WEversity
Tap and add to the collective wisdom of the WiserEarth community
Where the community shares knowledge and wisdom, learn from each other, and grow wiser together in our journey toward a just and sustainable world. Participate by asking questions, sharing problems, providing answers, proposing solutions, or adding learning sources. The word 'WEversity' is a portmanteau of WiserEarth (WE), diversity, and university.
GROUP DETAILS
Created: Feb 21, 2008
Updated: Nov 21, 2009
Membership: Member Referral
Semi-Private
Solution Info Edit Hide
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Problem [Edit]
Help bring about federal standards for safety assessments of genetically engineered foods.
Background: The haphazard and negligent agency regulation of biotechnology has been a disaster for consumers and the environment. Unsuspecting consumers are being allowed to purchase and consume unlabeled genetically engineered foods, despite a finding by FDA scientists that these foods could pose serious risks. A number of studies over the past decade have revealed that genetically engineered foods can pose serious risks to humans, domesticated animals, wildlife and the environment. Human health effects can include higher risks of toxicity, allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, immune-suppression and cancer.
Action [Edit]
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has repeatedly introduced two bills related to GE crops and foods in the House of Representatives. The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act would require mandatory labeling of all GE foods; the other, The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act, would require mandatory, pre-market safety testing of GE foods.
Results [Edit]
Please note any specific results, preferably tangible and measurable, that people implementing this solution have achieved. References to specific case studies would be helpful.
E.g. "The Soldar Collective sold 10,000 fuel efficient stoves in the village of Soldar in Kondar, India resulting in a 60% decline in fuel wood collection as measured by an independent auditor. More details can be found by clicking here."
Limitations [Edit]
Please note what limitations exist that would make implementing the solution ineffective or counter productive? Are there any specific barriers to adopting the solution?
E.g. "The use of wood to cook can be highly culturally dependent. For example, some communities have specific rituals for cooking which require open fires, changing the cooking stove can change the taste of food and make it harder to prepare food. Be sure to conduct thorough test studies before implementing a large-scale project so that this solution will work at scale in your project area. We recommend adapting this solution to meet the needs of your situation – such as providing micro-financing to buy stoves in areas with incomes below US$3/day."
When to Use [Edit]
Please note when this solution is best used. What circumstances make the adoption of the solution particularly appropriate and effective? Is there a particular time of year, a particular trigger event, a particular population group that is key to success?
E.g. "This solution is best used where there are clear incentives to reduce the use of fuel wood such as reducing the time spent by women and children in the community to collect wood, or reducing soil erosion and improving water quality for the community."
What to Do [Edit]
Support and co-sponsor legislation to require the mandatory labeling and safety testing of genetically engineered foods. The Genetically Engineered Food Right to Know Act would require labels on gene altered food, and the Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act would call for federal standards for safety assessments of these experimental foods now in our stores.
Tips [Edit]
Please share your hard learned lessons. What common mistakes would people implementing this solution make? How can they avoid making them and saving time and money?
E.g. "We recommend engaging an older and well respected female member of the community who is well-known for her cooking prowess as a way to understand what barriers to adopting fuel efficient stoves might exist. She may well become on of your strongest advocates."
Equipment & Supplies [Edit]
Please share what equipment and supplies are needed for successfully implementing a solution. Be as specific as you can with the number of each item required, its length/weight/quality etc, and if it’s a hard to find item, the name of a supplier, its item number, price, website, and telephone number. If you are only giving phone numbers don’t provide free-dial numbers that will not be accessible internationally.
E.g.
| Number | Name | Supplier | Item#/SKU | Price | Website | Phone |
| 10,000 | Less-Wood | Stove Inc. | 2459-99887 | US$5 | www.stove.com | +1 (567) 555-1234 |
Assessment [Edit]
Please share what monitoring and evaluation approaches are best used to assess the effectiveness of the solution during and after its implementation. Be sure to include, or link to, any specific documents or templates you have designed that might be useful to other people.
E.g. "We suggest taking a random sample of households in your target communities to estimate fuel wood use prior to implementing your project. Be sure to include a control community where you don’t implement the solution. Then follow up with the same survey in the same households six months and a year after implementation. The survey protocols and templates can be found in the ‘Files & Photos’ tab."
Related Resources [Edit]
Please share whatever resources such as websites, books, case studies, support groups etc that would be helpful for people implementing the solution. Don’t forget you can upload files and photos to the ‘Files & Photos’ tab of the solution. Also, you can connect this solution to consultants / service providers, practitioners, funders etc in the ‘Network’ tab.
E.g.
- "Fuel Efficient Stove" by P.Galvin (ISBN 0872884952) – good read for beginners.
- The Stove Org - a great consultancy/service provider dedicated to helping practitioners implement successful projects – we added a link in the ‘Network’ Tab
- Biogas - a solution on WiserEarth focused on alternative energy sources to fuel wood and might be suitable for your situation.
