tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50595488845004312042024-03-05T05:49:49.868-08:00Lorenn-Pollinate-BangaloreLorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-76377341405179271322013-09-06T00:12:00.002-07:002013-09-06T00:19:15.249-07:00Some final thoughts - social entrepreneurship in action<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So - if you've made it to here, the last post in this blog series - AWESOME:)<br />
(If you're starting here, be sure to check out some of the <a href="http://lorennpollinatebangalore.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/visiting-some-of-pollinate-communities.html" target="_blank">other posts</a> too for context!!)<br />
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Throughout my time in Bangalore, I've really had a wonderful opportunity to witness social entrepreneurship (and social entrepreneurs) in action.<br />
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I, of course, find this super fascinating and have been collecting some thoughts now and then about how Pollinate just oozes a sense of entrepreneurship.<br />
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Some things that have resonated so far regarding the path of Pollinate Energy to where they are now:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Importance of getting that first sponsor onboard to snowball the involvement of others</li>
<li>Creating credibility (often through sponsors) is key to raising funds</li>
<li>Pivoting throughout the pilot phases of their operations</li>
<li>Faking it til you make it</li>
<li>Direction driven by the results of a solid research base, with a focus on getting as much research about the communities as possible from actually talking with/being with the communities</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uZi50-r2trAyfl0ae_RPRrwLlRTzh5xsG-HhAlx5HAMWo8igwlwas36FKyyIk-0Wf0JMlBhLTRSXY3h06TdqkwRZQxphXd2q47db6ZwC_gMotwTlziljybB6iOGaq9ArsI52kTsTg5s/s1600/DSCN5690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6uZi50-r2trAyfl0ae_RPRrwLlRTzh5xsG-HhAlx5HAMWo8igwlwas36FKyyIk-0Wf0JMlBhLTRSXY3h06TdqkwRZQxphXd2q47db6ZwC_gMotwTlziljybB6iOGaq9ArsI52kTsTg5s/s1600/DSCN5690.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bangalore city at night</td></tr>
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My thoughts on the vibe within the Pollinate Energy team:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Overarching passion for what they're doing - it's really inspiring to see the co-founders really glowing with passion as they talk about their story and where they plan to go</li>
<li>Guiding principle of customers at the centre (just like any good business!) - it's been amazing to hear the co-founders talk about the needs of the customer: With regards to introducing cookstoves into the communities, the importance of listening to the needs of the customer has been reinforced several times. One of the co-founders' messages: <i>If her [the woman in the slum community] major concern is the time that it takes to cook, then our selling point is how the efficiency of the flame results in faster cooking time, regardless of all of the other benefits regarding her health. There's no point emphasising the health benefits if she doesn't see sitting in smoke as an issue. </i>Interestingly, this thought process is also present in other places e.g. Mumbai where cookstoves were sold as a way for individuals to have more time to watch TV! Seems slightly counter-intuitive in a way as you'd think that the overwhelming health benefits would be the highest selling point, but marketing is not necessarily a logical science! </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4pmdVQs5KhNdD27je-It2KYfaLYA7WscnJOvGtQuVH85kfcPCryDYmWQM5_1QWiucI0HzB3N8npbFM9mOPswUft-YqzQXuzdNkr0ghwvvLBEoMCIVlLOG_9Hs9IKb0KJpJCgBce3NMk/s1600/DSCN5828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy4pmdVQs5KhNdD27je-It2KYfaLYA7WscnJOvGtQuVH85kfcPCryDYmWQM5_1QWiucI0HzB3N8npbFM9mOPswUft-YqzQXuzdNkr0ghwvvLBEoMCIVlLOG_9Hs9IKb0KJpJCgBce3NMk/s1600/DSCN5828.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lady cooking on our cookstove for the first time -<br />
sometimes faster cooking time is a more relevant selling point<br />
than the health benefits!</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>A real concern for what's best for the customer and absolutely <i>no </i>arrogance or transmission of any feeling of 'Pollinate knows best'.<i> </i>For e.g when we returned to communities where families had bought a trial of the cookstove to find the cookstoves still in their boxes, the reaction of one of the Pollinate co-founders was the following: <i>We need to find out exactly why she is not using this cookstove. We know that it's not a perfect product but want to work out whether it's worth pursuing for the benefits it does bring. If it is not being used because it's not a good product, then we will find another product that is. At the end of the day, no cookstoves should be found in boxes! We want to make positive change, not push unhelpful products.</i></li>
<li>Attitude of experimentation and agility in fast decision making</li>
<li>A culture of inclusivity, gratitude and celebration (quite amazing to see in action actually!)</li>
<li>A team of friends with complementary skills and a shared purpose</li>
<li>Personal energy gained from direct interaction with communities/ direct positive reinforcement of purpose on a very individual basis</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdBU8MAS3UcdrkU7-QC0y9Umsc_YARS0iAcfmxxPPsy5hsv7547ze4nAwgDR-l_AC8F7AnpCLwPjPQRnilm9N6lszeourlnSz-JhPXuJZngfE3qSvFHeHb157_ZwstQ2Ax04h8s2Ter8/s1600/DSCN5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdBU8MAS3UcdrkU7-QC0y9Umsc_YARS0iAcfmxxPPsy5hsv7547ze4nAwgDR-l_AC8F7AnpCLwPjPQRnilm9N6lszeourlnSz-JhPXuJZngfE3qSvFHeHb157_ZwstQ2Ax04h8s2Ter8/s1600/DSCN5731.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the kids from Farm community - their smiles reiterate the purpose <br />
of Pollinate in a very direct and real way!</td></tr>
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Some contextual factors :<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>India itself is just oozing entrepreneurial spirit - there is definitely an attitude of 'open a shop and people will come'</li>
<li>Some momentum building for change - see <a href="http://lorennpollinatebangalore.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/whats-hot-in-india-right-now.html" target="_blank">the bottom half of this post</a> re policies and programs initiated by Indian government</li>
<li>On the negative, there are still many issues with implementation and corruption and this can be a key contextual disabler at times (or a reason for even more creative activities!)</li>
<li>Price arbitrage - by fundraising in AUD, the money can go a lot further in an Indian context than it would if this social business was starting in Sydney. It gives you more time to work out if the opportunity is a go-er</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs4xSvbpZVYUTZP7-pU5-QF_CUGCPjBSgcD2SCujSD_ej6vDSgC0xQE7hP-CoVuE0dAXLswHsj6Xag4dO2z1S5hKj80-SoZUMX8HhhShY5xze_DLV9J-LnHdylYuLO37M2U46UvIWs4U/s1600/IMGP7084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQs4xSvbpZVYUTZP7-pU5-QF_CUGCPjBSgcD2SCujSD_ej6vDSgC0xQE7hP-CoVuE0dAXLswHsj6Xag4dO2z1S5hKj80-SoZUMX8HhhShY5xze_DLV9J-LnHdylYuLO37M2U46UvIWs4U/s1600/IMGP7084.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the cows are looking for answers in unusual places</td></tr>
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I'm sure that these thoughts are only scratching the surface, but needless to say I'm so very happy and grateful to have had the opportunity to be involved with such a wonderful organisation and a fascinating group of Young Professionals!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuHOxmjDJtBMbqWvcRugliI_MNbQgesbpUIes-IT9Xf7zMt_IZOI4PN1AoQw0YDF7HR3cZowPtsPX5vK7L8TNlPiPF-WjFgDdUlUpGU43ErPI5tEaP-eeVf7TtNtLeDa46yHcB20bOCQ/s1600/1238180_10151573018597213_1361486930_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuHOxmjDJtBMbqWvcRugliI_MNbQgesbpUIes-IT9Xf7zMt_IZOI4PN1AoQw0YDF7HR3cZowPtsPX5vK7L8TNlPiPF-WjFgDdUlUpGU43ErPI5tEaP-eeVf7TtNtLeDa46yHcB20bOCQ/s1600/1238180_10151573018597213_1361486930_n.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing group I spent 2 weeks with -<br />
Young Professionals from AU/NZ/India, Pollinators, Pollinate staff and Founders</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
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<div>
If any of this resonates with you and is spurring you to seek a similar amazing experience of your own, be sure to <a href="http://pollinateenergy.org/our-programs/" target="_blank">check out the Pollinate Energy website</a> for future Fellows and Young Professional Programs!</div>
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If you have any questions feel free to reach out!<br />
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<div>
That's all from me folks :)</div>
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Thanks for reading!<br />
Lorenn :)</div>
</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-28971622995938610752013-09-05T23:48:00.002-07:002013-09-05T23:52:14.627-07:00Some Indian quirks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been collecting a small list of what I'm calling "Indian quirks" ie things that when they happen the first time you're like whaaaaaaaaaaat!? but then if it happens another time and another time it eventually becomes normal in some way.</div>
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It's funny actually looking at this list of things that I found so odd only a week or two ago!!</div>
