In a bold move, the Chadian government has forbidden the use of wood charcoal in the capital city. According to a press release by the Party for Liberties and Development, wives and mothers no longer know how to prepare food for their children and their husbands. The price of fava beans, which the youth love so much to eat, has more than doubled. Cereal prices have soared in all markets. Finding firewood and coal, the only sources of domestic energy for the vast majority, has become an ordeal.The Government has also adopted a series of tax measures in its finance law which will make the lives of the poorest Chadian citizens very, very difficult. They will be increasing the prices of construction materials, placing levy taxes on various houses and imposing other taxes which will eventually cause everyone to be homeless. Not long ago, the Government massively destroyed the homes of peaceful N'Djaména residents. Today it prevents them from preparing food, tomorrow it will increase the burden of taxes.
It is hard to understand how the Chadian government can prohibit the use of wood and coal, without proposing domestic energy alternatives. Many people will interpret this situation in a negative light, saying that the Chadian government has once again shown its contempt for all Chadians. Please pray that they will be aware of the danger of their acts to the security of their future, and that viable solutions would be found for them to promote the growth and development of their nation.
Links:
The original press release
IRIN article: Panic, outcry at government charcoal ban
2 comments:
Iam all for praying but God gave us minds and resources to help.How about solar cookers. There has been on going efforts with the Darfur refugees in Irdimi camp to use simple cardboard and aluminum foil to cook their food. Tchad Solar is an organization in Chad doing this. Another group in Darfur Sudan is doing the same thing. look at www.solarclutch.com
If you have a solution using solar cookers for Chad, please come and present it to as many Chadians as you can, and may God be with you!
Solar cookers are good, but they are expensive, and don't work on a cloudy day. Inexpensive, flammable solutions using local materials are needed as soon as possible.
Our concern goes beyond the use of new technologies; our prayer is for the forgotten men and women of Chad in these terrible times, and for leaders who truly care for their fellow citizens, thus establishing their authority in the long term.
The wives of the soldiers in the environmental brigade most likely use charcoal themselves; this is a matter of abuse of authority, and no number of solar cookers can make that go away. What is needed is a change of heart.
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