<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><div>Hello, my name is Ed, I noticed this thread and I was wondering whether anybody is in a position to help or to advise a friend of mine.</div><div><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">My friend Nicola has been working with Ecuadorian peasants to try to improve their lives following serious water and ground oil pollution incidents caused by Texaco over 20 years ago.</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"> One of Nicolas
projects is to make available uncontaminated drinking water through installing roof rain water collection and filtration systems. She is currently importing charcoal for these filters.</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">She is also exploring bioremediation of the oil spills (in pits which are overflowing into water systems) using oyster mushrooms. I suggested that charcoal may be of use here as well.<br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif;
background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">Rather than importing charcoal for these projects, and given that the LPG subsidies are about to end, I thought that she could give biochar stoves to the Ecuadorians and teach them how to use them and collect the biochar. In return for giving her the biochar she would be able to extend work to enable clean water supplies whilst addressing the issue of the ending of the LPG subsidies.</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">Can anybody with experience in obtaining funding for and implementing biochar stove projects give any advice in doing so here?</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new
roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">I will draw Nicolas attention to any replies here or you could contact her directly through the contact page on her web site www.eyesofgaia.com</div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal;">Thank you.</div></div></body></html>