ENVIRONEWS

Money on Paper Recycling

2011-06-24T21:12:00.000-07:00

Earning money is easy with Recycled Paper

Who said there is no money in recycling paper? They must be mistaking. Nowadays that the awareness of people about recycling paper has been intensified and companies even supports this campaign, many has made good money from selling recycled papers.

I can consider paper recycling as one of the oldest ways of making money from trash. It is easy especially when you have piles of used papers from school or office. Many shops are buying papers as long as it is not crumpled and wet. All you have to do is collect, save and sell, then that’s it! Easy money as they say.

I myself started to recycle paper couple of years ago. At first, it was not actually intended for selling or to make money out of it – really for the sake of recycling. What I did was I saved my school papers and reused the other side that is not printed or written on. But since it was piling-up, including the books, my mom thought of selling it. I was able to somewhat gain a small amount from it.

Recycling Papers will bring great benefits for you and for Mother Earth. If you think of making this as a business, you could start small. All it takes is hard-work, organization, and your time and you’ll find it easy to manage you Paper Recycling Business.

Philippines Environmental Issues:

2011-06-24T20:29:00.000-07:00

How did the Pasig River get polluted?

Before the 1930’s, Pasig River was a beautiful body of water that inspired poets, artists and ordinary people. Philippines national hero Jose Rizal was one of them. In the early 1900’s Pasig River was rich in aquamarine life giving sustenance to the people who were living along the riverbanks. The waters were clear and people got cool drinking water from it.

How did the Pasig River get polluted? With the industrialization of Manila, factories started to line up along the River. They started dumping their liquid wastes to the river. An oil depot was built along the Pandacan side of the River. People in Manila increased in number from a few thousand to 6 million.

Over the years, people built houses along the river mostly people who were from the provinces who trooped to the urban center for a dream of better life. Today, people who dwell along the riverbanks make the bulk of the urban poor in the Philippines. Since most of their houses don’t have access to government-supplied water, they use the river as their toilet.

People from inland Manila also started dumping their waste into the river because the government cannot keep up with the garbage collection system. As early as a decade ago, the solid and liquid waste in Pasig River have reached toxic level that it was proclaimed biologically dead.

There have been a number of projects aimed at rehabilitating the Pasig River: Piso para sa Pasig, Sagip Pasig and now Kapit Bisig sa Ilog Pasig spearheaded by the TV network giant ABS-CBN. The aim is to see Pasig River alive and supporting aquamarine and human life just like it was decades ago. Pasig River pollution is one of Philippines environmental issues that need the most urgent action.

Pasig River speaks a lot about who we are as a nation.

PREPARE YOURSELF

2011-03-29T18:45:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I am not prepared for the High magnitude earthquake that has been predicted to occur with our country.

I have some “survival” supplies at home, but this is primarily because of my interest in camping. I have tents, sleeping bags, lanterns, flash lights, waterproof matches, propane and other camping gear I could use following an earthquake. I can filter and sterilize water if I need to, and I have enough canned food to last a few days. Most importantly I have a few bottles of Chardonnay and a deck of cards to pass the time.

A recent report sponsored by the PHILVOLCS ( Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology ) and PAG-ASA ( Philipine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Administration ) Survey and the Philippines Geological Surveyr concludes that a 6.7 or up magnitude earthquake will occur along one of the many faults in the Philippines mostly the MARIKINA FAULT LINE.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the Marikina West Valley fault line, the country’s biggest fault which could produce a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, is ripe for movement.
"Ripe na gumalaw ang fault. Napakataas ng probability na gumalaw ito in the future, hindi lang natin masabi ang exact date and time(The fault is ready to move. It has a very high probability that it will shift in the near future. We just cannot say the exact date and time)," Phivolcs deputy director Bartolome Bautista said during a Senate inquiry on the country’s disaster preparedness on Wednesday, March 16.
Bautista stated that the earthquake fault, which starts from Sierra Madre to Tagaytay, moves every 200 to 400 years. "The last time that the fault moved was 200 years ago," he added. "Pumapasok na siya sa recurrence time, pasok sa cycle (It fits the recurrence time, it fits the cycle)," he declared.
According to Bautista, they still cannot determine what would make the fault move but that they are only depending on the pre-quake shocks to signal its movement. "Iba-iba yung pag-uugali ng faults (Faults move differently)," he said.

Like I said, I am not prepared for such a catastrophic earthquake, but we can all take some fairly simple steps to get prepared for such a disaster.

Educate yourself. Read information available from the Philippine Geological Survey or any other agency tasked with public safety in an emergency. Many cities also provide free community outreach training.

Prepare your family. When the next big one strikes, how will you communicate with your family? What about your pets? Where will you go if your home is destroyed? Make an emergency plan for your family. Many of the agencies mentioned above have information on emergency planning.

Prepare for “72 hours.” The conventional wisdom recommends stocking 72 hours worth of supplies including 1 gallon of water per day per person, extra medications and food for your family and pets. Lists of recommended supplies are available online.

Prepare your home. Take steps to protect your home, such as securing your water heater, cabinets and wall hangings to minimize the damage from an earthquake. You should also consider earthquake insurance (if the astronomical premiums don’t send you to the hospital).

You Can Prepare For a Natural Disaster

2011-03-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

Home sick, watching the world news on TV, Kleenex soaked with tears of sympathy and a runny nose, my friend Christine phones in the updates to me on a daily basis. She is most impressed with how the Japanese people are picking up their lives and pitching in to clean up the destruction caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami. We talk about how we would react if a natural disaster were to occur in our community. We agree that our community should be prepared way ahead of time to survive an act of nature. We are aware that taking the steps to do so makes sense, but too often those best intentions succumb to human procrastination and might never get done.

According to Oxfam International each year brings 400-500 natural disasters worldwide, up from 125 a year in the 1980’s. By 2015 we can expect a 54 percent increase in the number of people (375 million) affected by climate disasters and this could overwhelm humanitarian organizations’ ability to respond quickly. There is no way to know where or when a natural disaster will occur, or if it will happen as a flood, a hurricane, a tornado, or an earthquake. However, rather than feel helpless and anxious, you can take some important steps to prepare your environment for the possibility. Once you know you have done everything you can, then relax and get on with living your life. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency has published a check-list of things each and everyone can do in case of an emergency.

