Sustainable Malawi

Last weekend I had the interesting experience of meeting a group of the volunteers of the American Peace Corps who work with environmental issues in Malawi. One of them was especially outspoken, and I had an inspiring conversation with him. For the sake of the story let's give him a random American name, let's call him "Bob". Here is a summary of the conversation:

"Bob": I don't like to take the word "rape" in my mouth, but some times you have to.
Trygve: What do you mean?
"Bob": Hey man, we are raping this planet. We are raping the nature.
Trygve: Yeah, I guess I would agree with that. What are you thinking about specifically?
"Bob": These Malawians, they are cutting down the trees, fishing all the fish, illegally burned charcoal is everywhere... You should see the mountains where I live in the dry season, they are on fire! They hunt animals by burning down their habitats, and they fish the even the smallest fish using mosquito nets to catch them.
Trygve: Yeah, that sounds bad.
"Bob": YES! They are raping the nature. However, I hope this new president can make a change to that.
Trygve & "Bob": Bla bla bla about Malawian politics and politicians.

...after a while....

Trygve: But "Bob", I think it is not only the Malawians who are raping the planet. How about the way people live for example back in America?
"Bob": What do you mean?
Trygve: Well it might be that your forests are more protected and you are not fishing with mosquito nets, but I mean, the American lifestyle has some impact on the planet as well, dosn't it?
"Bob": Yeah, it might have...
Trygve: I mean, all the things you consume over there, they come from somewhere, don't they? If all people would live like Americans we would be completely fucked up, would we not?
"Bob": Ehhhm.... OK.... (Screaming) Who wants some Jack Daniels?!?!?!

So that did not compute for "Bob". But I would say Malawi is actually one of the most sustainable societies I have seen. Let me give some examples:
- Food is produced and consumed locally.
- Bicycles and walking are the main forms of transport.
- I would guess less than 1% of the population has a car.
- As good as no-one ever uses airplane transport.
- Most malawians eat vegeterian food most of the time.
- (Almost) all garbage is recycled or reused and put to use locally.
- Almost all energy use is renewable: Electricity comes from hydropower and bioenergy is used for cooking.
- Houses are constructed using local materials and the houses are relatively small.
- Almost no energy is used for heating or airconditioning of houses and offices.
- Most people use second-hand clothes and other second-hand consumer items.

The most non-sustainable about Malawi I would say is the overpopulation and the continued high population growth, which explains the observations that my friend "Bob" had made.

Of course, my own observations can be traced back to the fact that Malawi is a very poor country. But anyway, the Malawian lifestyle is so sustainable! If everybody lived like Malawians we would probably be able to fit about 100 billion people on this planet without over-consuming.

Personally I do hope that Malawi can develop their economy without leaving this sustainable way of life. And I hope that Malawi can inspire the rest of the world to adapt their lifestyles more to live like they do. But unfortunately, it is not too popular to live as a poor person.

Being poor is not something people strive for, typically, but let me mention a last self-observed indicatior of sustainability in Malawi:
- Malawians are the happiest people I have ever seen anywhere in the world.

There are still some forests in Malawi, but all seem to agree that deforestation is a serious problem.

These nets are used for fishing at the lakeshore. Nothing but water is filtered through!

Small fish left to dry in the sun.

Transport of bioenergy with bicycle power! A common sight in Malawi.

Happy small fishermen with their catch of the day.

Rice is grown and consumed at the lake shore of Malawi - some is also exported.

Most people live in small houses constructed of locally found materials.The bricks are made from the clay soil that is readily available almost anywhere.

Transport of locally produced food - on a bicycle of course.

Malawian kids - so many - and so happy. No need for Toys'r'us, Lego or videogames, just hanging out with your friends and family in the village all day, and perhaps improvising a ball or a toy car from some garbage. Low carbon footprint kids!