For the people

Publishing a new report on 29 September in Berlin, the International Energy Agency (IEA) urged governments to take “urgent action” to promote renewable energy sources. “Several countries have made important progress in recent years in fostering renewables,” IEA head Nobuo Tanaka said. “However, much more can and should be done at the global level…to address the urgent need of transforming our unsustainable energy present into a clean and secure energy future.” Nearly 50% of the electricity used globally must come from renewable sources by 2050 in order to halve carbon dioxide emissions and “minimize significant and irreversible climate change impacts”, the report said. (AFP)

Think

An innovative steel snake boat from Kerala, the ‘Aries Punnamada Urukku Chundan’, has made its way to the ‘Guinness Book of World Records’—the largest canoe crew for carrying 141 (136 rowers, 5 helmsmen) people on board. The earlier record was for 118 people. This vessel also holds the record of being the longest steel snake boat, according to the ‘Limca Book of Records’—it measures 143.25ft in length , 5.74ft in breadth and weighs 8 tonnes. The boat also participated in the 2008 Nehru Trophy race in the Alappuzha backwaters for the very first time with women crew members. (PTI)

Visit

For years, there sat in midtown Manhattan a mostly windowless, white marble construction by Edward Durell Stone, popularly known as “The Lollipop Building”. Built in 1964 to house one man’s art collection, it sat empty until sold to the Museum of Arts and Design. Now, after close to $100 million (Rs469 crore) has been spent on a redesign, its doors are open. Gone is the solid facade; glass has been added to let in light. Ceramic tiles on the facade change colours with the time of day. Brad Cloepfil, who designed it, said: “It was an inherently private building that we’ve rendered public. We took something that was solid and made it transparent.” Holly Hotchner, the museum’s director, said, “We sort of see this building as the first object in our collection.” (AP)

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