The Towns Where People Live the Longest
Taiwan’s Future is ‘Super-aged’; DOH
Bill Gates’s Charity Foundation Preventing HIV in India
The Power of Nothing + Tablearning technique (advanced)
The Power of Nothing (Mindmap of article)
World Peace
The Global Community (intermediate to advanced)
Zones of Peace (intermediate to advanced)
Christian Church Opens Doors to Muslims + Quizlet
Germany’s anti-Islam Marches (advanced)
Excerpts from A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (advanced)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (advanced)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (Chinese translation)
A New Beginning Obama’s Speech for the Muslim World in Cairo (Arabic translation)
The Environment
Legal Limit on Vehicles Idling Set to be Enforced + Quizlet (The above text)
Link to related video
London Drivers Face Idling Fine + Quizlet
The Bicycle Kingdom Starts Living up to its Name (intermediate to advanced)
Questions about cycling in the city
Now that’s a First Class Delivery! Posties Trial Futuristic Electric UNICYCLES + Quizlet
Filling a City With Moving Walkways + Quizlet (intermediate to advanced)
Link to Video
*A Short History of Nearly Everything (excerpt) + Quizlet (The above text) (intermediate to advanced)
*A Short History of Nearly Everything (full text) + Quizlet (advanced)
A Short History of Nearly Everything (Quizlet flashcards)
*(About Claire Patterson: the man who campaigned to get lead taken out of petrol)
Rise of the Asian Megacity + Quizlet (advanced)
City Sponsored Study Touts Benefits of Pedestrian Plazas and Bike Lanes + Quizlet (The above text)
Paris Launches Electric Car-Sharing Scheme (created by Rob at Davids English)
Questions about electric vehicles and car sharing
Looking for the Happiest Place on Earth. Head Straight for Denmark + Quizlet
People in Taiwan Waste about NT$240 Billion Worth of Food per Year: Poll + Quizlet
Penguins’ Slick New Look: Woolly Jumpers Help Save Hundreds of Birds Caught in Oil Spills + Quizlet
‘Penguins’ Slick New Look’ article (Quizlet flashcards printout)
記住：孩子喜歡遊戲，故事，卡通。如果我們能幫助孩子體會到學習就是最好的遊戲, 那我們已經做給他們很大的服務了。
教語言課配合藝術有很多好處: 過程中學生可以用到聽到很多語言的詞會與文法。畫畫也能讓學生安定下來專注所以對他們的學習有幫助。此外聽覺和視覺任務都容易能異口同聲得做，所以學生畫畫的時候也可以說話或聽故事和音樂。
大部分的學生很喜歡畫畫。讓學生做一些海報或圖片也可讓您達到有點平靜, 而且父母很可能會很快樂因為他們能親眼看證明他們的孩子會做一些建設性的動作。如果作品能幫助地球或人類福祉或健康那就更好了。有時候藝術品可當成廣泛的活動的一部分。例如，在美國學校參加了停車熄火環保活動: 學生展出他們畫的海報，甚至走到學校外面，提醒家長熄火。
學生做海報時我平常會大聲的念他們以前學過的故事或文章。這樣也可以當記憶力遊戲:念的時候暫停讓孩子們提供下一個次、情況、或話題。他們講對就得分了。
建議：每個學生必須先用鉛筆畫草圖包括所有的文字。老師要確定都是對的然後寫一個’OK’或’好’ 在角落或後面。紙上有老師寫的’OK’或’好’學生再可以開始用墨筆或顏色。海報與圖片最好要包括很多文字喔!
Just remember: kids like games, stories, and cartoons. If we help children to see learning as fun – as the greatest game – then we’ve already done them a great service.
