13 Technological Fix 2013-2014

"BJP-led government gives in to demands from nationalist RSS to not surrender country's food security to foreign companies"

"Across the world, efforts are underway to improve the way we store and distribute energy, as we move towards more sustainable but intermittent forms of energy generation, such as wind and solar power."

"Large businesses lobbying intensely to undermine safety regime in new trade deal, campaigners warn"

"Thousands of rats will be fed Monsanto maize diets in a $23m, three-year 'Factor GMO' study into long-term health effects of GM food and associated pesticides"

"The resources below provide teachers with Power Point presentations and activities for pupils aged 9-18 years. The materials enables pupils to consider their needs and wants for technology and to learn about Practical Action's view of Technology Justice... a global right to access sustainable technologies now and in the future."

"A total of 96m black polythene balls now cover water at reservoir in Sylmar, California, to protect against evaporation"

"Former yacht designer's ambitious project intends to put huge kites flying over the sea in formation to generate clean, affordable electricity"

"Indonesia is banking on an unusual strategy to prevent further flooding in its inundated capital Jakarta, and officials claim that they are already seeing positive results. They are using 'cloud seeding' - a weather modification technology often resorted to during drought. The method involves injecting clouds with substances that encourage the formation of ice crystals heavy enough to fall, thereby speeding up the production of rain."

"Farmers in parts of India are breaking growing records, using less seed, less water, and compost as fertiliser. This ground-breaking method of cultivation, developed in Madagascar, is boosting yields and changing lives for the farmers. Norman Uphoff, professor at Cornell University, explains how it is done For more on this subject, see John Vidal's report in the Observer Food Monthly on Sunday"

In a village in India's poorest state, Bihar, farmers are growing world record amounts of rice - with no GM, and no herbicide. Is this one solution to world food shortages? * India's rice revolution - audio slideshow

"Golden rice, a new strain that boosts vitamin A levels and reduces blindness in developing countries, is about to be sown in the Philippines - and is the new battleground crop"

Paraguay is the greenest place on earth to make and drive an electric car, according to analysis by independent research group, Shrink That Footprint, which has assessed the impact of grid-powered electric vehicles (EV) in twenty of the world's leading countries.

"A tiny "genetic patch" can be used to prevent a form of deafness which runs in families, according to animal tests. Patients with Usher syndrome have defective sections of their genetic code which cause problems with hearing, sight and balance."

The project is part of the 4Afrika Initiative, an investment programme being announced by technology giant Microsoft, that also includes a new Windows Phone 8 smartphone for the region and investment in help for small businesses on the continent, and in education and internships.For the white spaces project, the company is working with a Kenyan ISP, Indigo Telecom, and the Kenyan government. The ISP is installing wireless 'base stations' - or masts - that are solar-powered, to get round the lack of mains electricity. The base stations act as a link to the nearest main cable connection to the internet, without the expense of extending the fibre-optic network. The solar panels will power the bases stations - and also charge computer equipment The signal supplied is much more powerful than normal wifi.

"Half the planet cooks on smoky open fires, causing over 4 million premature deaths each year and contributing to climate change. Your purchase of the BioLite CampStove helps us fund the initial costs to build and support the HomeStove market abroad."