tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10912678691427433992024-03-13T14:24:18.951-07:00Green GinaMother Nature is our best friend!Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-52405360158270747682009-10-23T18:19:00.005-07:002009-10-23T18:19:17.965-07:00Is Monsanto Unstoppable?<a href=http://shar.es/1BMfC>Is Monsanto Unstoppable?</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-13956750297723838322009-10-23T18:19:00.003-07:002009-10-23T18:19:17.507-07:00Is Monsanto Unstoppable?<a href=http://shar.es/1BMfC>Is Monsanto Unstoppable?</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-67676060454012700502009-10-23T18:19:00.001-07:002009-10-23T18:19:17.267-07:00Is Monsanto Unstoppable?<a href=http://shar.es/1BMfC>Is Monsanto Unstoppable?</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-35637538729891402262009-10-23T18:18:00.003-07:002009-10-23T18:18:55.997-07:00Is Monsanto Unstoppable?<a href=http://shar.es/1BMfC>Is Monsanto Unstoppable?</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-50786492805971368282009-10-23T18:18:00.001-07:002009-10-23T18:18:55.615-07:00Is Monsanto Unstoppable?<a href=http://shar.es/1BMfC>Is Monsanto Unstoppable?</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-21326947305902908102009-07-24T22:52:00.000-07:002009-07-24T23:31:13.787-07:00Biofuel Powered Rocket Reaches Speed of SoundBiofuels for airplanes are desperately needed. Every time an airplane flies carbon dioxide is emitted. According to <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/aviation">Greenpeace UK</a>, flying is ten times worse than traveling by train in terms of impact to the environment. A "significant proportion" of a plane's carbon dioxide emissions is at altitude, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization's <a href="http://www.icao.int/icao/en/env/aee.htm">Air Transport Bureau</a>.<br /><br />A biofueled rocket launched this summer in the Mohave Desert reached 20,000 feet and Mach 1, the speed of sound. The biofuel that powered the rocket is Jet Propellant-8 (JP-8), developed and produced by a team of scientists from the University of North Dakota’s Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC). The fuel was made from canola and soybean oils. The rocket was built by Flometrics, Inc. of San Diego, California.<br /><br />"This is a unique opportunity for the EERC's renewable fuel," <a href="http://www.undeerc.org/news/newsitem.aspx?id=345">said</a> EERC director Gerald Groenwold.<br /><br />Carsten Heide, associate director of the EERC <a href="http://gas2.org/2009/07/23/new-biofuel-could-lead-to-100-clean-flights/#more-3019">said</a>, "We demonstrated that this fuel is a flying fuel, and is 100% renewable and burns clean. It would open up the possibility to run 100% renewable, clean planes."<br /><br />"The demonstration worked very well, and were are pleased with the fuel. In fact, it performed better than expected," said Steve Harrington, President of Flometrics.Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-40200653058394463572009-07-24T16:53:00.001-07:002009-07-24T16:55:15.006-07:00Polish Health Clinic Becomes Energy EfficientA health clinic in Poland enacts energy efficiency measures.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gsPBbyXczNk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-9185705116148754572009-07-11T20:10:00.000-07:002009-07-11T21:12:10.115-07:00Small Island Nations Want Deeper Emissions Reductions<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_r8VUb9I7krwhlUID0z-SMxnpzx9w4ElWtkiklVv33RpaHgd47Y-K3yl15gg6D8yJXM5G8ZtJPsJJgwdanBqFQ8qV5mpJ0dzy0HE52klJUz3TO70GQo5eY2mW5foXpr_p-dkDx5ZT_fE/s1600-h/250px-Palau-rock-islands20071222.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 109px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI_r8VUb9I7krwhlUID0z-SMxnpzx9w4ElWtkiklVv33RpaHgd47Y-K3yl15gg6D8yJXM5G8ZtJPsJJgwdanBqFQ8qV5mpJ0dzy0HE52klJUz3TO70GQo5eY2mW5foXpr_p-dkDx5ZT_fE/s200/250px-Palau-rock-islands20071222.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357421415223420386" /></a>The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) criticized reductions set by G8 and Major Economies Forum (developing countries) in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> as too weak to protect small island nations from effects of climate change. </p><p>G8 nations and Major Economies Forum agreed to a 16 percent reduction by 2020, and to cap temperatures at 3.6 degrees Fahreinheit (two degrees Celsius) above 18<sup>th</sup> century levels.</p><p class="MsoNormal">AOSIS nations want a 45 reduction by 2020, an 85 percent reduction by 2050, and temperatures capped at 2.7 degrees Fahreinheit (1.5 degrees Celsius).</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Two degrees of temperature rise is still unacceptable, because it exceeds safe thresholds necessary for the protection and survival of small islands,” <a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2009-07-10-small-islands-want-deeper-emissions-cuts/">according to</a> <st1:place><st1:city>Dessima Williams</st1:city>, <st1:country-region>Grenada</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s U.N. ambassador and head of AOSIS.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Given the decades-long time lags between accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and changes in average temperatures, a mere temperature goal is insufficient,” Williams said. “Targets need to be specific, measurable, quantifiable and defined by reference to the 1990 baseline emissions agreed to under the Kyoto Protocol.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“It is a cruel irony that without adequate global commitments, the countries contributing least to global warming will be the ones most affected by its consequences,” Williams added.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Last September the representatives of four Pacific island nations (<st1:country-region><st1:place>Kiribati</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region><st1:place>Marshall Islands</st1:place></st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region><st1:place>Micronesia</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and <st1:country-region><st1:place>Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region>) called on developed countries to take specific action on climate change. <st1:country-region><st1:place>Kiribati</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s President Anote Tong <a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=28265&Cr=general+assembly&Cr1=debate">said</a> his country had to create a “long-term merit-based relocation strategy,” because there is the real the possibility that all 100,000 people in <st1:country-region><st1:place>Kiribati</st1:place></st1:country-region> might have to be relocated. </p><p class="MsoNormal">“This strategy involves the upskilling of our people to make them competitive and marketable at international labour markets,” Tong said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">President Litokwa Tomeing of the Marshall Islands, said, “ If wars have been waged to protect the rights of people to live in freedom, and to safeguard their security, why will they not be waged to protect our right to survive from the onslaught of climate change?”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">President Emanuel Mori of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Micronesia</st1:place></st1:country-region> said, “Already, many islands have experienced inundations of their taro patches and other food crops by saltwater, resulting in decreasing production and crop destruction.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Vice President Elias Camsek Chin of <st1:country-region><st1:place>Palau</st1:place></st1:country-region> characterized climate change as a security issue “which has gone unaddressed.” “In the meantime, we cannot wait,” Chin said.