Simple but effective inventions

I am always interested in eco-friendly, simple yet cheap inventions, and in the last couple of weeks I have come across two.

The first is a solution to daytime lighting in the dark accomodation found in the shanty towns across the developing world. In these homes, windows cost too much and indoor lighting is restricted to night-time, if at all, due to energy cost. Electricity, of course, is usually not available.

To put it simply, a large plastic drinks bottle is taken, cleaned, filled with water and a little bleach added to eliminate the possibility of algal contamination. Then, a piece of corrugated iron is fitted around the top and then the resulting water-light is placed in the roof of the hut. Simple but brilliant:

The second invention is a very basic, but effective refridgerator. It is essentially one unglazed pot fitted into another. A layer of wet sand is placed between the two pots, and the energy lost by evaporation keeps the produce in the smaller inner pot cool:

This simple little device improves the life of stored produce from three days to up to three weeks. In addition, the quality of life for the people has improved. The families can afford to send their daughters to school rather than have them go to market every day.

Incredibly simple, but effective devices to improve the quality of life.

Links to the original news storied can be found by clicking on Water bottle lights and Electricity-free refridgerator

Time And Tide Wait For No Man

One of the great things about living near the coast is being able to see the rhythms of the tides and the seasons.

We have recently had a spring tide, which occurs just after a full or new moon, this particular one occurring just after the new moon of 29th August. If you take a drive to Hall Road beach, in Crosby, you can park your car in the car park and watch the high tide from the comfort of your own car.

However, last Saturday saw my daughter and I getting up close and personal with the Irish Sea, as this series of photographs will prove:

Waves just beginning to break over the life boat launch slip way. Note children playing dodge the waves

Madam gets too close to the source of the action

Then she decides to play at being King Canute...'Come on, I dare you!'

I think it's safe to say that the waves won

Watching from a safe distance afterwards...when we'd already got ourselves soaked to the skin.

Despite getting soaked to the skin (or maybe because of it) it was an exhilarating experience.We had lots of fun and laughed ourselves silly. As it was a warm day in early autumn, we probably won't get a chance to do this again this year, unless we wish to freeze to death as well as get wet. It was definitely a day to treasure. I feel fortunate in living so close to a beach.

I cannot post this blog without a mention of the local coastguard station, Crosby Coastguards. It is situated only a few yards behind where these photos were taken, and is responsible for the safety of people on or around a large portion of the Irish sea, including many recreational sites as well as the busy shipping port of Liverpool. Yet the UK government wishes to close this station down. How this action can be justified is simply inconceivable as well as irresponsible, as it will surely lead to a loss of life at some point in the future.

For more information on this issue, please click on the following link:

http://www.dontsinkthecoastguards.co.uk/petition.htm