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<li>Cows!!! they're everywhere and really stand their ground!</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sr3J6_Sztn8iDpa-sR57zmLXnTAALEOHTlHhQFD-OSew43z8NzPJGAzyDIw-NJtK2mKu7HloRKzAWbNZ46kJbxpT1jY_3W4yMzw851Mqz-YYUADU8hkpFVFMREmzBw6t291vyLaTqjI/s1600/DSCN5829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sr3J6_Sztn8iDpa-sR57zmLXnTAALEOHTlHhQFD-OSew43z8NzPJGAzyDIw-NJtK2mKu7HloRKzAWbNZ46kJbxpT1jY_3W4yMzw851Mqz-YYUADU8hkpFVFMREmzBw6t291vyLaTqjI/s1600/DSCN5829.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where are the cars you may ask? The cows rule this town!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is just chilling by the side of the road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cows munching on the scraps from the market</td></tr>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>How locals drink water out of water bottles - they never touch their lips to the bottle as they are always sharing pretty much everything, so this is their way of leaving the rest of the bottle available for someone else to drink without germs</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Milk in small plastic packets that once opened have to be used pretty much immediately. Again, makes sense if you don't have a fridge as you'd be using it all immediately anyway! <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Actually a lot of things are in small/ use once
packages! I was amazed last time I was in India at this too :)</span></li>
</ul>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWrwEyurwEH8KMxhtY748ZpCE_yzU4JK53YAIJTVluBGHAsVCDARvgY2QR5L1dYg9202qhyphenhyphensfoqY-KNnicDt_5a2jQ6buNDp9pDPh9mrEYyaJR05nRq2sbeVIoLyd84CcVHF9G7XR5lI/s1600/DSCN5835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWrwEyurwEH8KMxhtY748ZpCE_yzU4JK53YAIJTVluBGHAsVCDARvgY2QR5L1dYg9202qhyphenhyphensfoqY-KNnicDt_5a2jQ6buNDp9pDPh9mrEYyaJR05nRq2sbeVIoLyd84CcVHF9G7XR5lI/s1600/DSCN5835.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">7/11 Indian Style</td></tr>
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<li>'Rubbish' as a resource! When out at the communities, there is often a lot of rubbish all over the place. However when people are looking for something, e.g. binding wire to attach the solar light to their roof, they go to these 'rubbish piles' and find what they need!! </li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByfgUn4aRx2tJ37WAvV62XgC1VQ_5EjrGrcR0HEJVcWWNoBB1CXPMZwAePqC9HotkxmHKsQwBoF_bP5lDGSK9jcvv8D0nhqraMyKAwJG13nipu_SkVvIxorL-J0zB0SFkFXjRmFbW1fo/s1600/DSCN5918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjByfgUn4aRx2tJ37WAvV62XgC1VQ_5EjrGrcR0HEJVcWWNoBB1CXPMZwAePqC9HotkxmHKsQwBoF_bP5lDGSK9jcvv8D0nhqraMyKAwJG13nipu_SkVvIxorL-J0zB0SFkFXjRmFbW1fo/s1600/DSCN5918.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trash or treasure?</td></tr>
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<li> Small kids with strings around their waist and a key attached to it. We found out that the people in the community essentially use their kids as human keyrings as they can always find their children!! (innovation in action!)</li>
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<li>Diabetes-inducing tea making! As we were making chai out in the communities, we took tea and sugar with us in these small containers. When it came to adding the sugar, the spoon got left behind and the ladies making the tea literally poured the whole container in! The amount of sugar in their tea is pretty astounding and makes it no surprise that India has a very high rate of diabetes </li>
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<li> The Pollinators being more at ease reading in English even though they may not have spoken a lot of English. This was because apparently English is much more likely to be the read language and Kanataka the spoken language! How bizarre but then again most signs etc are in English and Hindi as there are so many languages across India!!</li>
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A couple of other India-isms:</div>
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<li>A village really does raise a child!</li>
<li>Signs!!! Sometimes they are just hilarious!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXlUfalwMKDMDLPAVMzaQY-IiI8W1wQTDOrUILkQQff8E0L4wrXNS9u_fEn4fdOSy79j2ddIkA9dwP6rUsnS8PV2ue8swpZFzcki3PejxNZL5YsGQnwzZAQvO9EkN7H-_MwiQ0trWnIg/s1600/DSCN5928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXlUfalwMKDMDLPAVMzaQY-IiI8W1wQTDOrUILkQQff8E0L4wrXNS9u_fEn4fdOSy79j2ddIkA9dwP6rUsnS8PV2ue8swpZFzcki3PejxNZL5YsGQnwzZAQvO9EkN7H-_MwiQ0trWnIg/s1600/DSCN5928.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">??? Trust us...we'll make you look better without your eyes??</td></tr>
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<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>More Western-style bars very overtly non-conservative in their sign usage!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkrx08pZeoWKZiva7jiWP3I7VUb75WOYQ9-LGxUMK2NfpR-Mz22G8M8O6OUU_XasxLvcA1-PymaAtqsOWjlyFxZ28RxC_00kHkqRPbPCxRgKXUD3d0qA0_7OTFdSi3Bz0rWs_v1Mcd8g/s1600/DSCN5860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkrx08pZeoWKZiva7jiWP3I7VUb75WOYQ9-LGxUMK2NfpR-Mz22G8M8O6OUU_XasxLvcA1-PymaAtqsOWjlyFxZ28RxC_00kHkqRPbPCxRgKXUD3d0qA0_7OTFdSi3Bz0rWs_v1Mcd8g/s1600/DSCN5860.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A poster found in the ladies bathroom of one very
popular, western-style bar</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Festivals!! - there are a lot of different festivals happening around Bangalore. There was the Festival of St. Mary while we were there and there are massive preparations for the Ganesha Festival that is happening later this week!! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">We went inside a Ganesha
storeroom (masses of Ganeshas are made at this time so that they can be
used during the festival...eventually they end up in a body of water...not
great for pollution!) – it was amazing to see all of these Ganesha’s in
one spot!</span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6-PLoptVRyVE2aYc8yDbhlPC5bWLnoakPNEVcyPW7FoDoDM7M9MoSFgaR__VRvrJDZ-GSkKY_U9dwCSLE9YOvncJRIK-l1nJgsfjRB6s5_vmuDN63JaMNtBfSHe-jogplIUh-ARN_yA/s1600/DSCN5854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6-PLoptVRyVE2aYc8yDbhlPC5bWLnoakPNEVcyPW7FoDoDM7M9MoSFgaR__VRvrJDZ-GSkKY_U9dwCSLE9YOvncJRIK-l1nJgsfjRB6s5_vmuDN63JaMNtBfSHe-jogplIUh-ARN_yA/s1600/DSCN5854.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Sneha, Bel and Kat in a Ganesha storage room!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
And a couple of things that did not really make more sense over time: <br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Speed humps all over the "highways"... actually this one never really
became that normal... there didn't seem to be any reason behind these
speed bumps at all!! One suggestion was that they are the result of
pipes being laid and the road not dug out properly... ? not sure but
they're certainly not deliberately engineered (I hope!)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The electronica discotheque associated with the College near our house. At around 7am we woke up to literally a community electronica party. Still not 100% sure what was going on, but was linked to the College down the road and some sort of sports day. So from 7am-5pm they blasted party music and had what sounded like karaoke (though perhaps was a special performance?). And this went on for 3 days!! Meanwhile, no noise is allowed in houses after 11pm!!</li>
</ul>
<br />
L :)</div>
</div>
</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-67390583153814468432013-09-05T23:34:00.001-07:002013-09-05T23:35:52.929-07:00Krishna - our wonderful Pollinator!! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thought I’d give a bit more information about Krishna, the
Pollinator that I was teamed with for the majority of the time while I was on
the program.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Krishna would have to be one of the most genuinely caring
people I have ever met. Interestingly, he sees his work as kind of a social
service/social work first and foremost and is very grateful to have the
opportunity to work for Pollinate. His gratitude is really very touching and I imagine stems from previous jobs he’s had where he has been treated very poorly (e.g. not able to eat with the managers, not paid on time or at all etc).<br />
<br />
He makes friends very easily and is always smiling! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e-9ln4ZhNnkgBtXZCnv05cmjf-tqtb8F062ctQSomioWvcGgYQzd6UdkX2hIpLblNN_OY2e76RDDWzHVT2fXGK79QJXXiexUpF2RAXzWeUZvQMaLt-Whf8zxLfMY4VGVixRm4BW6OoQ/s1600/DSCN5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3e-9ln4ZhNnkgBtXZCnv05cmjf-tqtb8F062ctQSomioWvcGgYQzd6UdkX2hIpLblNN_OY2e76RDDWzHVT2fXGK79QJXXiexUpF2RAXzWeUZvQMaLt-Whf8zxLfMY4VGVixRm4BW6OoQ/s1600/DSCN5843.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Sneha and Krishna with our auto driver for the day! <br />
Krishna regularly made friends; one auto driver even helped us sell<br />
the cookstoves in the communities after a conversation with Krish!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Krishna is not from Bangalore city, but like many people,
moved to Bangalore for work. There is a small bio on the <a href="http://pollinateenergy.org/meet-krishna-our-newest-team-member/" target="_blank">Pollinate blog</a> where you
can hear about more of his personal story pre Pollinate, but thought I’d
reflect on some of the things I saw him do in action! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Firstly – he is a great salesperson because he cares deeply
about the people in the community. He is first and foremost their friends, and believes in bringing products that can improve their living situation. This was
particularly evident when the snatching of the child at Drum <a href="http://lorennpollinatebangalore.blogspot.com.au/2013/09/following-up-with-cookstoves-in-our.html" target="_blank">(see previous post for info on this)</a> had occurred and
the first thing he spoke to the next community about was to put them on alert
that this type of thing was happening and they should keep their children safe.
He was also giving members of the community tips about how to recognise counterfeit money (quite common
here) and other helpful practical things that don’t cost him any money but
really build a sense of trust.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU6D2LJmF80uU27x1dKYNmVjsWuIkNR55WA9FPRWvK7LvX8ndZk1arHmEnn0UeE7pi9oWiAQsK8qNnW8dNJzzAkEPr3cX7oDviPAmT4Wg_nei8j1ALlBMI1TkjLTXHIInT1tuV1r9PQI/s1600/DSCN5725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcU6D2LJmF80uU27x1dKYNmVjsWuIkNR55WA9FPRWvK7LvX8ndZk1arHmEnn0UeE7pi9oWiAQsK8qNnW8dNJzzAkEPr3cX7oDviPAmT4Wg_nei8j1ALlBMI1TkjLTXHIInT1tuV1r9PQI/s1600/DSCN5725.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Krishna about to stand on the cookstove to convince people<br /> that it can hold large pots no problem</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Each day before we went out into the communities we would