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>UN Secretary General Ban ki-moon <a href="http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/277002,small-island-states-criticize-2-degree-climate-cap.html">criticized</a> the two-degree target as “not sufficient.” “Much more needs to be done if governments are to seal the deal on a new climate agreement in December in <st1:city><st1:place>Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city>.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p>“The countries represented at <st1:city><st1:place>L'Aquila</st1:place></st1:city> are responsible for more than 80 per cent of global emissions, and that is why they bear special responsibility for finding a solution to the political impasse,” Ban said. “If they fail to act this year, they will have squandered a unique historical opportunity that may not come again.”</o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Related posts:</strong></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/us-expects-less-from-china.html">U.S. Expects Less From China</a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/wasted-opportunity.html">The Wasted Opportunity</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/developed-countries-needs-to-do-more.html">Developed Countries Need To Do More</a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/world-leaders-meet-for-talks-in-bonn.html">World Leaders Meet For Talks In Bonn</a></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-82491022713674638832009-07-08T22:10:00.000-07:002009-07-10T22:27:38.221-07:00Sulfur Dioxide Emissions Decreased Last Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMemVkYMUaYI5POifu6I34lqXTi-bLb-LI1QockoInNqNnE9xRPGfk_IG7UBEIxT20Riin1KVkKsbOrN-yHxkkojLf06DTHZprBtirP-Py9SFRsCQtaIkMAOT4UhOu_A1YvOSJivtHsDcy/s1600-h/180px-SSPX0347.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMemVkYMUaYI5POifu6I34lqXTi-bLb-LI1QockoInNqNnE9xRPGfk_IG7UBEIxT20Riin1KVkKsbOrN-yHxkkojLf06DTHZprBtirP-Py9SFRsCQtaIkMAOT4UhOu_A1YvOSJivtHsDcy/s200/180px-SSPX0347.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356324979096910626" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">When it comes to the environment, any good news is welcomed. Thankfully, there is a bit of good news these days when it comes to sulfur dioxide emissions (SOx). During the first half of 2008, SOx emissions from <st1:country-region><st1:place>U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> power plants dropped c24 percent, according to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5655EL20090706?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews">Genscape</a>, who attributes the reduction to the electricity industry preparing for stricter regulations next year. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions decreased five percent in May and eleven percent in June, mainly because of the recession.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">"The industry is clearly going through a dress rehearsal for the implementation of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) in 2010, and judging by allowance prices as well as the fundamental data, it is a stellar performance," Genscape said. “Most of the decline in sulfur emissions is not due to the recession or even to the switch from high-sulfur coal to lower sulfur grades and to gas. It makes sense to start cutting emissions early if the equipment is in place… The challenge for producers is to maintain discipline even as the economy recovers.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Industrial emissions elevate levels of sulfur dioxide, which are then absorbed into plants and soils, captured below and within clouds, and then cause acid rain. <a href="http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Jan08/acidrain.climate.aa.html">According</a> to Greg Lawrence, a water scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, acid rain and climate change are “closely associated.” <st1:city><st1:place>Lawrence</st1:place></st1:city> believes acid rain need to be studied with climate change.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;">“</span></span>Even low concentrations of sulfur dioxide can harm plants and trees and reduce crop productivity. Higher levels, and especially the acidic deposits from acid rain, will adversely affect both land and water ecosystems,” <a href="http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/77.html#env-whateffect">according</a> to <st1:country-region><st1:place>Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s National Pollutant Inventory.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-15496725981784949352009-07-08T15:09:00.000-07:002009-07-08T15:25:04.204-07:00Senate Democrats Push for a Climate Change Bill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKDQJBe4aL8qU_S71iPS9fhUF-CRONAGR0D8thMmaviTWTjeaAUt2_lllvbI-RxjoDmwuJX98OPpcU-TUUML4_8P3XPcKMfnZwOS6d8H0X6De6iGV1Kc8bulg66AW45p1NXhTnYzc0afp/s1600-h/300px-Wolfsburg_VW-Werk.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKDQJBe4aL8qU_S71iPS9fhUF-CRONAGR0D8thMmaviTWTjeaAUt2_lllvbI-RxjoDmwuJX98OPpcU-TUUML4_8P3XPcKMfnZwOS6d8H0X6De6iGV1Kc8bulg66AW45p1NXhTnYzc0afp/s200/300px-Wolfsburg_VW-Werk.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356217760544471314" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">On June 25, the House passed the American Climate and Energy Security (ACES) Act by a 219 to 212 vote. ACES calls for a <span style="color:black;">17 percent cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels, and an 83 percent reduction by 2050. Yesterday, <a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idINTRE56671G20090707">Senate Democrats</a> in Senate began to push a Senate the climate change bill.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The House bill (ACES) calls for a <span style="color:black;">17 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020 from 2005 levels, and an 83 percent reduction by 2050. It would create a cap-and-trade program which would require </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color:black;">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color:black;"> industries to purchase emissions permits.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some environmental groups criticized ACES. <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/greenpeace-waxman-markey-clim">Greenpeace</a> called it a piece of legislation “already in need of improvement when first released as a discussion draft in March and has become severely worse.” Phil Radford, Greenpeace USA Executive Director, issued the following statement about the House bill:<span style="background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow"><br /><br /></span></p><blockquote>“Despite the best efforts of Chairman Waxman, this bill has been seriously undermined by the lobbying of industries more concerned with profits than the plight of our planet. While science clearly tells us that only dramatic action can prevent global warming and its catastrophic impacts, this bill has fallen prey to political infighting and industry pressure. We cannot support this bill in its current state. We call on President Obama and leaders in Congress to get back to work and produce a bill, based on science, which presents a clear road map for significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transforms our economy with clean, renewable energy technology, generates new green jobs and shows real leadership internationally.”</blockquote><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Friends of the Earth (FOE) <a href="http://www.foe.org/waxman-markey-strips-epa-clean-air-act-authority-fight-global-warming">criticized</a> ACES because it would eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency’s current authority to reduce GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act. FOE called the cap-and-trade system ACES would create “flawed,” and stated that it would “undermine investment in technology development.