Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2017 at Adelaide, Australia (presented at www.sunisthefuture.net)
Crowds awaiting for the arrival of solar cars at Adelaide, Australia (presented at www.sunisthefuture.net)
Finish Line at Adelaide, Australia (presented at www.sunisthefuture.net)
Awaiting for the arrival of solar cars at Adelaide, Australia (presented at www.sunisthefuture.net)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
On this gorgeous Oct. 12, 2017, sun drenched day, Victoria Square at Adelaide, Australia, was filled with enthusiastic solar or vehicle advocates, parents, solar car racers/students from 30 countries, and curious audience, awaiting for the first solar vehicles to arrive. Without further ado, allow me to share the excitement of participants and audience of Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2017 at Adelaide, Australia, below:
More photos, videos, and posts about these and other solar vehicles designed, built, and raced by students from 30 countries will be presented in the following posts.
For more on history of World Solar Challenge, please feel free to refer to our previous posts, below:
World Solar Challenge 2015, Parade at Victoria Square in Adelaide, Australia (photo of sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker, presented at sunisthefuture.net)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Yes, this is the year to celebrate the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge’s 30th Anniversary in Australia! The event began on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, at State Square, in front of the Parliament House of Northern Territory (at 6:00 am-8:30 am, with the first car leaving at 8:30 am) and expect to see the solar car teams arriving at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga of Adelaide, Australia (between Wednesday, Oct. 11 to Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017). After teams of students from 30 countries designed and built their own solar cars, they have traversed 3,000 km between Darwin and Adelaide in 5-8 days, to meet the challenge of 3 classes of World Solar Challenge of 2017: Challenger Class; Cruiser Class; and Adventure Class.
World Solar Challenge was the brain child of solar pioneer Hans Tholstrup and car racer Larry Perkins. In 1982, they embarked on a quest to drive a home-built solar car The Quiet Achiever across Australia from West to East. Hans also enthusiastically urged others to explore and develop solar transport. So, the World Solar Challenge was born. Inaugurated in 1987 with pioneer sponsor, the South Australian Tourism Commission, the World Solar Challenge continues to showcase the development of advanced automotive technology and promote alternatives to conventional vehicle engines.
Using no more than six square meters of solar panels, bright young minds from different parts of the world are on track in developing efficient solar powered electric vehicles. Every two years, teams from international universities and technical institutes gather with private entrepreneurs at Down Under to promote the knowledge and fact that sun/solar is the future.
Above are photos and videos from World Solar Challenge 2015. Keep in mind that these solar car teams will be arriving tomorrow Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga, Adelaide, Australia. If you will be near Adelaide, check out Victoria Square for views of many interesting designs of solar cars.
To find out the motivation behind organizing this event, please feel free to view the video of an interview with Event Organizer Chris Selwood in 2013, below:
To find out the updated result for all teams and all classes and to see all the solar cars at World Solar Challenge 2017, please click HERE.
To find all the supportive Scientific Faculty behind World Solar Challenge, please click HERE.
For Regulations of the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, please click HERE.
For World Solar Challenge web site, please click HERE.
For more on healthy, happy, and sustainable living, please feel free to visit: Windermere Sun, www.WindermereSun.com, an online publication promoting community activities, businesses, and collaborations for healthy, happy, and sustainable living.
This is a repost from one of our sister publications, Windermere Sun.
