Appropriate technology in Guatemala

Appropriate technology in Guatemala

BRISBANE — West End's House of Freedom was packed to hear Patricia Morrow present a talk and slide show on two projects in the highlands of Guatemala as part of the Australian Volunteer Abroad Program organised by Overseas Services Bureau. Morrow worked with the group Technology for Health in the in the provinces of Chimaltenango, Sacatepequez and Antiqua.

As a result of deforestation, there is a scarcity of water during the dry season. Where water is available it is heavily contaminated with bacteria. Marrow explained that the introduction of composting toilets and innovative manual water pumps has to some extent solved the problems. Appropriate technologies such as wood-conserving and solar stoves, simple solar heaters, rainwater tanks, food preservation sheds, organic agriculture and traditional medicine are being implemented in the highland regions with promising results.

Morrow told Green Left Weekly: "Since the signing of the peace accords last year, many countries have promised to support Guatemala by sending financial assistance for development programs, literacy, health, education and preservation of indigenous culture. This is an ideal time to begin to rebuild the country's infrastructure."

From GLW issue 297