Sunday, April 5, 2015

Episode 0002 Is There Anyone Out There?

BOOTSTRAPPING THE PLANET NEWS 


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HELLO AND WELCOME TO 'BOOTSTRAPPING THE PLANET,' I'M YOUR HOST TUCKER AND THIS IS A MONTHLY PODCAST WHERE I COVER TECHNOLOGIES BEING USED TO IMPROVE LIVES IN THE DEVOPLING WORLD. FOR LINKS TO THE STORIES MENTIONED ON THE PODCAST, YOU CAN GO TO http://bootstrappingtheplanet.blogspot.com/  AUDIO FOR THE PODCAST CAN BE FOUND HERE: http://bootstrap.libsyn.com/ OR IN ITUNES.  IF AT ALL POSSIBLE, I WILL TRY TO HAVE LINKS ACCOMPANING EACH STORY THAT PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DO SOMETHING SIMILAR. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CRITICISMS, OR IF YOU'RE SOMEONE WHO WORKS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT YOUR WORK THERE, THE EMAIL FOR THE SHOW IS BOOTSTRAPPLANET@GMAIL.COM I'LL PUT THE EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE SHOWNOTES. MY APOLOGIES FOR NOT GETTING THIS EPISODE OUT SOONER, BUT LAST MONTH WAS A RATHER HECTIC ONE FOR ME, AND RIGHT AS I WAS SETTLING DOWN TO PUT THIS EPISODE TOGETHER, I MANAGED TO BREAK A TOOTH. THANKS TO THE STUPIDITY OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEM (OR RATHER, LACK OF A SYSTEM), I SPENT A GOOD THREE DAYS CURLED UP IN A BALL BECAUSE IT HURT TOO MUCH TO DO ANYTHING AT ALL. TO MAKE UP FOR NOT PUTTING OUT AN EPISODE LAST MONTH, I'LL BE PUTTING OUT TWO EPISODES THIS MONTH.


HOUSING
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THIS SECTION IS WHERE I COVER STORIES OF LOW-COST HOUSING EFFORTS AND DESIGN.

THIS STORY ISN'T REALLY HOUSING RELATED, BUT IT DETAILS AN IMPROVED DESIGN FOR SAW HORSES WHICH CAN BE EASILY MADE IN A FEW MINUTES, WITH LITTLE MORE THAN A COUPLE OF 2x4 BOARDS AND SOME BOLTS. IT COMES FROM CORE77.COM http://www.core77.com/blog/tools/the_shopdog_a_high_school_woodshop_teachers_simple_flexible_versatile_diy_sawhorse_design_28219.asp

An unnamed high school woodshop teacher in New Mexico, who goes by the alias of "Woodshop Dude," calls his sawhorse design the Shopdog. The design criteria was: Easy and cheap to make, flexible in what it can hold, whether materials, clamps or tools, easy and quick to set up, and has to be able to fold flat to stow on the wall of his shop.

THEY'VE GOT A VIDEO OF THE GUY DEMONSTRATING THE SAWHORSE, AND A LINK TO WHERE YOU CAN BUY THE PLANS FOR $5. HONESTLY, ITS A SIMPLE ENOUGH DESIGN THAT YOU COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN JUST FROM WATCHING THE VIDEO, BUT FOR $5, ITS WORTH IT TO BUY THE PLANS.

http://www.woodshopdude.com

NEXT, I DONT' HAVE A NEWS STORY ABOUT THIS, BUT I FOUND A SITE WHICH HAS FREE BLUEPRINTS FOR TINY HOUSE DESIGNS. THEY MAY NOT BE PRACTICAL IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED LUMBER, BUT THEY STILL COULD BE USEFUL FOR GIVING PEOPLE IDEAS. THEY HAVE BOTH SINGLE STORY AND TWO-STORY DESIGNS, AND THEY'RE ALL UNDER 500 SQUARE METERS. http://www.thesmallhousecatalog.com/freeshare/

THIS NEXT STORY COMES FROM DESIGNBOOM.COM, AND WHILE IT CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WORK AS A LONG TERM SHELTER, IT HAS POSSIBILITIES AS A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY SHELTER MADE FROM SCAVENGED MATERIALS. http://www.designboom.com/architecture/earth-lander-andrew-02-26-2015/

earth lander provides low cost, efficient housing for those in need

the ‘earth lander’ is an attempt to provide an economical solution for those in need by combining ready-made items with architectural thinking. an affordable, effective homeless shelter; the form uses inter-connected umbrellas to create a geodesic dome. the design is efficient spatially and thermally, and the objects create a structurally secure water and wind-resistant skin. air-filled garbage bags and a space blanket lining help to insulate and retain heat resulting in an internal space that is completely protected and sealed from exterior conditions.

