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+ | {{Updated|6|12|15}} |
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⚫ | *'''Get Beyond Firewood |
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− | [[Image: |
+ | [[Image:Food versus charcoal.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Each little pile of food items costs 75 Kenya Shillings (about US$1) as does the pile of charcoal in the center of the circle. By using a [[CooKit]] or other solar cooker, people can buy food instead of fuel.]] |
− | '''Fuelwood''' in the form of wood or charcoal remains the dominate energy source for over two billion people worldwide. In some areas not even these fuels are available and dry grass or cow dung are burned instead. Charcoal is often favored by cooks since its heat stays rather constant and the fire doesn't have to be tended as much. It take 10 kg of wood though to make 1 kg of charcoal. [[ |
+ | '''Fuelwood''' in the form of wood or charcoal remains the dominate energy source for over two billion people worldwide. In some areas not even these fuels are available and dry grass or cow dung are burned instead. Charcoal is often favored by cooks since its heat stays rather constant and the fire doesn't have to be tended as much. It is favored by producers since it is easier to transport than wood. However, it take 10 kg of wood though to make 1 kg of charcoal. [[Household air pollution]] from cooking fires kills more people each year than AIDS or malaria<ref>http://practicalaction.org/smoke_report_1</ref>. |
==Global dimming== |
==Global dimming== |
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− | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Pollution over east China.jpg|thumb|350px|A permanent cloud of soot particles from cooking fires hovers over Asia.]] |
− | + | Global dimming as a result of the atmospheric brown clouds (ABCs) of black carbon and other particulates that circle the globe (aka aerosols) is having a profound effect on climate change, global warming, plants, migration patterns, and food production worldwide. Unlike CO2, the brown clouds would clear quickly if we stopped sending smoke up in the first place. |
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− | Solar cooking technology |
+ | Solar cooking technology may do more than any other single area of technology to cut back on global dimming. |
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− | __TOC__ |
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==An example: Nigeria== |
==An example: Nigeria== |
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+ | {{Main|Nigeria}} |
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+ | Most of sub-Saharan Africa is buried either in the forest or stands as an island. [[Nigeria]] happens to be the major petroleum refining and exporting country - supplying its products to some greater number of the [[ECOWAS]] (Economic Community of West African States) countries. Unfortunately, inasmuch as the fuel is readily available, the price remains prohibitive and less accessible to the average family. Ironically, [[Nigeria]] itself imports refined petroleum products for its domestic consumption from overseas. The result is endless dependence on fossil fuel for our domestic needs - hence the flaggrant exploitation of the forests. |
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− | __TOC__ |
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⚫ | Aware of this tendency, governments had embarked on tree planting campaigns at various levels; but little result has been achieved by these efforts for lack of alternative energy. Cost of electricity is beyond the reach of many urban dwellers let alone the rural majority, hence people prefer to do most of their cooking with charcoal or firewood. In the riverine communities where fishing is the major occupation, preservation is not possible except by drying the fish over firewood or charcoal. The level of carbon infused into the fishes during this drying process constitutes a major source of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. High percentage of much needed protein is lost through this process of preservation. With these activities of wood cutting, our wild-life is almost becoming extinct. |
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+ | The beautiful ecology is being destroyed at a fast rate due to ocean and desert encroachment. The photographs show pile of firewood for sale and some trucks offloading charcoal while buyers are qeueing up to take delivery of their consignments. Only a solar revolution can save the situation. |
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{| |
{| |
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− | |valign="top"|[[Image:Img001.jpg|thumb|200px|Forest exploitation]] |
+ | | valign="top" |[[Image:Img001.jpg|thumb|200px|Forest exploitation]] |
− | |valign="top"|[[Image:Docf.jpg|thumb|250px|Trucks offloading charcoal]] |
+ | | valign="top" |[[Image:Docf.jpg|thumb|250px|Trucks offloading charcoal]] |
− | |valign="top"|[[Image:Collecting Fuelwood in Guatemala.jpg|thumb|200px|Collecting fuelwood in [[Guatemala]]]] |
+ | | valign="top" |[[Image:Collecting Fuelwood in Guatemala.jpg|thumb|200px|Collecting fuelwood in [[Guatemala]]]] |
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{| |
{| |
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− | |valign="top"|[[ |
+ | | valign="top" |[[File:Nepal wood carrying - McArdle 2008.jpg|thumb|280px|Carrying fuelwood in Nepal]] |
+ | | valign="top" | |
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− | |valign="top"|[[Image:India_cooking_fire_smoke_NASA.jpg|thumb|200px|NASA photo shows smoke from Indian cooking fires]] |
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− | |valign="top"|[[Image:Charcoal production.jpg| |
+ | | valign="top" |[[Image:Charcoal production.jpg|250px|thumb|Charcoal is created by burning wood in an oxygen-starved environment]] |
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+ | |||
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+ | ==Fuelwood consumption around the world== |
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+ | [[File:Wood-charcoal-production-in-africa ce48.jpg|thumb|550px|none|Fuelwood as a percentage of energy consumption in Asia <ref>http://www.grida.no/publications/rr/crime/</ref>]] |
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+ | [[File:Percentage of households using solid fuel 2006.jpg|none]] |
