Hearthlist Digest #222 - Thursday, November 5, 1998
 
Nicaragua
  by "John Gulland" <[email protected]>
 

(back)
Subject: Nicaragua
From: "John Gulland" <[email protected]> (by way of [email protected]
 (Craig Issod))
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1998 08:14:05 -0500 (EST)
 
I subscribe to the CREST stoves email list that discusses the development of
improved wood cookers for developing nations.  A frequent contributor is Rogerio
Miranda of Nicaragua, who, in response to inquiries about conditions and needs
in the aftermath of the disaster, posted this to the list this morning:
==========================
The imediate needs in all effected countries are helicopters, food, water,
clothes, medicines and reconstruction of bridges and roads. The main
concernes are famine and diseases spread out.
 
PROLENA/Honduras togheter with two other organizations has stablished an
information center for local emergency committes, while PROLENA/Nicaragua
are working with forest and energy government agencies to speed up projects
requests to international cooperation agencies.
 
In regard woodstoves,  we forsee a great opportunity to include improved
woodstoves as part of the new houses that will be reconstruct in the near
future. I believe we have to be active in this sense, because usualy the
programs for housing reconstruction doesn't see the woodstove as part of
the design neither budget (of course where woodstove makes sense), leaving
to the people the task of building the stove, what usualys ends up just
like the traditional ones.
 
Perhaps someone in this stove list might have experience in this regard,
e.g, woodstoves components in disaster assistance and reconstruction, and
we would appreciate any advice.
 
For sure we would like to develop a project in which volunteers or
consultants could come to our region to technicaly assist, as well where we
could raise funds to finance the woodstove component into the rebuilt homes.
 
If anyone knows of potential donors and volunteers, please let us know.  We
thank you for your concerns, and look forward for advices and comments.
 
Rogerio Miranda
 
Rogerio Carneiro de Miranda
ATP/PROLENA/Nicaragua
Apartado Postal C-321
Managua, Nicaragua
telefax (505) 276 2015
 <[email protected]>
=============================
Would anyone care to discuss with me a way our industry could coordinate a
contribution to the Prolena organizations in Nicaragua and Honduras?  I am not
so sure we have much general technical expertise to offer since the form of
woodburning practiced in Central America is so very different from what we are
used to, but we could provide financial support and maybe components like flue
pipes when the time comes.
 
If any of you have suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you.
 
Regards,
John
This is for business: http://www.gulland.ca/
This is for pleasure:  http://www.wood-heat.com/