THERE'S NO HOW-TO INSTRUCTIONS, BUT THE PHOTOS ARE DETAILED ENOUGH THAT SOMEONE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO BUILD ONE JUST BY USING THEM.


earth home project encourages locals to rebuild architecture of pakistan

‘earth home project‘ asks the question of what architecture can do to help defend against the very-growing problems people in developing countries have to face. the scheme started back in 2011 in pakistan with the aim of trying to help rebuild houses that had been destroyed during the flood of 2010. a land area of 160,000 km² (nearly 20% of the country) was hit. the poorest regions were the ones most badly struck. 15 million people were affected and 6 million people lost their homes. for most of them it is strictly impossible to erect their houses on their own because they lack the necessary means to do so.

the initiative helps residents rediscover traditional building techniques, while insuring improvements made to the design contribute to the stability and sustainability of the construction. the project therefore focuses on using local materials that can easily be procured by anyone; mud and lime are used as bricks, insulating and binding material, as well as bamboo for the flat-roof structures. the process is assisted by skilled craftsmen in order to share the necessary know-how. the hope is that this will enable the community to be more prepared against future natural disasters and to be able to rely on their neighbors and their abilities even if the economy is pushing them towards the margins. so far the endeavor has been able to help raise 121 homes around the area of multan, which had been very badly affected by the flood due to its position in the indus river basin.

THE ARTICLE HAS A NUMBER OF PHOTOS SHOWING NOT ONLY A COMPLETED HOUSE, BUT THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS OF IT AS WELL. IT HAS SORT OF A CASTLE LIKE APPEARANCE, AND WHILE THEY USE BRICKS AND CEMENT TO CONSTRUCT THE BUILDING, I'D SAY THE EARTHBAGS TECHNOLGY I DESCRIBED IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODE OF THE PODCAST WOULD WORK AS WELL WITH THAT PARTICULAR DESIGN.



SANITATION
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Ecological Latrines Catch on in Rural Cuba

Most people in Cuba without toilets use the traditional outhouse. But an innovative, ecological alternative is catching on in remote rural communities.
So far 85 dry latrines have been installed in eastern Cuba – the poorest part of the country – thanks to the support of the non-governmental ecumenical Bartolomé G. Lavastida Christian Centre for Service and Training (CCSC-Lavastida) based in Santiago de Cuba, 847 km from Havana, which carries out development projects in this region.
“Over 70 percent of these toilets are in San Agustín, a town in the province of Santiago de Cuba. The rest are in Boniato and the municipality of Santiago de Cuba, in that same province; and in Caney, Babiney and Bayamo, in the province of Granma,” CCSC’s head of social projects, César Parra, told IPS.
Dry composting latrines separate urine from feces. The latter is used to produce fertiliser. They prevent the proliferation of disease-spreading vectors and the contamination of nearby sources of water, unlike the classic pit latrines that abound in the Cuban countryside.
“In eastern Cuba, we replicated the pioneering work of the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation for Nature and Man (FANJ),” said Parra, a veterinarian, during an exchange on permaculture among farmers in the region, held in the town of Babiney, in the province of Granma.


CLOSER RELATED TO THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SHIT PROJECT I COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS EPISODE, BUT MORE PERMANENT IN ITS DESIGN IS THE GREEN TOILET PROJECT WHICH COMES TO US IN THIS STORY FROM DESIGNBOOM.COM http://www.designboom.com/architecture/osa-social-design-group-dick-olango-green-toilet-project-02-08-2015/

dick olango plans green toilet project as symbol of sustainability

lixil corporation, a leading housing building and appliances manufacturer in japan, commissioned the creation of the green toilet project. based on a fusion of old and new technology, dick olango of OSA social design group has developed the construct as a squat toilet. in addition, it is non-flushing, all natural, and allows for separation of the excrements to be used as fertilizers.

the design also fulfills the need to supply and educate the local community about sustainability. while built-in mechanisms grant 100% rainwater collection, plants are embedded into the framework to add to the aesthetic and provide food. the interior is filled with natural ventilation and lighting. according to olango, ‘this is where kids can spend a majority of their free time, especially girls. girls normally do miss roughly four days per month because of the menstrual period, which accounts for a great loss in the amount of education they receive.’

