This is Randi with another Postcard from Abroad from the KU Center for East Asian Studies and the Kansas African Studies Center.

What do you do when the lions from Nairobi National Park here in Kenya are eating your father’s cattle at night? You scare the lions by making them believe that you’re outside, while you’re really asleep in your bed. Thanks to Richard Turere, this is not as hard as it sounds. When he was 11 years old, Turere, noticed that lions were afraid of his moving flashlight. He rigged up bulbs from a flashlight, connected them to a motorcycle signal indicator box and powered them to flash in sequence using a car battery charged with a solar panel. That sent the lions running. His invention is sustainable, doesn’t involve guns and practically guarantees a good night’s sleep. His bright idea is featured in a popular TED talk and is now used by over 75 households. You might say Turere has added a whole new dimension to the word “pride.”

With thanks to Mackenzie Jones for this text, from the KU Center for East Asian Studies, this is Randi Hacker. Wish you were here.