For Peter Morehead, cooking a meal does not require the use of natural gas. Sunlight is good enough.
Morehead, who first came to Taiwan in 1990 from Wisconsin as an exchange student, has been teaching Taiwanese how to cook with what he calls a “solar cooker.”
The solar cooker can be as simple as a small paper box covered in aluminum foil. One can put a black pot in the middle of the box and the sunlight’s reflection off the aluminum foil will create enough heat to cook the food in the pot.
“People should make good use of energy,” he told the Central News Agency during a recent interview. “Never waste energy.”
On cloudy days, Morehead uses what he calls his “rocket broiler” instead. Made of iron cans, the broiler relies on the burning of small branches and twigs that can generate high heat in a short time, and the contraption does not release smoke if handled properly.
In addition to providing tips on how to use energy efficiently, Morehead has also been promoting the concept of urban farming.
On Earth Day in 2008, he taught people how to grow corn or pumpkins in the square outside the National Taiwan Museum in Taipei.
Growing edible plants can both beautify the environment and reduce pollution caused by the transportation of food, the environmentalist said.
Morehead, a space-planning expert, believes that vegetable gardens can be set up between city buildings or on rooftops in Taiwan’s densely populated urban areas.
“There must be space that can be used,” he said in Mandarin.
Morehead began raising public awareness on conserving energy in 2000. Five years ago, he and his wife established a studio to educate the public about leading an environmentally friendly life.
They named the studio “Earth Passengers” to convey the idea that Earth is like a spacecraft circling the sun, with humans along for the ride.
“Humans are not the controllers of the Earth. Instead, they should live in harmony with other living creatures,” Morehead said.
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday expressed “grave concerns” after Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (黃循財) reiterated the city-state’s opposition to “Taiwanese independence” during a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強). In Singapore on Saturday, Wong and Li discussed cross-strait developments, the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. “Prime Minister Wong reiterated that Singapore has a clear and consistent ‘one China’ policy and is opposed to Taiwan independence,” it said. MOFA responded that it is an objective fact and a common understanding shared by many that the Republic of China (ROC) is an independent, sovereign nation, with world-leading
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
DEFENDING FREEDOM: Taiwanese love peace and helping others, and hope to be a positive force in the world, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim told ‘Weltspiegel’ Taiwan is making every effort to prevent war in the face of China’s hybrid coercion tactics and military threats, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said in an interview with German public broadcaster ARD’s program Weltspiegel that aired on Monday. Taiwan is not seeking provocation or intending to disrupt international order, but “must possess the capacity for self-defense,” a news release issued by the Presidential Office yesterday quoted her as saying. Taiwan is closely watching not only the increasing scope and frequency of Chinese military exercises around the nation, but also Beijing’s hybrid and cognitive warfare tactics, including manipulating public opinion, fostering
RSS