Welcome to the second issue of News Of Hope

This weeks newsletter is shorter than last.

It actually requires quite a bit of my time to read through hundreds of articles, choose the ones to report on, and then collect my thoughts in order to produce this newsletter. This week, I did not leave as much time as I would like.

If you see a news story that you think would be a good fit here, I would love for you to drop me an email and send a link.


The New Scientific Frontier
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In what is being touted as a revolutionary breakthrough, scientists in Scotland have discovered the ability to move water over a flat surface using only light. The drop of water was moved only one millimeter, but when you consider that the nano-molecular devices, which enabled the water to be moved, were less than one-millionth of a millimeter in size, it is pretty amazing.

Nano-technology is the hottest field in technology right now. The ability that the Scottish Scientists have demonstrated may be developed to create smart devices, (objects which react certain ways when exposed to light) and muscle-movement type devices. Additionally, there are many possible uses in the medical community, for example the ability to direct medicines to one specific location within the body.

This is an emerging technology. Just as transistors revolutionized the electronics industry, these new discoveries have infinite possibilities for changing the world as we know it.

To get an idea of the significance consider this: “In terms of scale, the process is mind-boggling, being akin to a conventional mechanical machine using a millimetre displacement of pistons to lift an object twice the height of the world's tallest building.”

Wow. What an exciting time to be alive. Read the full article.

For those of you, with more inquiring minds, here is a link to "How It Works", an explanation of nanotechnology. Of course, the web and the news media contain hundreds of stories about this emerging revolution.


Did You Know?
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At the International Cemetery and Funeral Association convention in Las Vegas, this year, one creative product took home the, much coveted, “most innovative award”. If this product catches on, as Miami inventor Sergio Aguirre hopes, visiting the dead, in the local cemetery will be a multi-media experience.

Recently turned entrepreneur, Aguirre’s company, Vidstone is offering a different type of grave marker. His “Serenity Panel”, is a video monitor built into a tombstone which enables visitors to relive 5-7 minutes of the dearly-departed’s life. While none have been installed yet, the inventor says he has orders for several of the $ 1,500 headstones.

The video monitor is reported to be weather and vandal resistant and the battery is expected to last 15 years, at which time repairs can be made or the whole thing can be covered up with a brass plate.

Thinking of the movie “White Noise” I am wondering if the video players could be used by the dead to really communicate with us. Hmmmm

Miami Herald Story

To Meat or Not to Meat
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In a new study published in the American Medical Journal (AMJ), eating a vegan diet (no animal products) helps people lose weight quicker and easier than a traditional diet, which includes meat and other animal products.

This study, conducted with only 59 overweight, post menopausal volunteers, concluded that it was easier to lose weight, with less hunger, when following a vegan diet as opposed to the American Heart Association diet which recommends low-fat meat products.

This news comes as no surprise to dedicated vegans. The article, in the AMJ, also made reference to a previous study which produced similar results with a much broader base of 55,000 participants.

Meat, maybe “Its Not for Dinner”. Reference

In related news

Donald Watson, the visionary that formed the word vegan from the beginning and end of "vegetarian" and founded The Vegan Society in November 1944, celebrated his 95th birthday on September 2nd of this year. Sixty one years as a vegan seems to be working well for this man. Vegans all over the world responded by sending Mr. Watson Birthday cards, thanking him for his contribution to a healthier world. If you would like his address, so that you too may congratulate or thank Mr. Watson, you may find it here


Energy News
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I read a lot about emerging technologies in energy, because I really expect that we are going to discover, soon, energy sources which pull energy from the earth and universe. I have not found any reputable sources reporting such advancements, yet. But, I love to report on the ingenuity that some are displaying in approaching the situations. Here are the stories I found interesting this week:

Burning Grass

Professor Steve Long and colleagues at the University of Illinois have offered a possibility of burning grass, as a way of producing electricity, without adding to carbon-based emissions.

According to Planet Ark, the grass, Miscanthus, a perennial plant which grows about 14 feet high, can be grown easily, and then burned, in a 50/50 mix with coal to produce electricity. The grasses absorb carbon dioxide from the air when growing, and then release them again when burnt. This results in a net gain of zero carbon dioxide for the electricity produced by burning these grasses.

I think it is cool the way so many people are offering their ideas to address the fossil fuel problems. We have an amazingly creative planet.

A Simpler Source of Hydrogen

According to a report published in the Journal of The American Chemical Society, scientists at Purdue University have discovered a catalyst that can produce ready quantities of hydrogen, which would overcome many of the problems facing the hydrogen-as-fuel industry now.

As I understand it, current methods of production and storage require very cold temperatures and high pressures. The resulting stored hydrogen is very unsafe, due to hydrogen’s explosive properties. This inability to store hydrogen safely, is the major stumbling block to its usage as a fuel source for an automobile.

These scientists, as reported here have developed a method of extracting hydrogen, basically “on-demand” from water, which does away with the need for storage and eliminates the danger involved, by using the hydrogen instead of storing it.

I am satisfied we will see hydrogen vehicles as the norm, in my lifetime. Won’t it be wonderful to have vehicles running off of the most abundant element in nature and emitting no toxic fumes?

Growing our Fuel

The new fuel prices have truckers scampering to find lower cost ways to operate their rigs. Many are turning to bio fuels. At 1.50 a gallon for diesel, there was not too much concern, but at double that price, bio fuel conversions are occurring at a record rate.

As I understand it, anyone with a diesel vehicle may purchase a conversion kit and convert their engine to burn bio fuel instead of diesel. Diesel is still required to get the motor started, but once running, the motor will burn the plant based fuels and emit a less toxic exhaust.

In anticipation of much greater demand for bio-fuels innovative farmers and coops around the nation are looking at increased production of the diesel replacement and ethanol. Ethanol production was not particularly attractive when fossil fuels were under $ 50.00 a barrel, but at the current $ 70.00 price, soy and other plant based oils can be profitable replacements.

This link has three stories from the State of Indiana, highlighting how farmers, in cooperation with the state, are going to produce more bio fuels, and find more creative ways of utilizing the fuels to replace fossil fuels.

Here is an informative site about the growing bio fuel industry.

This is a fun site which highlights how enthusiastic truck drivers are about the emerging bio-fuel revolution. It is worth a visit just to watch the video.

Finally, The California Biodeisel Site can direct you to more information about this emerging market.

So many of us grouse about the changes, but is it not remarkable how necessity is the mother of invention? Just one year ago there were maybe a handful of people, driving around on old French fry grease, which they could get for free. Now, quality bio diesel is available for 46 cents a gallon, and if farmers have their way, many oil-based products will soon be plant based.


Answering the Call to Love
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Wow! I love stories like this. Bob Ford, a Jackson, Mississippi caterer, had a bunch of food leftover when a gospel-music concert he was catering had a meager turn out because hurricane Katrina was incoming. Bob, and his wife, took the leftover food to the Mississippi coliseum, were 1,200 people were already gathered, preparing to ride out the storm.

Once Ford arrived at the evacuee shelter, his life was transformed. After meeting some of the people and hearing their stories, he was so moved that he dedicated the following days to cooking and feeding hundreds of people a day. He recruited volunteers and publicly pleaded for donations, after emptying out his own freezers, and has fed up to 1,700 people a day, with the help of those recruited.

What a wonderful hero this man is! Thank you God! Thank you Bob Ford.