Like most major problems, the wastewater problem needs to be solved through a collective effort. The best way we can contribute towards that effort is to: Conserve Water: The less water we use, the less wastewater we’re going to produce. A few simple ways we can do so is by fixing indoor leaks, reduRead more
Like most major problems, the wastewater problem needs to be solved through a collective effort. The best way we can contribute towards that effort is to:
Conserve Water: The less water we use, the less wastewater we’re going to produce. A few simple ways we can do so is by fixing indoor leaks, reducing shower time, and by avoiding any wasteful washing habits. Switching to water-saving appliances will also help minimize the amount of wastewater produced. This helps water treatment plants process better because if there’s less wastewater, the quality of treatment will be better.
Minimize The Polluting Content Of Wastewater: The other factor that makes wastewater so harmful lies in the variety of chemicals that mix with human waste and food scraps. This can be averted by choosing the products we buy carefully. A good example of this is by using only low-phosphorus household products in order to reduce phosphate levels in wastewater.
Innovative Decentralized Water Technology: The decentralized technologies are Ecological Sanitation consisting of Septic Tanks, Constructed Wetlands, Composting Toilets, Biodigestor, Anaerobic Filter etc. These decentralized systems include the possibility for reusing the effluent and the potentiality for aquifer recharging. A problem in a unit doesn’t collapse the whole system. The local potentialities can be developed as small systems can be designed, built and managed by a local professional, improving the local economy.
Wastewater Regeneration Technologies: We need to create a self-sufficient treatment plant where the energy required for the plant is produced in the plant itself via the obtainment of biogas or other renewable energies.
Almost six years into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the world is still far away from ensuring a quality education for all by 2030. As COVID-19 cases rise and fall many education systems around the world are reopening fully, partially, or in a hybrid format, leaving millions of childrRead more
Almost six years into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the world is still far away from ensuring a quality education for all by 2030.
As COVID-19 cases rise and fall many education systems around the world are reopening fully, partially, or in a hybrid format, leaving millions of children to face a radically transformed educational experience.
Here are some insights into supporting immediate and long-term goals for educating children.
Support caregivers at home to help children learn while schools are closed.
Many parents or caregivers, especially with young children, have taken on new roles to help with at-home learning. To support them and remote education efforts, many LMICs have used SMS, phone calls, and other widely accessible, affordable, and low-technology methods of information delivery. While such methods are imperfect substitutes for schooling, research suggests they can help engage parents in their child’s education and contribute to learning, perhaps even after schools reopen. Other governments and organizations in areas where internet access is limited are also experimenting with radio and TV to support parents and augment student learning.
As schools reopen, educators should use low-stakes assessments to identify learning gaps.
Rather than jumping straight into grade-level curriculum, primary schools in LMICs should quickly assess learning levels to understand what children know (or don’t) and devise strategic responses. They can do so by using simple tools to frequently assess students, rather than focusing solely on high-stakes exams, which may significantly influence a child’s future.
Tailor children’s instruction to help them master foundational skills once learning gaps are identified.
Given low learning levels before the pandemic and recent learning loss due to school disruptions, it is important to focus on basic skills as schools reopen to ensure children maintain and build a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Decades of research also shows that tailoring instruction to children’s’ education levels increases learning.
As countries rebuild and reinvent themselves in response to COVID-19, there is an opportunity to accelerate the thinking on how to best support quality education for all.
Adverse health impacts can be indirect or invisible. Innovation that supports the whole community and tackles existing inequalities can improve people’s health and livelihoods in the long-term. Solar-powered ice flake machine with an integrated water purification unit aims to bring cold chain manageRead more
Adverse health impacts can be indirect or invisible. Innovation that supports the whole community and tackles existing inequalities can improve people’s health and livelihoods in the long-term.
Solar-powered ice flake machine with an integrated water purification unit aims to bring cold chain management services to local areas, so that people fishing can do so for longer.
In fishing communities in Kenya, men are mainly responsible for fishing, while women carry out the post-harvest processing. This includes drying, smoking or deep-frying the fish. Unfortunately, this reduces the market value of the fish, and means it cannot be exported to overseas markets.
Solar powered ice flake machine will help keep the harvested fish fresh for longer, increasing the economic value of the fish.
At a community level, investment into improved food and job security can contribute to better overall health. Currently, fishermen can lose 25% of their stock due to poor storage. This project will benefit fishing communities in Kenya by reducing post-harvest fish loss. It could also help to grow the fish market and provide employment opportunities for women and youth. Keeping food fresh for longer will increase food security and reduce the likelihood of malnutrition, which 26% of children in Kenya currently suffer from. Improved employment, income and food security can all help people avoid going hungry and improve their overall health.
