Potters For Peace

This is generally a very effective method to remove bacteria from water, though there are some concerns about the ease of use and maintenance of the filtration units.

Instead of simply solving the problem, PFP aims to provide sustainable solutions propelled by the goals of the individuals they work with.

According to the Potters for Peace website, "Our goals are to offer support, solidarity and friendship to developing world potters; assist with appropriate technologies sustained using local skills and materials; help preserve cultural traditions; and assist in marketing locally, regionally and internationally".

[1] The program began to gain momentum after the Nicaraguan civil war to help pottery cooperatives.

Ron Rivera helped make tenmoku glazed ceramics for electrical transmission lines.

[2] The best known PFP project, ceramic water filters, was begun when in 1998 Hurricane Mitch struck Central America.

PWB works in technical assistance to organizations and governments that wish to develop production of low cost ceramic water filters (CWF) for use in at-risk communities world wide.

PWB is based in Enderby, British Columbia, Canada with offices in Clare, Nova Scotia.

Many of these projects center around helping potters market their products locally and abroad (PFP help organized an 18,000 piece sale to Pier 1 from a Nicaraguan cooperative, though this may have had negative long-term results) or use their skills to create new products that solve a local issue.

As part of the Technical and Design Assistance program, Potters for Peace give access to necessary tools along with training on items such as energy-efficient kilns.

As firewood becomes more and more expensive, PFP keeps sustainability at the forefront of their projects by pushing for alternative and local fuels.

Its first large-scale field study was conducted with over 500 Guatemalan families, organized by Dominique Wilson of AFA Guatemala.

PFP coordinator, Ron Rivera, learned of the filter technology while working on a project with Dr. Fernando Mazariegos, then worked with Nicaraguan potters for years developing the filter from uneven hand-made to standardized press-molded, by inventing a sustainable-technology press operated by a hand-cranked car jack.