Lack of Electricity Is a Huge Barrier to Overcoming Poverty
Almost one in four people live without power worldwide. Without electricity, these people are at a disadvantage in nearly every aspect of their lives. Having electricity means the ability to study at night and get an education. It means the difference between subsistence farming and back-breaking labor, and having the technology to create large enough crop yields to make a living. It allows people to have and power cell phones, which are being used across the developing world for mobile banking and to access the Internet. In fact, a recent Time article suggests lack of electricity or power is one of the largest barriers to overcoming poverty. According to the article, "[a]s long as those hundreds of millions remain in the dark, they will remain poor," and yet bringing electricity to areas that have none lacks global funding and attention. It's not even part of the Millennium Development Goals.
However cheap and renewable energy sources that don't require a standard power grid could be the first step out of poverty for the people in rural communities who lack electricity. But that doesn't mean governments are making small-scale rural electrification projects in poor countries a priority. Despite the obvious need for electricity, a recent New York Times article explains that government funding for smaller off-the-grid energy solutions is so rare because almost the entire population in need lives outside of urban areas. Since the areas in need of electricity are so vast and so rural, governments fear giving money that cannot be overseen.
And because the world's poorest countries don't have high carbon emissions, they are unable to tap into the green energy initiatives of the United Nations and the Kyoto Protocol. Only $7.5 billion of the $162 billion available for green energy projects went to the poorest countries most in need of electricity, reports the New York Times. The rest was broken up between more developed nations like China, India and Brazil.
Access to electricity is a key stepping stone in overcoming poverty in rural communities. However, it can only be realized if governments take a risk to fund and distribute off-grid solar panels. Without taking the risk of providing access, these communities will continue to live in the dark.
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lack of electricity is a huge barrier to overcoming poverty
Access to electricity is NOT a key stepping stone in overcoming poverty in rural communities. Although electricity is a very important component in the economy, it does not necessarily mean that if you have electricity in your house you can elevate from poverty. What the poor people needs are not just electricity, what they need is education and the opportunity to learn. What is the use of electricity if you don not have a job? And what is electricity if you don't know how to use it? What the people need is jobs and education, With this, they are able to enhance their skills and with skill enhancement comes income. These people are going to be laborers and they need electricity to operate their machines but it is the owner who will provide them. ;)
I agree that having
I agree that having electricity doesn't necessarily mean that you can get out of poverty. However, not having electricity means that you have a limited ability to get an education because you don't have the light to study by, and you don't have the technology to be able to create enough profit to hire others and create jobs. It isn't the solution to poverty; it is just what makes those things that are key to overcoming poverty (ie, education and the opportunity to learn and job opportunities) more feasible.
In addition to hindering the
In addition to hindering the success of businesses, students, and complicating people's everyday routines, it is also important to consider the sociopolitical implications of this issue.
I was recently in Senegal and experienced first-hand the frustration of losing power several times a day. Talking to locals about the problem, I came to find that everyone shared a common complaint--the government. There seems to be rampant distrust of government spending...and for good reason. For example, for many people in Dakar, a recently constructed 27 million dollar, 164 foot bronze statue represents the distorted priorities of the government. It's mind-blowing to think of what that money could have done if invested properly, in say an infrastructural development project.
While I agree that having electricity is a key stepping stone for communities to overcome poverty, I think what really needs to be brought to light is how governments are choosing to prioritize the needs of their people and invest accordingly.
Electricity isn't the main problem, in too many cases poverty is a direct consequence of governments that have been allowed to shamelessly squander precious resources. Until the root of the problem is addressed and politicians put their people's basic needs first, how can foreign initiatives be of much use?
Green Energy
I agree with the post that having electricity may not eradicate poverty but i beg to differ,please let's empower our local communities,am personally leading a goup of slum dwellers and youths to farming green energy but the problem is fund.if we got funds we can do millions of green energy plants and get diesel and generators will run inthe rurals and our levels will rise.currently a litre of kerosene in kenya is more than a Dollar,what if we got the empowerment tehnology and resources and see if this wont drop in a flash.
i have linked with an international energy body here in Kenya and they have the plants,we will do the farming it will only take us a year and we get the first produce,we make green manure(no more need for fertilizers and the manure will be available),soap,diesel,oil lit lamps and green energy operated generators will light our villages,they say a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.please someone,anyone help us realise these dream,am willing to work with communities based organisations not individuals really.reach me on spawnfadhili@gmail.com
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