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Facts:
1. It's located in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California.
2. They have 55 k-12 school districts and 4 high schools.
3. The climate there is mild, with hot and dry summers and seasonal rain.

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"Africans bend what little they have to their will every day. Using creativity, they overcome Africa's challenges. Where the world sees trash, Africa recycles. Where the world see junk, Africa sees rebirth," (Kamkwamba

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1. Patient
2. Strong Minded
3. Compassionate

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Venture Capitalists- People who help small companies that want to expand.
Infrastructure- The basic structures that are needed for the operation of a society.

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T= technology
E= entertainment
D= design
TED represents the creative minds of others, to be able to not get judged and have an audience that understands them.

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Come and See why Windsor Chico Care Center has become the choice for skilled nursing and rehab services in the area. Our team of professionals understand the importance of creating a warm, comfortable environment for all residents. Let us show you how we help people recover from surgery, injury and serious illness.

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Validation- The action of proving or checking the accuracy of something.
William and his creation received validation when news reporters started to come and interview William about his work.

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1. Persistent
2. Kind
3. Trustworthy

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William played an important role in the education for HIV and AIDS. He wrote and acted in a play about this sickness. William played the friend that convinced the husband to go to the local Volunteer Counseling and Testing Center and get tested with his wife.

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Examples:
1. Beasts started to attack and kill people in the village.
2. An evil creature would pull people behind a tree and remove their parts with a knife.
William was blamed because people wanted a scapegoat for all their problems and they turned to William. Since he had something different, something out of the ordinary, they said that he caused the magic to retaliate against them. They said that he brought witches to their town.

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William had failed attempts at "What's next?"
William tried to create a water pump and biogas. Both experiments didn't turn out how he thought they would.

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"Grooving through life" means just living off a little  ganyu  and having no real plan for their life.

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AIDS- A disease that causes the body's immune system to be badly damaged, lowering resistance to infections. This disease is a result of untreated HIV.
HIV- A virus that attacks your immune system cells.
Facts:
1. 20% of all Malawians were infected.
2. Thousands of people died each year.
3. People in Africa were very uneducated about AIDS and HIV.

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Biogas- A fuel made by breaking down organic matter.
Connection to Moto- They used broken down coffee grinds and William tries to use goat matter to use for power to cook.

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DAKAR (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Two former students from Burkina Faso have designed a mosquito-repellent soap, which they hope could be a simple and affordable solution in the fight to end malaria, but more funds are needed to test the idea, according to the startup behind it.

Moctar Dembélé and Gérard Niyondiko, the brains behind Faso Soap, were awarded a $25,000 prize for their invention in 2013 when they became the first African winners of the Global Social Venture Competition at the University of California Berkeley.

Yet Faso Soap must be tested to ensure it is safe for human use and effective at preventing malaria before it can be mass produced by soap manufacturers in Africa, said Franck Langevin, campaigns director for the Ouagadougou-based startup.

The soap, created from natural oils and plants, could prove successful in preventing malaria as it would be cheap and rely on existing habits of African households, Langevin said.

"People in Africa are very reluctant to change their habits, but soap is present in most homes, and is used for bathing, cleaning the house and washing clothes," he said.

The soap is designed to repel mosquitoes up to six hours after being applied, and once soapy water is thrown away on the street, hinder the insects from breeding in stagnant water.

"It is a simple and affordable weapon in the fight against malaria," Langevin told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Last month, Faso Soap launched a crowd funding appeal for $113,000 to finalize the development of the soap with the aim of distributing it in six African countries hardest-hit by malaria by 2018, working with soap manufacturers and aid agencies.

Last year, there were 214 million cases of malaria worldwide with the mosquito-borne disease killing 438,000 people, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jo Lines, reader of malaria control and vector biology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, praised the idea behind the soap, but said it would be dangerous to rely on an untested product to protect against malaria.

As a social startup, Langevin said Faso Soap has struggled to attract funding from donors, including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations children's agency (UNICEF), prompting the inventors to turn to crowd funding.

World leaders committed to ending malaria by 2030 when they adopted the Sustainable Development Goals last year.

Europe last month became the first region to be declared malaria-free after reporting no indigenous cases in 2015, and a former WHO official said the world can eliminate the disease soon, but only with more investment to end and keep it at bay.

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Mosquito-repellent soap invention seeks to wash away Africa malaria threat

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Two former students from Burkina Faso have designed a mosquito-repellent soap, which they hope could be a simple and affordable solution in the fight to end malaria, but more funds are needed to test the idea, according to the startup behind it.

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His life has changed so much ever since his finished his windmill. He has gotten light in his house and has power and light at night. He also has made many improvements to his windmill and helped people (like charging their phones). Mister Godsten now is happy for William and doesn't question or make fun of him anymore. He is genuinely kind to William.

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1. He added a step-up transformer.
2. He made a light switch for his room.

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Circuit Breaker- A component that is used to stop the flow of current in an electric current as a safety measure.
Facts:
1. Without it, stuff can blow up/out.
2. It is like a fuse, but it can be used over and over again.
3. Advanced circuit breakers monitor current levels and are more precise than simple circuit breakers.

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Step-up Transformer- A component that increases voltage from primary to secondary.
Facts:
1. The secondary current is about 10 times greater than the primary current.
2. The opposite of a step-up transformer is a step-down transformer.
3. Voltage Ratio:
N secondary/N primary
4. Current Ratio:
N primary/N secondary
Facts (Michael Faraday):
1. He was an English scientist.
2. He was born in 1791 and died in 1867.
3. He figured out the basis of the electromagnetic field.

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Gratitude- To be thankful, to show appreciation.

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Details:
1. The shock absorber is connected to the bicycle.
2. There are 4 blades at 4 ft. long each.

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Examples:
1. "Oh, it took so long to convince my father to give up that bicycle. I must have begged for an hour, explaining the process once more, almost putting together the radio windmill again just to remind him," (Kamkwamba 186).
2. "I spent the next several weeks back in the scrapyard, turning over the rusted chassis of cars, the jagged slabs of sheet metal, and digging carefully through the tall grass, hoping I'd missed seeing a generator among the junk," (Kamkwamba 191).

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1. Edwin Land
(Perfected everything that had to do with photography)
2. Benjamin Franklin
(Lightning rod)

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Facts:
1. The school can take legal action against parents who don't pay the fees.
2. Orphans are not charged school fees.

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The video and William's situation relate because this guy talks about how there are standards that teachers have to teach and how they teach kids the same way and don't adapt the learning  style for other kids. William is in the same situations as these kids. William's education is the same as every other kid and his classmates get different grades. It is unfair because William studies very hard, but he has a lower grades than his classmates.

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Kinetic Energy- The energy that is created by motion. An object that has motion, holds kinetic energy.
Diode- A semiconductor component that usually causes the energy to only flow in one direction.
Electroscope- A device that detects and measures electricity.
Electromagnetic Energy- A form of energy that can be reflected from items through electrical/magnetic waves traveling through space.

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The ending of chapter 8 was very hopeful. The fact that there is finally some food and the weather has gotten better. Everyone is grateful that they are getting better. There was still people that were struggling but it was getting better.

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Smile: "I was flattened like a tube," (Kamkwamba 141).
Simile #2: "In our delirium, the rows of drying tobacco began to look like delicious food," (Kamkwamba 153).

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Epidemic- An outbreak of a  disease throughout a community/population.

Cholera- A disease caused by the bacteria, Vibrio Cholerae transmitted through contaminated food or water.

Facts:
1. It can lead to death if it is not treated.
2. Most infectants have little to no symptoms.
3. It is easily treatable, most cases with an oral rehydration solution.
4. This disease can be avoided by consuming safe and sanitized water.
5. It is a global threat.

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I think that William made the wrong choice when he decided to kill Khamba. I know that Khamba was suffering, but so was everyone else. I think things would've gotten better so Khamba shouldn't have been killed. I am angry also at the fact that William left Khamba to die. If William wanted to kill Khamba, he could of at least made it fast and less painful.

