globalbriefs
News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.
Solar Surge Global Rise in Sun-Generated Power
Last year, the U.S. joined Germany, Italy, China and Japan in producing more than 10 gigawatts of solar production nationwide. Now, other countries have awakened to the opportunity and are on their way to catching up. The popular Scandinavian retailer IKEA has sold $10,000 solar panels in 17 British outlets. Peru recently started a National Photovoltaic Household Electrification Program to connect 2 million of its poorest residents with solar power. In the first phase, 1,601 solar panels were installed to power 126 impoverished communities. The plan is to install about 12,500 photovoltaic systems for
500,000 households at an overall cost of $200 million. Earth Hour India is helping citizens to switch to solar energy in villages that previously had no electricity. Woodlands stores, in partnership with World Wildlife Foundation-India, has launched a collection drive across the country, inspiring individuals to donate to help light up more than 100 households in three villages in Madhya Pradesh with solar power. The residents had traditionally depended on forest resources for their energy needs.
Portland on Tap City Voters Reject Fluoridation Again
Portland, Oregon, residents have rejected a plan to fluo- ridate city water for the fourth time since 1956, making it the largest city (pop. 900,000) in the United States without fluoride in its water supply. In the 1950s, cities throughout the U.S. championed water fluoridation as a way of fighting tooth decay, but the effort backfired when a condition called fluorosis emerged, which ironically is characterized by tooth enamel discoloration and erosion. Anti-fluoride forces say that water treatment is not the key to better dental health for children. Fluoride Action Network Executive Direc- tor Paul Connett, Ph.D., has a better idea. “We urge the legalization of dental ther- apists in Oregon who will treat the low-income children dentists refuse to treat.”
Bikes-to-Go Cycling Gains Ground at
Colleges and in Cities
May is National Bike Month, and more universities continue to commit to bicycling as a sustainable, healthy and environmentally conscious trans- portation choice. Recently, Harvard University joined Princeton and Yale as an official Bicycle-Friendly Univer- sity (BFU), and the League of Ameri- can Bicyclists designated 14 new BFU members, expanding the program to 58 colleges in 30 states across the U.S. with more to come. When New York City opened
registration for a public bike-sharing program, Citi Bike, more than 5,000 people signed up within 30 hours. Similar demand for more cycling op- tions is happening across the nation where shared bicycle programs are taking root (see
Tinyurl.com/ Top50BikeFriendliestCities). The popular Washington, D.C., Capital Bikeshare program began operating in September 2010, and is now the nation’s largest, with 200 locking docks able to accommodate more than 1,800 bright-red bicycles. As in many programs, people can sign up for a short-term stint or an annual membership using either a credit card online or at a station ki- osk. Then they can unlock a bicycle and return it to any station within the system. All rides under 30 minutes are free, after which escalating fees kick in, encouraging people to make short trips and to keep more bikes available for other riders.
For more information, visit
BikeLeague.org.
26 Collier/Lee Counties
swfl.NaturalAwakeningsMag.com
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