The great thing about using art in language classes is that students can use and hear a variety of language in the process and it can also help them to achieve a relaxed focus beneficial to learning. Furthermore auditory and visual tasks are easily performed in unison so as students draw they can still talk or listen to stories and music. The students generally love it, it can help them to focus, you get some peace, and you’ll probably get very happy parents who have visual proof that their children are actually learning or doing something constructive. If the artwork can help the World then all the better. In some cases the artwork can be part of a wider campaign. For example, in America various schools took part in an anti-idling campaign in which students drew posters, displayed them, and then even went out to remind parents in cars to not idle their engines.
While students create posters I sometimes read aloud stories or articles they have previously learned. You can also make it a game by pausing in mid-speech. The student that can recall the next sentence, word or idea can get a point for their team.
Tip: Each student must first create a sketch including all the text in pencil. Then a teacher checks and only once the teacher says or writes that it’s OK can the student start to use pen. It’s often good to use plenty of the target language in the artwork, such as in speech bubbles and so on.
以下是英文課學生的作品：
Example artwork from English classes:
如果您上課時用過我們的資料做海報或圖片情寄給我們看! 如果您在臺北或香港工作在孤兒院, 非營利機構, 基金會等等, 我們的 Luc 老師可免費來您的場所用英文或普通話教小朋友做自己的海報。歡迎您於我們聯絡。
Feel free to get in touch and send images by your students. High quality artwork with beneficial messages could be put online. If you have a school in Taipei or Hong Kong and would like to hire Luc (the Peacemaker founder) for a poster making session with students then feel free to get in touch. Free for orphanages, charities, and non-profit organizations.
鏈接 Links
For resources to help when making posters with students see HERE
To see the winning entries in our 2015 poster contest see HERE
這些圖片可用在教室內。可以添顏色、加文字、或當成參考資料。特別適合語言、科學、或藝術有關的課。 圖像之下的文字可以’發動’小孩子的靈感。他們應該不會有很’怠’的態度。
The following copyright free images can be used in the classroom, either for colouring in and adding text or as a reference. Especially suitable for language, science, and art classes. Some text ideas are provided to help ‘kickstart’ the children’s inspiration. Hopefully they won’t be idle.
停車請熄火好不好
In 2015 we held a poster contest. For the results see HERE
2015年本基金會舉辦環保海報設計大賽。 海報主題為「停車熄火」或／與「環
保交通工具」。
本次競賽分成三大類：
1、高中組
2、國中組
3、國小組
每一類中擇前三名頒發獎狀，並將海報在網路上展出。第一名的海報製作成
貼紙，並發給一些需要收入的人(如街友)來進行販賣。 所以參與可以同時
維持地球、孩子的健康、學校的名聲，以及幫助街友生存並找到價值。
每一類中擇前三名的海報
國小組
國中組
高中組
更多圖片與資訊請看這裡
In 2015 we hosted the ‘Let’s Clear the Air’ poster contest. The two themes were: ‘Stop Engine Idling’ and/or ‘Use green/public transport.’ Pictures related to one or both of these themes.
The competition had three age groups:
1:Elementary school
2:Junior High School
3:Senior High school
The artists of the top three posters in each age category have been awarded certificates, and their posters are displayed below. The top poster in each age category will be reproduced in the form of stickers or cards. These stickers or cards will be given to people in challenging financial situations (such as homeless people) for them to sell. So by participating the students will help the world, children’s health, their school’s reputation, as well as those in need of an income.
The Winnning Posters
Elementary school
Junior High School
Senior High School
See this post in Mandarin Chinese
See here for more information about engine idling
Click here for ideas & advice on making the posters in class
Idling engines wastes fuel and money, reduces engine life, emits greenhouse gases, and creates harmful air and noise pollution.
If you would like to help improve the air quality wherever you are then you can print the pictures out yourself and distribute (copyright free). Good places to display or distribute the images include within schools, school gates, driving schools, scooter and car dealerships, bus and train stations, refuse collection vehicle compounds, car parks and construction sites. Putting up images by elevators, urinals, or anyplace where people stop is likely to be effective. If you want to help this campaign then please like and share this post. You can also contact Luc via the contact form or send an email to: Luc@peacemakerfoundation.com.