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Society obligated to take care of the weak?

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Society obligated to take care of the weak?

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I think that society is obligated to take care of the weak/poor. If we don't help them, then there would be so much more people that are living on the streets. Everyone has to contribute to the community and give others a better life. I'm not saying that we need to take care of the lazy ones, the ones who won't try to have a good life, but those who are trying those that are trying but struggling.

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Malaria- A disease caused by a parasite transmitted by an infected mosquito bite.
Facts:
1. Can lead to death.
2. It is preventable and curable.
3. There are 5 species of parasites that can cause Malaria in humans.
4. Most cases occurred in Africa.
5. It is an acute febrile illness. (Sudden fever/elevation of temperature)

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Modern Day Dating, Courtship, and Wedding Practices

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Another aspect of culture that shapes one's identity, not only in the United States and other countries as well, is the modern day courtship and wedding practices, which are both similar and...

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When people are in a group:
-They lose control of their morals because of the groups influence
-They share a common goal, too forced on that goal
-Groups combine like-minded people together

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Physiological- Relating to biology and the normal functions of living organisms and their parts.
Effects of Starvation:
-Weight loss
-Dehydration
-Not enough nutrients for body to function
-Extreme weakness/paralysis
-Low blood pressure and shock

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arvest should be the time for celebrations, weddings and full bellies in southern Malawi. But Christopher Witimani, Lilian Matafle and their seven children and four grandchildren had nothing to celebrate last week as they picked their meagre maize crop.

Last year's drought, followed by erratic rains, hit the village of Nkhotakota hard. But this year the rains never came and, for a second year running, the family grain store is empty. If they manage their savings carefully and eat just one small meal a day, they may just have enough food for two more months.

By August, said Irish charity Concern Worldwide, they and tens of thousands of other small farmers in southern Malawi will have completely run out of food, with no prospect of another harvest for at least seven months. With nothing to sell and no chance of earning money, Witimani, Matafle and family will starve.

"I am worried the children will starve to death. I don't know what to do," said Matafle.

"We need food. We are in a desperate situation," her husband added.

Countries are just waking up to the most serious global food crisis of the last 25 years. Caused by the strongest El Niño weather event since 1982, droughts and heatwaves have ravaged much of India, Latin America and parts of south-east Asia. But the worst effects of this natural phenomenon, which begins with waters warming in the equatorial Pacific, are to be found in southern Africa. A second consecutive year without rain now threatens catastrophe for some of the poorest people in the world.

The scale of the crisis unfolding in 10 or more southern African countries has shocked the United Nations. Lulled into thinking that Ethiopia in 1985 was the last of the large-scale famines affecting many millions, donor countries have been slow to pledge funds or support. More than $650m and 7.9m tonnes of food are needed immediately, says the UN. By Christmas, the situation will have become severe.

Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Madagascar, Angola and Swaziland have already declared national emergencies or disasters, as have seven of South Africa's nine provinces. Other countries, including Botswana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, have also been badly hit. President Robert Mugabe has appealed for $1.5bn to buy food for Zimbabwe and Malawi is expected to declare that more than 8 million people, or half the country, will need food aid by November.

Serena Gadinala, from the in Neno district of Malawi, has tried different planting techniques but nothing worked and her crops continue to wilt. Photograph: Tamara van Vliet/OCHA

More than 31 million people in the region are said by the UN to need food now, but this number is expected to rise to at least 49 million across almost all of southern Africa by Christmas. With 12 million more hungry people in Ethiopia, 7 million in Yemen, 6 million in Southern Sudan and more in the Central African Republic and Chad, a continent-scale food crisis is unfolding.

"Food security across southern Africa will start deteriorating by July, reaching its peak between December 2016 and April 2017," says the UN's office for humanitarian affairs. The regional cereal deficit already stands at 7.9m tonnes and continues to put upward pressure on market prices, which are already showing unprecedented increases, diminishing purchasing power and thereby reducing food access. As food insecurity tightens and water scarcity increases due to the drought, there are early signs of acute malnutrition in Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabawe.

For Coco Ushiyama, head of the UN's World Food Programme in Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, just working out how to import a million tonnes of food, needed to support between five million and eight million people in Malawi over the next 12 months, is proving nightmarishly difficult. With no guarantees of money from donors, she cannot buy the food on the open market, or book ships and transport.

"We are very concerned. Last year, like many other countries in the region, Malawi had a double disaster with erratic rains and then floods which led into droughts," said Ushiyama. "Last year, 2.8 million people were affected. Then we had a deficit of 220,000 tonnes of food. This year, we are anticipating it will be four times as bad. The maize price is already exceptionally high.

"We are monitoring 50 markets throughout the country and already they are seeing abnormally high prices. We have very worryingly high admission rates for childhood malnutrition in health clinics. In some areas it is very serious already and it is likely to get much more serious. It will be a regional issue," she said.

The government has declared a disaster and will publish a new assessment of its needs in the next few weeks. The vice-president, Saulos Chilima, has said that about 1.3m tonnes of maize will be needed.

Politicians may talk of going on to the world market to buy a million tonnes of maize, but Ushiyama is unsure where it will come from. There is usually enough food in the region, but South Africa, which usually exports a million tonnes of food a year, will need to import 3.5m tonnes this year. Only Zambia may have enough food to export and it has imposed restrictions, she said.

"South Africa is in trouble. Nearby Zambia has had a better harvest than most countries but it has put export restrictions on its food. If we import it [from outside Africa], the food will take four to six months [to arrive]. We have learned from experience that the rains start in November so the roads will be terrible when the food is most needed and some lorry drivers will refuse to come. By November, we will need to have pre-positioned food in key areas. But to get it there by then means ordering the food right now," she said.

People are divide pulses among themselves at a United Nations World Food Programme food distribution centre in Chikwawa district, Malawi. Photograph: Tamara van Vliet/OCHA

Finding the cash to feed possibly 50 million people for eight or more months is the biggest problem of all, says the UN, because Africa's slow-burn crisis must compete with Middle East wars, refugees and natural disasters for attention. According to the UN, which is holding an unprecedented humanitarian summit this week in Istanbul, 125 million people worldwide need long-term assistance and a further 60 million have been forced from their homes by war, violence and disaster.

More than $1.5bn has been requested by southern African governments, says Ocha, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but less than a quarter of this has been pledged. Officially, the deficit is $677 million (87%) but this will grow when countries complete their assessments of the harvests in the next few weeks.

"The window for responding in a meaningful manner is closing rapidly," said Shadrack Omol, senior adviser to the UN children's fund, Unicef. "The concern is that slow-onset emergencies, like the one we are dealing with in southern Africa, do not get enough attention because they creep up on us."

John Makina, Oxfam country director in Malawi, said: "The donors just do not have the money; there is donor fatigue. Malawi has been hit by drought, then floods, then drought. The donors are getting tired of it. In 2015, Malawi alone needed $170m. In 2016-17, it will be far more.

"The full impact will be felt from October to March 2017. It's looking really bad. The most affected will be the poorest and jobless. They will end up selling what little they possess. The price of maize flour has already gone to 9,000 kwachas (£8.70) for 50kg. It will double again for sure," he said.

International development minister Nick Hurd, who has visited Mozambique, wants Britain to lead the humanitarian effort. But money cannot be given directly to the country following a corruption scandal, and the government must work through a consortium of NGOs, providing food vouchers, medical aid and food-for-work schemes.

"We cannot and will not stand idly by while millions suffer. Britain is playing a leading role in helping countries across Africa to cope with the impact of El Niño. Support for people affected by El Niño is important to Africa and also firmly in Britain's national interest," says Hurd.

In villages across southern Africa, people are fearful, unsure how they will survive. In Mozambique, where Britain is contributing £11.8m over three years, some food aid has arrived in the village of Mblalava.

