Page 10 RAIN July 1980 foreign access cont. Cb -=ts-.; ._ , standard, but according to the condition of his own land. . . . This labor corresponded with the need to,conserve the fertility of.his soi/, thinking of the future of his children and grandchildren . ... Each peasant has developed-from an empirical understanding and his ancestral heritage an approach which is adapted to his own condition, his - own land, and to the surrounding,environ- • ment. As a result there still exist thousands of individual solutions to very specific problems.. 1 The tractor put an end to a passing era in order to increase the productivity of North . American agribusiness, whic.h must satisfy with little manual labor the increasing needs of the new city. Since produc,tion has to be uniform, co.ntinuing; and of high volume, the tractor comes to be associated with chemical fertilizer, insectirides, herbicides, and other poisons which remain in . the soil, penetrate the plants, and through his food, reaches man. Talpuy is a group working in the Peruvian Sierras tp explore existing "popular technologies" and to help facilitate local people's resistance to Americanization in terms of ne"Y technologies which do not serve the people and culture. "Popular technology" is defined by them as "a position and process which respects the relationship between technique, ktt0wledge, and creative skills for the majority of the J population and which fires progress in the creativity of the people." Thanks to Dayle Stratton for translating Minka and Talpuy's brochure for us. -CC \ The Centre Report, $50/yr. to int'l. organizations, or'nat'l. organizations in developed countries; $25/yr. to nat'l. organizations in developing countries, from: Environment Liaison Centre P.O. Box 72461 Nairobi, Kenya Tel. 24770 We were quite impressed upon our recent receipt of a copy of The Centre Report. Ii looks·like an excellent publication for any-, one interested in appropriate technolqgy in developing nations, particularly African, from an indigenous perspective. Tl),e Environment Liaison Centre was set up in Nairobi in 1974 by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) concerned with environment, development and human settlements. Its purpose is to serve as a liaison with the United Nations Environment Programme '(UNEP) and the U,.N. Centre_for Human Settlements (both headquartered in Nairobi) on behalf of NGOs around the world, and to work with NGOs in developing countries. They publish The Centre • Report periodically throughout the year to advise NGOs on positions being taken by • the UN agencies, and to act1as a "community meeting place".where NGOs around the world can share information and strategies. Included are articles on soft energy paths, OPEC; Chinese biogas, education, U.S. energy gluttony and bicycles, plus reviews of publications and periodicals. -MR Earth Garden, $2.25/,issue ppd., from: P.O. Box378 Epping,NSW Australia 2121 Curious about A. T. Down Under? Earth Garden, a magazine for Australians interested in self-sufficiency, ·is back in print after a year's rest. "We have·survived for' - eight years as possibly the only 'little' journal 'in Australia which does not get a grant, has no well-heeled sponsor and runs no advertisements." Sound familiar? Articles on agriculture, owner-builders, energy, land use and recycling, with lots.of access. •Sort of an: Australian.cross between RAIN and Mother Earth News. • -MR The Poor Man's Wisdom: Technology and the Very Poor, by Adrian Moyes; 197.9, 70 pence from: 1 Oxfam 274 Banbury Road Oxford, England 0X2 7DZ ·This brief though well-written pamphlet is an abbreviated version of a report, published under the title of Good Servant; ~ad Master, m~d_e at the United Nations . . Conference on Science and Technology for • Development in August '79. Moyes examines the impact 9f "modern technology," both politically and·socially, on the Third World. His paper includes an introduction to-the concept of "local technology," outlines the political opposition to the transfer of technology to the Third World, and discusses the current problems in communication. Each chapter is illus·- trated with examples of appropriate technology projects in developing countries: a water mill in,Malawai, fish farming in Zaire, and the Bengla Loo (a sewage disposal system) in Banglade·sh. Unfortunately, none of the examples include projects done by or for women in developing countries. ' While exhibiting somewhat of a patronizing tone, the pamphlet does present a COIT\pelling ar_gument for how, why and where Britain and other Euro-American countries can assist in technology transfer. Jhe goal, says Moyes, is to help "the very poor to develop the technology that they possess already, and to 'transform' the new technology they need." A good introduction to a variety of the issues and projects in the field. -LS Mozambique and Tanzania: Asking the Big Questions, by Frances Moore Lappe and Adele Beccar-Varela, 1980, $4.75 from: • 'Institute for Food and Development Policy 2~88 Mission Street San Fran isco, CA 94110 "This·project reflects our-belief that a • prime test of the effectiveness of any eco-. nomic and _political system is whether or not the people ijre achieving food security.'· ·with this statement Frances Moore Lappe and Adele Beccar-_Varela begin their study of two newly independent African countries: Mozambique (1967) and Tanzania (1961). Using first-hand observations and interviews with village leaders and agricultural officials, they examine the differing "socialist" paths of developmennaken by the two countries. The book begins wi~ a 'profile of ea<::h country: its history, re-\ sources and geography. The authors compare each in terms of leadership, citizen participat.ion, and foreign a,ssistance in or.! der to clarify the.conceptions of development held by each nation's leaders. The analysis is a penetrating though sensitive in,terpretation of the problems, perspectives and accomplishments of both nations. The questions posed, both to the reader and to the leaders, are particularly insightful. . Lappe and Beccar-Varela have thoughtfully incl.uded a bibliography of recommended further readings. The only criticism I have is one of structure rather than content. The chapter-by-chapter comparison makes for co~fus-ing reading; histori_es, projects and ' problems begin to blur o,ne into the other. This is disappointing, for so much of what is fascinating about this study centers around the distinctive characteristics of Mozambique and Tanzania. Perhaps focusing more on each country individually, at , the beginning of the book, would strengthen and clarify the comparisons made later on. Mozambique and Tanzania launches a new project for the Institute: "Food Secu- . , ' rity-Alternative Strategies." The purpose is to examine and report on 'the efforts of people in different countries to attain food security. This first : t4dy offers valuable insight into the struggle of all people to create a society based on principles of equality, participation and cooperation. It is an excellent first step in an exciting and worthwhile project. -LS
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