reflect with the other Pollinators on what has been working and what has not been working. Krishna, from
the beginning, was having a huge amount of success in getting demo cookstoves
in the community. He explained to the others how he sold them – target the
first movers on the solar lights as once they’re onboard the whole community
will open up, make the story personal, understand the person’s real needs,
don’t get into the sale straight away but slowly, sell the fact that it’s a
no-strings attached demo to gather input etc etc. One of the AECOM managers –
Michael – said afterwards that what Krishna was explaining is text book what
they teach the AECOM managers to do to pitch for work!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Needless to say, we formed a lovely bond working together
out in the communities. And I felt really lucky to have witnessed such a
genuine service and desire to do good for others. He really is an inspiration!</div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVc0uW8y1Xb_jeB_l74H-2hRnxMfm9vdL7gdh6ypg6N73GZYmv14XQ_ViMdvTSwr-QWKaG35sg3g4K77xmhiofac4iidJFf0EFdc6oWNsJqyS3avg2kdTYU8MsMOu3kPmkzuSGKv6AFk/s1600/DSCN5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmVc0uW8y1Xb_jeB_l74H-2hRnxMfm9vdL7gdh6ypg6N73GZYmv14XQ_ViMdvTSwr-QWKaG35sg3g4K77xmhiofac4iidJFf0EFdc6oWNsJqyS3avg2kdTYU8MsMOu3kPmkzuSGKv6AFk/s1600/DSCN5950.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sneha, Krishna and me - our little team that went<br />
out to the communities together!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-91833768241380560692013-09-04T23:20:00.000-07:002013-09-06T00:07:28.197-07:00Following up with the cookstoves in our communities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the first week out in the communities was really about
getting as many cookstoves into the households as possible. Come week two,
however, it’s all about feedback! – are the people using the cookstoves? Are
they finding it delivers the benefits that we sold to them? Do they like the
product? Will they give their demo stove back?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The response from our communities was initially mixed. One
lady still had her cookstove in the box because she’s tried it once after we
left, had trouble lighting it and hadn’t touched it since. Our Pollinator
persisted and convinced the lady to let us have a bit of a ‘cook off’: her
traditional stove Vs our cookstove. This experiment was a raging success as our
cookstove burns wood more efficiently and thereby has a stronger flame than the
traditional methods. As a result our pot was ready first and she eventually
moved her other pot from her old cookstove to our one – success!! We went to
visit her again a couple of days later and she was using the stove everyday and
loving it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiRIfp8eFO6PetcrxS64Do1ot0eoa9OjrHC7c-hfRfo2_3FI5zpxqz8CQWS6stcR2Vj761Y9LuGq6p6itej-rxQRmkWf5PK0QcRJ2AQMgiOKMfh54YJl8YV0gNbfm1Fs2YgBlWE0q4-g/s1600/DSCN5871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiRIfp8eFO6PetcrxS64Do1ot0eoa9OjrHC7c-hfRfo2_3FI5zpxqz8CQWS6stcR2Vj761Y9LuGq6p6itej-rxQRmkWf5PK0QcRJ2AQMgiOKMfh54YJl8YV0gNbfm1Fs2YgBlWE0q4-g/s1600/DSCN5871.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A traditional cookstove complete with blowing pipe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TUXRfRNSVVTJsW6vT9lOBqKU2wvWlxn7Rb9bo_uol09uFyEHP4iFyI69leaGFKVaLnGgiDe5KP8G4QKbMMEjxBsYdtPuisLLX76NlSg5hH_n9MgfDKeNamq6rp5p2wMShXHIwoCagqE/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TUXRfRNSVVTJsW6vT9lOBqKU2wvWlxn7Rb9bo_uol09uFyEHP4iFyI69leaGFKVaLnGgiDe5KP8G4QKbMMEjxBsYdtPuisLLX76NlSg5hH_n9MgfDKeNamq6rp5p2wMShXHIwoCagqE/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kat, Sneha and me (L to R) sitting with the community, talking about <br />
the benefits of cookstoves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBNIC57zsGTC6d1Fi9A32FeYuY7PaCFVYQrZ8MM9r9eJNhQvin2Z-ybo_pI2v1R0Czf848Mjxc4cUZ05Ti2I6a83o7ol5T6R6oHpXX51gYtJvkICnrggpB-qJIKkHrxvdWH5l4CGgik/s1600/DSCN5859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvBNIC57zsGTC6d1Fi9A32FeYuY7PaCFVYQrZ8MM9r9eJNhQvin2Z-ybo_pI2v1R0Czf848Mjxc4cUZ05Ti2I6a83o7ol5T6R6oHpXX51gYtJvkICnrggpB-qJIKkHrxvdWH5l4CGgik/s1600/DSCN5859.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lady preparing chipatis to cook on our cookstove!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was particularly saddening to go back to the Drum
community. We arrived to a flurry of activity – loads of people outside in
groups, clearly distressed. Turned out that one of the men in that community
had been killed the night before; he was 27 years old with a wife and two
children; I shudder to think what life is ahead of that woman and her children
now. In addition to that, a child from that community had been snatched earlier
that day! Hard to believe that this type of thing would happen (and this was
the first such instance of both of those events for Pollinate more generally),
but then again, have to keep reminding myself that these people are living in
very precarious and uncertain situations where they have very few rights</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RcW46jISYr4p2uRHOFbVDCjn0DAz2XbPwrWnzVOQ4PqSkiATN9OgRuwrCVWWk8iL7wZksddVdfufGtXzmZtNq_pBK-_-6HXXoYXj1IzI927LgFBf53aJByl6geCH6xGXb_UOWhiP9Cw/s1600/DSCN5921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RcW46jISYr4p2uRHOFbVDCjn0DAz2XbPwrWnzVOQ4PqSkiATN9OgRuwrCVWWk8iL7wZksddVdfufGtXzmZtNq_pBK-_-6HXXoYXj1IzI927LgFBf53aJByl6geCH6xGXb_UOWhiP9Cw/s1600/DSCN5921.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Some of the kids from Drum community lining up to get their photo taken</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days later, we returned to Drum to find that the
community was completely packing up and moving (to where many did not know!).
Already about a third of the community had left by the time we arrived. It was
particularly sad for our Pollinator Krishna who has built long term
relationships with so many of them (not to mention that quite a few still had
repayments to pay on their solar lights and now he has no idea where to collect
the instalments from!). The lady that had taken a cookstove really liked it,
but had to give it back for the moment, until she knew where she would be
living! Although on face value it seems obvious that the people in these
communities live in tents which by definition insinuate a transient existence,
it must be noted that many of the communities have been set up for years. In
the case of Drum, it had been there for around 4 years; for others it could be
up to 20 years!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8_XWdulIKPmBxDPfQVTPLamn1gHbmUsojiUxA8gZyHhVvPtL7WoWa6TCO_W7L8KAtl2COQSnTfP29uaZEPtaeWvPxpNbuebGvQ6H9rfyawkSfBBRn13w6uz0XsbSItqASUG4RdCCaFU/s1600/DSCN5916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq8_XWdulIKPmBxDPfQVTPLamn1gHbmUsojiUxA8gZyHhVvPtL7WoWa6TCO_W7L8KAtl2COQSnTfP29uaZEPtaeWvPxpNbuebGvQ6H9rfyawkSfBBRn13w6uz0XsbSItqASUG4RdCCaFU/s1600/DSCN5916.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Dismantling their houses and bundling up the materials to reconstruct somewhere else! Notice the solar panel in the man's hand</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBxsyRdWD6swnzBWujPGOhNhI73X_znGHr8kY57etnrtFPRRDHZr2lf5SfTU_Z6kBlM3lOYZOfdQAM1zm4vrudsLYiI-Y30xF5oqp_BF5dpmXZLyQf1ytVXrN9fTnfhGNAw1_UBOkyzw/s1600/DSCN5913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBxsyRdWD6swnzBWujPGOhNhI73X_znGHr8kY57etnrtFPRRDHZr2lf5SfTU_Z6kBlM3lOYZOfdQAM1zm4vrudsLYiI-Y30xF5oqp_BF5dpmXZLyQf1ytVXrN9fTnfhGNAw1_UBOkyzw/s1600/DSCN5913.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;"> The Drum community packing up their houses and all of their belongings</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaG9475q_P8AQx2kBB7mSaO2mOMLzRSlALDcpxzgiK3G_w82t9P241ig0xdrP_KqXIx2AXHBJcMuBv8H-TDHTxYDWqqqw8de8wlGnu0doFgEYfpZlwMOn2PcDyzi3rbCvhULB8kyO3FU/s1600/DSCN5911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbaG9475q_P8AQx2kBB7mSaO2mOMLzRSlALDcpxzgiK3G_w82t9P241ig0xdrP_KqXIx2AXHBJcMuBv8H-TDHTxYDWqqqw8de8wlGnu0doFgEYfpZlwMOn2PcDyzi3rbCvhULB8kyO3FU/s1600/DSCN5911.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">Community banded together to get everyone moved</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWj3GP3exnSM-s5P3icmgtambLUH4BUOEuWMWM5sZ3HZCIVRZ5eSCxX30XWQzyOd1klQ3T45_QHTjGDTWMkgdwRMU43m1Nynuply8OFUmLTuMi9vnWbUKP9ymFmNKganUO7A-NS3SJx4/s1600/DSCN5919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWj3GP3exnSM-s5P3icmgtambLUH4BUOEuWMWM5sZ3HZCIVRZ5eSCxX30XWQzyOd1klQ3T45_QHTjGDTWMkgdwRMU43m1Nynuply8OFUmLTuMi9vnWbUKP9ymFmNKganUO7A-NS3SJx4/s1600/DSCN5919.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where to next?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the positive side, we visited quite a few of our demo
users that had had success first time with the cookstoves! They were thrilled
at the lack of smoke, the lack of air blowing needed and the strength of the
flame which resulted in quicker cooking times. The other Pollinators had
similar experiences of some customers taking to it like fish to water, and
others needing more convincing.<br />
<br />
It was really satisfying, after having been in a tent where a traditional cookstove was used (and it being very suffocating due to the smoke), to then go back to that tent after the family had cooked with our cookstove and not feel suffocated or have red eyes or cough etc!! And that was just us in those tents for a few minutes, imagine the difference for the lady who uses it every day!!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It will be interesting to see at the end of the pilot phase
if the cookstove will become a staple product for Pollinate Energy!</div>
</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-48632343467773840112013-09-04T22:28:00.000-07:002013-09-05T22:37:01.499-07:00What's hot in India right now?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Got you with the catchy title? (there is a serious side to this post below...)<br />
