Lifeline to Africa

*  Nearly 2 billion people in the world, approximately 35% of the global population, still do not have electricity.

*  The areas in the world with the high levels of poverty also have the lowest levels of modern energy consumption.

*  People in least developed countries on average spend 6% of their income on batteries ($24/year) – if people in developed countries were to spend the same that would amount to $2331/year!
(excerpted from Freeplayenergy.com).

I first discovered the Freeplay Foundation when I was writing a post on the Freeplay crank/solar-powered radio that I own.  The Freeplay Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian organization that supplies the Lifeline Radio (pictured here) to those in developing countries, giving them a "lifeline" of information and education they would otherwise lack.  You can donate a Lifeline Radio for only $70 U.S. Dollars to places like Rwanda and Afghanistan.  Also, CEO, Kristine Pearson, has been named one of TIME magazine's Heroes of the Environment for 2007!

For a limited time (Jan. 22-Feb 1), the Freeplay Foundation and  will eBay be auctioning off ten Lifeline radios (which are not available to the public).  The radios will be autographed by Tom Hanks and will be accompanied by a personal letter from the actor himself.  All of the dollars raised, including $15,000 donated by eBay, will go directly to the Freeplay Foundation.

People can go to www.ebay.com or can click on www.shopvictoriously.com to place their bids.