— The Kara Solar Story
In the language of the Achuar people of Ecuador and Peru, Kara means “a dream that comes true.”
I.
Within the dream culture of the Achuar there has always been a vision of a “fire” canoe, like an electric fish, which would bring a new and hopeful future, one in harmony with the spirit of the jungle; a future inspired by the flow of the rivers of the rainforest, transcending mental, physical, and political boundaries.
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II.
Kara Solar is a fulfillment of this dream. Uniting social and technical investigation, ancestral wisdom, and cooperative businesses, we have created the Amazon’s first solar-powered river transportation system. This solar network promises to strengthen the connection between Achuar communities, create opportunity for commercial activities, and open the way to the exchange of the knowledge, technologies, and experiences from ancestral and western cultures.
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III.
So far, Kara Solar has connected nine Achuar communities, located along 67 km of the Pastaza and Capahuari Rivers. Ultimately, our shared dream is to strengthen and grow the Kara Solar system throughout the Amazon.
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IV.
As we create a community owned enterprise that meets exiting needs and replaces expensive, contaminating fuels, we imagine a future of new possibilities and opportunities. This is the first step towards a new model of infrastructure for the Amazon, designed not for but with local communities.
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