By Peter C. Kalebwe, Physics Department, University of Zambia P O Box 32379, Lusaka. Zambia.
Email:pkalebwe@natsci.unza.zm,
Fax: 260-1-253952
ABSTRACT: Total solar Eclipse expeditions for both scientific and touristic reasons have gained ground in recent years. This is largely due to the fact that solar eclipses still offer unique opportunities for exploring the solar corona because of the suppressed background photospheric emission(1). However, an increasing number of people chase the shadow just for the fun of it and for new experiences. This group of people finds the total eclipse of the Sun highly exciting and profoundly moving (2).
The first total solar eclipse of the Third Millenium takes place on the afternoon of Thursday the 21st day of June, 2001. It begins in the South Atlantic about 400 kilometers southeast of Uruguay(3). Over the African continental landmass, the Moon's shadow passes over Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar. Of the five countries lying under totality, Zambia is bound to attract more visitors since it is the only country to have its capital city, Lusaka, lying under totality. Another factor qualifying Zambia as the primary destination is the relative peace that the nation has enjoyed since independence in 1964(4).
This paper discusses the plans that are being effected to attract as many visitors as possible to view the eclipse on Zambian soil on one hand and to ensure that the event is a success on the other. In addition, the paper discusses the scientific links and collaboration that the Physics department of the University of Zambia is likely to enter into before, during and after the eclipse.
INTRODUCTION
The idea to start preparations for the 2001 total solar eclipse was prompted by a request sent by the Astronomy working group Wetzeler e.V in Germany to the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Bonn. The Ambassador in turn sent the request to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Zambia. The Vice-Chancellor then asked the members of staff of the department of physics to study the request and respond to it. The department of physics had just assembled the Working Group on Space science and Technology the previous month. The Chairman of the Working Group was asked to start gathering information about the eclipse. Most of the information obtained was from Fred Espenak's website http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html.The site was discovered in the July 1999 issue of the Khagol astronomy magazine which the department received from the Inter- University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA),India (5). It was noticed that there was a high likelihood of a number of scientific expeditions making way to Zambia to view the eclipse. The initial effort was therefore given to organize for the expected scientific work to be carried out in Zambia. However, further examination revealed that not only scientists would be attracted to come for the eclipse event , but other eclipse chasers as well. In fact a discussion with tourist agencies in Lusaka showed that almost all the hotels in town had been booked by the eclipse travellers. As a result of these developments, the Working Group decided to include a number of organizations and institutions to assist in the preparations. Notable among these were the hotel and catering association of Zambia (HCAZ), United Taxis and Transport Association of Zambia (UTTA), the Department of immigration, the Zambia Revenue Authority and many more. A proposal was then advanced to form what came to be known as the Eclipse Coordination Committee.
MAIN OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the Eclipse Coordination Committee is to prepare for the eclipse and to provide timely and reliable information to the would be eclipse chasers and to plan and carry out activities to sensitize the Zambian public about the event, its importance and the benefits it will bring to the country.
THE WORKING COMMITTEE
The first meeting of the Committee took place on the 4th of May, 2000. At that meeting, it was decided that steps be taken to inform government about the eclipse and the need to prepare adequately. Other issues looked at were those of power supply, security for the visitors, provision of meteorological data and the need to form a Secretariat to coordinate all matters related to the eclipse. The committee also resolved to organize for workshops and seminars on the eclipse and to send a representative to the proposed International Total Solar Eclipse Conference that was being organized in Antwerp, Belgium. The committee decided to hold first eclipse workshop on the 5th of July, 2000 at Chaminuka Lodge, Lusaka.
WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS.
The committee held the first workshop on the 5th of July, 2000. The Guest speaker was Professor Parkinson of the University of Sheffield Hallam University in the United Kingdom. From the government side, the Chief Executive of the Zambia National Tourist Board gave a presentation on the state of Tourism in Zambia. A number of issues were looked at during the workshop and a way forward was proposed. Professor Parkinson made other presentations to University students and lecturers and to the school pupils as well. His message stirred a lot of interest in the eclipse. In addition to this, the Professor was afforded the opportunity to talk to government officials including the Vice President of the Republic of Zambia. His message was well received.