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">FOE also criticized ACES for lacking “significant penalties for corporations that violate it,” unlike the Clean Air Act. If the cap-and-trade system experiences problems, “the EPA will not be allowed to step into the breach.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">David Hamilton of the Sierra Club questioned the effectiveness of ACES cap-and-trade system, but hoped that environmental groups would be successful in pushing for a better Senate bill. "Do, at some point, we try to bank what the politics allows?" <st1:city><st1:place>Hamilton</st1:place></st1:city> <a href="http://current.com/items/90293537_climate-change-activists-dismayed-by-some-of-bills-provisions.htm">said</a>. "Our judgment in this case is that we're going to keep trying with the bill" in the Senate.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Frank O’Donnell of the Clean Air Watch said “We’re saying it sure as heck ought to get better in the Senate, or it’s going to be a sorry day.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Democratic House members who voted for the bill expressed their objections to it. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH) <a href="http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=134813">said</a>, in a statement, ACES “might make the problem worse.” He listed aspects of the bill he thinks are problematic:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol><li>Overall targets are too weak.</li><li>The offsets undercut the emission reductions.</li><li>It delays significant emissions reductions.</li><li>EPA’s authority to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the short- to medium-term is rescinded.</li><li>Nuclear power is given a lifeline instead of phasing it out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li><li>Dirty Coal is given a lifeline instead of phasing it out.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li><li>The $60 billion allocated for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) is triple the amount of money for basic research and development in the bill.</li><li>Carbon markets can and will be manipulated using the same Wall Street sleights of hand that brought us the financial crisis.</li><li>It is regressive. Free allocations doled out with the intent of blunting the effects on those of modest means will pale in comparison to the allocations that go to polluters and special interests.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></li><li>The Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) is not an improvement. The 15% RES standard would be achieved even if we failed to act.</li><li>Dirty energy options qualify as “renewable.”</li><li>It undermines our bargaining position in international negotiations in <st1:city><st1:place>Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city> and beyond.</li><li>International assistance is much less than demanded by developing countries.</li></ol><o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Tex.) issued a statement saying he couldn't support the bill as written because “it is too weak to greatly spur new technologies and green jobs.”</p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-82242987340756765432009-07-05T18:18:00.000-07:002009-07-05T18:59:29.280-07:00What is a Lifestyle Media Company?<p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">A new <a href="http://www.pwc.com/extweb/pwcpublications.nsf/docid/09FC84CC497D1569852570F800723E7A">approach</a> to consumers is needed, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) where consumers are helped to “<span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black">maximize their limited time and attention to create a rich, personalized, and social media environment.” PWC calls the approach lifestyle media.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">PWC published a <a href="http://www.pwc.com/techforecast/pdfs/LifestyleMedia-web-x.pdf">report</a> about lifestyle media in 2006. The report listed two components which a company needs to achieve the goal of lifestyle media: new content distribution models that put consumers in control, and scalable data about what consumers are watching, doing, and creating. Companies that take the lifestyle media approach “will become viable consumer gateways,” according to the report.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Examples of lifestyle media companies</b></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A few months ago I searched for aluminum reusable water bottles, and discovered the company, <a href="http://www.gaiam.com">Gaiam</a>. Calling itself a “lifestyle media company,” <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;">Gaiam</span></b> sells more than just aluminum water bottle, but fitness wear and equipment, DVDs, books, bedding, and home décor. Its media titles are sold in Target, Whole Foods Market and Best Buy</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Founded in 1988, the <st1:place><st1:city>Boulder</st1:city>, <st1:state>Colorado</st1:state></st1:place> based company took its name from a fusion of the word Gaia (which means mother earth) and I am. Seven years ago it coined the term Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS). The acronym, LOHAS is now commonly used by everything from Business Week to environmental websites.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gaiam’s <a href="http://corporate.gaiam.com/crp_aboutmission.asp?Type=about">business model</a> has three “concentric circles” which include content (information), offerings (products), and channels (communicate with customers). Its code of ethics is the following:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>Say what we mean and stand for what is right.</li><li>Be honest and trustworthy in all of our activities, relationships and communications.</li><li>Foster an atmosphere in which fair employment practices extend to every member of the Gaiam community. </li><li>To ensure that we treat one another with dignity and respect, appreciating the diversity and uniqueness of all of our members.</li><li>Strive to create a safe and supportive workplace, promote healthy lifestyles, foster and encourage personal development, and protect the environment and all living things.</li><li>Through leadership at all levels, sustain a culture where ethical conduct is recognized, valued and exemplified by all employees.</li><li>Understand and obey the applicable laws and regulations governing our business conduct in all of the jurisdictions in which we operate.</li></ul><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Gaiam also maintains a blog on its website, called <a href="http://blog.gaiam.com/">Stream of Consciousness</a>. The blog contains articles about mind-body fitness, health and wellness, green living, and personal growth.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#006600;"><b>Scripps Networks</b></span> launched HGTV in 1994, and currently has other televisions networks, including Food, DIY, Fine Living, and Great American Country (GAC). The company also publishes books and magazines, and maintains websites.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Scripps Networks has the following core values:</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol><li>Diversity</li><li>Clarity in communication</li><li>Integrity</li><li>Compassion/support</li><li>Work/life balance</li><li>Openness</li><li>Humor</li></ol><p></p> <p></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-58432089696021337232009-07-01T03:47:00.000-07:002009-07-01T03:59:17.028-07:00Obama Gives Thumbs Up to Clean Energy<p>Yesterday, President Obama <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/31614619#31614619">talked</a> about creating a "clean energy economy," and touted the American Climate and Energy Security (ACES) Act, passed lastFriday by the House. ACES will create a cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by auctioning offsets.