<br />
Well evidently what was hot in Bangalore when we were there was the latest Bollywood flick - Chennai Express (which we went to see!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytlZCN8uVlAN9Vrfo6J_l6WeaD-yR2dQ_PWU7Aqz-r7PC3OEWHKf3vcdVDTcv7flyZp_5SA16oRrfmI-pp4zeYvE9IIj0duOXpjSHnpS0Nlmddn9US6ddauKfpy3xJM5TxAGALQQEhOs/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytlZCN8uVlAN9Vrfo6J_l6WeaD-yR2dQ_PWU7Aqz-r7PC3OEWHKf3vcdVDTcv7flyZp_5SA16oRrfmI-pp4zeYvE9IIj0duOXpjSHnpS0Nlmddn9US6ddauKfpy3xJM5TxAGALQQEhOs/s1600/photo+(8).JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bollywood in full flight :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And, just when you thought Sheila was as Aussie as it gets... for some reason a lot of small kids were singing this song - "My name is Sheila!"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/c0CNlgFt1-w?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
But what I really wanted to talk about in this post was the variety of policies/programs that are being introduced/ talked about in the media at the moment. Actually, I found reading the newspaper there very interesting and insightful.. and dare I say it, actually covering 'news-worthy stories'!!! (and was slightly embarrassed when showing the Indian Young Professionals the SMH home page which featured a rugby league result, Lleyton Hewitt reaching the 3rd round at the US open and Abbott saying he was confronted by Burkas as the top 3 new stories!)<br />
<br />
Some things that are hot in India right now from a government/political standpoint:<br />
1. <a href="http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-17/bangalore/41420019_1_lpg-connection-kerosene-five-litres" target="_blank">Bangalore to become kerosene-free!</a> - this one was obviously directly related to Pollinate's work as their solar lights are a direct substitute for kerosene lamps! Kerosene is known as the 'poor man's fuel' and has many adverse health affects and is known to be controlled by the mafia...challenging situation!<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.ryot.org/india-passes-food-security-bill-cut-malnutrition-ease-poverty/350657" target="_blank">The legal right to food via the Food Security Bill</a> - Earlier this week the Indian Parliament passed the National Food Security Bill which gives around 800 million people (70% of the population) the right to cheap food, in an effort to eradicate malnutrition!<br />
<br />
Under the scheme, those that qualify will be able to buy the following each month: 5kg of rice @ 3 Rupees per kg (equiv to AU 5c), 1kg of wheat @ 2 Rupees (equiv to AU 3c) and cereals @ 1 Rupee (equiv to AU 2c).<br />
<br />
As with Kerosene, there are concerns over how the government will actually implement this as well as whether they can afford US$18 billion a year to provide the scheme (not to mention where they will source 5 million tonnes of grain p.a!)!<br />
<br />
3. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi_National_Rural_Employment_Guarantee_Act" target="_blank">Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act</a> - created in 2005 it essentially guarantees 100 days paid unskilled manual work to adults every financial year.<br />
<br />
Many obstacles and criticisms regarding the implementation of this Act e.g corruption - if you're interested, read more about it in this interesting World Bank blog post<a href="http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/strengthening-mahatma-gandhi-national-rural-employment-guarantee-act-india-foster-participation" target="_blank"> here</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Found all of the above very interesting!</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-65324897607035743262013-09-01T04:33:00.000-07:002013-09-05T22:31:12.657-07:00Visit to Nandi Hills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On the last Saturday we went on a trip to Nandi Hills - just out of the city of Bangalore.<br />
<br />
It was a very beautiful place and real break from the noise and pollution of Bangalore.<br />
<br />
We walked up the hill - the air was very moist and misty and it even rained a little which made it seem even more surreal. At the top of the hill is the old palace of Sultan Tipu of Mysore.<br />
<br />
We had a briefly terrifying encounter with some rogue bulls that were blocking the path (one of the girls got chased..though no one injured). And there were a lot of monkeys around as well - some super cute, others (when sensing food) very aggressive!!<br />
<br />
Hope you enjoy these pictures :)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjQkP95wDYDZIsyLPUPVgmtYIUWK1nCFDbOxB_grtWwfGOuqsfw9wJN_iTlXVpgQwJjXSVhBhyc9obKSWIcmC8zYcemoOHQKHeYJky6d5QLtBrphQv_3oXL4oGLbmvE5_TCh3S2mtqvI/s1600/DSCN5890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjQkP95wDYDZIsyLPUPVgmtYIUWK1nCFDbOxB_grtWwfGOuqsfw9wJN_iTlXVpgQwJjXSVhBhyc9obKSWIcmC8zYcemoOHQKHeYJky6d5QLtBrphQv_3oXL4oGLbmvE5_TCh3S2mtqvI/s1600/DSCN5890.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village at the foot of Nandi Hills</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTaCyvMffHIXgnN3lMYwQOAgLv6NMCnCyAQYDQj75Kqy71c-zsjdzlfbjO5bKsRCV2zsgOxTwhWsLTREixguVwSLDlRsUIpZ_QgN1nP0j4l_lxV6qES9-1rzz4Bw_6K96T0QFc6_LJ_M/s1600/DSCN5891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTaCyvMffHIXgnN3lMYwQOAgLv6NMCnCyAQYDQj75Kqy71c-zsjdzlfbjO5bKsRCV2zsgOxTwhWsLTREixguVwSLDlRsUIpZ_QgN1nP0j4l_lxV6qES9-1rzz4Bw_6K96T0QFc6_LJ_M/s1600/DSCN5891.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view walking up the hill - interesting landscape :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtS7w9xMe9fjaursBV_J1l54m9W3x5zjrxBtxomu5NxR_ukeuX0_PGf5C9EAjdtBpdyKPm08kCTJx6_jErCeMZIKLGOqnd6vFZUR4ezzmT2e7DyDIDyv7e87ga8KjtG4z-rMTg97_Leo/s1600/DSCN5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTtS7w9xMe9fjaursBV_J1l54m9W3x5zjrxBtxomu5NxR_ukeuX0_PGf5C9EAjdtBpdyKPm08kCTJx6_jErCeMZIKLGOqnd6vFZUR4ezzmT2e7DyDIDyv7e87ga8KjtG4z-rMTg97_Leo/s1600/DSCN5892.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small temple lookout half way up the mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA40bvqZTO0SwkPkdLtXAXU5iQFUp09hokTFdAjP7PB_c0IGjeHMXq4y1zYLuCNiyDCPEDwn05NGfbbs4p7kzIrn9MY3ASaF7UITnEvL1OTSwHHAEsq2pMlCV0QduxzawarLqB1UGENo/s1600/DSCN5893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihA40bvqZTO0SwkPkdLtXAXU5iQFUp09hokTFdAjP7PB_c0IGjeHMXq4y1zYLuCNiyDCPEDwn05NGfbbs4p7kzIrn9MY3ASaF7UITnEvL1OTSwHHAEsq2pMlCV0QduxzawarLqB1UGENo/s1600/DSCN5893.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bulls that became slightly terrifying (forcing us to momentarily take <br />
an off-track path to avoid them!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCevhldmyraYXpjnIKYHTm_rX4YhIcl5DmX1heZ5XKxwyKXoW3UM2v2vgPORXRWiHAD0cmatI8agFXXbU0y4K1Gk9rRp2SHPopxcMMwcxZF0BmLbwpSF6OjD0Fa3F-stXOVRyshZYseU/s1600/DSCN5894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCevhldmyraYXpjnIKYHTm_rX4YhIcl5DmX1heZ5XKxwyKXoW3UM2v2vgPORXRWiHAD0cmatI8agFXXbU0y4K1Gk9rRp2SHPopxcMMwcxZF0BmLbwpSF6OjD0Fa3F-stXOVRyshZYseU/s1600/DSCN5894.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNILYa0lnnOfXQRBG9htHsIiwbkbx0uKXC6Gv4uZZaesnRg2Vqf5vdpiEHWEWMgIljS_xSe8TzcLy0nkYMjJh6YG8LnRB3yJoox4kTSWbQl1ll2bTYhuoaACxmqqWsgwqUasyOf57nxTQ/s1600/DSCN5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNILYa0lnnOfXQRBG9htHsIiwbkbx0uKXC6Gv4uZZaesnRg2Vqf5vdpiEHWEWMgIljS_xSe8TzcLy0nkYMjJh6YG8LnRB3yJoox4kTSWbQl1ll2bTYhuoaACxmqqWsgwqUasyOf57nxTQ/s1600/DSCN5895.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the climb was like!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh5zbTa3kyJ6DWNfHulP5knkqXVuqrx0dAntWOb4t21MEtObLObvBVFE52xpJJu0UjSPex00Yexpv1ZxJii1pceVD1ufc-V7SiTJL28uNEygGMK2I7EwrKoyjF85yV4B_-cQNKi5xfrw/s1600/DSCN5906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCh5zbTa3kyJ6DWNfHulP5knkqXVuqrx0dAntWOb4t21MEtObLObvBVFE52xpJJu0UjSPex00Yexpv1ZxJii1pceVD1ufc-V7SiTJL28uNEygGMK2I7EwrKoyjF85yV4B_-cQNKi5xfrw/s1600/DSCN5906.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some asymmetric structures in the 'playground' at the top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DzLrBKHNB_BQnm7k0yZTV9hoTlwTE4CBzrwvtv2umjr6uhELQMvb-AoDON38ptkFODeFpE10nJ45FSxWaNJlvMdF1Z0oFNWWCJvpEb15OtpNOyvDIZ3ICwJW9AyDgoNjlH1ymOpxN6c/s1600/DSCN5897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DzLrBKHNB_BQnm7k0yZTV9hoTlwTE4CBzrwvtv2umjr6uhELQMvb-AoDON38ptkFODeFpE10nJ45FSxWaNJlvMdF1Z0oFNWWCJvpEb15OtpNOyvDIZ3ICwJW9AyDgoNjlH1ymOpxN6c/s1600/DSCN5897.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sultan Tipu's palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScmTD28-25gzlZaJVB9fJTEI9uYTSP1275w7QEpwe3-d8XAvDEeiiDJvp7P_w5Hv8k2C1olwCbUw4ram7J3KyTgwxsbebsyI_jVyie6px-IGa45lla0pcrGDsCdXATgFv6AZe3rAQIcU/s1600/DSCN5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiScmTD28-25gzlZaJVB9fJTEI9uYTSP1275w7QEpwe3-d8XAvDEeiiDJvp7P_w5Hv8k2C1olwCbUw4ram7J3KyTgwxsbebsyI_jVyie6px-IGa45lla0pcrGDsCdXATgFv6AZe3rAQIcU/s1600/DSCN5899.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree in mist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_Lng7gJGi_l1TpIKhouZHkusS42NC-N4UX9L911O5AYsnSCAZwpzhpk2CFZJpM1-QBdoeSMA1R0O9t3xii5WhKzAyGw721ioUvAJL4iyvdInZOi8bLSJZm8zZcKokzuewXmNGvuyhmI/s1600/DSCN5903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw_Lng7gJGi_l1TpIKhouZHkusS42NC-N4UX9L911O5AYsnSCAZwpzhpk2CFZJpM1-QBdoeSMA1R0O9t3xii5WhKzAyGw721ioUvAJL4iyvdInZOi8bLSJZm8zZcKokzuewXmNGvuyhmI/s1600/DSCN5903.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the monkeys</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbJrsF7T-EOPrQkaNaWyeZBD5SowRpKGXtEfXKBHjGoSuAWAf2_VkW5UpXiHndjB8GGaYtSbsv0RYClD6bmd5yKYmsKusr0pLFLsGdvv_gyyu67hFUHJXu18FneaJis6gLsHdNGXtdf4/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbJrsF7T-EOPrQkaNaWyeZBD5SowRpKGXtEfXKBHjGoSuAWAf2_VkW5UpXiHndjB8GGaYtSbsv0RYClD6bmd5yKYmsKusr0pLFLsGdvv_gyyu67hFUHJXu18FneaJis6gLsHdNGXtdf4/s400/IMG_2297.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew en route :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-81249428189727355672013-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:002013-09-05T22:31:54.000-07:00What else has been happening day to day?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So... day to day, we have generally spent the afternoon/early evening out in the community and had the morning to dedicate to "worker bee" projects. The project that I'm involved in is particularly exciting and if all goes to plan will result in Pollinate with the first ever solar installation in the Vivid Festival of light, music and ideas in 2014! - pretty cool!!<br />
