✎ Monday – May  27th, 2012

The main objective is to bring experiments in chemistry, physics and biology that teachers can use as practical examples to illustrate different scientific concepts to the students. The experiments have been chosen in line with the program of the secondary school covering the area of magnetism, electricity and optics. A microscope with its associated tools has been as well installed.  A room in the school building have been chosen to be the laboratory place where the teacher can store the equipment and carry out the experiments with the students. For this purpose the room has been refurbished with new storing places, lamps and plugs have been as well installed.

 

Wednesday – August 28th, 2012

…typically refers to a gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal feces, and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas. Biogas originates from biogenic material and is a type of bio fuel.

The biogas scheme. 

Biogas is produced by the anaerobic digestion or fermentation of biodegradable materials such as biomass, manure, sewage, municipal waste, green wast, plant material, and crops. Biogas comprises primarily methane (CH₄) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), moisture and siloxanes.

The gases methane, hydrogen, and carbon monoxide (CO) can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen. This energy release allows biogas to be used as a fuel. Biogas can be used as a fuel in any country for any heating purpose, such as cooking. It can also be used in anaerobic digesters where it is typically used in a gas engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity and heat. Biogas can be compressed, much like natural gas, and used to power motor vehicles. 

Example of biogas plant in a rural environment

In the UK, for example, biogas is estimated to have the potential to replace around 17% of vehicle fuel. Biogas is a renewable fuel, so it qualifies for renewable energy subsidies in some parts of the world. Biogas can also be cleaned and upgraded to natural gas standards when it becomes bio methane.

Thursday – July 26th, 2012

...Environmental consciousness is imparted in Antitorona. 

A house cannot be erected on unconsolidated land, as a road cannot be built on a marsh. It is of little use to treat malaria if there are millions of mosquitos in your own garden. Living in clean, stable and well organized environment gives humankind the possibility of projecting itself mentally into an evolving future.

Seeing structures like roads, schools and bridges arising around oneself stimulates the urge to be part of the system creating them. Man identifies himself with the places he lives in, it is his strength and the banner of his pride. Instilling the knowledge of belonging a community gives strength and stability, and thus we have set out to render the environment we live in functional and tangible.

Plans for the safeguard of the territory must be taken into account in every social development enterprise. In our village at Nosy Komba the awareness of environmental protection is more and more present. Children know that rubbish must not be thrown out in the street but taken to the incineration plants,  the zebus (local cattle) must not trample the surfaced village roads, trees must be protected and be part of the urban environment; the public spaces should be left unoccupied and available to everyone.

We are all aware that the important structural works that are being undertaken are to prevent that the village is washed away from under our feet by the rains.

Ø 1993 - Removal of stagnant water. We reclaimed, dried up and cleaned the terrain to greatly reduce the risk of illnesses like malaria, parasitosis and dysentery.

 Ø 1997 - Earth consolidation: Terracing has been important to stop erosion, which is typical during the rainy season, and to acquire a greater surface for the natural expansion of the village.

 Ø 2001 - Initial urbanization: Surfacing the road which would become the backbone of the village and the symbol of urban unity.

 Ø 2003 Reforestation: The Nosy Be administration altered the status of Komba island to a protected area for tourism use. Thus rice cultivation which has a high environmental cost has been forbidden and reforestation has been instated in its place.

23 luglio 2012

…sono il frutto dell’esperienza di Stefano applicata alla tradizione locale sull’utilizzo della foglia della Palma del Viaggiatore, il ravinala.

Il ravinala (foglia in malgascio) ha una fibra molto resistente e flessibile e quando viene montata in serie, con lo stesso principio di sovrapposizione della tegola, ha la caratteristica di essere leggera e perfettamente impermeabile.

Un'altra importante qualità di questa tecnica di costruzione è la caratteristica di rendere i tetti particolarmente resistenti ai cicloni. Il ravinala pur non permettendo nessuna infiltrazione esterna è estremamente permeabile dall’interno, ossia permette all’aria, che si incanala durante le tempeste tropicali, di uscire verso l’alto senza provocare nessun danno rilevante alla struttura.

Le modifiche apportate da Stefano riguardano in larga parte l’ossatura portante del tetto. Un resistente e leggero sistema a capriate collegate tra loro da pali traversi sui quali vengono poi fissate le foglie stesse. La struttura, essendo montata sull’ultimo degli anelli in cemento armato dell’edificio in costruzione, ha una base solida su cui ancorarsi, risultando quindi anche estremamente duraturo nel tempo. Le prime case costruite con questa tecnica risalgono a venti anni fa e sono ancora perfettamente funzionali, l’unico problema è la vulnerabilità della foglia stessa agli agenti esterni che ne obbligano la sostituzione ogni dieci anni, contro i tre o quattro della casa tradizionale malgascia. La differenza, oltre che nella solidità della struttura, è nella pendenza stessa del tetto, che evitando la formazione di ristagni riduce la velocità di deterioramento della foglia.

Friday – July 20th, 2012

A little island in the Indian Ocean

NOSY BE (also Nossi-bé) is an island located off the northwest coast of Madagascar. It has an area of 312 km2 and its population was officially estimated at 36,636 in 2001.

Nosy Be means "big island" in the Malagasy language. The island was called Assada during the early colonial era of the seventeenth century. Nosy Be has been given several nicknames over the centuries, including "Nosy Manitra" (the scented island).

The first inhabitants of Nosy Be were small bands of Antankarana and Zafinofotsy, before the arrival of the Sakalava, who represent the most numerous ethnic group on the island. These people were joined later by some Comorians, Indians or Antandroy.

Nosy Be made its first major appearance in Madagascar's history when King Radama I announced that he intended to conquer the whole west of the red island up to the sea. That plan was eventually achieved when the Sakalava Kingdom of Boina came into his possession in 1837 when Queen Tsiomeko of Boina's army was defeated.

Nosy Be is located about eight kilometers (5 miles) from the coast of Madagascar in the Mozambique Channel; several smaller islands are located nearby, including Nosy Komba, Nosy Mitsio, Nosy Sakatia, and Nosy Tanikely. The island's main town is Andoany.

The volcanic island has an area of about 312 km2 (120 sq mi), and reaches its highest peak at Mont Lokobe at 450 mt. (1476 feet); the volcano is of Holocene origin but has not erupted in recorded history. There are eleven volcanic crater lakes on the island.

A female black lemur and her offspring at the Lokobe Reserve, Nosy Be, November, 2001

The island is known for having the world's smallest frog and chameleon. The Lokobe Reserve is one of Madagascar's five Strict Nature Reserves (Réserves Naturelles Intégrales). Nosy Be is also home to a specific color of Panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis).

Nosy Be has a tropical climate. It is most humid in summer (December, January, February). The Tsaratanana massif partially protects the island from the strong north-east winds affecting the region in August or during tropical depressions.

Monday – July 9th, 2012

Weather today… ☀

  http://www.weatherreports.com/Madagascar/Nosy_Be

Project activities!!

-Working ad the new building for the Agricultural Project.

-Building of barriers against the erosion at the garden.

Social activities…

-Italian for adults.

Yesterday…

-At the theater we saw “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by Walt Disney.

Friday - June 18th, 2012    

child at playing