Burning in the Sun

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26-year-old Daniel Dembele is equal parts West African and European, and looking to make his mark on the world. Seizing the moment at a crossroads in his life, Daniel decides to return to his homeland in Mali and start a local business building solar panels -- the first of its kind in the sun-drenched nation. Daniel's goal is to electrify the households of rural communities, 99% of which live without power.

BURNING IN THE SUN tells the story of Daniel's journey growing the budding idea into a viable company, and of the business' impact on Daniel's first customers in the tiny village of Banko. Addressing climate change, poverty, and self-sufficiency, the film demonstrates how a small-scale, local business model can provide jobs, appropriate technology, and empowerment to people everywhere. The film also explores what it means to grow up as a man, and a vision of what it takes to prosper as a nation.

'If you are hungry for solutions to renewable energy development in developing countries, this is the film you have been waiting for. Burning in the Sun documents the efforts of a Malian entrepreneur to build a solar panel production business while helping his people. The trials of bringing solar power to rural sites are frankly addressed with ultimate success. This film chronicles a roadmap to sustainability that could be duplicated around the world, offering hope for a planet.' Len Broberg, Director and Professor, Environmental Studies Department, University of Montana

'Burning In The Sun puts a human face on technological change. It tells a story of small-scale development in Africa in a way that is simple, but visually striking. The future of electrical power in Africa, and in the world, may not be huge hydroelectric grids, but power offered on a local scale in the village and the urban neighborhood. This film demonstrates both the promise of the sustainability of solar power on a small scale, and at the same time, raises questions about the limitations of sustainable energy, given the shortage of cheap materials, the need for maintenance at the local level, and the need for clever adaptation to each individual situation.' James C. McCann, Professor of History, Associate Director, African Studies Center, Boston University, Author, Maize and Grace: Africa's Encounter with a New World Crop

'An insightful and inspiring story on the promises of sustainable social enterprise. Affordable solar energy technology in the hands of the poor can change the life of a village, improving education, access to water and empowering women. Students and educators can use this tool for illustrating the power of small projects in global and local sustainable development.' Dr. Marco Tavanti, Professor, International Sustainable Development, DePaul University-Chicago

'As a teacher and user of small-scale solar PV systems, I very much appreciate the take-away message of this film--innovation, education, collaboration can make solar energy truly accessible, affordable and fun. Bravo!' Dr. Jonathan Scherch, Core Faculty, Center for Creative Change, Antioch University Seattle

'Beautifully illustrates the realities of life in rural and urban Malian settlements where there is no electricity, and shows the many benefits brought by the arrival of solar energy. It perfectly captures the complexities behind solar PV installation projects, the interactions between those with the power of knowledge and technology and those without, and the practicalities and considerations that go into each installation...But the film's great strength lies in the way in which its subjects speak for themselves on complex issues relating to the legacy of colonialism in the African economic system, neo-colonial power imbalances, gender norms, and the rural/urban divide. Rather than relying upon an authoritative voiceover that teaches these themes, the filmmakers have brilliantly captured the statements on these issues of urban youth, school masters, and rural farmers, and the credibility behind these unadulterated remarks is extremely powerful. This film will appeal to students of international development, sustainability energy technologies, and social change, and will compliment lecture material and scholarly writing on these topics.' Kimber Haddix McKay, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Montana

'A no-frills, straightforward documentary...demonstrates how a small-scale, local business can model efficiency, provide jobs, and supply context-appropriate products. By the end of the film, we learn that the young men who launched the business have expanded it to serve high profile clientele, such as the US Embassy, USAID, Geekcorps, and a variety of NGOs. Burning in the Sun is a good teaching tool and would work well in a unit focusing on appropriate technology... The film enables the audience to share in the steep learning curve of people adopting and implementing a new-to-them technology, gives us insights into how their solar projects must be negotiated with a variety of local politicians and businessmen to acquire support, and shows us how they navigate setbacks and frustrations to finally realize the completion of their first project. Burning in the Sun is well-suited for advanced high school students, university audiences, and the general public.' Dr. Jennifer Coffman, Department of Integrated Science and Technology, Associate Executive Director, International Programs, James Madison University

'Burning in the Sun showcases an excellent example of just what can be accomplished when a simple but good idea is combined with a dedication to improving the lives of those around you. A small group of ordinary people can come together and use their varied skill sets to make an enormous difference in the lives of many, one Malian village at a time. With little more than discarded solar 'junk cells,' and readily purchased batteries, one village after another benefits from the renewable energy provided by these locally made solar panels; bringing not just electricity to those living in remote areas of the country, but also economic opportunity. Just as the sun has always nourished the crops that these villagers farm, the solar panels provided by Afriq Power have allowed a whole new kind of seed to germinate in Mali.' Muna Ndulo, Professor of Law, Cornell Law School, Director, Institute for African Development, Cornell University, Honorary Professor of Law, Cape Town University

'Populated with individuals who defy stereotypes and push the viewer to reconsider who might 'do good' and where, this film is an excellent teaching tool for questions of environment, energy, and political economy. The story line focuses on what seems like a simple need--the gift of light--but follows it into the corners of school classrooms, mud huts, local businesses, and water tanks to reveal both the possibilities and problems of providing it. In so doing it raises complex questions about who might 'fix' problems of poverty and how, while addressing the inequities of the global economy and the looming consequences of unsustainable lifestyles.' Rachel DeMotts, Assistant Professor, Department of Politics and Government, University of Puget Sound

'Remarkable homegrown heroes...Watching the new Afriq-Power company achieve its small revolution is an uplifting experience, with Dembele an exceptional role model.' Video Librarian

'Part business plan and part 'how-to' video, Burning in the Sun reflects the potential for positive change that comes when people cooperate and put aside personal profit for more altruistic ends...This film teaches viewers not only about the power of education, but that projects dedicated to producing sustainable energy sources, similar to Daniel's, are possible beyond Mali. Highly Recommended.' Jason Harshman, The Ohio State University, Educational Media Reviews Online