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE SLIDES OR PERFORMANCE STAGE, LIKE THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SHIT PROJECT, BUT IT IS MADE OUT OF BRICK AND CINDER BLOCKS, SO ITS MORE DURABLE THAN THE PALLET BASED DESIGN OF THE HOLY SHIT CONCEPT. CERTAINLY, I THINK THAT IT'D BE POSSIBLE TO CREATE A HYBRID OF THE TWO DESIGNS WITHOUT MUCH ADDITIONAL EFFORT.


A Floating Toilet To Keep Floating Villages From Going In Their Water Supply

In the Cambodian village of Prek Toal, everything floats. Houses, schools, grocery stores, a police station, and even beauty salons and a mechanics shop all rest on boats in the middle of a sprawling lake, relocating with the lake's expansion as the water rises and falls 30 feet throughout the year.
This mobile village, one of 200 on the lake, doesn't have modern plumbing. And that leads to a major challenge: Nearly 100,000 people who live on or near the lake use the water as an open bathroom, spreading bacteria that cause deadly illnesses like diarrhea and cholera. Now, an organization called Wetlands Work is hoping to scale a new technology that can help: floating toilets that use wetland plants to filter and clean the waste.
Wastewater goes into a pod, where plants like water hyacinth, which have trillions of beneficial microorganisms attached to the surface area of the roots, can reduce harmful bacteria like E. coli by 99.999%. This microbial treatment process works especially well in warm climates like Cambodia.
The floating toilets can be made cheaply from local materials. "Our technical invention is the first truly appropriate sanitation technology for a floating household," says Taber Hand, founder and director of Wetlands Work. The tech is low-cost, needs very little maintenance (or none at all), needs no power source or chemicals, and doesn't require much behavior change.

ESSENTIALLY, WHAT THEY DO IS MAKE A SMALL RAFT THAT HOLDS PLANTS LIKE HYACINTHS AND MOUNT IT BEHIND THE HOME. WASTE FROM THE BATHROOM IS DUMPED INTO THE RAFT, WHERE IT IS CLEANED BY THE PLANTS AND THE MICROBES WHICH NATURALLY TEND TO FORM ON THEIR ROOTS. YOU CAN SEE A VIDEO OF THE FLOATING TOILET AT WETLAND WORKS WEBSITE, WHICH I'LL HAVE A LINK TO IN THE SHOWNOTES. http://wetlandswork.com

THEY POINT OUT THAT ITS NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM, AS THEY'RE NOT RETURNING PURIFIED WATER TO THE RIVER, BUT ITS CERTAINLY FAR CLEANER THAN SIMPLY JUST THROWING ONES WASTE DIRECTLY INTO THE RIVER. THE COST FOR ONE OF THE UNITS IS CHEAP BY WESTERN STANDARDS, ABOUT $30, BUT EXPENSIVE FOR THE LOCALS AND THEY'RE TRYING FIND WAYS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO PURCHASE ONE.

IN WATCHING THE VIDEO, I COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT IT USED PLASTIC PIPES IN ITS CONSTRUCTION. TO ME, IT WOULD SEEM THAT THEY COULD MAKE THE SAME SYSTEM OUT OF BAMBOO, INSTEAD OF PLASTIC PIPE. IT WOULDN'T LAST AS LONG, BUT WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE AFFORDABLE FOR THE LOCALS.

AGRICULTURE
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MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE BEING BORN EACH DAY, AND FEEDING THEM IS NO EASY TASK.


More Than Half of Africa’s Arable Land ‘Too Damaged’ for Food Production

A report published last month by the Montpellier Panel – an eminent group of agriculture, ecology and trade experts from Africa and Europe – says about 65 percent of Africa’s arable land is too damaged to sustain viable food production.
The report, “No Ordinary Matter: conserving, restoring and enhancing Africa’s soil“, notes that Africa suffers from the triple threat of land degradation, poor yields and a growing population.

