Eco Maniac: Simple Survival
The developing world is so far down on the economic food chain that, as I've said before, they just can't care about anything other than survival. Because of this, their contributions to global carbon emissions is gaining ground, counting for 73% of worldwide growth in 2004. The good news is that their lives are simple, so solutions can be simple, as well. Cheap, even. Here are five ideas that Mother Jones uncovered.
In Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia, PlayPumps are merry-go-rounds for the kids and groundwater pumps for everyone. As the kids spin, water is pumped into elevated storage tanks. Each PlayPump costs about $14,000.
The Philippines can use bunches of two-stroke retrofit kits from Envirokit for taxis and motorcycles. Installed, these fuel injectors help cut emissions by as much as 90% and only costs about $250 per engine.
Girls in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ghana and Tanzania are half as likely to be teenage mothers if they go to school. Through Camfed International, a year's tuition costs $156 per girl. That's some pretty inexpensive birth control or insurance or whatever you want to call it. Controlling the population in a positive manner is nothing but good anywhere, and is particularly wonderful in Africa where resources of all kinds are scarce.
One of my favorites is invading Kenya, Namibia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Angola. It's the $70 Q-Drum water barrel that holds 19 gallons of water and can be easily rolled by kids. This is a fantastic solution for families that trudge long distances to gather clean water.
Last up is another incredible device – the LifeStraw which filters bacteria, viruses and parasites out of stream or river water. Now found in India, Pakistan, Kenya, Madagascar, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Turkey, Indonesia, Kenya, Burma and China, these $25 gems from Vestergaard Frandsen can be used for three years by a family.
Not on the MoJo list, but of certain merit is the $10 mosquito net that lasts a family four years and prevent malaria deaths. Nothing But Nets is a campaign bringing hundreds of thousands of nets to Africa.
If solutions to huge death-causing problems are this simple and affordable, you have to wonder why the problems still exist. Actually, if you're a realist or a conspiracy theorist, you don't have to wonder too much just knowing that none of the affected people have white skin. But, as a humanist, the whole thing must certainly give you pause.
Comments [30]
"...that extremely practical
"...that extremely practical lesbian haircut".....
Only a lesbian could get away with saying something like that!
Off topic Hi M Hope you are
Off topic
Hi M
Hope you are doing okay! We are totally freezing over here at the moment - how about you?
A bientot
S
xxx
Sorry - but I do everything
Sorry - but I do everything else to help save the planet! ... and as I remind the people I live with, I don't have that extremely practical lesbian haircut which only takes 10 minutes (or less)!
I have long naturally wavy/kinky hair (that requires deep conditioning treatments) and all sorts of products, so as I do not leave the house looking like a crazy woman!
I'm all for saving the world - I just refuse to do it with bad hair!
*The perils of being a femme*
hi third world i'm with you
hi third world i'm with you on that one
Are hot tubs okay? 40
Are hot tubs okay? 40 minutes, wow. I think I'd get a hot tub and sit in it or at least use a bathtub rather than let the water run that long.
My showers are less than 10, but that's usually because I'm running behind in the morning.
"Fight Prime Time. Read a Book"
Okay, I'm totally coming down
Okay, I'm totally coming down on you for this one. A 40-minute shower is considered pillaging in my eyes. There's really no excuse. What the hell are you doing in there? Washing inch by inch?
Not only are you wasting about eight times the amount of water of most people's showers (I think it's seven gallons a minute.), but you are also wasting the energy it takes to heat that water.
Here's my challenge to you which I issued to my ex, as well: Cut back a little at a time until you are under 10 minutes. Seriously, we can't afford bad habits like that.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
PS - The quoted cost of
PS - The quoted cost of education per year per girl is cheap in comparison to developed nations. That was the point I was making and the audience to which I was speaking.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
I've never been called racist
I've never been called racist before. Quite the opposite, actually, and in far cruder terms.
I actually believe that education is great birth control for all nations and races; this point was actually just focused on Africa because that's where that particular organization operates. I also believe that global resources are scarce and, therefore, global population control is necessary.
I am also a huge proponent of economic justice. I believe it to be the root issue that must be solved before all others.
I'm sorry if you took offense to something I wrote. That was not my intention nor is it in line with my beliefs at all.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
I'm so into the whole 2012
I'm so into the whole 2012 thing. I was thinking that, too, about the LifeStraw. Would be good even for hikers and campers.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
kelly , i actually think that
kelly , i actually think that your framing of this information is flippant. i find the environmental materials of interest,however, i would suggest you do a bit more reading of history and development and present your findings more sensatively.
Sending good karma for the
Sending good karma for the job hunt.....
@kdhales
I am glad you have these
I am glad you have these things, Sarah.
I'm not sure, but maybe Kelly's statement felt like other countries want to make the numbers smaller in Africa, so we (the white man) will stay the bigger population. And I don't think that that is the case, at least not from me. Fore most I want the tribes of Africa to be self sustaining, and that the lands will still be able to provide it's fruit to the people - so that war lords will have less control - and the people will become wealthy, be it through money...but more so through abundance of life - and the balance of life is good.
