I wonder if I should let my cynicism have free rein and suggest that providing water isn’t a viable business proposition because many see its provision as something which should be free at the point of use?

“This is why a recent report . . . identifies four key clean energy strategies which should go a long way to alleviating poverty and suffering in the country.”

Wouldn’t you have thought to let us know what those strategies are?

Hang on a minute; I’ll have a look.

The things the study recommended were small decentralized renewable electricity, home-scale solar electricity, solar-powered lanterns and energy-efficient cooking stoves.

There! See how easy that is?

Thank you very much for your comment. You are dead right. These initiatives will only be of use if they bring real and direct benefit to the local communities within which they are deployed. The key aspect appear to be the localised yet communal based power generation: this would help to draw people into creating and providing sustainable energy for their communities. After that, the rest would appear to flow naturally.

However, I think, there is no use in the schemes if they’re simply going to create a new revenue stream for existing top of the pyramid multinationals.

Is this what you mean .. what do other people think?

Chris.