| 23 November |
Stewart Craine, A Village Infrastructure Angel, Found His Adventure By Lighting Up The World With Solar Energy! |
Dear Friends & Visitors/Viewers/Readers,
(Please click on red link below)
Hope this post is finding you relaxed from turkey feast and with room for left-over turkey sandwiches. As for me, the more time I’ve spent on researching about Barefoot Power and its cofounder Stewart Craine, the more I am thankful for our access to electricity/power and hope that this solar development wizard Stewart did not only reach his original goal of reaching 1 million people by 2010, building a solid and sustainable business that will provide not only solar lighting kits but also many other solar energy products available to many earthlings, but also finding time to take a breather for himself, for he certainly deserves it .
Today’s piece is long overdue due to interruption of Hurricane Sandy, US Presidential election, and some hardware difficulty in uploading the video associated with this particular interview. As much occurrence in life, one can always look for the silver lining in any event. In this case, the silver lining is that I had more time in doing background search associated with Mr. Stewart Craine, cofounder of Barefoot Power of Australia.
Did you know that over US $10 billion (some say over 17 billion) is spent each year on kerosene for lighting homes in developing countries? (please see Lighting Africaand Lumina Project ) The light cast from a kerosene lamp is poorly distributed, difficult for children to study; its open flame, smoke, and soot from kerosene lights endanger lives by reducing indoor air quality and increasing the likelihood of fire.
The negative impacts of using kerosene lighting as a result of energy poverty, listed below, are sobering:
*The World Health Organization (WHO) reported-over 300,000 deaths each year from burns, vast majority of these occur in low and middle income countries.
*Nearly 4 million women suffer from severe burns from open fires and kerosene lighting each year.
*More children die from fire related injuries than fatalities from tuberculosis or malaria.
*The poor, mostly women and children, consume the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes of smoke from indoor air pollution, resulting in chronic respiratory and eye diseases.
*The United Nations Development Program and the WHO reported 1.6 million deaths per year (one life lost per 20 second) in developing countries caused by the indoor air pollution due to traditional fuel source. Below, you will find a clip of the interview with Stewart Craine:
What Mr. Stewart Craine and his team had done is to help people getting onto the ladder out of energy poverty through the use of affordable solar lighting and phone charging to low-income population without access to electricity. After graduating from UOW (University of Wollongong) with double degrees in civil engineering and mathematics, driven by the desire to seek adventure rather than security or boredom, Stewart chose to work with AVO (Australian Volunteers Overseas/International), leading to two year stint working on renewable energy projects in Western Nepal. This apparently ignited his passion for international development and a desire to find a more effective model than the aid model. Realizing that he could not volunteer forever, he went to work for Hydro Tasmania, where he and his colleague Harry Andrews collaboratively found the solution for Stewart’s career path of more effective model of international development by establishing Bathurst-based Barefoot Power in 2005. Barefoot Power is a development for-profit company aiming to fight poverty and climate change in developing countries by distributing household solar lighting equipment and off-grid power solutions to the poor population currently using kerosene and other environmentally harmful energy sources. Selling solar kits employing LED technology to provide cheap, safe, and efficient power to impoverished families in the developing countries was not only a worthwhile thing to do, it can be a sustainable business. In 2010 Barefoot Power won product awards in all tested categories for off-grid lighting products in a competition at an international conference( (organised by the Lighting Africa program of the IFC (International Finance Corporation) which is part of the World Bank Group) held in Nairobi, Kenya. This caught the attention of EIB (European Investment Bank), enabling Barefoot Power to sign an agreement with EIB such that the EIB provided a grant of up to EUR 1 million in the form of a Management Technical Support Facility of the European Community in connection with the GEEREF (Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund, www.geeref.eu ). Prior to the grant (first segment was made available to Barefoot Power in August of 2010), CO2 emission reductions from Barefoot Power’s products were 5,000 tons per year, and the impact has increased to 30,000 tons per year by the end of the grant in late 2011. Such CO2 emission reduction is expected to double each year thereafter. Subsequently, Barefoot Power had received global recognition including an award from G20 and support of entrepreneurial superstar Richard Branson.
