Not exactly a White Christmas Downunder but it’s raining
hard in this little corner of the world. I won’t complain. It’s better than the
drought and bushfires of last Christmas. It also makes cooking and eating those
traditional Christmas dinners with roasts and doughty puddings a lot more pleasant
and appropriate.
Christmas will be more subdued this year. Gatherings will be
smaller. There won’t be the great scramble of holiday makers and visitors. The
pandemic still stalks the land -Sydney has new outbreaks, mostly courtesy of
returning travellers, though we are still better off than many, especially those
in the USA and the UK. Many Australians
and others are also still stranded overseas or in quarantine. We hope you’ll
manage to catch a bit of Christmas cheer too. Same goes for those still in detention
here or elsewhere, those stuck in refugee camps and those who have no home to
go to.
If you are wondering why I am in the middle of a muddle this
Christmas instead of having a beautifully laid table with carefully curated Christmas
decorations, it’s because I am rushing through a couple of short courses at the
moment, hoping to find some solutions to our various problems, rather than simply
relying on ‘thoughts and prayers.'
We might be a bit light
on presents and a bit low on bling, but we wish you
Peace, love and
happiness and especially good health
As I write there are flood warnings out for southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales with many small towns being evacuated and promises of more rain on the way. While
there have always been floods, their number and intensity has increased as the
world warms. Higher temperatures of both sea and land lead to increased
evaporation and increased rainfall and the number of days of heavy rain have
increased every decade in line with global warming. Unfortunately Australia has front row seat when
it comes to climate change and should serve as a warning to other countries.
Should you have doubts take a look at the video "Hell to Highwater" produced by the BBC earlier this year right after the bushfires.*
The number of flood deaths has also been rising, not just
here but in the USA as well. It is the second highest cause of death from
weather related phenomena after heatwaves. The USA has recoded an average of 86 deaths a year for most of the last thirty years, but by 2018 the average had risen to 100 per year.
Many of these fatalities could have been avoided. By far the most
common reason for them is people being swept away as they attempted to cross
flooded creeks and rivers –around fifty per cent in the USA, but as high as 50 out of 68 in Australia.
The Australian research shows that the risk is higher in places with moderate flood risk and that people in 4WD’s are particularly
vulnerable, in part because advertising for such vehicles implies that they can
get through where other vehicles can’t. So here is the first rule courtesy of
the US Government website:
If you see floodwaters, TURN AROUND, DON’T DROWN
REMEMBER: 6 INCHES (15 cms) OF WATER CAN
KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR FEET, 12 INCHES (30cms) OF WATER WILL WASH AWAY YOUR CAR
We saw this when a flash flood unexpectedly struck Hobart in May 2018
and in the never – before -seen floods which struck villages in southern Germany and northern France in May 2016.
Don't be tempted - even if the water looks shallow! The road surface underneath could be damaged or non -existent
Keep an eye on weather reports and alerts. Be prepared by
making a plan beforehand. Look for high ground nearby or go to the highest
floor in your building. Get on the roof if necessary, but stay away from closed -in attics.
Evacuate if you are told to do so, well ahead of rising waters. Do not try to
leave, once waters begin to rise.
Do not try to walk or swim through floodwaters
either. Even if the currents aren't strong enough to sweep you away, the waters are likely to be contaminated due to sewerage and storm water overflows
Don’t drive over bridges in a flood as they can
be destabilised by fast moving water
If you are already in your car and find yourself
being swept along, don’t try to get out unless the car starts to
fill with water. If that happens, climb out and stand on the roof.
If you see someone in distress in a river – and not
just during floods, don’t put your own
life at risk. Many people have drowned trying to rescue others. Stay on
firm ground and throw the person needing help a rope or try to reach them with
a pole, a branch or a plank.
Place any valuable items such as
antiques in the highest part of the house, along with copies of important
documents – insurance papers, land deeds, passports, and personal papers, in a
sealed plastic container and carry an electronic version with you.
Make sure gutters and drains are clear well
before a flood hits
Check your insurance policy to make sure you are covered for flood damage
Turn off all appliances including computersand electronics and then turn off power and water
·Afterwards
don’t re –enter until told it’s safe to do so. Floodwaters may be
contaminated and full of debris. Don’t
turn on any electrical appliances as you can be electrocuted especially if
standing in water, wearing wet clothing and so on.