<br />
We've also had a variety of inspiring speakers from the local social entrepreneurship scene here in Bangalore as well as some activities to explore our personality types and future career plans. It's been a very safe environment to explore and get to know each other.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkJoMOMaeWOZCMyjKTiBtISsOYbbXqJFuzXirf5muIfXnplPaKyHiB9ob4McxOW8aWtrqIyIOphYISEs4JU1_vnZ0EYrfb3JL2j-UZIOciAVhztYP7QmL5sTl7tE1_UPwl6brwgBYPCk/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkJoMOMaeWOZCMyjKTiBtISsOYbbXqJFuzXirf5muIfXnplPaKyHiB9ob4McxOW8aWtrqIyIOphYISEs4JU1_vnZ0EYrfb3JL2j-UZIOciAVhztYP7QmL5sTl7tE1_UPwl6brwgBYPCk/s1600/photo+(6).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outcome of an activity where we went through magazines and pulled <br />
out pages that appealed to us - very revealing about your subconscious</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPfD4g9o8qy3SLhDbRX6RHghgFa0o9cLV_MkFYfkfMZANJtI8KVPAbjyh_KNBu5LNetwUHoDs3vbdxydqvj8UwlyQ_wOIlIqklPVPsAJM8GwooqXEZWJwpLEc70_3zNbwPZPM3lulNS8/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfPfD4g9o8qy3SLhDbRX6RHghgFa0o9cLV_MkFYfkfMZANJtI8KVPAbjyh_KNBu5LNetwUHoDs3vbdxydqvj8UwlyQ_wOIlIqklPVPsAJM8GwooqXEZWJwpLEc70_3zNbwPZPM3lulNS8/s1600/photo+(7).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our wall filled with a collage of everyone's outputs</td></tr>
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<br />
Most days we have lunch at our 'local' - Udupi Park! It's literally around the corner from our house and delicious! Usual orders were the "Tali plates" which are kind of like Indian tapas - small little dishes and either rice (if it's a South Indian Tali plate) or Roti (if it's a North Indian plate) as well as either a Lassi or a Fresh lime soda! YUM :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdYgzB84hh1zbi2UcK0oLKClAHaXHL5pokEROpZ7CkdTiHrwjslg-_-KpX3Ujq-AH3oM-DTKsUm8Ksv4i79ZGvRHGd3Iaz2LqCUCdSQxS9LoPA_d0fKBEzmC9FKaU2ARIV_EwyHUkpnE/s1600/DSCN5867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdYgzB84hh1zbi2UcK0oLKClAHaXHL5pokEROpZ7CkdTiHrwjslg-_-KpX3Ujq-AH3oM-DTKsUm8Ksv4i79ZGvRHGd3Iaz2LqCUCdSQxS9LoPA_d0fKBEzmC9FKaU2ARIV_EwyHUkpnE/s1600/DSCN5867.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 'local' for lunch - Udupi Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n3i3CSEu4zX_v6KfAZDgLH7v2CWOcT2G6Fl5c4GTrbyGOrBFVEqwXduFLslZbT2_VGkb8BA0rM3UySsX7IHgA58Z3QYi8JDqX574k0w-sTwTQZUOsbtPZXs1Mp7_eyit0Mg1EKFDe_A/s1600/IMGP7091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-n3i3CSEu4zX_v6KfAZDgLH7v2CWOcT2G6Fl5c4GTrbyGOrBFVEqwXduFLslZbT2_VGkb8BA0rM3UySsX7IHgA58Z3QYi8JDqX574k0w-sTwTQZUOsbtPZXs1Mp7_eyit0Mg1EKFDe_A/s1600/IMGP7091.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew enjoying yummy food, lassies and fresh lime sodas</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx59isJCHXTvDWb2_T2Lm8TISEBZ67DGZKBGBecyBrAMPBFfFI_zDAW2vAfnyjkYcoUG_xEocLIesGXpEIVc4lW11wm4OAT-5OzRuLwX4qLWDLyCAWgI_LTbvA9sEMi1caA3TGOTUe3zY/s1600/DSCN5936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx59isJCHXTvDWb2_T2Lm8TISEBZ67DGZKBGBecyBrAMPBFfFI_zDAW2vAfnyjkYcoUG_xEocLIesGXpEIVc4lW11wm4OAT-5OzRuLwX4qLWDLyCAWgI_LTbvA9sEMi1caA3TGOTUe3zY/s1600/DSCN5936.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A North Indian Tali plate</td></tr>
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In the evenings, generally our lovely cook Lalitha has whipped up something rather amazing!! Lalitha is one of those super bubbly, no task is too small, no effort is too large types of people; a real pleasure and joy to be around every day!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN6Y311Kww9-O1kOgIS82r-Xt1vuxjJJEwOMirLmpXYBeO4ue0vov_JITsIPZa75Ot3IkqM5Ab9Rh5Z983KpjMOAqO2kAcVFPB9yyZZICaxBw3ZynVGmbsT7rmUlXdkeEaOlXpLJ227g/s1600/DSCN5934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizN6Y311Kww9-O1kOgIS82r-Xt1vuxjJJEwOMirLmpXYBeO4ue0vov_JITsIPZa75Ot3IkqM5Ab9Rh5Z983KpjMOAqO2kAcVFPB9yyZZICaxBw3ZynVGmbsT7rmUlXdkeEaOlXpLJ227g/s1600/DSCN5934.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with our lovely Lalitha</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hIfvsVIR_dXUiS8fY-l5KzLyAkfyvKkfoeE12e6yds-AUSCuUiX1B6eZ3nuQ3qmjj9JHJikhweDbYvbbVsQ0qS-PAfmRwYqvT78kU13pmtkXJtgFuQONBaHQa0DY3KGE_MZNY0ZNZiA/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2hIfvsVIR_dXUiS8fY-l5KzLyAkfyvKkfoeE12e6yds-AUSCuUiX1B6eZ3nuQ3qmjj9JHJikhweDbYvbbVsQ0qS-PAfmRwYqvT78kU13pmtkXJtgFuQONBaHQa0DY3KGE_MZNY0ZNZiA/s1600/photo+(3).JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner on banana leaf bought from the market :)</td></tr>
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We've also been out to local bars and restaurants, even a micro-brewery as well as a live gig venue one Saturday night. Those photos look pretty similar to our bars and live music venues :)<br />
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L xx<br />
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-18370426996071132722013-08-26T21:24:00.005-07:002013-08-26T21:40:05.186-07:00Bangalore's urban slums<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's obviously been an eye-opening experience to see how people function day to day in Bangalore's urban slums. Thought I'd share with you some more information and additional photos taken whilst out in the community.<br />
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2001 census indicated that there are over 40 million people living in urban slums in India. It is estimated that there are at least 400,000 slum dwellers in Bangalore alone (population 8.5m). The slums that are part of the Pollinate community all have slightly different characteristics. On average, the communities have around 30-40 tents, so more than 100 people. However some are much larger and some are smaller. The people living in the communities often differs as well - some are cleaners living in slums closer to the centre of the city, some are construction workers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtYloTRfEK5Wl_ki4zhqDTyUf9lpn2fJFENLqyu6YPYQYaOUOhLf8Q_xdyZxZI6fPhX2k7LvZCHR28Ip8OzSnrvukUQ5sQA8QnzTPcryKIZ_EOwpzAKyFNBA-OKrpCydcRmxtx_1_oUk/s1600/DSCN5809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZtYloTRfEK5Wl_ki4zhqDTyUf9lpn2fJFENLqyu6YPYQYaOUOhLf8Q_xdyZxZI6fPhX2k7LvZCHR28Ip8OzSnrvukUQ5sQA8QnzTPcryKIZ_EOwpzAKyFNBA-OKrpCydcRmxtx_1_oUk/s400/DSCN5809.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the urban slums we visited</td></tr>
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Pollinate has come up with 'code names' for each of the communities. For example, "Drum" is the community where the inhabitants make drums for sale to tourists. "Bangle" is where they make bangles. "Farm" is where there is literally a farm as well as a slum community....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa49pA7Etl-gTMqW5qUg2H_iHCkofbJGiwPK-2cy_WL57KHsTZHlA_f6wlUV6UAilzGPOGj157-cypd6VbYeBhMUQI3zXKOXJPFIagRw3EfQnn0TC6Ud7ccD6EftKHzjO5RpoXSRfClo/s1600/DSCN5739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKa49pA7Etl-gTMqW5qUg2H_iHCkofbJGiwPK-2cy_WL57KHsTZHlA_f6wlUV6UAilzGPOGj157-cypd6VbYeBhMUQI3zXKOXJPFIagRw3EfQnn0TC6Ud7ccD6EftKHzjO5RpoXSRfClo/s400/DSCN5739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Farm" community</td></tr>
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All makes sense right!?<br />
So, imagine my reaction when we turned up at "Cobra"!!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyLKFkyoqCOwqO-XF3YszSSapMgxtihTBCxqQiPZZaQCezVqqH12CwcoFu8QLXlDtkE044rHT-BPj1HoEQk8TqJhJY8pNA3B-ofv_KIcjjZ3sitNdE3WgdoSNjqx0lxnlaXi-uf4JthY/s1600/DSCN5797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTyLKFkyoqCOwqO-XF3YszSSapMgxtihTBCxqQiPZZaQCezVqqH12CwcoFu8QLXlDtkE044rHT-BPj1HoEQk8TqJhJY8pNA3B-ofv_KIcjjZ3sitNdE3WgdoSNjqx0lxnlaXi-uf4JthY/s400/DSCN5797.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cobra nest at "Cobra" community. It is also a place of worship for Hindus</td></tr>
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The other thing that I found quite fascinating was the construction of the tents themselves. The materials used were all recycled, mainly tarps/plastic type materials or plastic/hesham type materials from construction sites where they work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzfGqyC2T35rkfV_8V0M2yBblJalamRCb1hiioaXa-QdFxGryLCxHOaae2oF_bpH79fnw34qz1gox6EEf9KPykL3uIHDgH2VS-xp0Ty30Rp3PS60ms7VghgozxrZHLO-BPNhY6BF2WXs/s1600/DSCN5737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzfGqyC2T35rkfV_8V0M2yBblJalamRCb1hiioaXa-QdFxGryLCxHOaae2oF_bpH79fnw34qz1gox6EEf9KPykL3uIHDgH2VS-xp0Ty30Rp3PS60ms7VghgozxrZHLO-BPNhY6BF2WXs/s400/DSCN5737.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tent up close</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdA_zIxKccxnfg9PnVdNb3dw__atqrTW7TfUXaFYHSyuATWsioJU-nTcmEqEu2i5Sn79MhyphenhyphenXVBLnAEqFb20NMUpCsAXDZkRoqulJsJDNr0GT67T5qXILwwJUNryeBju7zqZCRJBknPfw/s1600/DSCN5735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdA_zIxKccxnfg9PnVdNb3dw__atqrTW7TfUXaFYHSyuATWsioJU-nTcmEqEu2i5Sn79MhyphenhyphenXVBLnAEqFb20NMUpCsAXDZkRoqulJsJDNr0GT67T5qXILwwJUNryeBju7zqZCRJBknPfw/s400/DSCN5735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside a tent</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwybYX0Ts6mV0O46xzE3wvAQJXQk7I65TwyJ3pKBvtWP5aTLsj1HqVwBwrCegQ4q1OO5ybMLBxSN1Otl1dCWKA7y53RxmSMMXbOvpzFZv-kFMMQZ_TOv2UGC0NPwYvupXvtqYS_VL0F-0/s1600/DSCN5808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwybYX0Ts6mV0O46xzE3wvAQJXQk7I65TwyJ3pKBvtWP5aTLsj1HqVwBwrCegQ4q1OO5ybMLBxSN1Otl1dCWKA7y53RxmSMMXbOvpzFZv-kFMMQZ_TOv2UGC0NPwYvupXvtqYS_VL0F-0/s400/DSCN5808.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of the materials used/recycled! <br />
- chickpeas from Australia!?</td></tr>
