ToughStuff, an African-based company, is already experiencing promising early returns with their entry - a solar panel roughly the size of a sheet of paper. Recognizing the need for stable electricity in villages across the continent, while mindful of the limited financial means of most rural families, the company has delivered a $15 panel for household use. Designed to withstand the harsh environmental challenges posed by the region’s severe weather cycles, the thin, waterproof film is easy to install and requires little maintenance. And though small, their panel can provide enough energy to power household appliances and overhead lighting.

ToughStuff’s Social Entrepreneurs

In Nepal, 18-year old Milan Karki has created a silicon-free solar panel that relies on human hair to conduct electricity. Although silicon is the most common metalloid on the planet, the manufacturing process necessary to extract silicon is tremendously costly in energy expenditure - and is partially responsible for the high price of solar panels today. In Karki’s panels, the silicon is replaced with human hair - relying on melatonin, a light-sensitive compound, that acts as a small-scale energy conductor. Using this readily abundant resource, the small panels can be cheaply manufactured to provide an ongoing, renewable source of energy for even the most remote villages - and should the factory-installed strands break, the components can be easily replaced by the user.

Another promising player in the low-cost solar panel market is Atlanta-based Suniva. Founded by a Georgia Tech alumnus, the company relies on improved manufacturing methods that reduce the time and energy expenditure needed to make photovoltaic cells. By integrating numerous processes and finding alternatives for accepted industry standards, Suniva promises more effective, efficient panels at an affordable cost.

By focusing on delivering efficient, stable electricity through solar energy, these companies are surmounting the myriad of challenges that have long kept this renewable energy resource from being widely adopted. These advancements are proving to a dubious public that solar energy can be effective as an alternative to fossil fuel-based sources, while introducing new, cost-effective methods of production that could potentially drive down the per-panel cost for energy-conscious consumers around the world.

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Created in 1995 by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs, the concept is based on the idea of the ‘World as Café’, that the most innovative and creative resolutions were born of intimate group discussions that took place in a casual setting. Today the set of seven ‘integrated design principles‘ have been used by groups around the globe - from non-profit organizations to governments to worldwide corporations.

World Café Principles

‘Set the Context’

The foundation principle. In planning a World Café event, organizers must first determine the exact subject for discussion. Past groups have used the process to address any number of essential issues - including improvements to regional school systems and social welfare topics.

‘Create Hospitable Space’

To encourage discussion, a café locale should be an inviting, ’safe’ environment - similar in feel to an easy chat around the kitchen table. This principle also touches on invitation design, space decoration and even the importance of providing food and beverages for the participants.

‘Explore Questions That Matter’

Ask an absorbing question that will stimulate thought. Because this particular process is so crucial to motivating the group, the founders have developed a short list of essential, shared characteristics of the most powerful questions addressed within the Café format.

‘Encourage Everyone’s Contributions’

The success of a Café meeting depends on the involvement of all attendees. To allow for deep discussions, this principle uses the ancient ritual of the ‘talking object’ - a physical item that passes from speaker to speaker. This limits extraneous discussion, and allows the listeners to fully focus on the solutions proposed by each speaker.

‘Connect Diverse Perspectives’

Each Café set-up should allow for small tables of no more than 6 participants of varied ages and fields of expertise. As the event progresses, participants will move among other tables, sharing the thoughts and ideas discussed at previous tables with their new groups. In addition, the Café promotes the use of paper tablecloths and markers to make note of key talking points and concepts. These are later shared with the entire group at the end of the event.

‘Listen Together for Insights’

The ability to fully concentrate on the ideas and concerns of other Café guests is critical to the evolution of effective solutions. Rather than formulating a response to another speaker - while they are still talking - guests are encouraged to listen completely to the proposed ideas before responding.

‘Share Collective Discoveries’

Because the primary question/dilemma is shared amongst all tables, there is often a ‘pattern of wholeness’ - key insights that are continually repeated and shared amongst each small group. At the end of the event, use the written notes of each table as a starting point for uncovering the essence of these insights and how that essence may influence - and improve - the potential solution.

Using each of these principles, the World Café process is designed to be fully inclusive. In which, each contributor has the opportunity for their unique voice to be heard by the group. While this process has been developed for physical meetings, the organization has also created an online forum to allow for discussions on the most profound concerns facing our global community today. It’s the future of collaborative problem-solving - where every voice has its value, and its right to be heard.

