power off
I currently have to refrain a bit from blogging as I am currently a bit busy with all sorts of stuff, like I just finished my class, I have to prepare for a geometry conference and to care about other general organisatorial stuff like such “nuisances” as that the electricity of our appartment was suddenly switched off. As everybody nows such “nuisances” can keep one pretty busy.
For the case of the power switch off it was first necessary to find out the reason for the power break down (namely that the electricity had been switched off) then to find out why it had been switched off and then to make the electricity to go on again. The electricity company said that there was something wrong with our automatic bank account, so we had to go there more or less immediately – in person, with somebody helping with the translation – and pay our bills.
Nevertheless I was still happy that it was not a general power off. Not that we need overly much electricity – we do not use air condition or electric dryers at home, but with a daily average of about 33 degrees celsius daytime/27 degrees nighttime you need a fridge and a washer. Going without these two appliances would partially make not much sense also on an ecological base (as washing by hand may use up much more water).
Still – this power off brought back the fragility of the power system (and I wrote quite a bit on that issue on this blog). Thus I was especially cheered up by Al Gores new wecansolveit initiative of pushing renewable energies. As a lovely coincidence his speech was published on Angela Merkels birthday, as if this was a present to encourage her to step away from nuclear power!
The program itself sounds quite ambitious! Still – if Al Gore could convince a great majority in the US then I am convinced that with the usual enthusiasm of the american people such a high goal could be accomplished. But in general – I think any step in that direction is already a win.
From Al Gore’s speech:
That’s why I’m proposing today a strategic initiative designed to free us from the crises that are holding us down and to regain control of our own destiny. It’s not the only thing we need to do. But this strategic challenge is the lynchpin of a bold new strategy needed to re-power America.
Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.
This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen.