Tech and the Global South with Star Ngei

Рет қаралды 54

28 күн бұрын

In this episode, Christina talks with Star Ngei, a maker/hacker who helps raise awareness of Global South technology and innovation through the NGO Global Innovation Gathering (GIG), which hosts a network of makers and makerspaces throughout the Global South. Although it’s hard to generalize across a space as culturally, politically, economically, and geographically diverse as the Global South, Christina and Star discuss how the access of people in the Global South to tech is limited compared to that of people in the Global North and so they have a more creative, non-linear approach to technology. They’re far more open to modifying a piece (or pieces) of technology to fit their specific needs, rather than just using it as it comes out of the box and merely specifically for its intended use. Christina and Star also talk about climate change and what the Global North can learn from the Global South in terms of dealing with it. Lastly, they talk about building community and how, if you’re interested in working to decrease global inequality by helping people in the Global South, the best place to start is by striking up a relationship with a community there first. Unless you want your efforts to be a waste of your time, their time, and resources, don’t just give a group of people in the Global South what you think they need, find out what they think they would find useful.
To join, support, or learn more about Global Innovation Gathering, check out globalinnovationgathering.org/
‪@weareGIG‬ #GlobalSouth #technology #solarpunk
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Solarpunk Presents Podcast
Solarpunk is more than just an idea, more than just an aesthetic. Those inspire us, but where do we go from there? How do we put the values and visions described in solarpunk fiction and art into action in the here and now? What does that look like, translated into the reality of our present moment, into the places and spaces where we’re at? Hosts Ariel Kroon and Christina De La Rocha are producing podcast episodes featuring interviews with people working to make the world a better place right now, as well as discussions of solarpunk, DIY, aesthetic, housing, and more. Join us as we explore what #solarpunk looks like in the present.
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Пікірлер: 9

@Atmatan_Kabbaher 26 күн бұрын

Star makes a great point that the new Fallout show summarizes as its key thesis: "Everyone is trying to save the world, we just can't all agree on how to do it". There are a lot of people who keep trying to do more, when the best way they contribute to the solution is to sit down, do less, and think about what they've got going on in their own little mental space: listen, for a while. To quote my favorite poem, The Epitaph of Twilight: "The Whole cannot be changed, we have already lost that chance. Because the time left to us is short, we're often mistaken in our path. We cannot change the Whole, and we should alter only its parts."

@RichardsVideosWoohoo 7 күн бұрын

I bloody love this podcast. Star was a great guest and some of her examples of western arrogance working against us were very interesting and informative.

@solarpunkpresents 5 күн бұрын

She was definitely one of our best guests. I'm hoping we can have her back for another episode sometime soon.

@Atmatan_Kabbaher 26 күн бұрын

It's been impossible to be able to get a makerspace running in my city. If any other nerds like me exist, they're all in their homes in front of a computer screen or a pile of electronics. Robotics is getting pretty big everywhere north and south of me, but nothing ever happens here: it isn't as simple as "if you're looking you'll find it", because in America we ARE swarmed in a sea of overt individuality, with few bothering to consider the collective. Tribalism and nationalism have very deep roots here. One thing I would recommend to Star if they have that kind of say, would be to get a contact form and a centralized chat service set up for GIG community members to interact more seamlessly. Also: the search page on the website is broken. I agree that there needs to be more collaboration and information sharing, but that means people need to slow down and check out what their neighbors have going on: I know quite a few orgs I really wish would work together better and GIG is now just another one of them, focusing on their own thing.

@solarpunkpresents 19 күн бұрын

Having some kind of centralized way to browse solarpunk / maker / climate change orgs that already exist would save some people a lot of trouble! Although there's something to be said for local start-ups that are particular to place, but I get what you mean -A

@Atmatan_Kabbaher 19 күн бұрын

@@solarpunkpresents Right now that would be my discord but that's not very searchable.

@chloegirka863 19 күн бұрын

I am lucky to have access to a fablab at work. Unfortunately, because of the location and high membership fee from anyone outside of work, we are struggling to make it a diverse and busy place.

@solarpunkpresents 19 күн бұрын

Oof those membership fees. Totally sympathize - I realize that the machines in makerspaces and fabrication labs can be expensive, people need to be paid fairly, and rent needs to be made, but sometimes the cost of entry can be prohibitive. The one in my city has one evening a week open to the public so they can see what it's all about without having to pay for entry first, and that seems to be working out for them -A

@chloegirka863 19 күн бұрын

@@solarpunkpresents Here we have free visits two days a week (officially 3 time slots, but the team will often make an exception. Those places are expensive and don't really make money. So it's either run after subsidies, or take commissions.