[Stoves] Billion Stoves Program

Thu Mar 8 06:46:21 CST 2007

Hi all,

If we are to persuade rural women, we need to communicate effectively to
them:

Kirk R. Smith, East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii wrote:

*"Poor biomass combustion in stoves entails three major environmental
liabilities due in significant** part to emissions of products of incomplete
combustion (PICs). First, poor combustion contributes** directly to low
energy efficiency, with its attendant problems of onerous human labor
requirements** and pressure on biomass resources from harvesting. Second,
some PICs are hazardous to health** when breathed in the concentrations
commonly found in homes using unvented biomass stoves.** Third, a different
set of PICs are strong direct or indirect greenhouse gases, potentially
contributing** to global warming". (Source:  8  Mar 2007 <*
http://www.whrc.org/policy/COP/India/Smith_1994.pdf.* >*

How can a rural woman of India or any other country relate to any of Smith's
three concerns resulting from poor biomass combustion -- low energy
efficiency, hazards to health and greenhouse gasses?

Can they measure low energy efficiency, sense some the PICs like CO and CO2
and relate these to health hazards? How could they see, touch and feel or
observe greenhouse gasses with their unaided senses?

If their cookstove does the job of cooking and the wood is consumed in the
stove as it should be, and if their life experience is that burning wood
inevitably results in smoke and ashes what could they find possibly find
wrong with their current stoves. If they see nothing wrong, how could  it
become necessary for them to change what they have been using for decades or
generations.

Greenhouse gasses – how could they or most ordinary people ever relate to
that? What is a greenhouse? What is a gas? If the gasses go up into the sky
and disappears – its gone for good – no problem.
The point of this post is that the target user must be taken much more
seriously into consideration. The billion clean stoves idea is a good one;
hopefully this post will give additional insights on the reasons for
possible resistance to change among target users of improved or clean
stoves.

Cornel

On 3/6/07, Paul S. Anderson <psanders at ilstu.edu> wrote:
>
> Dear Stovers and to "The Human Relief Organization" (HRO) (Copy sent as a
> separate message to HRO.)
>
> It is very fitting that Tom Reed got mentioned relating to the "Billion
> Stove
> Program."  I believe that Tom was the first to suggest such a high
> goal.  Of
> course, the goal is shared by many, and no single organization or person
> can
> claim to control or coordinate or accomplish the installation of a billion
> improved cookstoves.  But it is good to have the goal and the broad
> program
> stated on the Internet.
>
> I have copied the three key paragraphs from the HRO website about the
> Billion
> Stove Program.  Initial paragraphs describe the problem.
>
> ************ from HRO ***************
> This problem that kills a million people a year, contributes to
> deforestation
> and terrible air pollution in many areas and affects up to half of the
> world's
> people is little known to most of us in developed countries that take for
> granted clean, safe and convenient cooking, using gas, electric and
> propane
> stoves.  Fortunately solutions to these problems exist in the form of
> better
> designed wood cooking stoves.
>
> The billion stoves program is about education, promotion and distribution
> of
> more efficient and cleaner burning biomass cooking stoves.  It is called
> "Billion Stoves" as an approximate number of improved biomass cooking
> stoves
> needed worldwide.  Such improved stoves are already available and when
> enough
> of them are in use they will greatly reduce deforestation, labor for
> collecting
> cooking fuel, improve air quality and minimize the negative health effects
> resulting from poor cooking methods.
>
> The billion stoves program will work through various partnerships with
> corporate
> sponsors, foreign governments, NGO's and humanitarian relief
> agencies.  This
> program is meant to apply known solutions to this very large problem which
> hampers the health and economic development of nearly half of the world's
> people by applying the appropriate technological and social solutions to
> where
> they are needed.
> ******************************** end of HRO text *********
>
> We note that HRO calls for working through various partnerships.  And
> certainly
> PCIA and HEDON and ETHOS and Shell Foundation and others exemplify working
> together.
>
> Suggestion:  That the various entities (and individuals) discuss and
> formalize
> resolutions or Memorandum of Understanding  or some such document to make
> the
> "Billion Stove" project or program or activities a truly SHARED goal.  The
> thought or intent for having a billion stoves is internal to
> organizations like
> the PCIA which is already a "Partnership for Clean Indoor Air."  By
> formalizing
> the goal, those who are members and who will become members of PCIA will
> have
> direct and overt acknowledgement of supporting the Billion Stoves efforts.
>
> I believe that someday the name of Dr. Thomas B. Reed will be even more
> closely
> associated with the Billion Stove activities.
>
> Paul
> --
> Paul S. Anderson, Ph.D., Geography professor - Emeritus
> Telephone:  USA-309-452-7072 (residence and office)
> Internet site:  www.ilstu.edu/~psanders
> For my gasifier stoves info, go to:
> http://bioenergylists.org/contributors#Paul_Anderson
>
>
> Quoting Thomas Reed <tombreed at comcast.net>:
>
> >
> > ALL:
> >
> > The announcement at
> >
> > http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb507518.htm
> >
> > makes my 22 years invested in stove research all worth while.  Thanks to
> > all of you who have helped!
> >
> > The announcement is a little long to engrave on my tombreed tombstone,
> > and I'm not ready for one yet at 81!*  Look for new stove announcement
> > soon.
> >
> > Lots of interesting reading at this website.
> >
> > TOM REED                         BEF/BEC
>
>
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