Tom Raftery's Weekly Tech for Good Newsletter - Issue #34

It's Wednesday again - later this week than usual (again!) because it is another busy week. In good news, I received an appointment for my first Covid shot for this coming Friday, so that rocks!!!By the way, if you prefer to read this email online in a browser, click here to see this issue, and all back issues of this newsletter

It's Wednesday again - later this week than usual (again!) because it is another busy week. In good news, I received an appointment for my first Covid shot for this coming Friday, so that rocks!!!

By the way, if you prefer to read this email online in a browser, click here to see this issue, and all back issues of this newsletter

Anyway, on to the stories...

Tech for Good stories of the week

If you have enough money, now you too can go to space. Or soon enough. Sir Richard Branson's spaceplane completes the first of three key test flights above New Mexico.

A Dutch court has ruled that Royal Dutch Shell must reduce its carbon emissions 45% by 2030 in a landmark climate decision that could have far reaching consequences for oil companies. Shell rather than embracing the ruling like a good corporate citizen, immediately said it will appeal the ruling. Talk about squandering an opportunity 🤦🏼‍♂️

I am not a fan of American's (and Canadian's and Aussies, in fairness) obsession with big pickup trucks. These devices are ridiculously wasteful, as well as being dangerous, but I guess if people are going to buy them, I guess it is good to give them a fully electric option

Mercedes-Benz AG says it is the first car manufacturer to take an equity stake in Swedish start-up H2 Green Steel (H2GS) as a way to introduce CO2 free steel into series production

Quantum computers are definitely getting closer to commercial grade, and the will usher in huge advances (esp in things like material sciences)

This is incredible - the patient was completely blind before the treatment - now he can see and count objects on a table.

A new use for sniffer dogs at airports? The study in London used six enthusiastic dogs in a double-blind trial

Digital Supply Chain (DSC) podcast

On the Digital Supply Chain podcast this last week:

  • In episode 3 of the Industry 4 on Fridays series I look into the role of standards, standards organizations, and open source in Industry 4.0 with Erich Clauer. Erich is Vice President, Head of Industry Standards & Open Source, so he's is uniquely qualified to delve into this. Check out that episode here

  • Supply chain disruption is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Whether it is cracks in the Hernando do Soto bridge, ships getting stuck in the Suez Canal, or global pandemics, supply chains need to be more agile than ever. To talk through some of the implications of this I invited Mike Snape of SAP partner company Oliver Wight to come on the podcast and chat about this with myself and Claus Jensen. Mike and Claus went deep into how Integrated Business Planning can help organisations. You can check out that episode here

Climate 21 podcast

On the Climate 21 podcast earlier today I talked with

  • the founder and CEO of the electric motorsports Formula E and Extreme E championships Alejandro Agag. This was a fascinating chat about why Alejandro set up the two motorsports, how they are net zero emissions, and the legacy program they have. You should check it out (click here)

Chart of the Week

Vietnam has grown its solar resources from a standing start in a few short years to now become the 7th largest solar country in the world, essentially leapfrogging old thermal generation to go straight to renewables.

Wednesday whimsy

This one is pretty self explanatory. I thought it was funny!

And finally...

Thanks for your interest and attention. If you like this newsletter, tell a friend. Heck tell all your friends!

And, if you have any comments/questions/suggestions on how to make it better, feel free to let me know :)

Have a great rest of your week

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