Dixiane Hallaj
  • Home
  • BOOKS
    • It's Just Lola >
      • Farris Hallaj
    • Aunt Nellie B
    • Born a Refugee
    • Checkpoint Kalandia
    • The 5th Wish
    • Short Story Anthologies >
      • Short & Happy (or not)
      • Spies & Heroes
      • Saints & Heathens
      • Strife & Harmony
    • Breakfast in Palestine
    • Other Nonfiction
  • Writing
  • Online Store
  • NEWS/Media
  • About Dixiane / Contact Us

Improving the World with Plastic Bottles

8/13/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
Imagine you’re 4 years old and the teacher tells you to draw a person. You draw something that looks like an anorexic who just had a terrifying accident.  You look over and the kid sitting next to you just created the Mona Lisa.
A few years ago, I made a bird feeder out of an empty 2 liter plastic bottle. I’d bought a simple kit that provided a hanger, a perch, and instructions. I’d felt good about reusing a bit of plastic in a constructive way.  Unfortunately, the project was an epic fail (as my granddaughter would say). The squirrels destroyed the bottle the very first night, leaving me to clean up after them. In the world of plastic bottles, my project was lower than the 4-year-old's drawing would be in the art world.
     
Today I searched the internet for other ways to use empty plastic bottles. I got almost 7 million hits! It turns out that lots of interesting and useful things can be made from plastic bottles. There are lovely images of plastic bottle planters, although I couldn’t tell if they were being used for tomato plants or marijuana from the picture. Interesting, but still child's play.
I was impressed by one site that promised 25 things to do with them, until I saw another site that promised everything to do with plastic bottles. Really? Everything? I don’t think so.
Picture
When I found a video showing a school made from “bricks” of plastic bottles filled with tightly packed sand, I thought I’d found the ultimate way to put all these empty bottles to good use. 
But I was wrong. The Leonardo da Vinci of plastic bottles is Alfredo Moser.  His simple yet ingenious use of empty plastic bottles has improved the lives of millions of the world's most needy people, those who live crowded together in unspeakable poverty; people who can afford neither windows nor the electricity to light their makeshift dwellings. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23536914
By filling the bottle with water, adding a few drops of bleach to discourage algae growth, anyone can fill a room with enough sunshine to mimic the light of a 40 or 50 watt bulb.  
Picture
I think he deserves a Nobel prize for this invention, don't you?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    RAMBLING BLOG
    A collection of random thoughts that sometimes include writing and books. 

    Dixiane Hallaj

    When not writing, I dabble in painting and pottery. My favorite thing to do is hang out with family over good food and amusing conversation.

    Archives

    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • BOOKS
    • It's Just Lola >
      • Farris Hallaj
    • Aunt Nellie B
    • Born a Refugee
    • Checkpoint Kalandia
    • The 5th Wish
    • Short Story Anthologies >
      • Short & Happy (or not)
      • Spies & Heroes
      • Saints & Heathens
      • Strife & Harmony
    • Breakfast in Palestine
    • Other Nonfiction
  • Writing
  • Online Store
  • NEWS/Media
  • About Dixiane / Contact Us