On 3 June 2014 05:13, Vitaliy M wrote: > > > On Jun 2, 2014, at 9:49, RussellMc wrote: > > Q: Will people pay good money to help one 'save the world' [tm]? > > A: Quite possibly yes. > > Absolutely, yes! It's been happening for centuries, and lately the trend > has been greatly accelerating. Re: " > You witnessed and documented it in your recent travels. > " > I did? We may be looking through different filters :-). While I saw much good I also saw much not good, and the latter appeared to dominate as fas as 'saving the world' went. Seriously - What aspect were you thinking of when you made that comment? > The trick is to convince the people who need the saving, to fund the saving. Convincing other people to fund it, is a very distant second best. Maybe. I have in mind a product [solar powered lighting related][not totally surprisingly] that is effectively free (or of negative cost) to the most needy of "3rd world" users when viewed from a distance but which appears to cost a finite but reasonable price up close. This is essential in developing country roles as the overwhelming experience is that that which is free is not valued. AND that product will also be attractive to people in most countries as well. However, people are working long those lines at present and if they do genuinely well enough there is no point in my weighing in as well. The cost in $ to the "western" users is not zero or negative in $ terms (due to energy cost distortions*) but is high enough in utility value that they will likely crowd fund it because of its dual value - they get utility which is value for money in its own right - and they know they are part of producing a product that will assist others - not funding MANUFACTURE manufacture but funding development. [* Very roughly - the less you earn the more "high grade" energy costs both in absolute and relative terms. How much energy per $ do you imagine you get when using kerosene for lighting or cooking at the far end of a '3rd world' distribution chain? Then there are candles - a major source of lighting for many. > I shall not name the third alternative. I'll ignore that :-) - except to say that I can think of several more. ___________ Aside: Don pedants hat - FWIW- There are never more than two alternatives. R > > -- > http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com/techref/piclist PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .