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SOLAR DISINFECTION OF WATER
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

SOLAR DISINFECTION OF WATER (SODIS)

SODIS is a new innovative way of cleaning drinking water by exposing it to Ultra violet rays from the sun for a specific period of time.
What happens is that the UV rays kill the harmful microbes in the water that may make the water unsafe for drinking.

The length of time varies depending on the source of the water. For very dirty water (Within reason), the length of time in which the water is exposed to UV rays is longer while clear stream water requires relatively shorter periods of time, to be pronounced clean for drinking.

What actually happens is, after the water has been fetched, the user first filers the water to remove the visible debris the pours the water into a clean PET water bottle then puts the water bottles on the roof for the purification process to take place.

The duration in which the bottles will stay on the roof also depends on the cloud cover on that particular day with bottles taking longer on the roof during very cloudy days.

The duration of Solar Water Disinfection varies between 3 days to 12 days.

The SODIS method of water disinfection is mostly used in the Slum areas where there is low sanitation and the cost of boiling water to drink competes with other basic costs such as food and medicines.

SODIS, a World Health Organization backed method of sterilization of water for slum areas has successfully been used in many countries including Kenya (Kibera, Mukuru Kwa Njenga), Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru, among others.

The SODIS method is effective and easy to implement in any slum area. In fact the challenge is usually not to convince the people that the water is safe for drinking, but, to raise the required numbers of bottles to sustain the programme in the various areas. This is putting into consideration not only the bottles required by the new users of the disinfection method, but also the fact that the bottles can only be used for short periods of time before they are thrown away, as the bottles are already recycled.

This method has helped reduce the number of people suffering from such infectious diseases as Cholera and Typhoid, both of which are quite rampant in areas of poor sanitation, as is found in the slums.
It has also enabled people to comfortably focus their hard-earned money on other more pressing matters, like education, better sanitation and housing.

My appeal to all people is to recycle PET water bottles by taking empty water bottles to the nearest SODIS offices in their countries, to make it possible to implement this program in more places, with more people.

In Kenya, the SODIS program is under the Kenya Water for Health Organization, Ministry of Water.

To know more about SODIS: http://www.sodis.ch/

August 12, 2009 | 12:18 PM Comments  0 comments

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What is the role of the World in solving the conflict in Somalia?
Related to country: Somalia

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

I am an African. I am a Kenyan. My country is a neighbor of Somalia. A country that has been at war since 1990, the country has been without government for over ten years.
Now I see countless Somali refugees in my country. Most of them have stayed for long enough that they are now citizens of Kenya. They have obtained refuge but they cant really say that they are secure. They can’t even say that they are at home!
Back in Somalia, many people have lost their homes, property, their loved ones, and most of all, hope. Many people have resulted to lawlessness. Practices like Piracy have become common. Kids carrying guns along the streets are no longer shocking! Somalia has become a haven for thieves! During the dry spells, the food situation in Somalia is unbelievable!

Through all this, I wonder. What exactly is the rest of the world doing to stop the war in Somalia?
The world should not turn away from Somalia. People in Somalia are still citizens of the World. We should do something! But what is my role as a young person in a neighboring country? What is my role as an African? What is my role as a human being?
It is not normal to have people die of Starvation in this day and age. It is not normal to have kids going to war! Its not normal to have teenagers who have no idea what peace means! Lets not make it normal! What I do? What will you do?

July 21, 2009 | 11:20 AM Comments  0 comments

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PLANT TISSUE CULTURE
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Hi guys.
Recently I started this Internship at the University I go to, on plant tissue culture and I must say, I have found the love of my life!
Plant tissue culture is the in Vitro Micro propagation of Plants with the aim of either producing many Uniform plants at a go, or, transforming the plants Using Vectors such as plasmids or Bacteriophage chromosomes.
Explants used in tissue culture include stem cuttings, leaves, petioles, etc. These explants are then planted on nutrient media, and the planting is done in sterile environment, e.g., using a microflow.
The plants are then manipulated using different balances of hormones, the 2 main types of hormones used being Auxins e.g., NAA, IBA and 2, 4-D, and Cytokinines like BAP and TDZ.
For most Dicotyledonous plants, a high Auxins: Cytokinines ratio induces rooting. I have not worked on many Monocotyledonous plants but it is expected that the same ratio will induce shoot development in these plants.
These ratios have to be experimentally determined because optimum concentrations differ for the different plants.
Infact I would say that for me, this is the thrill for me. Experimentally determining these ratios and watching the different plants react to them.
After the plant has developed fully, we rinse the media off especially at the root area, then rise the roots with a fungicide to prevent infection by fungus. Simple rinsing it with water will lead to dumping off.
Then, we take them to a nursery for them to harden, after which they are taken to the green house.
It feels really nice to see that one leaf generated 100 plants which you are now taking to the green house and for them to be sold. Earning money doing what you love doing!!!!
Right now we are working on the common bean, Jatropha curcas, Melia volkensii, Lycopersicon esculentum and Saintpaulia ionantha.