'[It's] about how alternative energy can literally bring electrical power to the powerless...An intellectually and emotionally uplifting true story. A choice pick for school and public library DVD collections.' The Midwest Book Review

'An intriguing documentary...Can easily be used in undergraduate classes to teach about culture, infrastructure and development.' Katrien Pype, University of Leuven, Anthropology Reviews Database

'The film takes the audience on a progressive voyage to bring affordable solar energy to rural communities. Throughout the film the steady advancement of the project unites the audience and brings great pleasure to the viewer when Dembele and his crew finish the projects in Banko Village...The scenes are eye-opening for viewers and, in this viewer, awakened a desire to be more proactive...I would highly recommend this film.' Kylee Geisler, Rural Connections

'I loved this unique eco-documentary...A compelling personal story that would be interesting even if the star, charming Daniel Dumbele, were selling shoes instead of PV panels...I recommend this inspirational and informative documentary to anyone--for personal viewing at home, to fuel family discussions, to illustrate multiple issues to students--poverty in developing nations, grass-roots solutions to our environmental crisis, communities working together to learn new technologies. Burning In the Sun is perhaps the most fully-fleshed out documentary I've seen yet--a very human story.' Dr. Sally Kneidel, Veggie Revolution Blog

'One of the [New York African Film] Festival's highlights...A really moving portrait of a simple, realistic solution that evades labels of heroism...With inspiring calm, Dembele illustrates a struggle at the heart of this year's festival: to embrace independence but to understand the harsh really of fulfilling its promise.' Columbia Spectator

'Director Cambria Matlow found in Mali a young man whose personal story and drive to succeed so parallels Barack Obama's that the film's sociological insights almost outweigh the accomplishment of bringing cheap electricity to poor villages...The forward-looking and charismatic Daniel, multilingual and multicultural, is at ease with [the villagers], the foreign experts, government officials, and local suppliers.' FilmForward.com

'A fascinating subject...riveting, and the ramifications are pretty extraordinary--for Mali, of course, but for poor countries worldwide and, in fact, for some rich ones, too.' TrustMovies blog

Citation

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Main credits

Matlow, Cambria (film director)
Matlow, Cambria (film producer)
Matlow, Cambria (cinematographer)
Robinson, Morgan (film director)
Robinson, Morgan (film producer)
Robinson, Morgan (cinematographer)

Other credits

Edited by Emily Paine, Daniel Praid; original score by Ronen Landa, kora solos by Yacouba Sissoko; sound, Greg Sextro.

MARC Record See Worldcat record

Keywords

West African, solar panels, Mali, Daniel Dembele, electrify rural communities, Banko, climate change, solar energy, poverty, self-sufficiency, local business, green jobs, empowering poor people, Dr. Richard Komp,"Burning in the Sun",Bullfrog Films

WEBVTT

00:00:09.167 --> 00:00:12.167
[gentle kora music]

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[rooster crowing]

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[all speaking foreign language]

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[laughter]

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- [speaking French]

00:03:11.042 --> 00:03:14.042
- [speaking foreign language]

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- [speaking French]

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[dynamic instrumental music]

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- [speaking English]

00:06:49.751 --> 00:06:50.998
- We\'ve brought
a couple of pieces.

00:06:50.999 --> 00:06:53.958
- Yeah, she brought pieces
just for this purpose.

00:06:53.959 --> 00:06:58.416
Put this here, and I scribe it.

00:06:58.417 --> 00:06:59.625
- Okay, but tell me something.

00:06:59.626 --> 00:07:00.998
Check this.

00:07:00.999 --> 00:07:01.999
Here it\'s 8 1/2.

00:07:01.999 --> 00:07:02.999
- Yeah.

00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:04.833
- Let\'s say I do 3 1/2, 3 1/2,

00:07:04.834 --> 00:07:06.998
and then I have a stripe
of 1 something.

00:07:06.999 --> 00:07:08.958
Is it... we can use it?

00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:10.124
- Well, you use it
somewhere else.

00:07:10.125 --> 00:07:11.458
- We can use it.

00:07:11.459 --> 00:07:13.751
- Yeah, yeah.
- That\'s what I wanted to know.

00:07:30.209 --> 00:07:32.249
But what I was thinking
was the best way to do it

00:07:32.250 --> 00:07:34.541
was, like, kind of...

00:07:34.542 --> 00:07:35.998
Could I show you
what I was thinking?

00:07:35.999 --> 00:07:36.999
- Yeah. Okay.

00:07:36.999 --> 00:07:37.999
- And just put it like...

00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.249
- Yeah.
- Okay.

00:07:39.250 --> 00:07:41.875
- Otherwise also do something
like this.

00:07:41.876 --> 00:07:44.416
- Mm-hmm.
Yeah.

00:07:44.417 --> 00:07:45.417
And then...

00:07:45.418 --> 00:07:46.998
- Like this,
and then bend over the...

00:07:46.999 --> 00:07:47.999
- Yeah.

00:08:23.999 --> 00:08:26.124
- You can take a radio.

00:08:26.125 --> 00:08:27.998
It takes four AA batteries.

00:08:27.999 --> 00:08:30.333
That is 6-volt radio.

00:08:30.334 --> 00:08:34.998
You can take 12 or 14 cells
that are broken,

00:08:34.999 --> 00:08:37.998
and you can make a little panel
that will run that radio

00:08:37.999 --> 00:08:40.209
and recharge the batteries
in the radio.

00:10:02.999 --> 00:10:05.999
- [speaking French]

00:13:32.999 --> 00:13:35.124
[laughter]

00:13:35.125 --> 00:13:38.291
- Sounds brilliant.

00:13:38.292 --> 00:13:40.334
What?

00:13:43.999 --> 00:13:46.459
Indian sitar or what?

00:13:50.209 --> 00:13:52.333
I was more looking for something
like In Da Club.

00:13:52.334 --> 00:13:53.334
You know...

00:13:53.334 --> 00:13:54.334
Whoa, it\'s my birthday

00:13:54.334 --> 00:13:55.334
Uh, it\'s my birthday

00:13:55.335 --> 00:13:57.375
But anyway...

