Biodigesters Can Save the World

Discussion questions

Can you think of an issue that is causing multiple problems in your city? (For example, lack of public transportation options forces many cars to use a busy road, causes air pollution, makes the neighborhood less walkable, and cuts off that neighborhood from other neighborhoods)
Can you think of an initiative that has solved multiple problems in your city? (For example, expanding a subway line to reach new neighborhood would decrease traffic, increase accessibility to jobs)

Thomas Henry Culhane, Urban Ecologist
Dr. T.H. Culhane is a professor of Environmental Sustainability and Justice at the Patel College for Global Solutions at University of South Florida, Tampa. He is passionate about transforming food waste into fuel and fertilizer, collecting biogas and bioslurry, to not only cook food, heat water and generate clean electricity, but to grow new nutritious food. Culhane is co-founder and president of Solar CITIES Inc., a not-for-profit environmental technology training organization that teaches members of impoverished urban and rural communities around the world how to build their own home and community scale biodigesters and vertical aeroponics food production systems with the goal of eliminating all waste. Culhane lives with and uses these technologies in his daily life at the Rosebud Continuum Eco-Science and Sustainability Education Center in Land O Lakes Florida where he resides.

Section 1 - Essential Insights

Services and Climate Resilient Infrastructure

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After the fall of the Franco dictatorship in Spain in 1975, citizens felt freer to express their opinions on many topics. Neighborhood Associations in cities like Valencia flourished as residents advocated for their preferences. City residents wrote op-eds and wrote articles to pressure government to listen to their input. This is the story of how government officials in the city of Valencia responded to citizen demands about one issue, and how it changed the city for everyone.

Discussion questions

In your view, who are the most significant “actors” in this story?

Does the story remind you of a current or past situation in your city?

How do public spaces in your city impact health, quality of life, and/or equity?

Have you had an experience where having a limited budget, or the solution unfolding over time has provided unexpected benefits?

Bio

Ramon Marrades is an Urban Economist, Director of Placemaking Europe and Founder of Vigla. He has spent his career creating sustainable, equitable, and lively public spaces that prioritize the needs of people and community. He is passionate about port cities, culture, and innovation and has worked as strategic advisor to a number of cities and large-scale development projects. Marrades is based in Valencia, Spain.

3:50

Bang Bua Canal Upgrading – Bangkok, Thailand

Bang Bua Canal Upgrading, Bangkok, Thailand

Summary

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Discussion questions

What stands out to you about this story?

Does the situation described remind you of something in your city or your work?

Can you relate to the challenges described? In what ways?

In what ways is the approach described similar or different from approaches you / your org/ your city have taken?

Write down three new approaches you could try.

Bio

Somsook Boonyabancha, is Chairperson, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), a regional network of grassroots community organizations, NGO’s and professionals actively involved with urban poor development processes in Asian cities; former Director of the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI); Chairperson, of the Baan Mankong Program Committee.

Boonyabancha has been working and facilitating sustainable, equitable collective housing development and slum upgrading in Thailand and other Asian countries for 30 years – specializing in community-led initiatives. As director of CODI, she fostered a “city-wide” approach to community upgrading that has been replicated in cities across Thailand. She is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

2:23

Private Property versus Public Space

Discussion questions

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Bio

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

1:24

The Power of Public Spaces and the Doers who Create Them

Summary

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Discussion questions

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Bio

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

1:45

Aligning Long-Term Needs for Climate Action with a Better Life Today

Discussion questions

What stands out to you about this story?

Are there people in your city who think that changes for climate adaptation are going to undermine their daily quality of life? What arguments do they make?

How can something as simple as planting trees make a city both more sustainable and more equitable?

Bio

Ramon Marrades, Economist; Director, Placemaking Europe; Founder, Vigla

2:08

You Can’t Just Plan for the Rich

Discussion questions

What does it mean to make development more inclusive?

In this interview, what does the term “social security” mean and why is it important?

Why would it be particularly difficult for poor people to be separated from long time neighbors and community?

Can you think of a project in your city, where poor residents were displaced but given new housing? In what ways was it successful or not?

Bio

Somsook Boonyabancha, is Chairperson, Asian Coalition for Housing Rights (ACHR), a regional network of grassroots community organizations, NGO’s and professionals actively involved with urban poor development processes in Asian cities; former Director of the Community Organization Development Institute (CODI); Chairperson, of the Baan Mankong Program Committee.

Boonyabancha has been working and facilitating sustainable, equitable collective housing development and slum upgrading in Thailand and other Asian countries for 30 years – specializing in community-led initiatives. As director of CODI, she fostered a “city-wide” approach to community upgrading that has been replicated in cities across Thailand. She is based in Bangkok, Thailand.

2:22

Persistent Cultural Norms

Persistent Cultural Norms – Women Don’t Want Their Daughters to Work

Discussion questions

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

Bio

Educational materials in development. Contact us if you are interested in being a partner (equityproject@ISUH.org).

4:00

Collective Planning: Putting People At The Center

Summary

Boonyabancha describes the process for engaging stakeholders developed by her team in Thailand, and how collaboration between local government, residents and other community stakeholders has lead to more successful, equitable and sustainable urban development in cities throughout Thailand.

Discussion questions

In what ways is the approach described similar or different from approaches you / your org/ your city have taken in the past?

Is there a current neighborhood, community, or project where you could envision trying this?

What would be potential challenges of this approach in general, or specific to your city?

What would be potential benefits of an approach like this in general, or specific to your city?

Bio

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An Active-Learning Resource Center

Biodigesters Can Save the World