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The tents are obviously open to all of the elements and given the monsoonal rains that occur, they are quite exposed at times! Consequently, it is not unusual for households to have to rebuild their tents after a large rain.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvmfdT6ra05zWZTrLA-X_QzV3n6q4U_D9ltt_8GfgViU0ycT-JaeUVryyKU3mfzBaxts7xjN-6Y-yPwtYJcIau7hCov8ogapIXivFlf6-3sHUvDsJuM1fVdP5tHuMbrZvmxd-A6BGrl8/s1600/DSCN5801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvmfdT6ra05zWZTrLA-X_QzV3n6q4U_D9ltt_8GfgViU0ycT-JaeUVryyKU3mfzBaxts7xjN-6Y-yPwtYJcIau7hCov8ogapIXivFlf6-3sHUvDsJuM1fVdP5tHuMbrZvmxd-A6BGrl8/s400/DSCN5801.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A family rebuilding their tent after the rain</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb7lgc3Z4u5wXx_Wr49sT5M4jfPlVlHSulYzhM6pZmhXj6jrWJrhQUgijReCDHD0hTfGAbe_dC96_uXwJGXnSJcnlGy8hOhdPcDkt1dDfJGRep4P2AmZFUnKSW4D9XXwMxURbohB17pg/s1600/DSCN5810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPb7lgc3Z4u5wXx_Wr49sT5M4jfPlVlHSulYzhM6pZmhXj6jrWJrhQUgijReCDHD0hTfGAbe_dC96_uXwJGXnSJcnlGy8hOhdPcDkt1dDfJGRep4P2AmZFUnKSW4D9XXwMxURbohB17pg/s400/DSCN5810.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tent in construction (notice all of the black from the soot!)</td></tr>
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Some other interesting things I've seen whilst in the community:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHU64InnWdZ_9r0N9JnJjyRiY6e2q3H9KFXW_SxorKIUzmq_oA5wf2_YtWv7h1LlA0tqwLvCQzrk-D41fvE_OEQzzhx23E7g19NVcuglOf4BuPVFPXcIj71-Kho0AX2Jz9zzpLYLMBr8/s1600/DSCN5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheHU64InnWdZ_9r0N9JnJjyRiY6e2q3H9KFXW_SxorKIUzmq_oA5wf2_YtWv7h1LlA0tqwLvCQzrk-D41fvE_OEQzzhx23E7g19NVcuglOf4BuPVFPXcIj71-Kho0AX2Jz9zzpLYLMBr8/s400/DSCN5803.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Bassinet, Indian Style!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhcfABy6dKFvi6IL-4_rF7x54RbZVIKXcKbP94JYrl-ips4YichZHqmzlGrPaM7cnUF3J7UVHbJPgkJZFLS1vUp8I_O3FilldckbEy00u91kvFng0IiXec7jIdwQj0h0QXN0OKmoMw1s/s1600/DSCN5745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYhcfABy6dKFvi6IL-4_rF7x54RbZVIKXcKbP94JYrl-ips4YichZHqmzlGrPaM7cnUF3J7UVHbJPgkJZFLS1vUp8I_O3FilldckbEy00u91kvFng0IiXec7jIdwQj0h0QXN0OKmoMw1s/s400/DSCN5745.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Certainly the strangest thing I've seen so far! - considered lucky!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-1904655272767229162013-08-26T20:53:00.000-07:002013-08-26T21:27:27.366-07:00Selling cookstoves in the community<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Most afternoons while we're here are spent in the community. Essentially our little team consists of me, an Indian Young Professional - Sneha - and a "Pollinator" - Krishna.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjFmeMYKhRC9VfZl5lBnfX_zzlwHoDlQrThQRIl98zX-mFNleyfVJZqTzuq3GiXeShFMzvKMnxQqhroVg9HWN1rrjneo3_6ILoq8mgPHKz8gPH3lFZpgCMjbzDbQpn0HMm3HxsNgxo_A/s1600/DSCN5795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjFmeMYKhRC9VfZl5lBnfX_zzlwHoDlQrThQRIl98zX-mFNleyfVJZqTzuq3GiXeShFMzvKMnxQqhroVg9HWN1rrjneo3_6ILoq8mgPHKz8gPH3lFZpgCMjbzDbQpn0HMm3HxsNgxo_A/s400/DSCN5795.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tent communities we visited</td></tr>
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The "Pollinators" are regular employees of Pollinate Energy. Their job is to visit the local communities, engage them in conversation and sell them various products.<br />
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Pollinate Energy has started out selling solar lights. Over 6000 people have currently benefited and this will increase to 10,000 in the next couple of months. The lights are a very simple yet effective technology that uses a solar panel that is put on the top of the household's tent and doubles as a mobile phone charger! These lights literally give light to households that were previously in darkness and this has a variety of benefits including increased time for children to do schoolwork for example.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18OibI-jIq-bZSbJrXeyCeKTLTQqRhTaF8QocpdkFMFsSMaYv8di8pVuKrghdGNcBwDPEUUqwLOF_dnXVOntXsyPEKuEAGKEF6OhIjnHmNr8NbOpXfhd44AOWFwxCN9zqqvnQP8D5-mo/s1600/DSCN5817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18OibI-jIq-bZSbJrXeyCeKTLTQqRhTaF8QocpdkFMFsSMaYv8di8pVuKrghdGNcBwDPEUUqwLOF_dnXVOntXsyPEKuEAGKEF6OhIjnHmNr8NbOpXfhd44AOWFwxCN9zqqvnQP8D5-mo/s400/DSCN5817.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Pollinator - Krishna - installing a solar light</td></tr>
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While the Young Professional group is here, Pollinate Energy is trialling a new product in these communities - the fuel efficient cookstove.<br />
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Cooking is generally done inside their tents using very inefficient burning of wood. The soot is pretty unbelievable, blackening the tops of the tents.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK6M7pj40OpW5P8-snkxwzDbGYxFnsDZOvo1IZXSdxWEjwq8zx4awiTl25Si3qQFFWVytUIySZyw8HxCF8BOc9Wdl80EfwL46OVag8T-8OLe3Vqi8D4kpnPru44ihFEVZsyPiRQz7YHk/s1600/DSCN5790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKK6M7pj40OpW5P8-snkxwzDbGYxFnsDZOvo1IZXSdxWEjwq8zx4awiTl25Si3qQFFWVytUIySZyw8HxCF8BOc9Wdl80EfwL46OVag8T-8OLe3Vqi8D4kpnPru44ihFEVZsyPiRQz7YHk/s400/DSCN5790.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see that the tent gets blacker and blacker the further<br />
up you go. And this is only on the outside, the inside is<br />
obviously much more apparent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The women and children are the ones exposed to very smoky environments (for the fire to burn, the women literally blow air into the fire using a tube). When installing one of the solar lights, I went into one of the tents where cooking was happening - for someone completely unused to this, the smoke was unbearable, eyes watering, coughing etc. And on average, a woman (and likely her children) will spend 4 hours in this environment!!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UW9qGNu2BV3cXkZECMSiah3r2ISiJvuHmtvXjL2Pa3IS5cGZ6v6a5r9HAfPXWN1jlenaklWlKxjInDkkxNw8yw3qWcOL6OAL0OGNe6WzP5k5OgplNo_clVYsy8hsJFy3UvFtJde33I/s1600/DSCN5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2UW9qGNu2BV3cXkZECMSiah3r2ISiJvuHmtvXjL2Pa3IS5cGZ6v6a5r9HAfPXWN1jlenaklWlKxjInDkkxNw8yw3qWcOL6OAL0OGNe6WzP5k5OgplNo_clVYsy8hsJFy3UvFtJde33I/s400/DSCN5818.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can kind of see the smokiness inside this<br />
tent where we'd just installed a solar light!</td></tr>
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<br />
Other concerning facts about cooking include that a lot of fires are started by igniting plastic which is obviously terrible for your health (but widely available).<br />
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The cookstove that Pollinate is offering is not a perfect product, but does reduce smoke by around 50% and also the wood used by around 50% because of the fuel-efficient design of the stove. It's also portable and doesn't require blowing air into the fire.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx4-nAm3gNhYn0qzCzB1BFES_IKZdum-Qn93c9fPxPCdLkKJDZJus_QJaOAul_2-6R5eDqlH3m5FpaiFpWfyCFByuuziZVvzD0C0y0FvsAPMDgUC1MYbFCuLy9f0fZa9_asOS4brhgwg/s1600/photo+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkx4-nAm3gNhYn0qzCzB1BFES_IKZdum-Qn93c9fPxPCdLkKJDZJus_QJaOAul_2-6R5eDqlH3m5FpaiFpWfyCFByuuziZVvzD0C0y0FvsAPMDgUC1MYbFCuLy9f0fZa9_asOS4brhgwg/s400/photo+(5).JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Sneha, Krishna and me! - trying out the cookstove at<br />
home before going out into the community!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Each afternoon we go to the community and explain the product and its benefits. We then do a little 'exhibition', making tea on the stove and then hopefully a person will agree to trial the product for a week. They pay 300 rupees (about $6) for a money-back trial for a week. If they like the product, then they will likely continue to pay via installments (total price for the cookstove is 1700 Rupees which is about $30. Keep in mind that a guesstimate of the average household weekly income for these communities is around 3500 rupees. Even if an average household is 4-5 people (often it is more) , that equates to about $2 a day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCMAasnGbxgZyKN8P5RODxo3ERO8zVUaI9iTG63kL53J1u7pXySAcWMKwCI5pVw0WmAPbXFSoGSAPLIiEkdwS0wTc2NSBRcJqb9dBhc8Iu1fvNuhjjojI4GRfD6p1YEU-rqIQlRZ9i7s/s1600/DSCN5717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCMAasnGbxgZyKN8P5RODxo3ERO8zVUaI9iTG63kL53J1u7pXySAcWMKwCI5pVw0WmAPbXFSoGSAPLIiEkdwS0wTc2NSBRcJqb9dBhc8Iu1fvNuhjjojI4GRfD6p1YEU-rqIQlRZ9i7s/s400/DSCN5717.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krishna explaining the benefits of the cookstove to the community</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E34ki20yXDg0Vk-0I7ycQf0F8B_NZrLPrI6oqYcW8zJMpK6Wt6KzqjylK02IO7lACeL8CojRVLyHJr1hT5WCg3RonrBHVEDgk3w8ZZAgfOqcsQSgjIlhL9KJeBtIgQKOsG_Oge-ygeQ/s1600/DSCN5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-E34ki20yXDg0Vk-0I7ycQf0F8B_NZrLPrI6oqYcW8zJMpK6Wt6KzqjylK02IO7lACeL8CojRVLyHJr1hT5WCg3RonrBHVEDgk3w8ZZAgfOqcsQSgjIlhL9KJeBtIgQKOsG_Oge-ygeQ/s400/DSCN5729.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lady and members of her community proudly trialling the<br />
cookstove for a week!</td></tr>
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L xx</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-7178733912614827932013-08-24T21:38:00.002-07:002013-09-05T23:05:55.404-07:00Amazing Bangalore - markets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Decided to put this in a new post as there are a few markets that we saw on the first day and now on our 'day off' (Saturday!)<br />
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1. Thief's Market - we walked through our first market called the "Thief's Market". Essentially you could find anything to do with automobile parts at this market. The story goes that it was not unusual for parts of a car to be stolen and then the owner having to find them in this market and buy them back!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8GPBdwpZQh7Xml1JVxoPJgNkbxERvyr71GY5-CDvP5kA7Cmbt3sKfbhMW9UolNSCi3jP6eXTy0xSI-FS_VgVye9TXqCqOKahncr7-yME8qffRQ0yAqXGvSK2wCcjVirKiIaGIw2gtPs/s1600/DSCN5685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG8GPBdwpZQh7Xml1JVxoPJgNkbxERvyr71GY5-CDvP5kA7Cmbt3sKfbhMW9UolNSCi3jP6eXTy0xSI-FS_VgVye9TXqCqOKahncr7-yME8qffRQ0yAqXGvSK2wCcjVirKiIaGIw2gtPs/s400/DSCN5685.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Lots of spare parts. As our tour guide Rohan said<br />
