A bohemian enclave
cow dung
Posted Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:31 AM by ahmadjee
I stumbled upon this recent research the other day and it is a good read. I think, technology in any form is not good or bad, it's the use of it. TV do not make people dumb, watching dumb shows make people dumb. Video games don't make kids fat, it's the vacuum created by irresponsible parents. And yes, Internet doesn't make people socially inapt, it's the use of it. If anything it encourages those who are often socially secluded to broaden their horizon without feeling too uncomfortable.
Anyway, talking of ideas, I think a lot of issues that Pakistan is going through right now revolve around the fact that people are not getting their basic needs. And while somehow the hippies in the west think 'education' is the only way out and the neocons think 'freedom' (read loving and living what America does) is the key, I agree with Maslow on this. I think the majority of Pakistan lives in the bottom of that pyramid and therefore that's where all the 'help' should be focused at.
For example, any government of Pakistan that resolves the energy crisis will be loved by the people, regardless of what their political views are otherwise. It's no fun having the electricity gone every few hours, factories closed because there is not enough power. In my village in Pakistan, the electricity is there maybe 2~3 hours during the day. They used to use cow dung for cooking but now they are using the big natural gas cylinders. Hot water is a rare thing. My plan is to investigate if they can use biogas and I am seriously thinking doing a mini summer project on it. From what I have heard; the equipment only costs $300 and if I can get it to work for me, I will see if I can get it to work for my almost abandoned house in the village. I would love to install solar there but I think that is a few years down the road because solar is still very expensive.
Oh and before I forget to record this milestone, Misbah learned to tie her shoe laces last week. She was pretty proud of herself. I am just glad that the next time we go shoe shopping she won't make a fuss about the laces.
My co-worker S took this picture this morning. Love the contrast. Yes, the foot and a half of snow all melted, we are back in the 60s.
Anyway, talking of ideas, I think a lot of issues that Pakistan is going through right now revolve around the fact that people are not getting their basic needs. And while somehow the hippies in the west think 'education' is the only way out and the neocons think 'freedom' (read loving and living what America does) is the key, I agree with Maslow on this. I think the majority of Pakistan lives in the bottom of that pyramid and therefore that's where all the 'help' should be focused at.
For example, any government of Pakistan that resolves the energy crisis will be loved by the people, regardless of what their political views are otherwise. It's no fun having the electricity gone every few hours, factories closed because there is not enough power. In my village in Pakistan, the electricity is there maybe 2~3 hours during the day. They used to use cow dung for cooking but now they are using the big natural gas cylinders. Hot water is a rare thing. My plan is to investigate if they can use biogas and I am seriously thinking doing a mini summer project on it. From what I have heard; the equipment only costs $300 and if I can get it to work for me, I will see if I can get it to work for my almost abandoned house in the village. I would love to install solar there but I think that is a few years down the road because solar is still very expensive.
Oh and before I forget to record this milestone, Misbah learned to tie her shoe laces last week. She was pretty proud of herself. I am just glad that the next time we go shoe shopping she won't make a fuss about the laces.
My co-worker S took this picture this morning. Love the contrast. Yes, the foot and a half of snow all melted, we are back in the 60s.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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you running for president in Pakistan?!!?
So proud of Misbah
Posted Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:34 AM by Gemini the Great
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interesting views. I have seen cow dung used in several villages in pakistan. It a time consuming process but other than that it worked well.Posted Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:49 AM by njgal
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GTG, that will be the biggest waste of my time.
njgal, if you read up on it, using biogas from cow dung is actually not very time consuming. I am thinking if they can get the heat to cook and boil water and they have control over it (not the govt. mandated natural gas prices), that's real progress for my or any village.Posted Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:59 AM by ahmadjee
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