Nice writing style. Looking forward to reading more from you.

Chris Moran

Great news, Robert. Thank you.

Hi Robert and Ephrem,
This is Julie from Art for Gorillas working with communities in Northern Province Rwanda next to PNV. If you are coming through Ruhengeri from Goma I would appreciate a chance to meet with you. I will be in Estes Park, Colorado in late July as well. Please let me know. Thanks, Julie

Thanks for highlighting the magnitude of this problem. What a disgrace these soldiers are, hopefully the government will catch up with them soon and severely punish them.

dear Robert, that is very sad images. I am very happy for the results achieved so far in Goma. Just wondering whether military etc could find another way out to smuggle the charcoal. I am in Bukavu, and we are just meters away from the border with Rwanda….

Thank you all for your comments. Yes, lurking behind the illegal charcoal trade is the terrible bushmeat problem. It is very difficult to stop because of the level of poverty in the area and quite simply, because people have been eating it for years and have developed a taste for it. By many, it is considered a delicacy. One who serves it to a guest does them an honor. It is one of those cultural things whose time has come to end. When population densities were lower, the forest could better handle the pressure, but with populations booming, this is no longer possible. Many of the animals prized for bushmeat are bordering on being wiped out. One look at population growth in Goma alone says it all. In 1994 the population was 187,527 (and bushmeat was a huge problem at this level) and by 2006 it had already grown to 527,572. That’s a lot of hungry humans… In answer to your question Virginia, yes there are other ways around the checkpoints, but the heavy loads coming by truck and going to Rwanda will most likely have to go through one of these checkpoints. The alternative is to cross by foot. I am not sure about bushmeat being taken out by plane. I will need to look into this. The border control has become much tighter in recent months. Roads within the DRC are more porous, though.

Whoa, that’s a lot of people. But the truth is, you don’t need meat to survive. I really like to know what the situation at the IDP camps is like. Are they still full or are people starting to make their way home?

Hi Theresa. The IDP camps are becoming more and more crowded. There is still lots of rebel activity displacing people.

Not what I hoped to hear, but at least we know what the current situation is in the camps. I pray humanitarian aid is getting through to these folks. Thanks, Robert.

BTW, something on your way, to help you through your day, Take care Robert, we’re lucky to have you, I mean it.

Thanks for the update. How’s the briquette press going?

As Robert wrote in the comment, bush meat trade is another activity behind charcoal trade. ICCN has reported 3 elephants killed in april 2008. The last elephant has been killed near a military camp in Ishasha area. There is another injured near Uganda boarder. this one has fortunately been treated by Ugandan Vets. Thanks for them.

Hi everyone. The press is finished and I will try to post a picture of it tomorrow. I’m in Panama now on an island that is off the grid. The satellite dish chews up lots of electricity, and we’re about out for the night. I’ll get on tomorrow when we are all juiced up. Ephrem has more to come on the bushmeat trade. It’s very sad, but awareness is power. Thank you all for your ongoing interest and support!!

i hate charcoal