00:14:09.667 --> 00:14:11.124
- Now where are we now?

00:14:11.125 --> 00:14:12.458
- We are in our workshop.

00:14:12.459 --> 00:14:13.998
- Oh.
Oh, this is the workshop.

00:14:13.999 --> 00:14:15.958
Yeah, I recognize where we are.

00:14:15.959 --> 00:14:17.541
Okay.

00:14:17.542 --> 00:14:21.417
Let us haul the batteries.

00:14:24.209 --> 00:14:28.998
My role in Mali is basically
that as an educator

00:14:28.999 --> 00:14:32.917
and sort of as a catalyst

00:14:32.918 --> 00:14:37.918
in that I am working
to get things started.

00:14:44.792 --> 00:14:46.999
Boy, it\'s getting tough
to cut it.

00:14:52.999 --> 00:14:55.626
It\'s getting ahead of us.

00:15:03.334 --> 00:15:07.917
These are little cutting tools

00:15:07.918 --> 00:15:09.998
that we\'re going to use
for the cell cutter.

00:15:09.999 --> 00:15:12.500
And again you see they come
with an AC transformer.

00:15:12.501 --> 00:15:14.291
It\'s a 120 volt transformer.

00:15:14.292 --> 00:15:16.166
We can\'t use it in Mali.

00:15:16.167 --> 00:15:17.791
I\'ll cut it off here,

00:15:17.792 --> 00:15:21.583
and you can take it
and use it where you want to,

00:15:21.584 --> 00:15:22.875
where you have 120 volts,

00:15:22.876 --> 00:15:24.791
because you can
put a new wire on that.

00:15:24.792 --> 00:15:27.917
I\'m not truly a catalyst,
however,

00:15:27.918 --> 00:15:31.583
because in a catalyst,
it causes a reaction,

00:15:31.584 --> 00:15:35.875
but the catalyst comes
out of the reaction unchanged.

00:15:35.876 --> 00:15:37.124
I won\'t
come out of this unchanged.

00:15:37.125 --> 00:15:39.750
The drill is designed
to go that way.

00:15:39.751 --> 00:15:42.998
- Something
that I want to explain

00:15:42.999 --> 00:15:45.082
is that this is trash.

00:15:45.083 --> 00:15:46.666
This is trash

00:15:46.667 --> 00:15:48.998
from solar enterprises
in the States.

00:15:48.999 --> 00:15:56.999
An entire cell, like,
each one can be around $5,

00:15:57.417 --> 00:16:02.124
and the whole pound of broken
cells could be $15,

00:16:02.125 --> 00:16:04.998
$21 a pound.

00:16:04.999 --> 00:16:07.750
So that\'s the reason
why this is cheaper.

00:16:07.751 --> 00:16:13.625
Electricity was invented
more than a century ago.

00:16:13.626 --> 00:16:17.166
And for me, it\'s just
inconceivable to think

00:16:17.167 --> 00:16:18.958
that there are still places
in the world

00:16:18.959 --> 00:16:21.625
that they are not able
to have electricity.

00:16:21.626 --> 00:16:26.917
I think that it\'s,
it\'s becoming a right.

00:16:26.918 --> 00:16:29.918
- It\'s a little bigger
than we needed.

00:16:31.250 --> 00:16:33.374
Okay, so that\'s that.

00:16:33.375 --> 00:16:37.666
The people here in Mali
now have a way

00:16:37.667 --> 00:16:39.999
of doing it themselves.

00:16:53.834 --> 00:16:56.625
- You have lots of people
bringing in PV modules,

00:16:56.626 --> 00:16:58.082
and putting them on buildings.

00:16:58.083 --> 00:17:01.998
It\'s something else
to bring in the knowledge

00:17:01.999 --> 00:17:04.541
so that they can continue
to make their own.

00:17:04.542 --> 00:17:07.750
And we\'re... this is called
tinning the tip.

00:17:07.751 --> 00:17:10.082
I am working very hard

00:17:10.083 --> 00:17:13.374
to make myself
completely dispensable.

00:17:13.375 --> 00:17:15.333
That\'s one of my goals in life.

00:17:15.334 --> 00:17:16.416
But this is hot.

00:17:16.417 --> 00:17:18.998
It\'s working.

00:17:18.999 --> 00:17:20.833
So they\'re ready to go.

00:17:20.834 --> 00:17:23.583
The other soldering iron
can be used in the village

00:17:23.584 --> 00:17:25.459
where there is
no electricity at all.

00:17:26.709 --> 00:17:29.709
- [speaking French]

00:17:38.999 --> 00:17:41.374
- DC, \"direct current.\"

00:17:41.375 --> 00:17:42.625
So this is like what?

00:17:42.626 --> 00:17:44.458
In French,
it\'s like courant direct.

00:17:44.459 --> 00:17:45.459
DC.

00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.998
And then CC, courant continu,

00:17:46.999 --> 00:17:48.998
this means AC in English.

00:17:48.999 --> 00:17:49.999
Hey!

00:17:49.999 --> 00:17:50.999
- Uh-oh.

00:17:50.999 --> 00:17:51.999
Okay.

00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:53.708
- You\'ve discovered one thing.

00:17:53.709 --> 00:17:54.709
- They touch.

00:17:54.709 --> 00:17:55.709
- Yes.

00:17:55.710 --> 00:17:57.833
You touched this to that,

00:17:57.834 --> 00:18:00.082
and you see the mark you made?

00:18:00.083 --> 00:18:03.082
You can actually weld the tool

00:18:03.083 --> 00:18:04.998
right across the terminals
this way.

00:18:04.999 --> 00:18:07.541
You can make the battery
into a welder.

00:18:07.542 --> 00:18:10.998
And then it turns red-hot,
the wrench does,

00:18:10.999 --> 00:18:13.666
and then you have to
knock it off.

00:18:13.667 --> 00:18:14.998
- [laughs]

00:18:14.999 --> 00:18:16.917
- Okay, you\'re
learning something.