If you work for a bus, coach, taxi or delivery company then click HERE
A brilliant engine idling animation done by Matino (www.studiomatino.com) for the Peacemaker Foundation. Thank you Matino!
Just remember: kids like games, stories, and cartoons. If we help children to see learning as fun – as the greatest game – then we’ve already done them a great service.
The great thing about using art in language classes is that students can use and hear a variety of language in the process and it can also help them to achieve a relaxed focus beneficial to learning. Furthermore auditory and visual tasks are easily performed in unison so as students draw they can still talk or listen to stories and music. The students generally love it, it can help them to focus, you get some peace, and you’ll probably get very happy parents who have visual proof that their children are actually learning or doing something constructive. If the artwork can help the World then all the better. In some cases the artwork can be part of a wider campaign. For example, in America various schools took part in an anti-idling campaign in which students drew posters, displayed them, and then even went out to remind parents in cars to not idle their engines.
While students create posters I sometimes read aloud stories or articles they have previously learned. You can also make it a game by pausing in mid-speech. The student that can recall the next sentence, word or idea can get a point for their team.
Tip: Each student must first create a sketch including all the text in pencil. Then a teacher checks and only once the teacher says or writes that it’s OK can the student start to use pen. It’s often good to use plenty of the target language in the artwork, such as in speech bubbles and so on.
Example artwork from English classes:
Feel free to get in touch and send images by your students. High quality artwork with beneficial messages could be put online.
If you have a school in Birmingham, Taipei or HK and would like to hire Luc (the Peacemaker founder) for a poster making session with students then feel free to get in touch. Free for orphanages, charities, and non-profit organizations.
For resources to help when making posters with students see HERE
To see the winning entries in our 2015 poster contest see HERE
1. Health effects of air pollution‘Emissions from motor vehicles … have a severe impact on air quality and public health.’(1) Air pollution from vehicles has many health effects including ‘cardio-vascular disease, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and diabetes,’(2) respiratory problems, allergic illnesses, pregnancy and birth problems, influence on male fertility, risk of death, cardiopulmonary problems, increased risk of heart attack, and changes in the autonomic nervous system.(3) ‘Idling vehicles suffer from less ventilation inside the vehicle leading to a toxic buildup of pollutants.’(4) Idling vehicles can create far more pollution than if they were moving.(5) Motorbikes and scooters often emit far more pollution than cars.(6) Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of pollution.(7) Many parents and school bus drivers idle their engines when they drop off and pick up their children from school creating pollution hot spots.(8)
Conclusion: Idling is a serious issue and it is especially important to stop idling around schools.
‘Idling for over 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more CO2 emissions than restarting your engine.’(9) ‘Every gallon of gas burned emits nearly 25 pounds of carbon dioxide and other global-warming gases into the atmosphere.’(10) ‘A vehicle idling for five minutes produces more than a quarter kilogram (271.4 grams) of the greenhouse gases that are destabilizing our planet’s climate patterns.’(11)
Idling is noisy. Research indicates that traffic noise ‘harms the health and well-being of children,’(12) impacts work quality and bio-chemistry, and increases tension, blood pressure and pulse frequency.(13)
‘An idling car uses between 1/5 to 7/10 of a gallon of fuel an hour. An idling diesel truck burns approximately one gallon of fuel an hour.’(5)
In America it is estimated that reducing idling would generally save between US$70-650 (NT 1,824 – 19,761 as of January 2014 ) a year for one vehicle.(5) In the UK it is estimated that reduction of idling ‘could save businesses as much as £3.3 billion per year in fuel’ (NT 164.88 billion as of January 2014).(14) ‘Letting an engine idle actually does more damage to the engine than starting and stopping. Running an engine at low speed (idling) causes twice the wear on internal parts compared to driving at regular speeds, which can increase maintenance costs and shorten the life of the engine.’(15)
