|
Here you will find
links to 6 articles: 50/50 - Germany, A Clean
Concern - Jamaica, 'Ease the Jam', Gone With
The Wind - Philippines, Rags To Riches - India,
Snack Attack - Bangladesh
50/50
- Germany
In October 1994, it was decided that the schools
in Hamburg were using too much energy. In an attempt
to conserve some of the energy that was being wasted,
the Fifty-Fifty Project was started in a number of
the schools.
The key element of the Fifty-Fifty Project is a
system of financial incentives that enables the schools
to share the saving in energy and water costs they
have achieved themselves. Fifty per cent of the money
saved in energy conservation is returned to the school
where it can be reinvested into new energy saving
devices, equipment, materials and extra curricular
activities. For instance, Blankenese School bought
solar panels with the money they saved on energy
consumption and installed them themselves.
A
Clean Concern - Jamaica
In the period 1986 to 1990, the population of Jamaica
grew by an estimated 1% per annum. The 1991 census
showed that the population stood at 2,374,193. Increased
urbanisation has resulted in over half of the population
now living in cities and towns. Tremendous pressure
has been placed on the island's supply of housing
and the growth in squatter settlements is accelerating
rapidly. They are developing in vulnerable areas
without access to acceptable sewage disposal, garbage
collection and domestic water facilities.
Improper sewage disposal facilities are a serious
threat to vital water systems. There is no clean
water to drink due to contamination and the risk
of contracting typhoid, cholera and other water born
diseases is high.
'Ease
the Jam'
The lack of effective modes of transport - the large
majority of travel is still by walking - means that
households in rural areas of developing countries spend
many hours each day in transport activities related
to their basic needs for water, fuel and food. This
restricts the time available for productive activities
and is a significant constraint on social and economic
development and hence on poverty alleviation. Lack
of transport also reduces peoples' opportunities to
earn a living from agriculture or other trades and
may limit access to health, education and other essential
services.
Gone
With The Wind - Philippines
The Philippine government aims to utilise renewable
energy sources to achieve energy self-sufficiency
by the year 2005. The Philippines are strategically
located on the Asia Pacific monsoon belt which gives
the 7,100 islands high potential for utilsing wind
energy. The islands lie on the prevailing monsoon
and throughout the year there is almost a constant
supply of wind. The south west monsoon wind starts
in May until late September and the north east monsoon
starts early in October until April. The average
recorded wind velocity in the Philippines ranges
from 1 to 8 metres per second.
Rags
To Riches - India
Developing countries are faced with an increasing
shortage of raw materials, energy sources and capital.
The demand for paper in India will continue to grow
and by the year 2000, it is expected to rise to 4kg
per person per year. Paper production requires a
supply of raw materials and as deforestation becomes
an issue of international concern and the traditional
wood-based resources become increasingly scarce,
environmentally sound methods which move away from
large scale industrial paper production, primarily
dependent on wood, are becoming more popular.
Snack
Attack - Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, floods and cyclones are a fact of life.
Dhaka, the capital, is one of the poorest cities in
the world and people pursue income sources as a matter
of survival. There is a booming street trade in snack
foods and the demand is rising. Very little investment
is needed to establish a roadside restaurant and vendors
can be found in most public places where profit margins
are high, such as stations, bus terminals, schools
and streets.
"Chana chur", a similar product to "Bombay Mix",
and vegetables fried in pastry are extremely popular
snacks and are eaten regularly by people going about
their daily business.
|
