Bringing Light to the Powerless

摘要

Imagine not being able to read or study after the sun sets, having to walk for hours to get drinking or washing water or having to strain your eyes to work under the dim light of a candle. This is the reality for the 2 billion people on the planet who do not have access to electricity. Many of us in the industrialized world take electricity for granted. Even those of us who rely on renewable energy technologies to generate electricity use enough electricity in our homes to power an entire community in the developing world. These families are not asking for luxuries like dishwashers and air conditioners. In reality, just a small amount of power can have incredible impacts on people's lives. The largest application for electricity in the developing world is for household light. Although many people in rural areas of the developing world already have access to some form of light, it is usually not a high quality light. Throughout the world, children breathe the fumes of kerosene lanterns as they study, women strain their eyes working in candlelight and doctors perform operations by flashlight. In other areas, people have car batteries that run lights, a radio and even a TV.