"Indians are very good at recycling everything..<br />
except garbage"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nglIDHDE5WZCprUYcmRBPoKSL2BepxYX_FmnJUEuzcqWJVwn3z-zKLbKlYcm0_pCctNAjN_1P40vGAzvn15Xnd8pPJz88XGcnCubgGkPc2T4oZ3ktyTEkEr5v7ig0_p6T3MlQflLS_o/s1600/DSCN5688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nglIDHDE5WZCprUYcmRBPoKSL2BepxYX_FmnJUEuzcqWJVwn3z-zKLbKlYcm0_pCctNAjN_1P40vGAzvn15Xnd8pPJz88XGcnCubgGkPc2T4oZ3ktyTEkEr5v7ig0_p6T3MlQflLS_o/s400/DSCN5688.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">An old "Ambassador" car in amongst some spare parts<br />
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2. Farmer's market - an amazing collection of fruit, vegetables and flowers!<br />
The shop owners have these little ropes that they use to fling themselves out of their small stalls (caus you can't waste space with a little gap). Everything looks so fresh and organic...makes our supermarkets seem so artificial!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAZ-YTPIu-Mx3H7rZOapD1ssiGjMC8WnpeBVJyB_BKz2xugPRXbvMTFLEhPY2Z7rsSxmPCUlfK4ygFBieOf3WKALIbIP6hfr6sQxI_IZ1paBXgYcc6-2RQt4lLLIPxcx21PXwmucq9dw/s1600/DSCN5695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCAZ-YTPIu-Mx3H7rZOapD1ssiGjMC8WnpeBVJyB_BKz2xugPRXbvMTFLEhPY2Z7rsSxmPCUlfK4ygFBieOf3WKALIbIP6hfr6sQxI_IZ1paBXgYcc6-2RQt4lLLIPxcx21PXwmucq9dw/s400/DSCN5695.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Fruit and veg galore</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nrYzrXt9y_qo4z2KcIbn3vvLHuaroyeXnA5nTK76XbxgwHzSil-Jt_iGkn9vJn5e2I97gWD80XWyrsFO9msN4vkRib1CB0xOrpJup2cP9GL3OiH4_s_ROH9ZzmNEbJdGwDrx87jVHxk/s1600/DSCN5698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nrYzrXt9y_qo4z2KcIbn3vvLHuaroyeXnA5nTK76XbxgwHzSil-Jt_iGkn9vJn5e2I97gWD80XWyrsFO9msN4vkRib1CB0xOrpJup2cP9GL3OiH4_s_ROH9ZzmNEbJdGwDrx87jVHxk/s320/DSCN5698.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">Flower market</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC0gf2-F5f6ITt5hzhLaBzyaxMqrBRegEO7NDqVA1y4mVj6kxXSqqo0kkknMReXweHwjBMo9p55El8cojo1vcEAbsEAJhrHFKfV1-RB-epcCILLRcvVWzMJ57uSmFyXa13kFxcsl1jrk/s1600/DSCN5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRC0gf2-F5f6ITt5hzhLaBzyaxMqrBRegEO7NDqVA1y4mVj6kxXSqqo0kkknMReXweHwjBMo9p55El8cojo1vcEAbsEAJhrHFKfV1-RB-epcCILLRcvVWzMJ57uSmFyXa13kFxcsl1jrk/s320/DSCN5696.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">A shop owner swinging out of his shop!</td></tr>
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3. KR Market - this was one of those "wow I'm in India and there really are so many people" type of experiences.<br />
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To capture some of the craziness, I recorded a couple of videos that you can watch below. (have updated to include a second video!)<br />
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Essentially this market is in the centre of the city and was really really busy!!! The flower part of the market is absolutely amazing - something that is soo expensive and a luxury item for us, is considered very differently here where ladies wear flowers in their hair and flowers are bought regularly for the house or to welcome guests.<br />
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Check out the new video here (was too big to insert directly)<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qG23tC-tO4&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qG23tC-tO4&feature=youtu.be</a><br /><br /></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHKSLDCXb5MI_DkyLuMxeDgHN-lyoasMUFq3mzKS9qonQY2mO-mHM99SuXxPQ_s5rl18TowY6UA8x1Kq7Nww' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroyFXvvUCxQcW8WzRpW0T7Q6eglpZSEkpINrXGLass95Uod1u2aBWFgTDUdtvrQxoOVn_kHgxJGohNIo0uoUB6jUk8upWADl14TOwxgiYC-QBLofx3v1_5PW0yRyBGsAdPnR3W0Iz6Y0/s1600/2013-08-24+17.28.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroyFXvvUCxQcW8WzRpW0T7Q6eglpZSEkpINrXGLass95Uod1u2aBWFgTDUdtvrQxoOVn_kHgxJGohNIo0uoUB6jUk8upWADl14TOwxgiYC-QBLofx3v1_5PW0yRyBGsAdPnR3W0Iz6Y0/s400/2013-08-24+17.28.07.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The street we navigated down to get to the market</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD6LkMD1OHeYJzEFnBY_1AkEB_u4BePdc2Pvb554olUktIGKrNuhPjFLcx8_NzYXsmT_VyLSxGFne2Z7f1eCqe5mVBotwwayUmo3DLHkquCdoRYt7XwV-wtIgiAY8h-3nG-6-avRNmn8/s1600/2013-08-24+17.56.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijD6LkMD1OHeYJzEFnBY_1AkEB_u4BePdc2Pvb554olUktIGKrNuhPjFLcx8_NzYXsmT_VyLSxGFne2Z7f1eCqe5mVBotwwayUmo3DLHkquCdoRYt7XwV-wtIgiAY8h-3nG-6-avRNmn8/s400/2013-08-24+17.56.29.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing flowers everywhere!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing in the middle of the flower market with 3 of the other Young Professionals</td></tr>
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More on the communities we've been working with next!!<br />
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-28695479308406494232013-08-24T21:11:00.005-07:002013-08-26T21:29:08.552-07:00Amazing Bangalore - off the beaten track<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The first day we were here, we went on a bit of a 'off the beaten track' tour of Bangalore (AKA the town of boiled beans)! A quick run down of the type of things we saw:<br />
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1. Firstly a visit to the aPaulogy gallery - a series of artworks from Bangalore in the 70s onwards. Super interesting. Take a look here: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-fernandes/sets/72157629354105429/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul-fernandes/sets/72157629354105429/</a><br />
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2. A Hindu cemetery (which is quite unusual given that generally speaking Hindus are cremated..however there is one group of Hindus that believes in preserving the soul and buries its dead in a cemetery...sitting up!!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi-62HdhDpDhaJbFR7rqb-yexq1dijRqVwSbtB46LDHjf5oujSo0i3tOGfQn0Gq0Kfx7Mugd4TbAaVxPEJdAjY-iMt8sj71AB0-ZMDbZokxHjqUIpQg2369pHS9L_Nlar9qBiDi7G2b8/s1600/DSCN5654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwi-62HdhDpDhaJbFR7rqb-yexq1dijRqVwSbtB46LDHjf5oujSo0i3tOGfQn0Gq0Kfx7Mugd4TbAaVxPEJdAjY-iMt8sj71AB0-ZMDbZokxHjqUIpQg2369pHS9L_Nlar9qBiDi7G2b8/s400/DSCN5654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hindu Cemetery</td></tr>
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3. A black magic temple where you can place curses and also get them removed! A couple of the crew decided to err on the side of caution...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEyhxyx9itGlUE1TjnR6Lwr3nomKh3dXwvntdvLX04q8YN_iXaT-idLrjtzqVswL4M8qYBM6IfptIcCNzhb0mHn5ArFEmuUOn1k4xEMplJYSZB4soqe1VUI9yl7fteE8ZpU8eGsvf-2U/s1600/DSCN5666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEyhxyx9itGlUE1TjnR6Lwr3nomKh3dXwvntdvLX04q8YN_iXaT-idLrjtzqVswL4M8qYBM6IfptIcCNzhb0mHn5ArFEmuUOn1k4xEMplJYSZB4soqe1VUI9yl7fteE8ZpU8eGsvf-2U/s400/DSCN5666.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing curses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o7tWjsp_2PWLc4YnngSWzSFHcK_V4EPngjY6-8lTimVLBUr9GEGKbFBPNYQlAzlyHRB8s-pYxAdB3iVMiSm-kmlL36K7TZAvg6osiYaSQl3CDJC8AyhoMMwZStSB-Gz-6HWY5fp5XLA/s1600/DSCN5674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o7tWjsp_2PWLc4YnngSWzSFHcK_V4EPngjY6-8lTimVLBUr9GEGKbFBPNYQlAzlyHRB8s-pYxAdB3iVMiSm-kmlL36K7TZAvg6osiYaSQl3CDJC8AyhoMMwZStSB-Gz-6HWY5fp5XLA/s320/DSCN5674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Massive clothes lines</td></tr>
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4. Dhobi Ghat - a place where washing is done by hand on a mass scale! This is a traditional place where washing was done for lots of businesses, hotels etc en masse. Still exists today!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxA6GZ0kZ2p2gkInWfQJGM5hj0zJB-1m0Dr61RQjgCKiPLomQPwo2hyphenhyphenzxAPac89TWB6S6DuyN1xgrn6RPAveXEO5RtdmGRmysSffL-x3LQ2ImFZnsgVnCzaCNs9-h2Hn5isW3Mazyawo/s1600/DSCN5668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBxA6GZ0kZ2p2gkInWfQJGM5hj0zJB-1m0Dr61RQjgCKiPLomQPwo2hyphenhyphenzxAPac89TWB6S6DuyN1xgrn6RPAveXEO5RtdmGRmysSffL-x3LQ2ImFZnsgVnCzaCNs9-h2Hn5isW3Mazyawo/s320/DSCN5668.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large tubs where the soaking takes place</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIrn4SJQPyjmoekGRl1m4vYe7wnt0e4zGM14x4q_SpbCKb9w2-pu5Vh9sofzT_yAiSBpPC8Br-AEujcO7jg92Yw_KqtHW84mm6JE8G_eZCNMCj55hJgGW-WUFrQg0KSSJOaBfG7yTokw/s1600/DSCN5670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIrn4SJQPyjmoekGRl1m4vYe7wnt0e4zGM14x4q_SpbCKb9w2-pu5Vh9sofzT_yAiSBpPC8Br-AEujcO7jg92Yw_KqtHW84mm6JE8G_eZCNMCj55hJgGW-WUFrQg0KSSJOaBfG7yTokw/s320/DSCN5670.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying my hand at slapping the clothes on the rock!</td></tr>
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5. Visiting a Sikh Temple! -Sikhism stemmed out of Hinduism and is a relatively 'new' religion. Sikhs are generally considered a very well educated part of Indian society and a very peaceful people (however carry a dagger with them at all times as a way of being ready to go to war at any time). Their temples are places where people gather to contemplate, but can also access free lodging and food!! We visited their massive kitchen where they feed literally hundreds of people (Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike) every day and we spoke with some of the ladies staying in their free lodging! - all very interesting<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaiJAn0PKDsKqTeQ4svx9IHmP0BkRQXQ6AyU6z9NgSJC8eEZMKzcsGDVCNKMv7jAlvSFBkeDVZMRwPOFiHn5T4II-sFNiHe2LPJCNCJSqIs4OFmMts8XaPKGpO3P0vs-PPHXQwum6178/s1600/DSCN5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaiJAn0PKDsKqTeQ4svx9IHmP0BkRQXQ6AyU6z9NgSJC8eEZMKzcsGDVCNKMv7jAlvSFBkeDVZMRwPOFiHn5T4II-sFNiHe2LPJCNCJSqIs4OFmMts8XaPKGpO3P0vs-PPHXQwum6178/s320/DSCN5680.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A traditional Sikh - their hair is never cut but<br />