Create an emergency plan
The best defense from any disaster is good preparation. Once you are aware of what types of disasters might affect your community, you may want to hold a family meeting to discuss the need for preparation. Explain the dangers of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes to children in terms they can understand. Explain that planning ensures that the family will stay together in case of an emergency. Plan to share responsibilities and work as a team.

Meet with household members to discuss the types of emergencies that may affect your area. Explain how to respond, and find safe spots in the home for each type of disaster.

Discuss what to do about power outages and personal injuries.
Draw a floor plan of your home. Mark two escape routes from each room.
Show family members how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches when necessary.
Post emergency phone numbers near phones. Teach children how and when to call 911, police, and fire.
Instruct household members to turn on the radio for emergency information.
Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated during a disaster (it is often easier to call out-of-state than within the disaster area). Teach these phone numbers to each family member, including children and older adults.
Pick two emergency meeting places
a place near the home in case of fire
a place outside the neighborhood in case family members can’t return home
Take a basic first aid and CPR class.
Keep family records in a waterproof and fireproof container.
Create a Disaster Supplies Kit. Include a flotation vest for each member of the family if the area is prone to floods.
Keep fuel in your car at all times and stock it with a Car Emergency Supplies Kit.

Create a disaster supplies kit
Keep enough supplies in your home to meet all basic needs for at least three days. Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit with items that you might need if you are homebound or forced to evacuate. Store these supplies in sturdy containers such as backpacks, duffle bags, or covered trash cans. Prepare a smaller Car Emergency Supplies Kit and keep it in the car trunk.

A three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) and food that won’t spoil
Include a manual can opener, and any pet food and supplies you might need
One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one blanket or sleeping bag per person
A first aid kit that includes prescription medications
Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight, plenty of extra batteries, and a utility knife
An extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, or traveler’s checks
Personal care supplies (toilet paper, soap, toothbrush, etc.)
Any special items or equipment for infants, or for older or disabled family members (formula, diapers, denture or eye care supplies, etc.)
An extra pair of eyeglasses
Important family documents in a waterproof container

Car emergency supplies kit

Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
Blanket
Booster cables
Fire extinguisher (5 lb., A-B-C type)
First aid kit and manual
Bottled water and non-perishable, high-energy foods like granola bars and raisins
Maps, shovel, and flares
Tire repair kit and pump

Take each list and over the course of days and weeks check off what you have accomplished. Once you are complete you can put any worries aside and get on with your life. You know you are prepared and that is the best you can do for right now.

Top 10 superfoods for spring

2011-03-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

I’m the first to admit that the term “superfood” gets thrown around a lot in media and marketing, but that doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on the bursting-with-nourishment, lovely, potent, and delicious foods that fall under the moniker. Especially when these foods are known to lower cholesterol, reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, and, while we’re at it, put you in a better mood.

Although some people have run rampant with the term and have made a mint by promoting the “miraculous! fountain-of-youth! death-defying!” benefits of superfoods, I hope that there won’t be a backlash against good, old-fashioned, super nutrient-exuberant food.

As I’ve said before, I’m a crusader for most edibles in their pure forms -- and the majority of them are superfoods in my book. There are few whole foods from the plant world that don’t have some health-boosting element to brag about -- so how to decide what to eat?

That’s why I like to think about (and eat) superfoods by season. Sure pumpkin is an A-plus superfood, but I like to save that for fall when it’s fresh and local, and look towards new fruit and tender green things this time of year. It’s a way to be connected to the planet’s cycle and decrease food miles, while giving your body a diversity of nutrients throughout the year to maximize its potential. And, to me at least, spring produce just tastes its amazing best in, yes, the spring! Funny how that works.

1. Artichokes

Studies have shown that artichokes contain a very high amount of antioxidants in the form of phytonutrients. A study undertaken by the USDA ranked artichokes as the number one fresh vegetable in antioxidant count. Among the most powerful phytonutrients are cynarin and silymarin, which have strong positive effects on the liver -- any coincidence that artichokes have been reputed to help in the cure of liver diseases, liver cancer, and to cure hangovers?

One large artichoke contains only 25 calories, no fat, 170 milligrams of potassium, and is a good source of vitamin C, folate, magnesium, and has 6 grams of dietary fiber -- 25 percent of the daily recommended amount.

How to prepare an artichoke? Read this.

2. Asparagus

According to the National Cancer Institute, asparagus is the food highest in glutathione, an important anti-carcinogen. It is also rich in two cancer-blocking vitamins (A and C) as well as the mineral selenium. These three nutrients have been singled out in several studies as fearsome cancer fighters.
A 5-ounce serving (only 20 calories) provides 60 percent of the recommended daily allowance for folacin which is necessary for blood cell formation, growth, and prevention of liver disease. Asparagus is also an excellent source of potassium, fiber, thiamin, vitamin B6, and is one of the richest sources of rutin, a compound which strengthens capillary walls.
Recipes:
Asparagus, Spring Onion, and Mushroom Pasta

Asparagus Spears With Black Pepper Pesto Vinaigrette

Savory Orange Roasted Tofu and Asparagus

3. Avocado

They’re rich, they’re buttery, they’re delicious, and they have about 30 grams of fat per fruit. Ouch. But that’s no reason not to love an avocado. Nutritionists have back-pedaled on their gentle warnings about avocados after finding that most of the fat in an avocado is monounsaturated -- the happy fat that actually lowers cholesterol levels. Yay! Let’s have an avocado party!
A study published in the Archives of Medical Research found that the 45 volunteers who ate avocados every day for a week experienced an average 17 percent drop in total blood cholesterol. As well, their levels of LDL (“bad fat”) and triglycerides, both associated with heart disease, went down. Their HDL (“good fat”) levels, which tend to lower the risk of heart disease, increased.
Avocados are rich in beta-sitosterol, a natural substance shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels. In a review article published in the December 1999 issue of the American Journal of Medicine, researchers pointed out that beta-sitosterol was shown to reduce cholesterol in 16 human studies.
Recipes:
Chilled Zucchini and Avocado Soup

Citrus Guacamole

4. Blueberries

Jam-packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, blueberries are also high in potassium and vitamin C. Recent research has found that additional components of blueberries may play an important role in preventing and fighting cancer. The results of one study suggest a wide array of potential cancer fighting benefits related to wild blueberry consumption.

