22nd October 2004

Lessons from the Black Country: Protecting against Climate Change

The report "Up in Smoke?" from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development identifies the challenges to development posed by changes to our climate. The report points out the potential for climate change to reverse development progress in poorer countries around the world, with the effects of climate change falling disproportionately on the developing world.

As the report warns, it is essential to ensure that development projects are appropriate for and that climate change does not wipe out efforts to improve living conditions in developing countries.

Parry Associates, a specialist engineering firm based in Cradley Heath in the Black Country, is leading the way in this important field. Among the range of techniques made possible by Parry technology are:

THE "HIGH SCHOOL". Already a success in Mozambique, the Parry High School concept provides a means of combining educational development with community protection. The raised classroom provides a public space above floodwater level, where the whole community can escape the ravages of floods. For details see:

http://www.parryassociates.com/Success_mozambique.htm

PARRY ROOFING. With more frequent storms, the security of roofing is a basic necessity. People need shelter, but if the roofs they rely on are light - corrugated metal sheeting, for example - they will not survive a strong wind. Parry roofing methods give a sturdy concrete tile roof, which can be battened down against extreme weather conditions, and provides far superior living conditions compared to its competitors. For details see:

http://www.parryassociates.com/Issue12.htm

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. All Parry technology is based on sound technical, economic and environmental principles. To the maximum possible extent, products such as building blocks, bricks, tiles and paviors are made near the point of use with locally-available materials, minimising transport costs and carbon emissions. Machinery is available in human-powered version, so high-quality building materials are not restricted to places with energy infrastructure. For details see:

http://www.parryassociates.com/Success_gambia.htm

http://www.parryassociates.com/Issue8.htm

RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. Parry technology eliminates environmental pollutants such as asbestos. Sustainable businesses are set up providing materials of real value to local communities and at the same time providing employment and generating wealth. In areas emerging from civil war, Parry technology has been used to give ex-combatants a new occupation and to reintegrate former fighters into society. For details see:

http://www.parryassociates.com/Success_sierra_leone.htm

http://www.parryassociates.com/Success_koma_rock.htm

AFFORDABLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY-RESPONSIBLE TRANSPORT. Parry Associates' flywheel energy storage technology, licensed to Parry People Movers Ltd, makes possible the introduction attractive rail transport systems in all parts of the world, while significantly reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions and pollution. For details see:

http://www.parryassociates.com/Integrated_Transport.htm

Notes:

• JPM Parry & Associates Ltd was founded in 1974 by John Parry, one of the early team of directors of the Intermediate Technology Development Group and chair of its Building Materials Panel, to offer technical services to the construction industry in Britain and overseas. Shortly afterwards, the company started to develop a range of intermediate technology machinery that could be used to produce quality building materials in developing countries using local resources. These are now in service in over 80 countries.
   
• Applied to transport, the Parry approach to technological development produced the flywheel energy storage system licensed to Parry People Movers Ltd ( www.parrypeoplemovers.com ).

For further information, please contact:

John Parry MBE
CHAIRMAN

JPM Parry & Associates Ltd
Overend Road
Cradley Heath
West Midlands
B64 7DD
UK

Telephone: +44 (0)1384 569171
Fax: +44 (0)1384 637753
E-mail: info@parryassociates.com
Website: www.parryassociates.com

back to latest news or press releases