Our Carbon Footprints

Do the answers to lowering our carbon footprint lie with the great industrialized nations like the U.S. or Japan. Will we find the answers to renewable resources through cutting edge technology? Or does Bangladesh hold the answers? Does this country labeled ‘undeveloped’ and ‘backward’ hold the answers to problems we, the modern nations, have created?

How about transportation? The rickshaw gets us around town. Rice and lentils is the fuel used. Carbon emissions? The rickshaw driver expels a bit more carbon dioxide than me sitting in the back, but there is no comparing that with the carbon monoxide expelled by my Ford Ranger back home. 

 Or if we really need to carry a lot of luggage and extra people, consider this- the auto rickshaw. It is powered completely by battery. It des not reach 60 miles an hour; we are grateful for its 20 mph speed as city streets here can be chaotic and the slower speed saves lives and gas.

  For long distances and lots of luggage, the train that took us to Dinnapur a few days ago must have been carrying more passengers than a Boeing 747. Yes, it used some fossil fuels but someone with a better mind for figures than I have, could calculate the comparison between this train and the same number of people driving from Bath to Boston back home.

As for domestic cooking, the poorest of the poor don’t do it with gas or electricity here. This is about as renewable a resource as you can get: cow patties, literally. Cow manure formed into large hamburger sized fuel bricks which fire up enough heat to cook your real hamburgers or cow burgers. (If the cows only knew!)  

  The poor leading the way out of the dilemma created by the rich? Can it be? It was put well by a friend of mine. “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”