Moving to eclipsenow.wordpress.com for more storage

OK, it seems like I could be doing some more posters soon, so I'm moving to eclipsenow.wordpress.com which has more storage for the posters. I'm also using the wordpress software in other areas of life so it helps to be familiar with the one piece of software.

I have imported all my old posts from this blog (with just a few clicks of the wordpress software tools, quite easy really). It will take a while to tidy it all up as I'm going to re-write some of my summary posts and enjoy some new layout features. But even though it is not quite ready, please visit me at eclipsenow.wordpress.com where my latest post is a Rubber Duck all about an Australian Brush Turkey that has been raping our chickens!

Making Earthships more "conventional".

I'm loving Low-Tech magazine.

There are some pages that appear to me overly negative, but others that just make sense. Their page on the trolley bus system has convinced me (at this stage) that trolley buses are the way to go ASAP. (As Soon As PEAK-OIL-convinces-politicians).

EG: "The capital investment of the 19 kilometre line in Quito was less than 60 million dollar - hardly sufficient to build 4 kilometres of tram line, or about 1 kilometre of metro line. "

It's just a more pragmatic, less agenda driven, "common sense" approach to transport.

Then there is their explanation of Earthships. Now I've already mentioned that tonight's "Grand Designs" is looking at Earthship's so make sure you check that out. (Tuesday 14 July, ABC1, 8:30).

It will probably feel a bit "alternative" like this 9 minute youtube clip about an Ohio permaculture Earth-Ship. Now while Low-Tech Magazine are probably support everything in the Ohio counter-culture permaculture farm, there's something missing. Mass appeal, taking this MAINSTREAM! For some it's just too alternative, too crazy, too hippie. Even I found the look of the Ohio Earthship a bit too "cave-man" with the rather industrial looking brick floors inside and plastic sheets hanging from the ceiling.

As Low-Tech Magazine says:

Most Earthships in the US take on an unconventional form. They have fairy-tale like features that remind one of the works of architects like Gaudí and Hundertwasser. But others, like the 16 Earthships being built in Brighton (picture right), hardly look any different from conventional houses. These more traditional forms may help with the general acceptance of this type of building method by the general public.

Built up environments

Until now, most Earthships were built in isolated places, where most people live in built-up urban environments. The problem with the feasibility of an Earthship is the size of the plot on which it is built. This plot is significantly larger than the size of a conventional house.

But the idea is flexible enough to adapt to different situations. When an Earthship is built, earth mounds are formed, which in turn may provide support for another Earthship, and so on. The result would be revolutionary and unconventional. However, in response to the recent warnings from the International Energy Agency, unconventional and revolutionary ideas need to be adopted if we want to help prevent a worldwide fight for energy.

© Kris De Decker (edited by Shameez Joubert & Vincent Grosjean)h(es)

Sometimes I just have to applaud efforts to make these alternative ideas more conventional and mainstream, to get the energy benefits out there in society.

Safe Climate Australia aims to develop a "master plan"

This appears to be another climate planning think-tank, but unlike many activist groups with a budget to employ professionals of their fields running real world costings. It will be interesting to see what they eventually come up with. As someone sympathetic to the Open Source movement, I'm keen to see what dozens and dozens of volunteers can come up with in the BZE climate plan as opposed to the plan by this paid think tank. We will see.

SCA launch: Business Breakfast for a Safe Climate

Nobel prize-winner Al Gore will be the keynote speaker at Business Breakfast for a Safe Climate on 13 July that will bring together leaders of some of the largest and most influential corporations in Australia, and will contribute towards the engagement of the business community with the speed and scale of the global warming challenge and the mapping solutions for a safe climate.

Al Gore

The event will also raise funds to assist in the establishment of Safe Climate Australia, and support this organization in developing the Safe Climate Transition Plan. Donors will have the capacity to access tax deductibility through the Climate Positive Foundation, which is auspicing Safe Climate Australia. The event will aim to formally strengthen business support for Safe Climate Australia.

Zepplin that NEVER needs a refuelling station

1. Catch rainwater and store in ballast tanks
2. Inverts propellers to become wind turbines
3. Split rainwater to make hydrogen
4. Hydrogen inflates airship and acts as fuel for fuel cells

It's a slow but steady lifestyle for air-artists, alternative travellers, hippies of the air?

"Six hours of wind energy accumulate enough fuel for one hour of flying."

80km a day? I can't help thinking what might happen if they added some of the new flexible thin-film solar PV all over the outside.

http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2009/02/gipsy-zeppelin-baseship.html






Low-tech magazine are always entertaining, but also always trying to capture a technology meme and "tame it" for their low-tech ends.

However, the technical potential for airships is awesome. Companies around the world are brainstorming all sorts of solutions.

Yet I have to mention this amazing bankruptcy of the Cargolifer project! Check out the sheer SIZE of this hangar, and yes, that's 3 people down the bottom there. Click on image to see larger. It's now a resort called "Tropical Islands" and you have GOT to see what they've done to the place!


But utimately, who knows about the future of airlines? If you want to go somewhere, fly sooner rather than later. Airlines may "stall" for a few decades as we adjust to peak oil, prioritise the remaining fuel away from tourism to essential services and construction, and gradually electrify transport. Then the other side of the crisis as wind and solar have grown exponentially, who knows what future airlines might fly on... algae jet fuel? Hydrogen? Or will we go back to the airship and have a more leisurely international air trip of about 4 days from Sydney to London instead of 24 hours? Will we arrive rested and not as jet-lagged? One can only hope for some sanity in this over-busy world. Keep checking the Airship wiki for recent news. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airships#Present-day_research

Electric mining like a trolley bus!

Wow, check this out. From a nice "Low-tech magazine" article on trolley buses. More images of all sorts of off-the-highway electric mining and other vehicles here.