"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
Don't Fight Culture- Darfur Stoves Project
Don’t fight culture (If people cook by stirring their stews,
they’re not going to use a solar oven, no matter what
you do to market it. Make them a better stove instead.)
they’re not going to use a solar oven, no matter what
you do to market it. Make them a better stove instead.)
When we think of 'development' we often think about improved or advanced technologies. However, implementing new technologies that do not go along with the existing cultural or social way of doing things often leads to failed projects.
We must remember that when we innovate things for other cultures, we must first understand the culture itself. People shouldn't be told that they must change the way their culture does something, just because we think there is a 'better' way- our way.
In light of the stove example above, I would recommend visiting the website of the Darfur Stoves Project. This team from Berkeley, California has come up with a new kind of cooking stove for the women living in IDP camps in Darfur, Sudan. What's so great about the Darfur Stove is that its technology isn't overwhelming- it is quite basic. However, the DSP team has increased the efficiency of the cooking stove so that women have to use less firewood (a dangerous process where the risk of being raped is high if one leaves the IDP camp) while ensuring that it is also culturally appropriate for them to use.
Check it out!
-% Reese %-
Views: 43
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Comment by Thomas Pinkerton on March 21, 2010 at 6:24am
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That template is a genius idea -- a great visual to engage in a discussion on a difficult topic to broach in a tangible way. Everyone hears statistics, but showing that something as simple as this can save a life.
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Comment by Teresa R on March 21, 2010 at 7:08am
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I know, right? I wrote a paper about the Firewood Crisis in Darfur and made the stove with the template they supplied. Everyone in my class loved having that as part of the presentation. You're right, seeing something concrete and tangible is much more effective than just saying "and they make stoves..."
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Comment by Jen Shaffer on March 21, 2010 at 2:02pm
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Great post! I think this is something that needs to be hammered into people's heads. Along with not reinventing the wheel and listening! +1Local insight
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Agreed, Jen. Thanks for the PV!
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Comment by Shakwei Mbindyo on March 21, 2010 at 3:44pm
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+1KS. Appropriate technology - so simple, so powerful.
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Comment by Victor Udoewa on March 21, 2010 at 4:48pm
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Good stuff, Teresa. The mistake you highlight is a well-repeated one throughout development history. Thanks for reminding us. I also like your cook stove example because it not only addresses maternal and child health but is wonderful for the environment seeing as they are used by over 3 billion people and more efficient cook stoves can reduce related respiratory illnesses and greenhouse gas emissions. That's why they're so attractive. Knocking out 2 birds with one stone. +1 for Local Insight.
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Comment by Sayel Cortes on March 21, 2010 at 6:47pm
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Awesome way to present the idea.
I have a post about a similar project in Mexico (http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blogs/learn3-patsari-stoves
Interesting how the designs are completely different to adjust to local culture even if they have the same goal.
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Comment by Ken Eklund on March 21, 2010 at 10:07pm
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Was just on Daniel LaLiberte's blog where he had a quote I liked a lot: "Culture emerges from the background noise of society because it has been found to work." You're saying that we should start from that understanding – that culture is there for a good reason – and like others here I heartily agree.
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Comment by Nick Heyming on March 22, 2010 at 4:56pm
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Excellent post! Have you thought of any solutions like this that would work in your backyard?
Comment
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