Blueberries also have anthocyanin pigments, which may have the ability to halt cancer in the critical stages of promotion and proliferation. A 2005 study published in the Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology indicated that, in isolated cells, the tannins found in blueberries are very active at lowering a protein that plays a role in the metastasis of cancer.

In addition to helping prevent and fight cancer, the compounds in blueberries are believed to help against Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, eye disease, and urinary tract infections. See? Super.

Recipes:

5. Fava Beans (aka Broad Beans)

Mmmm. Spring in a pod -- I adore fava beans, even if they are a little work. OK, a lot of work, but so worth it! Not only are the big, fat, creamy beans scrumptious, but fava beans are particularly high in fiber (85 percent of the RDV), and also high in iron (30 percent of a day’s requirement). They contain no cholesterol and are low in fat.
Fava beans are also noted to contain L-dopa, which is used as a drug for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, as with most whole grains, consumption of fava beans can help reduce risks associated with heart disease.
Recipes:
Herbed Fava Bean Salad

French Spring Soup

6. Fresh Figs

Fresh figs put the "va va voom" in fruit -- the tender but toothsome skin gives way to a soft and sticky center, dotted with delicately popping seeds, the perfumed and honeyed flesh -- you get the picture. In my humble opinion, figs are quite an experience. And beyond their drop-dead flavor is their profusion of life-boosting qualities.
Figs have the highest overall mineral content of all common fruits. With their standout source of potassium, figs may help to control blood pressure. Figs are high in calcium. And as fate would have it, their potassium may reduce the amount of calcium lost as a result of high-salt diets. Figs are also a good source of iron, vitamin B6, and the trace mineral manganese.
The fruit also has tremendous amounts of fiber, more than any other dried or fresh fruit. Insoluble fiber protects against colon and breast cancer -- soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol, and figs provide both. (Which also makes them a mild laxative, just so you know.) They also are a good source of flavonoids and polyphenols.
Recipes:
Try figs quartered, stuffed with goat cheese, drizzled with honey, and topped with sea salt and black pepper.

Fig and Kalamata Olive Tapenade

7. Leeks

Leeks look like cartoonishly big green onions, with a wonderfully sweet and subtle onion flavor. When braised or slowly sauteed, they melt into a sweet and creamy concoction that is hard not to love.
And they are workhorses in the health department as well. Like garlic, onions, scallions, chives and shallots -- all from the Allium family -- leeks can help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens. Leeks contain sulfur compounds that may protect against heart disease and some cancers, they can help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens.
Regular consumption of Allium vegetables (as little as two or more times a week -- although I could certainly eat them every meal) is associated with a reduced risk of prostate and colon cancer.
Recipes:
Linguine With Leeks and Lemon

Creamy Vegan Potato Leek Soup

8. Oregeno and Other Fresh Herbs

I love fresh oregano, especially if salty Mediterranean flavors -- capers, olives, roasted peppers -- are involved. Yum. And superfood-y too!
When researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway, analyzed 1,113 foods to identify those foods richest in total antioxidants, of the 50 foods highest in antioxidants, 13 were herbs and spices. One study found that oregano had 42 times more antioxidants than apples.
You might find that parsley is an excellent source of beta carotene, the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin (essential for preventing macular degeneration), vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
Or try cilantro. In research studies, cilantro's remarkable components have shown the potential to help promote detoxification, reduce high blood sugar and lower levels of cholesterol.
Recipes:
Chard and Feta Tart With Oregano

Parsley and Walnut Pesto

Cilantro Tabouli

9. Spinach

Spinach, good old spinach. Spinach is an excellent source of folate -- the B vitamin that helps to prevent birth defects, heart disease, dementia, and colon cancer (the third most common cause of cancer in women). People who eat at least one serving of greens, including spinach, each week are 20 percent less likely to develop colon cancer, according to Italian research.
Another compound in spinach, lutein, fights against macular degeneration, which causes age-related vision loss -- in fact, including at least two servings of spinach a week in your diet halves the odds of macular degeneration (a leading cause of blindness), according to the the National Eye Institute. Eating cooked spinach more than twice a week cuts the need for cataract eye surgery in men by half, according to new Harvard University research.
And in a large-scale Harvard study, spinach singled out as most protective against stroke! Finally, because of it’s high in vitamin K, spinach also helps build stronger bones -- lowering the risk of hip fracture from osteoporosis as much as 30 percent, suggests a joint Harvard-Tufts study. Popeye was on to something.
Recipes:
Spinach Soup With Rosemary Croutons

Coconut Creamed Spinach

10. Strawberries

A serving of eight medium strawberries provides 140 percent of the daily recommended allowance of vitamin C, 12 percent of our RDA for fiber, 6 percent of our RDA for folate, 210 mg of potassium, and is also high in vitamins K, B2, B5 and B6, copper, magnesium, and omega-fatty acids. In addition, strawberries contain anthocyanin, which has been used for studies in preventing initiation of cancers. Strawberries contain a unique phenolic group, ellagotannins, which are effective in preventing initiation of esophageal cancer.
With more antioxidant punch than most other fruits, berries in general strengthen tissue defenses against oxidation and inflammation, which are underlying factors in most age-related diseases. For example, substances in blueberries help with short-term memory loss associated with aging. All berries help lower risk for breast, oral, and colon cancers in women. With a wealth of phytochemicals like ellagic acid, adding strawberries to the diet lowers tumor risk by up to 58 percent.
Recipes:
Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Strawberry Rhubarb Bread Pudding (or a vegan version)

Simple Strawberry Cream Freeze

10 amazing camouflaged animals

2011-03-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Camouflage is an ancient art, likely not much younger than vision itself, and species around the planet depend on it daily for survival. Whether it's a gecko blending into bark, a jaguar fading into foliage or a Peringuey's viper sliding through sand (pictured above), good camo can mean the difference between eating and being eaten.

Which of these creatures can you easily spot? Which ones hid from you the longest? Let us know in the comments.