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+ | [[Image:Fuelwood as percentage or energy consumption Africa.gif|thumb|none|650px|Fuelwood as a percentage of energy consumption in Africa]] |
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+ | [[File:Fuelwood-charcoal consumption in Africa, 2-20-13.jpg|thumb|left|500px|Fuelwood and charcoal use per capita in Africa]] |
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+ | |||
+ | [[Image:Clock1.gif]] |
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==Quotes about the world fuelwood situation== |
==Quotes about the world fuelwood situation== |
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*"2.5 billion people - 40 per cent of the world’s population are still cooking and heating their homes with basic energy sources, such as charcoal, wood, biomass and dung." [http://www.un.org/ecosoc/docs/side-events/Energy-Austria.pdf] |
*"2.5 billion people - 40 per cent of the world’s population are still cooking and heating their homes with basic energy sources, such as charcoal, wood, biomass and dung." [http://www.un.org/ecosoc/docs/side-events/Energy-Austria.pdf] |
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− | *"For cooking, heating and other energy needs, over 2.5 billion people in developing countries depend on fuelwood or, when that is unaffordable, on crop residues and animal dung." [http://www.un.org/jsummit/html/documents/summit_docs/criticaltrends_1408.pdf] |
+ | *"For cooking, heating and other energy needs, over 2.5 billion people in developing countries depend on fuelwood or, when that is unaffordable, on crop residues and animal dung." [http://www.un.org/jsummit/html/documents/summit_docs/criticaltrends_1408.pdf] |
+ | |||
+ | ==Audio and video== |
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⚫ | *'''Get Beyond Firewood''', A video produced by the Womens Refugee Commission is a poignant reminder that the need to get past using firewood as a cooking fuel is great, and immediate. Limited forested areas are being depleted, and the smoke from cooking fires is causing respiratory illness. Also, sadly, women living in distressed areas are putting their lives on the line, facing possible assualt when they leave their homes in search for fuel to simply be able to cook for their families. However, solar cooking has begun to be an important part of the solution. Investigate work being done in African [[Refugee camps]]. [http://womensrefugeecommission.org/programs/firewood More information on the Womens Refugee Commission.] |
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+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | *[[File:Solar Cookers in Tibetan Areas of China|none|455px]] |
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+ | |||
+ | ==Reports== |
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+ | *{{NewMay15}}'''June 2015:''' [http://cleancookstoves.org/about/news/05-05-2015-women-spend-374-hours-each-year-collecting-firewood-in-india-study-finds.html Women Spend 374 Hours Each Year Collecting Firewood in India, Study Finds] - ''[[Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves]]'' |
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+ | |||
+ | *{{NewApr15}}'''April 2015:''' [[Media:How_to_overcome_firewood_crisis-Dieter_Seifert-April_2015.pdf|How to overcome the firewood crisis]] - ''[[Dieter Seifert]]'' |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Global dimming]] |
*[[Global dimming]] |
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− | *[[ |
+ | *[[Household air pollution]] |
*[[Biomass briquette]] |
*[[Biomass briquette]] |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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+ | *{{NewJun15}}[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_dimming Wikipedia article on global dimming] |
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− | *'''April 2010:''' [http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/press_room/C68/2010_datarelease10 Fuelwood surpasses Industrial wood] - ''Earth Policy Institute'' |
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+ | |||
+ | *'''February 2015:''' [https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=533520030034280 An elderly woman in Morocco is still burdened with the task of scavenging for firewood. (short video)] |
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+ | |||
+ | *'''September 2011:''' Around three billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and leaky stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Nearly two million people die prematurely from illness attributable to indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use. Read more...[http://ht.ly/6IKQb Indoor air pollution and health] - ''World Health Organization'' |
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+ | |||
*'''March 2009:''' [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/03/11/pm_charcoal_climate_change/ Charcoal use burns up Africa's forests] - ''Marketplace'' |
*'''March 2009:''' [http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/03/11/pm_charcoal_climate_change/ Charcoal use burns up Africa's forests] - ''Marketplace'' |
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− | *'''April 2008:''' [http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0402/p20s01-woaf.html Charcoal fuels the economy and deforestation of Mozambique] - ''Christian Science Monitor'' |
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* [http://www.getbeyondfirewood.org/ Get Beyond Firewood] |
* [http://www.getbeyondfirewood.org/ Get Beyond Firewood] |
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+ | |||
+ | * [http://burningissues.org/car-www/index.html Burningissues.org] is a tremendous resource for people who want to learn more about wood smoke. It is the home page for Clean Air Revival, Inc. |
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+ | {{References}} |
Revision as of 23:23, 12 June 2015
Last edited: 12 June 2015
|
Fuelwood in the form of wood or charcoal remains the dominate energy source for over two billion people worldwide. In some areas not even these fuels are available and dry grass or cow dung are burned instead. Charcoal is often favored by cooks since its heat stays rather constant and the fire doesn't have to be tended as much. It is favored by producers since it is easier to transport than wood. However, it take 10 kg of wood though to make 1 kg of charcoal. Household air pollution from cooking fires kills more people each year than AIDS or malaria[1].