There are a lot of items that we use everyday and then get rid of them by throwing them in the garbage. Unfortunately, this results in piles of garbage increasing waste in landfills further causing a number of issues. Landfill waste poses a huge problem as it has economic and environmental impact anRead more
There are a lot of items that we use everyday and then get rid of them by throwing them in the garbage. Unfortunately, this results in piles of garbage increasing waste in landfills further causing a number of issues.
Landfill waste poses a huge problem as it has economic and environmental impact and secondly, due to slow decomposition rate which takes thousands of years, several acres of land has already been virtually rendered useless that could have been actually used for setting up new residential colonies or industries. Here are some simple changes you can make to reduce waste in your home:
Save Leftovers for Next Day. Too many people are careless enough to throw away half of a good meal and not save it for later. Eating leftovers more often will save on money and result in less food waste.
Donate Clothes, as throwing away of clothing is one of the biggest contributions we make to landfills today. Instead of throwing away these old clothes, make better use out of it.
Start composting, it is an easy and natural process that takes the remains of plants and kitchen waste and turns it into nutrient rich food which helps your plants grow. It helps you recycle your kitchen waste and reduces the amount of that is sent to landfills that proves safe for the environment.
Start relying on reusable containers. Once you start buying only what you need, take it to the next level by storing food properly, which will extend its life and keep things fresh for as long as possible.
Learn to repair rather than discard.
Ditch the plastic bags and at the very least, stop buying plastic water bottles.
Switch to Rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and keep disposable batteries out of landfills. Disposable batteries can prove very harmful for the environment as chemicals inside the batteries can leak.
Diverting waste away from landfills can help prevent pollution that harms our health and the environment.
We are all well aware of the dire state of plastic pollution happening in our oceans and how plastic is now the number one enemy of everyone. Plastic pollution has contaminated the whole planet, from the Arctic to the deepest oceans, and people are now known to consume and breathe microplastic partiRead more
We are all well aware of the dire state of plastic pollution happening in our oceans and how plastic is now the number one enemy of everyone. Plastic pollution has contaminated the whole planet, from the Arctic to the deepest oceans, and people are now known to consume and breathe microplastic particles.
One potential solution for this problem is eco-brick.
Ecobricks are essentially plastic bottles, packed hard with non-recyclable plastics. It is essentially a reusable building block created by solid non-biodegradable waste placed into a plastic bottle to a set density. It helps environment in many ways:
EcoBricks seal the plastic away preventing the buildup of toxic gases emitted during the degradation of the plastic, such as methane.
Ecobricking raises ecological consciousness.
They prevent choking of drainage pipes, saves space in dustbins.
This further helps in saving animals who die eating plastic waste.
Ecobricks are a low energy solution to plastic, it is a simple solution to a complex problem which can be applied anywhere by everyone.
This is a solution to already created and disposed plastics.
They further can be used to make many things such as furniture, walls and buildings. It allows communities and companies to get control of their plastic waste to create modular furniture, garden spaces, walls and even full-scale buildings.
Biodigesters are an excellent solution for sustainable agricultural practices. It is a system that biologically digests organic material, either anaerobic (without oxygen ) or aerobically (with oxygen). Biodigesters produce bioslurry, a liquid fertilizer that can be used on crops. Displacing syntheRead more
Biodigesters are an excellent solution for sustainable agricultural practices. It is a system that biologically digests organic material, either anaerobic (without oxygen ) or aerobically (with oxygen).
Biodigesters produce bioslurry, a liquid fertilizer that can be used on crops. Displacing synthetic fertilizer or providing access to fertilizer where there was previously none can help decrease the production costs and increase the productivity of farmers.
A biodigester can:
Provide a source of fuel for cooking and lighting, reducing the need for fuelwood and the work of collecting it. This is particularly important for women and children. In addition, cooking with biogas leaves cooking utensils much cleaner, and the absence of smoke improves the health of women and children who spend much of their time in the kitchen and often suffer from respiratory problems as well as eye irritations.
Improve the quality of the manure that is fed into the biodigester, resulting in high-quality fertilizer for crops, as well as for water plants or fish cultivated in ponds.
Improve the sanitary conditions of the farmyard and reduce the spread of parasites and potentially harmful bacteria, by removing and decontaminating manure and other organic waste matter from the farmyard.
Improve the environment by reducing dependence on fuelwood, leading to less deforestation. If the biogas is used this also reduces the emission of methane (a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming) into the atmosphere.
The increasing emphasis on the need to develop agricultural practices that are in harmony with the environment and to make maximum use of local resources is creating a favourable climate for the promotion of biodigesters.
How can we mitigate the effects of wastewater on the environment?
