date: Wed, 7 Mar 2001 10:27:41 +0000 (GMT Standard Time) from: Julie Burgess subject: KERN InfoBrief: March 2001 - Renewable Energy: Experience and to: cru.all@uea.ac.uk MELISSA Program - Managing the Environment Locally in Sub Saharan Africa KERN InfoBrief March 2001: Renewable Energy: Experience and Practice in Sub Saharan Africa Contents Counterbalance: Renewable Energy in a Nutshell Publications Websites Training Conferences: Commission on Sustainable Development, 9th Session New York, 16-27 April 2001 Campaigns: Earth Day Network: Who says you can't change the world? Showcasing African Experience · Diesel Engines in a multipurpose platform project in Mali. · Community Water and Electricity Services Supply in Mauritania · Renewable Energy for Rural Social and Economic Development in Ghana · Biomass Electricity in Kenya · South African Renewable Energy Resource Database · Solar Home Systems in Zimbabwe · Renewable Energy Systems on Remote High Biodiversity Islands: Practical Lessons Learned from Cousin Island Reserve in the Seychelles · Renewable Energy Training Centre in Lesotho · Implementation Strategy for renewable energy in South Africa · Earth Day 2001 - Africa and Alternative Energy Counterbalance: Renewable Energy in a Nutshell The World Energy Assessment Report indicated in 1998 that 14% of the world primary energy consumption comes from renewable energy, with the largest percentage supplied by traditional biomass and to a lesser degree large hydro and modern biogas supply. Other supply technologies include small hydropower, geothermal, wind, solar and marine energy. Products from these sources include energy for heating space, cooking, electricity, hydrocarbon and methanol, ethanol, biodiesel, biogas and steam. Some technologies are used widely and commercially, while other technologies are in pilot or demonstration phases. Biomass is the use of any organic material (wood, dung, straw etc.) for the purposes of creating energy and it is most often used for cooking and heating in the developing world. Low level pollution and thus incidents of poor health often accompany the use. Other environmental considerations of this technology include the size of the land surface as a supply, negative impacts on soil fertility, use of chemicals, impacts on water, biodiversity and landscape. For modern technologies to be absorbed into traditional way of life, barriers of uncompetitiveness, efficient energy conversion technologies, biomass characteristics community acceptance, socio-economic and organisational factors need to be overcome. Some strategies to improve access to efficient cheap biomass energy include increase in Research and Development spending, gain more experience with the improvement in production, creating markets for production trade and use, internalising external costs and benefits. Wind energy is used as an addition to the existing electricity grid supply and can be used for water pump and power supply in remote areas. Technical difficulty to secure continuous supply is one of the biggest challenges, as wind is intermittent. Environmental impacts of this technology are seen as limited. Photovoltaic solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity. The economic potential continues to be debated. Its technical potential is great, as the generated energy can be added to the existing grid; it is often generated close to where it is consumed; it is often used for the electrification of houses, villages and community infrastructure; higher efficiencies can be obtained and costs can be reduced; it can be stored in batteries. Solar thermal energy uses solar radiation to produce high temperatures, which can generate electricity. This energy is best utilised in deserts, where there is little cloud cover. Technically this energy is appropriate for small remote power production and connection to existing grids. Low temperature solar energy is the direct conversion of sunlight into low temperature heat as it is used in domestic hot water systems, large water heating, solar space heating, district heating, heat pumps, solar cooling, and solar crop drying. Hydroelectricity is seen as non-polluting and limitless renewable energy source, and it is economically attractive. Recent evidence has shown that hydropower energy supply contributes to Greenhouse Gas emissions (from the flooded vegetation) and has local environmental and social impacts (such as the effect on the standard of living due to the loss of land and access to resources). It is regarded as a mature technology. Geothermal energy is confined to new volcanic, seismic and magmatic activity and can be used for space heating, industrial use and electricity production. Marine energy technologies use the ocean's kinetic energy from wave and current action. It is often far from the areas of consumption, thereby increasing distribution costs. Some of the technologies have been used successfully (tidal barrages and wave action) and some more recent theoretical technology (marine biogas fuel, salinity gradient and osmotic technology) is not yet deemed