One of the numerous issues that slams households across the Southeast Asian region is electrical power. Southeast Asia is one of the most at-risk regions in the world to the impacts on climate change according to the ASEAN State of Climate Change Report (ASCCR).
The report goes on to say, that climate change mitigation through switching to renewable/low-carbon energy produces multiple co-benefits including improving access to electricity, enhancing energy security, providing local green jobs, reducing indoor and outdoor air pollution, and improving development potential. Actions to pursue co-benefits, such as combatting local air pollution, will expand the possibilities for substantial climate actions in the short and long run.
Who are the ASEAN nations? Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. What nations are we talking about in this article? Much of China and India, some of the Korean peninsula, much of East Asia, many of the Middle East nations, and much of the rest of the world.
So what must people do?
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Stop burning your trash! OMG that is a huge problem in ASEAN countries. No more open fires. No more. Ever.
Get an electric car or motorbike if you can. Stop driving smoking bandit vehicles and carpool if you can. Get a bicycle and ride it everywhere or walk. Use public transit.
No more open fires. Use electricity or gas for cooking and avoid all polluting devices and methods.
The United Nations environment programme and most others urge that ceasing meat consumption and concentrating on plant-based foods is advisable. Eating fish can be acceptable, provided the source is trustworthy and the product is uncontaminated. Plant-rich diets may help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.
Walking to the market to purchase food is a good start. Sustainable agriculture can consume up to 56% less energy, generate 64% fewer emissions, and support higher biodiversity levels compared to traditional farming, according to the United Nations environment programme. Take it a step further by cultivating your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. They can be grown in a garden, on a balcony, or even a windowsill. Consider establishing a community garden in your area to engage your neighbors.
Please refrain from wasting food. Millions of people globally suffer from food insecurity. Serve no more than a cup of rice and maintain high protein levels with nuts, beans, small fish, and locally sourced vegetables.
This article sets out some ideas that RINJ Women have actually implemented, and projects taught to local residents of various communities to take on themselves.
In the families of some communities, all the children were delivered by RINJ Women. Local workers have delivered a wide range of public services on an as-needed basis in response to emergencies of war, climate, natural disasters and other factors. The RINJ Foundation and its various subordinate CSO units are now facing new challenges in keeping women and their families safe and healthy which is a woman’s right no matter the country.
This article will help many women make a big difference to their family’s life when dealing with black-outs and brown outs or no electrical power at all.
If you thought, you were excluded from solar energy because you don’t live in a big mansion with lots of roof space and tons of money to buy dozens of solar panels, you were wrong.
Solar energy is for everyone, even people living in caves or underground, or on boats. Not kidding.
Photo, art, cropping, enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine
The picture above and its story: It’s about small solar panels on the side of a mountain or hill without the benefit of a strong roof or house to anchor it to. Learning to fight pollution and climate change in ASEAN nations can be easy. Use your imagination keeping in mind the weather. Weather will get terrible at times.
While many roofs in ASEAN nations are not suitable for mounting solar panels, freestanding options are available to those who take the initiatiive. Above is a moderately typhoon-proof 50-watt solar panel mounted in a freestanding frame with plenty of support using local hardwood and basic local fastener supplies.
Photo, art, cropping, enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine
The picture and its story: Fighting climate change and pollution in the ASEAN Nations can be inexpensive. Here is a DIY 100-watt free-standing solar panel installed that doesn’t break the bank account and has moderate abilities to withstand the average typhoon.
After two weeks of use, this family reports that the installation feeds a 20-ampere voltage regulator, a hefty, sealed calcium plate car battery that has a blocking diode to prevent the battery from unloading into the solar panel at night; uses at minimum 14-gauge cabling and works like a charm.
The battery is kept charged by day and a good-sized 12-volt-supply, 25-watt, 32-inch TV is powered up to 24/7—hence children learn more, family time is now a ‘thing’, family bonding takes place, creativity is inspired, news and weather is available and family entertainment just expanded— plus LED lights are run at night and smartphones are charged. Life got better with this installation.
Photo, art, cropping, enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine
The picture above and its story: People in ASEAN Nations can maintain their lifestyle and help Mother Earth with Solar Panels which do not need to be very expensive while improving the quality of life.
Many ASEAN families with a versatile DIY person are now watching TV or using the internet even when the power is off. Fifty watts of solar power fed to devices via a voltage regulator is not a lot of power, but it will make a difference to a person’s life. If more power is needed, build more panel frames or layer the roof with the same or even bigger panels in parallel to increase the solar energy one-by-one.
It’s fascinating talking to the online sellers of solar panels and the various equipment and parts people buy for their solar installations. It’s a growing community of well-meaning partners who have begun to find employment in this rapidly expanding industry segment that actually provides a public service as well as creating gainful employment. Installers have no lack of work in most countries.
A simple single 100-watt solar panel producing between 300 and 600 watt-hours per day, and a single battery like a 50+ amperes car battery will change the lives of a family living in an area without power or with unreliable power. In ASEAN nations, almost everywhere is one or the other.
A 12-volt battery should be added to any solar power installation because of power fluctuations, as well as a voltage inverter to produce ac voltage ate 11-/220 volts, but more sophisticated systems require more power meaning more panels or larger panels.
Photo, art, cropping, enhancement: Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine
This little panel can deliver a light and a television for days when the power is off, or just reduce the electric bill, incrementally by the number of solar panels in use.
Hands-on author takes a break after teaching locals how to build a 50-Watt free standing solar panel frame from basic locally available hardwood materials and simple hardware.
Message us at talkback.rinj.org for more information if needed.
Have many happy days.