The Planet Fixer Digest

New Strategy For 2013

Editor — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 19:38:04 +0000

A few weeks ago something happened to my WordPress platform. I got a corrupted database, the site would not be displayed correctly. I admit also that I love too much the plugins and guess what!? One of them was the troublemaker!! In a few words it was a big mess…and I nearly have a heart attack!

This is why I decided to split the load for WordPress by creating 3 sub-domains addressing 3 different needs.

You have now:

a sub-domain just for the public sustainable library: The Eco-Library with it’s full-text search database: The Full-Text Search Database
a sub-domain just for collecting and classify all the eco-links I stumbled upon during my quest for real-now solutions: The Eco-Directory !
a sub-domain just for the mindmaps: The Eco-Advisor !

This digest, the main site of the Planet Fixer Organization, will still be used to show my collection of real now solutions but in a more concise way. I have dozens and dozens of solutions sleeping in my computer. I have 2 choices:

I can go on as it is now and still write nice articles about solutions I found. It is quiet time consuming!
I can either write much shorter article, very brief post indeed, and share right away everything I have accumulated over time.

Once all solutions will be posted and shared, I will have the possibility to go back and expand any of these short posts to a full article. It is just that I don’t want to feel guilty seeing all these precious solutions accumulating dust and not been shared with you! In brief, expect more posts in the weeks to come but shorter ones!

Roger Pilon, Editor

The Planet Fixer Organization – The 3 Pillars

Make your own mind maps with Mindomo.

Need To Irrigate? Call Your Pump!

Editor — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:32:03 +0000

Click to view slideshow.

In 1981 Mr Ostwal, then an adolescent, visited his family’s village near Pune during his summer vacation. Every midnight, his 82-year-old grandfather (who had lost a leg to gangrene and walked with a stick) would walk a mile to switch on the water-pump to ensure that his oranges were ready to ship the next morning. Since the water and electric supply were erratic (and allocated to the industrial belt during the daytime), he would make up to ten such trips a night. Mr Ostwal felt a deep desire to help his grandfather, but couldn’t do anything about it as a student.

It took nearly 20 years from the idea to the retail product! In a few words, see what it can do for millions of people around the world:

you call a cellular that is hook up to a control box ( the Nano Ganeh )

that device switchs the pump on

the irrigation process can start

Patience, determination and a deep belief in a mission that’s what it takes to make the world a better place. Bravo Mr. Santosh Otswal!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

SITUATION

in India there are more than 1 billion official connections of water pump

CHALLENGE

find a n economic way to remotly control pumps
easy to implement anywhere in the world
proving a technology in hazardous areas
working in varying weather &
working in poor power supply conditions
don’t need a university diploma to install and maintain it

SOLUTIONS

a GSM mobile based remote control system exclusively for the use with a water pump
save enormous amount of electricity, water, fuel, time and labor

REFERENCE

Manufacturer Site – Nano Ganesh
The Story Behind The Invention - Questions for Santosh Ostwal Inventor of the ” Call The Pump” Device

Video – The Call-Your-Pump Device

Heading

Toilets Franchise Available In Kenya! Interested?

Editor — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:10:46 +0000

Which one would you choose? The one on the left or the one on the right?

Let’s starts here with some hard facts about toilets around the world: 2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation. The resulting disease & water pollution cause 1.7 million deaths & loss of $84 billion in worker productivity each year. You would need unlimited funds to resolve this challenge unlesss…you use the Sanergy toilet franchise concept.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Sanergy’s answer to the lack of toilets around the world will work. Why? Simple! It is not just a solution it is a concept! With just a solution, you build toilets as long there are funds. No more funds, no more toilets built, the solution crumble!

With this franchise model, it is “doom” to succeed because it is a win-win structured situation involving everyone… all the time. It is a seed planted with a guaranteed harvest. The owner of the franchise make money and build more toilets. Users paid for using them but it is safer and cleaner. And at the far end humanure is recycled! The loop is closed!

