Ramesh and the Quality of Life Project

I love the irony of this – Tiruvannamalai is a small town in South India famous for its huge temple, the sacred mountain of Arunachala, and the ashram of the saint Ramana Maharshi.

Most of the local people are extremely poor, and many live in houses with no toilets. However many Westerners also come here to meditate, and they like to live in reasonably hygienic conditions. Ramesh is a young man who grew up in poverty, but with help from some Westerners managed to get a Masters degree in Bio-Chemistry. He now uses his skill and understanding to build eco toilets for the villagers.

Guo’s Childhood

The Cultural Revolution was a very difficult period in China. Guo describes growing up in a time when people were so desperately hungry they ate stones, and his childhood was dominated by the struggle to find food. They lived in caves dug out of the earth which leaked and sometimes collapsed during heavy rain. Guo takes us to see these caves, now abandoned, and the prosperous, healthy children of today – and laughs as he describes how worried they were for the future of China when Chairman Mao died.

Saving the Liben Lark

A birdwatcher visits Ethiopia to document the efforts of some local ornithologists to find the delicate balance between saving this tiny, endangered bird – and protecting the rights of the indigenous Borena pastoralists. The children are the ones who know were all the nests are – and if the younger generation can be brought on board, maybe they can protect the habitat which supports both birds and people.