The Total Solar Eclipse starts in Brazil, but can best be viewed in Western and Northern Africa and Turkey.
Rotary countries concerned are Ghana, Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Turkey.

Path of Totality Thanks to www.hermit.org

OUR HISTORY

A Total Solar Eclipse is a tremendous experience. Most people never ever manage to see one, let alone several. The big trouble, however, is the need of proper eye protection during the eclipse.

In 2001 Helena Hesselmark, social geographer, Rotary eClubOne and Bo Hesselmark, optometrist, RC of Klippan, district 2400, traveled to Zambia to inform about the Solar Eclipse of June 21 and to distribute eye protection glasses and shields to Secondary School students. Report can be seen at http://hem.passagen.se/luma/Zambia2001.htm

This was our 3rd Total Solar eclipse. The first one was in Sweden in 1954 which we both watched with our fathers through soothed glasses some 150 km north of where we lived. We were 15 and 16 years old and hadn't yet met each other.

The 2nd was in 1999 in Hungary where we observed the eclipse 70 km south of Budapest. This time we used factory made solar eclipse glasses and unused x-ray plates, exposed and developed that we had got from a dentist friend. The protection was as good as from factory made glasses and in our opinion the image was better, in a more soft reddish.

There and then we decided to go to Zambia to distribute protective devices as we found the most alarming facts in Hungary about lack of eye protection.

In 2001 we actually went to Zambia and with the absolute cooperation of RC of Lusaka Central we disposed of 30 000 protective devices.

Big plans for 2006 Total Solar Eclipse on March 29

Our ambitions are to coordinate teams of two Rotary Volunteers applying for Individual Grants to travel to each Rotary Country in the Totality path. These Rotary Volunteers will cooperate with Rotary Clubs in the target countries. The aim is to inform about the Total Solar Eclipse in Secondary Schools and to distribute protective eye wear for the eclipse. This is a way to eliminate eye damage during eclipse observations.

I have already contacted some Rotary Clubs in the Totality Path. I would be happy to get in contact with more, both clubs and individuals. It is my ambition to write more about this project, both project info and Solar Eclipse info.

It is important that preparations start NOW, it is a huge undertaking and a marvelous way to show the amplitude of Rotary as a service club organization.

Are YOU interested in serving as Rotary Volunteer in this proposed project, three years from now?

Is YOUR CLUB in the totality path? Would you like to participate?

CONTACT ME _ Helena Hesselmark