Project Gaia/Brazil Trip Report: Assessment of the CleanCook Stove Supported by Microdistillery Ethanol in Minas Gerais, Brazil, 9-25 June 2006
James Murren The Stokes Consulting Group 2 July 2006
Gaia Brazil 02Black stone pots are quarried and crafted in Minas Gerais. They
are preferred especially for cooking beans and soups, as they keep
the contents hot long after being removed from the stove.
James Murren and Cheryl O’Brien of the Stokes Consulting Group (SCG) landed in Belo
Horizonte, Minas Gerais, around 11:00 a.m. local time on 10 June 2006 where they were
met by Regina Couto, Project Gaia/Brazil Director, and Erica Morais, Financial Manager of Banco do Povo, a regional NGO and Project Gaia’s facilitating partner on the ground. Banco do Povo (BP) specializes in micro-credit financing.
James and Cheryl were taken to hotel for rest and relaxation before being picked up at 4:00 p.m. for a driving tour of the foothills outside of the city. Accompanying Regina and Erica was Cesar Moreira, Executive Director of Banco do Povo. Over a dinner a traditional dishes, James and Cheryl explained the general expectations of the next two weeks: (1) visiting homes using the CleanCook stove in the three pilot study sites of Salinas, Dom Orione and Ponte Nova to make an initial assessment, (2) reviewing project expenses and setting the remaining budget, establishing an easy-to-use database, and (3) assessing other project needs, challenges and successes.
Plans were set for the following day’s flight to Montes Claros. Following is a day-by-day account of James and Cheryl’s trip. A summary is provided at the conclusion of this report.