Xie LuQian
( 61 ) and Yan GanLian ( 50 ) in YONGSHUN in Hunan province in China have a
dream.
They are in
good physical shape, but feel that they are both old and find farming tiring as
all three of their children have moved to the city. They have not yet approached
retirement age by western standards, but in China they would both normally be
retired long ago if they had a normal job in a city. Xie LuQian (61) has in
fact already lived longer than average in the rural population of China. The
average life expectancy in the countryside of China is actually under 60 years.
So, it is perhaps not surprising that they feel that they are getting old.
"I would
really like a biogas tank on the farm," says Xie LuQian and smiles. "It
would be very nice to not have to pick twigs and wood any longer. Cooking would
be so much easier" said Yan GanLian and wince slightly as she stretches a
tired arm. A biogas tank would save her
many hours of work each day she explains.
Yan Gan
Lian also thinks that it would be nice to get rid of all the dirt from the two
cows in an easy way. It makes the farm much cleaner and hygienic.
This simple
construction helps us get rid of something
we do not want (animal and human waste) and turns it into clean energy (for
cooking and lighting) and free organic fertilizer of high quality that does not
smell. In fact, the agricultural production in this grand country is in fact responsible
for more pollution than the industry. Reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture
through the use of biogas is therefore a key to improving the environment.
Many women I
have spoken to about biogas are particularly excited about the prospect of having
a smoke-free kitchen after getting biogas. I ask if this is important to this
couple. " No no smoking in the kitchen and need to collect wood? Then I'll
be healthy even though I'm old!" says Yan Gan Lian, laughing.
|
Mr. Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife , Yan GanLian ( 50 ) dream of biogas on the farm. |
How does
the biogas tank work?
Biogas is formed when animal (or human) dung and other
compost are inserted into the digester and become methane gas in the tank under
the ground. This gas has no smell or smoke and can be used for cooking and
lighting fires. When the mixture has released the gas, it comes out as organic
fertilizer of high quality. That means Xie LuQian and Yan GanLian not only get gas for cooking and
light, but they also receive high quality organic fertilizer that increases their
crop yields.
In addition,
to increase revenue, reduce costs and free up time for poor farmers, biogas is helping
to improve the status of women, improving health and hygiene, as well as protecting
the environment.Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over
1,000 families in YONGSHUN in Hunan to get biogas on their farms. During this
year we want to help to provide biogas for several families including Mr. Xie
LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife Yan GanLian . Through the "International Biogas
Project" we are able to provide biogas for farmers both in China and Madagascar.
Would you
like to fulfil the dreams of Xie LuQian and Yan GanLian?
Have you planned your vacation this year? Are
you traveling by air this year? Then you can buy “Carbon Offset” from NMS while
helping Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife Yan GanLian and others in their village
to get biogas on the farm and thus reduce poverty, protect the environment and to
improve women's health.
If
you’re in the UK (or if you have UK bank account), you can support the project
here. If can read Norwegian, you can give one-off gift to the project here or
support the project regularly here. If you live in another country and would
like to support this project, please send us an e-mail and we will let you know
the best way.