Alternative and Sustainable design systems, why not in Ethiopia?

Among the most economical, political and technological powerful nations of the world is America. America has been leading the world in the past 100-200 years. Europe and Asian nations are also on the list. But the fastest and dramatic change has been recorded in most of the Asian nations in the last few decades.

Recently in the field of environmental science the issue of environmental pollution and sustainability was a corner stone of many decisions. Unsustainable and environmentally risky technologies has been cornered to shelves. Nations are enforcing their law to bring an environment friendly and sustainable technology options.

The success stories of Scandinavian nations and Germany in Europe are among the few which are acclaimed for going extra miles from what has been expected to develop and adopt alternative technologies. Many Asian nations are also on the race. On the other side third world nations while trying to reach the levels of developed nations through the old way, they seem that they are going to be burdened sooner or later with questions of sustainability and environment friendly technology alternatives.

Among the trying underdeveloped nations, most of them are in Africa and Latin America, Ethiopia is one. African nations burden is two fold ...policy issue and second is financial and technological capability bottle necks. But also the major factor is education and knowledge of society which is always at its lower level and the changing world is burdening them with new challenges.

In this blog, I need to raise questions for discussion?

1. What kind of development strategies should the developing nations follow?

2. If they have to follow the latest sustainable and green technology alternatives in all aspects of the economy, who will be responsible in filling the technological and educational gaps?

3. If they have to follow old fashion way, truly they will gain economically from the running away old companies but would the risk be embraceable? whose fault should be in future environmental problems?

4. To avoid any possible problems in future and minimize technological, economical and other gaps coming with new alternatives, how far should the developed nations assist the underdeveloped...what should be the stake of underdeveloped nations? are some of the questions which come to my mind now and then.

And particularly while trying to rebuild our old through our Alumni , should we have to spend our time and energy to raise funds for building masonry school  buildings or we have to find a way to bring a holistic and sustainable school development alternatives.

I am raising the questions not with any single interest to discourage the endeavours which has been put by the dedicated Alumni members but just trying to think what if we could do it differently.

When calculating the time and fund spent to build conventional buildings and compare them with simple and sustainable design methods which are developed in America and Asia, I found it that there are some concepts we have to reconsider.  We have to reconsider in a sense that to introduce the new technologies and be able to expose the students in Adwa and else where in Ethiopia to the alternative new systems and  technologies.

And probably I believe that any one interested in helping and promoting their products in Ethiopian market can use our old schools to demonstrate their technologies and expertise so us to compete in this competitive world.

Thank you