I don't know what it is, but as humans we seem to have an urge to get away from land; there's something about the ground we dislike. That's what I think when I see Raymond Li flying into the sky on his water-powered jetpack.
Li had planned to build his water jetpack in confidence, but engineers doubted him. The stability of the jetpack was questioned b engineers, as they felt managing the water mass and thrust would have been near impossible.
Nonetheless Li continued his work and produced his Jetlev-Flyer water jetpack after four prototypes and over 200 flight tests. Currently the Jetlev-Flyer produces 430 pounds of thrust allowing Li to propel himself three-stories high, and fly forward at 22 mph.
Li aims to improve the pack's speed to 35 mph, which will be great for speed junkies and those not afraid of heights, especially as the Jetlev-Flyer will be going on sale.
The jetpack will be available later this year, for over $130,000.I don't know what it is, but as humans we seem to have an urge to get away from land;... more
The new Administration is receiving support for federal efforts to restore endangered populations of wild Pacific salmon. Will this cause, which brings together conservation groups, Native American tribes, commercial fishermen, and the slow-food movement, become a centerpiece of Obama's environmental portfolio? The issue resonates with several Obama themes including: environmental protection that creates jobs, incorporating the best science into decision-making, and reforming government to cut wasteful spending on pork barrel projects (such as antiquated water operations that benefit a few and cost the rest of us billions).
"Dams kill fish. They keep species like salmon, shad, alewife, and sturgeon from returning to spawning grounds upstream. They trap sediment and silt in the gravel riverbeds, slow down currents, raise river temperatures, and change the mix of gases in the water." This article describes the growing movement to breach dams and restore free-flowing rivers and the fish and wildlife that depend on them.
five interesting way to visualize and interact with the health of the US electrical systems.five interesting way to visualize and interact with the health of the US electrical... more
This is about Renewable and Safe Alternative Energy. Its main Character is a creature who is part of the earth but no one knows him. He can morph into anything he wants so no sees him. He came out to talk to us about five renewable sources that we can use to help save OUR Earth. Yeah we still dont know his name. I am still working it remember this just a Pilot.
I also Dedicate it to President OBAMA's Plan to Help us Save Our Planet by using other renewable sources. Then what do I know I am just a kid.
The Renaissance KID age 11 in the 7th grade ok.
Category: Film & AnimationThis is about Renewable and Safe Alternative Energy. Its main Character is a creature... more
The Zambezi is one of the most heavily dammed rivers in Africa. More than 30 large dams have already been constructed throughout its basin, at great cost to local people and wildlife. These impacts have been particularly harsh in Mozambique, where the giant Cahora Bassa Dam displaced tens of thousands of people, and severely degraded downstream floodplains and fisheries. Significant work is currently underway to restore the lower Zambezi by improving how water is released from Cahora Bassa. Water release patterns that more closely mimic natural flows will improve the richness of the degraded downstream environment.
Now, the Mozambican government – with China's help – is proposing to build the Mphanda Nkuwa Dam 60 kilometers downstream from Cahora Bassa. Proponents hope the dam will help attract energy intensive industries to Mozambique, but for the foreseeable future, much of its electricity will be exported to South Africa.
The Patagonia Campaign is heating up! Momentum is building after Pro-Build, one of the largest construction suppliers in the US, decided to drop Chilean wood products over the controversial plans to dam Chilean Patagonia's Baker and Pascua rivers. You can help now more than ever.
People from all over the world have already sent tens of thousands of protest emails to companies involved in these plans. The multi-billion dollar HidroAysén scheme would savage an untouched wilderness, wreak havoc with local communities, destroy traditional jobs, and irreversibly crush a delicate web of life. The dams would require transmission lines 1,500 miles long, and much of that would slash through rare Patagonian forests.
by Sanday Chongo Kabange,
AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
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African leaders are planning to establish a continental hydro power station to harness its huge energy potential. Country representatives attending the 20th Session of the African Hydro Symposium in Zambia said hydro energy is the cheapest and cleanest for the continent.
According to sadc.net Lawrence Musaba, the Centre Co-ordination Manager for the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), Africa has a combined feasible hydro-capacity of more than 1 750 000 gigawatts (GW) per year, enough to power the whole continent but unfortunately, only 4.3 percent of this has been exploited.
The symposium heard from SAPP and the Regional Electricity Regulators’ Association of Southern Africa (RERA) that in order to deal with the regional power deficits and stop a further decline in the environment different alternative power sources have to be researched on and implemented.