economically feasible. Trends in the renewable energy sector include increasing accessibility and choice, innovative technology and liberalisation of markets. Other issues for consideration include: § The characteristics of the renewable energy sources § The electricity design system § The integration of existing grid and the intermittent renewable energy sources § Storage of energy § Policies Over 2 billion people in the rural world rely on biomass for their energy needs. The challenge is to provide appropriate technical solutions and make the necessary institutional changes to support the implementation of renewable energy. Publications Individual requiring any of the following publications are requested to contact the publishers directly. Where possible, contact details have been provided in the KERN InfoBrief. Allderdice, A & Rogers, J. H., 2000. Renewable Energy for Micro-enterprise. National Renewable Energy laboratory, USA Annecke, W., 1999. Concept Paper for Energy and Women: Lessons Learned. EDRC, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Barnes, D. F., Openshaw, K., Smith, K. R. & van der Plas, R, 1994. "What makes people cook with improved biomass stoves?" World Bank Technical Paper No 242, Energy Series, World Bank, Washington, DC USA. Cabraal, A., Cosgrove-Davies, M. & Schaeffer, L., 1996. Best Practices for Photovoltaic Household Electrification Program. The World Bank, Washington DC, USA. EC/UNDP (European Commission and the United Nations Development Program), 1999. Energy as a Tool for Sustainable Development for African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries. New York Gregory, J., Silveira, S., Derrick, A., Cowley, P., Allinson, C. & Paish, O., 1997. Financing Renewable Energy Projects: A Guide for Development Workers. Intermediate Technology Publications, UK. Hankins, M., 1993. Solar Rural Electrification in the Developing World, Four Case Studies: Dominican Republic, Kenya, Sir Lanka, Zimbabwe. Solar Electric Light Fund, Washington DC, USA International Labour Organisation, 1987. Linking Energy with Survival: Energy, Environment and Rural Women's Work. Jimenez, A. S. & Lawand, T., 2000. Renewable Energy for Rural Schools. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA Senelwa, K & Sims E. E, 1999. "Opportunities for small scale biomass-electricity systems in Kenya", Biomass & Biomass Energy, 17:239-255 Saurez, C. E., 1995. "Energy Needs for Sustainable Human Development" in Energy as an Instrument for Socio-Economic Development. UNDP, New York. UNDP, 1997. Energy After Rio: Prospects and Challenges. United Nations Publications, New York. UNDP, 2000. Sustainable Energy Strategies: Materials for Decision-Makers. UNDP Energy & Atmosphere Programme, USA UNDP, 2000. Bioenergy Primer: Roles for Biomass Energy in Promoting Sustainable development. UNDP Energy & Atmosphere Programme, USA UNDP, 2000. World Energy Assessment: Laying the Groundwork of a Sustainable Future. UNDP (USA), UN Dept of Economic and Social Affairs (USA) and World Energy Council (UK). Wamukonya, L. & Davis, M., 1999. Socio-economic impacts of rural electrification in Namibia: Report 1 Comparison between Grid, Solar and Unelectrified Households. EDRC, University of Cape Town, South Africa. WEC, 1995. Financing Energy Development: The Challenges and Requirements of Developing Countries. World Energy Council, London. Websites African Centre for Energy and Environment (ACEE) [1]http://www.acee.co.za African Energy Policy Research Network: [2]http://www.afrepren.org United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development: [3]http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/ Global Approval Program for Photovoltaics: [4]http://www.pbgap.org Global Environment Facility: [5]http://www.gefweb.org Implementation Strategy for Renewable Energy in South Africa: [6]http:///ww.dme.gov.za/energy/renewables.htm International Energy Agency: [7]http://www.iea.org National Renewable Energy Laboratory: [8]http://www.rsvp.nrel.gov/rsvp Netherlands Energy Research Foundation: [9]http://www.ecn.nl/eii/main.html Stockholm Environment Institute: [10]http://www.sei.se UNDP - Energy and Atmosphere Program: [11]http://www.undp.org/seed/eap UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment: [12]http://www.uccee.org UNIDO Energy and Environment: [13]http://www.unido.org/doc/online.htmls World Energy Council (WEC) [14]http://www.worldenergy.org Training Galillee College, the leading management institute in Israel training senior managers from developing countries, will hold the Environmental Management Program on March 7 - 26, 2001 and October 17 - November 5, 2001. The three week intensive Environmental Management program includes lectures, workshops and study tours, enabling the participants to gain further knowledge in their professional field, learn from Israeli experience and visit places of historical, religious and tourist interest in Israel, while networking and exchanging knowledge with colleagues from other developing countries world-wide. Tuition Scholarships are available for citizens of developing