</p><p>Watch the following video of Obama's press conference:</p><br /><div><iframe height="339" width="425" src="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/31614619#31614619" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><p style="font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center; width: 425px;">Visit msnbc.com for <a style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/">Breaking News</a>, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032507" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">World News</a>, and <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032072" style="text-decoration:none !important; border-bottom: 1px dotted #999 !important; font-weight:normal !important; height: 13px; color:#5799DB !important;">News about the Economy</a></p></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-56602019518021889342009-06-18T20:12:00.000-07:002009-06-18T20:21:16.949-07:00What Can Renters and Homeowners Do to be More Energy Efficient?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7FmMElOmfktDqvdy9-H61hJW23dZNJbWVIDQEKsuBcjYv8zi20co2kcopQY5fQJHUZKpddN8XNORxlhocFVZNOWzDYYnxonGOuF3__5E3kROCzIRxAtQ-OQ3X8ptOCRYOskDs8nG8mn4/s1600-h/180px-CompactFluorescentLightBulb.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7FmMElOmfktDqvdy9-H61hJW23dZNJbWVIDQEKsuBcjYv8zi20co2kcopQY5fQJHUZKpddN8XNORxlhocFVZNOWzDYYnxonGOuF3__5E3kROCzIRxAtQ-OQ3X8ptOCRYOskDs8nG8mn4/s320/180px-CompactFluorescentLightBulb.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348873451262188178" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A senior consultant, Kendra Tupper, with the Rocky Mountain Institute conducted an online chat at </span></span><a href="http://www.greenopolis.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Greenopolis.org</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> today. When asked about energy efficiency, Tupper, an expert on the subject, listed simple things both renters and homeowners can do. Here are Tupper’s recommendations:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For renters</span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></p><blockquote><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tenant Fit Out: When you are first fitting out a space, the renter or tenant can choose materials and finishes which are environmentally friendly and have low embodied energy.</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lighting: One of the biggest electricity consumers in office spaces is lighting - this is something the tenants can often retrofit themselves. Look for third generation T8, efficient electronic ballasts, and occupancy sensors and daylight controls (where applicable).</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Submetering: Request that your space be submetered (this is most successful if negotiated during the fit out). Even if the tenant has to pay for this, you can often recoup the cost if your able to negotiate utlity billing based on submetering, rather than building wide metering. With this scenario, you realize the cost paybacks of your retrofits.</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cooperate with landlord: Offer to share the up front cost (and utility savings) with your landlord. Lease renogiations are a good time to address collaborative projects, and you can structure the lease to align incentives to make efficiency upgrades.</span></span></li></ol></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For homeowners</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"></span></span></span></p><blockquote><ol><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Programmable thermostats</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Energy efficient window shades - thermal or insulated window coverings can add up to R6 to your windows</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Seal ductwork with mastic tape to prevent leakage</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Weatherstripping, window caulking, and foam barriers behind electric outlet plates to prevent infiltration</span></span></li><li><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clean refrigerator coils - these should be cleaned twice a year as dust build up prevents the condenser from operating</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shade the condensing unit of your AC unit - this maintains a low temp for the condensing unit and it will run more efficiently</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Insulate hot water tank and pipes</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lower the temperature on your DHW tank to reduce heat loss - it shouldn't be set higher than 110F</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Plant deciduous trees on the west and south side of the house to block solar heat gain</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Turn off power strips when plug loads are not being used</span></span></li></ol></blockquote><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></span></span><p></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-14037518456775194602009-06-17T19:04:00.000-07:002009-06-17T19:12:45.376-07:00U.S. Expects Less from China<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZiB_Jt0fWNwC1ttYZvFUSpSQB_0KVLs7SNhnYZyG8bEz0lMd0Em1Fxl6KUjMCS1MKuv9Mw3gQL34sHS9faHTbHAhxvNjElUHLOGsLHDxP87X2piYxom5uW3MtLIFIHRZES_Z3uCts52W/s1600-h/China_administrative.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZiB_Jt0fWNwC1ttYZvFUSpSQB_0KVLs7SNhnYZyG8bEz0lMd0Em1Fxl6KUjMCS1MKuv9Mw3gQL34sHS9faHTbHAhxvNjElUHLOGsLHDxP87X2piYxom5uW3MtLIFIHRZES_Z3uCts52W/s320/China_administrative.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348484625053112930" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last week a </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S.</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> delegation meet in </span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Beijing</span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with Chinese officials to talk about the next climate change treaty. Dr. Jonathan Pershing, head of the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S.</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> delegation, </span></span><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0613/1224248769511.html?digest=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">said</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> that developed countries “would take additional action in line with their historical responsibility and capacity,” than developing countries.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“Our intention is to get an agreement we can bring home and have ratified, and we’re pretty optimistic about that,” Pershing said. “</span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">US</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> engagement has changed the dynamic of the conversation here. That’s the kind of shift the world community has been waiting for.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Todd Stern said that </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is not expected to “take a national cap at this stage.” The U.S is instead expecting </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to continue its efforts to increase energy efficiency and develop renewable energy, “so that </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">’s emissions can grow slower and start to come down eventually.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“We understand </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">'s paramount need to grow and develop for its people,” Stern said. “Our demand is that the development, with the available technologies, is based on low-carbon growth.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Daniel Dudek, chief economist with the Environmental Defense Fund, </span></span><a href="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2009-06/11/content_8272942.