Energy can be expensive for remote villages far from the power station. To give a cheap electricity to these communities, a Vietnamese architect invented an easy-to-assemble system, a low-cost DIY wind turbine. Le Vu Cuong, also lecturer at the Hanoi University of Business and Technology, started to design his wind…

« It’s good to use good tropical wood » These words still resonate in my head while I come back from my meeting with Johannes Schwegler, CEO of Fairventures Worldwide. Johannes is a wood engineer who has spent his 30s living on the Kapuas riverside, teaching forestry and wood processing…

After the harvest season, Vietnamese farmers usually burn the remaining rice straw considered as a waste with no value. Burning it, make it disappear quickly without any extra cost. However even if is convenient for the farmer, it has negative impacts on the environment. The released of greenhouse gas and…

Last weekend, I participated in a forum organized by The Center for People and Forest that explored the connection between urban consumers and forests. I had the chance to sit down with three participants to learn more about their expectations and expertise. I also asked them if they could provide…

Ryota is a crazy Japanese guy who came to volunteer in Vietnam and grow mushrooms. Curious about his motivation, I interviewed him. Here are his answers. (I edited a bit to improve readability). What was your motivation to come to Vietnam? The work in Japan can be pretty boring as everybody must follow the boss without discussion. I…