Engineers Without Borders
You've probably heard of Doctors Without Borders (MSF is the usual acronym, from the French). There is also Engineers Without Borders, an international organization to supply simple and sustainable technological solutions to poor and/or rural communities worldwide.
This is good stuff. There is an emphasis on working with local people to make sure the solutions are appropriate for the culture in which they are being deployed. There is a clear recognition of the need for ethics and human rights in developing and enacting solutions. There is not, however, blind faith that technology is the panacea to all problems; it's seen as part of an ongoing dialogue to improve the lives of people.
Unfortunately, EWB-International does not accept individual memberships. But many institutions have joined, and if you are interested, perhaps you can encourage yours to do so.
My guess is that the people the engineers work with often turn out to be excellent engineers themselves, perhaps teaching the EWB people a few things. That's the real fun of projects like these-- coming to mutual understanding and appreciation.
This is good stuff. There is an emphasis on working with local people to make sure the solutions are appropriate for the culture in which they are being deployed. There is a clear recognition of the need for ethics and human rights in developing and enacting solutions. There is not, however, blind faith that technology is the panacea to all problems; it's seen as part of an ongoing dialogue to improve the lives of people.
Unfortunately, EWB-International does not accept individual memberships. But many institutions have joined, and if you are interested, perhaps you can encourage yours to do so.
My guess is that the people the engineers work with often turn out to be excellent engineers themselves, perhaps teaching the EWB people a few things. That's the real fun of projects like these-- coming to mutual understanding and appreciation.