00:18:16.918 --> 00:18:19.124
- That\'s... that\'s the reason why

00:18:19.125 --> 00:18:22.041
it is always better
to do all this in the workshop,

00:18:22.042 --> 00:18:23.791
because actually
you have your theory,

00:18:23.792 --> 00:18:25.998
and the theory will teach people
how to do things better.

00:18:25.999 --> 00:18:27.750
- Yeah,
when they have the big spark,

00:18:27.751 --> 00:18:28.998
they pay attention.

00:18:28.999 --> 00:18:31.583
- I mean,
renewable energy is not a thing

00:18:31.584 --> 00:18:33.958
that you will just
turn on a light.

00:18:33.959 --> 00:18:35.875
The thing is
that you\'re producing...

00:18:35.876 --> 00:18:38.041
You\'re generating
your electricity.

00:18:38.042 --> 00:18:41.750
You are generating
your own energy.

00:18:41.751 --> 00:18:45.584
[speaking French]

00:18:52.417 --> 00:18:55.417
- [speaking French]

00:20:00.667 --> 00:20:04.249
- Now, Daniel, could you please
shade the panel a little bit?

00:20:04.250 --> 00:20:05.958
Shade it?

00:20:05.959 --> 00:20:07.998
Yeah, like put your hand
on the panel,

00:20:07.999 --> 00:20:08.999
your hand.

00:20:08.999 --> 00:20:09.999
- Like, on my...

00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:11.082
- Yeah, like that.

00:20:11.083 --> 00:20:13.998
So you can see that the amps
are going down.

00:20:13.999 --> 00:20:16.292
[all speaking French]

00:20:19.292 --> 00:20:23.166
- So if I take the hand out,
it should go back.

00:20:23.167 --> 00:20:24.998
- The world\'s in trouble.

00:20:24.999 --> 00:20:27.082
The people of the world
are in trouble,

00:20:27.083 --> 00:20:29.583
and we\'re all in the same boat.

00:20:29.584 --> 00:20:32.998
We all live on the same
small rocky planet,

00:20:32.999 --> 00:20:37.791
and renewable energy
is an absolute necessity

00:20:37.792 --> 00:20:43.791
in the very near future
if we\'re going to survive...

00:20:43.792 --> 00:20:44.792
It\'s that simple...

00:20:44.793 --> 00:20:48.500
As a race, as a civilization.

00:20:48.501 --> 00:20:49.958
If we do it sooner,

00:20:49.959 --> 00:20:53.666
and have some
modicum of planning,

00:20:53.667 --> 00:20:55.998
it can be more comfortable.

00:20:55.999 --> 00:20:59.998
But if we wait
and drag our feet,

00:20:59.999 --> 00:21:01.958
kicking and screaming,

00:21:01.959 --> 00:21:04.249
until we\'re absolutely
forced to do it,

00:21:04.250 --> 00:21:06.709
it\'s going to be
very uncomfortable.

00:25:39.667 --> 00:25:40.998
- On March 21st,

00:25:40.999 --> 00:25:42.998
the sun crosses the meridian

00:25:42.999 --> 00:25:45.041
12 degrees from straight up,

00:25:45.042 --> 00:25:48.917
which is almost straight up.

00:25:48.918 --> 00:25:51.918
- [speaking French]

00:26:05.999 --> 00:26:07.082
- Yeah.

00:26:07.083 --> 00:26:10.998
You want to slope the panel
towards the south,

00:26:10.999 --> 00:26:13.291
about a 12-degree angle.

00:26:13.292 --> 00:26:15.458
So you don\'t want to put
the device

00:26:15.459 --> 00:26:18.249
right on the south side
of a building or something,

00:26:18.250 --> 00:26:20.167
because then the building
will shade it.

00:26:21.334 --> 00:26:25.999
- [speaking French]

00:27:50.751 --> 00:27:52.911
- Five seconds, I need to be
sure that they understand.

00:28:03.959 --> 00:28:06.959
[buzzing]

00:28:16.999 --> 00:28:17.999
- Success!

00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:19.875
- And it didn\'t even break.

00:28:19.876 --> 00:28:21.750
- It didn\'t even break.

00:28:21.751 --> 00:28:22.958
There it is.

00:28:22.959 --> 00:28:26.998
So, we will make
a 30-watt panel out of these.

00:28:26.999 --> 00:28:30.291
So I\'m going to show you
exactly how to solder now.

00:28:30.292 --> 00:28:35.124
- [speaking French]

00:28:35.125 --> 00:28:39.374
- First thing I have to do
is clean up the connection,

00:28:39.375 --> 00:28:41.416
and once I do that,

00:28:41.417 --> 00:28:44.999
I then put the ribbon
onto the cell.

00:29:07.709 --> 00:29:10.709
- [speaking French]

00:29:26.501 --> 00:29:29.124
- This is a way of mixing.

00:29:29.125 --> 00:29:32.998
If you have two liquids
and you pour very slowly,

00:29:32.999 --> 00:29:35.999
they form a thin thing,
and then they mix, see?

00:29:39.584 --> 00:29:42.584
[both speaking French]

00:30:08.834 --> 00:30:10.249
- It doesn\'t
make any difference.

00:30:10.250 --> 00:30:12.998
Turn it over
one way or the other.

00:30:12.999 --> 00:30:16.042
Because it\'s 180 degrees,
you can turn it over either way.

00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:56.958
- As long as somebody
can keep supplying the cells

00:32:56.959 --> 00:32:58.958
at this really low price,

00:32:58.959 --> 00:33:01.998
they\'ll have a nice space
to work with,

00:33:01.999 --> 00:33:05.791
and be in competition with
British Petroleum and Shell,

00:33:05.792 --> 00:33:07.791
who are the two
major manufacturers

00:33:07.792 --> 00:33:09.375
of PV modules sold here.

00:33:15.999 --> 00:33:18.333
- Okay, so-
and then, first...

00:33:18.334 --> 00:33:22.291
[speaking in French]

00:33:22.292 --> 00:33:24.998
- These are the very first
PV modules

00:33:24.999 --> 00:33:28.959
ever made in West Africa,
as far as we know.

00:34:02.250 --> 00:34:03.250
You can see.

