By Sr. Rita Osigwe, SNDdeN
Sister Rita Osigwe speaks with some women about cookstove initiative
Pope Francis in the 2015 issued an encyclical on care of our common home “Laudato si”. In his encyclical the holy Father called on all to take necessary action against environmental degradation and pollution.
However, in line with pope Francis call for all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action, a Non-Governmental Organization “Sun 24” situated in Florida, USA has taken a step in the right direction. Sun 24 in collaboration with Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) enjoined Justice Development and Peace Commission Nationwide to sensitized and create awareness on Climate change.
Sister Rita Osigwe demonstrates how to use cookstove.
On this note, Justice Development and Peace Mission (JDPM) of Catholic diocese of Ilorin recently embarked on climate change enlightenment workshop across some parishes in the diocese. JDPM Ilorin diocese’s team which was led by Rev.Fr. Emmanuel Ekundayo Director, JDPM and Rev.Sr. Rita Osigwe, SNDdeN coordinator Catholic Community Self-help Association/Women Empowerment Programme (CCSA/WEP) JDPM sensitized parishioners in the parishes visited on Climate change, Climate change crisis, Climate change Adaptation and Climate change Mitigation plan.There was also a practical session on how to effectively use the new innovative traditional Cookstove.
The traditional Cookstove innovation entails adding rock stones to your Cookstove, it is perfect for mitigation and adaptation of Climate change in rural area.
A cross section of participants with Fr. Emmanuel Ekundayo, director of JDPM, Ilorin diocese.
This innovation is viable for rural and small business owners who use charcoal and firewood as a source of energy.
The science of small rock stones is thus: To allow space for oxygen (air) to pass between and facilitate efficient burning. The stones serve also as a heat bank which continues the cooking by releasing the heat accumulated from the firewood.
The participants listened attentively to Sr. Rita Osigwe.
Advantages of the innovative traditional Cookstove are; less smoke, less firewood, efficient cooking, cost effective, benefit to health, time saving and less emissions of Carbon Dioxide (Co2) causing Global warning.
Sr. Rita Osigwe addresses the participants.