Tao of Physics

I just watched an documentary on one of a controversial and popular book The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism. It is a book by physicist Fritjof Capra, published in 1975. It was a bestseller in the United States, and has been published in 43 editions in 23 languages. After watching this video I felt I must read this book once. The author himself has narrated his observations, inspirations and positions. I am trying to present here some of the key highlight that I've grasped from the documentary.

It's main subject of discussion is the parallels between modern physics and easter mysticism in the time when mysticism is considered a s black spot in modern science. Hence, it took lot of attention as well as criticism.

Motivation for running a Local Eco-club

To disseminate my acquired knowledge and materialized them I need to culturize them. This idea of Eco-club will focus on educating local youths about different environmental issues and ways of ecological lifestyle. The target for this movement are those young people from different backgrounds. Let's see, to what extent my dream can come true.

Homemade solar water heater

The are two Youtube videos and channel of Debesh Raj Bhattarai showing simple home made solar water heater. It consists boiler tank of oil plastic barrel and the absorber panel is our of 1/2 inch black polythene pipe coiled and rested on the a conical stand. Enjoy watching it and try yourself capturing solar power for you house.

Latter one video is another variation of same system. It has mentioned that the system can heat water up to 130-150 degrees (F ??) from 8:30am to 4pm.

Extreme of Inflation: unbeilivable

A news about extreme inflation in Zimbabwe is unbelievable. The reserve bank had to print up to one hundred trillion (100,000,000,000,000) dollar note in 2008. Instability in political situation and inability to cope the situation, reserve bank put much effort on printing the notes rather than solving such dire state. This news mentions an incidence of rise in price of a bread from 2 million dollar to 25million dollar in a day. This has benefited the debtors who have taken loan from bank. Many of the debtors cleared their loans taking advantage of this situation whereas Bank fall in trouble.

http://epaper.ekantipur.com/showtext.aspx?boxid=13354984&parentid=12172&issuedate=1722011

ECO-SAN : FECES -----> FORTUNE

One of the ways of utilizing fece and urine as resource is displayed in this video. ECO SAN is basically an improved design of toilet in which feces, urine and water is separately stored. Every time defecation, some ashes or soda or leaves were dropped in feces compartment. It takes 1 year to fill and takes 5 months to get fully composted. In this period feces turn into very rice organic fertilizer. The documentary shows, that compost fertilizer is sold in 5 Rs per Kg. Similarly urine mixed with water is a very good fertilizer which has been proved for greater yield. The water used of cleaning the hand and anus is passed through a simple gravel filter and can be passed to the kitchen garden.

More examples in Nepalese Context

"Get 1 Rupee for peeing once.
Get 1 Soap for providing 10 litres of urine
Get 1 Cleaning Brush for providing 30 litres
This sounds funny but very serious !!! - Could be a panacea for the Sanitation problem of cities."

[BBC Nepali RADIO] [Sanitation Updates (a Blog) ]features an practice in Western Nepal of Buying Urine.

[ URINE BANK ] in Siddhipur nepal

A checklist for Eco-House

"7 secrets of sustainable architecture" an article in SPACES is an nice frame work to understand ECO-house design. In this link there more resource links so worth to refer it.

The following checklist is an list of substantive measures:

Insulating building envelop

1. SIP panels

2. Trombe wall construction

Locating different elements :

3. Trees as shading and microclimate

Renewable energy and resource use

4. Radiant floor heating: Solar energy systems has installed in Patan Hospital.

5. Solar water heater - Vaccum tube, simple home made pipe qoil

6. Solar PV cell

7. Rainwater harvesting

8. Geo-thermal energy - 125 ft down 55 degree temperature

9. Bamboo flooring – relatively far more renewable than wood – avoids loss of trees.

Use of recycled materials

10. Recycled content counter top

11. Use of briquettes as fuel

12. Demolition Material reuse

13. Recycled tiles for roof.

Replenish Natural Resource

14. Ground water recharge

15. Hardscape - permeable

16. Drain taken to the yard to recharge pits

Recycle waste – use as resource

17. Waste Separation

18. Disposal

19. Composting

20. Bio gas plant - household or Communal

21. ECO-SAN toilets - Urine collection, Feces composting, waste water reuse

22. DEWATS - composite of septic tank, biogas, reed bed treatment

23. Grey water flush

Resilience to disaster

24. Earthquake resistance.

Low energy and resource use

Appliances

25. Low-Flow water fixtures

26. Energy Star Appliances

27. Microwave heater for cooking - no heat loss.

Building Material

28. Alternatives to brick - compressed mud brick, concrete blocks

29. bond of brick - Rat Trap Brick Masonry

Healthy Material

30. no-VOC paints

31. Avoid carcinogenic material like asbestos etc.

Ecological life style

32. urban Farming - kitchen garden, terrace garden, or farm

33. Plantation - ecologically designed landscape

34. Be Productive - No or less lawn

Settlement Planning

35. Compact planning

Urban Agriculture in Kathmandu

Urban agriculture is one of the subjects that is talked much urban sustainability. To address different ecological consequences and inflation in food stock, it is promoted. Kitchen garden, farming and terrace farming are some the examples. Nepali times writes a feature on inspiring deeds of a retired researcher, a senior horticulturist at NARC (tional Agricultural Research Council), Dr Kedar Budhathoki.

After retirement, he got more active in producing 'Srijana', a breed of tomato, developed by his team 6years ago in his farm. He exported 60 tonnes of tomato last year to india of worth 2.5million.

Spurred on by his own success, Budhathoki is promoting Shrijana to Nepali farmers. The company is supporting 50 farmers' groups in and around Kathmandu to grow Shrijana by providing free seeds, fertilisers and training on cultivation techniques

read more ... http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/2011/02/16/Nation/17933