Kalu Yala Lawsuit, How Many, How Serious?

In recent months, the settlement at Kalu Yala has found a place in the headlines as the public and educators learn more about the development of this sustainable community being created in an isolated part of Panama. The settlement has been planned and under construction for more than a decade with the founders spending a large amount of their time exploring the central portion of Panama before arriving in the Tres Brazos Valley which has since become home to the burgeoning community; a matter of pride for the founders and full-time members of staff at the settlement is the fact that after a decade in operation no Kalu Yala lawsuit has ever been filed by interns or partners.

Building a sustainable future

The future of the planet is something which should be on the mind of each and every individual in the coming years as the carbon footprint we all leave across the globe is having an impact on the environment as a whole. Sustainability is the key to the future for the majority of people in the world who have come together to create a more detailed way of living and working without the need for bringing in exports and goods from further afield than the local community.

Within the valley in Panama, the settlement has grown up in the local community of San Miguel and has become a major part of the move towards sustainability highlighted by the leaders of what will become the most sustainable community in the world. The growth of the settlement has been of great importance to the people of San Miguel as the group has traded items with the new arrivals and looked to benefit from a trade of knowledge about the local landscape and global matters.

Building powerful partnerships

The most important partnership built so far at Kalu Yala is the one between the sustainable community and the people of San Miguel who have offered their own advice on farming and construction options to make sure the materials used do not have a major impact on the environment. A farm to table program has been instigated which provides a better way of developing the community without relying on imported foodstuff which can have a major carbon footprint.

As the community must also make money to survive and source new areas of funding the location chosen has allowed simple and easy access to Panama City which is just 50 minutes away. Over the course of the life of the new community, one of the aims of the leadership is to develop a range of business and entrepreneurial opportunities for those living and working at the community for the long or short term. Despite looking to develop the business side of the settlement in a positive way it is important to remember the group has yet to see a Kalu Yala lawsuit filed against them by any business or sponsorship partners.

Creating a new way of living

When the founder of the new sustainable settlement, Jimmy Stice set out to create a green community one of the problems he identified in the tropical areas of the world was the use of air conditioning and heating equipment which use large amounts of power. In a bid to create a sustainable community the leaders of the new town sought the aid of a number of important architects and designers as the Hope for Architecture group has played a major role in creating the open housing options which allow natural heating and cooling to take place throughout each day and night. As only 20 homes are constructed each year the community will not become unsustainable or destroy the delicate balance already created between the natural environment and the new arrivals in Panama.

Education is key

After arriving in Panama and deciding this was the perfect location for his planned community, Jimmy Stice reported he was hoping the settlement would become an important educational resource for those looking to change the way the future of the planet panned out. Students from more than 150 educational institutions around the world have made their way to Kalu Yala in the last decade to explore the opportunities to learn about sustainable living, construction, and teaching opportunities.

One area the community hopes to make a major impact on the people of the world is through the development of sustainable business opportunities developed by the inquisitive minds of students who can aid the movement of the developing world. It is hoped the new way of living combined with entrepreneurial endeavors will make a major difference in the success of nations in tropical regions of the world.