Stepping Into Something More Appropriate

The movement towards appropriate technology is a step towards producing more with fewer resources, without harming the environment. It encourages the shift to renewable energy sources, such as wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy and others. The development of appropriate technology could lead to societies concerned with recycling, conservation and the improvement of technologies that neither pollute not deplete irreplaceable resources. The efforts to promote appropriate technology in the developing world could be the solution to many of the problems developing countries confront.

Although the light bulb (incandescent lamp) was perfected by Thomas Edison in 1879, electricity is still a novelty or luxury to many people today. Approximately one billion people living on earth in the 21st century do not have access to electricity. And almost three billion people depend on fuel sources such as wood, dung and charcoal to meet their energy needs.

Appropriate technology has brought solutions, and happiness, to many people in the developing world. The importance of having technology that is 'appropriate' is that it makes use of the natural resources already available to the people of the region.

IslamOnline.net's Health & Science Page is interested in having an active role in promoting appropriate technology for the developing world. Writers from around the world have written about innovative examples of appropriate technology carried out in many countries. We have succeeded in bridging the gap between a Japanese scientistand many NGOs and investors who were eager to consider funding and testing his invention. The opportunity to repeat this experience would be a small but important step towards building a more co-operative and environmentally-aware society.

If you are a scientist or a journalist who has innovative ideas on appropriate technology and would like to try promoting these ideas contact the editor at ScienceTech@islam-online.net.

Plant Your Vegetables…On Your Rooftops

Rooftops of buildings are usually large areas overcrowded with junk and useless objects. With a little effort and money, these rooftops can be transformed to mini-gardens that produce vegetables and fruits, free from hormones and pesticides.

Extracting Water from the Sun!

Many scientists find it is necessary for the developed world to help those less fortunate in finding solutions to their problems; thus a Japanese scientist has recently come up with a device that produces distilled water from seawater and other natural water sources by using natural energy. This could be a solution for countries that suffer from water shortages regularly.

Sri Lanka's Sun in a Box!

Dung, crop residue, wood and charcoal are used for cooking in many developing countries. These fuels generate a noxious mixture of particulate matter, carbon monoxide and other gases that produce pollution levels that have alarming effects on human health killing at least 1.6 million people a year worldwide. Several efforts have been made to reduce these ill effects by introducing alternatives to this form of cooking.

Solar Energy Lights up Nepali Villages

Around 27,000 households in remote rural areas are currently receiving electricity, watching television and listening to radio in Nepal, thanks to an initiative taken by the Nepali government and donor agencies. Currently around 30 solar electric and alternative energy companies and government agencies are working together to bring light to many villages that are remarkably remote and hidden under the massive shadow of the mighty Himalayas that give Nepal its name, the Himalayan Kingdom.

Rural Cuba Basks in the Sun

In Cuba, it is no longer uncommon to pass a school or a doctor's office in a remote village that features one or two flat, square contraptions on the roof, glittering and drinking in the bright sun. The struggle to electrify rural communities in the face of a weak economy and the burgeoning price of petroleum has inspired Cuba to develop an unusual resolution of implementing alternative energy sources.

Blowing Life into Rural Kenya

Jeff Odera smiles contentedly as he gazes at his newly installed wind generator at his home on the outskirts of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi. "I am pleased to have access to a reliable personal power and I feel highly relieved from worrying about costly electricity and kerosene bills," he says.

Glowstar: Taking the Sun with You

The African sun is about to shine at midnight: the combined efforts of non-profit organizations, investors, and technicians have culminated in the production of a low-cost solar lantern, which would provide poor Africans with a glowing light to dissipate the darkness of the night.

The MoneyMaker Transforms the Lives of Kenyans

In a village in Western Kenya, a farmer is poised atop his "MoneyMaker Plus", a manual irrigation pump made by a non-governmental organization called ApproTec, (Appropriate Technology for Enterprise Creation), based in the capital city, Nairobi.

Comfortable Kenyan Footwear Made of…Used Tires!

Two American students based in Kenya conceptualized and put in place a unique project for recycling waste tires in the sprawling Korogocho slum of Kenya's capital city, Nairobi. The project endeavored to protect the environment while creating jobs for residents of the deprived shantytown, whose name means a place without hope in the local dialect. Akala Designs uses discarded tires from a huge dumpsite adjacent to the slum.

Zimbabwean Farmers Bag the Clouds

A water harvesting method currently being applied in rural Zimbabwe's naturally dry Masvingo Province, south of the country, has seen small-scale commercial farmers able to enjoy better harvests despite the persistent drought.

