WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Music For Relief (MFR) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) today launched a campaign to raise necessary funds to provide an entire village in the Himalayan country of Nepal access to clean, green biogas technology.
Founded by two-time Grammy winning/multi-platinum rock band Linkin Park, MFR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to survivors of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. MFR will reward supporters who raise funds for the campaign here with a chance to win tickets to see Linkin Park at a small, private performance in Las Vegas in January.
A segment of Power the World (an initiative that brings together Linkin Park, MFR and the UN Secretary-General that seeks to bring sustainable energy solutions to one million people), the "clean cookstove" campaign follows the success of other campaigns including providing solar lights in Haiti, solar suitcases in Uganda, and the SOCCKET in South America.
"We are thrilled that Linkin Park and Music For Relief are championing biogas in Nepal because this simple, effective technology delivers a rare triple win—transforming the lives of people, protecting wildlife and healing the planet," said Shubash Lohani, Deputy Director of WWF's Eastern Himalayas Program.
"It's exciting to find a solution that helps on multiple levels," said Dave 'Phoenix' Farrell of Linkin Park. "The clean, biogas cookstoves WWF is implementing will improve families' health, keep women and children safer and protect the environment. We hope our supporters will join us in providing technology for those living in the Kumrose village in Nepal."
More than eight million people call the Terai Arc Landscape in Nepal home, and many cannot afford electricity, and must rely on large quantities of wood for cooking and other needs. On average, each person in the Terai region uses up to 2,000 pounds of wood per year, resulting in massive clear cutting of trees that yields serious consequences for both people and wildlife. Biogas offers a straightforward, cost-effective solution. Human and animal waste is processed to produce methane that burns with a bright blue flame. Constructing methane from waste protects forests and the valuable habitat for the species that live there. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions – a win-win for Nepali communities.
The campaign also invites supporters to learn about local farmer Buddhi Ram Mahato and his family through a series of online stories that will take viewers on an inspirational journey.
"We hope people are inspired to join this campaign to uplift an entire village by providing cleaner air, better healthcare, increased incomes for locals, while at the same time regenerating forest habitat for tigers, rhinos, and the many other species that live there," added Lohani.
To start a fundraiser that will support the campaign, visit http://www.crowdrise.com/CleanCookstovesKumrose. Those who raise at least $565 (the cost of one biogas system including a cookstove, biogas digester and toilet) by November 22 will be entered to win tickets to see Linkin Park at a small, private show.
Globally, 3 billion people rely on solid fuels to cook each day, which results in 4 million deaths annually from lung and heart diseases, cancers, burns, and more. MFR and WWF are partners of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership working to create a global market for clean cooking solutions. Each organization is committed to fulfilling the objectives of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which calls for universal energy access by 2030.
View images here: https://photos.panda.org/gpn/external?albumId=4468
To learn more, sign the pledge for sustainable energy for all, or donate $10 for a clean cookstove, go to powertheworld.org.
And to learn more about WWF's work in Nepal and the Eastern Himalayas, go to worldwildlife.org/easternhimalayas.
Contacts:
Kymm Britton
Music For Relief / Linkin Park
(310) 656-5900
kymmbritton@me.com
Jenna Bonello
World Wildlife Fund
Jenna.bonello@wwfus.org
(202) 495-4541
ABOUT MUSIC FOR RELIEF
Founded by two-time Grammy winning/multi-platinum rock band Linkin Park, Music for Relief is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing aid to victims of natural disasters and the prevention of such disasters. Since its inception in 2005, Music for Relief has raised over $5 million for victims of multiple disasters across four continents including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, hurricane Katrina, China's Wenchuan earthquake, a cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe, the 2010 Haiti earthquake and the 2011 earthquake & tsunami in Japan. Music for Relief also supports environmental programs as a means of disaster risk mitigation including the planting of over 1 million trees to help reduce global warming. The organization was recently recognized by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the Download to Donate program to raise funds and awareness in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. And in recognition of its humanitarian work, Linkin Park received a 2011 Global Leadership Award from the United Nations Foundation. For more information visit www.musicforrelief.org.
ABOUT POWER THE WORLD
Power the World is a pledge to help 1 million people gain access to sustainable energy solutions. Power the World operates under the umbrella of the band's Music for Relief non-profit organization. Linkin Park and Music for Relief launched Power the World in November 2011 by asking supporters to donate to provide solar powered light bulbs to families in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The new campaign accelerates Linkin Park's commitment to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Sustainable Energy for All initiative. The initiative aims to ensure universal access to modern energy services, to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, and to double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030. For more information visit www.powertheworld.org
ABOUT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
WWF is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and follow our news conversations on Twitter @WWFNews.