A FRENCH charity launched an appeal on Tuesday for the public to donate their throwaway protective glasses after Wednesday’s total solar eclipse, so that people in southern Africa can use them for the next eclipse, due in Africa in 2001. The charity Glasses for Africa hopes to be able to distribute the glasses free in Madagascar, Mozambique and Angola from where a total eclipse of the sun will be visible on June 21 2001. In Belgium, Oxfam has also invited eclipse-watchers to hand in their glasses after the event to any of 200 participating shops. The glasses, made with a cardboard rim and dark plastic film for lenses, are designed to allow the user to watch the eclipse without inflicting damage to the eyes.