Wonderful and thanks to all the wonderful people for donating more money - what a cause - it’s great to think this can happen! I appreciate what I have so much more every day now that I blog on Wildlife Direct!

Well done! So, are the supplies in the hallway of the house where the drunken truck driver knocked down a wall?
s.

Samantha, Thank you for updating us on your activities and what your are purchasing. I wish we could all do so much more. I’ve been on the computer researching the war. The things I’m finding out are devestating, to say the least. I know Wildlife Direct is about “Wildlife”, I just wish we could have another venue like Wildlife Direct where we could actually reach out to the people, the woman and the children affected by so many atrocities. So how give them hope and encouragement. I’ve seen photos of woman laying on the dirty ground waiting for surgery at Panzi Hospital. Anyway, we can help them get some cots or chairs for these woman to lay on? Lisa

I have not had enough coffee this morning….so let me say that one again. Is there any way we can help Panzi Hospital provide chairs or cots for these woman to use while they wait for surgery? Lisa

Where is Panzi Hospital Lisa? And yes Sheryl, hallway of same house. They started rebuilding the wall today, sort of. A lot of bashing going on anyway. And they stuck up a piece of cloth so that people walking down the road cannot just come in (my main concern in the military who pass a lot!)

Samantha:
I have been reading the blogs about the gorillas for a couple of weeks now, though I don’t usually post comments. But I am here.
I’ve been thinking about the problem of people going into the parks illegally poaching. I’m wondering what other problems the rangers face, such as illegal grazing of animals. I’m wondering what can be done to help the people so they won’t have to go into the park. Do you have any suggestions for this? I’m thinking of planning a trip to see the gorillas in order to bring my tourist dollars. I’m concerned about the fighting in the DRC so I may just visit Rwanda and Uganda (unfortuanately). With my visit, I want to contribute to the notion that the gorillas are more valuable alive than dead. I’m also very interested in the microcredit organizations in the region. Are you familiar with that concept? I’ve been researching and know of one in the DRC called Hope International. Do you know of it or others? I am also involved locally (in Central California) in a Fair Trade Coallition. I’m wondering what types of agriculture is in the region and if there anything going on to promote sustainability, microcredit and fair trade in the areas of the DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. I’m wondering if people can be supported in ways they need, like the clinic, it could help the cause to keep illegal activity out of the parks. Of course the figting that’s going on is a whole other story. I look forward to more stability in your region.
Thank you for any information to my questions that you can provide.

Hi Samantha, This is the link where I saw the pictures of the women laying on the dirt waiting for surgery at Panzi Hospital: http://www.vday.org/contents/drcongo When I Kindly Searched Panzi Hospital this is what I found: http://www.panzihospitalbukavu.org/ It seems to be a well run, fully function hospital with all the bells and whistles, but why do the woman have to lay in the dirt to await surgery? I just really wish more could be done for the people of the Congo. I wish things were not so complicated and I’m heartbroken that people have to go through such horrific circumstances in their lives. Anyway, thanks for doing what you are doing for the people at this local health clinic. Lisa

Panzi Hospital … http://www.panzihospitalbukavu.org

Thank you Jim. Bukavu unfortunately is quite a way from me Lisa. On the other end of Lake Kivu. Takes about 5 hours by boat or a short plane hop (road is terrible). In fact I have never even been. I hope to go soon - it is meant to be quite different to Goma. That is where the rebels of Nkunda attacked in 2004 and took control of the city. It is also known for its bureaucracy! I wish I could do something to help the hospital but unfortunately I am simply too far away… I shall put my thinking cap on and see if I come up with anything.

Dear Pam,
I am gathering from your research that you are understanding that eastern DRC is a complicated place. War, an ever increasing humanitarian crisis, one of the most densely populated areas in Africa, and problems worsened by rival ethnicities… and that just touches the surface. The humanitarian crisis is taking priority, as it absolutely should. But with the situation evolving and changing each day, it is very hard to keep track. Within this context people need to feed their families. Their only source of domestic fuel pretty much is charcoal. The charcoal comes from Virunga National Park. One of the main solutions: We must find an alternative source of domestic fuel for inhabitants of Goma and surrounding areas. If we do not, the park will continue to be looted for trees and the habitat of the Mountain Gorillas, elephants, buffaloes, antelopes etc will be destroyed. That is what is needed. You can put all the rangers in the world in the park, but it won’t stop the problem. But first we need the fighting to stop.
We need political stability. And then we need international pressure to try and help find a solution to this problem of domestic fuel. This needs to be done in conjunction with community development, but again, we need an immediate solution to the cutting down of the trees.
This is how I see it.
And time is running out.
Let me know if I can help further.