My interest in writing this piece did not stem from the fact that Stewart and I both had received degrees in mathematics and civil engineering, but stemmed from our connection to Kiva ( a micro-finance institution helping entrepreneurs in USA and various developing countries): my connection with the Sunisthefuture Team at Kiva ( w/interest in helping small businesses in solar energy/renewable energy/energy efficiency/recycling), urging Kiva to expand in the area of Green and Solar loans, and helping to raise the money for Kiva’s first solar loan through Barefoot Power. It was quite a thrilling experience to have seen over 1000 Kiva lenders (1034 to be exact) gathering cooperatively across the globe to help light up Tanzania through distributor Martin of Barefoot Power. (Stewart also assured me that The Grace Foundation had much to do with Martin’s loan being a success). Certainly, we (Sunisthefuture Team and many other teams at Kiva) are all looking forward to more opportunities in helping to light up our planet earth via the clean and efficient solar lighting/kits. So, Stewart, whether your solar kits will be in Africa, Pacific, or any where else, we just want you to remember that there will be thousands and thousands of us earthlings, ready to collaborate with you in your effort in lighting up the world. Mr. Craine is now broadening his horizon, developing www.villageinfrastructure.com , by expanding his solar product line to more than just the solar lighting kits. We wish him much success for there is plenty of sunshine in Africa, waiting to be tapped.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Any comments/suggestions/questions/concerns will be welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
| 13 November |
Why Is Solar/Wind/Renewables So Much Cleaner and More Desirable Than Tar/Oil Sands |
Dear Friends & Visitors/Readers/Viewers,
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I have to confess that I do not know half as much about tar sands as I do about solar energy source. But 350.org’s planned event on Nov. 18, 2012 (posted in Nov. 12, 2012 of http://www.sunisthefuture.net) compelled me to learn (never let a learning opportunity slip by) more on this topic. If you’d like to learn more about the environmental impact of mining tar sands, please allow me to share the video and two links below:
This is a picture of Syncrude's base mine. The yellow structures are the bases of pyramids made of sulphur - it is not economical for Syncrude to sell the sulphur so it stockpiles it instead. Behind that is the tailings pond, held in by what is recognized as the largest dam in the world. The extraction plant is just to the right of this photograph and most of the mine is to the left.(Wikipedia Creative Commons)
Athabasca tar/oil sands (northeastern Alberta, Canada) on the banks of the river, c. 1900 (wikimedia)
1. Oil Sands/Tar Sands (wikipedia)
2. Why You Need To Know About The Canadian Tar Sands
Definitely, without the consumption of huge amount of water, carcinogenic byproducts, greenhouse gases emission, nor negative impact on wildlife, solar/wind/renewable energies are far cleaner/safer/less costly in the long run than tar sands as energy source. I only wish that solar and wind had been more prevalent energy sources because that would have diminished the need/desire to look to tar sands.
So, let’s step up the Solar/Renewable Initiative ! I will do my part and, please, that you will do yours. A reminder of our Nov. 8, 2012 post at http://www.sunisthefuture.net .
gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker.
Your comments/suggestions are always welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
| 30 October |
In Light of Hurricane Sandy, We Need More Solar Power ! We Need More Distributed Solar Power ! |
Dear Friends & Visitors/Viewers/Readers from 149 countries,
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I understand many of you are very concerned about our family and friends living at the Eastern Seaboard, heavily influenced by the Hurricane/Superstorm Sandy. For Hurricane Sandy is the largest Atlantic hurricane in diameter on record, a late-season tropical cyclone that affected Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Eastern Seaboard of the United States, reaching the area south of the Great Lakes region of the United States and Eastern Canada. It is the 18th named and tropical cyclone and 10th hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, developed from an elongated tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea on October 22, 2012. It became a tropical depression, quickly strengthened, and was upgraded to a tropical storm six hours later. Sandy moved slowly northward toward the Greater Antilles and gradually strengthened. Sandy’s impact on the United States stretched from North Carolina to New England with tropical storm force winds stretching far inland and significant mountain snows in West Virginia. The cyclone brought a significant storm surge to New York City on the evening of October 29, 2012, with numerous streets and tunnels flooded in Lower Manhattan and other areas of the city. Hurricane Sandy is now officially listed as the largest hurricane to ever form in the Atlantic Basin, according to the National Hurricane Center, having reached 1,000 miles in diameter. Below is a news coverage on Oct. 27, 2012.
