Blog 3- Post card prizes & technology.

Hi Children,

We had a fantastic send off at the prize-giving for the post-cards at the Pennington Solar Farm.  The mayor was there and all eleven winners to get their prizes of solar lights from Solar-Aid.  They were made for poorer countries where they can’t just flick switch because there is no reliable electricity to even read at night.  Imagine what a difference that would make on these dark winter nights.   For every 1 of these solar lights sold in the UK, 3 more are given away in the poorer countries without electricity.  Picture below, the prizewinners, the mayor, Mark who is glowing like an alien (scary!), and me snug on the bike waving the French flag.

11 Prizewinners, mayor, Mark & me i

Gill (competition organiser), Prizewinner, Mayor, Anthony (solar coop)

It’s a good example of technology for good like the solar farm.  It has 9000 panels which make enough electricity to power 650 homes and it makes no greenhouse gases.  There are not many days in the year when there is not a little sun for the solar or a little wind for wind turbines somewhere in the UK, so we can make a lot more clean energy in the future.

Sometimes we can have just too much stuff but I just love good technology like Mark’s new GPS. It  uses satellites to show us where we are on the map to Paris.  GPS has so many good uses besides not getting lost on a bike.  Little GPS's are put on wild animals to find out their movements so we know how to look after them better.

I am playing with the GPS.  Don't tell Mark.

I like the messages on your cards as well as the pictures.

Bye for now.  Oswaldo

Oswaldo's exercise regime-

Hi young humans,

I went to the gym today.  I am making sure that I will be fit for the bike.  I am quite agile for a young owl!

Head Stand - don't try this at home

Weight-training , starting with light weights!

The high bar

I am rather good on the horse! Strong wings.

But cycling isn't just good for your body, it's great to be out in the fresh air and see things.  It's better for everyone else too not taking a car.  It reduces congestion in cities, fumes, noise, wear on roads, increases safety for all other people on the move.  If you cycle, just make sure it's in safe places.  But you know I'm sure that it is much better for the global climate to walk, cycle, or use buses and trains because of the greenhouse gases.

Finally, we're taking 500 fabulous postcards on the climate to Paris made by clever children in schools all over the New Forest.  I hope our leaders will look at the great pictures and intelligent messages.  We'll just put 2 up in this blog (running out of space) but send me a comment on the blog if you want to see want more in future blogs, or want to share any other thoughts or ideas.

Bye for now, Owaldo

Hi Children and Animals everywhere,

I’m so excited I can hardly keep on my perch!  My name is Oswaldo Owl and in just over a week’s time I’m going on a huge adventure to do something very special.  I’m cycling from the French coast to Paris with my friend Mark to say, ‘Don’t forget us animals!”  Very important leaders from all over the world will be in Paris talking about making sure that our world climate doesn’t get any hotter.  It’s a bit complicated but humans are burning too much coal and oil which makes invisible gases that make the earth & seas warmer, and more floods, fires and storms.  It starves creatures from on land and sea.  None of us wants it to get worse.

Mark asked me to come with him for a bit of company but you and I know that it’s very very important that the leaders think about animals not just about you humans because we all share one world and depend on each other. Some people say we don’t give two hoots – but we’ll show that we care!

We are setting off on Tuesday 24th November and arriving at Paris on Friday.  I am going to blog back every day (from 23^rd to 30^th) from somewhere in France with things we can do to help with the Climate, what’s going on at the talks and of course our adventure!  

If you've time I’d love to hear from you.  Tell everyone how you and your friends  are helping the climate, or anything you can tell us about your favourite animals or toys!

Oswaldo in his natural habitat

Planning the route to Paris with Map & GPS

Trying out the bar bag for comfort

This is a bit of a squeeze!

Playing hide & seek with Mark