The following short video by the ABC has more
See also the excellent US Government Website which has additional advice, especially when dealing with the pandemic at the same time.
Next in this series: Extreme Weather -4 Surviving severe storms, hurricanes
and cyclones, though I'm sure we could all do with a bit of Christmas cheer in between
*PS. The bushfire victims such as those in Cobargo are still living in tents despite all the charitable donations and promises of government support!
It’s the season of Peace and Goodwill and it’s also a
frantically busy time of year – it's the end of our the school year, there are concerts, workplace functions, Christmas Holidays to get ready for and compulsory get – togethers
with family and friends. There have also been so many Commemorative days crammed
into the last month or so that I have no hope of covering them all. Nevertheless, I will do
my best to mention at least a few of these starting with Human Rights Day which
was on December 10.
This year’s theme is “Recover Better, “about using the extraordinary
involuntary opportunity with which Covid has presented us to improve life for as many
people as possible. For those at the back of the class who may be unfamiliar
with the concept of Human Rights we’ll start with a brief outline about the
origin and content of the Declaration of Human Rights (see video below) and then
I would like us to spare a thought for those who are not able to enjoy those
rights, particularly those who have been killed or incarcerated for defending
the rights of others.
Twelve journalists have been killed this year for telling
the truth. According to human rights organisation Global Witness an estimated 1738 environmental activists were
murdered between 2002 and 2018 across 50 countries. In 2019 things got even worse, with 212 activists being killed in a single
year.
Unfortunately that number is likely to be even higher as many deaths go unreported. Countries in which the highest number of deaths occurred were Colombia (65) and the
Philippines (43) and mostly involved conflict over natural resources -mining, logging or expansion
of agribusinesses.
Many other brave
people have also been incarcerated, harassed or sacked just for speaking out. I’m
thinking here of people like Zhang Zhan, the 37 year old former lawyer who
alerted the world to the Corona Virus outbreak in Wuhan. She is now in detention, intubated with a
feeding tube and with her arms restrained so that she cannot continue with her
hunger strike. I also think of the twelve young people who have been imprisoned in Hong Kong, for wanting to continue living in a democracy.
Then there are the whistle blowers such as Julian Assange, co – founder of WikiLeaks
which revealed damaging secrets about war crimes and atrocities andthe corruption in Kenya and Tunisia
which led to the Arab Spring. He too is still incarcerated and threatened with extradition
after ten years of exile and incarceration and closer to home, here in Australia we have David McBride, an ex-soldier himself, who also
sits in gaol for alerting the media to
war crimes committed by small number of Australian soldiers in Afghanistan,
after he had tried all other avenues. By contrast, the soldiers involved in
this incident were merely dismissed, something that happens when you steal
paper clips from your work, not for ouright crimes like killing non combatants.These are but a few that
we know of, named and unnamed who face an uncertain future for standing up for
others.
These people need much more than our thoughts and prayers.
They need letters to MPs, Petitions, funding if you can afford any because many
who speak out also lose their livelihood. You could also donate to the organisations
which are working to gain their freedom. At the very least they need letters of
appreciation and encouragement. Here for
example is the global petition for Julian Assange and the GoFundMe Page for David McBride
Then there are those currently being persecuted in their own country such
as the Uighurs in China and the Rohingya in Myanmar and those in all the many countries currently riven by war. Those fleeing from war, persecution and environmental destruction also need and deserve our help.
On the subject of refugees, I want to make special mention of the 300 or so refugees being
held in off -shore and on -shore detention in Australia and especially the little
Tamil family which had made their home in Biloela, but have now spent 1000 days
in isolation and detention on Christmas Island. These people have already proved themselves to be good, hard -working citizens and the little country town and the little country town in which they have been living desperately wants them back. Read their story and sign the petition about this here.
These are by no means the only Human Rights violations.
They include things like not being allowed to practice your religion, being
discriminated against at work, not being allowed any free time, or when the law
is not exercised impartially, but let start with those which involve
deprivation of life or liberty, because all other freedoms follow from there.
What can be done when
a country breaches International Human Rights Law?
There are also 184 non profit organisations scattered across 112 Countries.
Perhaps the best known among them is Amnesty International which advocates for individuals,
investigates breaches, runs campaigns and supports those in prison. Click here are some actions which you can take now. It is also where you can write individual letters of support. Other International organisations include
Human Rights Watch and
Global Witness but click here for more.