Information sources
(1) Environmental Protection Agency in Taiwan. (2010). Control of mobile sources of air pollution (移動污染源管制). Retrieved 01/02/2014 from: http://www.epa.gov.tw/en/epashow.aspx?list=99&path=128&guid=8d668c67-e27f-4a96-ac41-323149899ff2&lang=en-us
(2) John Wargo, Ph.D., Linda Wargo, MES., Nancy Alderman, MES. (2006). (The Harmful Effects of Vehicle Exhaust. A Case for Policy Change.Environment & Human Health, Inc. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ehhi.org/reports/exhaust/exhaust06.pdf (www.ehhi.org)
(3) Krzyzanowski, M., Kuna-Dibbert, B., & Schneider, J. (2005). Health effects of transport-related air pollution. WHO Europe. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/74715/E86650.pdf
(4) Clean Air Network Briefing Paper on the Motor Vehicle Idling (FIXED PENALTY) Bill. (n.d.). Hong Kong Clean Air Network. Retrieved March 22, 2014, from http://www.hongkongcan.org/doclib/Briefing%20Paper%20on%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Idling%20(English).pdf
(5) Environmental Defense Fund. Attention drivers! Turn off your idling engines. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.edf.org/transportation/reports/idling
(6) Vasic, AM,& Weilenmann, M. (2005) Comparison of Real-World Emissions from Two-Wheelers and Passenger Cars. Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (1), 149–154. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/7340852_Comparison_of_real-world_emissions_from_two-wheelers_and_passenger_cars
(7) Kleinman, MT. (2000). The Health Effects Of Air Pollution On Children.
South Coast Air Quality Management District. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.aqmd.gov/forstudents/health_effects_on_children.html
(8) United States Environmental Protection Agency. Idle Free Schools. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www2.epa.gov/region8/idle-free-schools
(9) Government of Canada. Natural Resources Canada. (2013). Emission impacts resulting from vehicle idling. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/4415
(10) Union of concerned scientists. (2014). 1 gallon of gas = 25 pounds of global warming emissions. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/why-clean-cars/global-warming/
(11) Idle Facts Smog Summit.(n.d.). clean air partnership. Retrieved March 25, 2014, from: http://www.cleanairpartnership.org/idle/idlefree_appendices1to4.pdf
(12) Cornell University. (2001). Researchers Find Everyday Traffic Noise Harms The Health And Well-Being Of Children. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/05/010523072445.htm
(13) Ising, H., Dienel, D., Günther, T., & Markert, B. (1980). Health effects of traffic noise. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 47(2), 179-190. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7440003
(14) Fleet News. (2013). Engine idling costs businesses £3.3 billion in wasted fuel per year. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2013/8/21/engine-idling-costs-businesses-33-billion-in-wasted-fuel-per-year/48058/
(15) EPA New England. (2002). What You Should Know About Truck Engine Idling. Retrieved January 2014 from: http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/diesel/pdfs/Diesel_Factsheet_Truck_Idling.pdf
5 Reasons to STOP idling (The above text)
5 Reasons to STOP idling (Taiwan version)
Posters
5 Reasons to STOP idling poster
5 Reasons to STOP idling poster (Taiwan version)
America
http://www.sustainableamerica.org
http://nyc.missionelectric.org/2013/12/27/new-york-citys-efforts-to-stop-idling/
http://www.idlethreatmovie.com/
http://tri1025.com/city-of-fort-collins-breathe-easy-anti-idling-campaign-video-interview/
Around schools: interweaving stop-idling campaigns with children’s education
Click to access Make%20a%20Good%20Choice..Choose%20No%20Idling_Lesson%20PLan.pdf
http://www2.epa.gov/region8/idle-free-schools
http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Your-Schools/About-Clean-Air-Schools
Around the World
http://earthitude.com/ A great up and coming website by my friend Rey. Collection of resources, and a lot of eye-opening information on green living and saving the Earth. Take a look!