Like most major problems, the wastewater problem needs to be solved through a collective effort. The best way we can contribute towards that effort is to: Conserve Water: The less water we use, the less wastewater we’re going to produce. A few simple ways we can do so is by fixing indoor leaks, reduRead more
Like most major problems, the wastewater problem needs to be solved through a collective effort. The best way we can contribute towards that effort is to:
Conserve Water: The less water we use, the less wastewater we’re going to produce. A few simple ways we can do so is by fixing indoor leaks, reducing shower time, and by avoiding any wasteful washing habits. Switching to water-saving appliances will also help minimize the amount of wastewater produced. This helps water treatment plants process better because if there’s less wastewater, the quality of treatment will be better.
Minimize The Polluting Content Of Wastewater: The other factor that makes wastewater so harmful lies in the variety of chemicals that mix with human waste and food scraps. This can be averted by choosing the products we buy carefully. A good example of this is by using only low-phosphorus household products in order to reduce phosphate levels in wastewater.
Innovative Decentralized Water Technology: The decentralized technologies are Ecological Sanitation consisting of Septic Tanks, Constructed Wetlands, Composting Toilets, Biodigestor, Anaerobic Filter etc. These decentralized systems include the possibility for reusing the effluent and the potentiality for aquifer recharging. A problem in a unit doesn’t collapse the whole system. The local potentialities can be developed as small systems can be designed, built and managed by a local professional, improving the local economy.
Wastewater Regeneration Technologies: We need to create a self-sufficient treatment plant where the energy required for the plant is produced in the plant itself via the obtainment of biogas or other renewable energies.
COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the learning crisis. How can we ensure quality education during this pandemic.
Almost six years into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the world is still far away from ensuring a quality education for all by 2030. As COVID-19 cases rise and fall many education systems around the world are reopening fully, partially, or in a hybrid format, leaving millions of childrRead more
Almost six years into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the world is still far away from ensuring a quality education for all by 2030.
As COVID-19 cases rise and fall many education systems around the world are reopening fully, partially, or in a hybrid format, leaving millions of children to face a radically transformed educational experience.
Here are some insights into supporting immediate and long-term goals for educating children.
Support caregivers at home to help children learn while schools are closed.
Many parents or caregivers, especially with young children, have taken on new roles to help with at-home learning. To support them and remote education efforts, many LMICs have used SMS, phone calls, and other widely accessible, affordable, and low-technology methods of information delivery. While such methods are imperfect substitutes for schooling, research suggests they can help engage parents in their child’s education and contribute to learning, perhaps even after schools reopen. Other governments and organizations in areas where internet access is limited are also experimenting with radio and TV to support parents and augment student learning.
As schools reopen, educators should use low-stakes assessments to identify learning gaps.
Rather than jumping straight into grade-level curriculum, primary schools in LMICs should quickly assess learning levels to understand what children know (or don’t) and devise strategic responses. They can do so by using simple tools to frequently assess students, rather than focusing solely on high-stakes exams, which may significantly influence a child’s future.
Tailor children’s instruction to help them master foundational skills once learning gaps are identified.
Given low learning levels before the pandemic and recent learning loss due to school disruptions, it is important to focus on basic skills as schools reopen to ensure children maintain and build a foundation for a lifetime of learning. Decades of research also shows that tailoring instruction to children’s’ education levels increases learning.
As countries rebuild and reinvent themselves in response to COVID-19, there is an opportunity to accelerate the thinking on how to best support quality education for all.
See lessHow can we tackle inequalities at the root cause, act beyond borders and work within communities for the greatest impact?
Adverse health impacts can be indirect or invisible. Innovation that supports the whole community and tackles existing inequalities can improve people’s health and livelihoods in the long-term. Solar-powered ice flake machine with an integrated water purification unit aims to bring cold chain manageRead more
Adverse health impacts can be indirect or invisible. Innovation that supports the whole community and tackles existing inequalities can improve people’s health and livelihoods in the long-term.
Solar-powered ice flake machine with an integrated water purification unit aims to bring cold chain management services to local areas, so that people fishing can do so for longer.
In fishing communities in Kenya, men are mainly responsible for fishing, while women carry out the post-harvest processing. This includes drying, smoking or deep-frying the fish. Unfortunately, this reduces the market value of the fish, and means it cannot be exported to overseas markets.
Solar powered ice flake machine will help keep the harvested fish fresh for longer, increasing the economic value of the fish.
At a community level, investment into improved food and job security can contribute to better overall health. Currently, fishermen can lose 25% of their stock due to poor storage. This project will benefit fishing communities in Kenya by reducing post-harvest fish loss. It could also help to grow the fish market and provide employment opportunities for women and youth. Keeping food fresh for longer will increase food security and reduce the likelihood of malnutrition, which 26% of children in Kenya currently suffer from. Improved employment, income and food security can all help people avoid going hungry and improve their overall health.
https://storage.googleapis.com/e4a-website-assets/Adili-Solar-Hubs-Project-Spotlight-Report.pdf
See lessHow can we avoid sending waste to landfills?