countries with a minimum of a first degree and fluent English or French. For the benefit of French speaking countries in Africa, this course will be held in French on May 2 - 21 , 2001 and November 14 - December 3, 2001. For further information and registration, candidates are welcome to visit our website ([15]http://www.galilcol.il) or email Ms Rachel Gottlieb, Director African Division (English) [16]rgottlieb@galilcol.ac.il or M. Jacques Faktor, Directeur du Departement Francophone: [17]jfaktor@galilcol.ac.il Galillee College, P O Box 1070 Tivon, Isael 36000. Tel: +972 4 98 37 444 Fax: +972 4 98 03 227 Conferences Commission on Sustainable Development, 9th Session New York, 16-27 April 2001 In 1992, more than 100 heads of state met in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The Earth Summit was convened to address urgent problems of environmental protection and socio-economic development. The assembled leaders signed the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity; endorsed the Rio Declaration and the Forest Principles; and adopted Agenda 21, a 300-page plan for achieving sustainable development in the 21st century. The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) was created in December 1992 to ensure effective follow-up of UNCED; to monitor and report on implementation of the Earth Summit agreements at the local, national, regional and international levels. The CSD is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), with 53 members. It was agreed that a five-year review of Earth Summit progress would be made in 1997 by the United Nations General Assembly meeting in special session. Earth Summit + 5: The Special Session of the General Assembly held in June 1997 adopted a comprehensive document entitled Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 prepared by the Commission on Sustainable Development. It also adopted the programme of work of the Commission for 1998-2002. The Commission on Sustainable Development consistently generates a high level of public interest. Over 50 ministers attend the CSD each year and more than one thousand non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are accredited to participate in the Commission's work. The Commission ensures the high visibility of sustainable development issues within the UN system and helps to improve the UN's coordination of environment and development activities. The CSD also encourages governments and international organizations to host workshops and conferences on different environmental and cross-sectoral issues. The results of these expert-level meetings enhance the work of CSD and help the Commission to work better with national governments and various non-governmental partners in promoting sustainable development worldwide. CSD Secretariat: Secretariat of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-2220 New York, New York 10017, USA Tel: + 1 212-963-3170 Fax: + 1-212-963-4260 E-mail: [18]dsd@un.org Campaigns Earth Day Network: Who says you can't change the world? Earth Day -- April 22 -- each year marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Earth Day was founded in the United States by Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. Nelson proposed the first nationwide environmental protest "to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda". Highlights from Earth Day 2000 include the following: · A talking drum chain travelled from village to village in Gabon, Africa, protesting against deforestation. · Under the slogan, "Clean Energy Is our Constitutional Right!" the South African NGO groundWork organized a march of local residents in the centre of Durban to protest against the high levels of pollution emitted by the two large oil refineries located in South Durban, and to call for a national transition to cleaner fuel production and clean energy technologies. · Linking climate change to human rights and the ecological impacts of fossil fuel exploration, representatives from indigenous peoples on five continents released a joint Earth Day Solidarity Statement that called for a global transition to clean energy. · Car-Free Day events were held in major world cities on Earth Day 2000 to draw attention to air pollution. Hundreds of thousands of people stayed out of their cars and participated in open-air festivals or bike rallies in Italy, Indonesia, South Korea, Nepal, Australia, Japan, India, Kenya, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Yugoslavia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador and Palau. Now, the fight for a clean environment continues. Earth Day Network has adopted the theme of energy and global warming for Earth Day 2001. No other environmental issue is as pervasive, and its consequences as severe, as the energy we use and the sources we employ to get it. Earth Day Network has mounted a powerful clean energy campaign to mobilize international forces on some of the most critical aspects of energy and global warming. The aim of the campaign is to expose the dangers associated with fossil fuels and nuclear power, and to point the