Energy and Ecology

October 30, 2008 · Filed under Weekly Assignments

Energy and Ecology: How low income families in Vietnam cook

Gas cookers and microwave ovens are common among most upper middle and upper class families in urban areas in Vietnam. Yet, lower income families, especially those in rural areas, do not cook in such efficient and safe ways. Indeed, these families often use solid fuels such as coal, firewood and agricultural residues. Basically, rural families have been cooking in this way for hundreds of years. I will explain the significant reasons for this commonness and point out the impacts of this cooking method on environment and health of users.

In my opinion, the use of solid fuels in cooking can be explained by social and economic factors. The first reason itself lies in income levels of these families. In Vietnam, most rural people work in agricultural sector. Furthermore, long in history, rural people have managed to live within limited budget, especially during underdevelopment time. Therefore, they have developed a tradition of frugality, making use of every resource on hand. The case of low income urban families is different. They must cope with relatively high living expenses in cities. Three months ago, the price of gas in Vietnam reached a record peak following the trend of global increase. During the time of gas price rise, many lower middle income families who once used gas cooker have turned to coal cooker as a cheaper alternative. The second reason is the availability of these fuels in rural areas. After harvest time, peasants have abundant agricultural residues. As well, firewood can be easily cut down or collected from local woods or flooding rivers. Another reason is that rural families in Vietnam have little access to modern economical cooking equipments such as the solar cooker. Manufacturers have not reached this remote market and NGOs can only provide these equipments for a small minority.

Though seemingly economical, solid fuels cost serious health and environmental problems. In rural areas, families often cook with open fire. In many households, kitchens are poorly ventilated. Some families in both rural and urban areas even put a burning charcoal cooker in main rooms of their houses to cook and warm at the same time. Consequently, many people in rural families suffer long-lasting respiratory and optical illnesses. More seriously, some families have been found unconscious or even dead because of poisonous gas released by a charcoal cooker in a closed room. Besides health problems, solid fuel cookers make the environment suffer from toxic gases and deforestation.

In conclusion, many low income families in rural and urban areas of Vietnam are cooking by solid fuels, which are seemingly money saving but environmentally unfriendly and dangerous to health. The use of cooking fuels, in this case, shows an aspect of social stratification. Those of lower social and income status have lower living standards. They hardly have access to safe and efficient means of cooking. Some also lack basic knowledge to protect themselves from dangers such as toxic gases. Therefore, they are put under higher risks of health problems and even fatality.