A farmer tries to grow crops with the help of a United Nations supported irrigation scheme in the Neno district of Malawi. Photograph: Tamara van Vliet/OCHA

The women are ecstatic: "It's been two and a half years since we had good rain," said Rosita Chauque, a mother of three. "When the drought started we used to be able to find vegetables in the bush, but even these have gone now. We used to make and sell charcoal, but there are so many other people doing that now it's not possible. We have thought of leaving, but where to? We have no crops in the fields, no food for the cattle and nothing for ourselves. There is no water, no grass. People are selling their animals. They have no other resources. There is a lot of suffering."

"The situation is critical," said Abdoulaye Balde, the World Food Programme country director in Mozambique's capital, Maputo. "We are at the point of no return."

Droughts and "hungry seasons" are common throughout southern Africa, but the breadth of this year's crisis is very unusual, says Caoimhe de Barra, Malawi country director of Concern Worldwide. Her frontline workers see rural people already employing traditional coping strategies, including eating wild foods, taking children out of school, selling their animals and assets.

"Early action is key. If we can start supporting people now, we can save lives and prevent an even worse situation later this year. People are not currently dying of hunger but the overall health of the population will be severely affected by hunger-related illnesses. Malnutrition will blight the life chances of countless more Malawian children," she said.

The secretary general of the International Red Cross, Elhadj As Sy, who visited Malawi and Zimbabwe last week, said: "Much more needs to be done to support communities to survive and strive over the coming months. We met families who have received no external support and who are simply desperate. We need to urgently scale up our interventions to prevent this situation from becoming a catastrophe," he said.

Relief from Africa's long drought may finally be coming, says the World Meteorological Organisation, which is monitoring the temperature of waters in the Pacific. These are said to be cooling rapidly and are expected to be "neutral" by mid-June. That, says the UN, signals the coming end of the El Niño, the droughts and the worldwide heatwaves.

The effects, however, will not be felt in southern Africa until April 2017 when the next main harvest should be in. But, says the WMO, there may be a sting in the tale. There is a 50:50 chance that the continent will be hit from September by El Niño's climatic "twin", known as La Niña, which develops as the Pacific Ocean equatorial waters cool after an El Niño.

Instead of droughts, La Niña usually brings heavier monsoon rains in south-east Asia and much cooler and wetter conditions in southern Africa.

"We pray hard for rain and then we must pray harder that it stops. Is there no end of extreme weather?" said Malawian villager Richard Kapenda.

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Across Africa, the worst food crisis since 1985 looms for 50 million

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A second year without rain threatens to bring catastrophe for some of the poorest people in the world. Donor countries, in the grip of wars and refugee crises, have been slow to pledge funds. But by the time they do, it could be too late

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Genocide- Killing a large group of people on purpose.
Genocide in Rwanda:
1. Around 800,000 people were murdered
2. Begun by Hutu nationalists
3. Happened from April to July 1994

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Deforestation keeps Malawians poor because without the trees, the flood water washes away the soil and it's minerals and all the soil and garbage clog up the Shire River, causing the power plant to spend a lot of money dredging the river causing power cuts. Many people have to cut down trees and sell them to feed their families. (Pg. 82)

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Examples:
1. President Banda
2. President Muluzi
3. Vietnamese government

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Five Signs:
1. Unending drought
2. Government doesn't care
3. People are begging/working for food
4. People selling all their livestock
5. Food price highly increase

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RIPPLE Africa receives many general enquiries asking about the natural environment in Malawi, Africa, and particularly about deforestation in Africa. To help people wishing to gain a better understanding of some of the complex environmental issues Malawi is facing, we have provided a page about the environment and deforestation in Malawi and, most specifically, the Nkhata Bay District where RIPPLE Africa is based.

The environment is one of RIPPLE Africa's three main pillars of activity. It is also the charity's only area of focus which goes beyond our own local community: RIPPLE Africa's environmental projects span the entire Nkhata Bay District, an area of just over 4,000km². RIPPLE Africa's environmental projects include tree planting, fruit tree projects, fuel-efficient cookstoves, forest conservation, and more.

Environmental Overview

Malawi is a landlocked country in south-eastern Africa, bordered by Tanzania, Zambia, and Mozambique. Malawi is 118,000km², but one fifth of the country is made up of Lake Malawi, so actual land area is 94,080km², roughly the size of Scotland and Wales combined. The Great Rift Valley runs through the country from north to south, and Lake Malawi lies to the east. Land is made up of mountains, plateaux, hills, valleys, flatlands, and lakeshore. Malawi has a sub-tropical climate, and experiences a rainy season from December to March, a cold dry season from April to August, and a hot dry season from September to November.

Malawi was previously heavily forested. However, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), forest cover is now just 34.4% of the total land area of Malawi (UN data 2010) (fallen from 41.4% in 1990). The Northern Region, where RIPPLE Africa is based, has more forested areas than the heavily populated Southern and Central Regions combined.

The challenge for Malawi for the future, with its rapidly growing population, is to help communities to develop a more sustainable approach to the environment.

Deforestation for Farming

Most of Malawi was originally covered by forest but, over the years, people have been cutting down the trees and burning them where they fall to open up areas for farming - this is commonly known as "slash and burn" agriculture. In the past, these areas were farmed for one to three years, and then the farmer would move on, cut down some more forest, and start all over again. Whilst the population of Malawi was small, the environment was able to recover as the trees would regenerate but now, with the population doubling every 25 years (in July 2011, the population of Malawi is estimated to be 17.2 million (2015 Source World Bank) - see Malawi Facts and Figures), there is increased pressure on available land. Today, more than 80% of Malawians live in the rural areas and are subsistence farmers.

During President Hastings (Kamuzu) Banda's time in office following Malawi's independence from Britain in 1964 until 1994, the forests in Malawi were protected. However, with the arrival of multi-party politics and democracy in 1994, the people believed that they had the freedom to do what they liked, and huge areas of forest have been cut down in the past 17 years to provide more farmland to produce food. The result is that much of the country has very few forests left and, in fact, it is not possible to see a large tree in many places in south and central Malawi.

In Nkhata Bay District, the area in which RIPPLE Africa is working, there are still large areas of forested hills, but these are disappearing very quickly because people from other areas of Malawi are now moving into the District and cutting down the trees illegally. The deforestation in the hills is causing a major change to the landscape and to the climate. As soon as the trees are cut down, the soil is exposed to the rain and, in many places, most of the top soil is washed away into the rivers and eventually into Lake Malawi. This is leaving the hills infertile so that trees and crops do not grow well, and the soil that is being deposited in the lake is affecting fish stocks which, together with over-fishing, is causing a dramatic reduction in the number of fish that are being caught in the lake.

Other Reasons Why Trees Are Cut Down

The main reasons why the trees in Malawi are cut down are as follows.

Wood is the main fuel in Malawi, and 95% of homes still use wood or charcoal for cooking. Nearly everybody uses three-stone fires for cooking, and each fire consumes about three large bundles (weighing about 30kg each) of wood per week. In many areas, wood is now becoming very scarce. Although the government has a number of laws to restrict the sale of wood and charcoal without a licence, the practice is very common throughout the country. The use of charcoal for cooking is more common in the major towns, but charcoal production and the sale of charcoal is illegal. However, despite this, the people in rural areas produce many bags of charcoal which are transported to the towns. This fuel is incredibly wasteful as it uses a considerable number of trees to produce one bag of charcoal.

Most houses in Malawi are made from bricks, and these are commonly made by putting clay soil into moulds and then drying them in the sun. These sun-dried bricks are then built into a large kiln and vast amounts of wood are used to fire them. In October/November, it is normal to see people burning their bricks all over the country, but there is no restriction on this activity at the moment. To make enough bricks for a small family house would require three large mango trees or the equivalent.

There is now very little hardwood available in Malawi for timber production. Sawyers walk up into the hills and cut down the best hardwood trees to make planks for building and for furniture.

Although wood is such an important resource in Malawi, the Malawians have been very poor at managing their woodland and replanting their trees.