Perfect auto-perpetuating sustainable concept!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

SITUATION

2.6 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation
millions of toilets need to be built rihgt now
there is no sufficient funds to resolve this situation

CHALLENGE

find a way, a system to build millions of toilets
no begging for funds necessary
offer a sustainable permanent solution by using a franchise model
system must be flexible and adapts itself to the needs of people

SOLUTIONS

the franchise Sanergy model
users pays for using the toilets
it generates income to the owner of the franchise
the owner of the toilet franchise build more toilets expanding his/her territory

REFERENCE

I admit, I went a little bit over the board here! Normally I include 2 or 3 links. What happened to me? I don’t know!

Pictures of toilets-latrines based on the Sanergy models

Click on any pictures to see pictures in full dimension.


Making line to use clean and safe toilets. A dream comes true! View at Picasa Making line to use clean and safe toilets. A dream comes true!	The complete Sanergy toilet with a water tank to clean hands View at Picasa The complete Sanergy toilet with a water tank to clean hands	Standardized prefabricated ferrocement parts makes assembly quick View at Picasa Standardized prefabricated ferrocement parts makes assembly quick
Toilets that adds sun in the hearth of people living in slums View at Picasa Toilets that adds sun in the hearth of people living in slums	A bright blue for high visibility. It is spotted right away. View at Picasa A bright blue for high visibility. It is spotted right away.	Posing in front of a completed Sanergy toilet-latrine View at Picasa Posing in front of a completed Sanergy toilet-latrine
Job well done! Happy faces everywhere! View at Picasa Job well done! Happy faces everywhere!	Which ones would you chose? View at Picasa Which ones would you chose?

Video – The Sanergy Toilet Franchise Concept

Tapping The Grid To Get My News!

Editor — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 21:59:23 +0000

The Universal Earth Grid

Let me tell you the little story behind this news I just collected today: Recycling Cell Phone Batteries Beyond Melting Them.

I am from Quebec (Canada). I have been living for the last 22 years here in Costa Rica. On the cable we have a channel in French from France: TV5. There is a little program I like very much ” Coup De Pouce Pour La Planète “…and there, in the news, they mention someone that invented a system to recycle cell phone batteries.

What never stops to amaze me is this deep feeling to be connected to a powerful grid that surrounds us where I can tap in to grab the news I need to collect to help the Planet Earth. Think about it for a few seconds: Quebec > Costa Rica > France > right time > right place!

Hard to beat that!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

Recycling Cell Phone Batteries! No Melting Necessary!

Editor — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:07:22 +0000

Born in 1950 in Sétif, Farouk Tedjar graduated from the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble. It creates startup Recupyl in 1993. In 2012, he was selected for the final of the European Inventor Award. Its patented process recovers 98% of lithium-ion battery materials.

There are not so many systems you can find on the net that are focusing on recycling specifically cell phone batteries. On top of that, most if not all are based on one principle: batteries must be melt down in order to start the recuperation process.

This system, invented by Farouk Tedjar and Jean-Claude Foudraz from France, does not need to melt down batteries at all. The recycling process is done at normal temperature. The company, started in 19 years ago. There are 24 employees in France, about 50 around the world. Sales in 2009 were around 1 million euros in 2009; today it is around 4 millions euros.

As often it is not a brand “new” news, but this cell batteries recycling process is a fantastic solution for our little Planet! Nearly 20 years in the making, what a shame!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

SITUATION

There are millions and millions of cell batteries around the world
There will be more and more batteries as cells worldwide are selling like crazy
Recycling in certain countries is not even an option any more, it is mandantory
Recycling is the way to go, not only because it is good for our Planet Earth but also because there is money to be made

CHALLENGE

Find a low profile recycling process that have a low or a lower carbon footprint
No melting of the cell batteries…if possible

SOLUTIONS

Process with no melting down of the batteries
Limited CO2 emissions
Low energy consumption
Reduced environmental impact
High recycling rates

REFERENCE

Compagny Web Site – Recupyl
Source Article In French – Farouk Tedjar, obsédé de l’accu
Excellent Article About Recycling Batteries – How to Recycle Batteries
Documentation - Public Library Recycling Section

Method for recycling batteries – Farouk Tedjar and Jean-Claude Foudraz (France)

European Inventor Award 2012 – Farouk Tedjar (France)

Cactus can clean up contaminated land of selenium and boron

Editor — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:05:51 +0000

A large part of the land in the California’s San Joaquin Valley has marine sediments, shale formations and deposits of selenium and other minerals in the soil. When crops grown in the valley are irrigated, there is a run off from the irrigation water that can carry high levels of selenium that can be toxic to fish, migratory birds and other wildlife that drink from nearby waterways and drainage ditches.