Common baron caterpillar
If you're a hungry bird in western Malaysia, good luck finding any common baron caterpillars. Plenty of other butterfly larvae blend in with local plants, but few can vanish into vegetation like the baron.
Baron caterpillars evolved their elaborate shapes and colors for that single purpose: hiding from predators. This boosts their odds of becoming common baron butterflies, and therefore reproducing. Native to India and Southeast Asia, barons often feed on the leaves of mango trees, like this one in a Kuala Lumpur garden. That can sour their relationship with mango farmers, though — yet another reason camo comes in handy.

Pygmy seahorse
Coral reefs are rough places to live, so their residents often use camouflage to stay safe. And when it comes to living incognito among coral, the pygmy seahorse wrote the book.
Less than an inch long and studded with coral-like "tubercles," this seahorse has all its evolutionary chips on just two species of gorgonian corals in the Pacific Ocean (with a matching color pattern for each). It blends in so well, though, that it was only discovered by humans after showing up with wild-caught corals in an aquarium. It mates in pairs that may be monogamous, according to the IUCN, but its conservation status is unknown due to insufficient data.

Mossy leaf-tailed gecko
It may look like this lizard has been overrun with moss, but save your sympathy — that's its skin. This is the mossy leaf-tailed gecko, a master of disguise found only in the forests of Madagascar.
Since these geckos live in trees, they've evolved moss- and bark-colored skin, complete with "dermal flaps" that break up their outline. But they also have another trick up their sleeves: Much like chameleons, they can change their skin color to match the background. Despite these hiding skills, however, the species is still considered vulnerable to extinction, due to habitat loss as well as hunting for the international pet trade.

Jaguar
This jaguar may be at a zoo in the U.K., but not even England is immune to its versatile fur. Like many cats, jaguars have evolved vague, spotty patterns that blend into a variety of backgrounds, including some far from home.
Jaguars are the only true big cat native to the Americas, a world apart from the other three Panthera species: lions, tigers, and leopards, all Old World cats. But while jaguars' spots help them hide from some zoo-goers, they haven't helped the species escape people in general — once widespread across North and South America, jaguars are now restricted to the latter, plus some Central American holdouts and possibly a few in Mexico. The last known U.S. jaguar died in 2009.

Tawny frogmouth
Famous for their gaping beaks and big yellow eyes, tawny frogmouths look like cartoon characters — when they're not imitating a tree, that is. If they suspect danger, they simply close their eyes, tilt back their heads and blend into the bark, as the one on the left is doing in this photo.
Although they are related to owls, tawny frogmouths are very different birds. They're poor fliers, for one, and don't use their talons to catch prey. In fact, they don't even fly to hunt — instead, they sit eerily still in trees, letting their prey to come to them. They are nocturnal like owls, but mainly eat insects, trapping them in their frog-like mouths. They make a nasal, grunting call, which can sometimes be heard on quiet nights in their native Australia and Tasmania.

Stonefish
If you're ever snorkeling in the Indian or Pacific Ocean, look out for coral reefs looking back at you. You could be staring down a stonefish, the most venomous fish on Earth.
This stonefish was photographed in Indonesia, but its relatives live in shallow coastal waters from Egypt to Australia. They blend in with a variety of reefs and rocks — hence their name — and hide on the sea floor, waiting to ambush prey. But as a defense, they also have 13 sharp dorsal spines packed with a potent neurotoxin, which reportedly can kill a human within two hours. To avoid stepping on one, experts recommend swimming instead of walking in the ocean. If you must walk, shuffle your feet instead of taking big steps.

Katydid
If you don't immediately see both katydids in this photo, don't feel bad. Their leaf-like bodies also help them evade countless birds, frogs, snakes and other predators around the world.
Katydids are typically not seen but heard, rubbing their wings together to make the namesake "katy-did" sound. Unlike their cricket relatives, however, katydids produce egalitarian music, with both males and females chiming in. Some prey on smaller insects, but their favorite food — foliage — is obvious from their appearance. And much like caterpillars, katydids' love of leaves often puts them at odds with farmers and gardeners, just one more group of predators who struggle to see through their camouflage.

Flounder
As a type of "flat fish," flounder are ideally suited to life on the ocean floor. They huddle up to the seabed, often aided by speckled skin that helps them blend in, such as this pebble-dwelling flounder. That offers safety from predators, but also lets them ambush prey like shrimp, worms, and fish larvae.
Flounder begin life as larvae themselves, but undergo a dramatic metamorphosis as they approach adulthood. One eye drifts to the other side of a young flounder's head, letting it swim flat with both eyes looking up. Despite their camouflage, though, many flounder are at risk from overfishing, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch. If you're a flounder fan, opt for Pacific rather than Atlantic varieties, specifically avoiding Atlantic dab, sole, and hirame.

Stick insect
While most animals need a specific backdrop for their camouflage to work, a few are so well-disguised they're incognito almost anywhere. Stick insects are a good example, with twig-like bodies that let them become virtually invisible just by holding still.
A wide variety of stick insects exist around the world, ranging in size from half an inch to two feet long. Often colored brown or green, they tend to freeze when threatened, sometimes swaying to mimic a branch blowing in the wind. That's not to say they can't be assertive, though — the American stick insect, for example, can spray a mild acid from two glands in its thorax to thwart would-be predators. If it gets in your eyes, it can burn and even cause temporary blindness.

Chameleon
Few animals are as famous for camouflage as chameleons, whose color-changing skills have made them icons of adaptability. But that probably wasn't the reason they evolved the ability — instead, scientists think they mainly change colors to communicate.
Certain hues signal certain moods: Some advertise anger, others mean "I'm ready to mate!" And while this color code may be why chameleons evolved shifty skin, many have clearly seen its value as camo, too. Some even target specific predators — one species in South Africa blends in with the ground to avoid birds, but blends in with the sky to avoid snakes. The key is the chromatophore, a type of pigmented cell layered underneath chameleons' transparent outer skin.

Libyan rebels retreating after Gadhafi onslaught

2011-03-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

RAS LANOUF, Libya – Libyan government tanks and rockets pounded rebel forces into a panicked full retreat Tuesday after an hourslong, back-and-forth battle that highlighted the superior might of Moammar Gadhafi's forces, even hobbled by international airstrikes.

No such strikes were launched during the fighting in Bin Jawwad, where rebels attempting to march on Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte ended up turning around and fleeing east under overcast skies. Some fleeing rebels shouted, "Sarkozy, where are you?" — a reference to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, one of the strongest supporters of international airstrikes.