Agriculture

Malawians used to farm the old traditional crops of millet and sorghum which are disease and drought resistant but, as with most of the other countries in Africa, maize was introduced by the World Bank in the 1950s and is now the most popular crop as the staple food in Malawi. Ideally, maize needs good soil and nutrients, and sufficient water, but it is susceptible to disease and drought. Maize is commonly grown in the rainy season from seed which farmers have to buy, and it is planted in December. Unfortunately, Malawians rarely rotate their crops and often, at the end of the season, the fields are burnt to clear them so that the nutrients are destroyed and there is very little organic matter in the soil. Hence, increasingly, farmers rely on expensive, chemical fertilisers to increase their crop yields.

In Nkhata Bay District, the most common crop is cassava from which a flour similar to maize flour is produced, and this is used as the staple food in the area. Cassava is reasonably easy to grow - a short piece of stem is planted in the ground, and this will grow throughout the rainy and dry seasons. As with maize, this crop is regularly planted without rotation. In the dry season, October/November, many farmers burn the bush as a quick way to clear their land, and children set fire to the dry vegetation for fun, with devastating results. All of the organic matter is destroyed, and homes, trees, and seeds are also burnt, often leaving the soil sterile.

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi, which is the ninth largest lake in the world, is a major part of life in Malawi. It covers one fifth of the country and, traditionally, people who live along the lakeshore are fishermen. As a result of large-scale soil erosion due to deforestation, the lake is suffering from siltation which, together with over-fishing, has caused the fish stocks to reduce. In the 1970s, the average consumption of fish was 14kg per person per year, but it has now fallen to about 4kg per person per year because of the reduction of fish stocks in the lake and the growth in population.

Videos

Forest Conservation: Signing of Bylaws (9:08)

Deforestation, Bush Burning and Forest Conservation (2:51)

Fish Conservation: Fish for Tomorrow (6:41)

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RIPPLE Africa receives many general enquiries asking about the natural environment in Malawi, Africa, and particularly about deforestation in Africa. To help people wishing to gain a better understanding of some of the complex environmental issues Malawi is facing, we have provided a page about the environment and deforestation in Malawi and, most specifically, the Nkhata Bay District where RIPPLE Africa is based.

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Deforestation- Destroying forests to have land for other uses.

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Alternating Currents:
-Bidirectional current
-Created by Nikola Tesla
-Ex= household appliances
-The voltage can be increased to be more efficient
Direct Currents:
-Unidirectional current
-Created by Thomas Edison
-Ex= computer software
-All the energy goes to one spot

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Maybe you've heard this before, but then again maybe you haven't: it is actually possible to generate usable electrical energy by riding a bicycle.

Not by simply riding it out in the street, of course, but indoors, suspended on a stand and connected to a specially-constructed generator designed to harvest the hidden power of spinning bike pedals. It really doesn't matter who is doing the pedaling - dad, mom, grandpa, grandma, your kids, your lazy brother-in-law, or any other visiting relatives who need to do something to earn their keep; as long as those pedals are spinning and the bicycle generator is hooked up to a battery that can collect and store the electrical power produced, you will be in business.

Off-the-gridders are always on the lookout for any possible source of down-home power, so naturally bicycle generators have attracted the interest of many. But before we start recommending that anyone invest their time, money, and leg power in a bike generator, we first need to take a much closer look at this technology to see what it is actually capable of doing. Once we have uncovered and revealed all the good news and the bad news about bicycle generators, then and only then will you be informed enough to decide whether or not you would like to include a bicycle generator in your growing collection of off-the-grid energy-producing devices.

As William Shakespeare would have said, if he were here today: to buy or not to buy, that is the question. We don't know if Shakespeare was thinking about bicycle generators when he first wrote those lines, but if he wasn't, he probably should have been.
First The Good News...
If we were going to organize a debate about bicycle generators, those taking the "pro" side would have plenty of good reasons to sing the praises of this innovative and wonderfully simple technology:
Good News Headline #1: Bicycle generators can help the whole family stay fit and healthy
Riding a stationary bicycle is one of the best types of exercise anyone can perform. Aerobically challenging, low-impact, and suitable for all ages, spinning a pair of pedals as fast as you can for as long as you can will help you lose weight while you are keeping your heart healthy, leaving you physically prepared to handle any difficult personal or societal challenges you may face in the years ahead. And if you are already into bicycling, why not kill two birds with one stone and put your hobby to good use by hooking your bike up to a generator, so you can start producing electrical power as a supplement to your normal road work?
Good News Headline #2: Bicycle generators can charge batteries or power electric devices directly
It is true-anyone can pedal a bike and charge a battery. But your possibilities are not limited to just that, for it is also possible to connect a bike generator directly to any appliance or device that runs on electricity and/or is capable of storing a charge. If you are in decent-to-good shape, you should be able to pedal fast enough to produce a relatively continuous output in the 100-150 watt range, which will be enough to power or charge such items as a fluorescent bulb or a computer monitor, or a charger for a cell phone, laptop computer, or electric razor. On the other hand, if you can keep pedaling for up to an hour, you could potentially add 100 watt-hours of power or more to your battery, which could then be used to run just about any device that requires electricity. And if everyone in the family takes a daily turn in the saddle, obviously the amount of energy produced and saved could add up even more.
Good News Headline #3: Bicycle generators can produce extra energy in the winter, when you need it the most
Solar power is the popular choice for many off-the-gridders these days. But in the winter time when the sun is low and the days short, the available supplies may not always be adequate to meet all of a family's needs. In such unfortunate circumstances, anything that could add a little extra input would be appreciated, and even though bicycle generators are not mega-producers by any means, they can really help out in situations where every little bit counts.
Good News Headline #4: Bicycle generators can function as effective back-up units
What will you do if the power goes out? Whether you are still on the grid or off, short- or long-term power failures are always possible, and when you are facing a situation like this, it makes sense to have back-up power sources that are both reliable and dependable. Bicycle generators may not be able to match either the grid or a solar panel array in productivity, but they can still provide important service during a time of crisis. If you are using LEDs, for example, you could keep your home bathed in light for hours with just a few minutes of determined pedaling. In such a predicament, you would no doubt have to ration energy anyway, so a bicycle generator's power-producing limitations would not be as much of an impediment as would normally be the case.
Good News Headline #5: Bicycle generators would make ideal additions to fallout shelters, safe houses, storm cellars, etc.
Temporary power failures are a legitimate threat, to be sure. But what happens if catastrophe strikes, and the whole societal kit and caboodle suddenly comes falling down around our ears? Many believe this is not so much a possibility as it is an inevitability, and if the worst happens and you and your family must attempt to survive when chaos is raging all about you, a small-scale, power-generating technology that can help you make it through the worst times imaginable could be worth its weight in platinum.
What It Takes To Create A Safe, Self-Sufficient, Off-The-Grid Lifestyle Using Solar Power! Good News Headline #6: Bicycle generators will teach the kids valuable lessons about the importance of self-sufficiency and a good work ethic
If we expect our children to be able to survive the trials and tribulations that are coming, we need to teach them how to fend for themselves in all circumstances. In support of this necessity, it should be pointed out that bicycle generators are about as far from a technology of convenience as you will ever hope to find, as they require you to work for everything you get. If we ask our children to use one to supply their own power so they can run their computers, light their rooms, or charge their cell phones, it will help them learn how to be self-sufficient and to take responsibility for their own actions. And besides all this, bicycle generators can be used to create some fascinating science projects, and any child who knows how to use one is likely to make quite an impression at his school's science fairs.
Good News Headline #7: Buying a bicycle generator might be a smart, but building your own might be even smarter
Shakespeare didn't realize it, but you don't necessarily have to buy a bicycle generator even if you decide you want one-with a little research, you can learn how to build one all on your own. There are a boatload of DIY plans available out there now that can show you how to do it; some require the use of regular bicycles, but others will give you the lowdown on how to build spinning machines from scratch using spare parts you could find in your garage or storage shed. Not only can you save a lot of money this way, but some of the machines that are built from the ground up will actually outperform generators that require the use of a traditional road bike.
...And Now The Bad News
There are a lot of enthusiastic boosters out there who will tell you that bicycle generators are so fantastic they make sliced bread look like it's a snooze fest in comparison. But as is often the case with many so-called "green" technologies, the benefits of bicycle generators have been greatly exaggerated by those who believe anything that is good for the environment is automatically better than any other alternative available anywhere else in the universe.

