[Stoves] $1.50 Charcoal Stove and charcoal-free locally produced biomass based fuel

[Richard Stanley]

Andrew Parker,
Not to toot our own horn,  but please take a look at the video linked  
to our website .
We, dozens of other NGO's  around the globe, including the Eco sur  
folks, know abit about
alternatives to charcoal that might be of interest.
Richard Stanley
www.legacyfound.org

On May 3, 2007, at 03:59, acparker at xmission.com wrote:

> I feel compelled to chime in on this charcoal discussion.  I do not  
> mind
> using biomass for energy in the proper context, however, the use of  
> wood
> and charcoal in an urban setting can be catastrophic, to the health of
> the users, their neighbors, and to any tree within a days' journey of
> the city.
>
> When visiting my in-laws, I observe the charcoal burners in Guayaquil
> behaving like a plague of locusts.  They will cut down the trees in  
> the
> medians and parks.  They cut down much of the dry rainforest around  
> the
> city years ago and have been working on the mangroves lately.
>
> Propane for household use is subsidized, but there are frequent
> shortages as tanks are illegally used to run taxis and buses, smuggled
> across the border to Peru and Colombia in caravans for resale, or sold
> around the corner at whatever price the market will bear.
>
> I do not know if any program has been attempted to use rice husks,
> bagasse or other byproducts for charcoal production, but if they could
> undercut the prices of the traditional charcoal burners, it could  
> stop,
> or at least slow, the destruction.
>
> Actually, there is a constant haze over the city because weeds are
> always being burned.  Whenever I go to visit, I always get a  
> respiratory
> infection from smoke irritation.  Perhaps they should carbonize the
> weeds in an efficient retort?
>
> I do hope that Cornelio's efforts are successful.  Efficient stoves  
> and
> sustainable sources of charcoal will take pressure off of the  
> remaining
> trees and woodlands, in or near the great tropical urban centers.
>
>
> Andrew Parker
>
> _______________________________________________
> Stoves mailing list
> Stoves at listserv.repp.org
> http://listserv.repp.org/mailman/listinfo/stoves_listserv.repp.org
> http://www.bioenergylists.org
>