way toward a clean energy future, for all life on Earth. · The Human Rights and the Environment campaign defends powerless communities in developing countries who suffer human rights and environmental abuses when big oil companies extract and transport oil, coal and gas from and across their lands. Partners: Amnesty International, Sierra Club and Oilwatch. · The Green Energy Funding campaign is steering the international funding that pours into developing countries away from polluting fossil fuel projects and towards clean, sustainable energy sources such as the sun, the wind, and hydrogen. Partners: Rainforest Action Network, IPS/SEEN, Friends of the Earth, and Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). · The Green Energy Commitments project is fostering government commitments to renewable energy, particularly in island nation states, whose very existence is threatened by the rising tides associated with global warming. Partners: Climate Institute, Counterpart International, and Winrock International. · The Safe Power: No More Nuclear campaign aims to stop nuclear power, and all its associated dangers, from being accepted by the international community as part of the solution to global warming. Partners: World Information Service on Energy (WISE), and Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS). · The Power Save: Habits for Energy Efficiency campaign shows individuals, businesses and schools, particularly in the USA, how they can use less energy and use it more wisely, for the sake of the environment, and the economy. Partner: Alliance to Save Energy. · The Earth Car Free Day event on 19 April will see hundreds of thousands of people the whole world over stay out of cars as part of a coordinated global call for sustainable transportation. Partner: The Commons. Wherever you are this April, if you take action for the Earth, you are joining a powerful force for change. List your event plans on the Earth Day website at [19]www.earthday.net, and share your efforts with the world. Earth Day Network can be contacted by email at [20]worldwide@earthday.net, by telephone at +1 206 876 2000, by fax at +1 206 876 2015, or by mail at 811 First Avenue, Suite 454, Seattle, Washington 98104, USA. Be part of this global movement for change! Showcasing African Initiatives Diesel Engines in a multipurpose platform project in Mali. (Source: WER, pp 376, 2000) In Mali, 450 multipurpose platforms will provide mechanical power and electricity at the village level by 2003, through diesel engines to 10 percent of the country's rural population. A slow diesel engine was selected as it had low initial capital cost; low prices for its spare parts; its ability to operate without damage on the relatively low-quality diesel fuel; its ease of operation, maintenance and repair by local artisans and the availability of a network of sellers and servicers throughout the country. The typical platform should be able to power a variety of equipment, such as a cereal mill, husker, alternator, battery charger, pump, welder and carpentry machines. Social and economic benefits would be empowering to local women. The platforms would be coupled to water and electricity distribution networks. The project thus provides much needed entrepreneurial activity. Community Water and Electricity Services Supply in Mauritania (Source: Sustainable Energy Strategies, UNDP, 2000) The 3 000 member community of Keur Macene on the Senegal River in Mauritania have access to clean water through the provision of a 2kWe wind turbine. The turbine powers a floating electric pump, which pumps water through the slow sand filtration unit then to covered storage tanks, where drip chlorination provides disinfection. The water is distributed to the houses via underground plastic pipes. The community no longer need to access the badly polluted river water and the incidences of serious water related disease had decreased from over 80 % to 5%. Renewable Energy for Rural Social and Economic Development in Ghana (Source: Sustainable Energy Strategies, UNDP, 2000) The Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) is the first of its kind in Sub Saharan Africa in 1999. It was established in response to the need of over 4 000 communities lacking electricity. A US$ 2.5 million UNDP/GEF, US $ 1 million from the Ghanaian government and Photovoltaic equipment from a Spanish bilateral development assistance loan enabled the RESCO to provide off grid electricity to households, community and economic productive uses. Customers include NGOs, CBOs, local government offices, farmers, fisherman, co-operatives, small enterprises and households. The RESCO has been planned as a for-profit organisation with the financial and managerial discipline needed to supply services and collect fees for services. The company intends to own, maintain and repair the electricity supply equipment. An initial survey indicated the communities' willingness and ability to pay for the services. Biomass Electricity in Kenya (Source: Senelwa, K & Sims E. E, 1999. "Opportunities for small scale biomass-electricity systems in Kenya", Biomass & Biomass Energy, 17:239-255) The study estimated how much electricity might be generated from biomass for off-grid villages in Kenya. 