Jocelyn McAuley on fri 8 dec 00
I came across an advertisement in Scientific American showing the winner
of one of rolex's Enterprise Awards . The
picture features a group of people crouched over large rounded overturned
pots...
"Northern Nigeria is an impoverished region
where people in rural communities eke out a
living from subsistence farming. With no
electricity, and therefore no refrigeration,
perishable foods spoil within days. Such
spoilage causes disease and loss of income for
needy farmers, who are forced to sell their
produce daily. Nigerian teacher Mohammed Bah
Abba was motivated by his concern for the rural
poor and by his interest in indigenous African
technology to seek a practical, local solution
to these problems. His extremely simple and
inexpensive earthenware "Pot-in-Pot" cooling
device is starting to revolutionise lives in
this semi-desert area."
A descriptive text of his project can be found on the website. It goes on
to describe his evaporative pots, which extend the life of produce
enormously: eggplants last 27 days as opposed to three, tomatoes and
peppers last three weeks or more, African spinach lasts 12 days as opposed
to one.
This teacher also invigorated the local work force, employing potters and
villagers to construct and produce his "pot-in-pot"s.
Reading this description is inspiring.
"Oftentimes the simpler a device, the greater its impact"
Enjoy,
Jocelyn
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Jocelyn McAuley ><<'> jocie@worlddomination.net
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