Bush Defecation or Dry Toilets. Does It Matter?

Sam Aola Ooko — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:04:40 +0000

I want to be more than frank: for the many times I have found myself on the countryside (my other home as an African), I have always known that it was time to lower my personal sanitation-compatibility level from maybe 6 out of 10, to just 1, if such a scale exists.

Don’t even ask me if the term sanitation-compatibility exists because I really do not know! For I am yet to see a single flush toilet in the whole of my district! But there is nothing to shout about the fact that sub-Saharan Africa is the world leader in open-field or bush defecation, if you may. Why sub-Saharan Africa?

Coconut and Babassu Oil Blend Used in First Virgin Atlantic Biofuel Flight

Max Lindberg — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 15:20:53 +0000

Virgin Atlantic Airlines has used a sustainable fuel from biomass mixed with traditional jet fuel to power one engine on a 747 flight from London Heathrow to Amsterdam. The fuel was supplied by Imperium Renewables of Seattle, Washington, a commercial biodiesel refiner.

As promised in their earlier news releases, Virgin Atlantic said they would use a sustainable fuel made from feedstock not normally used for food products. Both coconut oil and babassu oil are used in cosmetic products, lip balm and other such applications. The raw materials were harvested from existing, mature plantations in Brazil.

Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic is quoted as saying,

“Today marks a biofuel breakthrough for the whole airline industry, Virgin Atlantic nd its partners have proved that you can find an alternative to
traditional jet fuel and fly a plane on biofuel. This pioneering flight
will enable those of us who are serious about reducing our carbon emissions
to go on developing the fuels of the future, fuels which will power our
aircraft in the years ahead.”

There was wide speculation that an algae-based biofuel would be used in the test, but that, of course, proved false even though Virgin Atlantic hinted strongly at the possibility.

According to Radio Netherlands the Boeing 747 landed at Amsterdam’s Schipol airport after a successful flight.

Engineers will now study results of tests taken during the trip to determine if sustainable biofuels will fit into commercial aviation and lessen CO2 emissions.

Not everyone agrees, however, that biofuels will “fly”, as noted here by Pem Charnley, contributor to Green Options’ EcoWorldly blog. His feelings are outlined here, Pies in the Sky.

Source

Green Options » Sustainabililty

Bush Defecation or Dry Toilets. Does It Matter?

Coconut and Babassu Oil Blend Used in First Virgin Atlantic Biofuel Flight