August 12, 2008 | 12:08 PM Comments  1 comments

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HOPE IN THE HORIZON
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Guess what everybody! Finally I can see hope in the horizon. The African Union recommended team of prominent persons has had a real breakthrough where both teams in the opposition and the government agreed to meet face to face since the post election skirmishes started in December last year. Not only did they agree to meet but also they kept their promise ad met. This is a very great step in the right direction because it will go a long way In releasing the tension that exists I the different parts of the country. In addition, the two parties have expressed great great commitment to the peace process. I am very glad.
You know, this is what we as Kenyans want. We want go rebuild and we refuse to go down the same road that other countries that have gone before us and ruined themselves, have gone. Kenyans are a very versatile people are we will not break, even under this terrible pressure.
I can only pray that this strong commitment to the peace process will yield good fruit.

January 24, 2008 | 10:29 AM Comments  0 comments



KENYAN YOUTH, THIS IS OUR TIME!
Related to country: Kenya

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

Our country Kenya is in turmoil. Kenyans are killing each other and looting each other's property. This has been unheard of, in a country that has been the envy of others worldwide, when it comes to peace and tolerance. It has been said over and over that who won and who did not win the election is not our biggest concern now.
Right now, we need to concentrate on finding a way to stop the violence and the looting, then dialogue can begin.
This is also the time that we as the youth in Kenya need to step up to the game and show that really we have come of age ad we can show leadership, and good leadership at that, to our fellow citizen.
We only have to look at our neighbors to see where we will end up should we choose to continue destroying ourselves. Look at Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi ad Zaire, just to name a few. Is this really where we want to go? Why then should we go to the streets destroying our country? Lets face it, the people o the streets looting in the name of demonstrations are the youth!
I am not taking any political sides here! I am simply asking us all young people to think a little longer about what we are really doing. We are destroying ourselves ad history will surely judge us y our actions.
In the end, when all is said and done, we will go back to our homes, face our kids who will have no food to eat, no clean water to drink, no hospitals to go to when sick and no education. WE SHOULD HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK THEM I THE EYE AND SAY, BABY, I DID THIS TO YOU! Let us stop this violence while we still can.
I love Kenya!

January 23, 2008 | 2:00 PM Comments  2 comments



THE EFFECTS OF DEFORESTATION ON OUR ENVIRONMENT TODAY
Related to country: Kenya


Deforestation has been described as the cutting down of trees without planting others in their place.
It is hard to think that there was a time when 90% of the earth was covered by trees, but this could be the case. If so, you ask yourself then, what happened to all these trees? Why do people cut down trees? The following are probable reasons:
a)Need for land for cultivation.
This has been seen both in Kenya and other parts of the world especially countries that have Agriculture as the backbone of their economy. Trees have been cut down to obtain land for cultivation of both subsistence and cash crops, both by governments and individuals.
b)Need for firewood
People, especially those who live in rural areas where electricity and gas are unavailable resort to use of firewood as a source of heat. Here, wood is cut down and burnt.
c)Need for land to build industries
Industries require a lot of land on which to be built. Industrialization on the other hand is important for every country. People need jobs in order to provide comfortably for their daily needs.
d)Need for land to build houses
With the worldwide increase in population, land to build houses for people to live in is very much required.
e)Need for wood for furniture, pencils, paper etc

Whereas the above needs are important and have to be satisfied, cutting down trees is not the most probable solution to these problems. Why? This is because, most people who cut down trees do not plant others in their place. Also, if all the above needs are to be met by cutting down of trees, even planting two for every tree cut will not prevent desertification. This is because trees take so long to grow and mature, especially so for hard wood trees. Deforestation has the following dangers:
•Destruction of carbon sinks:
Carbon sinks are huge stores of carbon, e.g. Swamps and forests
•Soil Erosion:
Deforre3station makes soil prone to erosion by agents such as wind and water. The rots of trees hold the particles of soil together thus preventing the top fertile soil from being carried away. Soil erosion leads to loss of productivity of the land due to loss of mineral nutrients and soil micro-organisms
•Destruction of animal habitats:
Apart from domesticated animals and marine and fresh water animals, all other animals need forests as their homes. Their habitats. This forests do not only provide a place for the animals to lay their heads after a long and tiring day but also provide their source of food and act as a source of protection from predators through camouflage. Destruction of the animals habitats literally kills the animals.
•Medicinal Plants:
Some trees are used as herbs. Trees such as the Cinchona have been used as treatment against Malaria since time immemorial. Destruction of these forests leads to destruction of medicinal plants that would be used as treatment for various ailments.
•Trees act as windbreakers:
Absence of these trees enables strong winds and or storms e.g. Hurricanes and Tornados. I write this in the wake of a Tsunami at the Indonesian coast where about 150 people have just lost their lives. Hurricanes like Katrina are still fresh in our memories. I can not over emphasize this point.

