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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
We Need More Fuel Briquettes!
Here is a general update about our Fuel Briquette Program here in and around Virunga National Park:
1. 100% of our fuel briquette production output is being sold. Both April and May’s stock was delivered to the five refugee camps in Goma (Bulengo, Mugunga 1, Mugunga 2, Mugunga 3 and Kibati). WWF is purchasing our monthly yield through their emergency fuel fund, and Mercy Corps is in charge of the distribution.
Refugees waiting in line, for their share of fuel briquettes
And then off to their tents with bags of fuel briquettes
2. We are currently training more Rangers and local staff to get them out on the ground to provide proper support to beneficiaries who have received a pressing machine with accessories. We urgently need to get the production yield up. We are confident we can create a demand, but the product has to be out there, competing with charcoal in the markets.
10 Rangers attending training in Don Bosco’s premises in Goma
3. Greenhouses for all. Remember that a dry fuel briquette means a smoke-free fuel source. We need to make sure all pressing teams on the ground have their greenhouse built to quickly dry the briquettes. Last week we ran a training session on how to build a greenhouse, so by the end of this month every group will have one in place. We hope that means production should double!
Cutting the local bamboo for the structure
Getting the structure up for the transparent plastic
Balemba with the white shirt, posing with the Rangers inside the finished greenhouse in Matebe
All efforts are now going into increasing the fuel briquette production and placing good trainers on the ground to give all necessary support and encourage the local population.
Lastly, we are installing our carpentry workshop in Rumangabo, from where we will be making our own pressing machines. More about all this in the next post, so stay tuned!
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RECENT DONATIONS
- 03 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 50
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 02 Sep 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
02 Sep 2010Open donation
Caroline 50 $ -
02 Sep 20104 x Briquette Program
Brenda W 120 $ -
02 Sep 2010Open donation
Ryan B 40 $ - 02 Sep 2010Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ - 02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 178
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 57
Zoe M 25 $ - 02 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 116
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 10
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010Patrol Rations
Unregistered Donor 15 $ -
01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 1
Rosemary M 25 $ - 01 Sep 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Rosemary M 10 $ - 01 Sep 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 01 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 11
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
01 Sep 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Gemma 10 $ - 30 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 45
Pascal 25 $ -
30 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Alexandra S 60 $ - 30 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 25 $ -
29 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 212
Helmut Albert P 25 $ - 29 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Open donation
Juli&Family R 10 $ - 28 Aug 2010Briquette Program
Liz W 12 $ - 28 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 211
Louise M 25 $ - 28 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
28 Aug 2010Open donation
Vikki W 10 $ - 28 Aug 2010Ranger Patrols
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Patrol Rations
Caroline 15 $ - 27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 20
Jessica 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Salary Supplement for a Ranger
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 179
Caroline 25 $ -
27 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 71
Bernard B 25 $ - 27 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 40 $ - 26 Aug 2010Fuel for Patrols
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 26 Aug 2010Briquette Program
Unregistered Donor 20 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 141
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 206
Ryan B 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 25 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Brenton H 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Theresa S 10 $ -
25 Aug 2010Ranger Patrols
Janie P 25 $ - 25 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 107 $ - 25 Aug 2010Protecting Park Area 22
Unregistered Donor 25 $ - 24 Aug 2010Support the Gorilla Orphans
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Aug 2010 Guarding a Gorilla
Unregistered Donor 10 $ - 24 Aug 2010 Multiple items
Unregistered Donor 95 $ - 23 Aug 2010Open donation
Unregistered Donor 10 $
- 03 Sep 2010Protecting Park Area 50
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News from Congo- Suspected rebels rape over 240 women in DR Congo: NGO - AFP
- Congo Mass Rape Numbers Rise To 240: UN Report - Huffington Post (blog)
- Will United Nations Cover-Up Rwanda’s Congo Genocide? - Black Star News
- Soco Falls After Nganga Well Finds Water-Bearing Sands in Congo - Bloomberg
- Congo Gives Rights to Two First Quantum Mines to Hong Kong-Based Company - Bloomberg
- MagIndustries Update on Potash Investment Agreement with Republic of Congo - MarketWatch (press release)
- UN Delays Release of Report on Possible Congo Genocide - New York Times
- UK complicit in bankrolling Congo conflict - The Guardian
- British man piloted Congo death crash plane - The Guardian
- Congo rapes worse than reported - Salon
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10 Responses to “We Need More Fuel Briquettes!”
Thanks for the wexcellent report. This program is so worth while!!
I knew this project would take off like a rocket! Congratulations on a big success, Virgninia!
Fantastic results! You are all wonder workers! x
impresionante!!!!!!
Felicitaciones y hasta cualquier momento
Susana
Hi Virginia,
Thanks for the update, this is excellent news!
Questions: are the new users of briquettes advocating them to their family and neighbours? Are you seeing horizontal progress of awareness?
Also, big question, do the briquettes smell in any way? As some foods are grilled, a smelly smoke would impede the progress of briquette conversion (I’m not saying charcoal doesn’t smell or smells nice, but it’s likely to be an aquired taste!)
Really looking forward to reading more news
Take care and congratulations on the great work.
Virginia. you are a Super Super woman…. sigue adelante-
Fantastic work Virginia, Balemba, Jean Bosco & all the team!
A round of applause to the Briquette Team. You guys are making huge progress. And, great looking greenhouses!!
[...] by training them on how to produce these briquettes by supplying them with training and equipment. These briquettes are then also distributed in and around the various refugee camps in Goma. The lack of interest in charcoal also of course means the parks could potentially be saved and a [...]
[...] by training them on how to produce these briquettes by supplying them with training and equipment. These briquettes are then also distributed in and around the various refugee camps in Goma. The lack of interest in charcoal also of course means the parks could potentially be saved and a [...]