Tuesday 19 December 2006

Save The Enviroment: lets build more Air Wheels (دولاب الهوا)




The recent talk in the west now is the enviroment and Global warming effect. This is attracting huge media attension.



The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and the amount of energy released from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century, human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed the composition of the atmosphere and therefore likely are influencing the Earth's climate.

For over the past 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space, somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse.



Climate change affects people, plants, and animals. Scientists are working to better understand future climate change and how the effects will vary by region and over time.



Scientists have observed that some changes are already occurring. Observed effects include sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals, trees blooming earlier, lengthening of growing seasons, ice on rivers and lakes freezing later and breaking up earlier, and thawing of permafrost. Another key issue being studied is how societies and the Earth's environment will adapt to or cope with climate change.

Scientists are working hard to try and improve gas emission. Recently there has been a lot of research and ideas into products claiming to have zero carbon emission. Some of these are: solar panel, electric cars or hybrid cars, air turbine and sea waves power generators.

However; in Syria this is the least of the worries. The environment is suffering heavily and the effect of pollution is easily noticeable in Damascus city. No Effort has been made to reduce emission or improve air quality in the city.

This is not the case in Dair Atiah. this beautiful town is only 90km (60 miles) north of Damascus. When you get close to DairAtiah when traveling from Damascus, you will notice the change in air quality. this is due to many factors, one of them is Dair Atiah's position on the hills between Palmyra Mountains and Lebanese Mountains.

One obvious environment friendly aspect of the town is the Air Wheel. This Machine uses wind to generate enough power to pump water from deep wells. No one knows for sure when those wheels were brought to town. For more then a hundred year, they have been a major source of power to pump water used in agricultures.





Unfortunately, in the recent boom in town population the value of those wheels soon forgotten. Their number is declining rapidly and now only less then 20 still in working order while many others are being dismantled. This is in my opinion a step backward. The air Wheel should be saved and improved to provide power and continue to pump water.





A campaign to save the remaining wheels should start soon and people should be encourage to use them instead of electric or diesel pumps. If this achieved then it is not just the environment which is saved but also one of our town beautiful and remarkable landmarks.





Join me in the campaign to save the Air-Wheel ( AL-Dolab). You can write your opion in this blog and we will raise this to the planning authority in the twon hall.

3 comments:

DAirAtiah Blog said...

Did you know that the first windmill was constructed as early as 7th century? One thing the vast deserts of Arabia had was wind, when the seasonal streams ran dry, and these desert winds had a constant wind direction. For about one hundred and twenty days the wind blew regularly from the same place. The windmill was so simple yet effective that it quickly spread all over the world from its 7th century Persian origins. After this, wind-power became widely used to run mill stones for grinding corn, and also to draw up water for irrigation. This was first in the Persian province of Sistan, and al-Mas`udi, an Arab geographer who lived in the 10th century, described the region as a ‘country of wind and sand.’ He also wrote, ‘a characteristic of the area is that the power of the wind is used to drive pumps for watering gardens.’ Most historians believe that it was the crusaders who introduced windmills to Europe in the 12th century.

Haddi Abdul said...

Did you know that the first windmill was constructed as early as 7th century? One thing the vast deserts of Arabia had was wind, when the seasonal streams ran dry, and these desert winds had a constant wind direction. For about one hundred and twenty days the wind blew regularly from the same place. The windmill was so simple yet effective that it quickly spread all over the world from its 7th century Persian origins. After this, wind-power became widely used to run mill stones for grinding corn, and also to draw up water for irrigation. This was first in the Persian province of Sistan, and al-Mas`udi, an Arab geographer who lived in the 10th century, described the region as a ‘country of wind and sand.’ He also wrote, ‘a characteristic of the area is that the power of the wind is used to drive pumps for watering gardens.’ Most historians believe that it was the crusaders who introduced windmills to Europe in the 12th century.

Cedarrick said...

Hallo Deir Attieh.My name is Richard van der Graaf.I am from Holland but living in Austria.50 years ago I lived from October 1963 to 15 June 1964 in Deir Attieh with the Family Barkouda .I knewProf Youssef Barkouda of that family who was professor i Botany at the damscus University .I did research for my doctoral degree in Holland with the focus on the socio economic effects of emigration.The airwheels were very important at that time and were central to the development of agriculture.I would like to exchange information on Deir Attieh with persons from as well in Deir Attieh.I can be reached by email richard.vandergraaf@gmail.com

Richard.van der Graaf