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">said</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, “People, I think, are really trying to understand the negotiating territory and what is in the art of the possible between the two nations," Dudek told China Daily. He added that the </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S.</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> may eventually expect more from </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqianq </span></span><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/08/content_11509757.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">told</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Stern during their meeting, “</span></span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> has noticed the change of the </span></span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S.</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> government on climate change as well as the positive measures it has taken.”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stern </span></span><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/events/2009/06/av/stern_remarks.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">spoke</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> on June 3 at the Center for American Progress. During the speech he made it clear that reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will not be possible “if we don’t find a way forward with </span></span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">China</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.”</span></span></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stern made it clear that developing countries, including China, will “do not need to take the same actions that developed countries are taking, but they do need to take significant national actions that… are ambitious enough to be broadly consistent with the lessons of science.”</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Watch the video of Stern's speech:</span></span></p><object width="400" height="300" data="http://www.americanprogress.org/images/rd2/flash/flowplayer.commercial-3.0.5.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"><param name="movie" value="http://www.americanprogress.org/images/rd2/flash/flowplayer.commercial-3.0.5.swf"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="config={"key":"#@fae15a997f67f7892e5","clip":{"autoPlay":false,"autoBuffering":false,"url":"http://images2.americanprogress.org/CAP/2009/06/060309_Stern.mp4"},"playlist":[{"autoPlay":false,"autoBuffering":false,"url":"http://images2.americanprogress.org/CAP/2009/06/060309_Stern.mp4"}]}"></object>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-24353781798522954542009-06-17T15:00:00.001-07:002009-06-17T15:05:38.006-07:00Watch This Video and Pass It On<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The environmental group, </span></span><a href="http://www.350.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">350.org</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is asking everyone to take part in actions on October 24 to raise awareness about climate change. Watch the short video by 350.org, and then pass it on:</span></span><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dqof641pWys&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dqof641pWys&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-58649912644961076572009-06-16T00:52:00.000-07:002009-06-16T01:16:07.396-07:00The Wasted Opportunity<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZgmTzs_C-eGUUNQXpuQb_ePC2L4DSgBqRal0genuTzxyUd-2rZwjUVMP8gk_kstQ0nRywr47nyCrO6tdp8HCS3xkm5688v1oNWhwSyw5TDE68r4iVeCMQGbmGa8jwLe3wGp2nry_H794/s1600-h/180px-Grangemouth04nov06.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZgmTzs_C-eGUUNQXpuQb_ePC2L4DSgBqRal0genuTzxyUd-2rZwjUVMP8gk_kstQ0nRywr47nyCrO6tdp8HCS3xkm5688v1oNWhwSyw5TDE68r4iVeCMQGbmGa8jwLe3wGp2nry_H794/s320/180px-Grangemouth04nov06.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347836184209797218" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In 1977 a physicist named Amory Lovins published an essay in Foreign Affairs titled, Energy Strategy: The Rood Not Taken. According to Lovins, there were two paths the U.S. could take in regards to energy. The first path would be a continuance of burning fossil fuels. Lovins wrote, "The commitment to a long-term coal economy many times the scale of today's makes the doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration early in the next century virtually unavoidable, with the prospect then or soon thereafter of substantial and perhaps irreversible changes in global climate."</span></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is now 2009 and last year carbon dioxide concentrations were 386 parts per minute (ppm). Both NASA scientist, James Hansen and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) use 450 ppm as the "no return point," when it will be impossible to reverse climate change. The U.S. wasted three decades when it could have been developing renewable energy, and implementing energy efficiency measures. During those decades, fossil fuels continued to be the only source of energy and vehicle fuel. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now we are at a crucial point where reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a necessity if we want to avoid "irreversible changes to the global climate." In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denamark to hammer out a new climate change protocol. Let's hope the world will not waste the opportunity to truly combat climate change.</span></span></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-4019454680763952712009-06-15T19:54:00.000-07:002009-06-15T20:03:26.543-07:00Introducing Hybrid American Chestnut Trees Could Reduce Carbon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7kXnuij4xqZ0qvSdhm8CSXA0HnYfbtFOca00vSh_o_7cVRIygfWEFPQCJZUHBEA5noOzhYBZ-T21JE3KoTdrKF0owmgchTGtri27Nkt8IuCJwVLQeohPkDQi5AjWefTVwVGhVRu7BYOF/s1600-h/90px-Ch%C3%A2taigner_(Castanea_sativa)_JPG01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 90px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7kXnuij4xqZ0qvSdhm8CSXA0HnYfbtFOca00vSh_o_7cVRIygfWEFPQCJZUHBEA5noOzhYBZ-T21JE3KoTdrKF0owmgchTGtri27Nkt8IuCJwVLQeohPkDQi5AjWefTVwVGhVRu7BYOF/s320/90px-Ch%C3%A2taigner_(Castanea_sativa)_JPG01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347753675034315474" /></a><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Introducing a hybrid of the American chestnut tree would accomplish two things: bring back the almost extinct species, and reduce carbon emissions, according to a </span></span><st1:place><st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Purdue</span></span></st1:placename><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><st1:placetype><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">University</span></span></st1:placetype></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> study. American chestnuts grow faster and larger than other hardwood trees, allowing them to capture more carbon.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Douglass Jacobs, author of the study and a associate professor of forestry and natural resources, </span></span><a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090610154457.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">said</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, “The American chestnut is an incredibly fast-growing tree. Generally the faster a tree grows, the more carbon it is able to sequester. And when these trees are harvested and processed, the carbon can be stored in the hardwood products for decades, maybe longer.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Chestnuts almost disappeared 50 years ago because of a fungus. The new hybrid is 94 percent American chestnut combined with a more blight-resistant Chinese chestnut. “We're really quite close to having a blight-resistant hybrid that can be reintroduced into eastern forests,” Jacobs said. “But because American chestnut has been absent from our forests for so long now, we really don't know much about the species at all.