World leaders in London, meanwhile, debated how far they should go to force an end to Gadhafi's 41-year autocratic rule. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the world must speak with a single voice to ensure that the North African country "belongs not to a dictator, but to its people."

Rockets and tank fire sent Libya's rebels in a panicked scramble away from the front lines. The opposition was able to bring up truck-mounted rocket launchers of their own and return fire, but they went into full retreat after government shelling resumed.

The two sides traded salvos over the hamlet of Bin Jawwad, now pockmarked with shrapnel and small arms fire. Rockets and artillery shells crashed thunderously as plumes of smoke erupted in the town. The steady drum of heavy machine gun fire and the pop of small arms could be heard above the din as people less than a mile (a kilometer) outside the village scaled mounds of dirt to watch the fighting.

"This today is a loss, but hopefully we'll get it back," said Mohammed Bujildein, a 27-year-old from Darna. He was gnawing on a loaf of bread in a pickup truck with a mounted anti-aircraft, waiting to fill up from an abandoned gas tanker truck on the eastern side of Ras Lanouf.

Even in Ras Lanouf, roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Bin Jawwad, there appeared to be shelling — there were thuds in the distance and black smoke rising from buildings. Some rebels pushed farther east.

"If they keep shelling like this, we'll need airstrikes," Bujildein said. It makes it easier to go to Sirte. If there's air cover, we'll be in Sirte tomorrow evening."

Rebel forces had been on the brink of defeat by government forces before a U.N.-mandated no-fly zone and campaign of strikes by the U.S. and its allies helped them regain lost territory. It is unclear, however, if international support exists to deepen the air campaign and attack Gadhafi's heavy weaponry enough to help the rebels make further advances. Some countries, including Russia, contend the airstrikes already have gone beyond the U.N. mandate of protecting civilians from attacks by Gadhafi.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said Tuesday there are plenty of "non-military means at our disposal" to oust the Libyan leader.

France, which has been at the forefront of the international campaign, struck a more forceful tone.

"We, the French and English, we consider that we must obtain more" than the end of shooting at civilians, Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said on France-Inter radio. He also said Libyan politicians could be targeted since they gave orders to the military.

In London, Clinton, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the Arab League, the African Union and around 40 foreign ministers began discussing the future of Libya and how to ratchet up pressure on Gadhafi.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said several nations planned to put forward a deal that would propose a cease-fire, exile for Gadhafi and a framework for talks between Libya's tribal leaders and opposition figures on the country's future.

In signs of emerging ties between the opposition and the international community, Clinton met with Libyan opposition envoy Mahmoud Jibril in London, and a senior Obama administration official said the U.S. would soon send an envoy to Libya to meet with rebel leaders.

The official said Chris Stevens, former U.S. envoy to Tripoli, will travel to the rebel stronghold of Benghazi in the coming days to establish better ties with groups seeking to oust the longtime Libyan leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning, stressed that the move doesn't constitute formal recognition of the opposition.

In an open letter to the international community, meanwhile, Gadhafi called for a halt to the "monstrous assault" on Libya and maintained that that the rebels were supported by the al-Qaida terrorist network.

"What is happening now is providing a cover for al-Qaida through airstrikes and missiles to enable al-Qaida to control North Africa and turn it into a new Afghanistan," he said, accusing the international community of carrying out genocide against the Libyans.

Libyan state news agency JANA quoted a military official as saying that airstrikes of the "crusader imperialist assault" targeted civilian and military targets in Misrata, Tripoli, Zlitan, Mazdah and Watayah.

Prime Minister David Cameron, however, said Britain had received reports that it was Gadhafi who was pounding Misrata, the main rebel holdout in the west, and relentlessly targeting civilians.

"Gadhafi is using snipers to shoot them down and let them bleed to death in the street. He has cut off food, water and electricity to starve them into submission," Cameron said.

Rida al-Montasser, an activist in Misrata, confirmed heavy shelling on two streets in the city, but said rebels remain in control. Three people were killed in Misrata on Monday and several others were wounded.

The rebels remain woefully outgunned by Gadhafi's forces, though they do show some improvements since their seige of Ajdabiya a week ago. They have more ammunition and heavy weapons that they've captured from government forces, and they are showing better efforts at using them. But it is still unclear how they can take the stronghold of Sirte without further aggressive international air support.

The rebel advance reached Nawfaliyah, some 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Sirte, on Monday, but the next day they were driven back to the hamlet of Bin Jawwad, a few dozen miles (kilometers) to the east.

In a scene reminiscent of the rebels' rout last week, panicked volunteers jumped into their pickup trucks and attempted to speed away from the bombardment, kicking up dust clouds and choking the narrow coastal highway in a mad scramble of vehicles.

Sirte is dominated by members of the Libyan leader's Gadhadhfa tribe and was used as a second capital by Gadhafi. Its loss would be a symbolic blow and open the way to the capital, Tripoli.

"This is their last defensive line. They will do everything to protect it," explained rebel fighter Twate Monsuri, 26. "It's not Gadhafi attacking us, he's just defending himself now."

Gadhafi forces continued to besiege Misrata and Libya's third-largest city. Residents reported shelling by government tanks of residential areas, with three people killed.

The U.S. Navy reported that two of its aircraft and a guided missile destroyer attacked a number of Libyan coast guard vessels, rendering them inoperable, in the port of Misrata. It said the Libyan vessels had been "firing indiscriminately" at merchant ships.

One of Libya's top officials, meanwhile, abruptly made a "private visit" to Tunisia late Monday, according to the official news agency there.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim in Tripoli insisted on Tuesday that Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa's visit was not a defection.

2 Koreas agree on need for joint volcano research

2011-03-29T10:08:00.000-07:00

SEOUL, South Korea – North and South Korean experts have agreed on the need for joint research into an active volcano amid worries over natural disasters after Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

Geologists and volcanologists met at a South Korean border village Tuesday for talks on volcanic activities at the North's Mount Paektu, touted in the North as leader Kim Jong Il's birthplace.

Chief South Korean negotiator and geologist Ryu In-chang says the two Koreas realize they need to research the volcano.

But he says North Korea proposed one more round of experts' talks in early April and South Korea plans to respond soon.

The volcano last erupted in 1903, but minor earthquakes increased there between 2002 and 2005.

