PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#1

Post by chris11 » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 9:10 PM UTC

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#2

Post by BvS » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 9:58 PM UTC

Best site I know to look for effective nonprofits: http://givewell.net/.

They have a good blog as well (I would especially recommend their take on program expenses vs. total expenses: http://blog.givewell.net/?cat=6).

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#3

Post by rokhayakebe » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:13 PM UTC

This type of habitat should also be implemented in developed countries.

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#4

Post by rman666 » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:25 PM UTC

rokhayakebe wrote: post #3

This type of habitat should also be implemented in developed countries.

I agree and am not joking when I say I bet there would be a huge interest in people building them all over the US for/by homeless people, people interested in trying something new, 20-somethings living with parents, etc. The better we get at building them, the better they become and the better we can help others build them.

What other groups can you add to this list, who would be interested in building one of these for themselves?

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#5

Post by pg » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:34 PM UTC

This is from a couple years ago. It didn't work out very well. The local government officials wouldn't let them build anything. The technology is cool though; literally.

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#6

Post by vaksel » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:39 PM UTC

that donation page is abysmal...honestly if I just found that page using Google, I'd think it was a scam site.

It looks like the site hasn't been updated since 2001

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#7

Post by pg » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:40 PM UTC

rokhayakebe wrote: post #3

This type of habitat should also be implemented in developed countries.

It is. When Kate renovated my house in California she built a retaining wall out of it. That could be a good way for this technology to get a foot in the door in the US.

Another option that might work even better in the US is straw bale adobe:

http://www.buildingwithawareness.com/house1.html

I believe the reason Kate & Co. went with Eco-Domes for Darfur was that they couldn't count on finding anything there except dirt. But there is lots of straw in the US.

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#8

Post by bokonist » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 10:54 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #5

This is from a couple years ago. It didn't work out very well. The local government officials wouldn't let them build anything. The technology is cool though; literally.

Any idea why the government officials stop them from building anything?

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#9

Post by ensignavenger » Thu, Jan 22, 2009, 11:18 PM UTC

pg wrote: post #7

rokhayakebe wrote: post #3

This type of habitat should also be implemented in developed countries.

It is. When Kate renovated my house in California she built a retaining wall out of it. That could be a good way for this technology to get a foot in the door in the US. Another option that might work even better in the US is straw bale adobe: http://www.buildingwithawareness.com/house1.html I believe the reason Kate & Co. went with Eco-Domes for Darfur was that they couldn't count on finding anything there except di…

However, straw burns- and mildews, rather easily. I'm sure they have ways to minimize the negative consequences of this, but I think the dirt houses may be easier?

What do they use for roofing on the Eco-Domes?

Re: PG on nonprofits/Darfur

#10

Post by sutro » Fri, Jan 23, 2009, 12:04 AM UTC

I'll make a plug for these guys:

http://www.inveneo.org/

I met the founder last year at an event in SF. They've created an impressive solar-powered computer for the developing world. They seem to embody the best of both high-tech entrepreneurship and nonprofit altruism. They would appreciate your donations.