[Stoves] IDB Governors meeting in Guatemala; First Ladies

[Tom Miles]

Don O’Neal passes along pictures of some recent golden moments for the HELPS
program:

 

Richard Grinnell presented the IDB President with a miniature ONIL stove
statuette during an Inter American Development Bank meeting in Guatemala.
IDB is contributing 100 stoves to Guatemalan families through HELPS. See
below and: http://www.bioenergylists.org/en/onilidb2007

 

Don also sends us a picture of the First Ladies of the USA and Guatemala
toiling over a HELPS stove and cooker. 

See: http://www.bioenergylists.org/en/helpsfirstladies

 

Congratulations to Don, Richard and all those who contribute to the HELPS
program

 

Tom

 

From: Don O'Neal [mailto:dononeal at usa.net] 
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 7:35 PM

 

Subject: IDB Governors meeting in Guatemala last evening.

 

Last evening the  XLVIII Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the
Interamerican Development Bank held in Guatemala City, the following remarks
were made by the President of the Bank, Dr. Luis Alberto Moreno at the
welcome dinner in honor of distinguished guests held on Sunday, March 18,
2007. 

 

“Madame President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, Mister President of Honduras,
Jose Manuel Zelaya, Mister Prime Minister of Belize, Said Musa and, most
especially, our hosts Oscar Berger, President of Guatemala and Mrs. Berger,
Mister Hugo Beteta, Governor of IDB for Guatemala, Mister Paulo Bernardo
Silva, Governor of IDB for Brasil and current President of the Board of
Governors, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

 

I want to welcome you and thank you all for joining us this evening and I
have a very important announcement to make.  

 

This morning, many of us discussed the form and function of creating a
development bank, discover what we have and build what is required.  You
surely remember how many times we have discussed that, in addition to
economic values, we are inspired in our work by social values:  equality,
inclusion and opportunities for the majority. 

 

We have proposed to grow together to build trust based on clear and solid
ethical values and solidarity.  Work from a symmetrical attitude in which we
do what we say and defend our beliefs by our deeds:  the weight of what we
do
.not just what we say.

 

(gesturing to an ONIL stove displayed on a platform to his right)
you may
all be wondering what this is here on my right or the meaning of the
beautiful picture on the front of the card you have at each of your place
settings
.it symbolizes the joy and hope for wellbeing of each of the 100
indigenous families in Guatemala that, thanks to the generosity of each and
every one of you, will enjoy receiving a stove that we are donating through
HELPS International.  We are joined tonight by Richard Grinnell, the
Executive Director.  This innovative stove improves the quality of life of
each of these families by reducing fuelwood consumption by 60%, reducing
deforestation and generating a positive impact on the environment and
communities.

 

Friends, we have usually provided a small token gift as a souvenir of our
annual meeting and on this occasion this symbol of wellbeing is your gift.
The funds we are setting aside for this are being invested here, in
Guatemala and there, in the indigenous communities that expect so much from
us. So now, please enjoy your dinner, among friends
.

 

 

 

 

Ingrid’s  view of  last evenings event



 

The event was a big success last night. HELPS created quite a bit of
interest in the stove and our programs. Richard and his wife, Miguel and I
attended. Other than the two main tables for the IDB President, Governors,
Heads of State and of course, President and Mrs. Berger, there were no other
tables reserved in the room except one for us. We were seated with IDB reps
and the Ambassador from Belize and his wife right behind the main tables,
with direct line of vision to Doña Wendy. When IDB President Moreno gave the
opening remarks to welcome the guests he mentioned HELPS by name and pointed
out the ONIL stove which was set up on a dais to the right of his podium.
The stove was embellished with typical artifacts and a large bow in the IDB
colors to symbolize the gift to the 100 Guatemalan Indigenous families. He
mentioned HELPS and Richard by name and Richard stood at the point from his
seat to acknowledge the honor. At that point, Doña Wendy looked over at our
table and gave us the thumbs up sign from the photo on the card. We had had
a few minutes to greet her just before taking our seats. Following the
dinner, President Berger, The Prime Minister of Belize and other VIPs
approached us to congratulate us. As people were mingling, we approached IDB
President Moreno and presented him with a miniature ONIL stove in
appreciation. He was very pleased with the gesture.