We partner with rural communities in the developing world to implement renewable energy and water systems in order to alleviate poverty and improve the environment.
We are small but mighty (a quote from one of our donors which I hold dear). We work in Nicaragua, along the Thai/Burmese border, Peru, Ecuador, The Philippines, and historically in Guatemala and Malaysia.
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Dear Greenempowerment,
I would like to suggest that along with Ben Linder, who was a friend of mine and I sponsored two speaking tours with him in the U.S. before he was murdered by the Contras, that there are two others who had major responsibilities on the Cua-Bocay Project back in the 1980’s.
Those People were Donald Macleay, who originaly hired Ben for the Project, a machinist and general coordinator of the first North Americans to work on the project. And of course Mira Brown, who began as the appropriate technology technician in the Cua-Bocay region along with Ben and Donald.
I was the Director of NICAT, The Nicaraguan Appropriate Technology Project at the time that Ben was murdered by the Contras. Mira was the founder of NICAT and when she went long term to Nicaragua, she handed the NICAT organization over the us in Bellingham Washington.
I have lost touch with the Linder family since I had open heart surgery because of a congenital heart valve failure. But I would suggest that at some point in time Don and Mira could be interviewed for your newsletter either via internet or live.
They both played very key roles in the Cua-Bocay Project and deserve the appropriate recognition for their roles.
Of course, Rebecca Leaf has been a major savior of the project and I respect her in the greatest way. But Donald Macleay and Mira Brown were there during the height of the Contra terrorism and deserve repect also.
So I hope that Mira and Don get some future mention in your online and printed news someday.
I saw a newspaper article (I think it was the Oregonian from Portland) where Elisabeth Linder said that Ben was unarmed when he was Murdered. I know for a fact that that is not true.
All carried AK’s, but Ben had just put his down while taking notes on the building of the wier (sp?), when the Contras began their attack.
Elisabeth knew this, but at this last anniversery of Ben’s death, she somehow chose to deny it to the press.
I do not in any way mean to criticize the work you are doing around the world by these comments. In fact I applaud all of your efforts.
I wish I could support you more, but my health issues have become very serious and I cannot at this time afford to donate.
That’s all for now,
Douglas H. Smith
Former Director of NICAT
now living in California.
(925) 768-8687
doughsmith1@comcast.net
Thanks, and solidarity forever