Sustainable development blog : ecology and humanitarian aid

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Translated from Le cuiseur solaire : un fort levier de développement by Pamela Paterson.

Alternative sources of energy, such as solar ovens and boilers can reduce up to 50% on energy bills in the homes of people living in many developing countries. This is a small utensil with many possibilities, which we are going to present here through the example of the French association Bolivia inti sud soleil, which has given out 10000 ovens in ten years. It is a success which has allowed them to receive the support of the photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand, a French activist.

“For a third of humanity, that is, the poorest, wood, carbon and cow dung are the only energy for

We have received lots of messages asking us how to build a house with plastic bottles. Here is a how to guide to get that done. Hope it Read more »

A post translated by Vanessa Morrel, from Seed bombs : mode d’emploi.

Safe from real explosives “seed bombs” or “seed grenades” are weapons, but their goal is not to destroy the earth. Indeed, they intend to protect it. In fact they allow a new manner in which to easily “green” the city and reforest forgotten areas around us, whether they be part of our urban environment (such as an empty field) or a natural space (a deforested area or an abandoned one).

Climate refugees and their plight... What global governance measures and mechanisms to help them out ?

Humanitarian aid refers to material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, that is to say saving lives, alleviating suffering, and maintaining human dignity. Humanitarian aid is triggered in response to humanitarian crises. What we call "Development aid", on Read more »

This post is translated from the French article Campagne Greenpeace : « et dans 10 ans ? »

How do you imagine planet Earth will look in 10 years time ? What kind of a world will we live in if the G20 heads of state do not take steps right now ?

As usual, Greenpeace came up with a striking campaign, in which they did not portray a fire-and-brimstone world, shattered to pieces. Instead, Greenpeace chose to undermine the leaders’ egos, showing them in decay:

Pollution is still a heavy problem in the U.S, in spite of the increased efforts to countervail its effects.

Highlighted below are some of the areas where the air quality is considered unhealthful on a substantial number of days each year :

1. From David Mostyn :

2. From Adrian Raeside :

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For its products, Nestlé uses palm oil from companies that are wreaking havoc on Indonesian rainforests, hindering the locals' way of life and pushing orang-utans towards extinction.

Nestle : good food, good life ?

We all