During the last year, the high petrol price has stimulated the production of biofuels from alternative sources (biomass). For effect of the crescent corn demand (used to produce bio ethanol) on the part of the North-American market, the price of this cereal increases, breaking up any record. The main producers, United States, China, Argentine, Mexico, Brazil, and in general the whole Latin American region, go on consequently to increase the production and the extension of agricultural territory. In this scenery, the cultivation of transgenic maize becomes more than a temptation, rising a question: is it ethical to transfer the production of a basic element in the diet of millions of people towards the tanks of our cars? Ecuador represents an emblematic example of this contradiction: in the Amazonian river basin the extraction of oil and in the Western region the crescent maize production, while many people continue to face the challenge against starvation. As we don’t like to talk about problems that seem far from the possibilities of any single person, at least without giving a little hope, we flag some Ecuadorian associations that operate in the field of human rights, rural communities and ecology; maybe someone would be interested in activities of cooperation/volunteering in Equador: Sinchi Sacha, Ecuador volunteer, Fundacion Brethen y Unida, Jatun Sacha, and many others we didn’t contact directly (mainly aiming at supporting rights of the indigenous communities of the Amazonian rainforest).

Since the first days spent in Villa de Leyva, we were curious about the frenetic activity of some masons who, in open countryside, were building a house of unusual aspect, perhaps not particularly nice, but above all burning it. Now we discover that what seemed a game it’s in reality a project of bioarchitecture developed by Octavio Mendoza, a boyacense architect. The concept is very simple: the argillaceous soil, found in large amount directly in the construction place, is used as unique material to model the building. Piece after piece it’s given shape to the structure, that at last is burnt in order to confer it mechanical resistance. The result is a low-cost house of adobe, eco-sostenible, with optimal thermo-regulation properties, of minimal environment impact and antiseismic. The plan seems so brilliant that it has received attention in Europe too, for the moment in Spain and France. The idea is suggested by the example of the indigenous population, in particular the Andean one, that used adobe (a mixture of mud and straw) in order to construct its own buildings for thousands of years.

Left the colonial-styled streets of La Antigua, the road heads directly to the impressive Amatenango volcano, under which is placed the village of San Miguel Dueñas. Here, hidden by the green vegetation, we discover the “Estación Experimental Valhalla”, a project of sustainable agriculture dedicated to the production of organic macadamia nuts. The lovely people of the staff explain us that macadamia is a plant coming from Australia, whose properties have been extensively investigated in the last years and whose fruit is currently used in order to produce oils, cosmetics (facial creams), flour and many other products. Various hybrids of the two original species of macadamia grow in the plantation, representing a botanical variety appreciated all over the world (no grafting is performed, thus preserving the genetic purity and diversity). The evergreen plants give fruits all the year round and easily adapt to different climatic conditions, moreover they allow to absorb much more carbon dioxide than many other plants and turn it into water vapor and oxygen. The nuts, once collected, are processed with a handmade sheller (maybe in the future it would be replaced by the bicycle nut-sheller, fruit of the collaboration with Maya Pedal) and left drying for a month, before being washed in order to obtain the end products. While we have an exquisite macadamia breakfast, we feel the enthusiasm demonstrated by the people who work in the plantation. They tell us they accept volunteers for the collection of the nuts and any person who could carry new and productive ideas in this activity. They already count on the enthusiastic support of the rural indigenous communities, which are beginning projects of reforestation, planting macadamia instead of more aggressive cultivations. It’s another successful idea coming from people who love Guatemala and its beautiful land. For further information, visit their website: www.exvalhalla.net.