The Montpellier Panel has recommended, among others, that African governments and donors invest in land and soil management, and create incentives particularly on secure land rights to encourage the care and adequate management of farm land. In addition, the report recommends increasing financial support for investment on sustainable land management.
The publication of the report comes with the U.N. declaration of 2015 as the International Year of Soils, a declaration the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) director general, Jose Graziano da Silva, said was important for “paving the road towards a real sustainable development for all and by all.”
According to the FAO, human pressure on the resource has left a third of all soils on which food production depends degraded worldwide.
Without new approaches to better managing soil health, the amount of arable and productive land available per person in 2050 will be a fourth of the level it was in 1960 as the FAO says it can take up to 1,000 years to form a centimetre of soil.
Soil expert and professor of agriculture at the Makerere University, Moses Tenywa tells IPS that African governments should do more to promote soil and water conservation, which is costly for farmers in terms of resources, labour, finances and inputs.
THERE ARE A FEW BRIGHTSPOTS. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, RWANDA AND UGANDA ARE BOTH TAKING SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO TEACH FARMERS ABOUT SOIL MANAGEMENT, AND HELP STOP THE DESCTRUCTION OF THE SOIL IN THEIR COUNTRIES. ADDITIONALLY, PROJECTS LIKE THE GREEN TOILET I MENTIONED IN THE PREVIOUS SEGMENT CAN HELP REVERSE THIS TREND. WITH PROPERLY MANAGED AGRICULTURE, AFRICA COULD PRODUCE MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED THE WORLD.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
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FOSSIL FUELS AREN'T THE ONLY WAY TO POWER THE WORLD, AND THERE'S OFTEN CHEAPER METHODS.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHERE TO STICK THIS STORY, AS ITS MORE OF A DISCUSSION OF HOW TO EXPERIMENT WITH WHAT'S LITTLE MORE THAN A GIANT TOY, BUT IT DOES SHOW THAT THERE'S POSSIBILITIES THAT COULD BE EXPANDED UPON WITH A LITTLE EFFORT. IT COMES FROM GIZMODO. http://gizmodo.com/this-diy-solar-powered-death-ray-can-even-melt-metal-1685939697

This DIY Solar-Powered Death Ray Can Even Melt Metal

Burning ants with a magnifying glass is a long-accepted childhood pastime and possible indicator of sociopathy. But when Kevin Moore and Grant Reynolds at the Science Channel got the idea to more effectively harness the sun's destructive heat, they decided to go big...like 1,5oo degrees Fahrenheit big.
The materials needed are incredibly simple. The main ingredient in their terrifying solar weapon was a Fresnel lens, often used in old projection screen televisions. After that it was just building the frame with a dash of clever positioning to focus the sun's rays down to a single point. 

THE VIDEOS SHOW THEM MELTING SMALL AMOUNTS OF METALS SUCH AS ZINC AND ALUMINUM. NOT ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING MORE THAN MAKE SMALL PIECES OF JEWELRY OR DECORATIVE ITEMS, AND A GIANT FRESNEL LENS MIGHT NOT BE THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD TO FIND, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE TOSSED ASIDE SO EASILY. THE FRENCH HAVE USED A MIRROR BASED SOLAR FURNACE TO MELT LARGE QUANTITIES OF METAL, AND JUST BEING ABLE TO QUICKLY START A FIRE WITHOUT MATCHES CAN BE HANDY AT TIMES. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_furnace

http://inhabitat.com/this-monstrous-solar-oven-in-uzbekistan-can-melt-metal-with-its-laser-like-sun-beam/



HIGH TECH
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ITS NOT JUST SILICON VALLEY WHERE HIGH TECHNOLOGY IS BORN.