Hong Kong
Free stickers and posters provided by the HK government: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/prob_solutions/idling_publicity_materials.html
http://www.cleartheair.org.hk/
http://www.hongkongcan.org/doclib/Briefing%20Paper%20on%20Motor%20Vehicle%20Idling%20(English).pdf
Taiwan
The brilliant work in Taipei, Taiwan, by John Fleckenstein, Torch Pratt and others:
B: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/05/17/2003503424
C: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2011/09/28/2003514359
Government website: http://plan.chepb.gov.tw/idling/promotion.html
News article and video about anti-idling campaign in Taiwan: http://news.pts.org.tw/detail.php?NEENO=256337
Guide to greener driving: http://ecodriving.itri.org.tw/
Not directly about idling or Taiwan, but if you are thinking about buying a scooter (in Taiwan) then first read this:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/dec/21/travelandtransport.transportintheuk
Stop idling technology:
Really important. Giving truckers a way to enjoy AC plus more without idling: http://www.idleair.com/
Hybrid refuse collection vehicles means HUGE savings in terms of money and people’s health: http://www.govtech.com/technology/Hybrid-Garbage-Miami-Dade-040511.html
The technology we desperately need as long as we keep using petrol vehicles:
中文版請點這裡 For Mandarin version click HERE
The following copyright free images can be used in the classroom, either for colouring in and adding text or as a reference. Especially suitable for language, science, and art classes. Some text ideas are provided to help ‘kickstart’ the children’s inspiration. Hopefully they won’t be idle.
See this post in Mandarin Chinese 看中文版
In 2015 we held a poster contest. For the results see HERE
Helping people to make a foundation of peace in their minds, through visual representations of beneficial ideas.
The Logo Explained
This is not a religious website. The image just shows, what I (the artist) believe, are our true underlying goals for everything we do:
health, peace, love & happiness.
Almost all the things we do, all our efforts, all our projects, are simply to experience at least one of these things. Something that increases these things for others is what we generally call a ‘good’ thing, and something that reduces these is what we often call a ‘bad’ thing. Paradoxically we don’t achieve these states by grasping for them too directly, but by helping others to achieve them. Perhaps they are like the butterflies of life that rest upon our shoulder when we stop chasing them. They are all just states of the mind (health is mental and physical), so they are not dependent on external conditions. They are from inside not outside. We don’t need the latest phone, car or luxury item to be happy. We don’t need to worry too much about we look to others, because these things are not inherently connected to health, peace, love and happiness. Those are often only false connections we have made.
Body represents physical health, the glowing head is mental health, the sea is peace, the heart love and the sunshine happiness. Long may we all experience health, peace, love and happiness.
”Love all, serve all, help ever, hurt never” (Sai Baba)
Confucian Repentance: 不二過 No Second Pass
(perhaps meaning to not let it come to pass a second time)
A visual answer to the great question of how we can learn from the past but also be present. How to be careful yet care free. By being clear without excessive thinking (知而無念), & resolving sincerely to do better from now on. You can always make up for a mistake in the last moment by doing better in this moment.
“Turn your face toward the sun and let the shadows fall behind you.” (Maori Proverb)
Be Clear About What You’re Doing & Do Meaningful Things
This is, in my opinion, a brilliant guiding principle. Many people live in a cage of unnecessary rules and many seem to have far too few guiding principles at all. If you just try to be aware (conscious of what you’re doing) and do meaningful (helpful or productive) things then for some this can make life much more enjoyable and productive.
Example:
You promised to do the washing up but an old friend you really like whom you haven’t seen in ages comes round.
Too few rules: You go off with your friend for hours and hours and forget about the washing up.
Too many rules: You tell your friend to go away because you have to do the washing up right now.
Aware + meaningful things: You welcome your friend inside (making people feel valuable is highly meaningful). You check to see if the washing up can be done later. If so, you enjoy being with your friend and when they leave you’re clear that you need to do the washing up.
Here are some more examples:
Too few rules:
You lounge around in front of the TV all day most days, with no idea what you will watch or what you’re really doing.
You often don’t get the work done you should have done and go out drifting around not doing much useful.
