in Asia called Ketsana. It happened very recently in September 2009. 455 millimeters of rain was dropped on the Philippines within 24 hours which is the most in the past 42 years! The typhoon caused major flooding and washed out many homes. Ketsana killed over 360 people and caused around 100 million dollars worth of damage.

Here is a picture of the aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana.

Here are 5 links to find out information on this natural disaster:

1. http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/09/typhoon_ketsana_ondoy.html

2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/27/ketsana-philippine-typhoo_n_301063.html

3. http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=9bae4d95facf3210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

4. http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/philippines/091006/the-far-reaching-ripple-effects-typhoon-ketsana

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ca3X5ser54

Until Next Time,

Caitlin !

Psa's are done !

Hey guys,

I know that it has been a while since I've updated.

Things around school got pretty hectic after the UN week and then Christmas vacation crept up on us pretty quickly.

It is now a new year, and our PSA projects are finally complete, filming, editing and now presenting.

That is where you come in.

Below you will find a link to my PSA survey, as well as my PSA video embedded below.

Please watch my video at least once, maybe twice and then fill out the survey as honestly as you can. As much detail in your answers as you can give would be greatly appreciated !

Thanks bloggers and happy 2010!

Click here to take survey