Dear Editor:

We are bombarded every day with the power of money as a number of candidates tout financial success as a defining accolade for success in life. When you are a research troller like I am, so many stories in the press are full of conflicts. Often all the “winners” win because they crave or create gobs of money. Shark Tank is a very interesting and informative program for entrepreneurs who fight for approval and money.

As the love of money grows, inequality of income gaps gets larger. There seems to be no end to this worship of the dollar, and countries like New Zealand and Australia look at the American culture with low regard and respect.

But then I stumbled onto an exciting new invention that was inspired by the needs of impoverished families rather than the need of money — 1.1 billion people live without access to electricity.

A Filipino brother and sister, Aisa and Raphael Mijeno, engineered a lamp that runs on saltwater and metal rods, providing light to those without electricity. The new invention will be a sustainable source of light, replacing kerosene lamps in rural villages. Living close to saltwater makes the 8-hour lamp easy to refill and safe from fire hazards.

In addition to being inspired by human need, financial gains will be limited as their pricing strategy incorporates donating a lamp to a family in need for every lamp sold. It is uplifting to discover that some people are still inspired to create new products for the betterment of mankind greater than more money in their pockets. Such discoveries provide a sense of balance in the universe. I am still hoping for a sense of balance in our campaign rhetoric.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb