For many of us, November is a time for Thanksgiving. We at CEA have a lot to be thankful for. We have had a wonderful year and thanks to the generous support of members and benefactors we have been able to do so much. But we have a long way to go to reach our goal of making Akumal contamination-free and saving the Great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef from destruction. In this issue we want to show some examples of our supporters and how they have helped make a difference. We hope you will consider making a donation, becoming a CEA Member or renewing your current membership. We now list our CEA Members and Contributors on our CEA Friends page. Please take a moment and make sure we have you listed. Akumal School Baños Program Final Report It is a great pleasure to report that CEA is finally nearing the end of a two-year effort to build ecological toilets for the Akumal Primary and Kindergarten schools. The project, funded by the Sam and Charles Foundation, a small family organization, began with an idea to demonstrate advanced waste treatment for sewage (composting toilets) to the residents of the pueblo through the children. The project also proposed to teach more constructors in the area how to design and build composting toilets and constructed wetlands. Click here to read more. Cooperativa Orgánica The past month has seen a drop in organics production in the town, but high season is coming and the Compostmen, José and Elimelec, are getting ready for a much higher volume of waste. We want to thank Manley Williams, who last month pledged $500.00 in support of the Cooperativa Orgánica composting project. This program, with its low overhead, is both effective and efficient. With more donations like Ms. Williams’ we can assure it will become a self-sufficient, successful program with a positive impact on the entire Akumal community. To read more about this program, click here. NFWF Project Moves Forward Thanks to a grant from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the CEA-constructed wetlands are being retrofitted to state-of-the-art. Click here to follow the progress of this program. To learn more about constructed wetland technology, click here The Ecology of Akumal Funding for the project was graceously provided by Mr. Jim Lawrence. The purpose of this project is to provide a teaching and learning tool for young people and adults. The activities were created to stimulate interest in the ecology of Akumal and a desire to preserve its natural resources by teaching an appreciation of water conservation, recycling, the nesting turtles, the coral reef and the tropical forest. Click here to read more about this on-going project. CEA Recycling Program in the Local Schools Mauricio Bautista and Nadia Mora have started a new season for the program in the local schools. The educational program begins with a PowerPoint. The presentation will prepare the students for the recycling process to be used in the program. This and other Environmental Education programs are in need of funding; if you would like to help, please contact us. Click here to learn more about the recycling program in the local schools. Scholarship Recipients Laisha, Veronica, Edgar and Angel wish to thank everyone for the kindness they have shown by providing monthly stipends that help cover the costs of their education. To learn more about the scholarship program, please click here. Jet Skis in Half Moon Bay In addition to the many programs at CEA, we also stay involved with the local issues. To learn about the recent issue of jet ski tours in Half Moon Bay and what steps CEA took, please click here. VIDAS Clinic Reminder Many people and their pets in Tulum will be thankful when the volunteer group of veterinarians, VIDAS, returns to the area November 10-15 to do a clinic. Click here to read more about it and how you can help. Build a Solar Culture Where the Sun Shines Remember to mark your calendars for March 2004. Centro Ecológico Akumal and Grupo Fenix of Nicaragua invite you to be a pioneer in the development of a solar culture in the Mexican Caribbean, while you learn how to build a solar oven, as well as a solar water heater and battery charger powerd by a solar panel.To learn more, please click here. Thank you for your continued support of CEA and remember our on-line store is now open to purchase items, become a member or make a contribution to the program of your choice; click here to visit. If you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, or simply need to contact CEA, please click here.