Scientists say there’s a tool to “scrub” the valley’s soil and it couldn’t be more natural: it’s the prickly pear cactus. The best “cleaners” were the Chilean cacti, which were tops at accumulating and volatilizing the selenium, producing the most fruit and tolerating the salt and boron.

That solution, using cactus to “clean” soil of selenieum and boron could certainly used in other parts of the world!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

The prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) is drought-tolerant plant, can tolerate salty soil and take up selenium and boron from it

SITUATION

some soils contains too much minerals like selenieum
some soils contains too much minerals like boron
some soils are too “salty”

CHALLENGE

When irrigating, there is a runoff:

this runoff contains too much of selenium
this runoff contains too much of boron
this runoff contains too much salt
this runoff is toxic to fish
this runoff is toxic to migratory birds
this runoff is affecting wildlife in general

SOLUTIONS

grow this very specific type of cactus: the Prickly Pear Cactus or Opuntia ficus-indica
the cactus will take up selenium
it will volatilize some of it
it will keep some in it’s fruit and leaf-like stems

REFERENCE

Source Article – Prickly Pear Cactus Might Cleanse California Soils
Other Article – Using Cactus as a Bioremediation Tool
USDA Blog – Condensed Article About Cactus And Decontamination

Me! Carrying water! No Way! I prefer to roll it using a Q-Drum!

Editor — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:13:12 +0000

A village woman in third world countries can often spends up to 3 hours a day carrying one 20-liters plastic container of water. Generally the load, even limited at best to 15 litres per container, requires families to make more than one trip to fetch water each day.

As often simple ideas produces outstanding results! The Q Drum is a durable, donut-shaped plastic container which when full holds 50 litres of water. It is solid and can be use safely by children or women.

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

Children using a q-drum to transport 50 liters of water

SITUATION

water is essential to the survival of all forms of life and a clean
accessible supply is a basic need for millions of people around the world
too many disadvantaged and rural communities have the trouble of fetching water invariably over long distances
it is cumbersome
it is too often too far
it is unhygienic

CHALLENGE

find a way to transport water safely for anybody, in particular for children and women
find a way to transport this water in an hygienic way
one that is as fast as possible
one that is contained to avoid all kind of contamination and odors

SOLUTIONS

the Q Drum is simple to use
the Q Drum is durable,
the Q Drum is effective
the Q Drum is user-friendly
the Q Drum is a device designed to ease the physical burden, avoiding many debilitating back, neck and spine injuries are a result of women carrying heavy loads on their heads
the Q Drum reduce the time spent on collecting water

Video – The Q-Drum In Action

REFERENCE

Manufacturer Site - Q-Drum

Fight Desertification By Digging Holes In The Desert

Editor — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:59:54 +0000

Yes! A solution has been found to fight desertification but beyond this solution, there is a man and his story, a story so fascinating that a movie was made: The Man Who Stopped The Desert. His name is Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer in Burkina Faso. A lot has already been said about Yacouba, so I am not going to repeat his wonderful story. See the reference box at the end for more information!

Finding solutions to fight desertification has eluded the efforts of development organizations, scientists, and international experts for too long. How much money had been spent already! I prefer not to think about it! And the solution was already there, already used a long time ago in Burkina Faso: the zai.

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, re-inventor of the zai

SITUATION

desertification poses significant challenges for food security

CHALLENGE

find a system that can retain water
a system that help crops survive during dry spells
a simple system that can be implemented with very basic tools
a simple system that can be implemented in barren lands
a simple system that can be implemented where there is rain between 400 mm and 800 mm per year

SOLUTIONS

Tens of thousands of hectares of land that was completely unproductive has been made productive again thanks to the techniques of Yacouba. Zai is the Moore word for ‘pit’.

