Iceland Volcano

The Government of Iceland last night announced Bruce Willis and a team of strapping young oil rig workers would be helicoptered into the heart of Eyjafjallajokull to place a cooling device it is hoped will “switch off” the volcano and prevent further travel disruptions.

The extraordinary measures were inspired by the US Environment Protection Agency, which has enlisted the help of Hollywood director James Cameron to deal with the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Which half of this story isn’t true? Ok, it’s the first bit, but the second half sounds delightfully out there.

Continue reading "Thinking outside the box on the big challenges" »

If ever there was a sign we’re pretty powerless in the face of Mother Nature it’s thousands of tonnes of ash and molten lava spewing out of the earth and making air travel impossible for millions of frustrated would-be travellers.

The eruption of Eyjafjallajokull (according to the New York Times it sounds a little like “Hey, ya fergot La Yogurt”) has been greeted as a mass inconvenience.

Holiday makers and business people the world over have nodded sagely while being told their plane has been grounded because of the real chance it could come hurtling towards the earth with its engines disabled by airborne rubble and sighed: “yeah, but I really need to get to that meeting/I’ve been saving for this holiday for years/but it’s Anzac Day on Sunday!”

I’m half expecting to see footage in the coming days of Aussie backpackers in Frankfurt demanding Kevin Rudd send in the Air Force to rescue them, such is the sense of entitlement we have about our ability to flit around the world unhindered by anything as pesky as a major natural event.

Continue reading "What’s Kevin Rudd going to do about Eyjafjallajokull!" »