Too many rules:
You would really enjoy watching TV but never do because you see it as a distraction.
You forbid yourself from ever going out and keep yourself at your desk and work.
Aware + doing meaningful things
There are some shows which you really enjoy or which give you lots of knowledge, you know when they’re on, you watch them and then turn off the TV and do other stuff.
You often work well with focus and once you’re finished you go out. When you’re out you do fun or useful things. Sometimes when you’re working you feel like going out for a walk, so you head off to a cafe with your notebook and keep working. When you catch yourself daydreaming for too long you bring your focus back to the work.
Keep faith, hope and optimism alive always. Be the light you’d like to see.
Be brave amidst clouds of change
把下面的圖(五個不要怠速的理由)影出來
燃候選另外一張圖影出來
Print out the following PDF
Plus one of the three posters below
‘Let’s Clear the Air’ Poster Competition for Schools
We are hosting a ‘Let’s Clear the Air’ Poster Competition’. The two themes are: ‘Stop Engine Idling’ and/or ‘Use green/public transport.’ Pictures must relate to one or both of these themes. The language can be either English or Chinese, both colour and black and white posters are OK, and all sizes are acceptable. There is no limit to how many posters one school or student can submit.
The competition has three age groups:
1:Elementary school
2:Junior High School
3:Senior High school
The artists of the top three posters in each age category will be awarded certificates, and their posters will be displayed on the internet. The top poster in each age category will be reproduced in the form of stickers or cards. These stickers or cards will be given to people in challenging financial situations (such as homeless people) for them to sell. So if your class or school participates you will help the world, children’s health, your school’s reputation, as well as those in need of an income.
How to apply
1: Scan in the pictures or photograph (Photos must be very clear)
2: Send the digital file by email to: Luc@peacemakerfoundation.com.
The file must be received before April 22, 2015 (Earth Day).
Note:
•Remember to include the school’s name.
•Each digital file should include only one picture. (There’s no limit to how many digital files or emails you can send)
(Extra note: 25 MB max per email. If the digital files are over 25 MB then you need to send more than one email or use online storage such as Google Drive or Dropbox and send a link. We will reply to your emails to confirm they were received.)
•Please provide each student’s name, and age category (elementary, junior or senior) within each file name.
Winners will be announced on May 1, 2015 (Labour Day), on the website:
Peacemakerfoundation.com (see ‘World Health’ + ‘Poster Competition’). After the results have been announced the certificates will be sent to schools (can be sent digitally via email or by post).
For some example posters and information about engine idling please see HERE. Please forward this text to other teachers, especially those who teach art, English, or subjects relating to health and the environment.
Thank you and best wishes!
The Peacemaker Foundation
Campaigns & Projects to Promote Health & Wellbeing
Peacemakerfoundation.com
Click here to download above text as PDF: ‘Let’s Clear the Air’ Poster Competition for Schools 2015
Click here for ideas & advice on making the posters in class
Click here to see children’s stop idling posters + video
環保海報設計大賽
本基金會將舉辦環保海報設計大賽。 海報主題為「停車熄火」或／與「環
保交通工具」。活動語言可以中文或英文進行、色彩不拘(黑白或彩色皆
可)。投稿海報的數量與大小不限。
本次競賽分成三大類：
1、高中組
2、國中組
3、國小組
每一類中擇前三名頒發獎狀，並將海報在網路上展出。第一名的海報製作成
貼紙，並發給一些需要收入的人(如：街友)來進行販賣。 所以參與可以同時
維持地球、孩子的健康、貴校的名聲，以及幫助街友生存並找到價值。
參與的方式：
1、把圖片掃描或拍照(請拍攝清晰照片) 。
2、把圖片檔案寄到：Luc@peacemakerfoundation.com.
截止日期：2015年4月22日(世界地球日）
備註：
•請務必提供學校名稱。
•一個圖片等於一個檔案。(檔案的數量沒有限制)
(Email 附件的檔案不能超過 25 MB. 檔案的大小超過的話請寄另外一個 email 或用雲存儲, 像Google Drive 或 Dropbox. 我們會回复來確認收到了您的 email.)