Solar Panels Reflecting the Sky, by Debbie Mous, brought to you by WindermereSun.com
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Change is in the air.Valencia College (1800 S. Kirkman Rd., Orlando, FL) of Central Florida is moving with time, leading and educating Central Floridians during the National Drive Electric Week 2016. National Drive Electric Week, from September 10-18, 2016, is a nationwide celebration to heighten awareness of today’s widespread availability of plug-ins, hybrids, and all electric vehicles, be it cars, trucks, motorcycles, or buses.The event itself started back in 2011 as National Plug In Day with the simple idea to hold simultaneous events across the country on the same day. It has since evolved and expanded into an entire week of events and changed the name to emphasize the component that would bring tremendous impact to our planet earth: Driving Electric Vehicle! This Orlando event is one of more than 100 across the country where EV owners (aka “EV-angelists”) are holding electric car parades and series of events including the launching of new public EV charging stations. On Saturday, September 10, 2016, at parking lot F of Valencia College West Campus, owners of a wide array of EV’s (electric vehicles), (including Nissan Leaf’s, Chevy Volt’s, Tesla Model S, BMW i3, Ford C-MAX Energi, and a solar vehicle), enthusiastically shared their views of the energy and environmental impact of the EV movement. If you are interested in finding out more about National Drive Electric Week, please click HERE.
It is also intriguing to find some one in Central Florida, Larry Wexler (above), with the idea and dream of one day seeing a Solar Car Race right here in our backyard of Central Florida! From my years in covering the Australian World Solar Challenge (if you’d like to see each of these solar cars from 2015, click HERE) I realize this is an ambitious project that will require many volunteers from many areas (electronics, computer programming, design, marketing, communications, etc.). But it is a terrific goal worth dreaming. So, let’s hope Mr. Wexler much success in this endeavor and let’s give him a hand!
The organizer of the event at Valencia College-West Campus, Lisa Macon (Dean of Division of Engineering, Computer Programming, and Technology at Valencia College), gathered many of our sustainability leaders in the Central Florida community for a very informative afternoon of:
“Introduction to Electric Cars“: The highlights of electric car ownership is presented by Lisa Macon, from different types of propulsion systems to the basic of charging electric vehicles.
“Life with An Electric Vehicle“: Thron Crowe is a local EV expert who uses his early model Nissan Leaf to drive for both Uber and Lyft. He’s quite familiar with Orlando’s charging station infrastructure while making money using his electric vehicle.
“Your EV- Planning and Practice“: Insights from Goering Castro of Cory Fairbanks Mazda are shared, from shopping for the right EV to fit one’s wallet and lifestyle, to integrating one’s EV into one’s daily life.
“Going Solar-Central Florida Solar Co-Op“: Derek Grozio brings us to Central Florida’s Solar Co-Op, which opens now until November 30, 2016. Learn about going solar from an EV owner’s perspective, review the process and benefits, seeing real numbers from a recent installation.
5. “Green Works Orlando-A Path To Urban Sustainability“: Chris Castro, Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando (as part of the Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Sustainability Initiative, Green Works Orlando), presented topics in energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy projects, solid waste innovations, municipal fleet vehicles, and various other efforts Orlando is working toward to become one of the most sustainable cities in USA.
Hope this is helpful. Hope you are considering going Solar and going EV and taking measures in taking parts in Sustainable Living!
After much careful consideration, I’ve decided to still post this piece on “Please Support These Solar Car Teams“. I want to clarify that these teams come from cultural backgrounds that do not complain much nor easily request for assistance from others. Therefore, none of the teams nor their team leaders had asked me to post this piece. It is based on other sources and my personal observations that had brought me to the conclusion. I would also like to remind every one that the goal of these challenges, whether it be World Solar Challenges, American Solar Challenges, Abu Dhabi Solar Challenges, SaSol Solar Challenges of South Africa, the purpose is to stimulate learning opportunities, exchange ideas to stimulate the growth of Solar Energy, and help our future generations to transition into solar energy quickly. In order to help our planet to transition into a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable place to live in, we need to help all continents and countries to transition into EV (Electric Vehicle) and Solar Energy Age. So, I am taking this opportunity to shout out to electric vehicle companies such as Tesla Motors, Nissan, BYD, Ford, General Motors, etc. to ask for assistance for these teams in whichever way possible.
First: the two new solar cars from South Africa- Sirius X25 of North West University and Hulamin-iKlwa of University of Qwa Zulu Natal are the first and only two entrants from Africa. Both of these two teams are on very tight budget. They represent our hope for the solar future in the African continent, a place with much future growth potential.