Hurricane Sandy at East River Manhatten (by David Shankbone, wikimedia)
Flooding in Marblehead, MA caused by Hurricane Sandy (by The Birkes, wikimedia)
Hull, MA, weathering Sandy (by Ashstar01, wikimedia)
Satellite image of Hurricane Sandy on Oct. 29, 2012 (wikimedia, NASA)
Let’s take a look at some of the recommendations by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) for Hurricane Sandy and other tropical storms, FEMA site for Hurricane preparations:
President Barack Obama receiving update to Hurricane Sandy (by Pete Souza, wikimedia)
NJ National Guard prepares for Hurricane Sandy (by Sgt. Mark C. Olsen, wikimedia)
- 1. Before the hurricane: 1. Determine where you would go and how you would get there, if you were ordered to evacuate 2. Cover your home’s windows, either with permanent storm shutters or marine plywood at least 5/8 of an inch thick. 3. Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well-trimmed 4. Clear clogged rain gutters. 5. Secure all outdoor furniture, decorations, trash cans and anything else that could blow away. 6. Install a generator for emergencies (never never use the generator inside the house, too dangerous).
Empty supermarket shelves before Hurricane Sandy at Montgomery, NY (by Daniel Case, wikimedia)
- 2. During the hurricane: 1. Listen to the radio or TV for information. 2. Secure your home, close storm shutters, and secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors. 3. Turn off propane tanks. 4. Avoid using the phone except for serious emergencies. 5. Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purpose such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other larger containers with water. 6. Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors. 7. Do not drive into low-lying areas or over roads and bridges that are already under water.
- 3. If evacuating: Be sure to bring checkbooks, driver’s license, credit card information, birth certificates, social security cards and don’t forget your pets.
Recent Updates:
- 1. weather.com recorded a record number of webpage page views, totalling nearly 300 million. According to a press release from the Weather Company, their properties recorded nearly half of a billion page views on Monday alone, close to doubling a previous record of 249 million. Nearly 10 million people reportedly tuned in to live streams on weather.com or Youtube as well.
- 2. Monday night, Oct. 29, 2012, as health care workers worked through the night to evacuate New York University’s Langone Medical Center after heavy flooding from Hurricane Sandy caused the hospital to lose power (backup power generators are outdated). Because the hospital’s respirators for infants do not have backup batteries, each of the 20 infants from intensive care unit required extra attention from nurses at the hospital. At least four babies had to be carried to a waiting ambulance down nine flights of stairs while nurses “breathed” for the infant by manually squeezing a bag to drive oxygen into the lungs.
- 3. A nameless cabbie frantically ferried people after the construction crane at One57 collapsed in Manhattan yesterday (Monday, Oct. 29, 2012),to emergency crew at hospitals who tirelessly evacuated patients through the night, stories of bravery and kindness are slowly beginning to filter through.
- 4. Roughly 17,062 flights have been canceled through Wednesday. Highest volumes of canceled flights for Tuesday & Wednesday are: Philadelphia International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, La Guardia Airport, JFK International Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Logan International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
- 5. In Pennsylvania, Dauphin County Commission Chairman Jeff Haste cautioned local residents to be wary of people offering to do repair work, be wary of crooked contractors, charities.