WELCOMING PRE-ECLIPSE SITE INSPECTION TEAMS
A number of pre-eclipse site inspection teams have visited the
country. Their missions were made much easier through the
assistance of the eclipse committee members. Notable among
these teams were the following:
Fred Espenak and Gary Spears from NASA, USA
Dr Paul Maley and his wife from NASA,USA
Professor Jim Huddle and his travel agent from the US navy. The
professor established a link to do experiments with the staff of the
University of Zambia during the eclipse event.
Professor Takahashi of Meisei University Tokyo, Japan.
Professor Parkinson of Sheffield Hallam University in the UK.
As a result of the above visits, the following observing sites have been inspected and found to be good: The University of Zambia Sports grounds; Chaminuka lodge, Fringila and Chisamba lodges; Safari lodge, Lufupa and Moshi Camps in the Kafue National Park. This exercise of inspecting observing sites will continue and is expected to involve new sites.
PROVISION OF GEOGRAPHICAL MAPS
The committee has already helped in procuring geographical maps for the would be eclipse visitors. For example, maps for the lower Zambezi were bought and posted to Peter Tied in South Africa upon request. Peter Tied was writing a brochure for the Gateway magazine of South Africa. The same kind of request was received from Fred Espenak and was treated likewise. Infact, it had been noticed that the demand for maps would most likely shoot up as the eclipse period was approached. To this effect the Surveyor General's office has been advised to produce a lot of maps especially for the path of totality.
PROVISION OF METEOROLOGICAL DATA.
Almost all the people expected to come for the eclipse have asked about the weather conditions in Zambia. We have posted meteorological data for the whole month of June this year. Dr Mugara of the Meteorological Department has particularly been very active in this area. So far the data shows that Lusaka and indeed the whole path of totality in Zambia has almost 80% chance of scoring clear skies on the day of the eclipse (3).
SECURING ACCOMMODATION
The members of the Committee have been very active in assisting the would be eclipse visitors in securing accommodation where such a request was directed to them. Some of these visitors have actually traveled to Zambia to ensure their accommodation during the eclipse event. Others have just sent electronic mails requesting the Committee to look for accommodation on their behalf. A number of them have even paid deposits through the Committee. Virtually all hotel accommodation under the path of totality has been booked. But small dwellings in the form of guest houses and little lodges can still be found.
BOOKS ,VIDEO TAPES AND CDs
The Committee has received a number of books on the eclipse from the following sources:
NASA, " Total Solar Eclipse of 2001" by Fred Espenak and Jay
Anderson
" Totality:eclipses of the Sun" by Fred Espenak and others
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIED, "Investigating the eclipse" courtesy of
Prof.John H. Parkinson
VIDEO Tapes on previous eclipses
CDs from (a) the Astronomical League: Eclipses: Presentations
For Educators
(b) ESA/NASA: :SOHOUs The Dynamic Sun
GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION
Discussions between some Committee members and some government official indicated that the Government was willing to commit resources to support the eclipse coordination program provided sufficient information was given about the importance of the eclipse event and the benefits it was likely to bring to Zambia. Subsequent discussions convinced government and on 11th of August, 2000, an official meeting involving government officials and all members of the Eclipse Committee was held in Lusaka. It was organized by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism. As a way forward, The Permanent Secretary announced that his Ministry would take over the coordination for the eclipse. He further suggested that there was need to form a Secretariat from which all coordination activities to do with the eclipse would be directed. The Secretariat was to be based in town and would be headed by the Chief Executive of the Zambia National Tourist Board. He pointed out that it was the duty of the Secretariat to compile a list of resources required for the eclipse event.
THE SECRETARIAT
The idea of formation of the Secretariat was looked into by the Interim Organizing Committee which recommended to the Inter- Ministerial Committee of Permanent Secretaries that
There be a Secretariat responsible for organizing and hosting the 2001 Eclipse under following terms of reference:
To plan and implement activities relevant to the successful hosting of the eclipse event;
To draw up and recommend to the Inter-ministerial Committee of Permanent Secretaries, an activity based budget;
To carry out the expenditure of such funds as per approved budget for organizational purposes;
To provide rules and guidelines for participants involved in the event;
To both service and be answerable to the Inter-ministerial Committee of Permanent Secretaries
To form and coordinate with specialized sub-committees so as to ensure the successful implementation of their terms of reference within the framework of the main committee
To have jurisdiction and to coordinate with specialized sub- committees over matters related to
Transport
Accommodation
Security, immigration and customs
Safety aspects of observing the eclipse
Publicity and information
Training
Entertaiment
Finance and administration
It was also recommended that the Secretariat would be responsible for establishing sub-committees and for drawing their terms of reference
2. SUB-COMMITTEES AND THEIR TERMS OF REFERENCE
It was also recommended that the Secretariat would be responsible for establishing sub-committees and for drawing their terms of reference
INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To collect, synthesize, coordinate and produce information and publicity materials about the 2001 total solar eclipse and any other general information about Zambia;
To sensitize the public about the Eclipse event through a multifaceted campaign;
To act as the Public Relations Unit for the 2001 Eclipse;
To carry out awareness campaign about the safety aspects of observing the eclipse;
To issue statements on regulatory mechanisms for participating in and offering services during the eclipse period.