WSC2015-Sirius X25 of North West University from South Africa (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
WSC2015-Hulamin-iKlwa of University of Qwa Zulu Natal from South Africa (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Second: first entrant from China-Sun Shuttle of Beijing Institute of Technology entered for the second time. Contrary to what some other bloggers presumed, Sun Shuttle hardly had any support this time. It’s amazing that they actually made it to WSC2015! For the good of the planet, it is critical for the Chinese to transition into EV (electric vehicle) and Solar EV future, because China is inhabited by one fifth of the earth’s population. A cleaner China will translate into a cleaner planet earth!
WSC2015-Sun Shuttle from Beijing Institute of Technology of China, with Professor Zhang You-tong (with sunglasses) and students (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
Third: Aurora of Aurora Vehicle Association has entered every World Solar Challenge since 1987 until this year (2015). Apparently Aurora’s loss of its garage workspace further led to dramatic decrease in membership of the organization. It would be a pity not to see Aurora of Aurora Vehicle Association, the most competitive entrant of our hosting country Australia, in the future. It would feel as though part of the tradition of World Solar Challenge has been lost.
WSC2015-Aurora of Aurora Solar Vehicle Association with its loyal member and Chairman Martin Brook (email: martin.brook@aurorasolarcar.com)(credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
I hope all electric vehicle companies, solar enthusiasts, car enthusiasts, or simply any one who is interested in protecting our planet from pollution and accelerated climate change would reach out to these universities and organizations mentioned above, to show interest in helping these solar car teams.
More posts about World Solar Challenge 2015 will be coming.
As I’ve previously mentioned in an earlier post: If any solar car team needs to have a fund raising campaign, Sun Is The Future would be gladly help in letting the world know about your fund raising campaign. But it is crucial that individual solar car team would set up their own campaign and provide their own web site with appropriate contact information before contacting Sun Is The Future at sunisthefuture@gmail.com . Sun Is The Future will help to promote campaigns but would not be involved with the collection of donations.
You may also be interested in these posts from the past, below:
Solar Cars on display for spectators and participants of World Solar Challenge 2015 in Victoria Square of Adelaide, Australia, on Saturday, October 24, 2015 (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
Bridgestone, local volunteers, and event organizer Chris Selwood have all done a terrific job in facilitating for the success of this event, World Solar Challenge 2015. But the reality is that much work, time, energy, and expenses are required for these universities/schools, students, and parents in order for these teams to participate (from research, design, testing, obtaining material, to plane fare and hotel expense, etc.) As a matter of fact, some of the teams that were participating in 2013 are not here in 2015 because of the lack of funding support. So, I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you some ingenious methods (thought up by students and participants of WSC2015) of obtaining funding for future participation in World Solar Challenges.
First Method Example: Owl of Kogakuin University Solar Vehicle Project from Japan Is For Sale !!!
Owl of Kogakuin University Solar Vehicle Project from Japan, Winner of the Cruiser Class in World Solar Challenge 2015 (credit: sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker)
A Historical Moment has arrived! The solar vehicle that has just come in first in the Cruiser Class of World Solar Challenge 2015, by Kogakuin University, is now selling it as a way to raise fund for future World Solar Challenge races. It is designed with a family in mind, traveling up to 100 km/h and with a carrying capacity for four. Any car collectors, car dealerships, educational institutions, or solar businesses would have a wonderful opportunity to acquire/showcase/support solar projects by considering to purchase this vehicle. If any of you out there is interested, please contact the Kogakuin Universtiy Solar Vehicle Project via email: kogakuin.solarcar@gmail.com
A shout out to Jay Leno (well known American talk show host who has a passion for collecting cars and is now running a show call Jay Leno’s Garage on CNBC)! Jay, this is the car for your show to usher in our Renewable/Solar Energy Age!!! Let’s all tweet to Jay: @jayleno and @LenosGarage to help him realize this fantastic opportunity at World Solar Challenge!
