17 (Photo by Cecil Shillingford) • Continued from previous page • Cooking without an electric or gas stove – on coal pots or three stones programmes but to help to deliver the training. Our National Disaster Offices and related NGOs should collaborate to implement such an initiative. In the larger member states in particular, residents in rural areas still have useful knowledge and skills in this regard. It might even be worth our while to upscale the effort to a regional programme. Perhaps we can produce videos in certain countries and they can be shown in all countries. Similarly we can use computer aided graphics and cartoons to teach such urban survival training. I am suggesting that families and groups of relatives agree to pass on the knowledge of how to live without electricity to the youngest among them. The core of all such training would have to be survival and health, not comfort or convenience. The core elements would therefore include: • How to make temporary roof repairs without power tools • How to keep clothes dry when a hurricane threatens • Cooking on an open flame • Cooking one pot of nutritious meals • Keeping food safely without refrigeration • Storing drinking water safely • Making water safe for drinking • Washing by hand • Washing dishes and utensils with limited water • Bathing with limited water • Improvised ironing • Making fruit preserves • Which fresh fruits are the most nutritious • Which fresh vegetables and fruit crops are the most nutritious • Protein from non-traditional sources Experts have said that because of Climate Change the Caribbean could be facing stronger and more frequent storms and hurricanes in future decades. Our member states are making efforts to reduce our dependence on fossil-fuel generated electricity. However, whatever the source, disruptions in storms will remain a challenge for a long time. Dependence on electricity (from any source) will not diminish.
18 Publizr Home