Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Society & News » Environment » Article
 

Grameen Shakti and the Solar Revolution




By Jim Fritz

Grameen Shakti is a renewable energy resources company based out of Bangladesh. They are a part of the Grameen family of companies, which has been working for decades to alleviate the burdens of poverty in developing countries. The Grameen Bank, one of their founding companies, has become world-renowned for their charitable work and for helping to establish groundbreaking programs focused on the needs of people.

In recent years, the Grameen Bank has financed and supported a number of projects aimed at removing social and financial barriers and creating opportunities for those less fortunate. Grameen Telecom is one such example. The central aim of this company is to provide collateral-free loans to rural villagers for use in establishing local communications networks. This model has become known as the Village Phone.

They have now committed significant resources to sustainable energy development. The cornerstone of this effort is the Photovoltaic Program. In Bangladesh, only 30% of the population is receiving energy from the electrical power grid. In this developing nation, the infrastructure to provide energy to every household simply doesn't exist. In an effort to address this problem, Grameen Shakti has financed the installation of thousands of solar energy systems in rural communities.

This has created immense opportunities for people in rural villages. Children now have the ability to pursue their studies long after the sun has gone down. Businesses now have the ability to operate beyond their traditional work hours, thus increasing productivity and sales. A world of opportunity has opened up for an entire generation of rural villagers. As a consequence, they are no longer rural villagers. They are now members of our global village.

One of the most amazing consequences of this program has been the level of technological engagement that has occurred among the youth in Bangladesh. For young people in rural communities, the future is bright. Due to the advancement in technological knowledge and understanding, the demand for skilled workers has increased at a phenomenal pace. To address this concern, Grameen Shakti has also established training programs that educate young people in the principles of electronics and engineering.

It is both exciting and encouraging to witness the immediate and tangible effects of an enlightened business model that measures its true profitability by its social impact. It is an idea that is completely foreign to the western capitalist mindset, and one that serves as a shining example of the power of an idea. Western corporations take heed; there are lessons to be learned in rural Bangladesh.



 
 
About the Author
Jim Fritz is a committed environmentalist, and a life long member of various environmental organizations. He is also a member of the editorial team at thesolarguide.com – an enlightened source of information about the latest developments in renewable energy, environmental education, solar consumer goods and more.

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/23515.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/23515.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Jim Fritz
Impressive Solar Consumer Products
Being in the business of solar energy, we see a lot of new and exciting products long before they hit the store shelves. We attend a lot of tradeshows and industry conferences, and ...

Ranting and Raving about Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is not a new concept. While it may appear to be a rather fashionable topic of conversation in certain circles, renewable energy initiatives have been with ...

Shining Some Light on Solar Energy
Without a doubt, solar energy is the way of the future. Solar energy production is an extremely simple process to understand. A solar, or photovoltaic, cell collects energy from the Sun. A solar cell is ...

Introducing Your Family to Solar Energy
One of the difficulties that solar and renewable energy have faced in the past is that it requires people to learn about it. People are busy and they are also reluctant ...

  
  Recent Articles
Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation?
by goodbattery

Natural Gas - Britain Nearing End of Self Sufficiency
by Euan Blauvelt

Fuel Cell Cars Approved For Zero-Emission Push
by James Marriot

Wind Power - are industry critics quoting facts or tilting at windmills?
by Euan Blauvelt

Energy and the Environment - Nearly 90% of Global Warming Gas Emissions Are CO2
by Larry Butz

The Environment: A Global Overview
by Larry Butz

Pigeon Control
by Isaac Richards

The Future is Looking a Little Greener
by Mr Fezziwig

Air pollution Monitoring Equipment
by Anand

To cull or not to cull?
by Marco Schiess

The Energy Consumption Of Western Society
by Charles Hawkins

Biodiesel Fuel- What's It All About?
by Howard Gibson

A call for a UN Environmental Protection Force
by Marco Schiess

African Wind Energy
by Rick Chapo

Can't connect to database