What started as an innocent day at the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, turned into roaming the solar technology exhibitions as part of a huge trade show in Cuzco, Peru.
We met with engineering students from Lima and chatted and asked the questions that official trade show participants would ask… The push for solar technology in isolated communities is admirable. I wish I could even begin to sufficiently describe the places we have seen solar technology being put to use.
Driving along deserted roads we will pass a hut with a tin roof, a painted “Ministeria de Agricultura” sign across the side, and two lone solar panels balancing up top.
We stayed in an indigenous community of 6 families on Isla de la Luna on the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca.
Most houses had no electricity at all. Panels were designated for central buildings like the community church.
In another small indigenous community, whom are called Quechua and are no taller than my shoulders, there were panels scattered amongst the community. On various houses that were constructed of brick with mud floors and housing families of 6 and their guinea pigs (a.k.a. dinner) - the scattered structures nestled together at the base of Chimborazo mountain and amidst rolling hills of endless agricultural pride.
As we learned while posing at the Solar Technology trade show, many of these solar panels are financially assisted by non-governmental organizations as part of international development work. Some of this is funded by the government. The drive to use solar is primarily the economic savings and the portability of the technology. It is inspiring nevertheless to see the technology being used and embraced. It is a reminder that solutions and visions of a sustainable future are being brewed around the world.
Although we all face the barrier of mass mobilization of individuals, we are all installing our own solar panels in our own way, in our own corners of the world. The creative people of Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador have given me infinite visuals of “think globally, act locally”. I can see things moving, improving, growing, and beaming with pride. The ideas are running together and sketches of innovations are being reshaped. It is the future. It is now. And it looks good.
Really, really good.
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Zoë
So good to have you back!!
Hey Zo,
You’re right - these tiny changes do give so much hope, especially it’s clear that they’re happening in so many small corners all over the world. Thanks so much for sharing all your experiences in South America!
Love you.
Hi read your article, I was wondering if you could help us out to find the best place to buy solar equipment, because in the centre we want to do everything with solar energy.