</span></span></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-1455669601341910012009-06-13T16:32:00.000-07:002009-06-13T17:01:11.891-07:00Why the World Needs Less Deforestation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAmfiScZdF3V3Xvj-NBfbFQEUaRrnH4wi_fA2jDNPuRkB5pKns3c4awoxlq_n1R6mUX-EtudIFzA4TQN4cm_adWueko13GTp_IwgbaQ-D74twkOLs9JxVM9Q0rlLO6j-gCjvmKRWiFdTd/s1600-h/140px-Muir_woods_redwoods.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 140px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAmfiScZdF3V3Xvj-NBfbFQEUaRrnH4wi_fA2jDNPuRkB5pKns3c4awoxlq_n1R6mUX-EtudIFzA4TQN4cm_adWueko13GTp_IwgbaQ-D74twkOLs9JxVM9Q0rlLO6j-gCjvmKRWiFdTd/s200/140px-Muir_woods_redwoods.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346965284987866370" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During the climate talks in Bonn, Germany on June 9, activists issued a </span></span><a href="http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0609-forest_coalition.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">consensus statement</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> about halting deforestation and industrial logging. The statement called for the "“effective adoption and implementation...of the Rights to Free Prior and Informed Consent of Indigenous Peoples and local forest dependent communities.</span></span><span style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; ">The statement also called for the following:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li>Monoculture tree plantations should not be established and managed, “including genetically modified tree plantations, and the practice of industrial logging from these policies.”</li><li>The <st1:city><st1:place>Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city> protocol should include “measures to reduce consumption of forest products, especially in the Industrialized North.”</li><li>Developed countries must make “immediate and drastic cuts in their domestic greenhouse gas emissions.” The statement called for a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020, and a 95 percent reduction by 2050.</li><li>Developed countries must provide “sufficient financial and technological support to enable developing countries to halt the destruction of forests and other ecosystems.”</li><li>The <st1:city><st1:place>Copenhagen</st1:place></st1:city> protocol should exclude “any form of carbon offsetting, including CDM afforestation/reforestation and REDD offset projects.</li></ul> <p></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">”The Nature Conservancy released a </span></span><a href="http://www.nature.org/initiatives/protectedareas/files/tnc_degradation_policy_brief_lowres.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">report</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> titled Don’t Forget the Second ‘D’ about the impact of forest degredation. According to the report, GHG emissions from forest degredation are at least 30 percent of all emissions from the forest sector.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The report listed strategies for reducing GHG emissions from forest degredation:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Reduced impact logging—Techniques such as directional felling and cutting of vines from trees…studies indicate that RIL methods may reduce carbon emissions per unit of wood extracted by 30 to 50 percent</span></span></li><li><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forest</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> certification—Certification from groups like </span></span><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forest</span></span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Stewardship Council (FSC) help reduce carbon emissions</span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Integrated Fire Management (IFM)—Evaluates and balances the risks of fire with the “beneficial or necessary ecological”</span></span></li></ul><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A </span></span><a href="http://www.globalwitness.org/media_library_detail.php/763/en/vested_interests_industrial_logging_and_carbon_in_tropical_forests"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">report</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> by Global Witness looked at the impact of deforestation on the environment. Old growth primary forests continue to "grow and sequester carbon from the atmosphere," the report stated, and are not carbon neutral. It can takes centuries for replanted forests to regain their previous carbon levels.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"My major concern is that until we talk about these demand issues in a meaningful way, we aren't talking about a real solution," Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) Forest Campaigns Director Andrea Johnson </span></span><a href="http://news.mongabay.com/2009/0605-degradation.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">said</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See other articles about deforestations:</span></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/unep-report-calls-for-ecosystems.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">UNEP Calls for Ecosystems Management</span></span></a></o:p></p></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-3449716160585018762009-06-12T20:05:00.000-07:002009-06-12T20:19:40.791-07:00Environmental Legislators Call for a Green Fund<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UjxlCaUf1VJOhq3WRulPnFRXtG8yH2i_2K9ma6TTjwDlp4QcLVscadryTuJ3HygNd101hv0xKYMMZlF34KpG5Sx-TBdP8G4tic4LybMpU8zeUhxp9Q_2gXPMb0Yaq2qqcDdZLkdqJj8W/s1600-h/350px-The_green_house_effect.svg.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UjxlCaUf1VJOhq3WRulPnFRXtG8yH2i_2K9ma6TTjwDlp4QcLVscadryTuJ3HygNd101hv0xKYMMZlF34KpG5Sx-TBdP8G4tic4LybMpU8zeUhxp9Q_2gXPMb0Yaq2qqcDdZLkdqJj8W/s200/350px-The_green_house_effect.svg.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346646459153210082" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Environmental legislators meeting in Rome Friday and Saturday for the </span></span><span class="texto1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) meeting called for the creation of an </span></span><a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47201"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">international green fund</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the Copenhagen protocol. The fund would provide developing countries with financial and technical help to reduce GHG emissions. Thirteen countries are represented at the GLOBE meeting, including the G8 (the U.S., Canada, Britain, German, France, Italy, Japan, and Russia), and the five developing countries with the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa).</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stephen Byers, president of GLOBE and member of British parliament, said the fund is needed given the “substantial financial resources to be used” in developing countries to reduce emissions. Byers said developed countries need to acknowledge “the large scale of financial transfers required (by) developing countries” to reduce emissions. “We're talking of important amounts of money here.”</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="texto1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stefania Prestigiacomo, Italian minister for the environment, said that there is an “urgent need to share technology with low carbon content with developing countries, to satisfy these countries' legitimate demand for energy and economic growth without aggravating the environmental equilibrium of the planet.”