The History of Valentine’s Day

Many scholars point to the ancient Roman tradition of Lupercalia as the origin of our modern Valentine’s Day. Lupercalia was observed on February 13th, 14th and15th as a pagan fertility festival, marking the official beginning of spring. The festival featured a coupling ceremony, in which Rome’s young male citizenry would choose the name of a single female from an urn, therefore matching them for the upcoming year. Another ritual said to have taken place during the festival involved whips made of goat-skin, which were used by the young men to (likely, gently) whip the women in an effort to boost their fertility. The Athenians also marked the period between mid-January and mid-February as the month of Gamelion, a time to honor the sacred union of Zeus and Hera.

The observance of St. Valentine’s Day on February 14th was officially recognized in AD 498 by Pope Gelasius as a Christian feast day. (It was a common practice in early Christianity to replace traditional pagan festivals with church-sanctioned holidays.) Though it cannot be known for sure, it is speculated that the day itself was named for one, if not several, Roman martyrs. The most honored being Valentine of Rome, who was beheaded in AD 289 at the order of Emperor Claudius II. Legend has it that Claudius had outlawed marriage for young men, believing that men without a wife or family made for superior soldiers. Valentine, a priest, continued to perform wedding ceremonies privately, but this act of treason was eventually uncovered and led to his quick execution. In this account, the date of February 14th is thought to be the day of either Valentine’s death, or burial.

The tradition continued throughout the Middle Ages, often appearing in artistic works of the time. Geoffrey Chaucer is credited as the first writer to link the holiday with romantic love in his 1382 work ‘Parlement of Foules.’ (Translating to ‘Parliament of Fowls’ - and possibly referring to the beginning of bird mating season, with its obvious fertility connotations.)

The practice of sharing handwritten notes or cards began in Great Britain in the 17th century, furthering the holiday’s popularity. Although earlier examples of Valentine’s Day letters exist (the first being credited as a letter from the Duke of Orleans, written to his love while imprisoned in the Tower of London) it was not until advancements in mass-printing and cheaper postal delivery made the tradition available across all levels of society.

In 1913, Hallmark would introduce their first Valentine card - and the rest is history. Today, Valentine’s Day is the year’s second largest card-giving holiday (following Christmas), and offers a related boost to the US economy to the tune of $14 billion in sales. What began as a sacred fertility and sacrificial rite has since become celebrated in countries around the world as a day for love and affection. Commercialism not required.

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Developed by educator Peter Freer in 1996, the Play Attention system has already been tested in hundreds of US school systems, private homes, learning centers and hospitals. Inspired by the technology used by NASA to train their astronauts for the rigors of space, Freer developed Play Attention to specifically address the challenges inherent with ADHD - namely inability to focus, lack of impulse control, and hyperactivity - and promises improved behavior results in as little as 30 days. But how does it work?

Play Attention

The program itself is very simple. There are two components - the software ‘gaming’ program, and a lightweight helmet (similar to a bicycle helmet) that is worn during play. The helmet is fitted with sensors that track brain activity while the user is engaged, thus affecting the action in the game. If the user loses focus, the gaming activity stops. By measuring the EEG waves corresponding to attention, the program can track when a user is focusing on the task at hand, and when they’ve broken their concentration. The goal is to train the user to control their focus - a shared difficulty among those on the learning disorder spectrum. And following successful trials, the program appears to have a positive effect on a wider range of other neurological disorders and may eventually be used to assist those with severe mental and physical disabilities who are unable to use a traditional computer.

Freer credits the program’s success to neuroplasticity, the lifelong ability of the brain to constantly learn and adapt. Unlike neurofeedback programs, which aim to ‘normalize’ the ‘abnormal’ waves of the ADHD mind, Play Attention’s program is designed to teach the essential skills necessary to improving behavior for long-term results. It provides an arena in which the user can learn how to pay attention - which Freer believes has a positive, lasting impact on the daily, real-life behaviors of the user.

In addition to producing quantifiable results in those with ADHD - children and adults alike - the program also shows potential in other fields. Modified versions have been used by elite athletes to enhance their abilities under pressure, and others still have utilized it for mild memory and concentration problems. It all may sound like science fiction - but Play Attention’s real-world results are garnering attention far beyond the screen.

