BreezeBlog

Those interested in the STAR-TIDES project may be interested in seeing some photos from this week's event at The Pentagon.

From my perspective one of the many positive things coming out of this project is the involvement of college students who get to think about the challenges facing refugee populations. How much better to get young people thinking and educated about the practicalities of providing practical aid than, say, a Fun-Run charity event!

We were delighted to have the SleepBreeze personal cooler on display, to be associated with, and continue our support for the TIDES project.

Through our on-going support of the STAR-TIDES project we're extremely pleased to have been invited to display one of the SleepBreeze personal coolers at AFCEA West 2008

AFCEA West 2008 also marks, for us, a major goal fulfilled in that we have been able to provide a production line version of the cooler.

So, why are we there? Well, STAR-TIDES - short for Sustainable Technologies, Accelerated Research - Transportable Infrastructures for Development and Emergency Support (STAR-TIDES) is about sharing information and knowledge.

The major lesson learned post-Iraq is that taking territory is one thing. Holding it and reconstruction are something else entirely. So, in the future as much focus needs to be put in to stabilising populations post invasion as goes in to the taking of territory. Housing and utilities are one aspect of this.

Technologies, like the SleepBreeze personal cooler, like fuel efficient stoves, and like easily constructed shelters, are relevant to STAR-TIDES because they are affordable, low power, effective and transportable.

We also have to recognise that the logistics and the cost of providing accommodation for military personnel is expensive, complex and in many cases dangerous things to provide. Shelters need cooling. This takes fuel. Fuel has to be transported and paid for. Fuel supplies are often targeted by insurgents, costing casualties. So, cooling techniques that can actually save fuel have the potential for releasing cost savings and reducing casualties.

At a time when the UK population is being urged to renew it's covenant with their military forces we are proud to be offering a piece of technology which will go some small way to improving the lot of our service personnel when serving in hot climates.

AFCEA International, established in 1946, is a non-profit membership association serving the military, government, industry, and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, information technology, intelligence, and global security.