is washed every day. Notice the dagger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjuG9V8BXWIbCQpfgtlO3iZDMn0_I-racLxrKf8kJMQLYIdAY0RnDNkRGgXWPOgeJ1ZdafM27gT8Kn2YCAwmnxuRwWhxJAUR-GCNSEgeGJJkJl2M_OOJGMPRrNs_BJPF4XN8Szwaoqik/s1600/DSCN5677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZjuG9V8BXWIbCQpfgtlO3iZDMn0_I-racLxrKf8kJMQLYIdAY0RnDNkRGgXWPOgeJ1ZdafM27gT8Kn2YCAwmnxuRwWhxJAUR-GCNSEgeGJJkJl2M_OOJGMPRrNs_BJPF4XN8Szwaoqik/s200/DSCN5677.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pots and pans for the cooking that occurs every day</td></tr>
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6. St. Mary's Basilica - the Catholic Church in Bangalore<br />
Interesting how religion has cultural influences - the church had bright blue and white fairy lights as well as a statue of Mary in a Sari!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcawnLLCPjRFy7BdtJSo5U9Dpe7Gu5dDE1I2ACsmlvtHE4JA36588kRb5yTUQ_1XEgRJ_EEIWFkAzI2LA4EK0BPoSdTpmkb8to_B4XnMWjZIOCYsaQb2NrMI62jG848BAZ86F_BUMnMKc/s1600/DSCN5682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcawnLLCPjRFy7BdtJSo5U9Dpe7Gu5dDE1I2ACsmlvtHE4JA36588kRb5yTUQ_1XEgRJ_EEIWFkAzI2LA4EK0BPoSdTpmkb8to_B4XnMWjZIOCYsaQb2NrMI62jG848BAZ86F_BUMnMKc/s320/DSCN5682.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of St Mary's</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVLU6Xt5MQQHDp9ShXrEtqe9Ixtwr-6QUoM_Pc9u1gmqxjtk5UTX4HRmnM2vHyExT6q1bUKJ09R3FfHTNTNFTIdNIahOd7IHLI1fWAmErZOkG3YYEa2g2wHx4cI-Y7x-2EbzFc8GiCpY/s1600/DSCN5704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVLU6Xt5MQQHDp9ShXrEtqe9Ixtwr-6QUoM_Pc9u1gmqxjtk5UTX4HRmnM2vHyExT6q1bUKJ09R3FfHTNTNFTIdNIahOd7IHLI1fWAmErZOkG3YYEa2g2wHx4cI-Y7x-2EbzFc8GiCpY/s320/DSCN5704.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary in a Sari!</td></tr>
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-75401159274412396602013-08-24T06:15:00.002-07:002013-08-26T21:29:40.085-07:00Discovering Pollinate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My first day here we spent a few hours learning more about Pollinate Energy - their story, the story of their founders, their progress to date and their future plans.<br />
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You can find out some information here: <a href="http://pollinateenergy.org/">http://pollinateenergy.org/</a><br />
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But to give you a bit of an idea:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Pollinate's aim is to eradicate energy poverty in India</li>
<li>So far they have set out to achieve this aim via distributing solar lanterns in urban slum communities (a differentiating factor compared to other organisations focused on distributing solar lights to rural areas). To date, Pollinate has touched 6000 people and aim to reach 10,000 in the next month or so</li>
<li>The people they serve live in urban slums and are often considered the 'invisible city makers' - essentially migrants that have come to Bangalore for work generally in the construction industry, living in 'tent cities' often illegally/on land that is not theirs</li>
<li>The customers buy the products, paying upfront or via installments (usually repaying over a period of 5-6 weeks for the solar light)</li>
<li>Pollinate distributes via "Pollinators" who are local entrepreneurs that literally visit tent community after tent community with the Pollinate products</li>
<li>Pollinate is technology agnostic (they don't develop or design the technology, but find the best suited product and distribute)</li>
<li>Pollinate is currently expanding their products into fuel efficient cookstoves (which we're currently testing with the communities during our time here). The effects of smoke inhalation is one of India's biggest killers (especially for women)</li>
<li>The focus at the moment is Bangalore, however Pollinate plans to expand to other cities, one at a time, eventually reaching 53 $1m+ cities across India </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9JRBxgL6Jo3oTzAjUZ5j_vcOrv9t52e0O1-hO5FvV_Erh_D_p4bztK9c-VNVfZoKpMTq2IBBenYvpEAHXUxtk1HJqj0aP3I2tUov7LQfFcHmPkfbtC1YJT0qjlmji-s8fOlMz5kPfKE/s1600/DSCN5712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9JRBxgL6Jo3oTzAjUZ5j_vcOrv9t52e0O1-hO5FvV_Erh_D_p4bztK9c-VNVfZoKpMTq2IBBenYvpEAHXUxtk1HJqj0aP3I2tUov7LQfFcHmPkfbtC1YJT0qjlmji-s8fOlMz5kPfKE/s400/DSCN5712.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the tent communities that Pollinate serves and I visited here</td></tr>
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-72136917136881039112013-08-21T11:02:00.002-07:002013-09-04T04:41:45.722-07:00First impressions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I arrived in Bangalore at around midnight. The lovely coordinator, Jenny, picked me up from the airport after a slight cuffufle with the customs officer... It was eerily quiet on the streets at this time... (turns out that Bangalore has a 11.30pm drinking curfew which may have something to do with it!)<br />
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Arrived at "Penguin House", my home for the next couple of weeks. Greeted by verrry friendly (read terrifying) dogs, who I worked out afterwards weren't strays (or potentially Rabies infested), but dogs of the house. Killed a daddy long legs in the bathroom, realised there was no loo paper, but a toilet with a 'winged seat' and spray tap instead (the next day turned out there was a loo paper option and our bathroom had just momentarily run out!) and then went into my mosquito netted bed to try to catch some sleep.<br />
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In the next few hours of (somewhat broken sleep), I was treated to a suite of sounds that I had forgotten all about from last time I was here - the buzz of the mosquito (thankfully outside of my net), howling of dogs, the loud chirp of one very happy bird, the call to prayer at 5am and then constant a mix of tooting horns - the friendly passer-by toot, the angry toot, the fanfare horn...the noise is never ending here!<br />
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Slightly disoriented, I awoke and met up with all of the lovely other Young Professionals and the Pollinate Team! So super exciting to be here!!! And this is just the very beginning - more on what else has been going on here soon! :)<br />
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L x<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc-m2TMzwLArdFyC0pJbvtfWAenlZvDvZPuWoFgFym9DCzTSP7tmGno4rO3FaMkWpvhyTRZ9mNtRlPAwVWphUehHA_ZDeC_O_L9e1vkanOxreKk9v3vTqjLXK4hab4uRrdxsBRDtb5w/s1600/IMG_6160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAc-m2TMzwLArdFyC0pJbvtfWAenlZvDvZPuWoFgFym9DCzTSP7tmGno4rO3FaMkWpvhyTRZ9mNtRlPAwVWphUehHA_ZDeC_O_L9e1vkanOxreKk9v3vTqjLXK4hab4uRrdxsBRDtb5w/s1600/IMG_6160.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 5 Young Professionals from AU/NZ (L to R): Me, Rosie, Johannes, Belinda and Holly</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXrMZ75Y1wXTkpsdX0o5QfOIISlKz3D2QVw6v5jl1EqpZZc1fEYWq__laiTAbmrjXnQFzqsRcZtnO5DRcwIHjb3k78Qg72wBH3lpOkF-yAAR14so462NiMCZ3mDYXNhwzJmYIIxZvLRo/s1600/DSCN5748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXrMZ75Y1wXTkpsdX0o5QfOIISlKz3D2QVw6v5jl1EqpZZc1fEYWq__laiTAbmrjXnQFzqsRcZtnO5DRcwIHjb3k78Qg72wBH3lpOkF-yAAR14so462NiMCZ3mDYXNhwzJmYIIxZvLRo/s320/DSCN5748.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Hive" - Pollinate's office and where we're living for the next couple of weeks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABGsut0m7bsni_I0mCX70HAdlFL3F8igq_KJtyxhGN2pJjTsl7RygoJJZhU9my8VLy8cuVt7gHzurcn_1EkmmE2OvYl0CyjmhaCyuIz1prMN1bi0Qs4MuM2eIJyYY9NqFcsAX6YNaP-g/s1600/DSCN5747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhABGsut0m7bsni_I0mCX70HAdlFL3F8igq_KJtyxhGN2pJjTsl7RygoJJZhU9my8VLy8cuVt7gHzurcn_1EkmmE2OvYl0CyjmhaCyuIz1prMN1bi0Qs4MuM2eIJyYY9NqFcsAX6YNaP-g/s320/DSCN5747.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The puppies of the house (at first mistaken for stray dogs!)<br />
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Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5059548884500431204.post-17763022546500746682013-08-18T15:41:00.002-07:002013-08-18T15:41:57.703-07:00Pre-departure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hi everyone and welcome to my blog.<br />
<br />
Not sure how much time there'll be for posting here, but figured I'd set it up anyways.<br />
<br />
If you're reading this then you are likely on my 'mailing list' of interested people - either you contributed to my fundraising and/or are interested in what on earth I'm doing. If you're on this list by mistake apologies (let me know and will stop bugging you!)<br />
<br />
Firstly, a MASSIVE thank you to everyone that helped me reach my fundraising target!<br />
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For those that have missed the memo - what is this about?<br />
<br />
I'm about to head to India as a member of Pollinate's "Young Professionals Program". Pollinate Energy is tackling energy poverty in India. They have established a distribution network in India's urban slums focused on providing access to low cost, cleaner energy solutions. The initial focus was on distributing solar lanterns to households that don't have access to light on a regular basis or use kerosene which is relatively expensive, unsustainable and bad for respiratory health. I will join a group of 6 Young Professionals to continue their work, exploring the distribution of fuel efficient cookstoves.<br />
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There has been a couple of things published online; three of the participants are joining following AECOM's corporate sponsorship of the program: <a href="http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/aecom-employees-to-support-pollinate-energy/4163/">http://www.thesustainabilityreport.com.au/aecom-employees-to-support-pollinate-energy/4163/</a><br />
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Hopefully more from me soon<br />
<br />
Lorenn :)</div>
Lorennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07132631799554920974noreply@blogger.com0