PowerTraveller PowerMonkey USB Edition

"Global warming", "Climate Change"; not so long ago these seemed like science fiction. Then, some scientists emerged, warning of the dangers, whilst others proclaimed they were unsubstantiated. The ozone layer, a thin protective layer around our planet, had a hole in it, which was increasing, in theory.

It now appears that those emerging doom and just a bit of gloom scientists were right, and things are indeed happening to our planet, and for those of you who may doubt it, let me reminisce a short while.

I remember, in the United Kingdom, just three decades ago, when you could take time off work to go on a short break, and enjoy the weather, with little or no disruption due to rain. This applied not only to the summer season (remember those?!) but also early Easter breaks. Indeed I remember during Easter weekends the local (ok, our local beach was but a couple of miles away, but we travelled a bit further to add to the adventure) would be packed, with people milling round the fairground and local open air market, and the sands awash with sunbathers, whilst a good third of them were in the water. It was hot. Glorious, warm, sunny weather, from April, and you could plan to go and enjoy it. Just thirty years ago. Now, we have endured a washout at least three times a year if we are lucky, sometimes even more, as the fete, barbeque, trip to the Wildlife Park or amusement park has been spoilt by rain. This pales into insignificance when we hear of Tsunamis (one of the words that is now more used in our vocabulary due to the shocking increase in occurrence) destroying the livelihood and lives of whole continents.

I am old enough to remember when London had smog, a stifling by-product of all that smoke (from coal fires and industrial chimneys and a rolling mist that comes from the river. Smog was awful, harmful, and unpleasant, like a foggy day, but with acrid taste when inhaled. Smog is a thing of the past in this country, as a smokeless coal was introduced which stopped the particles forming to a large extent. People still burned coal fires, but now they were cleaner, and the birth of environmental awareness wiped the pollution from its new-born eyes and started a revolution.

We now have unleaded fuel, better emission control on our cars, gas to heat our homes which burns far cleaner than coal, and the new eco-warrior to fight our corner. We also have embraced recycling, something the Scandinavians have practiced for years, and a stroll down the back lanes on a certain evening each week yields a sight of bags of newspapers, garden waste, plastic and paper, with green lidded boxes for bottles and cans awaiting collection. Some towns even have sealed food waste bins. Each town has a recycling area where you can take your bottles, cans and even old clothed and shoes, and feel the satisfying glow as you make just a little too much noise putting the glass in. London has its Congestion Charge, a levy to drive into the inner city to encourage using public transport. Most cities and large town now have “Park and Ride”, a system of an out of town large secure car park with frequent bus shuttle service into the heart of the shops, for a small reasonable fee.
Even this month, Wales has introduced a levy on plastic carrier bags, where you now pay five pence per carrier bag (proceeds to charity) to avoid the landfill being choked by the millions thrown away each year, which take an enormous amount of time to break up, clogging the cycle which allows landfill to work. We now use wood from sustainable forests, where trees are replanted to replace what is used, rather than bulldozing our way though habitats and fragile ecological factories (forests are a natural filter, and produce oxygen as well as sustaining growth of essential plants and wildlife).

By the way, if you aren’t looking for a review and just want a link to buy the item for the best price, then click here to order directly from Amazon.

The scientists were right. They may have been the harbingers of doom that some thought they were being, but at least the problem now has the undivided attention of the World, and we are doing something about it.
So, how can we as individuals help to repair and restore this fragile environment? By being more responsible, recycling, (and cycling, rather than using our cars!) avoiding excessive waste, thinking about consequences of particular events and activities, and innovation.

Innovation? Yes, there are a plethora of gadgets and devices out there to make life easier, have fun and help the environment. Here is just one of my favourites.
Universal Solar Charger USB Edition

If you have embraced the environmental challenge, and are suitably hardy, you may have considered packing up a tent and rucksack, and being at one with nature, free of the shackles of domestication, and.... but I’ll need my phone...
This charger utilises solar energy, and even a dull overcast day has some solar energy in it, so it works. A smart folding case of 137mm x 79mm x 24mm with a weight of just 240g, this clever device offers a 2000mah battery with usb output, together with seven adapter leads for Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung Mobile Phones with MiniUSB for some Motorola, Nokia, PDAs, HTC, GPS receivers etc. Also if your device can charge from usb, you can use that lead to attach directly.

You don’t need to rough it in a tent in inclement weather to appreciate the usefulness of this device, but kudos to you if you do. If you have exhausted the battery with charging all of your gadgets and the sun has gone to bed, you can use the mains adapter (cheat!) supplied to take a boost from the friendly wall socket (I know this is environmentally not-so-friendly, but it’s only until the sun wakes up).

I am however informed that this item does not work with the Apple iPhone 3G.

Features:
• Portable and convenient power back up for your devices.
• High transforming rate when turn light into electric power.
• High transforming rate when discharge electric power into electronic equipments.
• Professional circuit to protect over charge, over current and high temperature when charge the built-in battery by DC or sunlight.
• Professional circuit to protect over discharge.
• Intelligent voltage adjusting, it can output voltage and current on 4 different levels.
• Double short circuit protection.
• Tri-coloured LED light to indicate charging or discharging.

Technical Parameters:
• Solar Panel:
• Peak power: 1.54W
• Operating voltage: 5.5V (Max)
• Charging current: 280mA (Max) / 3.8V

Solar Charger:
• Battery capacity: 2000mAh / 3.8V
• Output voltage: 4.5V-9V (adjustable)
• Output current: 1A (Max)
• Output power: 4W (Max)
• Dimensions: 137x79x24mm
• Weight: 240g

Specifications:
• Input interface: DC interface.
• Output interface: USB interface.
• Material: Fireproof plastic (ABS).
• 3-coloured indicator (red, orange and green) which shows the status of remaining power, while charging and discharging respectively.
• Flash light as a torch: Bright white LED for lighting.
• Control switch: ON/OFF/LED.
• Output voltage switch: 4.5V / 5V / 6.3V / 9V.