International Conference

Appropriate Technology and Sustainable Development

An International Conference on Appropriate Technology and Sustainable Development, Asia and Global Perspectives, was held in New Delhi from the 17th to the 22nd February, 1992. The meetings was organised by Approtech Asia, Enda, Satis, Codel, Development Alternatives and the Consortium on Rural Technologies (CORT). The meeting brought together leading practitioners from the fields of science, technology and policy research from over sixty institutions from Asia, Africa and Latin America to

- Acquire a deeper and broader understanding of the role of appropriate technology in environmentally    sustainable development.
- share approaches and experiences on the subject of technology, environment and poverty.
- develop a framework for assessment and application of appropriate technology.

A major objective of the meeting was to examine and formulate a perspective on these issues, for the purpose of presentation at the UNCED and to also evolve long term action beyond UNCED.

Dr. Ashok Khosla, President, Development Alternatives in his key note address at the inaugural plenary emphasized that all discussions on the issues of equity, environment and self reliant development will achieve little unless due consideration is given to the role of technology in attacking the problems of poverty and growing marginalisation. The central question to be addressed by development practitioners, therefore, is how technology can be designed and delivered on a mass scale to respond to the needs of the most deprived in our societies, and at the same time to act positively on the environment.

Dr. K.S. Radhakrishna, Chairman CORT, also stressed the role of appropriate technology in providing a holistic growth model that is tempered with justice and respect for human rights.

Dr. Malee Suwana-Adth, Chairperson, Approtech Asia expressed the view that technology today has become so privatized and market oriented that technological choices are limited to the rich. It is now time to broaden the technological choices of the poor and develop viable and acceptable alternatives for them.

It was felt that communities organisation, participatory action research, cooperatives, community based management systems should be termed as "social technologies" as they are processes of how to organise people and make them work together to achieve their goals.

Jacques Bugnicourt, Director ENDA, reminded the conference participants that even though the world has witnessed powerful democratisation processes in the last one decade, democratisation cannot succeed till there is massive poverty in the world. So far, all models of development, whether socialist or capitalist, or even big institutions like the World Bank and the IMF have not been able to make a dent in solving this problem. It is high time that we looked at poverty from the viewpoint of the poor.

A.T. Institutions should look at the frontier technologies that have been used by the poor for survival and support them and defend them from the mentality that only modern and expensive technologies can bring about development. There is perhaps a scope for improving traditional technologies with modern techniques and a set of criteria need to be evolved to determine the process of developing these combined technologies. There is a need to promote south-south exchange in order to preserve anti-poverty techniques and study how they can be used in different socio-cultural or eco-cultural contexts.

There is a need not just to develop new technologies but to also evolve new institutions which can link research and development to the realities of production and marketing and close the gap between innovation and application.

Paul Osborne of SATIS emphasized the need for cooperation and networking among A.T. institutions in order to influence the governments of the North and impact a global understanding of the inter-relatedness of poverty and environmental degradation. The environmental crises today is due to the environmental immorality committed by the North.

Key issues on appropriate technology including case studies from various countries, issues of waste recycling, sanitation, organic farming, poverty alleviation, improvement of environment, role of government, non-government organisations, local institutions also formed part of the discussions at the meeting. Parallel workshops were held on understanding of community needs and enabling community management; innovation, production and marketing of appropriate technologies; mechanisms for their assessment and evaluation; new and emerging technologies; institutional innovations.

Appropriate Technology requires an appropriate science - a science that draws its source from knowledge acquired from centuries of experience by the indigenous people and enriched through its application to new challenges. It is a science that has a conscience, that knows its limits, instills the love of life and nature, preserves and recognizes its dependence on the environment and also empowers on the environment and also empowers instead of dehumanizing people. Appropriate Technology is not just a hardware: it includes the social processes that enable people to work together, solve their own problems and enable them to make their own choices for a better future.

Finally, to quote the Earth Charter of SEACON-Its spirituality and sacredness can only be healed if the spirit of community and people’s participation is restored in our efforts to save the planet.

by Renu Jain

Exciting Prizes Waiting To Be Won
The 11th International Craft Competition

NEW YORK, NY - In a letter of invitation to major craft organizations world-wide, International Art Horizons has announced an impressive combination of awards in is upcoming 11th leading annual International Craft Competition. The program, the largest of its kind, offers prizes totaling $6,500, with a $5,700 Top Prize. Furthermore, 50 finalists will be awarded the opportunity to have their works shown in the three-week "1992 Grand Exhibition" at the prominent Art 54 Gallery in the heart of SOHO -- New York City’s most famous art district. They will be selected by four noted jurors and will receive extensive publicity internationally members and readers are urged to enter and benefit from this renowned competition, which is equally open to all professionals and amateurs from around the world. The winning craft persons are encouraged but are not required to be present at the exhibition.

We welcome entries in clay, Glass, fiber, Jewellery, Wood, Metalwork, Paper and Furniture, " says Nora Smith, director of the sponsoring International Art Horizons.

This year’s esteemed jurors are : Victoria A. Clark, curator, Carnegie Museum of Art, pittsburgh, PA; Eric h. Zafran, associate curator, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA; Philip Ginsburg of Aaron Ashley Art Publishing, New York, NY; and Nina Cohen, craft person, director of the ‘1992 Grand Exhibition,"New York, NY.

Entries must be accompanied by an entry form and an entry fee of $10 per slide or photograph of the submitted work. In order to receive the entry form, simply send a postcard with your name and address today to : International Art Horizons, Craft Department CR, 140 Prospect Avenue, Suite 16R, Hackensack, NJ07601<USA>

You may call (2010 646-0222, or request the form by fax : (201) 343-5353. But please hurry .... The deadline for receiving all entries is May 29, 1992.

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