00:36:03.999 --> 00:36:06.999
[drumming]

00:36:36.042 --> 00:36:37.042
What do you think?

00:36:37.043 --> 00:36:38.500
We take what?

00:36:38.501 --> 00:36:39.501
- These are good ones.

00:36:39.502 --> 00:36:41.292
Deka is a good brand.

00:36:46.626 --> 00:36:47.708
- Oh, 8 Amps.

00:36:47.709 --> 00:36:49.041
- Is it good or not?

00:36:49.042 --> 00:36:50.042
- It\'s fine.

00:36:50.042 --> 00:36:51.042
- It\'s fine, you\'re sure?

00:36:51.042 --> 00:36:52.042
- Yeah.
- Okay.

00:37:14.542 --> 00:37:15.917
You know what?

00:37:15.918 --> 00:37:17.998
We don\'t have enough cash
for all this [...], man.

00:37:17.999 --> 00:37:18.999
I\'m telling you.
- I know.

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.876
The Colonel has to pay for that.

00:39:06.709 --> 00:39:09.709
[rain pattering]

00:39:57.709 --> 00:39:59.250
- Okay.

00:40:14.417 --> 00:40:17.417
[inspiring string music]

00:41:58.042 --> 00:42:02.042
[all speaking foreign language]

00:42:48.250 --> 00:42:51.250
[drumming]

00:42:59.459 --> 00:43:02.834
[clapping]

00:43:45.709 --> 00:43:49.958
- Check in the box if...

00:43:49.959 --> 00:43:51.998
- The positive is this one
is touching here,

00:43:51.999 --> 00:43:53.375
and the negative
is the other one.

00:44:00.250 --> 00:44:04.458
- And, you know, this red tape
we bought is so bad,

00:44:04.459 --> 00:44:05.998
it falls off
when you look at it.

00:44:05.999 --> 00:44:09.998
- Oh, it will work,

00:44:09.999 --> 00:44:15.998
because Mexico
has a 250 system too, so...

00:44:15.999 --> 00:44:18.998
- Okay.
- Oh, yeah.

00:44:18.999 --> 00:44:20.208
- You got it to work.

00:44:20.209 --> 00:44:21.458
Okay, good.

00:44:21.459 --> 00:44:22.459
So we guessed right.

00:44:29.125 --> 00:44:31.625
Oh, I know, it\'s in this box.

00:44:31.626 --> 00:44:33.292
I hope, I hope, I hope.

00:46:11.125 --> 00:46:14.125
[crowing]

00:46:20.792 --> 00:46:24.501
[call to prayer
over loudspeaker]

00:46:50.667 --> 00:46:53.667
[soothing music]

00:48:43.209 --> 00:48:46.209
[clanging]

00:48:51.999 --> 00:48:55.999
[children singing]

00:49:13.999 --> 00:49:18.374
- My suggestion, actually, was
to put two lights in this room,

00:49:18.375 --> 00:49:20.917
one here, and one about there,

00:49:20.918 --> 00:49:22.583
and only one in this room.

00:49:22.584 --> 00:49:25.998
And they want one
on this porch somewhere

00:49:25.999 --> 00:49:28.541
so that you not only
light up the porch,

00:49:28.542 --> 00:49:29.917
that end of the porch,

00:49:29.918 --> 00:49:33.041
but you also light up
a big area of the yard

00:49:33.042 --> 00:49:34.667
in between the two.

00:49:36.999 --> 00:49:38.998
No, no, let me get
the right size.

00:49:38.999 --> 00:49:41.333
- Okay, so, Daniel,
you can do the other one.

00:49:41.334 --> 00:49:44.998
- Yeah, you can do three more
and pound the things in

00:49:44.999 --> 00:49:46.999
and then we\'ll put
the screws in.

00:49:50.083 --> 00:49:52.250
You have to push hard.

00:49:55.584 --> 00:49:57.667
See now it gets easy.

00:50:05.083 --> 00:50:07.625
- The panels are going to be
on the roof.

00:50:07.626 --> 00:50:10.416
That\'s where we are going
to run the wire.

00:50:10.417 --> 00:50:15.625
That\'s why we dig that trench.

00:50:15.626 --> 00:50:18.833
So the electricity is going
to come from the panels,

00:50:18.834 --> 00:50:21.999
through that wire,
to the charge controller.

00:50:24.083 --> 00:50:27.998
You have the battery hooked up
to the charge controller too.

00:50:27.999 --> 00:50:30.750
So that\'s where everything
is connected.

00:50:30.751 --> 00:50:33.708
Careful, careful!

00:50:33.709 --> 00:50:36.998
Careful!

00:50:36.999 --> 00:50:38.458
- Sorry.
- That\'s okay.

00:50:38.459 --> 00:50:39.750
- Let them do it;
they can do it.

00:50:39.751 --> 00:50:40.959
- They can do it.
- Yeah.

00:50:45.792 --> 00:50:48.876
- [speaking foreign language]

00:52:34.834 --> 00:52:37.209
- So, Daniel,
those are the screws.

00:52:42.999 --> 00:52:46.751
[speaking French]

00:53:02.584 --> 00:53:05.584
- [speaking French]

00:53:16.751 --> 00:53:17.999
- Tell them to hold it.

00:53:37.999 --> 00:53:41.998
Don\'t go through the roof.

00:53:41.999 --> 00:53:43.998
- First the wood onto the metal,

00:53:43.999 --> 00:53:45.998
and then the panel on the wood.

00:53:45.999 --> 00:53:47.998
That\'s a better...

00:53:47.999 --> 00:53:49.998
Yeah, but don\'t use
those screws.

00:53:49.999 --> 00:53:50.999
Use the stainless screws.

00:53:50.999 --> 00:53:51.999
- Okay.

00:53:52.000 --> 00:53:53.166
- Because those will corrode.

00:53:53.167 --> 00:53:54.958
- Uh-oh.

00:53:54.959 --> 00:53:56.082
Yeah, we have the small ones.

00:53:56.083 --> 00:53:57.833
- You have
small and big ones, both.

