Segment 1

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Punkbuddhaz Studios, Bigvon Dixikov, Yalambar Khargoli

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A Tale of Tamang Women. Bio briquette. An alternative source of energy.

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Beehive bio briquette is a low cost alternative source of energy, which has great advantage in developing and rural areas.

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Tripeni. Outskirts of Kathmandu, Nepal

VOICEOVER

In the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, there is a small village called Tripeni. Before bio briquettes, villagers had to use firewood as their ultimate source of energy. Firewood produces lots of smoke and is also very dangerous to health. The method of making a bio briquette is very easy. After you produce this charcoal from wild herbs called banmara from the forest, then you grind the charcoal into small fine pieces. Then after the charcoal is grinded, it is mixed with mud. The ratio is two to one. If you add two buckets of charcoal, then you need to add one bucket of mud.

WOMAN

Bio briquette has made a lot of difference in our life, because it is a very good source of income.

INTERVIEWER

Do these children go to school now?

WOMAN

Yes they go to school.

INTERVIEWER

At what grade are they studying then?

WOMAN

Six.

INTERVIEWER

Really?

WOMAN

My son is at class two and daughter is at class six.

INTERVIEWER

Did the village have school before?

WOMAN

Before? Yes there was school even before.

INTERVIEWER

Did you send your children to school even before you started this bio-briquette thing?

WOMAN

No, we did send our children to school even back then… But now there really is a big difference for the family than before.

INTERVIEWER

So without difference both son and daughter get a chance to study?

WOMAN

Yes, we have admitted both of them to school.

VOICEOVER

The mixture is mixed thoroughly then added to a molding machine, where pressure is applied to compress the charcoal and the mud mixture.

INTERVIEWER

So with the income you can easily run the house?

WOMAN

Yes, it is sufficient to run the family.

INTERVIEWER

Do you even save by selling bio briquettes?

WOMAN

Yes, we do have a bit of savings as well.

INTERVIEWER

What would you like to advise people in other villages who are interested in such kind of smoke-free alternative source of energy?

WOMAN

So this is the way of making bio briquette, which would yield income to your family as well.

VOICE

Then after, the mold is taken out from the cast, which has a beehive like shape. Hence it is called a beehive briquette. Then the mold is taken outside and baked in sun. After it is baked, it becomes a very good fresh warm briquette, which is ready to store. Then after you could either sell it at market, or use it for your personal purpose as a clean alternative source of energy.

MAN

The briquette is just enough to sustain your life.

INTERVIEWER

Does bio briquette play a role in deforestation?

MAN

No, the making of bio briquette wouldn't hamper the forest. Because the charcoal needed for the bio briquette is extracted from burning wild grasses. The wild grass is called "Kala Jharr" in Nepali.

INTERVIEWER

Hence it does not destroy the forest.

MAN

We don't need to chop the trees to make the briquette.

INTERVIEWER

How much smoke does this briquette emit then?

MAN

There is smoke while making the charcoal for the briquette. But when the briquette is ready it is nearly like an electric heater, it won't yield any smoke. It won't produce any smoke. But one thing a single briquette only lasts for 60-90 minutes.

VOICE

The Tamang lady also suffers from a heart disease. Maybe after the use of Bio Briquette, she would have less impact upon her fragile health.

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Eco Stove; Bio Briquette

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The Tamang woman who was exposed to cooking smoke for a long time made her a victim of a dangerous cardiovascular disease. Bio briquette is really a gift to her from heaven. Hence, there is hope that this type of smoke-free alternative source of fuel would really bring better health and hope towards the lives of grass hood level people.