For organisations which operate in Australia click here
Within Australia there are groups such as the Refugee Council of Australia which has been very active with respect to the rights of those in
detention.
Must go, much to do. Look after yourselves and be kind to
others – more soon,
Temperatures in the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran could soar to uninhabitable levels during the course of this century, according to a new study.
Already, places such as Al Ain and Kuwait can experience temperatures of up to 52℃. But the study predicts that the effects of global warming and the increase in greenhouse gases could push the average temperature up to the mid 50℃s or lower 60℃s.
Currently, many residents of the gulf can find refuge in air-conditioned homes, shopping centres and cars. But as temperatures increase, so does the need for cheaper, more sustainable, less energy-intensive ways of staying cool. Fortunately, the region’s past offers a rich source of architectural inspiration.
A history of heat
Historically, the inhabitants of the Gulf were either farmers living near oases in agricultural villages, Bedouins living in tents in the desert, or urban dwellers living in cities. Given the global trend toward urbanisation, it makes sense to take a closer look at how the latter group coped with the heat.
Traditional buildings in the gulf’s cities and villages are designed to maximise shading, reduce thermal gain of the sun radiation, regulate building temperature and enhance air circulation. These effects are achieved through a clever combination of building materials, placement and design.
Natural materials such as limestone and mud – in some cases mixed with local desert plants – provide a construction material with the capacity to regulate building temperatures. The material itself is capable of absorbing moisture in humid conditions, which can later evaporate during hot and sunny days to provide a slight cooling effect. And the sandy texture and colour of the buildings reduces both the absorption and emission of radiating heat.
Traditional buildings are placed adjacent to one another, with narrow roads and alleyways in between. This means that the ratio of the area exposed to the sun relative to the building’s total volume is minimised, which in turn limits heat increases during the day time.
Many traditional structures feature an internal courtyard, often containing trees and a water well. The courtyard is typically surrounded by rooms or walls on all sides, maximising the area in shadow throughout the day and creating a space for socialising in the evenings. When the sun bears down at midday, the courtyard works as a chimney for the hot air to rise and be replaced by cooler air from the surroundings rooms – this promotes air circulation and creates a cooling effect.
Glass is not a common material in traditional buildings. A typical room has two external windows: one very small window, located high up the wall, which is kept open to allow air to circulate and let in natural light. The second is larger, and closed by wooden shutters, with grooves to allow the flow of air inside the room while maintaining privacy. Rooms also have windows towards the internal courtyard for improved cooling. Finally, a mushrabiya – a projecting window with carved wooden latticework, typically located on the upper stories of a building – allowed for better air circulation and a view.
Some buildings also have a wind tower, which creates natural ventilation by circulating cool air. The narrow streets allowed them to be covered in most cases by light material from date palm trees to avoid direct sun light. This allowed for better air circulation between streets and courtyards of buildings, via the rooms.
All of these features helped to keep traditional buildings cool. But the question remains, how can we apply them in today’s cities?
Hot, modern buildings
Modern buildings in the Gulf are built predominantly from reflective glass, concrete and asphalt, which means that temperatures really soar during day time, due to high reflection or high absorption and emission of radiated heat.
But with research and improvements in building and pavement materials, designs, urban planning, insulation and the use of renewable energy, cities in the Gulf could maintain a comfortable lifestyle, with a lower level of carbon emission and fossil fuel use.
For example, Masdar city in the United Arab Emirates has attempted to combine some of the lessons learned from the past with modern technologies by increasing shaded areas, creating narrow streets and constructing a wind tower.
The basic function of my patented heat sink.Author provided
The use of insulation would also reduce the need for air conditioning and lower electricity consumption. Meanwhile, natural or new materials which absorb moisture and increase thermal capacity (meaning the material can maintain lower temperatures in higher heats) could regulate heat gain and facilitate the natural cooling process.
I have developed a new patented technology to regulate building temperatures in extremely hot conditions using a heat sink in the ground. The heat sink will allow the ground to exchange heat with the envelope of the building, thereby reducing its thermal gain on hot days.
In recent years, the Gulf countries have sat up and paid attention to renewable energy and sustainability measures. Research and development is expected to progress further in this area if people are to live comfortably at the expected high levels of temperature, while reducing their dependency on fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Read more: Adrian Pitts, professor of sustainable architecture at the University of Huddersfield, looks at the impact on cities.