FROM DISRUPT AFRICA.COM WE HAVE THIS PIECE ABOUT BUILDING 3D PRINTERS FROM EWASTE. http://disrupt-africa.com/2015/02/tanzanias-buni-hub-builds-3d-printer-made-e-waste/

Tanzania’s Buni Hub builds 3D printer made from e-waste

Tanzanian innovation space Buni Hub has developed a 3D printer made from e-waste, the first of its kind in East and Central Africa.
The 3D printer was developed through a joint initiative between Buni Hub, which is a project of the Tanzania’s Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), the techfortrade organisation, students and a lecturer from Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT).
The project is the first undertaken by the newly established mini-fabrication laboratory at Buni Hub, and is set to be made available to innovators looking to keep their production costs low through a number of FabLab maker centres.
Jumanne Mtambalike, community and trainee manager at Buni Hub, told Disrupt Africa the e-waste 3D printer will be used to print prototypes and models at the hub, as well as assisting with small-scale manufacturing.
“We have received requests from eight different organisations and individuals from different places in the world requesting us to share the work through documenting the process and publishing it online,” Mtambalike said.
“The plan now is to scale the production by involving SMEs and vocational training institutions to take part in the process. Another plan is to document all the work, create a Wiki, estimate the production cost and pilot the project of getting the filament from recycled plastic materials.”
He said Buni Hub interns will also get to work on building a second e-waste 3D printer.


IF YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH 3D PRINTERS, THEY'RE PERHAPS SOME OF THE MOST REMARKABLE TECH TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS OR SO. THEY BASICALLY ALLOW YOU TO MAKE COMPLICATED ITEMS USING VERY SIMPLE MATERIALS. MANY OF THE DESIGNS USE PLASTIC TO MAKE ITEMS, BUT OTHER MACHINES CAN BUILD THINGS OUT OF METAL OR OTHER MATERIALS. DISASTER RELIEF AGENCIES HAVE REALLY BEGUN TO EMBRACE THEM, BECAUSE ITS CHEAPER AND EASIER TO SEND ONE OF THE MACHINES TO A DISASTER AREA, ALONG WITH SUPPLIES OF PLASTIC, THAN IT IS TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT AHEAD OF TIME WHAT MIGHT BE NEEDED. AND DON'T THINK THAT BECAUSE ITS MAKING THINGS OUT OF PLASTIC THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH WHICH CAN BE DONE WITH THEM. ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING USES FOR THE MACHINES WHICH PRINT OUT PLASTIC ITEMS IS THAT THEY'RE BEING USED TO MAKE CUSTOM PROSTHETIC ARMS FOR PEOPLE. THE FINAL PRODUCT COSTS ONLY A FEW DOLLARS, COMPARED TO THE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF A COMPARABLE COMMERCIALLY PRODUCED PROSTHETIC. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING PROSTHETICS FOR CHILDREN. THEY'LL QUICKLY OUTGROW AN EXPENSIVE PROSTHETIC, MEANING THAT THEIR FAMILY HAS TO COME UP WITH MORE MONEY TO BUY ANOTHER PROSTHETIC, THAT THEY'LL ALSO QUICKLY OUT GROW. WITH COSTS OF LESS THAN $100, ITS EASY TO REPLACE A PROSTHETIC THAT A CHILD OUTGROWS, OR IS BROKEN. EVEN BETTER, THERE ARE OODLES OF CUSTOM DESIGNED PROSTHETIC HANDS WHICH CAN EASILY BE PRINTED OUT THAT LOOK LIKE SUPERHERO HANDS. SO A KID CAN HAVE A HAND THAT LOOKS LIKE IRON MAN'S, WOLVERINE, OR OTHER SUPERHERO IF HE WANTS IT. THE ARTICLE DOESN'T HAVE ANY TECHNICAL DETAILS ON HOW THEY BUILT THE PRINTER, BUT I'LL PUT A LINK IN THE SHOWNOTES TO ARTICLES WHICH DO GIVE FAIRLY DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BUILD ONE OUT OF EWASTE OR EVEN LEGOS.









TRANSPORTATION
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BETTER WAYS OF GETTING AROUND.

THIS STORY COMES FROM FORBES.COM
http://www.forbes.com/sites/faraigundan/2015/01/31/made-in-africa-three-cars-designed-and-manufactured-in-africa/

Made In Africa: Three Cars Designed And Manufactured In Africa

According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to remain one of the fastest growing regions in the world. While Africa’s economy is soaring past most regions with an annual growth of about 5% due mainly to increased agriculture production, infrastructure investment including transportation, ports and energy as well as buoyant services led by tourism, telecommunications and financial services, the continent’s middle class is expected to swell to approximately 300 million people. Additionally, the World Bank projects private consumption in the region to remain strong in 2015-17; particularly with the continent’s burgeoning middle class looking to splurge on new passenger vehicles and for most, their first such purchase.

