International Aid Agencies Meet to Discuss Solutions to Smoke Related Deaths in Developing Nations

The 4th International ETHOS Stove Conference will be held at Northwest College in Kirkland, Washington January 29th and 30th. The aid agencies and scientists attending the conference will meet to share information on the energy needs of the poor in third world countries. ETHOS specifically deals with improving cook stoves used by the poor in developing nations. Representatives from the EPA, World Health Organization, World Food Program, UC Berkeley, Iowa State, Colorado State, the Chinese Government, Winrock, Trees Water People, HELPS International, PROLENA, and Aprovecho, among others, will be attending.

Kirkland, WA (PRWEB) January 25, 2005 -- Around the world more than one billion people cook over smoky open fires in their homes. Among these people, mostly women and children, upper respiratory infection aggravated by smoke inhalation is the 5th leading cause of death. The ETHOS Stove Conference will bring together international stove experts, and development specialists with the goal of expanding research potentials and sharing information on the design, construction, and dissemination of low cost clean burning cook stoves for the poor.

ETHOS creates an opportunity for environmental policy makers and NGOs such as the EPA and World Health Organization to sit down with stove builders and discuss strategies for creating, funding, and maintaining international stove projects. Combustion experts from many universities and private organizations will be at the conference to share information on indoor air pollution, exposure levels, health impacts, fuel efficiency, stove promotion, design issues, socio-economic impacts, and more. ETHOS encourages the participation of researchers, students, faculty, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and all interested in helping to improve the quality of life for the poor by improving the quality of the air they breathe in their homes.

ETHOS is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to facilitate research and the development of appropriate technology by forming collaborative North-South partnerships between universities, research laboratories, engineers and non-governmental organizations in foreign countries.

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