Guatemala - The New Silicon Valley?
Well, not quite... but this NPR article describes some innovative technologies that are being produced in Quetzaltenango (Xela) by a group of American eco-engineers.
Guatemala is a country where the era of land lines was pre-empted by mobile phones and where satellite brings Internet access to remote regions. However, the majority of rural communities still lack the basic infrastructure that provides electricity and clean drinking water.
Xela Teco is working to provide low-cost, environmentally sound infrastructure improvements. They have created inexpensive, reliable water pumps (one of which is powered by stationary bicycle), a 'biodegester' that converts livestock manure into propane gas for stoves, and are currently working on a solar water heater for home and industrial use.
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