Practical Solutions to energy poverty
After my week in Kenya, I’ve learned that the solutions to energy poverty are becoming available. Even though the problems appear to be overwhelming, the organization Practical Action (the one that planned the trip for me) has showed me that innovations are slowly helping to alleviate the problems of energy poverty. The steps to create change are sometimes small but with perseverance change can happen. The founder of Practical Action, Fritz Schumacher, has a saying – “small is beautiful.” In Kenya, I witnessed that a little help from a neighbor or a small loan from a friend could make a huge difference in someone’s life. All of us are capable of helping out in small ways! I am excited for you to get involved and share with others what you have learned from my trip to Kenya.
Here are some small steps that you can take to be part helping perpetuate change around the world:
• Educate Yourself. Sign up for the Practical Action newsletter and stay up to date on all the latest being done to stop energy poverty. Go to www.practicalaction.org/newsletter
• “Like” Practical Action on Facebook and help spread the word about this important organization to your friends.
• Donate. There are many great organizations working on energy poverty, and a donation as small as $10 can literally be life changing to the individual or family you are helping. Consider donating here: www.practicalaction.org, www.cleancookstoves.org, www.powertheworld.org.
• Spread the Word. Share what you’ve learned from my blogs with others. Have them spread the word too. The more who know the better! Start by forward this blog to 5 friends.
• Get involved. There are many ways to volunteer and get involved, especially in the lead up to the big Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development happening this June in Rio de Janeiro. To learn more, visit www.sustainableenergyforall.org
Each of us has a part to play in making our world a better place. When a community pulls together to help each other out; everyone benefits. I hope you’ll make a commitment to do your part. Our world needs each of us to participate and give our support! Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world!
Love, G
Take a look at the other posts about the trip to Kenya and learn more about how the lack of modern energy affects people dealing with poverty: Simple Sustainable Solutions, The Power of Community, Miss Kibera, A Long Walk with a Harsh Reality, Finding a More Efficient Way to Cook, Clean Energy from Nature, Lighting the Way for the Children.
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There are 8 comments to “Practical Solutions to energy poverty”
Thank you for the links . I will check them out. We need to take care of our planet. Thank you for doing your part .
Deixou a África Mais Bonita.
Lhe dou o maior valor, por você valorizar a literatura.
SACOLINHAS PLáSTICAS
Países desenvolvidos, em desenvolvimento, emergentes, subdesenvolvidos, todos possuem esse problema ecológico. As sacolinhas plásticas de supermercados, açougues, quitandas, mercearias, bares populares, etc utilizam tal material. Este é de difícil degradação, são necessários anos e anos para se “biodegradarem”. Os seus alvos são bueiros, bocas de lobo, inundações, morte de animais, poluição contumaz dos rios e mares,
Elas, as sacolinhas plásticas não devem ser combatidas somente agora enquanto estamos vivos.
Os que viram terão rancor, ressentimento, um anti-retrospectivismo, uma mágoa por seus antepassados so terem pensado neles próprios?
Os estragos das sacolinhas “já é lei”, está no cotidiano, no dia-a-dia e ponto final.
Eu uso sacolas reutilizáveis, tipo um tecido, recupero as que ainda tenha de plástico: galera, nossa! Olho no lance, devemos usar sacolas reutilizáveis e banir as descartáveis.
Na moral, nós que pertencemos e participamos da Terra, “temos que fazê-la revigorar, iluminar, re-gaia-r-se plena, total, luxuriante.
Hello,
As a follow-up to the trip to Kenya, I would be keen to see a post focused on solutions in the field that are successful in combating energy poverty.
Ms. Bundchen’s work as a Goodwill Ambassador is important; keeping the topic of energy poverty in front of the public would help many organization’s such as mine maintain momentum in implementing energy solutions for those living without it.
For nearly 20 years, my organization, the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) has been implementing solar energy systems in developing countries to assist rural communities with economic, education, health and agricultural development. We are committed to eradicating energy poverty, and are working closely with the U.N.’s initiative to achieve this goal.
Recently, we launched a global “Energy is a Human Right” campaign (www.energyisahumanright.com), to provide a voice for people around the world living without access to modern energy services. (Perhaps, this is possible blog topic – does Ms. Bundchen believe energy is be a human right?)
We thank Ms. Bundchen for her service with the U.N., and for raising awareness of this very important issue.
Cheers,
John
Um átomo de ajuda vale mais que uma tonelada de descaso. Parabéns por desprender energia onde há necessidade.
Parabéns!
While some talk about clean energies and money for improving new energetic possibilities, while a lot are talking aboout climatic change and bad attitude from human egoism against nature, there is a place in Canary Islands, a Paradise to stay all days of the year because its warm weather and people, in which they are going to see if there is oil. While some talk about the need of change, the opposite side of the same coin appears like an sad hipocrite reality. Who will stop this madness? Money is not for clean planet for future, but for quick enrichment for today, I sadly guess. Only seem to be lies everywhere.
Thank you for the links, its so easy and I had no idea. Gonna read through them now and donate what I can.
xo