Comments on: How the Greening of the World Bank Affects the Poor http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/16/how-the-greening-of-the-world-bank-affects-the-poor/ News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:32:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/16/how-the-greening-of-the-world-bank-affects-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-56839 Matt Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:25:09 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=1302#comment-56839 A.eye, yes I imagine people are looking into it, but the technical and financial problems are huge. (note also, wind, wave and solar are all about electricity!). The problem with wind is it is not as long-term as people imagine; in dry, dusty conditions, a wind turbine will not last more than 20 years. Solar is largely dependent on storage, which is technically very difficult, even in sunny countries - lights are not used during the day. Thus, the assumption that it is cheaper over time is flawed. Current technology just isn't good enough to provide for the needs of the majority. That said, it's not all bad - things such as solar-powered laptops are an awesome invention. I'd rather see all the money spent on manufacturing and distributing those to Nigerian children than giving the money to Western consultancies to build infrastructure that we know from experience will only last a few years, while indebting the Nigerian government to Washington and Whitehall (thus handicapping even any willing, non-corrupt Nigerian government that we might hope to one day see). A.eye, yes I imagine people are looking into it, but the technical and financial problems are huge. (note also, wind, wave and solar are all about electricity!).

The problem with wind is it is not as long-term as people imagine; in dry, dusty conditions, a wind turbine will not last more than 20 years. Solar is largely dependent on storage, which is technically very difficult, even in sunny countries – lights are not used during the day.

Thus, the assumption that it is cheaper over time is flawed. Current technology just isn’t good enough to provide for the needs of the majority.

That said, it’s not all bad – things such as solar-powered laptops are an awesome invention. I’d rather see all the money spent on manufacturing and distributing those to Nigerian children than giving the money to Western consultancies to build infrastructure that we know from experience will only last a few years, while indebting the Nigerian government to Washington and Whitehall (thus handicapping even any willing, non-corrupt Nigerian government that we might hope to one day see).

]]> By: Matt http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/16/how-the-greening-of-the-world-bank-affects-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-56838 Matt Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:10:46 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=1302#comment-56838 Everyone seems to be ignoring this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/16/climatechange.internationalaidanddevelopment You keep calling for aid and infrastructure projects as if they are not the ones that caused most of the poverty in the first place?! Will someone please enlighten me as to why the climate change lobby is so blind to imperial manipulation? http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/SAP.asp Everyone seems to be ignoring this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/16/climatechange.internationalaidanddevelopment

You keep calling for aid and infrastructure projects as if they are not the ones that caused most of the poverty in the first place?!

Will someone please enlighten me as to why the climate change lobby is so blind to imperial manipulation?

http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/SAP.asp

]]> By: a.eye http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/16/how-the-greening-of-the-world-bank-affects-the-poor/comment-page-1/#comment-56837 a.eye Wed, 16 Jul 2008 13:37:56 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=1302#comment-56837 I have seen many areas in Nigeria that are without light, or where light has been cut. Are there people seriously looking into buying and building using more renewable resources in the region (solar, wind, etc)? Or is this not a feasible option financially? I would think it would seem more expensive initially, but would be cheaper over time than electricity. I have seen many areas in Nigeria that are without light, or where light has been cut. Are there people seriously looking into buying and building using more renewable resources in the region (solar, wind, etc)? Or is this not a feasible option financially? I would think it would seem more expensive initially, but would be cheaper over time than electricity.

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