- 6. A New York City hedge fund analyst, tweeting under the pseudonym @comfortablysmug, drew ire in the wake of the havoc wrought by Hurricane Sandy after he published a series of misleading tweets Monday night that suggested, among other false assertions, that the New York Stock Exchange’s trading rooom floor was udner water.
- 7. New York University School of Medicine, founded in 1841, (hosts of some of the top scholars in medicine, and Lagone Medical Center is home to much of the school’s research) was forced to evacuate Monday (Oct. 29, 2012) night after a power failure due to Hurricane Sandy, and a significant amount of research also could be washed away. In one case, scientists were rolling a big freezer, the size of a big refrigerator, to an area of the hospital with emergency power.
- 8. 50-foot section of the Atlantic City’s iconic boardwalk was wiped out by strong waves, NBC reports. But the New Jersey city’s 12 waterfront casinos came through Sandy relatively unscathed and some tell the news service that could even open today.
- 9. Con Edison‘s latest power estimate: @ConEdison:@willholmes-Restoration to customers in areas by overhead power could take at least a week and Underground could take 4 days.
Power outage at Manhatten due to Hurricane Sandy (by Hybirdd, wikimedia)
- 10.This afternoon, the climate activist group 350.org said it had asked its nationwide network of supporters to not only donate to the Red Cross in the aftermath of this week’s devastating storm, but also to “urge the fossil fuel industry to divert the millions of dollars they are spending to influence the election towards vital recovery efforts.” The group posted a petition on its website and claimed that “thousands” had already signed it. Scientists say pollution arising from the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal significantly contributes to global warming, which in turn can increase the intensity of storms like Hurricane Sandy. If you are interested in supporting 350.org members in 189 countries, please go to 350.org
- 11.Power outages and flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy disrupted telecommunications services on Tuesday resulting in spotty coverage for cellphones, home telephones, and internet services.
- 12.NYC Village Halloween Parade postponed (rather than canceled) for the first time in its 39 year history.
- 13. To get New York City subway system back to 90 percent capacity could take weeks or months.
Time Square subway station shutdown during Hurricane Sandy (by Metropolitan Transportation Authority/Aaron Donovan, wikimedia)
- 14. Southeastern Michigan residents felt the effects of Hurricane Sandy on Mon. and Tues. 110,000 DTE Energy customers lost power, with outages still affecting 80,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.
- 15. Mandatory evacuation to continue through Day 3 in Ocean City, NJ.
- 16. As of 1:09 PM EDT today, it is noted in HuffPost that Sandy Power outages hit more than 8.1 million homes and businesses.
- 17. Former VP Al Gore’s blog post warned today, “the storm that ravaged the East Coast Monday is “a disturbing sign of things to come. We must heed this warning and act quickly to solve the climate crisis. Dirty energy makes dirty weather.”
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Time Square Connect The Dots Action "End Climate Silence" before Hurricane Sandy (by 350.0rg)
Time Square Connect The Dots Action "End Climate Silence' before Hurricane Sandy (by 350.org)
A construction crane on One57 partially collapsed in Manhatten (wikimedia, shot by Jordan Balderas, Oct. 29, 2012)
“Scientists tell us that by continually dumping 90 million tons of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every single day, we are altering the environment in which all storms develop. As the oceans and atmosphere continue to warm, storms are becoming more energetic and powerful. Hurricane Sandy, and the Nashville flood, were reminders of just that,” Al Gore reminded us.
Here, at Sun Is The Future, we are calling for more Solar Power, we are calling for more Distributed Solar Power! We need more distributed Solar Power every where ! Not only is Solar Power the cleanest power that would help to reduce the dumping of global warming pollution into the atmosphere every day, reduce the climate crisis, it is also more likely to allow us to have distributed power that would enable us to respond during crisis, enabling us to still have power individually rather than massively be without power. Write to your state legislators and show your concern and support for policies that would encourage installations of Solar and Renewable Energy! Time to Act!
gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, sunisthefuture@gmail.com
There is always more on solar energy at: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
Homepage: http://www.sunisthefuture.net