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Even the name itself - belly dancing - is a Western moniker for a Middle Eastern practice. The two most popular styles still practiced today are ‘Raqs sharqi’ - translated from the Arabic for ‘oriental dance‘ and ‘Raqs baladi’, or ‘folk dance.’ The true origins of the dance have been lost to history - some credit the nomadic tribes of Northern Africa for the style’s distinctive movements, while others believe it was practiced by women in preparation for childbirth. Others still point to Ancient Babylon as the birthplace of the form. To add further intrigue to this history, as the dance has spread in popularity in countries around the world, each culture has added their own unique gestures, costumes and traditions.

Sadie Belly Dance

Much of what is visually recognizable about the dance today actually owes credit to the Victorian-era artists who popularized the seductive imagery of ‘harem’ dancers.  Additionally, this idealized vision was further propagated on vaudeville stages and in Hollywood films, as audiences were enraptured by the lithe, elegant performers dressed in a ‘bedleh’, consisting of a fitted, bra-style top, a bare midriff accented by a decorated hip belt and loosely-fitting skirts or pants made of gauzy material. Often, to further accentuate the distinct rhythms of the dancer, the bedleh is decorated with beads or thin, metal coins that create a muted, jangling sound in time with the movement. In actuality, this costume is not wholly reminiscent of the typically-modest Arab dress, and many Middle Eastern countries enforce strict dress codes to limit attire that is deemed too revealing.

Further cultural distinctions can be found in the props adopted by the dancers. Some artists use zills, finger cymbals that are often used in place of the more traditional rhythmic accompaniment. Others use canes, tambourines, swords - and for the daring, snakes - as part of their performance. Even the choice of footwear can vary from region to region - with some dancers performing the style in high heels, while others choose embroidered sandals or bare feet. Each addition - or lack thereof - is tied to the social and cultural beliefs of the dancer, and reflects the historical tradition of the region’s dance style.

This beautiful, intriguing dance has long captured the interest of the Western world as an exotic, seductive art form that celebrates feminine sexuality. But for Arabic dancers, the style is inextricably tied to their shared cultural heritage - danced in segregated settings out of respect for their religious beliefs and social customs. It is still performed today in much the same manner as it was by their ancestors - at weddings and family gatherings, as a shared physical expression of joy and gratitude.

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Arcade Fire - Haiti

Within hours of the initial quake, relief organizations around the world raced to organize the delivery of essential food and medical supplies - while coordinating a massive multi-platform social media campaign to raise funds for the Haiti relief effort. In the wake of one of the most devastating natural disasters in recent history, we have learned some intriguing truths of the power - and the shortcomings - of using new technologies to rapidly respond to a community in need.

User-generated Philanthropy

Using simple, widely-available technology, the American Red Cross was able to successfully raise over $21 million - and counting - with a text-messaging campaign that allows cell phone users to text monetary donations directly from their phone using a special numeric code. Rather than using traditional media to proliferate the message, the Red Cross leveraged social media networks - relying on single users to share the necessary information with their personal, online communities.

Technology in a Crisis

Although much of the communications infrastructure was destroyed by the January 12th quake, cell phones still played a significant role in the aftermath. Survivors trapped underneath the rubble used their phones to text or call for help, facilitating the efforts of volunteer search and rescue workers. Dan Woolley, a visiting American filmmaker who was injured during the collapse of a Port-au-Prince hotel, relied on an iPhone first-aid application to treat a head wound and fractured leg while waiting to be rescued. Others used their camera phones to share images of the devastation via Facebook and Twitter - acting as a de facto news network until alternative methods of communication could resume.

A Community for the Future

While social media has proven to be a willing partner in emergency response, can it prove its value in the months - and years - to come? In response to the challenges Haiti will likely face in the rebuilding effort, WIRED magazine has created a Ning network dedicated to finding ‘better answers to the difficult questions.’ The creators of the site are encouraging large-scale collaboration - hoping to attract infrastructure and technology specialists, as well as concerned global citizens. Members are encouraged to publish their thoughts, via blog posts, on Haiti’s future, as well as use the site’s forums and live chat options to share ideas.

For the small, impoverished nation, the earthquake was a disaster of staggering proportions - the results of which will be felt for decades to come. It will take much more than blog posts, or status updates, or tweets to heal the wounds of this catastrophe - but social media has proven itself to be a valuable partner in an overall relief effort. Not in place of, but in partnership with. Perhaps the Haitian motto says it best, ‘L’Union Fait La Force’. Unity Creates Strength.

