Agriculture policies and ideas...

Another one to look up sometime: International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) from 2008.  It's a report reviewing what's working in world....


Keeping an eye on the nourishing the planet feed from the worldwatch institute....


article

Most Effective Micro-finance

If you are getting involved in anything, it always makes sense to figure out who's the best in that field and keep an  eye on what they are doing.  You may chose to be different, but it's still important to know what's going on.  With that in mind, in the micro-finance world, Accion are one of those organizations to keep an eye on. They've been named the most effective microfinance non-profit by Philantropedia.  Fast Company had this article about it.

Vegetable Varieties

From worldwatch institute, an article that talks about two organizations that are working on maintaining seeds and the culture of growing in african communities.

AVRDC – The World Vegetable Center develops seeds
Developing Innovations in School Cultivation Project, or DISC teaches children about growing traditional vegetables

Peanut sheller by Full Belly Project

Here's a You Tube video of a peanut sheller design being used in Uganda.  It's a part of the Full Belly Project http://thefullbellyproject.org/.  This could be very useful.  The organization suggests training before giving out the technology, and setting up a local business to produce them. (see the FAQ section).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Nut_Sheller

Family connections

So, i've been talking to my mom recently, and re-realized that i have relatives that i hardly know that have been doing work in Africa since i was a kid...

Here's the organization that my cousin Roxanne's husband Jimmy is currently working for http://www.watermissions.org/ These guys are relatively new to the disaster relief and development field, but are working in water and sanitation with their water filter system, and a few associated parts.

Water treatment and storage

another one for the file: Scandinavian water technologies http://www.scan-water.com/home.php

They make portable water treatment, storage and distribution systems.  the one that caught my eye, giant water beds (they call them pillow tanks), for storing potable water, one model for stationary storage, another to be loaded on a flatbed truck.

I've been looking at the pool in the back yard, and thinking that would be a cheap way to have a cistern/water storage tank... similar system could be used for irrigation water as well.

got there via this link

Canadian Play: The Monument

I was just reading the Sept. 2010 issue of readers digest, and found an article about a play written by Canadian Colleen Wagner, and how it is being performed in Rwanda, to help with the healing process there.  If the performing arts can help with the healing process by telling a powerful story, then that's a good thing.  The story sounds pretty harsh, but it connects with people that have lived through very difficult times.