Maya Pedal es una ONG nacida en 1997, con el objetivo de ayudar al desarrollo de las comunidades rurales en Guatemala, por medio de la utilización de las “bicimaquinas”. Con el termino bicimaquina se hace referencia a una tecnología intermedia, desarrollada de las bicicletas recicladas: por lo tanto es una tecnología auto-suficiente y eco-sostenible, porque no exige energía eléctrica o combustible para su operación; por otra parte es un instrumento confiable de ayuda para la economía familiar, porque las máquinas producidas siempre tienen una funcionalidad inmediata. En el taller de San Andres Itzapa (Chimaltenango, Guatemala), gracias también a la contribución de un grupo de investigadores del MIT (Instituto de Tecnologia de Massachusetts) de Boston, los varios tipos de bicimaquinas se diseñan y son montados, entre ellos: bicilicuadoras, bicimolinos, bicidespulpadoras de cafe, bicidesgranadoras de maíz, bombas de agua (bicibombas de lazo), bicilavadoras de ropa, triciclos y bicitaxis, biciarados y bicigeneradoras de electricidad. Colaborando directamente con la fantástica gente que crea el pequeño equipo de la organización, he podido entender cuánto se aprecia en Guatemala y sobretodo en las comunidades rurales la actividad de Maya Pedal: cada día hay nueva gente y asociaciones interesadas que vienen a visitar el taller o los contactan, para comprar y distribuir las máquinas montadas en el territorio. Es una experiencia muy interesante participar directamente al simple pero brillante proceso de producción de cada bicimaquina, que se basa exclusivamente en la utilización de las piezas de bicicletas usadas, oportunamente modificadas. Éste articulo quiere ser un consejo para todos los que deseen implicarse como voluntarios en un proyecto que en términos concretos actúe en el territorio, llevando ventaja a las comunidades rurales, donde aún carecen los servicios básicos. Los sitios web de Maya Pedal y Pedal Power representan una buena base para quién esté interesado en este proyecto.

Maya Pedal is an NGO been born in 1997, with the aim to help the development of the rural communities in Guatemala, through the utilization of the “bicimaquinas”. With the term bicimaquina (bicycle machine) they refer to an intermediate technology, developed from recycled bicycles: therefore it’s a self-sufficient and eco-sustainable technology, as it does not demand electric power or fuel for its operation; moreover it’s a reliable instrument of support for the familiar economy, as the machines produced have always an immediate functionality. In the workshop of San Andres Itzapa (Chimaltenango, Guatemala), thanks also to the contribution of a group of researchers of the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) of Boston, various types of bicimaquinas are designed and assembled, just as an example: bicycle blenders (bicilicuadoras), bicycle soil mills (bicimolinos), bicycle corn degrainer and coffee depulper (bicidesgranadora de maiz e bicidespulpadora de cafe), water pumps (bicibombas de lazo), washing machines (bicilavadoras), tricycles and bicitaxis, bicycle plows (biciarados) and bicycle electricity generator (bicigenerador de electricidad). Collaborating directly with the fantastic people who create the small staff of the organization, I have been able to understand how much is appreciated in Guatemala and above all in the rural communities the activity of Maya Pedal: every day new interested people and associations come to visit the workshop or contact them, in order to buy and distribute the assembled machines on the territory. It’s so interesting to participate to the simple but brilliant production process of every bicimaquina, which is exclusively based on the utilization of parts of used bicycles, opportunely modified. This article aims to be a suggestion for all who want to get involved in a volunteering project that in concrete terms acts on the territory, carrying benefit to the Guatemalan rural communities, where still lack basic services. The web sites of Maya Pedal and Pedal Power provide a good source of information for anyone interested in the project.

In the last days we have begun a new and stimulating phase of our travel: after many days of intense searches and some disappointment, we have finally found two volunteering projects. We realize indeed the dream to share in a very intense way part of our journey with the Latin American people. Both the activities approach our interests and professions. The nomadic travel takes a pause in geographic sense, but our willing to explore and to know this complex and coloured world does not diminish, maybe enters in a still more conscious phase. In these days, under the deep contradictions of Guatemala, we often discuss on the indigenous issue, the traditions and the discriminations, the real opportunity to help these people. In Guatemala good part of the social support comes guaranteed through a net of associations, NGO and volunteers, but we discover that in this world there are many false promises. Quetzaltenango (Xela) offers a wide range of volunteering projects in the field of renewable energy: Xelateco is a young manufacturing enterprise, concerned with the fabrication of low cost environmentally sound infrastructure improvements (biodigesters, windmills, water pumps and filters, solar water heaters, micro-hydroelectric); Combustibles Ecologicos SA is another small enterprise interested in the production of biodiesel from agricultural wastes… bienvenidos a Guatemala, the country of the “eternal spring”.