Japan finds plutonium in soil at stricken nuclear plant

2011-03-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

(Reuters) - Plutonium found in soil at the Fukushima nuclear complex heightened alarm on Tuesday overJapan's battle to contain the world's worst atomic crisis in 25 years, as pressure mounted on the prime minister to widen an evacuation zone around the plant.

Some opposition lawmakers blasted Naoto Kan in parliament for his handling of the disaster and for not widening the exclusion zone. Kan said he was seeking advice on such a step, which would force 130,000 people to move in addition to 70,000 already displaced.

The drama at the six-reactor facility has compounded Japan's agony after an earthquake and tsunami on March 11 left more than 28,000 people dead or missing in the devastated northeast.

In a gesture of support, France said it had sent two nuclear experts to Japan to help contain the accident and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will visit on Thursday for a meeting with Kan.

France is the world's most nuclear-dependent country, producing 75 percent of its power needs from 58 nuclear reactors, and selling state-owned Areva's reactors around the world. Sarkozy will be the first foreign leader to visit since the earthquake.

In the latest blow to hopes authorities were gradually getting the plant under control, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said plutonium was found at low-risk levels in soil samples at the facility.

A by-product of atomic reactions and also used in nuclear bombs, plutonium is highly carcinogenic and one of the most dangerous substances on the planet, experts say.

They believe some of the plutonium may have come from spent fuel rods at Fukushima or damage to reactor No. 3, the only one to use plutonium in its fuel mix.

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said while the plutonium levels were not harmful to human health, the discovery could mean the reactor's containment mechanism had been breached.

"Plutonium is a substance that's emitted when the temperature is high, and it's also heavy and so does not leak out easily," agency deputy director Hidehiko Nishiyama told a news conference.

"So if plutonium has emerged from the reactor, that tells us something about the damage to the fuel. And if it has breached the original containment system, it underlines the gravity and seriousness of this accident."

Sakae Muto, a Tokyo Electric vice-president, said the traces of plutonium-238, 239 and 240 were in keeping with levels found in Japan in the past due to particles in the atmosphere from nuclear testing abroad.

"I apologize for making people worried," Muto said.

With towns on the northeast coast reduced to apocalyptic landscapes of mud and debris following the quake and tsunami, more than a quarter of a million people are homeless. The event may be the world's costliest natural disaster, with estimates of damage topping $300 billion.

THE PLANET IS WARMING AND THE OCEAN BEGINS TO DIE DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES

2011-03-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here are the facts about warming...

According to the Third Assessment Report of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in 2001, "There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities." Greenhouse gases accumulating from burning fossil fuels, and other gas-producing activities of industry, are blanketing the Earth and so causing the warming trend.
The blanket of greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and tropospheric ozone) keeps the planet about 59F (15C) warmer than it would be without the cover. Water vapor is by far the most abundant greenhouse gas. The greenhouse effect gets its name because a layer in the atmosphere acts like the glass in a greenhouse, letting the Sun's light energy in, but preventing reflected lower energy heat radiation from escaping.

All the greenhouse gases that occur naturally are also produced by human activities, thus increasing their levels in the atmosphere at an accelerating pace. In addition to the "natural" greenhouse gases are the fluorocarbons, which only appeared in the atmosphere when introduced by humans. Over the millennium before the Industrial Era, the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases remained relatively constant, according to the IPCC report. Chlorofluorocarbons are believed by most scientists to be responsible for depleting the ozone layer that exists at the top of the stratosphere, the second layer in the Earth's atmosphere. The upper stratospheric ozone layer shields the Earth from intense ultraviolet radiation that causes skin cancer.

According to the IPCC, solar variation and volcanic aerosols are the two major natural factors that affect global warming. The major sources of anthropogenic aerosols are fossil fuel and biomass burning. Anthropogenic factors impacting the global climate are human population growth, urbanization, the energy supply mix and the efficiency with which energy is produced and consumed, deforestation rates, and emission rates of chlorofluorocarbons and other synthetic greenhouse gases. With the population expected to reach 8 billion by mid-twenty-first century, all the human activities that affect climate will increase proportionally. Many countries' growing dependence on fossil fuels has produced not only political and economic problems, but environmental problems as well, increasing the amount of synthetic greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Models developed by the IPCC and other research groups indicate that global warming will profoundly affect our quality of life. The factors that influence global climate are extremely complex and interrelated. There are some scientists who minimize our role in global warming. If there is no moderation in population growth, fossil fuel use, and urban sprawl, global warming will continue to increase, weather events will be more extreme, and ocean levels will rise as glaciers melt.

Here are the facts about the oceans

PEW Oceans Commission. In May 2003, this commission submitted to the United States Congress it's report "America's Living Oceans -Charting A Course For Sea Change". This authoritative report, created by this independently appointed prestigious commission of scientists, economists, fishermen and other experts and chaired by Leon E. Panetta, outlines the problems facing America in regards to it's coastal waters, and offers realistic and sound solutions to be implemented by our government. And the sad truth is, similar reports, reaching the same conclusions, would be generated by commissions just like the PEW Commission for every country in the world that wished to do so.

The facts are in. Our oceans, it's habitats and it's creatures, worldwide are under assault -primarily from four different forces: coastal development, over fishing, pollution and poor ocean governance. Without change for the better, these four forces will continue to wreak havoc, grow stronger and eventually we will see more and more species of sea animals and fish disappear, vast areas of the ocean's coastlines turned into dead lifeless wastelands and the possible catastrophic disruption of the ocean's vital role as climate regulator, resulting in climate change that will make anything prior to it in human history to it seem like a spring day in May.

1) Over Fishing: Over fishing is the single biggest threat facing the oceans. More than two-thirds of the world's fisheries have been already fully exploited or over fished. Fleets the world over are now exceeding the ocean's limits, and a number of species have already been fished to commercial extinction. Populations of many fish, including tuna, cod, grouper, marlin, swordfish and sharks are only a shadow of their former populations, and without intervention and enlightened management, extinction will be the end result. The fish of the ocean, irregardless of how fast they swim, are no match for modern fishing fleets, with their sophisticated boats, computerized fish finding sonar and equipment and devastatingly efficient heavy trawl nets, which destroy non-wanted species -including innocent turtles, whales, and dolphins as well as so called "trash fish". 300,000 dolphins, porpoises and whales die an agonizing death each year as a result of becoming entangled in fishing nets and each year billions of unwanted "by-catch" fish are tossed overboard from fishing vessels, dead or dying, because of regulations or lack of markets. This horrific waste is absolutely uncalled for, unnecessary, preventable and immoral!

