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In Ecuador's Amazon, solar panels bring 'fire canoe' dream to life

“The Sharamentsa Achuar have used their solar-powered canoes to monitor their stands of balsa and identify those illegally harvesting wood, Utne said.

That is key as Ecuador's Amazon region faces worsening deforestation pressures as a result of expansion of mining, oil drilling and logging, and as indigenous communities step up efforts to protect their land.”

Melissa Godin for Reuters / Read Full Article

The Boat of Dreams: How the Achuar Embraced Solar Power

“The Achuar people living in the rainforests of Ecuadorian Amazon are stewards of land that holds some of the richest biodiversity in the world. They rely heavily on river transportation, and in recent years, the Achuar have been on a journey to reduce their use of gas-powered boats to something less harmful to the environment. Jessica Ramirez talks with Nantu Canelos, Luciano Peas, and Oliver Utne about a partnership between the Achuar people and an organization called Kara Solar that has led to the incorporation of solar power into the everyday life of many Achuar people. This episode includes everything from jaguars to dream interpretation, and we hope you enjoy it.”

Jessica Ramirez and Jenny Asarnow for Seedcast / Listen to the podcast ENG | ESP

AMAZON TRIBE’S CUSTOM SOLAR-POWERED BOAT (AJ+)

“This solar-powered boat helps the indigenous Achuar tribe avoid Big Oil in the Amazon rainforest.”

Julia Muldavin for AJ+ / Read Full Article

TAPIATPIA, UNA EMBARCACIÓN SOLAR PARA COMUNIDADES ACHUAR DE LA AMAZONÍA

“Para Oliver Utne, un estadounidense de 31 años que llegó al país en el 2007 y se quedó trabajando para una organización achuar, “la idea es usar esas autopistas ancestrales que son los ríos: están listas y no deforestan”, dijo al medio estadounidense. En el viaje inicial de Tapiatpia, que duró 25 días y recorrió 1 800 kilómetros, solo viajaron cuatro tripulantes: Oliver Utne, quien ideó la embarcación; Peter May, el ingeniero electrónico alemán encargado de los paneles solares del bote; Hilario Saant y Mario Gualinga, capitán y motorista achuar del barco.”

Elcomercio.com / Read Full Article

THE ELECTRIC FISH THAT COMBATS THE ROADS

"The Achuar, whose vision of the world has dreams as their axis, are one of the thirteen indigenous nationalities that inhabit Ecuador. In her language, Kara means "dream that is going to be fulfilled". According to a legend, their ancestors had dreamed of a boat of fire that ran through their rivers. So when Utne told them about a boat that did not move with gasoline but with sunlight, it was clear to them: the gringo had an idea to materialize that mythological dream."

The New York Times / Read Full Article

THIS IS THE FIRST SOLAR CANOE OF THE AMAZON

"In addition to the ecological and economic benefits, Kara Solar also aims to improve the conditions of education, health and nutrition of indigenous people. By offering regular and cheap transportation, more young people will be able to continue their studies at the only secondary school in the region. It will also facilitate mobility to health centers in the area, since not all communities have one. As for food, Tapiatpia will favor the exchange of fruits, vegetables and animals between locations, allowing the diversification of the diet of a population that has difficulty accessing products from abroad. "

Jaime Giménez for El País / Read Full Article