The Connection Between Rural Electrification and Environmental Devastation
In response to my piece “Per Capita Energy Consumption” in which I extol the importance of bringing electricity to the developing world, a reader notes: Some may cynically observe the acquisition of electricity in third world countries seldom means a reduction of unhealthy hovels and crime ridden squalor, but an increase in watching TV!
There is no doubt that the connection between electricity and education (and between education and family planning) is a tenuous one in many cases. But here are a couple of things to consider:
• According to a dear friend who runs an NGO in Northeastern Venezuela that focuses on family planning, watching television actually reduces fertility, insofar as it’s something else to do besides making babies. I have to confess that I laughed when I first heard this, in part because the mental image that pops up is amusing, in part because we in the developed world regard TV as a scourge, but apparently it’s true.
• Regardless of how the energy is used, rural electrification reduces the consumption of kerosene, as well as the deforestation whose purpose is gathering fuel for lighting and heating.
I also harken back to what I’ve gathered from my friends at the Eleos Foundation about the causality between energy, education, and affluence. They “believe that sustainable market-based solutions will be the most effective way to eradicate extreme poverty. From low cost education in India to sanitation in the slums of Kenya, we’re committed to innovative entrepreneurs solving tough problems.” IMO, their stellar work in this space positions them well to understand what works and what doesn’t.
Craig,
All of your points are valid and your aspirations very worthy .
I don’t really have an answer for third world poverty, or even poverty in the first world. The real issue seems to be one of leadership and sufficient social cohesion to breed civic pride and responsibility on an individual level, and as a member of a community.
Top down solutions seldom work, nor does an abundance of natural resources, education or development. The big difference seems to be when the individuals in a community accept a duty to actively participate in community governance. Only then do individuals feel responsible for successes and failures within their society.
I’m sure your friends are very well-intentioned people, and I’m sure the Venezuelan village is grateful for their interest, but Venezuela, despite great wealth, is collapsing into economic chaos and rapidly becoming a failed state.
Everywhere I travel I see the consequences of “failed policies”. Societies where Aid agencies, governments etc, tried to impose inappropriate and artificial policies allowing local communities to escape the responsibility of solving their own problems.
From Detroit to the Philippines, Africa to South America, even eastern Europe and the middle east, a combination of corruption, inappropriate intervention by first world agencies, failed ideologies, etc, has resulted in a rising tide of failed states.
The common denominator of all these failed societies is a lack of civic pride, individual responsibility and a lack of commitment to improve communal facilities and infrastructure without outside assistance.
What makes South Africa different from Botswana ? Why is the quality of life in South Africa rapidly deteriorating while it’s much poorer neighbor, Botswana, is rapidly increasing ?
Why is a rising tide of “refugees”, pouring out of failed states, all of whom seem to believe they are entitled to simply move to more successful societies on demand ? Civil wars are never pleasant and always brutal, but are often an essential sacrifice a nations citizens must endure to achieve a successful society, and a sense of belonging.
Simply running away, or expecting other nations to sort out internecine fights, only further weakens commitment find solutions and prolongs the agony.
As I say, I don’t have any practical answers. (The days of colonial, paternalistic administration have long since ended).