On Green: Can the sun save Africa?

I have long felt that Africa was an economic giant who has laid sleeping too long. It's a continent that much of the world has written off as a charity case, a place that has too many tribes, too many dictators, and not enough resources save the few pockets of oil and diamonds.

And I could never understand this mentality. How is it that the continent where human life began has been rendered useless? The whole world that has doubted Africa's ability to save itself from itself may finally be proved wrong. And the sun itself may be the protagonist.

There is a concentrated solar project now being conducted in the African desert that has the ability to create enough power to supply 1/6 of Europe with all of its electricity, drastically cutting emissions and providing many African nations with a consistent stream of income. It's about time we let this giant rise and shine.

Read the full story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/02/renewableenergy.solarpower

The above picture can be found at http://www.xemedia.com/africa/p_images/sun_lg.jpg