Important Innovations

  Solar Tricycle Donations from the European Union                                                                      Source:  Mobility for Africa A Small Gift to Help Build Women Businesses When I look at these pictures of a rural Zimbabwean woman on her new solar-electric trike on her way to market, I see empowerment, pride, entrepreneurship and the will to succeed, if just given the chance.  How about you? It may seem like a small gesture of kindness but the solar electric tricycles that the European Union is providing to a number of women in rural Zimbabwe are literally changing their lives for the better and helping them grow their tiny farm businesses.  The bikes have given them new solar-electric mobility.  Until they received their off-road, 3 wheeled trikes, most of them had to walk their eggs and vegetables in baskets on their heads, for long miles to sell or barter them in the center of town. In the Domboshava area where the program has launched, transportation is woefully

  Solar Tricycle Donations from the European Union                                                                      Source:  Mobility for Africa A Small Gift to Help Build Women Businesses When I look at these pictures of a rural Zimbabwean woman on her new solar-electric trike on her way to market, I see empowerment, pride, entrepreneurship and the will to succeed, if just given the chance.  How about you? It may seem like a small gesture of kindness but the solar electric tricycles that the European Union is providing to a number of women in rural Zimbabwe are literally changing their lives for the better and helping them grow their tiny farm businesses.  The bikes have given them new solar-electric mobility.  Until they received their off-road, 3 wheeled trikes, most of them had to walk their eggs and vegetables in baskets on their heads, for long miles to sell or barter them in the center of town. In the Domboshava area where the program has launched, transportation is woefully

  European Union's Latest Findings on Climate Change Source:  Climate Change Stock Images Temperatures & Severe Weather Rising   The European Union's Copernicus Earth observation service says that global temperatures in 2019 were the highest on record and tied  2016 for that dubious distinction.  Also, 2010 - 2019 was the hottest decade ever. And, the pattern continues to escalate.  Europe, the Arctic and southern Siberia experienced their hottest year ever in 2020.  All experienced extreme heatwaves and fires.  In the US, the rising temperatures in 2020 caused 22 distinct disasters, including wildfires and hurricanes, resulting in $95 billion in damage. Greenhouse Gas Emissions The scientists at Copernicu s  are calling for immediate action on greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the amount going into the atmosphere.  The UN sponsored global summit on Climate Change won't happen until November in Glasgow. So the Paris Accords stand in play, which the US has withdrawn fro

  Big Bucks to Back Green Energy & Climate Projects                               Source: Renewable energy stock image "Green Roadmap" to Greener Environment Europe is putting big money behind its .commitment to a greener future.  European Union governments have approved $1.2 trillion in funding, which they call a "green roadmap" for the European Union's lending.  This new funding plan will stop financing of fossil fuel projects and move the lending over to green projects, such as renewable energy.  It's the European Investment Bank's Climate Bank. $1.2 Trillion For This Decade The $1.2 trillion in funding will be spent by 2030.  All the financing activity will be in sync with the Paris Climate Accord goals. Projects particularly in focus are those related to climate, biodiversity and sustainably focused projects.  The European Union has stated on many occasions that it desires to "lead on the fight of Climate Change" and play a leading rol

Closing in on COVID Vaccines Source:  COVID Vaccine R&D EU Historic Stimulus Package Researchers at Oxford University in the UK, along with AstraZeneca, have developed a COVID vaccine that is proving to be successful at building immunity against COVID.  Human trials on more than 1000 patients have proven the vaccine effective.  The vaccine has moved into combined Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials - the last stop to prove it works.  AstraZeneca has a $1.2 billion deal with the US to deliver 300 million doses this fall, if the vaccine is approved. Two More Vaccines Meanwhile, at Moderna Pharma in Cambridge, MA, an experimental mRNA vaccine is in human trials and it is proving to be effective. It has produced antibodies in all the patients involved in the trials And, in China biotech Cansino's vaccine is showing positive antibody responses in a Phase 2 trial.  It is entering Phase 3 trials despite the fact it is not as effective on people over 55 years old.  A safe and ef