00:53:57.834 --> 00:53:59.125
- Uh-huh.
- Yes.

00:54:01.999 --> 00:54:02.999
Okay.

00:54:04.167 --> 00:54:06.249
Okay.

00:54:06.250 --> 00:54:10.998
Yeah, I think they understand
how to do it now,

00:54:10.999 --> 00:54:14.208
and they will
get it done quickly

00:54:14.209 --> 00:54:17.083
because it will get very hot
if they don\'t.

00:54:23.792 --> 00:54:24.917
- You did it.

00:54:24.918 --> 00:54:28.291
- I don\'t know how.

00:54:28.292 --> 00:54:31.709
So we need them just to pass
this through here, like that.

00:54:34.083 --> 00:54:37.292
- [speaking French]

00:54:41.959 --> 00:54:43.918
[laughs]

00:56:02.999 --> 00:56:04.500
Okay, I\'m gonna try to do it.

00:56:04.501 --> 00:56:07.501
[drill whirring]

00:56:12.626 --> 00:56:13.998
- Believe me, what I think,

00:56:13.999 --> 00:56:16.625
it would be better to bring
those panels down with us,

00:56:16.626 --> 00:56:19.458
and drill the holes easily,
like, in the house,

00:56:19.459 --> 00:56:21.998
or somewhere, you know, where
we can do the job properly, man,

00:56:21.999 --> 00:56:24.998
because here it\'s not...
It\'s not good at all.

00:56:24.999 --> 00:56:27.708
- Yeah, the problem is that
the way that I drilled...

00:56:27.709 --> 00:56:29.374
- We have to drill others,

00:56:29.375 --> 00:56:31.583
one, two, three,
four, five, six holes, man.

00:56:31.584 --> 00:56:32.998
- No, it will be easier now,

00:56:32.999 --> 00:56:35.834
because I already know
how to drill this [...] hole.

00:56:36.999 --> 00:56:40.082
Hold it.

00:56:40.083 --> 00:56:42.501
Okay, and close to the edge.

00:56:47.209 --> 00:56:50.291
Okay, we have a problem here.

00:56:50.292 --> 00:56:51.292
- That\'s why I was saying

00:56:51.293 --> 00:56:52.583
complete all those holes,

00:56:52.584 --> 00:56:54.500
like, in the normal position,
you know?

00:56:54.501 --> 00:56:56.958
Without having 45 degrees
melting my brain.

00:56:56.959 --> 00:56:59.333
Damn, I cannot stand it anymore,
really.

00:56:59.334 --> 00:57:00.998
- You\'d better get used to it.

00:57:00.999 --> 00:57:02.998
- Somebody better get...
Yeah but... no, really.

00:57:02.999 --> 00:57:04.541
It\'s not that I won\'t
get used to it,

00:57:04.542 --> 00:57:05.750
I just want to do the job

00:57:05.751 --> 00:57:07.918
when I can do it
in normal condition, you know.

00:57:22.501 --> 00:57:24.998
- The sun is still
very over to the side.

00:57:24.999 --> 00:57:27.333
- Okay, try it again!

00:57:27.334 --> 00:57:28.999
We were shading it a little bit.

00:57:32.876 --> 00:57:36.291
- We should have, like,
checked the roof better

00:57:36.292 --> 00:57:39.666
and, like, already installed
the wood things.

00:57:39.667 --> 00:57:41.416
Then it would have been easier.

00:57:41.417 --> 00:57:42.500
But it\'s just that, like,

00:57:42.501 --> 00:57:44.291
now to understand
the proper system

00:57:44.292 --> 00:57:50.041
to drill on the structure,
to fix it, is like...

00:57:50.042 --> 00:57:52.082
It was not so obvious
at the start, you know?

00:57:52.083 --> 00:57:53.500
Was not comfortable, also.

00:57:53.501 --> 00:57:56.208
So after a little while,
you get used to it.

00:57:56.209 --> 00:57:59.249
But, we need
a little bit of time.

00:57:59.250 --> 00:58:01.458
- And you sort of invented
your own way of doing it.

00:58:01.459 --> 00:58:02.459
- Yep!

00:58:02.460 --> 00:58:03.708
[laughs]

00:58:03.709 --> 00:58:04.709
That\'s good.

00:58:04.710 --> 00:58:06.500
- It\'s fine.

00:58:06.501 --> 00:58:07.666
- It\'s not fine.

00:58:07.667 --> 00:58:08.667
- Yeah, man.

00:58:08.668 --> 00:58:11.500
You can go through that.

00:58:11.501 --> 00:58:13.291
You don\'t have to go
all the way.

00:58:13.292 --> 00:58:14.998
Don\'t be lazy.

00:58:14.999 --> 00:58:17.833
You have strong arms.

00:58:17.834 --> 00:58:19.625
Do it by hand.

00:58:19.626 --> 00:58:21.708
- The big satisfaction
is when we\'re gonna, like,

00:58:21.709 --> 00:58:24.666
just turn the switch on,
you know.

00:58:24.667 --> 00:58:27.541
You know,
you imagine how much job

00:58:27.542 --> 00:58:30.208
just for somebody
to come over there,

00:58:30.209 --> 00:58:33.750
and be like, on, off, on, off.

00:58:33.751 --> 00:58:35.998
It\'s...

00:58:35.999 --> 00:58:36.999
Ay ay ay.

01:00:34.709 --> 01:00:36.291
- Now the next thing we do

01:00:36.292 --> 01:00:38.458
is put light bulbs
in all of the sockets.

01:00:38.459 --> 01:00:39.459
- Perfect.

01:00:39.460 --> 01:00:43.750
This is kind of easy.

01:00:43.751 --> 01:00:45.500
- Okay, can you test it
again for me?

01:00:45.501 --> 01:00:48.625
- Yeah, I will.
I will.

01:00:48.626 --> 01:00:49.626
Yeah.

01:00:49.627 --> 01:00:51.998
Come in
and shine the light on here.

01:00:51.999 --> 01:00:56.708
So I can bring things down
nice and tight at this point.