If any other Solar Car Teams will be interested in raising fund in this manner, please keep Sun Is The Future informed so we can help you to let the world know that there is such opportunity for car enthusiasts and organizations to obtain Solar Cars !
Second Method Example: Solis Bellator of Liberty Christian School Solar Car Team from U.S.A.
Above is a student (Cameron Mutis, the media consultant of Solis Bellator) from Liberty Christian School of Argyle, TX (of USA). These students are amazing! They simply got dressed and pitched at various organizations, companies, and individuals to gather $150,000 then designed, made, and participated in World Solar Challenge 2015. In this process, they have not only learned about the building of a solar car, but also various aspects of locating resources and funding an organization or project. What they have accomplished is not easy, especially when you consider that some of the other university solar car teams are running on a budget of multiple millions of dollars and with guidance from industries. I suspect their teacher/coach Brent Dragoo had contributed much to the success of the team, for between Oct. 20-21, their charge controller died and they had to order another from the company in Brisbane to overnight it to Coober Pedy. Truly resourceful! If you should be interested in helping to support this school and/or their solar car project, please feel free to contact Liberty Christian School at 940-294-2000 (USA) and/or Donate (with Designation specified for “solar car“)
Third Method Example: Fund Raising Campaigns globally via various Crowdfunding platforms such as Indiegogo or Kickstarter, etc. Remember that there are a lot of crowdfunding platforms out there. You may find one or more most suitable for your particular situation/school by googling. Keep in mind that tips on how to start or run a successful campaign may be obtained via youtube. Incredible as it may seem, one of the well known solar campaigns funded via indiegogo was by an Idaho (USA) couple who were designing for Solar Roadway. They were asking for $1 million but ended up receiving slightly more than $2 million by the end of the whole campaign. When any one team is running a campaign, it is important to try to let as many people know about the motivation and duration of the campaign. Sun Is The Future would be gladly help to assist in letting the world know about your campaign. But it is crucial that individual solar car team would set up their own campaign and provide their own web site with appropriate contact information before contacting Sun Is The Future at sunisthefuture@gmail.com . Sun Is The Future will help to promote campaigns but would not be involved with the collection of donations.
May there always be plentiful beautiful Sunshine and sufficient funds for these beautiful Solar Cars for many many more decades to come….
More coverage on World Solar Challenge 2015 in the coming posts and at our youtube channel….
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
Today is another day of perfect temperature to watch our hope for the future, the Solar Future, to roll into Victoria Square, at Adelaide, Australia. These students from across the globe have spent countless hours to prepare, research, design, test, and improve their solar cars. Regardless which position their car has arrived in, the simple fact that they are here, in Adelaide, Australia, participating in World Solar Challenge 2015, means that they have won. They have won the experience of working on a team project, learning that many segments of the project is always taking more time than anticipated, and realizing that one always has to continue learning and refining one’s skill and knowledge. Finally, in arriving at the appreciation for power of the Sun. Allow me to share with you, this video of about 18 solar cars crossing the ceremonial finish line at Victoria Square at Adelaide, Australia, on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, below:
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
It took a bit more time for Sun Is The Future team to upload this particular video above because we’re trying something new…a bit of time spent for learning curve. We want to make sure that all teams’ solar cars would be presented/included here. Hope you have or will enjoy this video above. Please feel free to share it with others. We have so far reached readers/viewers in 193 countries. We want every single nation on earth think about using solar energy! Help us to spread the Sunshine!
We would also like to take this opportunity to share a terrific concept (–>Click), Value of Solar, succinctly explained by Karl Rabago. Value of Solar is the most cost effective and fair way for our world to transition into a sustainable future quickly. If you’d like to have a more in-depth understanding of Value of Solar, please also visit (–>Click) Expanded Discussion on Value of Solarand/or contact Karl Rabago at: karl@rabagoenergy.com.
