According to an article in the New York Times (A Move to Replace Soot-Spewing Stoves in the Third World), in developing countries, millions are still using primitive indoor stoves. These stoves are nothing, nothing compared to the kind we would use in America. Fueled by crops waste, coal, wood and dung, these stoves are creating a major problem for the people of the Third World, and for the rest of the earth. Not only is it producing toxins that can cause users to come down with diseases, and various sicknesses, but it is also pertruding chemicals into the air that add to the effects of Global Warming. All in all, these stoves are a problem. As it turns out, this problem has a solution. Hilary Clinton has been working on funding money to give 100 million clean stoves to these countries, in order to replace their dingy, unhealthy and just no good kitchen appliances. These stoves won't be all out until 2020, unfortunately, but Hilary is working on it with the help of organizations, like E.P.A., and other governments wanting to assist these poor people.
My reaction to reading this article wasn't positive one, because it probably shouldn't be. I think it is horrible, and so unfortunate. The moment these individuals find resources to build and work their own stoves the best they can with what they have around them, it turns out to harm them, those around them, and everyone on the planet. It's very sad and unlucky. I was proud of the Third World users of these dirty stoves, though, as it is impressive they were successful in cooking meals and providing for their families. It just turns out to bring everything downhill once it was found out these stoves were a problem, and not the solution they thought they had come upon.
I found it surprising that it was predicted to take until 2020 to have these clean stoves ready and shipped over for the people of developing countries. That is such a long time away. It's only ten years..but still, it's more than two, five, or eight. So, still, people will be dying from diseases caused by these stoves, and still, the air will be tainted with the harmful chemicals and soot thrown into the atmosphere. It's a sad fact, and it surprised me entirely.
By replacing these stoves, I believe all aspects of life will change for the Third World-ers. Not only will their food most likely taste better, it will be faster to cook, easier, and be more efficient on taking up less space. The air will be cleaner for their living areas, which means they won't become sick from the soot and debris from cooking with the stoves, as these new stoves won't produce any of that icky, bad stuff. It will also combat global warming by, again, not releasing all the toxins it did before into the atmosphere. And it will also reduce deforestation by eliminating the need for wood to fuel the stoves.
In conclusion, of course these new stoves are a great thing to have for the Third World population. I say, YESSSS to Hilary Clinton for working on helping them out. I would clearly give her a high five if I could.