Start the process in spring, or the dry season if you live in the Sahel.
Find an area of flat barren land.
You will need hard packed earth with low rainfall, between 400 mm and 800 mm per year.
You will also need a large team of helpers.
Working in rows, hack pits into the ground with a shovel-axe, about 30cm wide and 20cm deep.
Step forwards over your pits and continue this process until the area is completely covered with pits.
Fill the pit with compost. This can be made from rotted cow/sheep dung, leaves, and ashes from wood-fuelled stoves.
In each pit put a few seeds of millet or sorghum.
If you happen to have a termite mound nearby you are in luck. These guys will help break down your soil and encourage rain infiltration

Like most great ideas, Zai is a simple and easily communicated concept. Here is how to make your own zai pits


1 – Find Many Friends View at Picasa 1 – Find Many Friends	2 – Make Many Holes View at Picasa 2 – Make Many Holes	3 – Add Many Seeds View at Picasa 3 – Add Many Seeds
The Man Who Stopped The Desert – Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, re-inventor of the zai View at Picasa The Man Who Stopped The Desert – Yacouba Sawadogo, a farmer from Burkina Faso, re-inventor of the zai

VIDEO – The Man Who Stopped The Desert

The sound was too high on my computer when playback. Maybe it will be better on your computer. Good Luck!

REFERENCE

Source Article – The Man Who Stopped the Desert
Web Site Of Yacouba Sawadogo - for updates, clips and more information
Planet Fixer Public Library – Desertification Section

Control Rodents By Hiring An Owl Kestrel Patrol

Editor — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 16:39:58 +0000

When it is time to control pests like mouse, the first reaction is to use pesticides! Well..there is a much better sustainable solution: hire a owl or kestrel patrol!

NOTE My mission as the editor, is to open as many doors as possible! Nevertheless, always investigate thoroughly and proceed with due diligence!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

The Barn Owl Patrol In Action

SITUATION

hundreds of birds of prey are killed through eating rodents containing poisonous “rodenticides” sprayed on to crop fields

CHALLENGE

reduce the use of chemicals in pest control, in particular the use of rodenticides
replace them with a sustainable pest control solution

SOLUTIONS

deploying birds as natural pest controllers
installing nest boxes to encourage the birds which hunt the crop-damaging rodents
get a 24 hours bird control patrol: kestrels hunt during the day, owls during the night

VIDEO – Owls and kestrels replace pesticides in Israel

REFERENCE

BBC Article – Owls replace pesticides in Israel
Planet Fixer Public Library – Pest Control Section

Recycling Old Tires Beyond Shredding

Editor — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:22:16 +0000

Most of the recycling tires system on the market are based on shredding and then, compress it in mats or whatever. This recycling tires system from Israel is completely different. It uses an innovative process that will break down the sulfur links connecting the rubber polymer chains in vulcanized rubber. Bottom line: this enables waste rubber to be re-used, while retaining most of the properties and characteristics of the original rubber! You can do a lot more than mulching or mats!

NOTE As the editor, I am just opening doors! Always investigate thoroughly and proceed with due diligence!

Roger Pilon, Editor
The Planet Fixer Digest

SITUATION

rubber waste is a grave environmental threat
globally over 1 billion tires reach their end of life each year
most are dumped in already overflowing stockpiles and illegal landfills
tires are not biodegradable
tires are dangerously combustible

Highly efficient de-vulcanization process

CHALLENGE

developed countries are passing stricter legislation for rubber waste
EU directives forbid to dump tires (even if shredded and ground) into landfills
an economically feasible solution for scrap rubber is needed
an environmentally friendly solution for scrap rubber is needed

SOLUTIONS

can treat large rubber particles – no need for rubber waste to be ground into powder
completely clean and environmentally safe: chemical modifier consists of harmless material from the agriculture and chemical industries
only a small percent of modifier (about 3%, by weight) is needed to process each ton of rubber
the two-roller mill used can be adapted with exceptional ease to most rubber production factories with no special equipment necessary
recycled rubber retains most of the characteristics and properties of virgin rubber

VIDEO – Recycle Tires With A Full De-Vulcanized Rubber System

REFERENCE

Manufacturer Site - Levgum Ltd.