01:00:56.709 --> 01:00:59.209
Okay, the circuit is connected.

01:01:01.501 --> 01:01:02.625
Shine on here.

01:01:02.626 --> 01:01:05.998
I\'m going to put
the circuit breaker up

01:01:05.999 --> 01:01:09.459
and take a meter
and check the voltage.

01:01:11.501 --> 01:01:14.042
I\'m gonna check the voltage...

01:01:17.999 --> 01:01:19.998
And I get 12.74,

01:01:19.999 --> 01:01:21.999
I get exactly the same.

01:01:23.999 --> 01:01:27.998
[laughs]

01:01:27.999 --> 01:01:30.166
- Thank you.

01:01:30.167 --> 01:01:34.833
- Now we can go
try the other one

01:01:34.834 --> 01:01:36.998
and see if they work.

01:01:36.999 --> 01:01:40.291
Let\'s go get lights in the place
where we\'re staying.

01:01:40.292 --> 01:01:41.917
Now we\'ve got light here.

01:01:41.918 --> 01:01:42.998
- Check over there.

01:01:42.999 --> 01:01:44.875
Look over there
what is happening over there.

01:01:44.876 --> 01:01:46.156
You\'re gonna see the difference.

01:02:37.876 --> 01:02:40.876
[gentle music]

01:03:57.375 --> 01:03:59.250
- Okay.
- Okay.

01:04:06.584 --> 01:04:08.417
- [speaking French]

01:04:15.501 --> 01:04:16.875
And what I\'m going to do is,

01:04:16.876 --> 01:04:19.458
I\'m gonna connect
the negatives to each other

01:04:19.459 --> 01:04:21.334
here and here.

01:04:22.626 --> 01:04:23.998
- Oh, it works.
- Yeah.

01:04:23.999 --> 01:04:24.999
- It just took a moment.

01:04:25.000 --> 01:04:26.292
Okay, everything is fine.

01:04:32.250 --> 01:04:36.998
You\'ll have to rock it
to get it in, yeah.

01:04:36.999 --> 01:04:40.998
We want the thing,
when it reaches the bottom,

01:04:40.999 --> 01:04:44.458
so that the pipe is...

01:04:44.459 --> 01:04:47.998
It is exactly opposite
the way it is now.

01:04:47.999 --> 01:04:49.333
How far loose is it?

01:04:49.334 --> 01:04:51.875
How many inches?
- Not so much.

01:04:51.876 --> 01:04:53.541
- Okay, let me
let a little more,

01:04:53.542 --> 01:04:54.833
because the water can go down.

01:04:54.834 --> 01:04:55.998
There we are.

01:04:55.999 --> 01:04:56.999
- Even a bit more.

01:04:57.000 --> 01:04:58.750
- Okay.

01:04:58.751 --> 01:04:59.833
Yeah, okay.

01:04:59.834 --> 01:05:01.584
There we are.

01:05:11.584 --> 01:05:13.333
It\'s running.

01:05:13.334 --> 01:05:16.082
- I know it\'s running,
but the water\'s not coming out.

01:05:16.083 --> 01:05:17.875
The water is coming,
the water is coming,

01:05:17.876 --> 01:05:19.458
the water is coming!

01:05:19.459 --> 01:05:20.875
Wooo!

01:05:20.876 --> 01:05:22.292
I\'m sorry.

01:05:23.959 --> 01:05:30.250
[counting in French]

01:05:46.042 --> 01:05:49.125
[voices overlapping]

01:06:02.999 --> 01:06:05.999
[laughter]

01:06:54.999 --> 01:06:59.083
[all talking]

01:07:04.334 --> 01:07:06.708
- The sun is over there.

01:07:06.709 --> 01:07:09.875
And this is going
to shade the panels in June.

01:07:09.876 --> 01:07:12.500
Because you got to have
the tank further that way.

01:07:12.501 --> 01:07:14.998
You have to have the rack
out here about...

01:07:14.999 --> 01:07:16.666
So you have a 12-degree slope.

01:07:16.667 --> 01:07:19.124
The sun on June 21st,

01:07:19.125 --> 01:07:21.458
it\'s going to be
12 degrees this way,

01:07:21.459 --> 01:07:24.416
so it\'ll come to here
and nothing will happen.

01:07:24.417 --> 01:07:28.166
So you have to
have this further this way.

01:07:28.167 --> 01:07:31.998
Now I see the shape of the tank.

01:07:31.999 --> 01:07:33.374
- So it\'s not good.

01:07:33.375 --> 01:07:34.625
- No.

01:07:34.626 --> 01:07:36.500
It\'s not good for about
five different reasons.

01:07:36.501 --> 01:07:37.998
- Oh, my god.

01:07:37.999 --> 01:07:39.998
- It\'s all in the details.

01:07:39.999 --> 01:07:44.541
- I don\'t like
this kind of stuff.

01:07:44.542 --> 01:07:45.999
I\'m tired, man.

01:08:37.375 --> 01:08:39.750
- Okay the pump is wired up
just fine.

01:08:39.751 --> 01:08:41.791
Nothing is wrong
with the wiring.

01:08:41.792 --> 01:08:44.998
And the...
Everything is fine.

01:08:44.999 --> 01:08:46.998
- So the shading is stopping
the pump from working.

01:08:46.999 --> 01:08:48.333
- The shading and the fact

01:08:48.334 --> 01:08:51.998
that the sun
is at such a low angle,

01:08:51.999 --> 01:08:54.124
we\'re past the point
where it will work anymore.

01:08:54.125 --> 01:08:57.041
We can turn it on,
it will start in the morning,

01:08:57.042 --> 01:09:00.998
and then when the tank is full,
they can turn it off.

01:09:00.999 --> 01:09:02.166
- Just a question.

01:09:02.167 --> 01:09:04.374
What I would like to know is,

01:09:04.375 --> 01:09:07.998
do you think that
it would it be, like, possible

01:09:07.999 --> 01:09:09.458
to do a system, like, for them,

01:09:09.459 --> 01:09:11.458
like, just to screw
those things off,

01:09:11.459 --> 01:09:14.958
and like bring this
structure, like...