</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">José Luis Espinoza Piña, member of the Mexican senate and chair of the commission for the environment and natural resources at his country's congress, said the green fund must be “a bold financial scheme supported by multilateralism, efficiency, and equity. (Its) performance (should) be regulated by contributions from all countries...and constructed around the idea of shared but differentiated responsibilities.”</span></span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">See previous post </span></span><a href="http://greengina.blogspot.com/2009/06/developed-countries-needs-to-do-more.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Developed Countries Need to Do More</span></span></a></p>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-80505473559731542182009-06-08T22:35:00.000-07:002009-06-08T23:36:36.808-07:00Developed Countries Needs To Do More<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wqsRgPxL6kg-aPR5QgQ6zRm24cskS2vR9zvJnuCFuMd786ipZ8M9zgtYX8oXG3-7NuBJkF93py3OmN_bkJfpGMDNEwbuOUwaEH3ys4hGPFzmAgukdEsaxLiJGt9FapYUzO5Sz68hyr5G/s1600-h/350px-GHG_intensity_2000.svg.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wqsRgPxL6kg-aPR5QgQ6zRm24cskS2vR9zvJnuCFuMd786ipZ8M9zgtYX8oXG3-7NuBJkF93py3OmN_bkJfpGMDNEwbuOUwaEH3ys4hGPFzmAgukdEsaxLiJGt9FapYUzO5Sz68hyr5G/s320/350px-GHG_intensity_2000.svg.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345212558731742930" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><div><span style=" ;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"The </span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span style=" ;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Copenhagen</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span style=" ;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> package must be comprehensive and balanced, where mitigation and adaptation is supported by finance and technology transfer to developing countries," said Shyam Saran, India's chief negotiator at the climate change talks in Bonn. "So anything that strays from this is of concern to us." </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saran said that reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions needs to be "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">accompanied by clear detailing of equitable burden sharing." </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He added, "You cannot just do the arithmetic and say developing countries must play their part. Science cannot trump equity."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Must developed countries are "nowhere near meeting their targets." India chief negotiator accused developed countries of "trying to muddy the waters." He cited Japan's effort to shift the baseline for GHG emissions reductions from 1990 to the current dat</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">e. "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All these are efforts to get away from the legal document and to gloss over the fact that they are not meeting their legal targets."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">According to a February </span></span><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/20/climate-funds-developing-nations"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">article</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guardian</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, developing countries have received less than 10 percent of the funds developed countries promised them to help them mitigate climate change. The past seven years, developed countries promised almost $18 billion, but actually gave less than $0.9 billion.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"It's a scandal. The amount the developed countries have provided is peanuts. It is poisoning the UN negotiations. What [the rich countries] offer to the poorest is derisory, the equivalent of one banker's bonus. It's an insult to people who are already experiencing increasingextreme events," said Bernarditas Muller of the Phillippines, the chief negotiator for the G77 and China group of developing countries.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-78106846660329164802009-06-07T22:15:00.000-07:002009-06-07T22:28:10.893-07:00UNEP Report Calls for Ecosystems Management<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGnDdXmKE16ev5tsAZnFUOU3P0eC-6rjH4zEiHEs6i60tUiR8IIJnD-ktYb92KLAo2tfh2-ldzg2XUy2TBDh0yYbYExOumhqed_zIDePB_PJWUUkOMMK0omxNmB4j_dW-loTHwvqt-jl/s1600-h/BioseqRRA_scr.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 85px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGnDdXmKE16ev5tsAZnFUOU3P0eC-6rjH4zEiHEs6i60tUiR8IIJnD-ktYb92KLAo2tfh2-ldzg2XUy2TBDh0yYbYExOumhqed_zIDePB_PJWUUkOMMK0omxNmB4j_dW-loTHwvqt-jl/s320/BioseqRRA_scr.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344824163384296322" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">In order to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, ecosystems such as forests need to be managed better, according to a </span><a href="http://www.unep.org/pdf/BioseqRRA_scr.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; ">report</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "> released Friday by the U.N. Environment Program. Restoring peatlands and better agricultural practices can also help reduce carbon emissions. As the report puts it, "Managing ecosystems for carbon can not only reduce carbon emissions; it can also actively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."</span><br /></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Investing in ecosystem management is more cost effective than investing in carbon capture and sequestration. In addition to being more cost effective, ecosystem management also improves water supplies. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style=" ;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"We need to move toward a comprehensive policy framework for addressing ecosystems," </span><a href="http://dailyme.com/story/2009060500004843/report-nature-controls-climate-gases.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">said</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> co-author Barney Dickson.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial;"><span style=" ;color:black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Tens of billions of dollars are being earmarked for carbon capture and storage at power stations with the CO2 to be buried underground or under the sea," </span><a href="http://www.unep.org/Documents.Multilingual/Default.asp?DocumentID=589&ArticleID=6206&l=en"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">said</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director. "But perhaps the international community is overlooking a tried and tested method that has been working for millennia, the biosphere. By some estimates the Earth's living systems might be capable of sequestering more than 50 gigatones (Gt) of carbon over the coming decades with the right market signals."<br /></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-34618073741695590272009-06-07T20:16:00.000-07:002009-06-07T21:40:12.936-07:00Obama Believes U.S. Can Be Enviornmental Leader<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLexcml-y0GQgu-RbdPKiUO62IqPmPd8YR2JzS4DPFjpA1KOz0qqvk8AGkzqKQ99YuZc_jaGH0fZy_bU50QchzopL3nL8Cqd4xfGWprEQV19fhj9TwwMDk8P2c6w3N5Kp5wZ6XgCshZjBG/s1600-h/2994035684_fd0dc33d3f_m.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLexcml-y0GQgu-RbdPKiUO62IqPmPd8YR2JzS4DPFjpA1KOz0qqvk8AGkzqKQ99YuZc_jaGH0fZy_bU50QchzopL3nL8Cqd4xfGWprEQV19fhj9TwwMDk8P2c6w3N5Kp5wZ6XgCshZjBG/s200/2994035684_fd0dc33d3f_m.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811670979538146" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During the press conference in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dresden</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> on Friday, President </span><a href="http://www.grist.org/article/2009-06-05-dresden-obama-climate-change/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Obama</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> expressed optimism about the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">U.S.