Poor People's Energy Outlook 2010 Response

Although it was not in the required reading, I read the Introduction prior to Chapters 1 and 2. I'm not very well-versed in public policy or energy or sustainability, but I feel like the introduction gave me enough understanding and gave itself enough credibility to allow me to read it without feeling worn down or confused.

The most striking part of the reading, I found, was in the introduction.

“Further, the people who have the least access to energy are reflected least in the limited data that are collected. Their voices and experiences are lost – and thus the expression of their needs, desires, and preferred solutions.” (p. vii)

This statement reminds me of the relatively recent political debate and scandal of the Congressional Panel on birth control, where there were no women on the panel despite the fact that the results of the eventual congressional and presidential decision would be affecting almost exclusively women. Similarly, we need to listen to the people that we are trying to help, and fully comprehend what they need, and include them in the process.

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I’m surprised that “globally, deaths from the use of solid fuels are second only to tobacco smoke as an environment risk, and represent the tenth largest risk overall” (p. 9). The fact that cooking your food and warming your body so you don’t die can kill you, and does so on an alarmingly regular and steady basis, is atrocious and should be preventable. This part of the article also widens the sphere of influence to the entire globe when it states “burning solid fuels in open areas and traditional stoves cause global warming” (p. 10). Anyone who thinks that whatever is happening in parts away from them is not their problem is a) probably a terrible person, and b) not considering all the implications, such as global warming.

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The zeer pot industry and development (p. 22) intrigues me. I like how the product is made from materials found in that area, which eliminates or drastically reduces the time, materials, and cost accumulated from importing. More importantly, it fulfills the need that “funding should aim to support the creation of markets” (p. 45). That market isn’t a result of a foreign entity that could be stopped should the funding run dry; it has been incorporated into their economy, which makes the product more accessible and brings the jobs and business that comes with any local economy.