Filipina Entrepreneur Shines at APEC

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation regional group supports sustainable growth and prosperity among its 21 member states, both developed and emerging economies through trade, investment, sustainability and innovation. One individual may exemplify such goals. “A Filipina who co-founded Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALT), a company that makes innovative lamps powered by saltwater, was thrust into the global limelight… as a great example of a young entrepreneur using technology to solve everyday problems,” reports Doris Dumlao-Abadilla for the Inquirer in Manila. Aisa Mijeno “thought of making the saltwater-powered lamps after living with the natives of the Butbut tribe in Kalinga who relied only on kerosene lamps and moonlight to do evening chores.” She was on an APEC panel with US President Barack Obama and Jack Ma, creator of Alibaba, the online retail site. The panel discussed how innovations like the saltwater lamps can be economical approaches to addressing climate change. The lamps operate about 8 hours before needing a recharge, and the Mijeno, an engineer and Greenpeace activist, reminds that off-grid energy is useful during disasters. – YaleGlobal