Education of not just reading and math and science, but also of education to change - to see that certain ways are actually killing certain tribes. Keeping the tribes from evolving with the land.
I know America is so diverse in it's land and climate, and it is much smaller then Africa - I can only imagine how much greater the diversity of land and climate it is from my own country.
I do want to leave you with a glimpse of what Americans have been given over the years. Stories and videos and infomercials/funding programs on TV showing hungry starved Africans from Ethiopia. Hundreds of thousands of children and women, living in dust with no water or food...with swollen bellies from starvation. And most of the footages are of children, so that Americans will donate money to feed the millions of starving children.
I am 37 years old, and have been conditioned to believe, since the mid-80's (Aid to Africa, and We Are The World), that there were too many mouthes starving in Africa, and that even though they didn't have enough (or any) food to feed their family, they still continued to have children.
Many believe that education could bring different African tribes back into prosperity and out of devastation, even if it means cutting back on births. It's to help restore the balance between man and land/nature.
I believe America is overpopulated - and if we don't do something, we can (and will) have some major epidemics on our own hands. I feel the whole world is overpopulated - and seriously, education has actually increased the population, and we are in denial of it.
I've been reading and keeping my eyes and ears on the area around you, and the Cholera epidemic. My heart goes out to all in that area. I remember hearing about a hospital that didn't have any electricity, and were overwhelmed by the amount of patients. They were doing surgeries by the light and guidance of a cell phone - and hardly any medical staff, and running out of medical supplies.
take care of yourself
ps,
there is an tribe in America, called Hopi. They have cave drawings from their ancestors from long ago. And in the one drawing, it has that man has 2 paths he can take...
In one path, it has many people...and all are very disconnected and no fruits and plants...and his road is very jagged and tough.
The other path has few people, but they have fruits of the land around him...and his road is easier.
I did not suggest at all that
I did not suggest at all that education is not impotant. I totally agree that it saves lives of all children. This is my life. I teach in one of these areas and are just too aware of the abuse of children especially girls. Also the general status of women in my community and many others around.
I am one of the lucky ones who have running water in my house for a few hours a day and have access to the internet and other media when we have electricity.
I always just feel that when people speak of Africa there is a double standard involved and describing education as a cheap form of birth control is just that.
Firstly education does not come cheap and many families sacrifice more than just money to get their children an education, while free birth control, abortions and family planning is avilable to most.
We do need to educate the patriacal structures and the boys and men in general if any progress is to be made.
We fight every day for the improvement of the status of women and the safety of our children and in the process try to get safe water to every body. We are very close to the zimbabwe border and are badly influenced by the cholera epidemic there.
By the way, I'd love to buy a
By the way, I'd love to buy a Lifestraw and keep it with an emergency kit at home and in the car. I do have a emergency radio slash swiss everything. It comes with short wave and long wave and emergency lights and a powerful flash light. And I can hand crank it. I saw one like it in a magazine, but that one has a solar panel built in to it as well, and some power ports to charge cell phones or some small device.
It's Armageddon week on the history channel (love it). If things do go into polar reverse in 2012, we could have everything shut down - I'm not so sure any electronic device would work. But simplicity and things for basic necessities - like filtering water for drinking, would be the number one priority. Education of simple things that we take for granted everyday would be another vital thing to have.
Thanks, Kelly - these are some really nice ideas to give as gifts to more then one person.
The young women and full
The young women and full grown women in Africa are a bit different, then the women in other areas of the world. Educated areas do have a lower teenage birth rate, then the areas where education for girls is NON-existent.
There is this one place near Ethiopia where the girls are working from the time they can walk and are so work driven, that they are stunted growth. These girls end up growing into women standing less then 4'6", and married off, some before they are 10yrs. old. The families are promised to wait to have sex with these girls/young women, in order for them to become wives to work.
These women end up struggling to give birth to a full grown size baby, through their extremely growth stunted pelvic structures. ending up ripping their vagina...and bladders and some times their lower bowel. Leaving them to secrete urine and feces out their vagina, with no control over it.
When this happens to a 13 year old, they are then banned from households and daily community gatherings and work gatherings. They lose families and friends because they stink and are "dirty".
The babies normally don't make it through the birth - especially when the young woman is in labor for 3-7 days.
Education, in my opinion, would more then likely lead these women into a healthier well being - and even healthier for their small communities - because the women would not die young, leaving the young girls to replace the older women - and leaving it up to the the father to sell off his young 9 year old daughter to a 30 - 40 year old man, so she can take care of his kids and do hard labor...like hauling heavy heavy loads over long miles. And then become pregnant by age 12. And either dying during birth, or dying before 30.
vicious cycle.
on a positive note, there is ONE place that takes in these women...and gives them FREE treatment and surgical procedures to correct their medical conditions.