This is not a bubble we pop with pleasure, but pop it we must. Unfortunately, the drawbacks of bicycle generators are significant, and they must be acknowledged for the sake of accuracy and in the spirit of full disclosure:
Bad News Headline #1: Bicycle generators ain't exactly cheap
A new or refurbished bicycle generator and its supporting equipment could cost you a few hundred dollars, if you want to get something that is highly-efficient and durable. While it is true you could make your own pedal-powered generator at home using scrap or recycled parts for a lot less-maybe $100-$200, if you are clever and industrious enough-this may not be an option for most, who simply would not have the time or expertise needed to build something cheap (but good) on their own.
Bad News Headline #2: Bicycle generators don't produce much power
Hyperbole aside, a bicycle generator is likely to produce no more than one or two cents worth of power for each hour that it is put into use. For satisfying the occasional need here or there this may be okay, but anyone who expects to meet a considerable share of their electrical demand by using a bicycle generator is living in a dream world -unless maybe they come from a family of 48, with everyone taking a half-hour shift in the saddle each day.
Bad News Headline #3: Bicycle generators don't produce a lot of bang for the buck
In addition to the initial investment, you will also have to buy batteries if you expect to store the energy you produce. But even if you manage to pedal fast enough to reach the 100-watt production level (which is not easy for many), you would have to ride your bicycle generator for more than 300 hours to store enough energy to pay for the cost of the battery alone.
150 Ways to Cut Your Energy Bills Now... Bad News Headline #4: Bicycle generators can wear out the tires on a bike
Spinning a bicycle repeatedly on a sidewall or drum generator, which puts the unit in contact with the sides or top of the bicycle tire respectively, will cause significant wear and tear on the tires. This may force you to replace them every six months or so if your bike is used exclusively on the generator, or more often if it is being ridden out on the road as well. A hub generator (a third type of bicycle generator) avoids the friction problem by attaching the rotating motor directly to the revolving wheel, but these more advanced units naturally cost more than other types.
Bad News Headline #5: When bicycle generators are connected directly to appliances and electric devices, it can be difficult to stay up to speed
Putting granny or your ten-year-old on the bike is no longer an option if you are not using a battery to store the electricity you produce with the generator. If you are pedaling with the intention to power something in real time, through a direct connection, your situation may be similar to that of the Roman galley slave, who had to row harder and harder in order to avoid the whip and keep up with the demands of his task master. Only in this case, the pain will come from the burning in your legs and it will be the electric appliance that is pushing you to pedal faster and faster; and if you fail to do so, the appliance and the inverter that converts the generator's direct current into alternating current may cut out repeatedly, meaning all of your vigorous spinning efforts will have been in vain.
Bad News Headline #6: Bicycle generators are shockingly inefficient
While they can in fact do useful work, it would be more difficult to find a type of alternative energy that operates less efficiently than the bicycle generator. When you combine the energy that is wasted in the battery, in the generator, in the inverter, through friction in drum and sidewall units, and in the voltage regulator, which prevents electric devices from being overloaded if a bicycle generator produces too much power, anywhere from 50-70% of all the energy that should be produced by the spinning of the pedals in one of these units is actually frittered away into the ether. Of course some of this loss can be reduced if a hub generator is used or a battery is not, but no matter how you spin it (no pun intended), a bicycle generator is still an inefficient device.
"To Buy Or Not To Buy": The Final Decision
Weighing the good against the bad, the pro against the con, and the point against the counterpoint, we are forced to conclude that buying a bicycle generator would probably be a good investment for some and a poor one for others.

This may seem like a wishy-washy answer. But the potential value of a bicycle generator will all depend on how much a person prizes efficiency. If efficiency is what the game is all about for you, then you will undoubtedly be able to find better ways to spend your hard-earned cash than to sink it into an energy-producing device that will never even come close to paying for itself. But on the other hand, if self-sufficiency, good health, and personal security transcend bottom line considerations in your universe, then a bicycle generator might be just the ticket.

So to purchase or not to purchase? In the end, this is a question that you must answer for yourself. Even if Shakespeare himself were here today, he would not be able to help you make your final decision.

© Copyright Off The Grid News

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7 Shocking Facts About Bicycle Generators - Off The Grid News

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Maybe you've heard this before, but then again maybe you haven't: it is actually possible to generate usable electrical energy by riding a bicycle. Not by simply riding it out in the street, of course, but indoors, suspended on a stand and connected to a specially-constructed generator designed to harvest the hidden power of spinning ...

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"What's important about that to you?" He asked me over a meal of steak, asparagus, and a bottle of Pellegrino.

I told him.

"Make sense? It's a little different, and I believe it. It's important to me." I felt the threat of a vulnerability hangover rolling in and we hadn't even finished our food. What's more, this was a good friend and I hadn't been asked about this idea before. This was the first time I was sharing it -- it was a tender topic for me. In between my vulnerability meter going off and deciding how much more to share, I was impressed he'd thought to ask.

"Makes sense. Sounds important, tell me more..." Suddenly I felt safe and curious myself. Hmmm... What more was there? My vulnerability meter signaled again, this time quieter, and I realized the other thing signaling was the rush of being witnessed by someone truly present, caring, and curious - a powerful experience, especially in a moment on one's edge. It wasn't so much the questions he was asking, as the quality of presence and authenticity he was exuding. At this point, I would have answered any question this person asked, if only to immerse myself more fully in the land of curiosity and unfolding. There was safety here, richness, sincerity, presence... I was game.

This got me thinking more about curiosity and the power it holds.

Whenever I speak, I talk about the power of presence -- a powerful force and one of our most potent super powers. Add in curiosity and you create some kind of "oxytocin-connection-high-energy-truth-telling" serum bomb. Regardless the sex of the person or the situation, professional or personal, the experience of being witnessed and heard is seductive. And productive.

In my work, I lean into the art of curiosity daily. Curiosity is that thing that bonds people, that opens up and heals conflict, that builds bridges, that has people feel seen and valued, and that leads to greater collaboration and innovation.

At this meal, I was experiencing a whole new benefit of curiosity - an apparent oxytocin increase. Could that be possible from a conversation; from being witnessed, from the experience of combining presence, curiosity, and vulnerability? Even within a business relationship or friendship? Even within a non-romantic connection? Apparently yes. Bam.

There is an intimacy with curiosity that gets created, whether in the bedroom or the boardroom, with your friends or colleagues, with your kids. Curiosity as a state enhances connection, relating, parenting, creativity, you name it -- it opens doors and its powers are not to be underestimated.

Not only does it help build relationships and innovate, it's compelling. Not only is it an excellent leadership skill, its got game. It's sexy. This is not new information. Any woman or man out there who's ever been witnessed and in a container of presence and sincere curiosity, knows what I'm talking about. Simply put, there's gold here.

The week previous to this meal, I'd enjoyed another meal with a colleague who'd shared that he and his wife were struggling; they'd disconnected, sex was absent, connection broken, they were "roommates". And he didn't know what had gone wrong.

Like so many, he chalked it up to her being tired, taking care of the kids, and possibly hormones (gents, don't do that, we hate it and you're usually wrong anyway). Did I have any thoughts on this topic?

So many.

"Who is your wife becoming?" I asked. He looked at me funny - a bit of a flinch.
"What are her dreams? What does she want? What does she think about? What do you want to know about her? What are you loving about her right now? What does she count on you for? What's she given up on getting from you? Do you wonder? Do you ask?"
Fantastic. His changes will be easier effort, high leverage, and high return IF done with authenticity and care.
"Go home, get curious, show up, enjoy your evening."
It worked.