Last year, Africa was projected to see sales of new 2 million cars with major auto players such as Toyota, Tata Motors and General Motors GM -0.67% looking
at the continent for growth opportunities. According to Zawya, there are approximately 21.6 million passenger vehicles operating in Africa; making the continent’s nearly 1.2 billion population a very attractive prospect for global automobile manufacturers to penetrate. Not to be left out of the lucrative market, African entrepreneurs are now entering the automobile industry; designing and developing vehicles specifically geared for the local market and local consumers but with global aspirations.

THERE ARE THREE COMPANIES LOOKING TO DEVELOPING VEHICLES IN AFRICA. THEY ARE:

Kiira Motors Corporation, Uganda

Originally developed by students from Uganda’s Makerere University for a project headed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the sedan hybrid electric vehicle called the Kiira EV SMACK was designed for the region, local terrain and consumers’ ability to afford the car. The five-seater sedan is powered by a rechargeable battery and also has an internal combustion engine-based generator which charges the battery. The first commercial vehicle from this line is expected to rollout in 2018

Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, Nigeria

The domestic vehicle maker Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company has built on its success of manufacturing buses and trucks to launch a passenger car line comprised of a truck (IVM 1021A) and a Sports Utility Vehicle (IVM 6490A). According to the company website, the automobile company was commissioned by President Goodluck Jonathan and founded by Mr. Innocent Chukwuma.

AND

Kantanka Automobile Company, Ghana

The Ghanaian based automobile company founded by Apostle Safo Kantanka, assembles its passenger vehicles (mainly SUVs and pickup trucks) at the company’s manufacturing plant located in Gomoa Mpota in the central region of Ghana. The automobile company has reportedly pushed back commercial release of its models pending approval from the Ghana Standards Authority.

The commercial success of these “made in Africa for Africans” cars will depend on the uptake by African consumers.

THE PROBLEM OF RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION IS NOT UNIQUE TO AFRICA, OF COURSE. A FEW YEARS AGO VENEZULA WAS COMPLAINING THAT THE CARS PRODUCED BY COMPANIES SUCH AS TOYOTA, GENERAL MOTORS, AND OTHER INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN CAR MAKERS WERE SIMPLY UNSUITABLE FOR THE CONDITIONS INSIDE THEIR COUNTRY. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR MUCH OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD, WHERE PAVED ROADS ARE RATHER RARE. BACK IN THE 1950S, PRESTON TUCKER DEVELOPED A CAR HE CALLED THE 'CARIOCA'. IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE RUGGED, SAFE, AND EASY TO MAINTAIN. THE PLAN WAS TO BUILD THE CARS IN BRAZIL AND OFFER THEM FOR SALE BOTH THERE, AND IN THE US. SADLY, HE DIED BEFORE THE PROJECT COULD BE STARTED. I'LL HAVE LINKS IN THE SHOWNOTES TO ARTICLES ABOUT TUCKER'S CARIOCA, BECAUSE WHILE IT MIGHT BE A 60 YEAR OLD DESIGN, THERE'S MUCH ABOUT IT THAT IS STILL APPLICABLE TO SOMEONE TRYING TO BUILD A CAR FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD.






ENVIRONMENT
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WE'VE ONLY GOT THE ONE PLANET, SO WE'D BETTER PROTECT IT.

THIS ISN'T A STORY AS THE ARTICLE IS MERELY A LISTING OF IDEAS, WITH THE BAREST DESCRIPTIONS ABOUT THEM, BUT FOR MANY OF THEM, THAT'S REALLY ALL YOU NEED TO DO THEM. IT COMES FROM BIG BRAND TIRE.COM AND IS 25 WAYS TO RECYCLE TIRES. http://www.bigbrandtire.com/blog/recycle-used-tires

I WON'T GIVE YOU THE FULL 25, BUT I WILL TELL YOU SOME THAT THEY MENTION, SO YOU HAVE AN IDEA OF THE KINDS OF POSSIBILITIES, AND I'LL HAVE A LINK TO THE ARTICLE IN THE SHOWNOTES SO YOU CAN CHECK THEM OUT.

