Environmental and humanitarian alert
The stress of the present energy situation in the coastal areas of East Africa and the search for sustainable relief solutions are the core of activity that 'solarafrica.network' addresses.
Due to a shortage of fuelwood for domestic and industrial use, both society and the environment in rural and urban areas suffer closely related.
As alternatives have not been envisaged nor applied in the last decade, the last few years have grown devastating scenarios, where a growing population struggles to obtain their fuel for basic and entreprenerial needs and the environment degradates as increasing areas are exhausted.
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Environmental alert
Over one million cubic meters of timber (20% charcoal) are used annually in the Zanzibar Archipielago on its own, just for domestic use: cooking, unaccounting for vast amounts requiered in industry.
It represents over 450 solid acres (or over 2 solid square kilometres) annually deforested, and more significantly, an impact in the environment of over 8,640 acreas or 38 square kilometers when considering a non-systematic timber collection.
Its impact on social development can be observed more acutely in areas where the souces of fuelwood are increasingly degradated, and disputes leading to violence over fuelwood collection are not uncommon.
As a result, many families and communities have little choice but to migrate to zones where the alert is less acute, threfore taking with them the seeds for conflict reproduction.
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Humanitarian alert
A great sector of the population within the East African Region work in the agricultural sector which adds to their difficulties. Energy has very much to do with it, as many live below the poverty line. For them social and economical improvements mean access to jobs, food, health services, education, housing, running water, etc. In providing for these needs energy becomes an important instrument if directed specifically towards the needs of the poor.
The poor pay a much higher price for their energy that any other group in society. The price can be measured in terms of time and labour, economics and social inequity, special for women.
A progressive effect on the environment as well as in social-economics reaches situations where family households cannot afford the use of energy for essential needs such as proper cooking. Boiling water to erradicate water-borne diseases is a scarce practice. Women spend increasingly more time collecting fuelwood depriving them from domestic issues such as children wellfare and education.
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* Energy as a tool for sustainable development.'
..European Commission and UNDP. 1999