One such renewable energy source is hydro energy, which involves using water to turn turbines, and in turn generate clean and cheap electricity.
With seven major river systems — Nile, Congo, Niger, Zambezi, Senegal, Orange, and Limpopo — Africa holds 10 percent of the world hydro-energy potential, but has so far exploited only a small part of its capability, the symposium heard.
RERA stressed that climate change, the quest for cleaner energy and Africa’s needs for constant power supply clearly underscore the need to boost investment in the hydropower sector while taking account of broader economic and social concerns.
The symposium, which aims at sharing experiences between government and the private sector, is intended to pool resources and step up regional co-operation in the energy sector among African countries. Cahora Bassa is currently one of Africa’s biggest hydroelectric stations, producing an estimated 2 500 MW.
The DRC has a vast hydropower potential of more than 100 000 MW. About 44 000 MW of that is found at the Inga Falls and over 56 000 MW at other sites scattered across the country.
Other hydropower projects in Southern Africa include Kariba — shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe — Kafue Gorge in Zambia, Kidatu in Tanzania, Maguga in Swaziland and the Bethlehem power project in South Africa, among others.by Sanday Chongo Kabange,
AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia
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African... more
The ocean isn’t the only focal point for wave-generated electricity. The Kiskiminetas River in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania is about to be home to a new way to create electricity from water.
Researchers have devised a new system that encompasses a grid of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) placed on the bottom of the river, the undulating movement of which will generate electricity. The electrical current generated would pass to substations along the river bank, ultimately charging a group of batteries. The city is looking to harness enough power from the river to cover 20-40% of its needs.
The first system is going to be a grid about 30 yards wide by about 1 mile long, but the details on the precise make-up are still in the works. Laying the grid at the bottom of the river will help maintain the integrity of the area, which is used for fishing, boats, and so on.
How plant life might affect the system is not detailed, but researchers feel that this is a much more eco-friendly system, leaning more towards biomimicry, than damming a river ever was.The ocean isn’t the only focal point for wave-generated electricity. The... more
Can water really power a car. According to this site, with their easy $150 do-it-yourself conversion kit, any conventional gas vehicle can run on a mix of gasoline and tap water, thus cutting petrol use nearly in half. While I'm sure with fuel prices as high as there are we can expect a never ending stream of suspect fuel and money saving schemes to confuse consumers, and despie the somewhat chintzy web design, here is the video pitch.Can water really power a car. According to this site, with their easy $150... more
My band Xanadu 上都 wrote a song about the Three Gorges Dam and the migration and destruction it has caused. Here are the lyrics, I hope you enjoy the song! You can check us out at www.youtube.com/xanadushangdu or www.myspace.com/xanadubeijing
I am faking
strong, unwavering
a perfect alibi
That rescues me
From all I see
of rural poverty
Flowing down stream
Grabbing all belongings
Sheets, clothes, food for walking
Away from what was home
Near the long river
A sight soon to wither
And leave people dry
Its no surprise
They’re left without a dime (works hard to find to feed these lives)
Up goes the dam
Example of man’s
Use of power over land
I see shades of grey
From steel to rock in the haze
This place has seen some better days
I heard once before but now becoming more and more
Into a disgrace of the human raceMy band Xanadu 上都 wrote a song about the Three Gorges Dam and the migration and... more
Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this technology works and will soon catch on! From being used by this guy's torch, HHO gas can prove to be a means to fuel automobiles. The prospect of using HHO to fuel cars successfully almost seems like a dream come true.Thousands of successful water-conversions around the world are proof that this... more
The Pascua River, in Chilean Patagonia, is one of the most pristine and unknown regions on the planet. International Rivers wants the world to know the Pascua—and to keep it wild—unlike the huge companies that want to dam it. Chile’s Matte Group and Italian company Enel want to construct three dams on the Pascua and ship the power 1500 miles north to Santiago. What’s at stake if this ferociously wild river is dammed: Losing the planet’s purest water, never knowing wildlife that already hangs by a thread, and irreversibly trading natural treasures which took eons to produce for maybe 50 years of unsustainable energy.The Pascua River, in Chilean Patagonia, is one of the most pristine and unknown... more
A condensed version of a video produced by the Pimicikamak Cree Nation from sub-arctic Manitoba. Their stuggles were documented in the film "Green Green Water" http://www.greengreenwater.com and this is the story in their words. (Uploaded by permission from Chief John Miswagon)A condensed version of a video produced by the Pimicikamak Cree Nation from sub-arctic... more