-i
WORLD & NATION
FEBRUARY 4, 2011
, Stories by Alex Miller
Graphic by Bree Shepard
BURMA
UNITED
STATB
In his 78-page ruling.
Federal District Judge
Roger Vinson DECLAREd that
a stipulation within President
C^bama's much-debated health
care overhaul that requires
Americans to purchase insurance
is unconstitutional. Vinson's ruling
claims the stipulation is so "inex
tricably bound" to other aspects of
the law that it invalidates the bill
entirely, reports The New York Times.
Vinson stated that the federal gov
ernment should adhere to his ruling
and that all 26 states involved in the suite
are henceforth free of any and all responsi
bilities dictated by the bill. Officials within
the Obama Administration plan to appeal the
ruling, which brings lower-level court rulings
over the President's landmark bill to a tie,
with two supporting its constitutionality and
two declaring it unconstitutional.
After nearly 50 years in power, Burma's
MILITARY RULE HAS COME TO AN END.
Following a national election in late 2010, the
country's first parliament in over two decades
has convened and effectively initiated a
new constitution, reports BBC
News. Though critics claim
power will remain in the hands
of .jnilitary officials, a presi
dent and two vice presidents
will be elected in the group's
first session, which will last
approximately two weeks. The
majority of seats are filled by
members of the Union Solidarity
and Development Party (USDP),
which is supported by the country's
military government, while the major
USpP-opposition party holds no seats
after refusing to participate in the
November election, and
only a small number
^^of seats are held by
’ pro-democracy
.. yaw^akers or
V ethhic party
In 2007, Ecuador's
President, Rafael Correa,
CREATED A PROGRAM CALLED "WELCOME HOME"
that offers incentives for immigrants to return to
Ecuador. With a struggling U.S. economy and high
unemployment rates, Ecuador's offers of financial
assistance to start businesses, one-way airplane
tickets, and waivers on import taxes and fees on
property they return with has been looking more
appealing and the number returning is increasing,
according to The New York Times. Although some
Ecuadorians are motivated by the extra support,
many are taking the opportunities to return home
to their families or retire.
representa
tives.
FRANCE
Legislation banning same-sex marriages was main
tained IN France on Jan. 25. The decision stated, "The prin
ciple of equality prohibits neither that the legislature regulate
differing situations in differing manners, nor that it depart
from equality for reasons of general interest," reports The
New York Times. Although gay couples are given civil unions,
advocates argue that gay couples are still not granted the same
rights as heterosexual marriages.
Kenya finds an oftgrid answer in solar energy
By Meg Holden
Staff Writer
Imagine walking two miles to catch a motorcycle taxi, then
riding three hours into town just so you can pay to charge your
cell phone. Most of us, raised in a developed nation where
paved roads, cars, and cheap electricity are the norm, cannot
fathom such a herculean undertaking. But until last year, this
was the only way for Sara Ruto of Kiptusuri, Kenya, to charge
her phone, reports The New York Times.
In February, however, Ruto's family sold some animals and
bought a small solar power system for $80, according to The
New York Times. Perched on the tin roof of the mud-walled
dwelling that houses Ruto, her husband, and six children, the
solar panel provides enough electricity to charge the phone
and power four overhead light bulbs.
"My main motivation was the phone, but this has changed
so many other things," said Ruto to The New York Times.
With the benefit of electric light, Ruto's children's grades
have improved, according to The New York Times. The
younger children are safe from burning themselves on a
kerosene lamp.
Ruto saves $15 a month on kerosene costs and $20 by not
traveling to Mogotio, and is even able to charge neighbors 20
cents to recharge their own cell phones.
The New York limes reports that as small-scale renewable
energy becomes cheaper and more available, it provides power
to people living far from electricity grids and fuel pipelines.
"Renewable energy becomes more and more important in
less and less developed markets," said Adam Kendall, head
of the sub-Saharan Africa power practice for McKinsey &
Company, to The New York Tmes.
Evans Wadongo of Kenya recognizes the truth of this,
having experienced life as a student without electric light,
reports the international news agency, AFP. As a child,
Wadongo struggled to study by the light of a kerosene lamp
"This is Q great example of using technology
to liherote people in a way that gives each
individual more choice and freedom with
their lives."
Kyle Dell, associate professor of political science
and permanently damaged his eyesight with the lamp's
smoky fumes.
At 19, Wadongo created his first solar lamp using funds from
a student loan to buy the supplies, according to AFP. Now 25,
Wadongo has provided solar lamps to tens of thousands of
Kenyans.
"I never thought it would take off on this scale," said
Wadongo. "I just wanted to take one to my grandma."
According to AFP, Wadongo sees his lamps as "a way to
lift people out of poverty." Wadongo and his team from the
"Use Solar, Save Lives" project identify a community that
relies on kerosene lamps. The team provides solar lamps to the
community, and even have easy-transport lamps for nomadic
communities.
"This is a great example of using technology to liberate
people in a way that gives each individual more choice and
freedom with their lives," said Associate Professor of Political
Science Kyle Dell in an e-mail interview. "There is also a
tangible link between saving money in order to purchase a
solar panel or cell phone and the ability to use that technology
to then step further out of poverty."
"Off-grid is the answer for the poor," said Minoru
Takada, chief of the United Nations Development Program's
sustainable energy program, to The New York Times. "But
people who control funding need to see this as a viable option."
According to The New York Times, investors are reluctant
to fund projects that serve dispersed, poor, rural consumers.
And the lack of a distribution network is keeping off-grid
systems from spreading. The lack of a distribution network
could be beneficial in the long run, though, according to Dell.
"By decentralizing -energy ■ generation, you • essentially
decentralize economic, social, and eventualiy political power,"
said Dell. "Distribution is no longer a means for a government
or corporation to claim an unequal control over the lives of
ordinary people in remote places in the world."
Wadongo told AFP that he believes Kenya's political class
wants "people to remain poor so that they can stay in power."
With off-grid solar power, perhaps Wadongo, Ruto, and other
Kenyans can regain control and improve their lives.