On March 9^th, House Professor Garrick Blalock lead the discussion for the Rose Café. The discussion was centered around the idea that technology exists that can help improve the environment and people’s health, yet most individuals do not adapt this technology. In the United States, hybrid cars can reduce emissions yet not everyone drives a Prius because it doesn’t fit their needs. This can include the price or the size of the car. Professor Blalock then discussed how Ugandans use three stone stoves whose use is equivalent to four packs of cigarettes! The health effects from these stoves cause four times the amount of deaths as malaria, which sounds crazy considering it was the first time I have heard about these stoves! Even when given a choice between cleaner stoves versus the traditional stoves, Ugandans still chose the three stone stove instead. Why? For the same reasons as Americans choose the Prius, the three stone stove is easier to use and better suited for their lives.

The technology of today’s world is constantly changing and improving. As a HD major, I can’t help but think that part of the inability for people to adapt to the new technology is habit. After so many years, our current tools and technologies have become part of our culture. In America, some people use cars to show off their wealth and take pride in the word they put into their cars. Movies like Fast and Furious also promote a culture associated with cars. Although switching to a hybrid can have a positive effect on the environment, it’s impossible to transform the culture over night. One of the reasons Ugandans may not switch over to the new, cleaner stoves is because the traditional stove is a part of their culture. I think that in order to help implement new technology, we should try and apply it to our culture so that it is better adopted.