99% of the rural population is not connected to the electricity grid and the country has no known fossil fuel reserves. The study investigated the three most likely wood-energy sources: government forests and logging wastes, farm trees and sawmill wastes. The practicable and economic resources (including technical and financial constraints) were however not estimated in the study. The wood processing residue was the most promising and given the supply of residues it might be economic to install a wood gasifiers to power a gas turbine or diesel generator. The option of the government forests and farm forestry did not seem feasible, due to remoteness from consumers and not enough organic materials to sustain power generation. South African Renewable Energy Resource Database A national renewable energy resource database has recently been compiled for South Africa. The renewable resources include: biomass, mini and macro hydro, and solar energy potentials. The South African wind resource is in the process of being compiled and will be completed by the end of June 2001. § Biomass potential has been modelled from wood (unprocessed and processed), agricultural, and grass residues on an annual basis. § Hydro potential has been modelled for both macro and micro power potential on an annual basis. Macro power potential represents accumulated river flow, while micro power potential reflects local river flow or non-accumulated flow (i.e. flow over a 1 km stretch of river). § Solar energy potential, mean annual and monthly, has been modelled for global (direct plus diffuse) radiation. The model includes the atmospheric components of cloud cover and transmissivity, as well as the geometric component. Each renewable resource has been modelled within a geographical information system (GIS) at a horizontal spatial scale of one square kilometre (i.e. 1 x 1km grid cell size). The database is valuable for national scale research; to highlight areas of potential which can then be targeted for more detailed analysis. A hybrid optimisation model will be linked to the renewable energy database, allowing for analysis of the optimum design of a hybrid system based on the available renewable energy resources. The optimisation model includes all of the four above-mentioned resources (biomass, micro hydro, solar, and wind). The CSIR, Eskom, and Department of Minerals and Energy jointly fund the project. Details of the resource potentials can be found at the following URL: [21]http://www.csir.co.za/environmentek/sarerd/index.html Contact Details: Jillian Muller CSIR - Environmentek PO Box 395 Pretoria 0001 Tel: +27 12 841 3992 Fax: +27 12 841 2028 Email: [22]jmuller@csir.co.za Solar Home Systems in Zimbabwe (Source: Sustainable Energy Strategies, UNDP, 2000) The UNDP/GEF photovoltaic project in Zimbabwe has stimulated the establishment of dozens of photovoltaic suppliers and installation companies and over 7 000 systems have been installed over the past seven years. The majority of these suppliers, however, did not have a very firm commercial base and have closed down after the project ended. The two main support structures were the credit facility with the Agricultural Finance Corporation and the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority established a pilot free-for service business operation for 500 systems. Bulk components were purchased through the United Nations Procurement centre thus achieving economies of scale. This eliminated the capital risk associated with a small company maintaining an inventory of expensive equipment. An evaluation suggested that the fee-for-service is a preferable way to use the Photovoltaic systems for off-grid communities. Renewable Energy Systems on Remote High Biodiversity Islands: Practical Lessons Learned from Cousin Island Reserve in the Seychelles Nirmal Jivan Shah, Chief Executive, and Kerstin Henri, Project Manager, Birdlife Seychelles, , P O Box 1310 Mahe Seychelles Email: [23]birdlife@seychelles.net Cousin Island is a small granite island in the Seychelles archipelago in the Indian Ocean on the East coast of Africa. Purchased by Birdlife International in 1968, the island reserve including the entire fringing reef, is managed as an integrated "sea and island reserve". It is an important site for nesting hawksbill turtles in the Western Indian Ocean and has a large marine fish biomass, with colonies of seven globally important bird species as well as many other endemic land bird species, native reptiles and invertebrates. The reserve is self-financing through controlled eco-tourism and provides funds for other conservation projects. In 1998, the management of the island became the function of the newly established NGO, Birdlife Seychelles. A priority of the new management was to maintain a safe, effective and sustainable physical infrastructure on the island and to "green" its operations. The generator was replaced by a solar