‘Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.’
- Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969

There are other words, more well-known, that capture the momentous occasion of man’s first step on a planet not our own. However, it is these first words that most represent the culmination of nearly two decades of effort taken by NASA engineers - the remarkable ability to transmit a live radio feed through the vast vacuum of space, the technological advancements that resulted in the successful lunar landing - and the thousands of small, indispensable developments in between. Four decades later, it is still impossible to comprehend the enormous complexity inherent in the task of safely delivering a man to the moon. But while we may not understand it, it is imperative that we continue to support it. There is much more at stake than you think.

Our national interest in space exploration has waned in recent years. In the face of significant social, political and economic crises, many Americans are having a hard time justifying NASA’s requested annual budget of $18 billion. In these times of hardship, questioning the efficacy of our space program is understandable - but the answers to why we’re up there are far more diverse and essential than would appear at first glance. The quest to explore further crosses borders, languages and cultures - it is, at its core, a search for answers to the most fundamental of human questions. Who are we? Why are we here? And esoteric reasoning aside, there are other incentives to continuing our exploration of the greater universe - incentives that include nothing short than the future survival of our species.

Within NASA’s 2010 operating budget is funding for the development of a global climate change research program. Although recent missions - like NASA’s 2003 Mars Exploration Rover Mission - have relied on unmanned space craft and robotic rovers to explore previously unreachable regions of our universe, there is no replacement for the human mind’s ability to correctly interpret information. Particularly so when the subject is as complex as our global weather systems. The creation of a cutting-edge scientific laboratory at the International Space Station will provide the opportunity for visiting earth scientists to accurately gauge and monitor the extensive effects of pollution, ozone depletion, and changing weather patterns. This in turn, could provide the valuable information necessary to help earth’s populations avoid the potentially cataclysmic effects of global warming.

In addition to scientific opportunities, ongoing exploration may eventually lead to the colonization of other planets. In a recent article defending the U.S. space program, several leading scientists cited this reason as one of the most fundamental aims of the agency. This serves two purposes - the first being the mining of essential minerals that are rapidly approaching their depletion here on Earth. The other is a far more terrifying and sober notion - by creating habitable colonies on other planets within our solar system, we greatly improve our ability to survive as a species, should Earth ever become uninhabitable.

It has been 40 years since Neil Armstrong took those first bold steps into our wider universe - and into history. As an audience of 450 million listeners tuned in, it was a moment not just for America, but for the world - not a national accomplishment, but one shared by all of mankind. And it would be to our great detriment - for us, and the generations to follow - if we resign our dream of exploring the far reaches of space to the history books. It is as relevant today as it ever was.

First Moon Landing 1969

As a child, Abidi traveled with his father to the U.S. to receive medical treatment and was inspired by the atmosphere of empathy and respect extended to disabled persons in this country. He began his crusade as an ‘ambassador for disability’ during high school and continued his efforts into college at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. While working towards a degree in journalism, Abidi remained actively involved in the school’s disability programs - a service that would later prove useful in his professional career as an advocate. Following graduation, Abidi would return home - only to find that most newspaper editors were unwilling to employ him as a political reporter due to his disability. Unlike the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that prohibits the discrimination of any job candidate based on mental or physical disability, India’s government had yet to pass any similar legislation - effectively ignoring the needs of more than 60 million of the country’s citizens.

Although he would build a successful career as a freelance political journalist, he was approached in 1993 by Sonia Gandhi to head the disabilities unit of the newly established Rajeev Gandhi Foundation, named for her deceased husband, the former Indian Prime Minister. Having little experience in the development of such an entity, he nonetheless built the department from the ground up to give aide and support to disabled persons through legislative lobbying efforts and partnerships with some of the country’s largest corporations. Believing that a united voice could not be ignored, Abidi traveled throughout the country speaking with various disabled groups and creating programs to teach professional skills to the disabled, the majority of whom had never had the opportunity to attend college.

Abhilasha

His efforts and determination would result in his crucial role in the passing of India’s Disability Act of 1995, giving legal protection and support to the disabled. Prior to the Act, disabled citizens - a population Abidi has referred to as India’s ‘invisible minority’ - had no legal recourse to demand significant, lasting changes from both the public and private sectors. Among other social protections, the Act provides economic incentives for businesses that hire disabled employees, and allows funding for improved accessibility to public buildings and institutions.

Abidi has since established the National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People, which has been instrumental in the creation of a country-wide database to unite employers with disabled workers. And he continues his efforts to inspire those with mental or physical disabilities to act as their own advocates in their struggle to gain the rights that most citizens take for granted. The right to work, to travel, to visit a movie theater or a public pool. It is a struggle that is not yet completed, but for the fierce determination of one man, it is one that is well begun.