ONE OF THEM IS A BIKE RACK Simple yet such a brilliant solution, this bike rack is made from half-cut used tires bolted to the ground to wedge front bike tires into an upright position.

ANOTHER IS ROOFING SHINGLES: Because rubber is so easy to mold, it makes great material for roofing shingles. Not to mention, it lets you get a little creative with the shapes. Tire rubber may even be a little stronger than traditional roofing material, making your new rubber roof a sound investment.

THAT ONE REALLY SURPRISED ME, BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH I'VE HEARD OF PEOPLE BUILDING HOUSES OUT OF USED TIRES, THEY WENT WITH A DIFFERENT METHOD FOR SHINGLING THE ROOF.

THERE ARE OTHERS SHOWING HOW TO MAKE PLANTERS, FURNITURE, PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT, AND STORAGE CONTAINERS OUT OF THE TIRES. AGAIN, NOT THE FULL LIST, BUT THOSE ARE THE ONES WHICH SEEM THE MOST USEFULL TO ME, AND REALLY ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE PICTURES AND YOU'LL HAVE A GOOD IDEA OF HOW TO MAKE THEM, IF YOU'RE AT ALL HANDY WITH TOOLS.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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At 46, Naseema Nashad is starting her life over, not out of choice but out of necessity. The Afghan woman was just 25 years old when Taliban militants stormed Kabul and her family was forced to flee to neighbouring Pakistan to escape what they knew would be a brutal regime.
“My father stayed back to run his small business there and he would send us money on a monthly basis,” she told IPS. “We used it to feed our seven-member family, and pay rent on our house in Peshawar [capital of Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkwa province].”
But in 1999, “for no reason” she says, the Taliban killed Nashad’s father. Since then, it has been a daily struggle for the family to survive. Aged 12, 14 and 15, her three brothers quickly found work in local hotels, though they were paid paltry salaries for their labour.
Nashad, on the other hand, could never land anything but odd jobs, which barely gave her enough to survive. What she needed was something fulltime, ideally work she could do from home, that would bring her a regular income.
It was a pipe dream at first, but thanks to the efforts of a vocational centre established by the Afghan Women Organisation, an NGO based in this border city, she is close to making it a reality.
“Now, I have learnt stitching and embroidery and will open a home-based shop very soon. Some of the women who have previously been trained at the centre are helping me,” she added.
Safoora Stanikzai, who heads the Afghan Women Organisation, says she has imparted skills to about 4,000 women since establishing the centre in 2010.
“A majority of the trained women were either widows or orphaned children who had lost their male family members in Afghanistan and were facing severe economic problems here,” Stanikzai tells IPS.
The organisation lacks space and sufficient resources but soldiers on with the little it has. After the women complete their training, they even receive a sewing machine from the centre to facilitate home-based enterprises.
THERE'S MORE TO THE ARTICLE, BUT ITS MOSTLY DEDICATED TO PROFILING WOMEN WHO'VE BEEN HELPED BY THE PROGRAM AND DESCRIBING THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY'RE PRESENTLY LIVING UNDER, RATHER THAN ANY “HOW-TO” INFORMATION. IT IS A SAD SIGN OF HOW FAR AFGHANISTAN HAS FALLEN AFTER DECADES OF WARFARE. IN THE PAST, ITS WAS REKNOWN FOR THE QUALITY OF ITS FABRICS AND OTHER ITEMS MADE BY CRAFTSPEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, YET MANY OF THOSE SKILLS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN LOST DURING THE DECADES OF WAR. STILL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOME HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PROGRAM.



THAT'S IT FOR THIS EPISODE OF BOOTSTRAPPING THE PLANET. FOR LINKS TO THE STORIES COVERED IN THIS, OR ANY OTHER EPISODE, ALONG WITH A LINK TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS, YOU CAN GO TO http://bootstrappingtheplanet.blogspot.com/ THE EMAIL FOR THE SHOW IS BOOTSTRAPPLANET@GMAIL.COM THE ITUNES COVER ART FOR THE PODCAST IS BY STEVE AT HUDSON MEDIA IN COLUMBUS, OH.  NOW, LET'S ALL GO MAKE THIS PLANET A BETTER PLACE.



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