Solar Cookers International Network

About SCWNet

Solar Cookers World Network (SCWNet) - formerly Solar Cookers International Association (SCIA) - is a worldwide community of independent agencies and individual promoters and advocates of solar cookers, pasteurizers and food processers. SCWNet was formed at the 2006 International Conference on Solar Cookers and Food Processing in Granada, Spain [1] and revised and renamed following the 2009 Solar Food Conference in Indore, India.

As of February 2009 members include 95 agencies and 160 individuals from 48 countries (list below) and represent diverse devices, strategies, and programs. All members - both organizations and individual - have pages in this wiki unless they choose not to. All are encouraged to edit and add information to their page as needed.

SCWNet's purpose: to improve health, economics and environments through collective actions to spread of solar cooking, pasteurizing and food processing.

SCWNet's messages:

Solar cookers are saving lives and improving health,

economics and environments for about 2 million families and are urgently needed by millions more in fuel-scarce, sun-rich areas.

Solar cookers often reduce need for other fuels by 1/3.
Virtually all foods can be cooked as well or better in one or more types of solar cookers.
Today's solar food technologies are clean, safe, convenient and

pollution-free; they save fuel, time and money; and they reduce respiratory and intestinal diseases and burns from open fires.

Multiple benefits of cooking, pasteurizing and food processing are well

documented in many regions.

Contact

SCWNet Secretariat, Bev Blum, USA
scwnet@solarcooking.org
or blumbev@aol.com

Structure

Steering Committee

Lead agencies for each of six Sections appoint reps to the Steering Committee.

(add org chart) These Sections replace/revise small Task Forces. Members are encouraged to participate in any of the sections at http://solarcooking.org/discuss. Each section works mostly independently to avoid any centralized 'bottleneck.'

ADVOCACY NET

To encourage advocacy at all levels toward policies that utilize the potential of solar cookers, pasteurizers and food processers. Agencies and reps on the Steering Committee for 2009-2010:
Solar Cookers International (SCI) - Dr. Sonia Heptonstall (Switzerland) and Dr. A.J. Lederman (USA)
Solar Household Energy (SHE-Inc.) - Patricia McArdle

TECHNOLOGY NET

To develop standards for evaluating solar cookers performance for diverse consumer needs; develop trainig to help members to upscale capacity to produce, distribute, and provide training and maintaince services. Steering Committee rep:
Promoters & Researchers in Non Conventional Energy (PRINCE) (India) - Prof. Ajay Chandak

COMMUNICATIONS NET

To expand and improve publicity, visibility and links to other networks through websites, member e-news, conferences, etc. also double network membership. Steering Committee reps:
SCWNet Secretariat - Bev Blum (USA)
Solar Food Processing Network (SFPN) - Rolf Behringer (Germany)

THREE REGIONAL NETWORKS

To encourage regional networking and participation in all SCWNet sections. Also guide and monitor progress for SCWNet overall. Steering Committee reps:

AFRICA NET: Solar Cookers for Africa Network - Crosby Menzies (South Africa)

ASIA PACIFIC NET:
Center for Rural Technology Nepal (CRTN) - Ganesh Ram Shrestha (Nepal)
Barli Development Institute for Rural Women - pending
International Center for Networking, Ecology, Education & Re-integration (ICNEER) - Ing. Deepak Gadhia (India)

IBERO-LATIN AMERICA NET (RECOSOL) - Prof. Ing. Pedro Serrano

Advocacy Documents and Activities

(To be linked)

Membership

Organizations and individuals who support SCWNet's purpose are welcome

to join. There are no dues for 2009. Donations are encouraged but optional.

TO JOIN this worldwide network of advocates and promoters of

solar food technologies fill out the Membership Form (below)[http://solarcooking.org/SCIA_Membership_Form_August_2008.doc Registration form (Word doc)] and

email completed form to

scwnet@solarcooking.org

print out & mail to SCIA Secretariat B. Blum,

4271 Round Valley Circle, Stockton, CA, 95207 USA.

DONATIONS ARE WELCOME and will support the all-volunteer

work of this network. Donate by credit card or PayPal through [http://65.108.108.197/catalog/supportthesciassociationscia-p-59.html our online application]. All donations are tax-deductible in the USA through SCI, a 501-c-3 charitable organization. THANK YOU.

SCI Association Members by World Region and Country

Internet discussion forum

An Internet discussion forum that allows association members to freely share ideas and experiences has recently been launched.