These images show inefficient wood-burning cook stoves in use in the emerald mining region.
Similar scenes are repeated throughout the third world where wood is used to cook.
                                                  

At the Coscuez mine, we left off a rocket stove to replace the open cooking fire that we found there. I will update this page with the results of my follow-up in December.

Quick update 11/29/06 - I returned to Coscuez and Ruiz, the older man in the shirt, said that he uses the rocket stove all the time when cooking for up to 12 people. He boils 6 gallons of water at time with it! He says that for cooking for 15 - 25 miners, he uses the pile of wood to boil larger quantities.

Noemi's son says they use a lot less wood now and that there is no more smoke.

11/29/06 UPDATE  After visiting the region in October, I got orders of 50 rocket stoves each from the mayors of Borbur and Muzo. I am trying to perfect the details of the construction so that we can deliver and start to really make a difference. One kind lady, Dr. Lori Summa, after giving a generous cash donation, said, "It's a girl thing. Women are cooking all over the region and the world and we need to protect their health." (donation page is here >>)

Alejandra Pinto in Tunja is generously giving time to this project, and other fine ladies. More updates will follow.

                   
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