Pedal power bringing water to people

“Global warming exacerbated by the burning of fossil fuels has reached its tipping point. The need to find alternative energy sources and modes of transportation has never been greater. We must innovate.”

This was the rationale behind the Innovate or Die awards sponsored by bike firm Specialized and Google. The challenge was to invent and build machines that transform pedalling energy into new and useful purposes. Entries had to be submitted in a video format detailing the machine and describing its function and purpose. The aim of the competition was to inspire creative thinking and innovation whilst highlighting the efficiency and environmental benefits of cycling. 102 entries were submitted.

The winning entry was Aquaduct which transports water from source to home whilst using the pedal power also to filter the water. This is how they describe their product in their video:

1.1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water. Over 5,000 children die each day because of water-related diseases. Our solution is the Aquaduct. A pedal-powered vehicle that transports water and filters it while in motion. Often water sources are distant and women must devote hours of labour just to meet the basic needs of their families. Walking 3 miles or more is common. Travelling this distance via motorbike or truck consumes fuel and pollutes the air. Moreover a family of 4 needs a minimum of 20 gallons of water per day. Sanitizing this much water by boiling consumes precious resources and contributes to deforestation. The Aquaduct enables a person to get enough water for an entire family and clean it in one trip. The Aquaduct is composed of two tanks, a filter, a belt drive, a peristaltic pump and clutch. Once the rider arrives at the water source, she fills the large tank at the back of the vehicle with water. The cap is replaced and the rider can start home. As the rider pedals, the pump draws the water from the large tank through a filter and into a 2-gallon clean water tank. Upon arrival the clean-water tank is easily removed and taken inside the home for drinking and cooking needs. The closed container eliminates the contamination that currently occurs from storage in open containers. When more filtered water is needed, the clean water tank is reattached. Then the rider uses the clutch to relieve the tension in the belt and disengage the pedals from the wheels. She can now filter the next two gallons whilst stationary. The Aquaduct will allow families in the developing world to have daily access to clean water all by harnessing the energy of pedal power.

Additional water purification may be required to remove bacteria, viruses and dangerous chemicals, and it certainly will require a cycleable track or path for the vehicle can. But this could be the start of a great idea. Innovate… or die!


Innovate or Die: www.innovate-or-die.com
See all 102 entries on video at: www.youtube.com/groups_videos?name=innovateordie
See the winning Aquaduct pedal-powered mobile filtration system at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-U-mvfjyiao

Become a music producer

The internet has changed for ever how music is distributed. Tracks can now be accessed digitally by downloading from iTunes and other sites and through file sharing. The age of the big record company with its list of signed-up musicians may be ending, and certainly the big companies seem to have fallen on harder times.

To emphasise the point, Radiohead released their album "In Rainbows" on line on 10th October 2007 asking purchasers to choose their own purchase price (which could be for nothing). The album became a best-seller on both sides of the Atlantic, and was eventually released in traditional format.

The internet is also allowing fans to become partners of musicians and co-owners of their output. Here are two popular international websites where musicians can be published and fans can become part of the process and even co-owners of the recordings.

Sell a band
On the Netherlands-based Sellaband, not to be confused with the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant, this is how it works. A musician signs up for free, first having accepted the terms and conditions of the site. They then create a profile, which includes a picture, a biography, a maximum of 3 demo songs and details of any website or social networking site. The musician or band then sets out to raise $50,000 by finding 5,000 Believers each prepared to invest $10. Believers can be recruited via the website, or the musician can plan an active role in trying to find these 5,000 people.

Once the money has been raised, the musician records their CD, and this is then promoted and distributed by the musician, the website and the 5,000 Believers doing what they can. Believers get a free CD in return for their investment plus a share of the profits.

This is the process of becoming a Believer:
1. Find a musician you want to believe in. Select a category of music and then earch on the website. Or find a friend who wants to become a great musician and get them to sign up on Sellaband.
2. Read the terms and conditions and then sign up as a Believer. This is free.
3. Buy one or more parts of your selected musician. Each musician issues 5,000 parts.
4. Help you musician achieve the target of selling 5,000 parts.
5. Get a sneak preview of your musician as their music is being transformed into a CD.
6. Receive your own “Limited Edition” copy of the CD.7. Make money. Three of the songs on the CD will be distributed as free downloads. The other tracks will cost 50cents each to download, and the net profit is split between the Believers, the musician and Sellaband.
8. Make more money. You will get a share of the royalties on album sales, and you can open your own Shop on Sellaband to sell related products from your musician.
9. Promote the music. Spread the word. It’s in everybody’s interest!
Find out about how Sellaband works at: www.sellaband.com

Slice the pie
A similar website is the UK-based SliceThePie, where:
• Musicians can raise money directly from their fans so that they are able to professionally record and release their albums
• Fans can become emotionally and financially involved at all levels of the music industry – scouting, breaking, investing in and influencing real musicians.
• Investors can gamble on, trade in and profit from the success of the musicians they invest in.
• Musicians who secure finance pay SliceThePie a small royalty on album sales but keep all their copyright and publishing rights.

There are two routes for a musician to get funding. If they already have a dedicated fan base of over 5,000 fans, then they may be able to go directly to the financing stage, and they should contact SliceThePie.

Alternatively, they can join a SliceThePie Arena. Each Arena is divided into 3 stages: 


1. Scout Room:
Up to 1,000 musicians enter a Scout Room where music fans give high quality feedback on each musician’s three demo tracks.


2. Showcase:
Up to 20 musicians with the best reviews from the Scout Room are then featured in the Showcase, where fans vote for their favourite.


3. Get financed:
 Musicians seek support from fans on the Showcase. Those who get enough support receive the £15,000 needed to record an album. Whatever happens, the most popular artist is guaranteed £15,000.

Fans can also earn money as a Scout by reviewing new music and spotting talent. The better you become at this, the more you will earn per review and the more influential your vote will be. Find out about how SliceThePie works at: www.slicethepie.com

I fought the Lloyds
A band called Oystar have just released a protest song in the UK called "I Fought the Lloyds" about what happened when Dan Understanding tried to reclaim bank charges where he felt he had been overcharged. The track features a cameo from Martin Lewis, the MoneySavingExpert, together with Mr Horse who bears a passing resemblance to the Lloyds stallion and Dan who got £531 pounds back from Lloyds Bank by following the simple steps that were given on Martin Lewis's MoneySavingExpert.com website.

"I Fought the Lloyds" got prominent coverage when the case by the Office of Fair Trading against the big banks started in January 2008. The MoneySavingExpert organised a campaign to get people to download the track. “If you've reclaimed bank charges, plan to, or support the cause... let’s get the song to the top of the agenda by getting it to the top of the charts. Order the 50p download and cross your fingers for a number 1 in the week of the bank charges test case.”

The track was released on 7th January 2008. It became Number 1 in the download charts and on January 13th was Number 25 in the Singles Charts. “I Fought The Lloyds” is available from iTunes or by texting “bankers” to 82822. Texts cost 50p + your standard text message charge.

Dan Understanding and co-vocalist Kev Campbell are selling shares in themselves as “Blairs Britain” on Sellaband. So you can support them and their protest music, and at the same time make an investment in two musicians with a purpose.

Find out about Oystar and the story of “I fought the Lloyds” at: www.oystarmusic.com
Watch the video of “I fought the Lloyds” at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLIe5X9DBew

And find out how to challenge your bank charges at: www.moneysavingexpert.com