Answer - STUPID GOVT!!
But that is another conversation for another day. He was a guest on Jon Stewart's show recently. Its fortunate for him that somebody saw his windmill and gave him opportunity, but how many people like him are wasting away in frustration because of irresponsible, stupid, myopic governance? Is my anti-government angst showing? Hmmmm!
Enjoy the video:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| William Kamkwamba | ||||
| ||||
On a separate note, The huffington post (HP) also picked up on the story and how did they caption it?
William Kamkwamba Helps African Poverty With A Homemade Windmill
Granted, the HP is famous for their sensationalistic, misleading headlines, but isn't this going a bit too far? Can't you just see that windmill powering every home in the "country of Africa"?
Anyways, its not their fault sha. My people have a saying: "if the wall does not open its mouth, the lizard cannot enter it".
It still comes down to irresponsible, selfish, visionless, myopic leadership.
Blah! I am in a bad mood today.
Anyways, celebrate this young man, but mourn for our system that crushes the spirits of so many like him.
GOD help us.
Ciao.
There is one difference in his environment and ours, as its easy to provide some where there is nothing. and its difficult to compete with big fishes especially with all the patents and lawsuits. I am a software engineer and have created my own Web/application software server, but to compete with IBM, BEA or Microsoft it is kind of impossible for me to sell it to any one. even if I sell at a price which is pennies compare to the big guys.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand - are you saying it is better not to have, than to have to compete?
ReplyDeletePlease clarify. And sorry for the late response.
no, not in that sense, but if I take my software app. server product and go to a country where there is not much software developed or being used I could make a name in days. However to make a name quickly in an environment where IBM, Microsoft are in competition, its difficult to gain the fame. Having said that what Mr. Kamkwamba has done is great, I would love to see same kind of people to produce such things in other countries
ReplyDeleteHowever the quality and amount used in USA, in an average house is huge, to provide that amount to just fulfill needs of a single family house one windmill, or a windmill made from scrap would NOT be enough, and hence putting effort may be meaningless. On top of that the electricity providing companies wouldn't like that here in USA. and might buy senator to make it illegal for average citizen to make a windmill.
But this is not about anyone making a name. This is about debilitating poverty that is stopping people from fulfilling their potential. And you are not likely to need a windmill in America, there is electricity here.
ReplyDeleteI am still not sure what your point is.
Thanks for the comment though.
Interesting turn to the discussion, though I have seen very poor people inventing things and also had never seen a rich or son of a rich inventing any thing. There are usually two major motives behind any invention, (1) being making money (2) being solving a problem at hand. The second is usually NOT the case. Mostly it is "making money" that derives people to invent.
ReplyDeleteHowever you do need a windmill in N-America, haven't you seen the price of a unit, it is always increasing, that is the demand is increasing and the supply is falling.