energy system. As it was not possible to source the system in the Seychelles or to get foreign exchange to import the necessary panels, the funding was sought form the Dutch Trust Fund for Seychelles. The staff of the Energy Affairs Division of the Ministry of Industry and International Business assisted Birdlife Seychelles with the writing of the proposal, the ordering of the appropriate equipment and the installation of the system. The seven permanent staff and visiting scientists have electricity 24 hours, which is a big change from the previous system when the noisy diesel generator provided power for a few hours each evening. Each house had a set of solar panels as well as a band of batteries to store energy for use after sunset. The new system provided enough power for each house to run several lights, a TV, and a specially designed energy saving refrigerator or freezer. The reserve manager also has access to a computer and other several small appliances through the system provided to his house. Communal facilities include a solar water pump, which provide clean efficient alternative to the old diesel pump. We have learned a few important and practical lessons from this project, which may not be self-evident to people living in developed countries. These lessons include the following: § It is difficult to acquire appropriate renewable energy systems in many small island developing states and insular areas. § Foreign exchange to purchase good quality equipment, which remain expensively priced, may be limited. § Expertise to design, choose, and install the appropriate system is critical. § Certain "off-the-shelf" equipment such as PC computer and freezers will not run efficiently on solar energy and replacements will have to be catered for. § All equipment, particularly solar panels, have to be robust and "tropilcalised" to withstand the harsh environmental conditions prevalent on tropical coastal areas. Renewable Energy Training Centre in Lesotho (Source: Jimenez and Lawand, 2000. Renewable Energy for Rural Schools) The Bethel Business and Community Development Centre (BBCDC) based in Lesotho is a private agency whose goal is to develop the human, economic and technical potential of the area through practical training. From 1993, the students and staff, without prior knowledge or experience installed the renewable energy systems. The energy system types and services included photovoltaics, solar ovens, solar water heaters, underfloor solar mass heating systems, water tank mass heating systems, solar greenhouse, radiative nocturnal cooler, passive solar design, daylighting, hydraulic ram pumps and biomass from fuel wood coppice. This energy system supplies energy to four staff houses, a guest flat, a conference centre and a library-office building. Contact: Ivan Yaholnitsky, Bethel Business and Community Development Centre, Box 53, Mt Moorosi 750, Lesotho. Implementation Strategy for renewable energy in South Africa The vision of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) is to access to adequate and affordable energy to developing communities through a balanced mix of alternative energy resources at a reasonable cost. The main objective of renewable energy should be the empowerment of the deprived so that development and job creation can take place. The majority of the population in South Africa live in the rural areas. There are a number of ways to supply energy to these areas. The DME has embarked on several programmes to supply energy to these rural areas. Some of these programmes include: § RDP Schools and Clinic program § Solar villages § Solar Home Systems § Wind Energy § Solar water heating and pumping § Solar thermal energy Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Mineralia Centre, 391 Andries Street, Pretoria, South Africa Chief Director: Communication Mr Kanyo Gqulu Tel: (+ 27 12) 317 9537 Fax: (+27 12) Mail: Private Bag X59, PRETORIA, 0001 E-mail: [24]yonelas@mepta.pwv.gov.za Earth Day 2001 - Africa and Alternative Energy The Africa region participated in Earth Day 2000's "Clean Energy Now!" campaign in unprecedented numbers. Engaging millions of people through fairs, protests, lectures, art competitions, seminars, music, theatre and dance, Earth Day continues to provide people in Africa with a powerful bulwark against environmental degradation. This year, alternative energy continues to take centre stage, both in the domestic and international sphere. Earth Day 2001's Clean Energy campaign will provide a platform for people around the world to show they care for the planet, and demonstrate their support for renewable energy. Earth Day celebrations will culminate with the ninth Convention on Sustainable Development (CSD9) in April, where the case for alternative energy such as biomass, solar, wind, and geothermal power will be presented. In no other region has the struggle against the fossil fuel industry been more remarkable than Africa, where poverty and corruption has severely debilitated the environmental sector. In spite of this, environmental groups and NGOs in Africa are blazing