There are a lot of items that we use everyday and then get rid of them by throwing them in the garbage. Unfortunately, this results in piles of garbage increasing waste in landfills further causing a number of issues. Landfill waste poses a huge problem as it has economic and environmental impact anRead more
There are a lot of items that we use everyday and then get rid of them by throwing them in the garbage. Unfortunately, this results in piles of garbage increasing waste in landfills further causing a number of issues.
Landfill waste poses a huge problem as it has economic and environmental impact and secondly, due to slow decomposition rate which takes thousands of years, several acres of land has already been virtually rendered useless that could have been actually used for setting up new residential colonies or industries. Here are some simple changes you can make to reduce waste in your home:
Save Leftovers for Next Day. Too many people are careless enough to throw away half of a good meal and not save it for later. Eating leftovers more often will save on money and result in less food waste.
Donate Clothes, as throwing away of clothing is one of the biggest contributions we make to landfills today. Instead of throwing away these old clothes, make better use out of it.
Start composting, it is an easy and natural process that takes the remains of plants and kitchen waste and turns it into nutrient rich food which helps your plants grow. It helps you recycle your kitchen waste and reduces the amount of that is sent to landfills that proves safe for the environment.
Start relying on reusable containers. Once you start buying only what you need, take it to the next level by storing food properly, which will extend its life and keep things fresh for as long as possible.
Learn to repair rather than discard.
Ditch the plastic bags and at the very least, stop buying plastic water bottles.
Switch to Rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run and keep disposable batteries out of landfills. Disposable batteries can prove very harmful for the environment as chemicals inside the batteries can leak.
Diverting waste away from landfills can help prevent pollution that harms our health and the environment.
See lessHow can we prevent plastic waste from disrupting the ecosystem and create an ecological consciousness against plastic?
We are all well aware of the dire state of plastic pollution happening in our oceans and how plastic is now the number one enemy of everyone. Plastic pollution has contaminated the whole planet, from the Arctic to the deepest oceans, and people are now known to consume and breathe microplastic partiRead more
We are all well aware of the dire state of plastic pollution happening in our oceans and how plastic is now the number one enemy of everyone. Plastic pollution has contaminated the whole planet, from the Arctic to the deepest oceans, and people are now known to consume and breathe microplastic particles.
One potential solution for this problem is eco-brick.
Ecobricks are essentially plastic bottles, packed hard with non-recyclable plastics. It is essentially a reusable building block created by solid non-biodegradable waste placed into a plastic bottle to a set density. It helps environment in many ways:
This is a solution to already created and disposed plastics.
They further can be used to make many things such as furniture, walls and buildings. It allows communities and companies to get control of their plastic waste to create modular furniture, garden spaces, walls and even full-scale buildings.
Articles:
https://thesustainabilityproject.life/blog/2018/10/07/ecobricks-plastic-solved/ https://www.makingroots.co.uk/post/ecobricks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecobricks#Ecobrick_building_applications
See lessHow can Farmers reduce their dependence on inorganic fertilizers, firewood or fossil fuels and focus on clean energy in order to boost their agriculture production and food security?
Biodigesters are an excellent solution for sustainable agricultural practices. It is a system that biologically digests organic material, either anaerobic (without oxygen ) or aerobically (with oxygen). Biodigesters produce bioslurry, a liquid fertilizer that can be used on crops. Displacing syntheRead more
Biodigesters are an excellent solution for sustainable agricultural practices. It is a system that biologically digests organic material, either anaerobic (without oxygen ) or aerobically (with oxygen).
Biodigesters produce bioslurry, a liquid fertilizer that can be used on crops. Displacing synthetic fertilizer or providing access to fertilizer where there was previously none can help decrease the production costs and increase the productivity of farmers.
A biodigester can:
The increasing emphasis on the need to develop agricultural practices that are in harmony with the environment and to make maximum use of local resources is creating a favourable climate for the promotion of biodigesters.
Articles:
Turning dung into gold
https://undp.medium.com/turning-dung-into-gold-37d8d9fe1e87
How biodigesters empower Guinean communities with sustainable energy
This Startup’s Bio-Digester Helps 5000 Families Give up LPG, Saves 6 Million Trees
https://www.thebetterindia.com/239446/sistema-bio-pune-startup-farmers-biogas-cheap-set-up-cost-company-savings-clean-energy-healthy-him16/
Biodigesters in ecological farming systems
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/48027612.pdf
See less