NEWS: Charcoal fuel gets green light

There are apparently millions of deaths that result from burning wood fuels in africa. New research suggests that changing to almost anything, including kerosene, will dramatically reduce the numbers of deaths and the C02 emissions on the continent. Rearchers have also found out that charcoal would be cheaper than kersoene and thus more workable.



This is pretty incredible, its not often that you hear people advocating for more reliance on fossil fuels, but I suppose that one can't argue with the logic.
I'd expect that this would also mean that there would be less deforestation in the region, which is a plus for all sorts of ecosystem conservation efforts. It might also slow the pace of deforestation, which would be beneficial for humans in many ways.
On the other hand, it would mean that, if the west ever got off a fossil fuel economy, that there would still be places like africa for countries like Saudi Arabia to sell their wares too. That alone would have profound geopolitical ramifications, since in that case the middle east would be dealing with a technologically and militarily 'weaker' consumer, rather than the reverse as now. One need not look further than the Sudan and the Darfur to see an extreme and negative possibility. However the usage of charcoal as the fossil fuel would short circuit that.

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[edit on 4-4-2005 by Nygdan]

avert some 3 million premature deaths and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 65%

Wow! What a major difference. That is great news for the African people. The region already sees so much death its great to see some kind change.

This is pretty incredible, its not often that you hear people advocating for more reliance on fossil fuels, but I suppose that one can't argue with the logic.
I'd expect that this would also mean that there would be less deforestation in the region, which is a plus for all sorts of ecosystem conservation efforts. It might also slow the pace of deforestation, which would be beneficial for humans in many ways.

Not sure if your aware chap, but charcoal isn't a fossil fuel. It is produced by "burning" wood in the absence of Oxygen. So it prob won't affect deforestation at all, but then, it can be made from sustainable sources of wood.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have joined forces to warn residents not to use gasoline-powered generators or charcoal grills indoors or in attached garages because of the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. "If you want to use a gasoline-powered generator when the power goes out, set it up outside in a dry area, away from air intakes to the home," said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. "And never use a charcoal grill inside because you risk being poisoned by deadly carbon monoxide. Opening doors and windows or operating fans to ventilate is inadequate and unsafe. Even with a CO alarm, you should never use a gasoline- powered generator or a charcoal grill inside. "

Source

As you can see they are giving them dangerous instructions by giving them a green light when it is hazardous to human health.



[edit on 4/6/2005 by shots]

but charcoal isn't a fossil fuel. It is produced by "burning" wood in the absence of Oxygen

Doh! Of course, dangit. I was thinking of regular old coal, check on the deforestation bit too!

Central america is heavy into charcoal- lots of early deaths from respiratory problems.

Just one warning in the U.S. about charcoal.

Originally posted by JoeDoaks
Central america is heavy into charcoal- lots of early deaths from respiratory problems.

Just one warning in the U.S. about charcoal.

Agreed

That is the exact reason I posted the link I did which confirms your link