The fossil energetic sources (oil, gas, coal) are destined to get exhausted themselves: in the turn of 20, 50 or 100 years according to the exploitation that will be made, which has drastically increased during the last few years as a result of the economic development of emergent countries (such as China and India) and as the result of the lack of strong environmental politics from the western countries (USA and Europe). The greater part of the climatologists is convinced that the emissions of CO2 are the main cause of the world climate changing that we are experiencing, and that manifests itself with an increase of catastrophic events such as violent precipitations and drought, the dissolution of glaciers and the being left over of the desert zones. With the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, all the states of the Alpine arc have engaged themselves in the reduction of the harmful emissions.

Now, time has come to put in existence concrete measures in order to diminish the emissions, beginning from the private rooms. The greater percentage of the fossil fuel consumption in the houses comes from the heating (approximately 70%), which is understandable considering the typical climate of the Alpine zones. In the reduction of the energetic requirements through techniques of energetically efficient construction and reorganization, it is hidden therefore the best solution for emissions saving: ecoefficiency could be applied both on the new constructions and on the existing buildings. With the adoption of solar technologies (photovoltaic and solar thermal) and modern techniques of coibentazione, the energetic requirement for the heating can be reduced until 80-90%. Today it is possible to think about the energetic saving as a great opportunity of cultural innovation, of valorisation of the natural resources (beginning from the wood). The Alps represent undoubtedly the perfect place where we can experience and make successful the technologies of the ecoefficiency.

Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) technology uses a system of mirrors and lenses to focus sunlight more directly and intensely onto photovoltaic cells. The goal is to reduce cost-per-watt by using PV material more fully and more efficiently — and by using less of it. Moreover it seems to be the good answer in order to contain the weight and to enhance reliability, durability and scalability of photovoltaic panels particularly in remote sites, helping a widespread diffusion of solar renewable energy.

In the field of world energy production, two main features seem to emerge interestingly: photovoltaic energy and biofuels. Wind energy maintains its good position. The high price of oil is leading to a large number of research and development activities in the field of renewable energy. The production of photovoltaic cells was a 44% greater during 2005 than during 2004, sustained by the Japanese technology and by the high demand coming from Germany and Japan itself.

The European production of biodiesel has been a 65% greater than during 2004. Also the production of bioethanol is growing, above all in America, where USA and Brazil are the main producers. With 15 billions of bioethanol liters produced in 2005, USA cover a 2.7% of their total fuel consumption. The high price of oil helps the production of bioethanol in countries as Brazil, where a long experience permitted to develop reliable methods to produce biofuels at lower prices in comparison with oil derivatives.

Germany represents the 50% of the whole production of world biodiesel, the 35% of photovoltaic energy and the 30% of wind energy. The direction is given, some doubts remain over the effective sustainability of this model.

…a nomadic travel along the Americas is coming up on June 2, 2006

With the objective to produce bioethanol taking advantage of the cells metabolic activity, the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has developed methods for the efficient production of biofuels from residuals of agricultural cultivations. In addiction to bio-ethanol, taking advantage to the fermentation processes you could manufacture bioplastics, pigments and drugs. Opportune bioengineering changes in cellular metabolism and enzymatic functions are in development in order to concur to use the biomass as main raw material in place of oil and its derivatives.

Undoubtedly the substitution of the benzine with products of biological origin as bioethanol would resolve the problem of the emissions of CO2, as they would be balanced during the growth of the plants themselves. But how many hectares of cultivations (sugar cane, beet, etc) will have to be used in order to produce bio-ethanol in such amount to replace partially the fuel produced from oil? How many hectares of amazonian forest will have to be destroyed in order to make space to the extensive cultivations of soy and sugar cane? Perhaps the study of the Finnish institute moves in the right direction indicating as possible source of biomass the agricultural residuals (woods and cellulose): in this case the raw materials availability would be increased, but the fermentation processes taking to biofuel synthesis are more complex. Any small step is welcome! Coming up some links for bioengineering notes and My Curriculum Vitae.