The Second International Conference on Gross National Happiness RETHINKING DEVELOPMENT Local Pathways to Global Wellbeing St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada June 20 to June 24, 2005
	Dave Webb & Kevin Stuart Exploring the QOL Benefits of Solar Cooker Technology for Remote Tibetan & Monguor Communities
The findings demonstrate that both remote community recipients and the environment benefit significantly. ...solar cookers can make a positive contribution toward the culture of the Tibetan and Monguor people.	Abstract: In the remote North-Western Chinese province of Qinghai (Tibetan plateau), the Tibetan people struggle to gather yak dung, wood and other fuel substitutes for heating, boiling and cooking; the basic necessities for survival. Over the past 7 years extreme cold (-45C) and drought has had a significant effect on the environment, the nomadic people and the livestock upon which these people depend. The environment has become increasingly denuded and many nomads are caught in a vicious cycle of destitution. The use of solar cookers as a partial substitute for dung, wood, bushes and straw can help to alleviate this cycle. This paper explores how introducing solar cookers has positively enhanced the quality of life of the Tibetan and Monguor people in 48 villages and enhanced their natural environment. Work carried out in 2003 by students in the English Training Program, Nationalities Department, Qinghai Normal University, Xining, PRC (supported by The Canada Fund) and, the authors own observations over three visits to the region in 2003 and 2004 is reported upon in this paper. Written reports, translated letters, interview commentary and personal observation provide for a rich source of data that is analyzed using the ‘Wordsmith’ textual data analysis software. The findings demonstrate that both remote community recipients and the environment benefit significantly. Furthermore, it is argued that providing solar cookers can make a positive contribution toward the culture of the Tibetan and Monguor people. Dr. Dave Webb University of Western Australia 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley Western Australia, 6009, Australia Tel: (61) 8-6488-7380 Fax: (61) 8-6488-1055 dwebb@biz.uwa.edu.au Dr. Kevin Stuart English Training Program Qinghai Nationalities Teacher’s College Qinghai Normal University Xining City 810008, Qinghai Province Tel: (86) 971-6318505 kevin.stuart@gmail.com Dr. Dave Webb will be the presenting author in attendance at the conference.
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