•Greenhouse effect and global warming:
Nature is all about balance of forces flow of energy and nutrients. Forests plan a very vital role in these cycles e.g. the carbon cycle where deforestation causes carbon dioxide to remain in the atmosphere. Accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere acts as a blanket that traps long wave radiation of heat form escaping from the surface of the earth back into the atmosphere. This phenomenon is known as the greenhouse effect. The trapped radiation is converted into heat. This heat causes global warming/heating.
Destruction of forests also causes modification of climate of an area mostly leading to desertification and Aridity.

What then should be recommended as solutions to these problems?
a)For every tree cut, 3, not 2 should be planted in its case. We have reached such a critical place the desertification of the world that many many more trees need to be planted.
b)Unless it is totally necessary water catchments areas should strictly be left alone
c)Quick growing varieties of soft wood trees should be grown for commercial uses e.g. making of furniture, pencils and paper.
d)We should all carry out consistent mass education on a worldwide scale, on the importance of afforestation and the dangers of deforestation
e)We need to enact and enforce strict laws against deforestation, worldwide.
f)It is high time that we reduced our dependence on charcoal as a source of fuel and make use of wind and solar energy.

Nature works as a whole cycle. This is seen not only in animals where predator and prey work together but also in the different energy and nutrient cycles. As already explained earlier forests play such a crucial role in this equation. Eliminating forests from the equation leaves only a lethal force to reckon with. The knowledge of how to conserve our environment could be our greatest guarantee for survival on this earth and the perpetuation or our species.

July 18, 2006 | 1:16 PM Comments  0 comments

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Bananas and Oranges
Related to country: Kenya


Who would have ever thought that fruits like oranges and bananas could generate so much controversy as they have in Kenya?
I work in a bureau and because our photocopy machine got spoilt, we had to hire the services of a technician. The technician came and as we were exchanging greetings, he suddenly pops out the question, “ Wewe ni Orange ama Banana?” In English, -are you an orange or a banana? And to think that we are human beings!

Anyway, for the non-Kenyans, I will explain. Kenyans are in the process of changing their constitution and we are now in step II. Step 1 was gathering the views of the Kenyans on what needs to be changed and debating on the issues. Step II is voter education and the last step III will be the actual voting for the constitution (Referendum)
There are those who do not want the changes proposed and those who want the changes.
The symbol for saying NO to the proposed constitution is an Orange, and that for yes is a Banana. Why they chose the particular fruits, I do not Know.
Anyway, the problem is, this constitution manking process has been overly politicized. The vice president is on record saying that this is the beginning of the next general elections( an election that is supposed to be two years away) and that if you want to have the government of the day in power come the next elections, say yes to the up coming referendum! This is absurd!
Voter registration is not being done properly because the two teams are not educating the voters but battling against themselves. You can only predict the end result!
The other thing is that millions ( If not billions of shillings) are being used in these campaigns. Having established that these campaigns are misdirected, this money could be put into better use. We are still far from achieving the MDGs.
I really do not know where we are going as a country. What I know is that unless we change our priorities, we are headed for ruins!

September 13, 2005 | 8:58 AM Comments  0 comments

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Exactly what goes on in our learning institutions?

Hi friends,
I am very fine, thank you.
I was reading the newspaper the other day when I realized that it is back to school time, again! Well, then a question popped into my head, ‘why are we going back to school?’ Your obvious answer will be, to study. Then comes the question. What really goes on in schools and other institutions of higher learning?
If you were to rate, in the average school, the activities that go on in schools like, sports, drama, studying, music and partying, on a scale of one to ten, where ten rates the most important activity, where would you rate studying?
Here I just want to find out, not your personal opinion, but the reality. What do we do at school?
I highly invite your comment.

September 10, 2005 | 3:17 PM Comments  0 comments

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