the intersection of emergency preparedness, public health and environmental policy
Their focus, of course, is different from ours, but Toolmonger
is an incredible site - often showing emergency response/reconstruction tools we’d never hear of otherwise. Here’s one the Rol-La-Tank: (or Fol-Da-Tank, which might be the company name, or the name of the product line). They’ve got both URL’s Foldatank.com and Fol-Da-Tank - this should give interested readers enough to find them.
Thanks to Benjamen Johnson of Toolmonger.
In watching the deluge in the Midwest, I’m remembering a description of the post-Katrina proliferation of dragonflies - a fortuitous turn that stopped the mosquito population from getting out of control. One robust response is mosquito netting, and this piece is from his excellent blog Cool Tools:
I hate mosquitoes. Serious gut-tightening allergic aversion. One bite at night and I am awake for hours, and I’ll itch for days. They’ll always find me, too. I’ve learned to ignore what natives say; there are mosquitoes around, and they do bite. When I travel in any remotely warm place, I pack my own mosquito netting. It weighs only a few ounces and can scrunch up small. It’s cheap, and lasts forever. I’m still using one I bought 30 years ago for $2. I like the boxy four-cornered variety to fit over a bed or sleeping bag. I tie a 6-foot long string to each corner; that usually enables me to attach the string somewhere to keep the net elevated at night. I tie it to trees if I am camping without a tent.
I haven’t figured out why more people don’t pack their own. Mine has saved my life more than once. Mostly by allowing me to sleep soundly, but also because with it I avoid mosquito-borne diseases in areas they are common. Studies have shown that sleeping in a net is more effective at preventing malaria than taking prophylactic drugs. I insist my family use netting while we travel in the heat overseas. A quick search led me to Coleman as the least expensive source for a one-person camp-style box net.
I’m afraid that mosquito netting may be added to the list of things that FEMA won’t provide - although if FEMA puts itself out of business by zeroing out that list, we’ll be forced to address the issue - federally and otherwise.
Liquid Reflector is a reflective paint - available in five colors and a clear version, and, according to the manufacturer, yields a fine surface and high reflectivity. (Note: the reflected light is white, regardless of the visible color on the surface). We’d like to test some of this - see how it holds up - and whether its reflectivity would be affected by polyurethane or other transparent protective sealants.
The elegance of reflective materials, of course, is that they’re not dependent on electricity, and, wherever placed, they work when/as needed.
FORD HAS A BETTER IDEA: HYBRIDS
Following General Motors announcement of the Volt, Ford Motor Company has just announced two new hybrids for 2010: The Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybird. They will get 39 to 47 mpg, better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid and can operate in battery only mode. The world is changing. (0)
ENERGY POLICY & PUBLIC HEALTH
There really is no such thing as “Clean Coal.” Mining coal destroys mountains, and often kills the miners. Burning coal releases tons of carbon into the atmosphere and the oceans, and even if you could sequester the carbon, burning coal releases other pollutants, including mercury into the biosphere. The mercury makes its way into fish. This is why people, especially children and pregnant women, should not eat a lot of tuna or swordfish. Wind, solar, geothermal, ocean current, and “negawatts,” on the other hand, really are clean energy. Offshore wind turbines don’t release pollution. On the contrary, they create artificial reefs, which enhance fish habitat. This is also good for fishermen, the economy, etc. (0)
TALK MAY BE CHEAP, BUT
when the markets are falling, prices are rising, and credit is tightening, it’s a uniquely affordable indulgence. - Walter Kirn, What’s a Depression, Daddy? New York Times Magazine, Nov 9, 2008 (0)
SIERRA CLUB KILLS KING COAL (mini)
The EPA has ruled ( full text PDF ) that new and proposed coal plants must address their carbon dioxide emissions - essentially killing off the construction of new coal-fired power plants in the foreseeable future. The EPA says “You may burn coal, but you must do it cleanly.” ( Sierra Club Press Release / Full Post ) (0)
FOCUSED SOLAR MELTING STEEL?
Coolstuff and MetaCafe have videos which show the power of a focused solar array melting steel. (Click here for CoolStuff - Here for MetaCafe) It’s basic college mechanics - and also pretty amazing. (0)
CONGRATULATIONS, BARACK OBAMA AND AMERICA!
President-Elect Obama’s campaign was focused, disciplined, and effective. He has shown himself to be bright, calm, and decisive. He listens, and he has good judgment. We at Popular Logistics wish him and the country well. And we know this: If President Obama governs the way President-Elect Obama campaigned, the country will do well. Very well. (0)
SMASHING APPS: PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Smashings Apps has collected a number of project management tools - most if not all free. For community groups - disaster response-related or other - there’s probably something useful for all but the most tech-savvy (or best-funded) groups.
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ELECTRICITY: 100% CLEAN AND GREEN BY 2018
The Gore Energy Challenge - 100% clean, renewable, sustainable electricity in 10 years, can be described in 3 words. Reasonable, Achievable, Visionary. Here’s how:
40% Land Based Wind = 100 GW: $200 Billion.
40% Offshore Wind = 100 GW: $286 Billion.
20% Solar = 50 GW: $325 Billion.
100% Clean Energy = 250 GW: $811Billion.
Save the Earth, and the Economy - Priceless.
The Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of stones. And the age of fossil fuels is ending not because we have run out of fossil fuel, but because we have figured out how better technologies. Biofuels, Geothermal, Marine Kinetic, Solar, Wind, and of course, Conservation. (0)
