**
Update re the original "micro" economic/finance inventions of The Micro Revolutions Institute(SM) in San Diego
Improved cooking methods Revolutionize Life for "The Bottom 2 Billion" in the Developing World
Here is the updated introductory email for the Carbon Manna(SM) System:
We at Carbon Manna Unlimited in San Diego (a non-profit corporation) have established the "Micro" Revolutions Institute(SM) as a think-tank charged with continually creating novel & SUSTAINABLE micro-economic and micro-financial mechanisms to materially elevate "The Bottom Two Billion" in the Developing World. Reference:
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3908584.htm
Most notably, beginning 2 years ago in April 2008, we developed two novel, universally-applicable, cell-phone- and NON-debt-based, highly-scalable forms of microfinance that we call the Carbon Manna(sm) System. They are:
-->> (1) the Carbon Micro-PROFIT-Sharing System -- comprising monetization of 1,000s of aggregated carbon-micro-offsets via the European GS-VER market (Gold Standard - Voluntary Emission Reduction market); and
-->> (2) the Reduced-fuel-expense Micro-SAVINGS Program -- an SMS-based behavior-modification program that trains families to bank their daily cash savings on fuel of 15 - 40 U.S. cents/day (based on field studies in Kenya, July 2009).
Both mechanisms are based on reduced combustion of non-renewable biomass fuel and employ a highly efficient, low-cost (< US$ 10) cook-stove that we designed ourselves in Kenya, although any efficient cookstove may be used. Almost all efficient stoves reduce fuel use by 40 - 50 % -- and deforestation by a similar percentage.
The stoves are serialized and matched uniquely with each family's cell phone number.
Broadcast SMS messages (short message service) and customized content regarding public health, women & children's rights, nutrition, personal finance, etc., will also be sent to participating families.
Monetized carbon offsets and cash fuel savings may be banked and converted back to cash as needed using existing MMT (Mobile Money Transfer) systems such as Safaricom's M-Pesa or Zain's ZAP systems in the case of East Africa. In the absence of an MMT system, families may be paid with cell-phone minutes, either credited to their accounts or in the form of distributed pre-paid calling cards.
The two mechanisms can be implemented sequentially (and then run in tandem) -- the Micro-Savings Program immediately, and the Carbon Micro-PROFIT-Sharing System later as paperwork is completed for the carbon-offset market.
The Carbon Manna(SM) System is "freeware" and fully open-source.
Thus, currently, independent for-profit carbon project managers, NGOs and charities are attempting to incorporate Carbon Manna(SM) principles into carbon-offset projects in The Philippines, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Kenya and Indonesia, as well as, most likely, in other countries not known to us.
Most notably, we believe these two novel microfinance mechanisms have a number of advantages over, and will scale much faster than, micro-debt, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.
Finally, in the case of corporate sponsors in the wireless or consumer products industries, Carbon Manna(sm) offers an auditable "ROI on CSR" investments, a rare result in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) field.
In the case of individuals, donations to Carbon Manna Unlimited in San Diego (a California-incorporated public charity) are 100% tax-deductible through our umbrella 501c3 status with The GlobalGiving Foundation in Washington, DC.
We hope you will support our efforts in Africa and/or some other part of the Developing World of interest to you. Being cell-phone- and markets-based, Carbon Manna(sm) is universally applicable.
More background about Carbon Manna(sm) may be found by visiting the links below and viewing my Amsterdam presentation (May 2010) available on:
-->> http://www.slideshare.net/dpalella/carbon-manna-amsterdam201005
-->> http://tinyurl.com/23jzrh2
We look forward to hearing from you.
Globally & warmly yours,
David A. Palella
Founder
CARBON MANNA UNLIMITED
SAN DIEGO, California
cell: 619-787-5767
skype: dpalella17
email: dpalella@san.rr.com
email (backup): carbonmanna@gmail.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidpalella
http://www.carbonmanna.org
http://carbonmanna.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/CarbonManna
http://www.linkedin.com/e/vgh/1794312/
The "Micro" Revolutions Institute(SM) Established by Carbon Manna
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3908584.htm
Carbon Manna announces The Micro Sustainability Prizes(SM)
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3459274.htm
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Carbon-Manna-Unlimited-1065919.html
Carbon Manna Unlimited to Present at Kenyan Business Conference
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Carbon-Manna-Unlimited-1033328.html
"One Cell Phone per Child" Grand Challenge Announced by CarbonManna(C) Unlimited
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Carbon-Manna-Unlimited-1007638.html
Carbon Manna(C) Unlimited Announces Solar Manna(C) & Forest Manna(C),
and Filing of a U.S. Patent Application for the Cell Phone-Based
Carbon Micro-Profit-Sharing System
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Carbon-Manna-Unlimited-991442.html
World's First Cell-Phone-Based Carbon-Micro-Credits Implementation
Progressing in Kenya
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Carbon-Manna-Unlimited-953397.html
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I will be/was a speaker at:
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2nd Kenya Diaspora Int'l Conference & Investment Forum
20-22 August 2009, Atlanta, GA
http://www.kenyaopen4business.com
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"Microfinance for Institutional Investors"
21-23 Sept. 2009, Washington, DC
http://www.hansonwade.com/events/microfinance-for-institutional-investors/index.shtml
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"Micro Financial Services World"
10-12 May 2010, Amsterdam City Centre, The Netherlands
http://www.mfs-world.com
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4th Microfinance Investment Summit
06-07 October 2010, Central London
http://www.microfinancesummit.com
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