2) Pollution: Everything eventually ends up in the oceans! Oil, fertilizer, gas, pesticides, paint and hundreds of other chemical that are spilled on the ground, or in parking lots, finds their way as run off into local brooks and streams. From there these pollutants are carried to bigger streams and rivers, and eventually to the oceans, killing fish and aquatic life along the way as well. Every year in America alone, 28,000,000 gallons of oil from human activities (driving cars, heating homes to name just two) end up on the ground in parking lots, roads and yards and then in our rivers on it's way to the sea. And this pollution creates massive problems in estuaries and coastlines where the rivers enter the sea. There now exist in many parts of the world "Dead Zones" along coastlines, places where very little marine life exists and the pollution is so bad in some areas the surface of the water has been known to catch on fire. Additionally, many estuaries and harbors around the world receive so much nutrient rich runoff that huge algal blooms occur, causing sea grass meadows, kelp beds and other coastal habitats to die. The direct cause is overuse of fertilizer by the farmers of the world, and the end result is the killing of part of our oceans. Another growing source of ocean pollution is certain types of fish farming, where coastal waters near these unregulated farms are severely polluted with antibiotics, fish waste and other pollutants. And in a sad irony, human caused pollution recoils directly onto our children and those who wish to use the ocean for innocent fun -in America in 2002 over 12,000 beaches were closed due to pollution! Add to this mix, the many oil spills , cruise ship dumps of waste material, people throwing trash overboard and other obvious rapes of the ocean and the pictures gets really distressing.

3) Coastal Development: Humanity's urge to live near the ocean has resulted in the carving up of coastlines all over the world for hotels, resorts, housing, roads and fish farms. This development is resulting in wholesale destruction of estuarine and coastal habitats at an alarming rate -wetlands, mangroves, coral reefs, shellfish beds and marshes worldwide are all disappearing almost overnight. All of these habitats are critical and important breeding grounds for many marine species. If we lose these vital ecosystems, then whole populations of fish and other animals will disappear -no place left for the babies to hide and grow! In America alone, marshes that trap floodwaters, filter out pollution and nurture fish, birds and other wildlife are disappearing at the rate of 20,000 acres a year! And this scenario is being repeated all over the world.
4.) Poor Ocean Governance: The world over, there are few or weak regulations in place to deal with over fishing, pollution and coastal development. Without the will to address these problems, things will only get worse for countries that turn a blind eye. In America, with the presentation of the Pew Oceans Commissions report, a step in the right direction has begun and recommendations made to our government for change. The question then remains however, how do these changes occur, given the unenlightened state and weak, self-serving nature of many of our government officials and those in power. The answer is simple. Visit the links to the left, join one or all of these organizations and participate in their activities and actions aimed at changing the way our government does business. These folks know how to get the job done and are in the front lines.

SIMPLE WAYS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE

2011-03-20T08:24:00.000-07:00

The typical American family wastes between 25 and 50 percent of the food they purchase, and that’s just when you’re looking at the food itself. Add in the bulky packaging that goes along with many convenience foods, and that number shoots up even more. Food waste might seem like a fact of life, but with some careful planning and savvy shopping, you can help reduce the amount of food waste that you send to the landfill!

1. Order and Cook Less

Whether you’re eating out or cooking at home, take a hard look at what you’re planning for your meals. Of course, you want to make sure you have enough food prepared for you and your family, but over ordering or cooking way too much just leads to waste. This might take some observation as you get a feel for how much you guys actually eat, but the reduction in waste is not only good for the planet, it’s good for your wallet!

It’s important to balance this out. You don’t want to feel guilted into the clean plate club. Remember: food you eat after you’re full is just as wasted as food you throw away.

2. Eat Those Leftovers

Whether you planned to have leftovers or accidentally ordered or cooked too much food, making sure you eat them before they go bad is key to reducing food waste. You can try revamping those leftovers into a whole new meal or just plan to eat them later on in the week on a night that you don’t feel like cooking. Either way, it’s important not to shove that leftover food into the back of the fridge to rot. If you don’t think you’ll be able to eat them before they go bad, why not portion that leftover food into servings and stick them in the freezer?

3. Cut the Packaging

You might not think of that take out container or the bag your pre-washed lettuce came in as food waste, but all of that packaging really adds up. Next time you’re ordering take out, see how the restaurant feels about you bringing it home in your own, clean, reusable container. At the grocery store, just being more conscious of packaging can make a big difference. Instead of pre-cut broccoli florets in a plastic bag, for example, you can pick up a head of broccoli and cut it up youself. Voila! You’ve dodged a bit of waste and probably saved a buck at the same time.

For something like broccoli, you can probably get away without using a produce bag, but for dry goods like beans or more delicate produce like lettuces, you do need some kind of bag. In those situations, why not trytoting your own reusable produce bags?

4. Don’t Shop Hungry

This might seem like a no-brainer, but how many times have you bought far too much at the grocery store because you were shopping on an empty stomach? Hungry shopping leads to impulse buys, often of packaging-heavy, processed foods. Even if you just end up with way too many fruits and veggies, are you going to be able to eat all of that food before it spoils? A quickie snack before you head to the store can go a long way toward preventing waste in your kitchen.

5. Compost Your Food Scraps

One of the biggest problems with food waste is that all of that organic material breaks down into methane, a greenhouse gas many times more harmful than CO2, in the landfill. Rather than tossing veggie scraps into the trash, toss them into your compost bin where they can break down into nutrient-rich dirt.

Even apartment dwellers can get in on the composting action! You might think a small space would make composting too hard, but it’s easy as pie to get a bin going even in a tiny apartment. If you don’t have a garden to benefit from all of that good compost, you can use it to nourish potted plants or just dump it outside.

I bet there are even more ways to cut back on food waste. What are some ways that you’re lightening your footprint in the kitchen?

