Energy Access Seen as Vital to Abolishing Worst Poverty

Jordan Wilson

9/24/10

4:30pm

The International Energy Agency declared that allocating more money for the purposes of creating accessible electricity to 395 million people would give the world a good push toward eradicating extreme poverty. Sanitation, clean water and hunger issues may be ameliorated by the introduction of electricity in some of the poorest countries. Many people are still relying on biomass, using wood and other natural materials, to cook, which has been causing health and sanitation issues, as well as harming the environment. Moving these parts of the world into the modern energy era will not have major ill effects on the environment.

One of the concerns that I would have about expanding modern electricity into all corners of the world would be the natural resources from which we get the electricity. It should be taken into account how much energy is available and how much it would take to serve all countries. The article does not address where the energy and electricity is coming from. On the other hand, I think it is a great thing to get electricity to other parts of the world. I’ve been to Haiti and it is hard to see people living without clean water and safe means of cooking food. Taking big steps toward getting all people the basic amenity of electricity would be a great help in the fight against poverty. Health will be better and the environment will not be a harmed from the biomass materials people use for cooking. It seems that the simple idea of energy and electricity will raise the basic standard of living across the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/business/global/22energy.html?src=busln