Goal of the campaign is 100 million fuel-efficient cookstoves by 2020...Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has selected Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts to be the global ambassador for the Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, an international initiative to bring attention to the dangers of wood and manure-burning cook stoves in undeveloped countries. (Above: Roberts and the Secretary Clinton)
The State Department says dangerous cookstoves cause the death of nearly 2 million people annually, as well as child illness, miscarriages and malnutrition. Toxic smoke from the unsafe and inefficient cookstoves is one of the major reasons for the illnesses and deaths. The Alliance has a goal of 100 million homes' adopting clean and efficient cookstoves and fuels by 2020.
It is a public-private partnership of more than 60 national governments, UN agencies, private companies and nongovernmental organizations "mobilized to help overcome the market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment, and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world," according to the State Department.
Clinton and Roberts co-penned an OpEd for USA Today, published on May 6, detailing the initiative, which Clinton first announced in September of 2010. The two mothers formed their partnership when Roberts interviewed Clinton for a Mother's Day special for Oprah Winfrey.
To learn more about the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, visit http://www.state.gov/s/partnerships/cleancookstoves/ or www.cookingshouldntkill.org.
More from Dipnote, the State Department's blog:
Ms. Roberts first learned about the Alliance's effort while interviewing Secretary of State Clinton for a special airing on the Oprah Winfrey Network. "Extraordinary Moms," presented and executive produced by Ms. Roberts.
"Nearly 2 million people around the world -- mostly women and children -- die each year from an activity that many of us take for granted: cooking for our families," Ms. Roberts said. "I am proud to stand with Secretary Clinton to work to reduce the senseless and preventable deaths from unsafe cooking conditions in the developing world and I look forward to contributing to the important work of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves."
Encouraging the development and use of clean cookstoves in cultures, communities, and countries throughout the developing world is consistent with the core principles of U.S. foreign policy and development efforts, which focus on improving the lives of the world's most vulnerable populations.
*Related: On May 6 in Rome, Clinton gave a speech about global food security and sustainable agriculture.
*State Department photo