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Fisker Karma PHEV

It’s time to get converted. Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHEV) may not be the plug-and-go solution that consumers are waiting for - but there’s also no waiting necessary. Across the country, small businesses are manufacturing and promoting conversion kits - priced from $5,000 to $35,000 that can turn almost any car into a more fuel-efficient ride. Typical hybrid vehicles draw their power by alternating between a conventional gasoline-powered engine and a more energy-efficient electric motor that is recharged in transit. PHEV’s rely on similar technology - but with an added power cord that will enable drivers to recharge the car’s electric battery through a standard 120-volt outlet.

Seattle recently became one of the first cities to test drive PHEV’s under ‘real-world conditions’ - adding 14 converted Toyota Prius hybrids to the city’s vehicle fleet. The vehicles averaged 57 mpg - a number that has come under fire for being lower than the promised 100 mpg the vehicles have been touted as reaching - but it is still a significant show of efficiency and reliability. Seattle’s test drive also included the use of smart grid charging - using a software program that waits to charge the car when the power grid load is reduced, resulting in a significant savings in overall emissions.

Since the successful launch of Toyota’s Prius hybrid in 2001, consumers have shown themselves willing to take a chance on new technologies - even when it comes to that most American of commodities - the car. So, what exactly is all the fuss about hybrids? Can they possibly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and lower greenhouse gas emissions while still allowing us to enjoy the convenience and reliability that we’ve come to expect from standard vehicles? PHEV proponents say yes. And with Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo all in the race to build a luxury model PHEV, a large-scale adoption of the green auto might be that much closer. It may not be the electric vehicle we’ve been promised - but doing even a little good is a lot better than doing nothing.

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‘Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.’
- Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell

Folk icon Joni Mitchell’s hit 1970 song ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ was written in response to the slow encroachment of mankind across the Hawaiian islands - but in modern times, the lyrics could serve as a significant warning for the future. In regions around the globe, we are fast approaching the point at which our natural resources will no longer be able to sufficiently support the population. And as far as we have advanced since our ancestors first stepped foot on this continent, there is no contingency plan for lack. Facing one of the most severe droughts in recent history, California is currently struggling to properly manage our most precious resource - water. And the consequences of an on-going drought extend far beyond arid fields and empty irrigation ditches.

California Water Crisis

The now three-year drought has brought state reservoir levels to record lows, leading Governor Arnold Swartzenegger to declare a state of emergency - urging that Californians drastically reduce their consumption rates or deal with the possibility of mandatory water rationing and stringent conservation methods. As state government slows the tap on the region’s aqueduct system, the businesses and communities that rely on them are slowly fading - but this isn’t just a problem for residents of the Golden State. As one of the ten largest economies in the world, California’s water shortage may turn into everyone’s problem - as it could have disastrous long-term impact on a country still reeling from the effects of recession. Financial analysts are predicting that should the drought continue into the next growing season, the state may be crippled under $2 billion in lost revenue. It will be a loss felt not only in the pockets of corporate agriculture - but on Main Streets across America in the form of rising food prices and significant strain on social resources.

California’s Central Valley is affectionately referred to as the ‘Salad Bowl’, so named for producing nearly half of the fruits and vegetables in the country. As Sacramento politicians argue about the best methods of allocating water resources, they have cut off the supply of available water for the region’s farms. As a result, farmers are resorting to survival methods - allowing acres of land to lay unseeded, reducing the workforce, and relying on costlier, lower-quality well water to sustain their remaining crops. With less production, unemployment has risen to 3-4 times the national average - which, when coupled with reported increases in drug use, alcohol consumption, and domestic violence complaints, means that residents of these small rural communities aren’t just being squeezed by their thirst - they’re choking on it.

As dire as the predictions sound, many experts believe that adopting small changes will have a big impact on the problem. Citizens will need to get smarter about their consumption before the state government enacts mandatory water rationing. Simple steps such as replacing older, high-flow faucets with more efficient models as well as choosing produce that has a smaller ‘water footprint’ could save millions of gallons of water each day. Additionally, many environmentalists are calling for a large-scale embrace of sustainable farming methods and water-conserving irrigation methods - steps that require financial investments from banks that have been wary of extending credit to small businesses. There is no easy fix for California’s water shortage - but there’s absolutely no known replacement for water either. So what’s it going to be?

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