How could it not? Curiosity shines bright -- it's irresistible. And while it's all too often missing, with awareness and intention, it's easy to bring back into the fold and change the game. After all, a man or woman who is curious, who desires, who's determined, who pays attention to detail, who cares, who wants you, and who lets you know it - that's compelling.

To do this takes presence, curiosity... and courage. You have to show up.

And it's not just for home, you can take it to work. Curiosity resolves conflicts; it builds and strengthens relationships. Curiosity creates beautiful things; it innovates. It builds culture. It averts misunderstandings before they're too far down the path. It's a wonder power. It improves your game and your bottom line.

What's the ROI for you on presence and curiosity; at home, at work, on your team, with your lover, with your kids? Worthy, yes?

Curious how to get curious? Let me serve your relationships and organizational tensions right here, right now, ready?

These questions apply to business or personal. Morph them as they serve you. (There's nothing worse than feigned curiosity.) If you're a business leader using these - wonderful - these apply to individuals, peers, teams, bosses, direct reports, the barista at your coffee shop, anyone... they're for humans.

1. Who is this person?

2. What do they want? Need?

3. Who are they becoming? Where are they going?

4. What do you want to know about them?

5. How can you contribute to them?

6. Why do they do that thing they do?

7. Where do they need support?

There is no wrong way to do this. Just "show up" and get curious. Any of these, with presence and intention, will build that bridge to better connections, relationships, and ultimately better outcomes - possibly even better than your brain can currently imagine.

Ready to play? Go get your sexy oxytocin on and create some impact.

//axc
Anese Cavanaugh is the creator of the IEP Method (Intentional Energetic Presence) as well as an advisor, strategist, and thinking partner for business leaders and humans who want to optimize their leadership and how they show up in the world. Follow her @anesecavanaugh.

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Curiosity: Your Super Power for Connection and Impact

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"What's important about that to you?" He asked me over a meal of steak, asparagus, and a bottle of Pellegrino. I told him. "Make sense? It's a little different, and I believe it. It's important to me." I felt the threat of a vulnerability hangover rolling in and we hadn't even finished our food.

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During August to November, they dig new dirt rows using hoes. The first sign of rain is when they start planting. The first rain is usually by the first week of December. After two weeks if the rain is good, they put fertilizer on the seedlings. During May to September, there is a lot of Maize, but people start running out by December. December is when farmers need to buy fertilizer and seeds. They call January, "the hungry season" because farmers have to work the hardest they do all year with the least amount of food. Harvest time is in May. (Pgs. 73-76)

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Diving Between the Continents (Silfra, Iceland) - Smarter Every Day 161

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Click to get a Kiwi Crate Subscription for a kid you love: http://bit.ly/SmarterKiwiCrate Click here if you're interested in subscribing: http://bit.ly/Subscribe2SED Click to tweet this: https://goo.gl/3FMWAK ⇊More info!⇊ My personal favorite is the Tinker Crate, which focuses on Science and Engineering. My daughter prefers the Doodle Crate.

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Sustainable- Being able to stay the same for a certain period of time.
Ethical-  Dealing with morals or what's right and wrong.
Feasible- Being able to accomplish.
Benefits for eating grasshoppers-
1. A lot of protein (about 20 grams)
2. Can be used to treat diseases
3. Can be used to lure fish
4. Can be used to feed animals
5. It's healthy and nutritious

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Who is Rupiah Banda? Everything You Need to Know

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Rupiah Banda is a former President of Zambia. This biography of Rupiah Banda provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

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Cult of Personality- A situation where a public figure purposely gets represented as an amazing person who everyone should love.
Application- This applied to Banda because he did all these things like getting scholarships to universities and getting his medical degree. He also became a doctor and worked in England. People thought that he was this really good person with a lot of accomplishments.

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Mangolomera- A form of magic that delivers superhuman strength.
William: He wanted to have magic to fight the bullies that tortured him in school. Shabani told William that he could give him magic. He paid Shabani and endured pain to get Mangolomera. After 3 days, he started a fight with a boy twice his size and got beaten up. Turns out that the magic didn't work because William bathed.
Lesson: William learned that magic has a lot of rules and you shouldn't use it for shellfish things. He was scared that his hands were gonna fall off.

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Nestled between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, Malawi has earned it's nickname as 'the warm heart of Africa'. And 'warm' is precisely the adjective I would use to describe Malawian music. There is a sunny optimism in much of the Malawian music I've heard, and after a grim weekend of cold, rain, and snow, here in Washington D.C., I figured I'd warm myself up with a few Malawian recordings from our collection.

One of the most popular styles of music in Malawi, in the late 1960s was South African Kwela; a driving dance music, powered by virtuoso penny whistle players. Migrant workers returning from South Africa and Zimbabwe brought kwela music to Malawi, and it was in Salisbury, the capital of the federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (which is now Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe), that Daniel and Donald Kachamba discovered Kwela music. When the brothers returned, in 1961, to Nyasaland (which became Malawi in 1964), they started to perform Kwela music on the streets, at markets, and in nightclubs. Daniel played the guitar, and his younger brother Donald was a penny whistle virtuoso; he had been playing the instrument since the age of six.

In 1967, the Austrian ethnomusicologist Gerhard Kubik heard the Kachamba brothers playing for a large crowd near the main market in Blantyre, Malawi's largest city. And at some point that same year, he brought the Kachamba brothers band to the United States Cultural Center in Blantyre. In February of 1968, the United States Information Service office in Blantyre, sent a four-song tape to the Voice of America, with the following description: 'enclosed is [a recording, made on December 4, 1967 of] an African combo consisting of four boys aged 7-16. They were recently discovered by a German musicologist who was researching African music in Malawi.'

In fact, at the time of these recordings Daniel was 20 years old (he was born in 1947, and passed away in 1987), and Donald was 14 (he was born in 1953, and passed away in 2001); two younger boys accompanied them, one playing the string bass, and the other the rattle. Donald's penny whistle playing on these two tracks is fantastic.

Let's jump ahead a couple of decades, with one of Malawi's most popular bandleaders of the late 1980s and 1990s, Robert Fumulani (he is the man crouching in the picture above). He was born, in 1948, in the city of Zomba (which is 40 miles northeast of Blantyre), and first started to draw the attention of Malawian audiences in the 1970s. During the 1980s, Fumulani won the Malawian 'Entertainer of the Year' award three times. And by the time he passed away, in 1998, his musical earnings had allowed him to open several businesses, including the Likhubula Entertainment Centre, his nightclub in Chileka (a suburb of Blantyre), and a cargo services company at Chileka airport. His musical legacy is kept alive by three of his seven sons; Anjiri, Musandide, and Chizondi- who are the core of the Black Missionaries, currently one of Malawi's most popular groups.

This track gives you a good idea of Fumulani's relaxed Afroma (a contraction of Afro-Malawian) groove. In this one Fumulani pleads with 'Patricia', he sings, 'don't leave us, stay with us, don't break up your family.'

One of the key ingredients of the Likhubula River Dance Band's sound was the guitar playing of Ernest Mapemba. Near the end of 'Mwana Wanga', or 'My Child', Mapemba breaks things down with some wonderfully relaxed playing.

This last track has got a nice reggae beat. Fumulani asks for guidance and advice.

Let's keep the reggae beat going with Evison Matafale, who before he passed away in 2001, was one of Malawi's most loved artists. In 2000, he surprised music fans with his debut release 'Kuyimba I', which became one of the year's best-selling releases. Matafale recorded the album with Robert Fumulani's three aforementioned sons, who after Evison passed away, renamed themselves the Black Missionaries.

In 2001, after a long battle with tuberculosis, Matafale released 'Kuyimba II'. He passed away several months later, however, dying suddenly while in police custody. He was only 32 years old. According to an article published by the BBC, Matafale's brother Elton believes Evison was killed, because of letters he had written to then-president Bakilu Muluzi, denouncing his government's policies. In 'Yang'ana Nkhope', Evison sings 'Look at my face, look at your face, we are all God's Children.'

