| What: |
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen presents a $2.4 million check to the Western Hemisphere Information Exchange (WHIX) Program, a partnership between the Applied Research Center at Florida International University, U.S. Southern Command and the Department of the Army. The WHIX Program is designed to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Western Hemisphere by using renewable energy and environmental technologies to facilitate information exchange.
The event will include a demonstration of technologies WHIX has developed for various countries, including solar-powered water purification units destined for El Salvador in the near future and micro-hydro turbines, slated for Peru in May. The $2.4 million in congressional funding that Ros-Lehtinen will present will be used for renewable energy systems that will sustain a mobile medical hospital in Latin America. |
| Who: |
In June 2003, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Environment initiated a four-year, $2.8 million project to develop the WHIX program with the support of FIU, and through the years Congress has directed additional funding to support its projects. WHIX began as a way to promote information exchange between the U.S. Army and the military organizations of the Western Hemisphere, and has grown to include Ministries of Agriculture, Energy, Economy, Tourism, and Defense, as well as disaster response agencies, private organizations, other government organizations and Universities. In many cases, the program provides the first comprehensive opportunity for ministries in a country to outline a strategic plan for sustainable energy and environmental development.
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| When: |
Tuesday, March 25. The demonstration begins at 10:30 a.m. |
| Where: |
FIU’s Engineering Campus, 10555 W. Flagler Street. The demonstration will take place in the open grass area beside EC 2100. The best arrival is to approach the campus on 107th Avenue. The main EC 2100 building will be on your right side. Continue straight ahead between a small building on your left side and the main EC 2100 building on your right. The canopy for the event will be on your left side, just past the small building and before you get to the parking lot behind EC 2100. Park in the lot behind EC 2100. |
| For More Information: |
Contact Jerry Miller, associate director for military programs at FIU’s Applied Research Center, 305-348-6623. |