TRANSPORT SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To establish the transport capacity within Zambia for the eclipse period;
To register, regulate and coordinate transport requirements for the eclipse period;
To seek extra transport capacity if necessary ;
To mobilize specialized transport for emergencies.
ACCOMMODATION SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To establish accommodation capacity within the country for the eclipse period;
To register, regulate and coordinate accommodation requirements for the eclipse period;
To seek extra accommodation if necessary by way of erecting structures such as tents and chalets;
To identify and formalize establishment of public viewing sites.
ENTERTAINMENT AND CULTURE SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To arrange and coordinate provision of entertainment to the public before, during and after the eclipse;
To organize and coordinate performing Arts to educate the public about the eclipse through theatre;
To mobilize craftsmen and women to produce crafts for sale during the eclipse period;
To educate and sensitise the local people on the value of culture; what to sell and what not to sell.
SECURITY, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS SUB- COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To come up with the most appropriate customs and immigration procedures to be implemented during the eclipse period;
To come up with the most appropriate security measures and logistics to be implemented during the eclipse period
To mobilise specialized transport and equipment for emergencies
FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To draw up an activity based budget
To mobilise financial resources for the eclipse
To account for the monies raised for the eclipse
SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE
The functions of this committee were identified as follows:
To source appropriate solar viewers for the eclipse;
To provide information safety aspects of observing the eclipse for publicity purposes;
To provide required geographical and meteorological data;
PUBLIC OUTREACH CAMPAIGN
This has already started, though at a slow note but is expected to be in full swing since all the relevant committees have been officialized. It started by public lectures in a number places. Articles have been placed in the daily newspapers. Interviews have been done both on radio and television. The proposal to produce a local documentary (Zambia Information Services) on the eclipse has reached an advanced stage.
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COLLABORATION
A number of internationally reknown scientists have expressed to work with the Local staff at the University of Zambia. Examples are Professor Jay Pasachoff, an expert in research involving the solar corona; Professor Jim Huddle and others. Professor Huddle has already left some equipment in the department of Physics for use during the eclipse. It is hoped that space science programs will benefit greatly from the expected interaction.
CONCLUSION
Apart from what has been discussed so far, it must be noted that the Secretariat and all the sub-committees have been constituted. However, due to government inertia, the pace of doing things has been reduced but it is hoped that matters may improve immediately some funds are ploughed into the programme. Government has already noticed the importance of the event and the economic benefits it is bound to bring to the country and is willing to do everything possible to make sure the it is a success. Most of the work done so far has been on voluntary basis.
REFERENCES
S.R. Habbal, The Total Solar Eclipse of 1999: Opportunities for collaboration.
Proceedings of the Space Science Conference, 13-17 March, Malfraq, Jordan
2. Fred Espenak, Ken Willcox and Mark Littlemann; Totality: Eclipses of the Sun
3. Fred Espenak and Jay Anderson; The Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 June 21, a NASA publication.
4. Plan Your African Safari, by Fred Espenak and Jay Anderson, Sky and Telescope, Sepember, 2000.
Khagol, an IUCAA publication, no. 39 edited by T. Padmanabhan
The 2001 Total Solar Eclipse Over Zambia: Local Plan of Action
By
Peter C. Kalebwe
Physics Department
University of Zambia
P O Box 32379,
Lusaka. Zambia.
E- mail:pkalebwe@natsci.unza.zm
Fax: 260-1-253952
A paper presented at the International Solar Eclipse Conference in Antwerp Belgium, Oct. 14 - 15, 2000