Scientific Community Addresses Inequality of Wealth

“Nearly 90 percent of research and development dollars are spent on creating technologies that serve the wealthiest 10 percent of the world’s population”

Could this be why the gap between the global rich and poor is only getting bigger every day?
How can we narrow the gap without destroying the cultures on either end of the spectrum?

One attempt to tackle this problem is taking place at D-Lab, a research center at MIT that focuses on developing "low tech" technologies designed for specific communities that have shortages of clean water, electricity, cooking fuels, or mechanical power. Students and professionals work together to learn about the lifestyle and culture of a particular community, and then they work to develop a useful technology, using locally available resources.

“What you try to do in virtually every situation is make their lives more efficient,” [Mr. Brandis] said. “That’s what the big revolution in America was between 1860 and 1960 — that a person doing a day’s work can produce a lot more product. And that means time is more valuable and that means he has more time to do other things.”

Development (in rich and poor countries) must incorporate principles of minimizing waste, especially GHG emissions. The article didn't mention if emissions minimization was one of their many guiding principles, but it should be- especially since they hope to proliferate their technologies to many developing communities.

Rather than sending money to the government of a developing country, I agree that this is this program is a much better way to spend "development" money. (See http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=1156479183 to hear a talk on problems with foreign aid in Africa.)

Do you think programs like this be profitable for both the rich and the poor?