I mean this is good, but we need more to combat this problem of what young teenage pregnancy in Africa is doing to the African people - and education is key.
It's not meant to disrespect the people in Africa, but to empower them..and if it becomes a cheep birth control in the long run - then it is for the betterment of the people as a whole. Over population brings viruses, famine and disease, and death.
I take a 20 minute shower...
I take a 20 minute shower... but once I wash my hair and rinse it, I turn the water off to lather up and shave and stuff, then turn it back on to rinse. I turn it on and off a few times...but it still takes me long in there.
The Colorado river guys is putting a squeeze on the amount SoCal can have - since all the water here is piped in from the river.
I use to do 30 minute showers growing up. I'd run it till the water went cold. I wish I knew then, what I know now. But...
I don't know, I just keep thinking about when I was younger, my family use to go to San Jaun Capistrano. I'm fascinated by archeology and religion - and just, well - I felt very peaceful. but I do remember walking among the ruins of the area and the court and not wanting to really disturb anything. Like, is it possible to walk on land without leaving a foot print.
I think if I really knew then, what I know now - I would have changed my ways a long time ago. I guess now I'm trying to figure out what kind of a foot print do I want to leave behind. And how can I achieve that footprint..
Dear Kelly, I think to
Dear Kelly,
I think to suggest that education is inexpensive birth contol is disrespectful to all people in Africa. Teenagers all over the world have sex and get pregnant.
Sub-Sahara Africa is one of the least populated areas in Africa with extremely high dath rates and low life expectancy. To suggest we need to control our population is racist and ill informed.
The USA and other developed nations like Japan and countries in Europe have much higher population densities that put much more stress on the environment and world resources than any country in the Whole of Africa. 1 American child eat more food and produce more pollution than 30 African children.
I agree that the inventions you mentioned are good for the environment and ease many problems, but it is a disgrace that people, and the work is mostly done by children, should go through such lengths just to get to water.
I like the fact that you are eco contious but please try to have a liitle bit more respect for Africa and its people.
Sarah
Mind blowing - that in 2009
Mind blowing - that in 2009 people have to go through all this just to get clean water. It's a disgrace!
Meanwhile - I take a 40 minute shower everyday (oops) ... it's the one bad habit I can't give up!
Sorry, I think that $14,000
Sorry, I think that $14,000 playpump is outrageously expensive. You could get clean water to a lot more people with simpler and cheaper methods.
You know, there are so many
You know, there are so many organizations that need help. I think it just depends on what your heart issues are. I actually just discovered a cool new site (and applied for a job there) called causecast.org. You can look up organizations, donate, and get involved. They don't have THAT many orgs on yet, but a decent start.
You can also investigate groups at charitynavigator.org. I love that site. It tells you how efficiently groups operate, their funds, their salaries, etc. Very informative.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
Now you're talking!
Now you're talking!
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
Hmm Its been a long time,
Hmm Its been a long time, but...
now if we could just get all
now if we could just get all the kids in overly developed nations to turn in their Play Stations for Play Pumps. Environmental and medical enhancements.
Totally agree - doing what i
Totally agree - doing what i can. Got an idea.....do you have any 'causes' ideas that we could possibly take part in? I mean, physically take part in? Spend a week some place for the greater good? Start stateside first?
Edit: I do have one myself actually - this is one I was signed up to take part in before the abnormal cells nixed it - it's a great project - even though I know you don't do that camping scene...
http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=home
@kdhales
I started doing that years
I started doing that years ago, too. It's especially great for people who truly have everything or those you just have no idea what they'd like. I try to pick an organization that I think they would dig and donate there. Usually gets a nice response.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
We all certainly have enough.
We all certainly have enough. I mean, maybe we don't have our dream car or dream house or dream wardrobe, but we have clean water and food. Time to spread the wealth ourselves since our government won't do it.
Won't you be my neighbor? @theKELword
Yep, that's exactly what I
Yep, that's exactly what I mean.
Thanks for the link xx
Bet you do.....your 'social'
Bet you do.....your 'social' gifts are a great idea - my family has given the following as gifts:
http://www.heifer.org/
Don't mind being called this heifer,
Tex
@kdhales
Yep, living in South Africa
Yep, living in South Africa for a couple of years certainly altered (or should I say, enhanced) my view of the world. The enormous disparity in the way people live is mind-blowing to me.
There is a growing trend in the UK to buy friends and family "social" gifts. So, you spend the money with a charitable organisation and get a card saying that you have bought clean water for a family in Africa for a year, and such like.
The ideas here are brilliant.
Maybe, just maybe, if we
Maybe, just maybe, if we start to funnel our money into items to help saving lives.....we'll become humane one of these days.....finally figure out that we should be creating life saving devices instead of those that obliterate it....once life becomes a money maker....
Got pessimistic hopes,
Tex
@kdhales