Day 2, Oct. 19, 2015, the reports below:
Day 3, Oct. 20, 2015, the report below:
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, we’ve been informed that Red One of Solar Team Twente (Team #21 from Netherlands), is leading and the Nuna8 of Nuon Solar Team (Team #3 from Netherlands) are only separated by 2 kms ( Pretty amazing consider the fact that they’ve traveled 2,160 kms. ), passing Alice Springs. Then followed by Aurum of Univeristy of Michigan Solar Car Team (Team #2 from United States). There’s been alternating leading team, so it remains to be seen as to which team will be the first to arrive in Adelaide either tomorrow (Wed., Oct. 21, 2015) or the day after (Thurs., Oct. 22, 2015).
For a more complete list of all solar cars’ positions, please click HERE.
We will look forward to seeing all the teams finishing at Victoria Square at Adelaide, Australia, on Wednesday (Oct. 21, 2015) or Thursday, (Oct. 22, 2015).
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, photographed, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
Above is the Bridgestone report on the first day of the race at World Solar Challenge 2015 at State Square right in front of the Parliament House of Darwin, Australia, starting at 8:30 a.m. sharp.
There has been a dramatic increase of the number of people with camera equipments, ready to record this exciting moment in human history, during the transition between ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) and ESV (Electric Solar Vehicle) engine. For those of you who have not read our previous post on “100% Electric Transportation and 100% Solar By 2030“, have a look at the pattern of history of change and appreciate why there is so much excitement for this event, World Solar Challenge. For we are all witnessing and in so doing, helping to accelerate the change. We cannot wait for the day when electric solar vehicles would be part of the mainstream!
P.S. Understanding such infectious excitement for the race, it would be greatly appreciated if some of the reporters or camera people would stay behind the barriers provided in the viewing area in order to avoid difficulty for the drivers or audiences in the future.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
World Solar Challenge Route (courtesy of World Solar Challenge)
(Please click on red links & note magenta)
As solar energy and solar car enthusiasts, and solar car racers and teams from all corners of the globe converge upon Darwin, Australia, awaiting for the first day of this year’s Bridgestone World Solar Challenge 2015, these 44 teams from 25 countries/regions are taking on the ultimate endurance challenge in the harshest of climates to demonstrate to the world that our automotive future will be shaped by the solar energy. This 3,000 kilometer event between Darwin and Adelaide, Australia, will begin from the State Square (in front of the Parliament House) of Darwin, Australia, on Sunday, October 18, 2015, at 8:30 a.m., and the leading cars are expected to arrive late on Wednesday (Oct. 21, 2015) or early Thursday (Oct. 22, 2015), finishing at the City of Adelaide’s Victoria Square, Australia.
To give you a feel of what these solar cars might be like, allow me to present to you what took place during the last race, World Solar Challenge 2013, below:
In case you’re wondering who was/is the organizer of this energizing event, let’s take a look at what the event organizer Mr. Chris Selwood said during World Solar Challenge 2013, below:
Historically, this event is full of enthusiasts for solar and renewable energy, imbued with much spirit of collaboration, learning, and innovation. Let’s get a closer look at some of these participants and solar cars from previous race in 2013, below:
The Cruiser Class was added for the first time in 2013 and its winner in 2013 was Stella, below:
(There are now three classes in the race: Challenger, Cruiser, Adventure)
Since last race in 2013, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of entries for Cruiser Class (up to 11 in 2015). For a complete list of all the entering solar cars this year–>click HERE.
For an overview of this race so far (thanks to Bridgestone), please take a look at these videos below:
World Solar Challenge 2015 Introduction, below:
2. Day 1 Report of World Solar Challenge 2015 (prior to the race) , below:
3. Day 2 Report of World Solar Challenge 2015 (prior to the race), below:
4. Day 3 Report of World Solar Challenge 2015 (prior to the race):
Here, at Sun Is The Future, we wish all participating teams a good night’s rest and a great journey! Keep in mind that we earthlings all owe a great deal to these energizing people for being the forerunners of the Solar/Renewable Future! More will be reported on World Solar Challenge 2015 in future posts.
