PRESS INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HELPS  International, awarded $15,000 of prize money from the “Green Oscars” – Ashden Awards – for its famous stove design. 

-     Finalists personally congratulated by His Royal Highness Prince of Wales.

-          First Lady of Guatemala, Mrs. Wendy de Berger, congratulates Ashden Awards for acknowledging Helps International’s  work in Guatemala.

London – 24 June  2004 – The international winners of the prestigious Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy 2004 were tonight announced at the Ashden annual awards ceremony in London.

The Ashden Awards rewarded seven projects from India, Pakistan, Kenya and Guatemala for their inspirational technologies that rely on renewable energy to provide social and economic benefits for local communities as well as protecting the environment.

The HELPS International ONIL stove, developed by Don O’Neal, was selected as a finalist among over 100 top sustainable energy projects in the world and received $15,000 for designing a pioneering smoke-free, fuel-efficient stove that cuts the wood required by 70% , eliminates indoor pollution and reduces the risk of burns associated with cooking on open fires. The judges commented: “By bringing this sophisticated fuel-efficient stove into the homes of Guatemala’s rural poor, HELPS is leading the way in the fight against crippling respiratory disease and horrifying burns, while also helping conserve the country’s dwindling forests

The ONIL stove is a revolutionary stove design and implementation system that services the poorest by protecting women and children from burn and lung disease, the number one killer for children under 5 years old, and by giving women 2 days a week in time because of the wood savings.  This valuable time is then available for economic and social activity. 

First Lady of Guatemala, Wendy de Berger, expressed her appreciation on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Guatemala for acknowledging the work of Helps International:  “…sustainable energy is pivotal to the reduction of poverty, and poverty reduction is central to world peace…”  The ONIL Stove also enjoys the support of the Shell Foundation, the government of Guatemala and its “partner” NGO’s throughout Guatemala and the United States.

The Awards, hosted by John Humphrys, saw finalists gather at the Royal Geographical Society, London with guest speakers Sir David Attenborough, and Jonathon Porritt, chair of the UK government’s Sustainable Development Commission.

Sir David Attenborough, who presented the prizes, commented: “I have found this evening both humbling and inspirational. We have much to learn from these remarkable award winners. I would like to thank the Ashden Awards for bringing our attention to this groundbreaking work”.

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy – known globally as the ‘Green Oscars’ – now in their fourth year, reward inspirational and innovative renewable energy projects which both provide social and economic benefits to local communities and contribute towards protecting the environment by curbing deforestation and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels - .thereby helping tackle climate change.

The finalists were also personally congratulated by HRH The Prince of Wales at a separate ceremony .  A spokesperson from the Palace said of the meeting: “The Prince of Wales was enormously encouraged to meet these remarkable people who are all making a substantial impact in alleviating poverty and helping protect our fragile environment both at the local and global level. They set a marvellous example which the Prince of Wales hopes will encourage others to follow”

Notes to editors:

International finalists congratulated by HRH Prince Charles

High resolution Pictures of Don O’Neal being congratulated by His Royal Highness Prince Charles and by Sir David Attenborough can be found on the CD along with a Word document of this release.

Background on Ashden Awards:

The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy were created in 2001 by the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. For the first two years, the awards were presented in association with the Whitley Awards for Conservation. The success of the renewable energy awards encouraged the Ashden Trust to set up an independent scheme and to increase the number of awards, thanks to contributions from four other Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts.

International judging panel:

Sarah Butler-Sloss (trustee, Ashden Trust), (Chair)

Dr Christie Peacock (executive director, Farm Africa)

Adam Brett (founder, Tropical Wholefoods)

Dr Alison Doig (Intermediate Technology Development Group)

Dr Anne Wheldon (Energy Group leader, University of Reading)

Andrew Simms (policy director, New Economics Foundation)

Martin Wright (editor, Green Futures)

END.

Above Don O’Neal being congratulated by His Royal Highness Prince Charles and below by Sir David Attenborough.