- Title: Palestinian women make eco friendly artificial fire wood
- Date: 21st November 2016
- Summary: BEITA, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 15, 2016) (REUTERS) BREAD BEING ADDED TO ARTIFICIAL WOOD BLEND VARIOUS OF WOMEN MIXING BLEND CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT, FAIDA YAMK, ADDLING BLEND IN BUCKET CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT, FAIDA YAMK FAIDA YAMK PUSHING OUT COMPRESSED BLEND OF ARTIFICIAL WOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT, FAIDA YAMK, SAYING: "This artificial wood is an alternative to tree wood. It is artificial wood that is eco-friendly. It is made of environment residues, and peat from olive oil extraction, meaning it is recycling of environment residues, which we use to make artificial wood." FAIDA YAMK COMPRESSING BLEND WOMEN MIXING BLEND WOMEN PUSHING BLEND OUT OF TUBE WOMEN ARRANGING ARTIFICIAL WOOD VARIOUS OF ARTIFICIAL WOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT, FAIDA YAMK, SAYING: "We are four women, this project is an initiative from us, and it is ours, it is an income generator for us. Of course, it needs machines, what we make here is all hand made. If there is a machine that can cut it, a machine that turns it into paste, a compressing machine, we would produce a large amount and it would be a really good product as a wood alternative." FAIDA YAMK TAKING BLEND OUT WOMAN MIXING BLEND ARTIFICIAL WOOD ARRANGED (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-FOUNDER OF PROJECT, INAM YAMK, SAYING: "We thought about making a product that we can use in our own homes, in the fireplace, instead of wood. We also have a very beautiful environment here in Beita. People started to cut trees to economize, and they stopped taking care of trees, so we brought all these materials and started to work on them." EXTERIOR OF BEITA MUNICIPALITY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) VICE PRESIDENT OF BEITA MUNICIPALITY, RIFAT FARHAN MOHAMMAD ABDALLAH, SAYING: "This project has been presented to the municipality and the municipality has adopted this project and now it is also working on it. We thank the women for their efforts who have started this project." VARIOUS OF WOMEN ARRANGING ARTIFICIAL WOOD
- Embargoed: 6th December 2016 12:17
- Keywords: Palestine West Bank wood women environment fire wood
- Location: BEITA, WEST BANK
- City: BEITA, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Environment
- Reuters ID: LVA00159DXR2T
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Four Palestinian women in Beita have founded a project to produce artificial firewood - providing fuel without felling any trees.
The artificial wood is created using natural residues and peat from olive oil.
One of the four female co-founders, Faida Yamk, explained that the artificial wood is an eco-friendly alternative to wood.
"This artificial wood is an alternative to tree wood. It is artificial wood that is eco-friendly. It is made of environment residues, and peat from olive oil extraction, meaning it is recycling of environment residues, which we use to make artificial wood," said the 33-year old mother of five.
The wood alternative is currently produced by hand, but Faida says the scale of production could expand significantly if it was mechanised.
"If there is a machine that can cut it, a machine that turns it into paste, a compressing machine, we would produce a large amount and it would be a really good product as an alternative wood," she said.
According to Faida, one small piece of artificial wood can burn for at least an hour without releasing any unpleasant odours.
But one of the key selling points for the women is the low environmental impact on their natural environment
"We also have a very beautiful environment here in Beita. People started to cut trees to economize, and they stopped taking care of trees, so we brought all these materials and started to work on them," said another of the co-founders, Inam Yamk.
The idea is already gaining traction. The Beita Municipality has adopted the project and says it intends to give support, including providing them with a machine, a workshop and marketing assistance. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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