From Pigsties to RoyalPalace |
Prince Charles invited the Shaanxi Green Mothers to Clarence House in London last month and congratulated them for their efforts in promoting biogas to rural village households in the drought-plagued region of China. |
Topic of their discussion is on energy revolution. The Shaanxi Mothers won the Ashden Awards, an international sustainable energy award that recognizes outstanding efforts in promoting appropriate technology and sustainable energy in the developing countries.Friends of the Earth (HK) Director Mrs. Mei Ng who nominated the Green Mothers to the award was a long term ally and project partner.Since 1995, the partners have launched the biogas project later renamed as the “Sunflower Project”. |
The energy revolution that the Shaanxi Mothers are promoting in rural villages in Dali, Mizhi, Baota and Yan’an counties take place in the pigsties, toilets and kitchens. |
With donation from Hong Kong charitable foundations and individuals appealed by Friends of the Earth (HK), the pig-waste-into-energy demonstration projects have benefited over 1294 households in rural villages in the ShaanxiProvince, Western China in 2004-05. |
An average donation of $3000 -$4000 RMB would help one rural village household to retrofit its pigsty, toilet and kitchen.Building underground wells, piping animal and human wastes to the closed anaerobic digesters and transfer the methane gas to the kitchens, the Shaanxi Green Mothers aided by local university agricultural experts, have convinced village folks, local government and donors.A three-partite financing with contribution from donors, local government and the village households has catalyzed a quiet green energy revolution to take root on Yellow Earth in Northwest Shaanxi which is endangered by soil erosion and deforestation. |
Ecological and social benefits include: minimize animal waste pollution, reduce logging, deforestation and soil erosion, provide alternative fuel from coal burning, promote organic fertilizer recovered from methane residue and liberate village women from the daily chore of firewood gathering. |
Welcome to the era of DIY environmentalism.From women power to green power, from reliance to self-help, from choice-less to alternatives, from loggers to become eco angels, the Shaanxi Green Mothers have showcased an outstanding lesson on sustainable development. |
With additional donation, the Shaanxi Mothers hope to expand the pig-waste-into energy project to more rural villages; to capacity build village women to become biogas technicians to service regular maintenance and to extend the biogas demonstration to rural primary schools in the local community. |
Poverty relief brings ecological relief.With savings on fuel costs plus reduced health cost from coal burning and time saved from firewood gathering, the quality of life for village folks would be improved significantly. |
Mothers have more time to spend with their children.Indoor air quality improvement could enhance rural health and lifespan.Monetary saving from buying coal and fertilizer could pay for school fees. |
Prince Charles agreed that biogas is the appropriate technology to solve the energy shortage in developing countries.Shaanxi Mothers have provided a shinning example. Local solution for local problem by the local people is the appropriate response to local sustainable development. |
What can city folks do?Lend support by sponsoring a biogas demonstration in the village household.Donating $2000 RMB with matching funding from local government and village household, you can help improve the quality of life of millions in the rural villages and the quality of the environment. |
The Shaanxi Green Mothers have volunteered time and care to empower fellow village women and they deserve respect and support. |
Support the green energy revolution in the pigsties, toilets and kitchens.Empower rural folks to actualize their aspiration in self-sustainability. |
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For more details of the “Sunflower Project” visit FoE (HK)’s website
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