Global dimming
- Main article: Global dimming
Global dimming as a result of the atmospheric brown clouds (ABCs) of black carbon and other particulates that circle the globe (aka aerosols) is having a profound effect on climate change, global warming, plants, migration patterns, and food production worldwide. Unlike CO2, the brown clouds would clear quickly if we stopped sending smoke up in the first place. Solar cooking technology may do more than any other single area of technology to cut back on global dimming.
An example: Nigeria
- Main article: Nigeria
Most of sub-Saharan Africa is buried either in the forest or stands as an island. Nigeria happens to be the major petroleum refining and exporting country - supplying its products to some greater number of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) countries. Unfortunately, inasmuch as the fuel is readily available, the price remains prohibitive and less accessible to the average family. Ironically, Nigeria itself imports refined petroleum products for its domestic consumption from overseas. The result is endless dependence on fossil fuel for our domestic needs - hence the flaggrant exploitation of the forests.
Aware of this tendency, governments had embarked on tree planting campaigns at various levels; but little result has been achieved by these efforts for lack of alternative energy. Cost of electricity is beyond the reach of many urban dwellers let alone the rural majority, hence people prefer to do most of their cooking with charcoal or firewood. In the riverine communities where fishing is the major occupation, preservation is not possible except by drying the fish over firewood or charcoal. The level of carbon infused into the fishes during this drying process constitutes a major source of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. High percentage of much needed protein is lost through this process of preservation. With these activities of wood cutting, our wild-life is almost becoming extinct.
The beautiful ecology is being destroyed at a fast rate due to ocean and desert encroachment. The photographs show pile of firewood for sale and some trucks offloading charcoal while buyers are qeueing up to take delivery of their consignments. Only a solar revolution can save the situation.
Fuelwood consumption around the world
Quotes about the world fuelwood situation
- "Worldwide, more than three billion people cook with wood, dung, coal and other solid fuels on open fires or traditional stoves." [1]
- "Wood energy is the dominant source of energy for over two billion people, particularly in households in developing countries. Biofuels, especially fuelwood and charcoal, currently provide more than 14 percent of the world's total primary energy." [2]
- "2.5 billion people - 40 per cent of the world’s population are still cooking and heating their homes with basic energy sources, such as charcoal, wood, biomass and dung." [3]
- "For cooking, heating and other energy needs, over 2.5 billion people in developing countries depend on fuelwood or, when that is unaffordable, on crop residues and animal dung." [4]
Audio and video
- Get Beyond Firewood, A video produced by the Womens Refugee Commission is a poignant reminder that the need to get past using firewood as a cooking fuel is great, and immediate. Limited forested areas are being depleted, and the smoke from cooking fires is causing respiratory illness. Also, sadly, women living in distressed areas are putting their lives on the line, facing possible assualt when they leave their homes in search for fuel to simply be able to cook for their families. However, solar cooking has begun to be an important part of the solution. Investigate work being done in African Refugee camps. More information on the Womens Refugee Commission.
Reports
- June 2015: Women Spend 374 Hours Each Year Collecting Firewood in India, Study Finds - Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves
- April 2015: How to overcome the firewood crisis - Dieter Seifert
See also
External links
- February 2015: An elderly woman in Morocco is still burdened with the task of scavenging for firewood. (short video)
- September 2011: Around three billion people cook and heat their homes using open fires and leaky stoves burning biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal. Nearly two million people die prematurely from illness attributable to indoor air pollution from household solid fuel use. Read more...Indoor air pollution and health - World Health Organization
- March 2009: Charcoal use burns up Africa's forests - Marketplace
- July 2006: Solar Cooking and Food Processing as an Alternative to Sustainable Utilisation of the Fuel Wood - Elisabeth Mpofu
- Burningissues.org is a tremendous resource for people who want to learn more about wood smoke. It is the home page for Clean Air Revival, Inc.