~have a bright and sunny day~
Gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any comments and suggestions are welcomed at sunisthefuture@gmail.com
Please also get into the habit of checking at these sites below for more on solar energy topics:
As I turned on my computer in the morning, there are more reports of simmering conflict between China and Japan over the three islands in the East China Sea (from September 18, 2013, demonstration march outside the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, to Japan’s nationalist Prime Minister Shinzo Abe giving order in October, 2013, to shoot down any aircraft, including Chinese surveillance drones, flying over Japanese airspace, then spokesman for China’s Defense Ministry Geng Yansheng delivering the statement, “Chinese aircraft have never infringed on other countries’ airspace, and China never allows other countries’ aircraft to infringe on China’s airspace, adding that if Japan took such moves, it would be a severe provocation to China and “an act of war, and China will take resolute measures to strike back….” . Now in November, Russian bombers are sighted flying near Japanese air space, putting Japan’s Air Self Defense Force on alert. What a contrast from our coverage of World Solar Challenge 2013 that just took place in Australia last month, where teams from different countries (including China, Taiwan, and Japan) were all collaborating and full of hope and optimism for all of our future in solar energy. The more reports I’ve read on the China-Japan disputes, the image of “breaking of the glass” of Jewish wedding tradition flashes in my mind’s eye.
So, how does “breaking of the glass” fit in? This, to me, was such a bizarre tradition the first time I attended one of my Jewish friends’ wedding. But the older I get and more weddings I’ve attended, the more I have come to appreciate what it represents. It was explained to me as a symbol of:
breaking away from the past in order to start afresh toward the future
breaking down of barriers between people of different cultures and faiths
frailty of human relationships and love and reminding us to treat our relationship with special care
destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
breaking the glass together-working through challenges together and celebrating successes of life is best done together
even in the happiest time, we must remember that there is still much suffering in the world
What does it have to do with China-Japan dispute, you might ask.
As I’ve previously posted in my January 4, 2013 post, the Diaoyu Islands (also known as Senkaku Islands among Japanese) are a group of uninhabited islands east of mainland China, northeast of Taiwan, west of Okinawa Island, and north of the southwestern end of the Ryukyu Islands. They are currently controlled by Japan and both China and Taiwan claim sovereignty over the islands. Some of you may wonder why is there such an escalating territorial row between Beijing and Tokyo over these bunch of rocks of uninhabited islands. Well, the value of Diaoyu islands (Chinese) or Senkaku islands (Japanese) dramatically shot up and became the center of attention after an obscure 1969 United Nations report suggesting the seabed in the area could contain an oil bonanza. Apparently this document produced from surveys conducted by an international team of experts (including scientists from China and Japan) never gave any estimate of the reserves. It seems, to me, that the mere suggestion of vast reserves that the continental shelf between Taiwan and Japan could hold a staggering 100 billion barrels of oil was enough to set off a territorial scramble.
Professor White, in the Sydney Morning Herald during early part of 2013, wrote that we are now witnessing the types of conditions that have historically led to war, despite the conflict being in no one’s interest. He further indicated that the war would not necessarily be contained or short. It does seem laughably unthinkable that the three richest countries of our planet (two of which are nuclear armed) would go to war over something so trivial. But history reminds us not to confuse what starts a war with what causes it. The escalation of tit-for-tat without a clear circuit-breaker may lead to some point when shots will be exchanged;once such spiraling to war begins, neither side will win and it would be devastating not just for China and Japan, but for rest of the planet earth.
Back in July of 2012, China was mulling over the possibility of raising its 2015 photovoltaic target to over 25 GW. With the concern over sovereignty issue (truthfully, it is an issue over oil reserves) involving Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, need of clean energy sources, and the need to make their economic growth less dependent on fossil fuel, in January of 2013, China is now aiming to add 10 GW (gigawatts) of installed solar power capacity and 18 GW of installed wind power capacity this year alone. For a table of China’s renewable energy targets for 2015 and 2020, please click on Reuters.
