As much as I love CPLs, it's heartening to see that affordable/renewable solar lighting is making inroads in rural countries where fuel and the like are cost prohibitive. http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2015/12/08/458931828/to-know-the-true-meaning-of-solar-energy-ask-a-powerless-rice-farmer
Agreed. And the indoor air pollution from kerosene use mentioned in the article is a serious health problem in a number of countries. Perhaps one day liquid fuelled lighting can be a hobby for them too, and they can join us here!
Interesting, somthing lve noticed over the last 10 years or so here on the farm with the various campers is 10 years ago everyone had Lpg lanterns and/or rechargable torches/lamps. 8 years ago they started going to generators either cheap $1-200 2-strokes through to top of the line inverted Hondas or Yamahas. In the last 2 years they have all gone over to solar systems with various forms of lighting attached, even the older fellas who l would have thought would be a little set in their ways by now.
You are not the only one to think that article has political slant... A happy story which is carrying many undertones?
Realistically, I think that must be amongst the least of their worries. Why would people who are too poor to afford solar lighting feel the need for a mobile phone? - a case of inverted priorities, methinks. Only a badly maintained lantern would be giving out "smoke". Probably one of those cheap and nasty Petromax clones...
I agree with that! Besides, looking at these peoples' humble dwellings I think there's plenty of "ventilation" anyway! What happens if anything goes wrong with the solar thingies? Who within a say 300 miles radius is capable of repairing them? Reminds me of the tractors donated in Africa. Didn't take long before they stopped working (after destroying the top fertile layer of soil ). All these people need is low-tech stuff they understand and are able to maintain/repair as needed. Best regards, Wim
Agreed. So often do these "sustainable green" ideas originate from business ventures with vested interests from some political quarters. Subsidies anyone?
I wish they would ban the damn things on campsites... You go away for a quiet time and end up with someone running one of them next to you all day
I'm very much with Wim and David on this here... If the lamps are making his wife cough then they aren't being used properly. I suspect it's far more likely other helth issues or the affects of open fires. I also take issue with the above statement for which there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever...
So much of the "scientific" evidence has been written by the main stream media journalist selected to be the "scientific reporter" for the duration. The climate changes, that is not being denied, it always has and probably always will. But the causes are and have been deliberately drawn away from natural causes to mankind, and concocted to generate fear and loathing for fossil fuel consumption in favour of wind and solar generation. Both work on small scale applications but for a nation to be so powered is as practical a task as grinding the nations flour demands from windmills.
The main driving force behind Earths climate is the sun,which is slightly variable, sometimes giving out a little more radiation etc than at other times. When solar output rises, we get warmer, when it decreases we get an ice age. When are the greens going to realise this and start demanding we put out the sun?
Three things not to discuss at a dinner party: politics, religion and climate change. Or is that two things?
To answer the mobile phone question, it's about trade. Mobile phones have done tremendous things for developing markets since it's far easier for merchants to place and make orders. As far as "having" to work longer days, it's more like "being able". Don't compare your northern latitude perspective with these folks. Being able to do school work, process harvest, and other tasks are essential, not discretionary.
Yeah, I bet the average Indian peasant really appreciates his mobile phone to place and make orders... With all due respect, Al, isn't that exactly what you're doing... 8)
I know that the cell phones have made a tremendous difference in third world commerce. Coming from the maritime community, fishermen can discretely (vs marine radio) contact buyers and negotiate prices for their catches before returning to port. The same applies for any agrarian operation, or even a cottage industry in a outlying area. You might be amazed at just how sophisticated some of these people are despite their lack of technology and infrastructure that we take for granted. Affordable and renewable sources of light certainly help to feed the economic and educational engines in developing countries.