Samantha, Very thoughtful and straightforward. Fighting to stop, political stability, international pressure for a solution to the domestic fuel crisis, and community development. Thank you for laying it out. Aside from the fighting and political instability, it all sounds like a challenge, but most certainly something that is very attainable. We all need to actively lobby our reps regarding these issues now, with the problem of domestic fuel at the top of the list. Thanks Samantha. Lisa

Thanks Lisa. You are right. We need to lobby to find an alternative to the charcoal. This is so very urgent. I have just said as much also in an interview with Anderson Cooper, so fingers crossed it all comes across okay.

I can’t wait to see Anderson’s report. If you hear anything about when it is going to be on, please pass the word along, and I’ll do the same. It should be an outstanding piece. Lisa

Hi Samantha:
Thanks for your explanation of the the fuel situation. I’ve been thinking about this quite a lot since I first read your post. One more question (pardon my ignorance). What are the main uses of the charcoal? Cooking? Other uses? Thanks again for your attention.

Let me explain the reason behind my question. Today I shared your information about the charcoal with my students. We are discussing sustainable alternative fuels in science. I am challenging them to think of alternative fuel technologies. They are only 8th graders, but I’m trying to increase their awareness. I’m also in contact with a university professor who is making the same challenge to his students. I’m planning to share the information you gave me with him and ask him to make his students aware of the situation there. At the least, it can increase awareness.

Hi Pam. The charcoal is used for cooking purposes only. There is simply no other alternative. The industry is estimated at $30 million per annum for Goma and surroundings and some goes to Rwanda. We need an alternative NOW. After an initial capital investment gas would work and would not vary hugely in price. Charcoal is absolutely not cheap once it gets to the market in Goma.

Samantha, Would that gas be in the form of propane? Just curious. Thanks. Lisa

There is thought to be 55 billion cubic metres of methane trapped at the botton of Lake Kivu, see … http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Kivu … a small amount of gas is currently being extracted to fuel a brewery in Rwanda … http://www.avec.co.za/casestudies/cs_08.htm … I wonder how much charcoal 55 cubic metres of methane could replace? … and would the DR Congo and Rwanda fight over the gas in the lake?

For those suspicious of Wikipedia, here are some better references about the methane in Lake Kivu … http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3438.html … http://perso.orange.fr/mhalb/kivu/eg/eg_1a_lac.htm … http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/front/detail/Researchers_try_to_defuse_African_time_bomb.html?siteSect=105&sid=8308651&cKey=1192213722000&ty=st … http://www.eawag.ch/organisation/abteilungen/surf/schwerpunkte/project_overview/kivu/kivu (PDF, in French)

Ooops … the latter reference, the PDF, is in English.

Ooops #2, at the post above headed, “Jim G. on November 1st, 2007 at 9:41 pm” … the next to the last sentence should read, “I wonder how much charcoal 55 billion cubic metres of methane could replace?” … off to bed now!

Thanks Jim. I think guys that it can be butane or propane. To be honest i am no expert. And you are right Jim that there is a ton of methane in the bottom of the lake that could be exploited. Bottom line is there are feasible and achievable options - we just need to get them implemented by those who have the expertise and the resources. It is not just about money here, we need know how too.

TO: Samantha … some of the references I posted were very technical, but I wanted to make the point that you just did … the technology exists and the DR Congo is, apparently, way behind Rwanda in exploiting the resource … and removing the methane would lessen the danger of Lake Kivu ‘overturning’ and suffocating the surrounding population!

Thanks Jim. Yes, quite right - bottom line is that there is an achievable solution to this massive problem.

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I watched The Greatest Silence last night and have not been able to stop thinking about it and how I can help. Do the donations from this website go directly to Panzi Hospital? I’m sure the funding will be put to good use anywhere, but I was just curious if Panzi would get any funding.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Williams