| Aussie military planes provide flood aid
AUSTRALIAN defence force planes have joined a critical aid mission for thousands of flood victims in Papua New Guinea, as looting broke out in hard-hit Oro province. Last week's floods left thousands homeless, and officials fear the death toll of about 160 could rise dramatically unless food and clean water supplies quickly reach survivors. There are security fears in Oro province, north of the capital Port Moresby, after looters made off with a rice shipment and local MPs were accused of commandeering relief supplies for their own villages. Australia today sent in two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft and two smaller Caribous to start distributing AusAID supplies, including water purification tablets, emergency shelters, blankets and generators.
Design team taps WKU student
A college senior from Western Kentucky has been selected to work on a global design project to create a wind-powered water purifier to benefit impoverished areas that lack electricity. Zach Pearl, who is studying mechanical engineering at Western Kentucky University, is part of the five-member team contributing to the project from around the world. "Something like this could possibly be used where there isn't a safe source of drinking water," Pearl said. "This could save lives." The research is still in early stages, he said, but the group is using computer-generated conceptual drawings to examine the possibility of harnessing wind power. It's not Pearl's first attempt to design a water purification system. Last year he was part of a team that created a water purification system powered by pedals on a bicycle.
Dow and International Aid Announce Partnership To Address Global Safe ...
The Dow Chemical Company and humanitarian healthcare agency International Aid today announced a partnership that will help provide safer and cleaner water around the world. Dow will supply all of the plastic resin required to manufacture 300,000 HydrAid BioSand Water Filters, a lightweight water purification device currently being distributed by International Aid and its partners worldwide. The simplicity, affordability and effectiveness of the HydrAid water filter hold the promise to make a dramatic impact on the global water crisis, said International Aid President and CEO Myles D. Fish. We are delighted that Dow is joining with International Aid and our growing number of distribution partners to help bring the HydrAid filter to the many thousands of communities suffering from lack of clean water worldwide.
International Federation releases emergency funds for Madagascar
Malagasy Red Cross also requested the support of the French Red Cross regional intervention platform (PIROI). Twelve tonnes of material were sent from the main centre on La Reunion Island, including tarpaulins, tool kits, generators, water purification tablets and other emergency items .
Cheap, Clean Drinking Water Purified Through Nanotechnology
ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2008) Tiny particles of pure silica coated with an active material could be used to remove toxic chemicals, bacteria, viruses, and other hazardous materials from water much more effectively and at lower cost than conventional water purification methods, according to researchers writing in the current issue of the International Journal of Nanotechnology. .
|