•圖片檔案請在檔案名稱註明學生姓名與年級（高中，國中，國小）。
成績公布日期：2015年5月1日(勞動節）。成績會在
Peacemakerfoundation.com（’World Health’＋’Poster Competition’）。
公佈成績後會把獎狀寄到學校，再由學校統一交予學生(可用電郵或郵寄)。
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給校長和老師們，特別是教藝術、英文、健康與環境等相關科目教師。
謝謝! 祝 健康、平安! Thank you and best wishes!
地球和事佬
促進健康與福祉的專案活動
Peacemakerfoundation.com
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停車清熄匙 (香港)
(for Hong Kong)
停车清熄火 (简体字)
(Simplified Chinese Text)
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LPT* (Lightweight Portable Transport) is on the rise and so is the Earth’s temperature. The idea: Just take a few long roads or routes in a city and make them car-free. At first on weekends, using road blocks, and later perhaps keep them permanently car-free. Simple, cheap, effective, and completely reversible. The pictures below are mostly of Taipei, but this idea could be used in almost any city.
Future additions as per ‘the urban flow plan’ (see HERE)
What about the residents parking?
Residents would be given free parking nearby, compensation or special access to a side lane along the road on condition they drive below 5mph. Electronic ID could automatically open the gate or barrier if there is one.
What about all the cars that need the road to drive on? This just means the adjacent roads will become busier!
Only temporarily. Over time building more roads and car lanes usually increases car traffic (https://doi.org/10.7922/G22805Z9) while giving more road space to bicycles and pedestrians improves traffic.
(https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/research/common-misconceptions-about-active-travel-investment/)
This is called induced demand and makes sense when you think about it. As nearby roads have more cars they become less pleasant to drive along so less people will. On the other hand if people have far more pleasant and safer LPT journeys as an option some of them will make that switch.
It’s also worth noting that in the early phase roads nearby the Greenway are likely to have less cyclists and others on LPT allowing more space for drivers in that respect.
What about emergency service vehicles and delivery vehicles?
They would be given special access (electronic ID could automatically open the gate or barrier if there is one). It’s highly likely that small lightweight delivery vehicles would emerge rapidly.
I don’t believe this can be done.
“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.” (George Bernard Shaw)
In many places around the world various roads have been made car free and the feedback generally has been very good. See HERE and HERE for examples. The only addition with this plan is to devote the road to LPT rather than just give it to pedestrians alone. As technology improves and transport tools become lighter, smaller, safer and more efficient, and as cities become taller and more densely populated this is just one of those things that will need to happen anyway because it makes sense. Let’s just make sure we do it right.
We also really need to do this to allow people to avoid enclosed spaces together and give them safe, healthy travel options. Bike lanes will quickly become too busy to accommodate everyone safely. This can be done immediately with zero infrastructure!
You can get an idea of what this could be like from this video taken in Kuala Lumpur (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjOh9UtwK-w )and from this Greenway in Beijing which I regard as one of the greatest cycle-superhighways ever designed (https://youtu.be/rJ48RqwHb8s?si=-DC5Van6ljYABurF)
If you like this post then please share it with others!
*LPT (Lightweight Portable Transport) is a term coined by the Peacemaker Foundation meaning any transport tool that is small and light enough to be carried or moved by hand. Examples are bikes, skateboards, rollerskates, scooters, electric wheels (Eucs), self balancing foot scooters (Hoverboards) and Segways.
Update in 2022
I no longer promote the use of ewheels (eucs) given that manufacturers are now making them with such high top speeds which is obviously completely unsafe. So focus is likely to be on scooters, other gadgets and urban commuter systems from now on.