01:09:14.959 --> 01:09:16.124
- Oh, you mean
move the structure?

01:09:16.125 --> 01:09:17.666
- Yeah.
- Whole mounting system.

01:09:17.667 --> 01:09:20.041
That\'s what we need
from the beginning.

01:09:20.042 --> 01:09:23.416
- Well, it would be fine
if you had a pair of things

01:09:23.417 --> 01:09:25.750
that go up on the tower,

01:09:25.751 --> 01:09:26.998
and it was mounted up here.

01:09:26.999 --> 01:09:29.041
- But we cannot solder it here.
- No.

01:09:29.042 --> 01:09:31.917
- What I\'m... what I\'m
thinking about

01:09:31.918 --> 01:09:36.166
is probably take the structure
to Bamako,

01:09:36.167 --> 01:09:37.998
solder them with a longer...

01:09:37.999 --> 01:09:39.333
- Take that one.
- That one.

01:09:39.334 --> 01:09:41.998
With longer patas.

01:09:41.999 --> 01:09:44.666
I don\'t know how to say that,
mounting.

01:09:44.667 --> 01:09:45.667
Exactly.

01:13:29.959 --> 01:13:31.583
- If I find financial help,
perfect.

01:13:31.584 --> 01:13:32.625
If I don\'t find it,

01:13:32.626 --> 01:13:33.998
I just put my house
in guarantee,

01:13:33.999 --> 01:13:36.166
and I take a loan to the bank,
you know?

01:13:36.167 --> 01:13:38.998
And I\'m going
to do it like this.

01:13:38.999 --> 01:13:40.791
Because anyway,
economically speaking,

01:13:40.792 --> 01:13:42.041
it is worth it, you know,

01:13:42.042 --> 01:13:45.750
because, like, all the panels
we\'ve been doing so far,

01:13:45.751 --> 01:13:46.751
are all gone.

01:13:46.752 --> 01:13:47.833
- They\'re sold, yeah.

01:13:47.834 --> 01:13:49.041
There\'s a market here for them.

01:13:49.042 --> 01:13:51.124
- And people are telling me,
\"Hey, can I have a panel?\"

01:13:51.125 --> 01:13:53.041
I already have like three
reservations of panels,

01:13:53.042 --> 01:13:55.666
and there is maybe seven, eight
professors

01:13:55.667 --> 01:13:56.667
around the Banko village,

01:13:56.668 --> 01:13:58.459
they want their panel too.

01:13:59.999 --> 01:14:02.249
- What we have to do is,

01:14:02.250 --> 01:14:05.708
I will give you
a couple of names,

01:14:05.709 --> 01:14:06.917
and you can contact.

01:14:06.918 --> 01:14:09.998
There\'s a company in Spain
called Isofotón.

01:14:09.999 --> 01:14:11.374
- Yeah, this I had heard about.

01:14:11.375 --> 01:14:15.166
- Yeah, and they make
essentially identical cells

01:14:15.167 --> 01:14:17.750
to the first batch we used,
the ones we cut.

01:14:17.751 --> 01:14:20.541
The problem is that
everybody wants the cells now,

01:14:20.542 --> 01:14:21.917
the broken cells.

01:14:21.918 --> 01:14:22.918
- Oh, yeah?

01:14:22.919 --> 01:14:24.166
- Yeah.

01:14:24.167 --> 01:14:26.458
The Chinese are buying them
like mad,

01:14:26.459 --> 01:14:30.998
and the Indians are buying them
to make toys.

01:14:30.999 --> 01:14:35.791
The industry
is a seller\'s industry.

01:14:35.792 --> 01:14:37.998
Everybody who makes PV modules

01:14:37.999 --> 01:14:41.374
has their customers
on a waiting list,

01:14:41.375 --> 01:14:43.250
including you.

01:14:58.083 --> 01:15:00.208
- I can do something
for my people.

01:15:00.209 --> 01:15:03.417
Earning my life, I can help
a lot of people, you know?

01:15:06.999 --> 01:15:08.750
When I say a lot, it\'s a lot.

01:15:08.751 --> 01:15:09.958
Because in my head,

01:15:09.959 --> 01:15:12.625
I count, like,
on helping thousands of people,

01:15:12.626 --> 01:15:15.875
not just, like,
10 or 20 villages.

01:15:15.876 --> 01:15:17.458
Like, if God\'s willing

01:15:17.459 --> 01:15:18.998
that I live long enough,

01:15:18.999 --> 01:15:21.998
I would like to make a lot
of villages every year.

01:15:21.999 --> 01:15:24.833
So we\'re talking about
thousands of people every year.

01:15:24.834 --> 01:15:26.082
Maybe at the end of my life,

01:15:26.083 --> 01:15:28.998
I could tell you I have been
helping over 100,000 people

01:15:28.999 --> 01:15:29.999
in this country,

01:15:30.000 --> 01:15:31.041
building wells,

01:15:31.042 --> 01:15:34.208
building solar panel
installation,

01:15:34.209 --> 01:15:36.374
like, solar cookers,
and all this stuff.

01:15:36.375 --> 01:15:39.082
So, I mean, like, my main goal
is help them,

01:15:39.083 --> 01:15:40.417
and make my life.

01:17:00.542 --> 01:17:03.583
- Maybe the solution is not
to give money to governments.

01:17:03.584 --> 01:17:05.998
Maybe the solution
is do micro-projects

01:17:05.999 --> 01:17:08.998
to help people
to develop themselves.

01:17:08.999 --> 01:17:11.625
Don\'t be like, \"I\'m going to
build everything for you.\"

01:17:11.626 --> 01:17:12.998
We say this 100 times, you know?

01:17:12.999 --> 01:17:15.082
Give small money
and small things to people,

01:17:15.083 --> 01:17:17.709
they are gonna do it
by themselves, you know?

01:17:42.501 --> 01:17:45.501
[instrumental music]

01:18:01.999 --> 01:18:04.999
[all speaking foreign language]

01:19:27.125 --> 01:19:28.626
- Good-bye.