Just a quick reminder that the Copenhagen climate change talks are continuing until December 18. For those that can not make it to Denmark, OneWorld UK has been simulcasting live coverage in Second Life, from 5am to 11:30am PST everyday. This includes a Q&A session happening around 8 - 10:30am PST. Watch and participate live in various locations, including OneWorld Meeting Island (click here to teleport.)
While you are there, check out the neat recreation of Malawian William Kamkwamba's homemade windmill in Second Life (click here to teleport). The OneClimate folks shared the story about Kamkwamba's astounding creativity, which follows after the jump...
From OneClimate.net:
William dropped out of school at 14 when his family could no longer afford the $80-a-year tuition, but that didn’t stop him from learning. A picture of a windmill in a library book inspired Kamkwamba to teach himself how to make a windmill out of bicycle parts, the fan from a wrecked tractor, and blue-gum trees.
His family laughed at him at first. But now the homemade windmill powers all their electrical appliances, and his siblings can stay up late to study without having to rely on paraffin lamps. Kamkwamba became a local hero, sharing his expertise with others and building more windmills to help power homes and schools. He’s since added solar panels, fuel-efficient lights, and a deep-water well powered by electricity.
And Kamkwamba’s back in school, now, too; after stories of his extraordinary achievement hit the blogosphere, the entrepreneurs of TED (Technology Entertainment Design) called on him to attend a conference in Tanzania where he told his story and gained the support of a group of backers impressed by his zeal for wind power. They’re paying his tuition at an international academy, giving Kamkwamba’s quixotic quest a classic storybook ending.
In 2007, William was invited to visit the United States where he toured New York City and was taken on a trip to a wind farm in Palm Springs, California.
William was a specially invited guest at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where he gave a highly motivational speech and showed the movie “Moving Windmills”, a documentary about this remarkable young man’s invention. He also toured the Hoover Dam to see for himself the inner workings of that water-power plant. William is constantly seeking ways to help his people.
Your curator is so proud of this young man. Please understand what I’m saying: this young man looked at a photograph in a library book, and proceeded to power his family home, and then his village. If you can, or if you know someone who can support this young man in his quest to bring electricity to Africa, his blog is below.
Moving Windmills video: http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/
http://www.pangeaday.org/filmDetail.php?id=47
