Technology and social innovation (France)
We are launching an initiative in France aimed at leverageing technology to answer key social needs. Our steering committee is made of several key networks from very social to very techno oriented. Networks like Ashoka, Adie, SOS Group, Avise, Entrepreneurs d'avenir, FING, Cap Digital etc...
Key idea is within 6 months to:
- clarify key social needs, at a fairly good level of detail, using web tools such as a wikipedia for social needs or a participative blog like talk spirit for that. We want to build a solid work base for our project and beyond
- create series of work meetings between tech, social entrepreneurs, NGOs, companies..people, aimed at finding solutions and qualifying ecosystems. Within few months, we expect 5, 10,15 new projects to fe finalists and ready to be piloted, financed etc...
many questions regarding governance, funding, process of social needs identification, solution generation are in the air rght now.
Happy to share thoughts and get insights. will soon share links (however in French for the moment)
Comments
Well done. This sounds like a project every nation and region should consider and collaborate in. Anyone can make complex and expensive solutions. Let's hope we can find simple , affordable and accessible solutions. At least half of the worlds solutions need no engine or electricity, ways to distribute clean water, sanitation, sustainable local food production and wellness. I am happy to share some ideas. Unfortunately only in English.
I was really pleased to read about your intentions, they are most welcome and badly needed. I have some innovative interventions and would love to join in but unfortunately (as above) only in English. I am a Barefoot Bioenvironmental Worker from Pakistan.
p.s. My maternal Grand Mother was French married in 1917
Au Revoir
Hi Taimur
As I read your notes I could see we share the same desire and have similar thoughts as to how it could be possible to improve peoples quality of life. I don't think it is big business or powerful machinery that can bring a better future. Yes we do need some help but you and I talk of the same key to unlocking healthy sustainable communities. Communities in harmony with nature using simple ingenuity to care for both. I think we need to help improve village communities through greater collaboration to grow crops, vegetables and fruit and run small businesses through their own business centre and workshop. You may already be doing this but in New Zealand it is unusual and in Africa through migration to squatter camps near cities the community collaboration is being lost. One of my ideas for Africa is a way to establish trees in areas with low water tables or semi desert conditions. Planting seedlings and then watering from the surface often fails to establish trees. If the soil below the bowl of roots was always a little moist the tree would send down deeper roots and find long term water. The idea is you get a drum or large rubbish bin and attach a tap to regulate flow at the bottom. To this you attach a garden hose at the other end push in a small length to act as a wet wick. When planting a tree seedling first bury the wick end of the hose just below the bottom of the root bowl of the tree and fill in . You may water once when planting but not there after. Fill the drum or bin with water and set the flow with the tap. You can have more than one wick per drum. I used a large rubbish bin, cheap plastic tap, garden hose and a piece of rope. I turned the lid upside down so it would catch rain water. To stop loss from evaporation I have I pipe attached to a hole in the lid so the fill water or rain runs down the pipe to the bottom. This stops evaporation going through the hole in the lid.
I am thinking of adding a clear tube on the side so the water level can easily be seen. The cost is low and anyone can make them. Your description of your part of Pakistan sounds like it could be fruitful. What is the main challenge to improving the quality of life?
Hi Dutch!
Your innovative idea of the wick for sub-soil irrigation is a great way to go. I have used 2nd hand hose pipe roughly repaired with useless plastic shopping bags, buried 4 inches below the surface. My results were even more saving of precious water and the most wonderful growth imaginable. Of course I used Complete, Eco-Safe Pure Di and Mono valent Mineral Fertigation and Natural Rooting and Fruiting Hormones (extract from Sea Weed), Cytokinins, Gibberellins and Indole-3 Butyric Acid to drought proof the plant and signal downward growth. This needs to be done as in the presence of water the plant signals lateral growth and only reacts to water stress for downward growth by the production of some of these hormones. Since plants are usually moistened at planting for successful growth, they lack the requisite signal for deep penetration until stress actually takes place.
Also root aeration is impeded if the water is not well regulated. Of course the true reticulation uses semi permeable pipes that release water only when osmotic pressure is exerted. This route is painfully expensive at the present but needs to be researched and developed for low cost replication. I believe this would be a major contribution towards solving the impending water crisis.
Secondly, it would be a welcome sustainable intervention if it could be manufactured on simple machinery in remote locations as both a water conservation as well as a poverty reduction measure. No Multi National Production!
Good Luck in your endeavors and keep commenting and adding to my knowledge.