Next up is Joseph Tembo, a great guitar player, from southern Malawi. He was born in 1997, in southern Malawi, and is a member of the Sena ethnic group, who are related to the Shona people of Zimbabwe. This relationship helps explain the similarities between Tembo's music and the Shona melodies and rhythms of Zimbabwean Chimurenga music.

This last song is by Coss Chiwalo, who for many years was (and may still be) the bandleader of the 'Alleluya Band', a Malawian musical institution. He was born in 1974 and has released three solo albums. 'Wakwatiwa', one of his biggest hits, is a song that is usually played at weddings. He sings of the joy of the bride and groom.

I hope the music hit the spot. I would like to thank Dr. John Lwanda of Pamtondo records for his help with research and song translations.

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Nestled between Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, Malawi has earned it's nickname as 'the warm heart of Africa'. And 'warm' is precisely the adjective I would use to describe Malawian music. There is a sunny optimism in much of the Malawian music I've heard, and after a grim weekend of cold, rain, and snow, here in [...]

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[LILONGWE] Incorporating crop rotations, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture tillage systems, could help boost maize yields, according to a study in Malawi.

Researchers from the United States and Zimbabwe say that in Malawian smallholders' farms maize yields are low, resulting in low food production in the country.

The researchers compared three farming systems: no-till maize or continuous maize farming with the soil left relatively undisturbed from harvest to planting, growing maize with crops such as cassava and cowpea on soils that had previous season's residues, and planting crops such as sweet potatoes and beans on soils that had most crop residues cleared or burned.

"Incorporating crop rotations had the greatest impact on maize yields with yield increases ranging from 11 to 58 percent greater than continuous no-till maize."

Dan TerAvest, Washington State University

According to the study published last month (20 December) in Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, the crop rotations were implemented in two agro-ecological zones in Malawi: Nkhotakota and Dowa districts from 2011 to 2014. The researchers assessed the effect of the three farming systems on outcomes such as soil moisture content, earthworm abundance and crop production.

"Incorporating crop rotations-whether in conventional or conservation agriculture tillage systems-had the greatest impact on maize yields with yield increases ranging from 11 to 58 percent greater than continuous no-till maize," says Dan TerAvest, a co-author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in soil science at the Washington State University in the United States."This is most likely due to a combination of factors such as improved soil fertility and quality, and reduced pest and disease pressure following rotation."

TerAvest adds that conservation agriculture could offer significant benefits to farmers in Malawi and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, but more effort is needed to determine what conditions are best suited to it, instead of promoting it to every farmer everywhere.

The study, he notes, also highlights the need to diversify conservation agriculture systems and incorporate crop rotations to maximise benefits, adding that the findings should help formulate interventions that are based on site-specific conditions instead of using blanket policy recommendations that may benefit only a portion of smallholders.

Francis Chilenga, a principal agricultural extension officer at the Karonga Agricultural Development Division, Malawi, agrees with the findings, stressing that different crops have different rooting depths, resulting in differences in how they draw nutrients and moisture from different layers.

"If [maize is] alternated with legumes, soil fertility is improved because legumes fix nitrogen in the soil," says Chilenga. "This calls for farmers to adopt conservation agriculture because, among others, it improves soil structure, water retention, organic matter content and fertility. All these lead to higher and more stable yields."

Elias Tambalale, a subsistence maize farmer from Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa district, Malawi, tells SciDev.Net: "We have experienced before that when we change the crops we grow on our pieces of land, we get better yields than when we grow the same crop continuously."

Tambalale adds that agricultural extension officers have introduced conservation agriculture approaches such as minimum soil disturbance and total soil cover to smallholders.

"The findings give us more reason to believe what we are doing and that should help us boost yields," he says.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net's Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

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Crop rotation increases maize yields in Malawi

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LILONGWE] Incorporating crop rotations, whether in conventional or conservation agriculture tillage systems, could help boost maize yields, according to a study in Malawi. Researchers from the United States and Zimbabwe say that in Malawian smallholders' farms maize yields are low, resulting in low food production in the country.

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Yao Ethnic Minority, the Chinese Yao Ethnic Group

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The Chinese Yao people mainly live in Hunan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.

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Black Rhinos:
- Can be either lonely or territorial
-Can be active during day or night
Magic/Juju- The good and bad energy that surrounds everyone and impacts everyone's lives.
Gulu Wamkulu- Masked people that dance and make sure the community is following the rules.

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Text Structure | Classroom Strategies | AdLit.org

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AdLit.org offers resources (articles, research, teaching strategies, book recommendations) for parents and educators of struggling adolescent readers and writers.

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Strategies for Struggling Readers

Have you ever known someone who reads impossibly fast? You watch them reading and it's almost as if they aren't even reading. In fact, they seem to be absorbing text. They simply look at words and they jump into their mind.

As surprising as this may be to learn: they are doing much more than simply glancing at words and absorbing them. They are unconsciously using reading strategies that allow them to read quickly while maintaining a high level of reading comprehension.

Scaffolding Techniques

The lack of these effective reading strategies is often what prevents struggling readers from excelling with reading. Fortunately, you can teach reading strategies to struggling readers to help them improve their reading comprehension.

Often, educators call these reading strategies " scaffolding " techniques because they help struggling readers build their way up to reading comprehension, much as a scaffold helps a construction worker to build upward from the ground.

Annotating Text

One such scaffolding skill that you can teach to struggling readers is the annotation of text. This means, quite simply, that the reader "marks up" sections of text, either with a highlighter or underlining, and makes notes in the margin in his/her own words, to ensure understanding.

Annotation helps build three key reading skills. When annotating a text, the reader:

1. Formulates questions in response to what he is reading

2. Analyzes and interprets elements of poetry or prose

3. Draws conclusions and makes inferences based on explicit and implicit meaning

Teaching Struggling Readers to Annotate Text

In order for this to be effective, it is essential that you show your struggling readers how to highlight and annotate a text. Otherwise, the student will probably lapse into highlighting every word, which doesn't help him to identify key concepts.

A useful teaching strategy you can employ is to use an old-fashioned overhead projector or a SMART board, to display a piece of text and READ IT FIRST. Students need to know that they don't start highlighting until after they've first read through the text. You can then highlight it yourself, talking your way through WHY you choose certain items to highlight. As you do this, you can also ask the students to pick items for highlighting and have them explain why they selected them.

As the highlighting progresses, it's important for students to make notes in the margins, such as:

questions the student needs to ask you

predictions about what will happen as a story progresses

identify figurative language, such as: simile, metaphor, symbol, or other literary device (usually this would be done with poetry or prose)

note unfamiliar vocabulary (the definition can later be written in the margin)

As you use these teaching strategies, you should discuss with the students the purpose of highlighting. Each student will have different purpose for highlighting depending on their own skill set and reading struggles.

For example:

Students that struggle with understanding what they read (reading comprehension), benefit from highlighting because it helps them focus on identifying the main ideas of a text.

On the contrary, other students can grasp main ideas, but don't "read between the lines" very well. They will benefit from having a set of reading questions provided in advance that require making an inference. These students can use the highlighter to try to locate information that will help them respond to the questions. A key question for students to write onto a text and refer back to frequently is: "How do I know this is true?" This question reminds them to look for evidence to support their conclusions.

Side Note:

K-12 students typically are not permitted to highlight their textbooks, for obvious reasons. It is well worth the time & expense for the classroom teacher to make photocopies if possible for struggling readers so that they can annotate their texts.

Conclusion

Showing struggling readers active strategies like annotating gives them concrete tools to be able to interact with text and find small, immediate successes. The more students practice effective reading strategies, the more natural they will become, and the closer to absorbing text they will get.
List of Reading Strategies ›

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Have you ever known someone who reads impossibly fast? You watch them reading and it's almost as if they aren't even reading. In fact, they seem to be absorbing text. They simply look at words and they jump into their mind.

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Get access to files anywhere through secure cloud storage and file backup for your photos, videos, files and more with Google Drive.

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Poachers remain the biggest threat to the black rhino. However, with strict protection and effective biological management, black rhino numbers are slowly recovering and currently there are approximately between 5,040 and 5,458 animals (according to figures published by IUCN in 2016).