the trail in the movement towards clean energy; working with very little to effect meaningful, real changes in their communities. By tying their activities with Earth Day 2001's campaign for clean energy, these groups are placing the emphasis on clean energy necessary for it to become ingrained in public consciousness, putting aside their differences and joining forces in a common plight. Climate change and the abuse of human rights by multinationals have spurred environmental initiatives across Africa, and the following are but a few examples of what is being planned for Earth Day 2001: Indigenous communities in Nigeria are working hand-in-hand with an NGO coalition to regain their pride and rebuild their traditions - which are intimately connected to their natural environment. In the rural villages of the Cross River States region of Nigeria, small, grassroots projects are providing people with alternatives to denuding precious rainforests. Entrepreneurial projects, such as snail and mushroom farming, are uplifting people economically, while giving them the environmental and legal know-how to challenge corporations and national governments. Contact: NGO Coalition for the Environment (NGOCE) Earth Day 2001 event: Solar energy workshop Address: 18 Orok Ita Str., Big Qua Town, PO Box 2839,Calabar, Nigeria. Email: [25]ngocenvironment@yahoo.com Tel: 234 87 22 35 03 Fax: 234 87 230 681 In Tanzania, the Kilimanjaro Environment Facility (KEF) is holding a public awareness event for Earth Day 2001 under the theme of "Fight Against Global Warming - Help Protect the Snow of Mount Kilimanjaro." Thousands of people from the town of Moshi are expected to attend, including students and government representatives. Posters, drawings and other media will be distributed to educate the public about climate change. Arts and cultural groups will contribute with song and dance. Contact: Kilimanjaro Environment Facility Contact person: Joseph Swai Email: [26]KEF_TZ@excite.com Address: P.O. Box 6928, Moshi-Tanzania In Ethiopia, the Heinrich Boell Foundation is organizing a one-day forum on Environment and Food security for Earth Day 2001. There will be an exhibition to demonstrate the use of solar energy for cooking. The event aims to promote greater awareness about alternatives to cutting down trees for fuel wood. Contact: Heinrich Boell Foundation Address: P O Box 41079, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Tel: 251 1 624860 Fax: 251 1 615439 Email: [27]aasferachew@hotmail.com In Ghana, seminars and exhibitions are being held for Earth Day 2001 to educate the public about alternative energy. The League of Environmental Journalists is running a two-day workshop to explore the role of the media in the promotion of clean energy technologies in Ghana. About thirty journalists will attend presentations to better inform them of energy-related issues. The workshop will be followed by field trips to renewable energy installations. Contact: the Green Earth Organization Earth Day event: seminar and exhibition on the theme of sustainable energy, to be broadcast on the radio, television, and newspapers. Contact: League of Environmental Journalists Contact person: Mike Anane Address: P.O. Box 2062, Accra, Ghana Email: [28]lejcec@ghana.com Phone: 233 21 221 849 In Egypt, Friends of the Environment and Development Association (FEDA) will be running a workshop on the theme of clean energy with the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs. Contact: Friends of the Environment and Development Association (FEDA) Contact person: Adli Bishay Address: 88 El Qasr Al Aini Str, Garden City, Suite 31,Cairo Tel: 20 2 795 3346 Fax: 20 2 795 7637 Email: [29]eda@idsc.net.eg In Kenya, the Environmental Trust of Kenya is planning a two-day workshop for youth, which will include a presentation on clean energy open to the public. The ETK will also be publishing an article on clean energy in the local and national newspapers. Contact: the Environmental Trust of Kenya Contact person: Fatema Rajabali Address: P.O. Box 90193, Nairobi Phone: 254 222503 Fax: 254 11 311789 Email: [30]ETK@supercopiers.africaonline.com To see what other activities are being planned in accordance with Earth Day 2001's Clean Energy campaign, please visit the website at [31]www.earthday.net and click on "Find an Event." To enter events of your own, please email [32]leigh-anne@earthday.net . _________________________________________________________________________________ We invite you to contact the MELISSA Program for further information, contributions, comments and suggestions regarding the KERN InfoBrief at: Program Co-ordinator, The MELISSA Program, c/o World Bank Country Office P O Box 12629, Hatfield, 0028 Pretoria, South Africa. Tel +2712 349-2994 Fax: +27 12 349-2080 Email: [33]melissa@melissa.org Website: [34]http://www.melissa.org Bridget McBean The MELISSA Program/ World Bank Office in South Africa P O Box 12629, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa Tel (+27 12) 349-2994 Fax (+27 12) 349-2080 email: [35]bridget@melissa.org Website: [36]www.melissa.org