Truly, the real solution to China’s dispute with Japan does not lie in ownership of some rocks of uninhabited islands, but in alternative clean fuel sources such as solar and wind energy. As I’ve repeatedly written, solar energy is: cleaner, safer, healthier, more readily available, with great sense of timing, and requires fewer moving parts (in March 4, 2011 post) than fossil fuel or oil. If one factors into the cost of potential WWIII/nuclear war, it is no wonder the wise leaders in China would have great incentive to increase the rate of installations for solar PV and wind.
Since our initial discussion originated from the territorial row over Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, let’s take a closer look at the cause of the problem numerically. It is, in essence, a row over the promised potential of accessing 100 billion barrels of oil in that region. But the burning of fossil fuel/oil really would not help the already polluted air quality of either China or Japan. So, it is a matter of energy/fuel that they are fighting over. To have a more clear picture of the situation, please view the video clip of Michael Klare, Five Colleges professor of peace and world security studies, available at my January 10, 2013 post:
We are in a transitional period when wise, ethical, and skillful international diplomatic politicians are desperately needed who will not only be able to negotiate the last few barrels of oil (without triggering any war), but also be able to convince our government to shift one quarter of our military budget toward research and development in energy alternatives (as suggested by Michael Klare), and cooperate with China and Japan for research and development for renewable energy in the coming century. So we will be able to carry out the most moral and patriotic American path for our future generations. So U.S. , China, and Japan (users of more than half of earth’s energy and producers of half of the earth’s CO2 by 2030) will go down in history not as plunderers of the planet earth but rescuers of the planet earth who worked cooperatively in finding solutions to earth’s energy and pollution problems.
Our planet is suffering, be it in the form of China’s air pollution or Philippines’ typhoon. What Russians, Japanese, Filipinos, Chinese, and Americans…all Earthlings need to remind ourselves is that we are all so interconnected that suffering of one or one region will impact all of our planet Earth. We need to pool our source of time, energy, and natural resources in solving the problem of climate change-pollution-energy rather than wasting them over territorial disputes that may potentially lead us all to total destruction.
There is hope! We’ve seen the Chinese government versatile enough to “China does a ‘180’ on air pollution policy to combat its deadly smog” The Japan-China Economic Association will be sending around 180 leaders of major businesses in Japan over to China, in the hope of improving the strained ties between the two East Asian countries. One of the spokespersons for this largest business delegation to visit Beijing since 2011, Fujio Cho, chairman of Toyota Motor Corp, indicated that they filed a request to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang or Vice Premier Wang Yang. They hope to convince Chinese senior officials from both public and private sectors to start mending ties between the two Asian countries. They will also be showing support for Li’s structural reforms (which includes removing excess production facilities in the country) and government-affiliated firms.
At this hour, let’s hope that the leaders in China will receive the business delegation from The China-Japan Economic Association with care. Let’s also hope that the Chinese will offer greater assistance to help relieve the sufferings of Filipinos.
Perhaps all of those involved in disputes and negotiations mentioned above would deeply contemplate/visualize the “breaking of the glass” scenario, be free from the historical disputes of the past (be it from China-Japan or Japan-Russia conflicts and sentiment resulting from WWII), in order to break down barriers, protect the frail international relationships, come together to face the challenge of our earthly energy-pollution-climate change problems. Only then, will there be the good luck for us to step into a cleaner, healthier, and safer renewable/solar energy future. Only then, will we be able to call out “Mazel Tov.”
(Perhaps if all negotiating members will be breathing in 30-60 minutes of air from oxygen bar prior to all negotiating meetings would also help.)
~have a bright and sunny day~
gathered, written, and posted by sunisthefuture-Susan Sun Nunamaker
Any of your comments will be welcomed below or via sunisthefuture@gmail.com (please note if you do not want your email to be shared)