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Up until recently, people still only had visual impressions of what a windmill is, often associating it with the past and particularly before the industrial revolution. Today, things have come full circle, if you will and there is now a growing demand for large, technologically advanced windmills across the world. The term wind energy or wind power describe the process through which wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into electrical energy by the use of generator.

What this introductory guide seeks to do is describe the apparatus in layman's terms and also outline how they work and what they were intended for originally and the purposes for which they are used today. We begin with a brief definition of what a windmill is.

It was originally a structure with sails, much like that on pre-industrial ships, and was originally used to produce flour from corn. In order to do this, the wind would have to prompt the sails to turn. They were also originally built by master craftsmen.

A dictionary definition explains it thus; it is a machine which is propelled by the wind from a horizontal shaft which extended onto sails. Windmills still used today, mainly in parts of the world which have traditionally relied on them, are powered by electricity or water.

The dictionary expounds this definition further by relating it to a human physical exercise technique which replicates the symbolism and movement of the original windmill. It is also famously symbolic in Cervantes' classic of Don Quixote. This definition reminds readers that the original mill was also used to pump water and generate power.

In modern terms, the advanced windmill operates with just three blades mainly to generate sustainable sources of electricity and energy. Today, these windmills are also referred to as wind turbines.

According to Wikipedia, "A windmill is a mill that converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades."

More from Wind energy:

Fixed speed windmills run at one speed no matter what the speed of wind is and use gearbox (gearbox has gears which convert the slow speed of the spinning blades into higher-speed rotary motion) to generate electricity at the right frequency for the grid whereas variable speed windmills speed up and down as the wind speeds up and down

How Does a Windmill Work?

Winds are produced due to uneven heating of the atmosphere by the sun, the rotation of the earth and the irregularities of the earth's surface. Wind flow patterns differ from place to place and are modified by bodies of water, vegetation, and differences in terrain. This next section explains briefly but accurately how windmills work. Sourcing more extensive information, readers will learn that understanding technical processes initiated in wind turbines will be easy to follow because the manner in which windmills work follows a simple process. Here we continue to rely on layman's terms.

A number of different options were tried when modern wind turbines were first built. Today, the universal mechanizing principle is to operate the turbine by using just three blades placed around a rotor which is connected to a shaft. Note that number of variations have been tried, two blade and even one blade. But, three blades works the best.

As its name states, the windmill's only source of energy is derived from the wind. The wind turns the blades which spins a shaft, in turn, prompt a generator to produce electricity. These blades are connected to a generator, sometimes through a gearbox and sometimes directly. In both the cases, the generator converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. Interestingly, most modern turbines turn in a clockwise direction. Depending on wind speed, most modern turbines can operate at speeds from as little as four meters per second to as much as 15 mps.

Quite a number of green energy advocates and NGO's describe the wind-generator process more succinctly by correlating it closely with the environmental sustainability initiatives.

Once the turbine's blades turns a shaft located inside of a box placed on top of the turbine, gearbox mode is propelled and more speed rotation is given off. A transformer within the turbine then converts electricity into a voltage suitable for distribution to a national grid.

Main Purpose of Modern Wind Turbine

By now, most readers will know that modern windmills (turbines) primary purpose is to produce electricity from wind with as little impact on the environment as possible. These next few notes simply highlight this sustainable initiative. The minimal impact on the environment is, however, controversial. We'll mention this briefly too.

Whether located in rural or urban sectors, it is often people on the lowest level of the socio-economic scale that are faced with looking at these hegemonic structures every day. Also, nature lovers continue to voice legitimate concerns on how these turbines impact migratory patterns of bird species.

Already mentioned, the basic function of a wind turbine is to utilize the power generated from wind and convert it into usable (renewable) energy. On a smaller scale, home users can install their own turbine and produce their own power at little or no cost.

As renewable energy, it can be reproduced continuously until there is enough power to feed its designated locations. It is also promoted as a clean source of energy and while not yet widely used, it is ideal for the world's least developed nations as an affordable source of producing electricity.

Most importantly, the turbine contributes greatly to reduce fossil fuel consumption. It goes without saying that the more countries that use them, the greater the reduction in fossil fuel use because it has been proven to be a reliable driver of energy.

The Iconic Dutch Windmill

Earlier, we made reference to the windmill being part of a nation's traditional method of generating power. Most people today will still associate the windmill as a Dutch symbol and recognize it as part of that province's rich history and cultural heritage.

Peculiarly, when we talk about the Dutch, we locate them to Holland, a federal province of European Union Member, the Netherlands. Here are just a few brief interesting facts about the Dutch windmill.

As a landmark icon of Holland, there are more than a thousand windmills located across the province.

The first windmill was built around the middle of the eighteenth century in response to the need to drain the Kinderdijk polder and surrounding polders. Situated on land below sea level, the Netherlands is one of the most vulnerable countries where rising sea levels are concerned.

Throughout Dutch history, windmills have been used for many different purposes, but the best known remains the intricate process of pumping water from the lowlands and into nearby rivers.

Main Components of a Windmill

To help understand how the modern wind turbine works we can also take a look at some of its main components and what they are used for. Here are just a few features of the wind turbine.

Blades - We should mention this apparatus once more because it is the most recognizable and most important feature of the wind turbine. Another function of the blade worth mentioning is that it control's rotor speed to prevent it from turning in winds that are either too high or low.

Rotor - To follow on from the first point here, this is the technical term for the entire hub. It is also known as a propeller.

Anemometer - This important feature measures wind speed and transfers the recorded data to a controller.

Tower - This is another recognizable feature of the wind turbine. The towers of today's turbines are made from steel and concrete.

Positive Effects of the Wind Turbine

Finally, it is incumbent to emphasize the importance of wind turbines where environmental sustainability is concerned and as a rapid but highly effective response to global warming and climate change.

The exponential benefits are not only crucial but already evident where wind turbines are used increasingly, mainly in developed and developing nations. To finish this guide on windmills and its natural successors, wind turbines, we highlight some positive effects they have on humankind and the environment.

No more greenhouse gases - Turbines do not emit carbon dioxide.

Power is free - No government agency can presently regulate wind. So they cannot charge fees to those who choose to use it as an alternative source of life-sustaining and life-saving energy.

Versatility - There is a perception in some areas that the only modern day wind turbines you are likely to see are giant monstrosities hovering over your home. Not the case, because smaller wind turbines, small enough and perfectly equipped, are being manufactured for you today. All you need do is talk to the farmers who are already utilizing customized turbines for their own agricultural needs.

Positively speaking, this may have been a whirl-wind tour of processes, purposes, features and just causes along with some historical anecdotes on ancient windmills and the modern day equivalent of the wind turbine. The main purpose here was also to stimulate increased awareness and interest in this important piece of humankind's legacy for the future.

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What is a Windmill and How Does a Windmill Work? - Conserve Energy Future

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Up until recently, people still only had visual impressions of what a windmill is, often associating it with the past and particularly before the industrial revolution. Today, things have come full circle, if you will and there is now a growing demand for large, technologically advanced windmills across the world.

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Many people ask us "What is Good Juju?" We love the following explanation from our friends at Happyolks. Ju Ju means energy; the experience of positive and negative forces all around us that charge our lives and shape each unique day on this planet. You know Ju Ju.

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Prologue- A preface or introductory part of a novel or poem.
Memoir- A record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal experience.
Theme- The main point/message of the reading.
Universal Theme- Is when a large range of readers relate to the theme.
Simile example- "By February, the stalks were wilted and hunched toward the ground like an old woman sweeping the dirt," (Kamkwamba 77).
Personification example- "Whatever they told him, I'd find out soon enough," (Kamkwamba 78).
Anemia- A condition where your blood doesn't make enough healthy red blood cells/hemoglobin.
Epilogue- The section at the end of a passage that serves as a comment or a conclusion to what has happened.
Allusion- Something coming to mind without mentioning it directly.