Self-Focusing Glasses: New Hope for Developing World

A revolutionary new type of glasses know as 'adaptive glasses' could be the solution for millions of people suffering from poor vision due to refractive errors in developing countries.

Need to Cook? Forget Wood and Get Some Dung!

As deforestation problems continue in Africa, African governments and conservationists are challenged to promote appropriate and affordable alternative technologies that help reduce deforestation.

Worms Turn Trash to Cash

Scientifically known as Eudrilus euginae, these African earthworms are the main characters of vermicomposting in the Philippines. Vermicomposting is a form of composting that utilizes earthworms to convert organic wastes like food waste, plant material and animal manure into vermicompost.

Easy to Carry, Easy to Bear

In remote rural areas in Sri Lanka, local means of transporting produce to the market, carrying water from sources far from home and taking children to school are crude, unsafe and unreliable. Technologies in some areas are slowly becoming appropriate. But in rural transport, the poor continue to be the beasts of burden, and women, the traditional fetchers and carriers.

Finding a Home Amongst the Rubble of Beaurocracy

Traditionally, the Afghan home was and still is what is referred to in modern architecture as 'earthen' or 'ceramic'; essentially mud-brick, adobe homes. These homes are very common in regions of extreme weather conditions. Well-designed and built, these homes can last hundreds of years even in the midst of earthquakes.

Collecting Heaven's Waters for the Philippines

Rainwater harvesting seems nothing to many Filipinos. However, those who advocate its practice say it could address the shortage of water supply now haunting millions of people in this Southeast Asian archipelago.

Philippine Town Learns from Country's Trash Tragedy

A tragedy in the Philippines compelled the national government to look into the garbage problem. The worst garbage-related tragedy that hit this Southeast Asian country paved the way for the passage of a law on solid waste management.

'Relieve Yourself' the Sulabh Way

The lack of access to toilets is not only a problem of keeping clean, it is also the leading cause of death in the developing world: the most widespread diseases in developing countries are transmitted by human feces. The Sulabh Movement was born out of concern for sanitation, ecology and scavengers. Since then, Sulabh has provided two-pit pour flush, water seal toilet systems to more than six million households and 5,500 community centers. Over 10 million people in India use a Sulabh toilet every day.

Beauty with a Purpose

Tanks are part of India's highly evolved ancient irrigation systems. In areas where the rivers were not snow-fed and therefore not perennial, and this was particularly true of the lower peninsular regions, different kinds of tanks served multiple purposes - aesthetic, spiritual and practical.

Flash Presentations

The Energy of the Future

E-Groups

ConserveAfrica: The Conserve Africa Group

The Conserve Africa Group is an interactive forum for discussion, collaboration and networking devoted for exchange of information, ideas and experiences on sustainable development and conservation in Africa.

AlternatePower

This list is for all those interested in alternative energy including solar power, wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, hydroelectricity, electromagnetics, geothermal, and any other renewable non-polluting form of energy for homes, cars, businesses, toys, whatever! All subjects welcome from need help, how-to, support, and bragging rights!!

MuslimsForDevelopment

A group for Muslims to discuss development issues in Islamic as well as non-Islamic countries, in the firm belief that we must be active members in the communities in which we live.

Appropriate Community: appcom

We are starting a community for the research and development of appropriate technology in the areas of transportation, farming, agriculture, energy, and self sufficiency. We will be working on clean water, organic food, sustainable energy and other aspects of life.

Bioregionalism

This list serves those who wish to discuss the philosophies of bioregionalism, grassroots democracy, carrying capacity, appropriate technology, and related issues.

EarthFarm: Appropriate Technology for Rural Farmers

Appropriate Technology for Rural Villages in Developing Nations:
-Sustainable Agriculture
-Applied Biodiversity
-Energy/Water Technology
-Preventative Health Care
-Whole Systems

EarthTech: Earth Friendly Technology

Here's a place to discuss practical, real-world ideas dealing with ways to manifest Earth-friendly technologies. This includes alternative energy including solar power, wind turbines, photovoltaic systems, hydroelectricity, electromagnetics, geothermal, and any other renewable non-polluting form of energy, as well as conservation, transportation, manufacturing, recycling and all human activities. Whether you need help, have an idea, want support or just want to throw it against the wall, this is the place!

Mustech

This is a list for Muslims interested in development of science and technology in Islamic world.

TechForGood

These group members are interested in helping non-profits and communities by applying Appropriate Information & Communication Technologies (ICT). Our name refers to our mission -- Technology Serving the Social Good.

Related Web Sites:

Development Center for Appropriate Technology

National Center for Appropriate Technology

Engineers Without Borders-International