Solar energy could benefit these children and others.
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Did You Know That The Sun Can Help People?
News story originally written on June 20, 1997
In Africa, a woman can spend most of her day looking for firewood for cooking. An African family can spend more than half of their entire income on fuel for cooking. This is the sad situation that affects many Africans.
The collection of firewood in Africa consumes a lot of time, human energy, and money. Collecting this wood can kill plants in the area. This can ruin the land so it cannot be farmed anymore. There is a great need for another energy source in Africa.
On a summer day, you feel heat from the Sun. This heat is the Sun's energy, or solar energy. Engineers have found a way to collect the Sun's energy so people can use it. Energy from the Sun is now being used for cooking in Africa.
NASA is helping out with this whole process. They have a set of satellites in the Mission to Planet Earth program. These satellites give scientists information about the Sun's energy.
Solar cooking is expected to bring great improvements for people in Africa and other developing countries. It is a cheap heat source, and it reduces smoke and air pollution.
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