I was just talking to my brother, Dave, in Baltimore about the Solar Cookery invention  that I wrote about yesterday, and he told me about another invention to help haul clean water - the water roller! Another, “why didn’t I think of that!”

In rural Africa, it is often necessary to walk five miles (8km) or more every day to fetch water. In the dry season, it is not uncommon to walk twice this distance. Collecting water can be dangerous too. The traditional method of carrying water - carrying a 5 gallon (20 liter) water bucket on the head - can severely damage the spine, causing severe pain and even leading to complications during childbirth. In some countries, walking to find water exposes people to the dangers of land mines.

The Water Hippo’s innovative design allows water to be placed inside its “wheel,” transforming 200 pounds (90 kg) of water to an effective weight of just 22 pounds (10 kg). This means that almost anyone can easily manage a full roller over most types of terrain.

A single Hippo carries enough water to meet the basic needs of 5 people per day. Access to sufficient water enables people to practice better hygiene and stay healthy.

BRAVO inventors!– Hippo Water Roller Invented by Pettie Petzer and Johan Jonker, South Africa.

“Chop Wood, Carry Water” is a great book title, but not great when you’re being killed, raped and starved because you don’t have wood or water by the home you don’ t have anymore and are starving.

Millions are killed for no good reason (as if there’s a good reason to kill) every day around the world. In the name of God and god, in the name of history and “we were here first, it’s ours” and so many other reasons that make no sense.

How can these people, places, villages, cities and countries be helped?

There are lots of ways, but sometimes the simplestways come in simple  ideas and inventions making amazing strides and differences in the lives of so many.

EXAMPLE: The Solar Cooker. (Why didn’t I think of that?!) Pure ingenuity. Take two pieces of cardboard, add some tinfoil and sunlight and anything can be cooked. You can event get water to boil!

Now, how to get this little miracle tool to the people who need it? The Trans World Radio Solar Cooker Project in Kenya and the Jewish World Watch Solar Cooker Projects are doing it, and we can help.

For just a few dollars you can help support so many to literally eat a hot meal and cook each day in safety. Plus, help them sell thier products and make money. Astounding! Read more here.

You can also check out Solar Cooking International and get involved or share your ideas.

Lets be a part of peace –  cooked, heated, fried and boiled!

 

 There are some people who bring light to the planet, who report on, story-tell about and share “lameness” at it’s best, and overwhelming more of  the good things that people do.

Paul Harvey was one of the greats in humankind to be this for us.

I grew up listening to his “The Rest of the Story” broadcasts. He always made me feel grounded and “at home,” just listening to his low and booming, but reassuring and grounded voice.

He spread great and wide good wings of the best of humanity out for us to ride upon each week.

He also challenged the powers that be. “Perhaps Harvey’s most famous broadcast came in 1970, when he announced his opposition to President Nixon’s expansion of the war, urging him to get out completely. “Mr. President, I love you … but you’re wrong,” Harvey said, shocking his faithful listeners and drawing a barrage of letters and phone calls, including one from the White House.”

We need more people like Mr. Harvey.

He will be/is missed.

  • Question everything.

    "The important thing is not to stop questioning." ~ Albert Einstein
  • Kim Wolinski, MSW . . . . . . . . . . . "Dr. DeClutter"

  • Raising our collective consciousness is our only hope.

    “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” ~ Albert Einstein
  • "The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew." ~ Abraham Lincoln