Could Sustainable Tech Prevent Another Gaza or Artsakh

Romita Biswas - 10/20/2023

Use of Solar Panels in Askar Refugee Camp - 2022

Opinion/Ideation:

This week we’ve seen social media and the news go crazy with the humanitarian crisis that's unfolding in Gaza. Innocent people are stuck in the crossfire between hostile powers. But of course the same innocent people have been subjugated to violence for years by a hostile state. This same story just unfolded a couple weeks ago in Artsakh. And after years of fighting and advocating the hostile power, Azerbaijan, won.

We’ve seen this time and time again: the increased awareness, the slap on the wrist, the verbal condemnation - it does nothing. Our social media reactions don’t help the people suffering. So what do we do? Is there a way we can react that does help or is there a way we can prevent this from happening?

From my perspective as an engineer, I think we can enable vulnerable communities to meet basic needs in a sustainable way without depending on an aggressive neighbor. I cannot confidently address the geopolitical issues that exist, but I can provide ideas based on my observations and a technical problem solution space.

Observation: Blockades to Increase Reliance

The common tactic I’ve seen is the hostile nation employing blockades at various phases of a conflict to slowly force the weaker group into submission. Initially blockades will start as limiting the movement of resources to meet basic needs like clean water, food, fuel, power through a border. Then as the vulnerable region grows weaker and more dependent, the blockades will escalate to restrict all resources and finally impede foreign humanitarian support.

Food Blockade by limiting markets Kentucky - 1939

Communication Blockade by Cutting Internet Kashmir - 2019

Ideation: Sustainable Tech’s Role

If these regions were able to meet basic needs independently, blockades would have minimal effect on the communities there. This would allow for communities to sustain a life in the area while allowing them to react in a stronger way in the face of aggression.

Problem + Potential Solution

I'll give two examples of a problem (the effect), the cause, and the potential solution. The potential solution addresses the underlying cause and attempts to mitigate its effect.

Problem: Natural Gas Supply to Artsakh blocked for more than a year

- What happened: The common citizen was left without power, ability to cook food, and heat water.
- The Cause: Artsakh's only natural gas pipeline ran through Azerbaijan. Geographically they were dependent.
- Potential Solution: off-grid solar for individual homes or small community solar projects
- Technical Feasibility: Artsakh has 305-315 sunny days meaning they could've powered their whole community with only solar. There would be a few days where another energy source would be needed. An effort was made after the blockade to start community solar.

Only pipeline delivering gas to Artsakh is cut off - March 2022

Solar Water Heater installed in response to blockade - Dec 2022

Humanitarian aid stranded at Azerbaijani checkpoint - July 2023

Problem: Food, fertilizers, and seeds entering Gaza through Israel border are blocked

- What happened: In summary food shortages and massive food insecurity.
- The Cause: Gaza faces semi-arid conditions limiting the food they can grow. They are reliant on Israel for food and farming materials.
- Potential Solution: vertical farming containers for homes and small communities
- Technical Feasibility: Vertical farming requires 95% less water, no pesticides, no fertilizers. It is commonly used in arid regions to create food hubs.

Line to buy bread at a bakery in Gaza - Oct 2023

Shipping Container Vertical Farms installed in Cairo, Egypt

How water is reused and saved in a Vertical Farm

Wrapping Up:

I gave these examples in a very short technical manner. I did not address the geopolitical concerns of even being able to import materials that enable sustainable independence. But I think that’s the case we can actually fight for. There are multiple climate emergency funds and organizations looking for ideas and wanting to help vulnerable regions. We can pivot our focus to providing funding to enable independence instead of simply reacting and providing aid that causes further dependence.

Examples of funds/organizations supporting innovation for humanitarian efforts:

Ideathon: Platform for You to Contribute

I don’t know what can be done in these areas that have already undergone blockades and hostile activity. But I think we can identify some vulnerable regions that would benefit from becoming independent before it becomes a humanitarian crisis on social media. So let’s see what our brains can put together.

Memo: Identify a vulnerable region, identify the basic needs that could be blockaded, provide a solution that could enable them to meet the basic need independently, bonus: address geopolitical concerns, propose strategic placement, pick a climate org that wants to fund that project

I can provide a short example of my own idea and a success story I found:

The Syunik Province similar to Artsakh hasn’t been blockaded but is under watch by Azerbaijan. Now would be a great time for them to start switching over to off-grid solar and vertical farming so that a similar blockade doesn’t work. They have strong relations with India who exports low-cost solar power systems and is looking to further expand their market past the US and EU. Strategic placement of vertical farms and solar systems needs to be analyzed to optimize upon the "safest" and most energy productive installation spots. Engineers without Borders International would be a great organization to partner with for this project.
Cuba used to import farming machinery and materials from the US. They now lack these imports, similar to Gaza, due to the US-imposed embargo. Cuba has now switched to alternate farming methods like vertical farming. It has proven successful: production of food has increased by around 40% each year. This project was initiated by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Cuban Association of Agricultural and Forestry Technicians.

Finally Wrapping Up

Even if you don’t want to participate and come up with a solution, you can buddy up, provide feedback on ideas, or help in breaking down the problem solution space further. We all have different perspectives on these issues and each of us can provide some opinion another person doesn’t have. With all our perspectives combined I’m sure we can come up with something that will help at least some people. I hope the examples and stories I provided has sparked some inspiration. I look forward to reading and sharing your ideas. :)