Update in 2020: The Kingsong S series of eWheels are known now to be among the safest. Safety should be your top priority. The Inmotion ewheels also have a good reputation & are the rebranded versions of the original Inventist wheels (such as the Solowheel). Airwheel & various other brands are known to be cheap & of lower quality. A new updated table will hopefully appear here soon but for now see HERE
Below is an old post with outdated information
New terminology suggested by the Peacemaker Foundation
The new inventions are great, but our names for them are not: electric “unicycles” are not unicycles because they involve no cycling. “Hoverboards” don’t hover and they’re not boards. Furthermore when real hoverboards appear it will become even more confusing. Here are some suggested names:
Electric wheel or eWheel (electric self-balancing “unicycle” or “euc”)
Electric Foot Scooter (Self-balancing Dual Motor Electric Foot Scooter – a “hoverboard”)
LPT (Lightweight Portable/Personal Transport: transport involving devices that can be easily carried)
Transportable (Portable transport tool)
Self-balancers (self-balancing transport tools – as listed above)
If you can think of better names then please comment or get in touch.
Viewable PDF format
Word File: Electric Wheels Compared (February 2015)
PDF: Electric Wheels Compared (February 2015)
Winners Podium
Gold medal: Solowheel Orbit and Solowheel Extreme each are the winners in three categories, but they are also the most expensive.
Silver medal: Firewheel and Rockwheel also do quite well with each one winning in two categories. Hovertrax wins two categories as well but loses in four – just depends which categories are more important for you.
Bronze medal: What do you reckon? Perhaps Freeman A4.
Update: Recently a very promising and popular eWheel has been the Gotway which will certainly appear in the next edition of this table.
Author’s opinion
Personally I like the electric foot scooters because they’re easier to learn (apparently) so I bought Hovertrax which is great fun and very well built although it lacks stability at speed and only works well on smooth surfaces. If you have enough money and you value patent ethics you might wish to buy from Inventist seeing as they hold the patents. Furthermore, as of January 2015 the Solowheels generally gets the best reviews, such as on Amazon.
I’ve looked around so you don’t have to. Here are some links to some great videos.
Fantastic review of Solowheel, Hovertrax, Phunkeeduck & the zBoard Pro. Also shows how important it is to ride carefully!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD1xBI6TK50
Fun advert for the solowheel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQjUouUhaiU
The Solowheel in London
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_KFIT8nWF8
Fun advert for Ninebot 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pu9uz40YdA
Super slick super cool ad for Ninebot 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ostYmeUs3VU
Fun advert for IPS F400
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPu-amSMs7U
Airwheel Mail Delivery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAlDe1DOU3A
Airwheel stunts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz05Cyzuo1Y
More Airwheel stunts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdEHOdCBCmo
Foot Scooter videos
Hovertrax
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA11YG1WB7A
Chic-smart video from Korea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfZpNILDhk8
Links
Lean Machines: Comparison Table of Self-Balancing Dual-Motor Electric Foot Scooters
Clean water
*Advisable in some places only
Clean food
Clean air
Author’s opinion
Advice for Governments on how to achieve cleaner air
Generally speaking in most countries we need more:
The Physical & Mental Health Balance
Taking care is often important for our physical health, but mental health often requires a more carefree outlook. So the art of living well is being careful, caring yet carefree. Having love without attachment. A quote I once read goes, “Take a child by the hand, they will show you the way.” I believe adults are often better at the ‘careful’ and children at the ‘carefree’. Every time you shout to a child, ‘Be careful!’ you can imagine them shouting back at you ‘Be carefree!’ Children often experience negative emotions and then recover swiftly because they’re such complete experts at living in the moment. To stop worrying about the past and future, is one of the great lessons they teach us. Mental slavery is worrying about the past. Discipline is doing the right thing from now on.
By all means use and share the various health tips outlined above, but always remember the value in simply broadening your outlook to see the big picture, the value of letting it be, of not worrying about stuff, and of having faith. Perfectionism is anything but perfect. So don’t sweat the small stuff, just create good habits so that overall you’re going in the right direction.
The Peacemaker Foundation 