Project coordinator / chairman YES-Africa | | Together with Arjan Doeswijk and many volunteers, we are making an effort with the jatropha tree in search of the answer to one of the the big questions of our time: how do we go on producing and consuming in the near future if we don't take notice of nature and the environment? Will it be a just continuation of the monopoly game played by the rich western countries or are we going to wise up and start sharing chances and economic growth? The future will tell, I guess... Anyway, I am not prepared to leave it in the hands of those who obviously don't care. | | |
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Project manager / treasurer YES-Africa | | When I started the jatropha project, one of my goals was to prove that you can start low-profile projects in developing countries that will continue after the initiator has left for his or her home country. By informing the local people in Tanzania about the opportunities that jatropha offer, we try to motivate them to start growing this tropical plant. Our assistence is mainly based on project management support and sharing knowledge. See you in Djibouti will be a real-life demonstration in harvesting seeds, cold-pressing and filtering the jatropha oil. Filling the tank of the truck and driving away should convince the local farmers about the potential market possibilities for the jatropha oil as a substitute for diesel. It will be definitely worth taking up the challenge. | | |
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Navigator / guide | | I am one of the Catholic brothers of the "Brothers of Jesus the Good Shepherd" congregation, assigned to the parish of Hedaru (Tanzania). As a groep of Catholic brothers we are working together with Mark and Arjan on the Jatropha project. We have initiated several jatropha projects that generate income for the local people and we use the oilseed farming system ourselves to provide in our own energy needs as well, like car fuel and electricity. As one of the Tanzanian project partners of the YES-Africa Foundation, we are very positive about the changes that jatropha oilseed farming gives us. We have the hope that it will bring economic growth to poor people and that it will give us new means of having sustainable energy which also contributes to the environment. | | |
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The People 
