Why start this initiative?
We wish to help change this dynamic by giving the rural poor of
the world an opportunity to energize their lives and pull themselves out
of the poverty cycle.
What is this initiative
all about?
The Multi Functional
Rural Fuel Platform (MFRFP) is a rural entrepreneurial opportunity, not an
aid handout. The MFRFP Economic Development initiative brings a
business approach to helping rural people help themselves out of the
poverty trap.
The MFRFP provides an
entrepreneurial opportunity to the rural poor and turns on its head the
traditional approach of providing economic development to poor,
disenfranchised, rural communities. This novel approach ensures that the
MFRFP is a viable and sustainable way to tackle the rural poverty trap,
fostering a culture of entrepreneurship rather than dependency.
How big is the need for
MFRFP's?
According to the "United
Nations Development Programme" there are currently three billion people
living in rural areas in developing countries. Of those 3 billion people,
nearly two billion still have neither access to nor ability to pay for
modern energy carriers such as electricity and/or liquid or gaseous fuels.
Each of our Multi Functional Rural Fuel
Platforms (MFRFP) is envisioned supporting a community of between 50 and 100 people.
If every community in the developing world were to use a Multi Functional
Rural Fuel platform, that would indicate that there is an approximate need
for 20 million MFRFP's throughout the developing world.
Sound advice we live
by...
Some
humanitarian efforts can result in programs that are a reflection of the
values of the people trying to help and not what the people being helped
really need. Some aid programs can create dependency, so we are guided by
Mahatma Gandhi's words and try to apply the following test to all our
ideas...
"Whenever in
doubt apply the following test: Recall the face of the poorest and the
weakest man whom you may have seen and ask yourself if the step you
contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by
it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In
other words, will it lead to self-reliance for the hungry?"
Advice to policy makers by
Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948).
Who is involved?
The Multi Functional
Rural Fuel Platform (MFRFP) initiative is an effort developed by a dedicated group
of people who are looking to leave the world a better place than the one
they came into.
The people involved in
the MFRFP initiative firmly believe that the huge gap in economic equality
that exists in the world, results
in an inhumane squabble for resources. This squabble leaves people at the
bottom of the world's economic ladder with no hope at all and vulnerable
to being preyed upon by their governments, local militias,
warlords and gangsters.
Organization
Background
The initiative was
started in 2001 by its founder, Peter Bell with the goal of energizing
rural communities by bringing private enterprise opportunities into
impoverished areas. The MFRFP Platform was invented by Peter Bell, with
its reactor technology developed by Peter Bell in partnership with
Renewable Fuel Products, for use in the US biofuel refining market.
Founder
Peter
Bell - Peter was born in South Africa and was educated as an automotive
engineer in the UK. Peter is often credited with rapid public awareness of
biodiesel in the US market through his creation of the "BioWillie" brand
of biodiesel in partnership with the legendary country singer, Willie
Nelson. His company, Distribution Drive was acquired by a NASDAQ listed
company in 2005 and prior to this, Peter was the co-founder & CEO of
Flagship Systems, Inc the publisher of an early internet based accounting
software system, Flagship.