</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> becoming a leader on climate change. "I’m actually more optimistic than I was about </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">America</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> being able to take leadership on this issue, joining </span><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Europe</span></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, which over the last several years has been ahead of us on this issue." </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Obama mentioned the climate change legislation in Congress. “We are seeing progress in Congress around energy legislation that would set up for the first time in the </span><st1:country-region><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">United States</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> a cap and trade system. That process is moving forward in ways that I think if you had asked political experts two or three months ago would have seemed impossible.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In six months world leaders will meet in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Copenhagen</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> with the goal of creating a new climate change treaty. Obama pointed out that "the world is going to need targets that it can meet." He added, "It can’t be general, vague approaches. We’re going to have to make some tough decisions and take concrete actions if we are going to deal with a potentially cataclysmic disaster."</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Obama made it clear that industrialized countries will have to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. “Unless the United States and Europe, with our large carbon footprints, per capita carbon footprints, are willing to take some decisive steps, it’s going to be very difficult for us to persuade countries that on a per capita basis at least are still much less wealthy, like China or India, to take the steps that they’re going to need to take.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“So we are very committed to working together and hopeful that we can arrive in </span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Copenhagen</span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> having displayed that commitment in concrete ways."</span></p></div></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(1, 1, 1); line-height: 18px;font-family:Arial;font-size:13px;"><p></p></span></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-85348302074940424082009-06-05T21:44:00.000-07:002009-06-05T21:47:07.101-07:00World Environment Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today is World Environment Day. Watch the following video to remind yourself why fighting climate change is so important.</span></span><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ORTsnu_z5js&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ORTsnu_z5js&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-31058460151509688702009-06-04T18:51:00.000-07:002009-06-04T19:18:36.181-07:00World Leaders Meet for Talks in Bonn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGgs1OkUTKFui8wQrh0HPBvBUdlOG5XCpTYz7NqFjRqAl9uoQ5nDVnNJj8gWA_oGy1fJlYRnMfhQfz5Toue6JLoijvc2hQ45gHqs510V60_8-46gx4fegrdnMdMea-f5ZBEOqzSmMcHy2/s1600-h/sb30_2_348.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGgs1OkUTKFui8wQrh0HPBvBUdlOG5XCpTYz7NqFjRqAl9uoQ5nDVnNJj8gWA_oGy1fJlYRnMfhQfz5Toue6JLoijvc2hQ45gHqs510V60_8-46gx4fegrdnMdMea-f5ZBEOqzSmMcHy2/s200/sb30_2_348.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343657696325939746" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A 12-day </span></span><a href="http://unfccc.int/meetings/sb30/items/4842.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">conference</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> for the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) began on Monday in Bonn, Germany. In December world leaders will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate a new climate change treaty.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yvo De Boer, the U.N.'s leading climate change official, </span></span><a href="http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=47062"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">spoke</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> optimistically about a new climate change treaty. "The political moment is right to reach an agreement. </span></span><span class="texto1"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There is no doubt in my mind that the </span></span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span class="texto1"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Copenhagen</span></span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="texto1"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> climate conference in December is going to lead to a result."</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Success in Copenhagen depends on four "political essentials," according to De Boer. The four essentials are: </span></span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clarity on how much industrialised countries would reduce their emissions up to 2020</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Clarity on what developing countries would do to limit the growth of their emissions</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stable finance from industrialised nations for the developing world to mitigate climate change and adapt</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A governance regime</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">June marks the deadlines for developed countries to propose greenhouse gas (GHG) emission targets. China and Russia are the only two developed countries that have not yet submitted a proposal. However, a new document was posted on the website of China's National Development and Reform Commission. The document stated that developed countries should reduce GHG emissions 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, and contribute 0.5 to one percent of their GDP to help developing countries cope with climate change.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Experts believe that a successful climate change treaty depends on the U.S. and China cooperating with each other. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"This trip is one piece of what is going to be an extended interaction with the Chinese at all levels," Todd Stern, top climate negotiator for the U.S., said. "So yes, the vision that we have is of a clean energy and climate partnership bilaterally with the Chinese."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px;">Watch the following Video from the Bonn climate change talks:</span></div><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><o:p></o:p></p><div><br /></div><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/q5tfTwyDuDU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/q5tfTwyDuDU&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1091267869142743399.post-26029850329187351742009-05-30T20:19:00.000-07:002009-06-03T16:58:18.490-07:00Calling All Californians: Reduce Your City's Plastic Bags<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jSD21zp89zM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jSD21zp89zM&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Watch this short, quirky video about plastic bag use in California.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px; white-space: pre; "><a href="http://technorati.com/claim/ydrw3qkmdc" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a></span><br /></span></div>Gina-Mariehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09891729552112447596noreply@blogger.com0