Reading response: Poor People's Energy Outlook 2010, ch. 1 & 2

Having no previous experience or knowledge, this reading from Poor People's Energy Outlook 2010 really made me think about different issues concerning energy use and creation in the developing world. Most of the reading surprised me, but the one fact I could not forget was that 22% of the world's population does not have electricity (p. 2). It made me think about how we take electricity for granted, as well as other resources that come with that, such as the internet and lighting. I thought the readings were enlightening (forgive the pun), and took into account all the pros and cons of energy use. I had never thought about how burning wood for heat or lighting could impact health of people, especially children, or how most of their energy is spent gathering resources which could harm them and their families.

While reading, I was reminded of a lantern, which converts the energy of movement into light energy, as demonstrated in this music video (skip to 4:08, when the ball is actually a lantern).