Two stories caught my eye today. One is around the spraying of DDT in Uganda for treating malaria. This is a perennial big issue I remember from my days working at PAN: how do we deal with the use of chemicals when there is no alternative? Malaria is a huge problem in Africa, and any way of dealing with it must be used. At the same time, organic cotton and organic farming are wealth creators that can offer a lot towards improving rural economies and the prospects of farming communities. Let's hope this can be resolved.

Ugandan organic exporters in DDT scare

East African - Nairobi,Kenya
Marck van Esch, manager of Bo Weevil, an exporter of organic cotton, told The EastAfrican that the spraying has been improperly

Another story I noticed was a report on a self-built solar water heating system from China. I had heard of these being made using old car parts  (radiator, hoses, and  a windscreen pained black).

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2850151.html