5 Things to know about SUPERMOON

2011-03-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

The supermoon is coming! But what exactly does that mean? Are the Internet rumors of doom and gloom to be believed? Will the moon steal my children? And why the fuss? Read below as I dissect this semi-rare celestial event known as the supermoon — and why this weekend's nighttime event is one worth catching.

1. What is a supermoon?

Since its 27.3-day orbit is elliptical, the moon alternates between its farthest point (254,000 miles) and closest point (220,000 miles) roughly every two weeks. What makes the moon a supermoon is when, at its closest approach, it also happens to be a new moon or full moon.

As Fast Company notes, the March 19 moon will be a supermoon because "the crest of the moon’s full phase comes within an hour of the moon’s closest point to earth."

Steve Owens at Dark Sky Diary adds that the moon will be about 8 percent closer to earth than usual and about 2 percent closer to earth than the average lunar perigee. In fact, it'll be the closest positioning since 1992.

2. What can a supermoon do to our planet?

According to scientists, not much. Any time there is a full moon — when the sun, earth, and moon are near a straight line in space — the gravitational effects on the ocean tides is greater. When a supermoon is in play, these forces are exaggerated. That being said, the force at this maximum is considered too weak to be of great consequence.

Said John Vidale, a seismologist at the University of Washington in Seattle, "Practically speaking, you'll never see any effect of lunar perigee," he told Life's Little Mysteries. "It's somewhere between 'It has no effect.' and 'It's so small you don't see any effect.' "

The only concern should be for those near the coast looking to take advantage of lower-than-normal seas. As an example, the Irish Water Safety body has issued a warning urging people to avoid "becoming stranded whilst walking or picking shellfish on our beaches over the weekend."

Should a storm also roll along a coastline during a supermoon, there's the possibility of increased flooding because of the tides. It's worth taking precautions during an event like this should such a combo of factors hit.

3. Did a supermoon cause last week's earthquake in Japan?

Some studies have shown a weak correlation between increased lunar activity and shallow, low-intensity earthquakes — but nothing on the scale that Japan experienced last week.

Also, when the earthquake struck on March 11, the moon was actually closer to its farthest point (called apogee) than its closest (perigee). The same holds true for the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, which some have also blamed on a supermoon.

4. Will the moon ever be closer to our planet?

Yes and no. The moon is actually being "pushed" away from the Earth at a rate of 1.6 inches annually. Astronomers predict that several billion years from now the moon's orbit around the earth will take 47 days, rather than the current 27.3.

However, another more dramatic event could take place that would position the moon within a sky-filling 11,470 miles above the planet, termed the Roche limit. This would only happen if the sun mutated into a red giant, causing the moon's orbit to decay. Of course, life would cease to exist on the planet in this stage, so this "mother of all supermoons" would not be much of a concern to us.

5. When should I look for this weekend's supermoon?

Hopefully, you've got clear skies — but that's never a good bet for March. To find out exactly when the supermoon will come into view for you, check out this handy chart over on 40-Below.com. You can also grab the latitude/longitude data for your city to get more accurate info here.

The next supermoon will occur on Nov. 14, 2016.

What will happen in 2016 when supermoon comes again? Are we ready for this next supermoon? we don't know what will happen, hence we should be ready all the time...

Environmental issues in the Philippines

2011-03-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Philippines is prone to natural disasters, particularly typhoons, floods, landslides, volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, and tsunamis, lying as it does astride the typhoon belt, in the active volcanic region known as the
“Pacific Ring of Fire,” and in the geologically unstable region between the Pacific and Eurasian tectonic plates.

The Philippines also suffers major human-caused environmental degradationaggravated by a high annual population growth rate, including loss of agricultural lands, deforestation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, improper disposal of solid and toxic wastes, loss of coral reefs, mismanagement and abuse of coastal resources, and overfishing.

According to Greenpeace SouthEast Asia, the Philippines major historical river, the Pasig River is now biologically dead due to negligence and industrialization. Currently, the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been busy tracking down illegal loggers and been spearheading projects to preserve the quality of many remaining rivers that are not yet polluted.

What can you do to save our country specially mother earth??? post your comments here and spread this out so that we can coupe up and make for the best by protecting and saving mother earth... By: Marvin Chua

ASIAN CLIMATE RISK HIGH

2011-03-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

The effects of climate change will significantly impact Southeast Asia, particularly hurting two countries, the Philippines and Indonesia. It could cut the Philippines’ gross domestic product (GDP) by around 6 percent, according to the latest report recently released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The ADB’s “The Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia: A Regional Review” is the result of a 15-month ADB technical-assistance project, funded by the government of the United Kingdom, which examines climate-change issues in Southeast Asia, with particular focus on Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The report said the Philippines will need around $1.6 billion in order to bring down carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions to healthy levels or around 0.6 percent of the country’s GDP in 2020. However, if the country does not take action now, the cost to the economy and, consequently, the cost of investment, could increase even further.

“For the four countries covered in the modeling work, the potential economic cost of inaction is huge: if the world continues “business-as-usual” emissions trends—considering all market and nonmarket impacts and catastrophic risks of rising temperatures—the cost to these countries each year could equal a loss of 6.7 percent of their combined gross domestic product by 2100, more than twice the world average,” the ADB said.

“Without further mitigation or adaptation, the four countries—Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam—are projected to suffer a mean loss of 2.2 percent of GDP by 2100 on an annual basis, if market impact only (mainly related to agriculture and coastal zones) are considered, well above the world’s 0.6 percent,” the report added.

Agriculture in the Philippines will be severely affected and could cut rice yields by 75 percent in 2100. This is higher than the average for all the four countries included in the study, estimated at 50- percent cuts in yield. Indonesia will have the least projected decrease in rice yield at 34 percent.

By the end of this century, the ADB said, there would be a trend toward decreasing rice production potential, with areas such as Mindanao in the Philippines likely to be the most affected.

Increasing temperatures due to global warming will also convert a large part of the dominant forest/woodland into tropical savannas and shrubs with low or no carbon sequestration potential.

“The agriculture sector would suffer severely under climate change. In the four countries, the yield potential for rice will decline by about 50 percent on average, relative to 1990, toward the end of this century. Corn and soybean production would also decline. Water stress or shortage and the decline in agricultural production would pose a serious threat to the region’s long-term food security and to lives and livelihoods, especially of the poor,” the report said.

Climate change, the ADB said, would be the biggest development challenge of the 21st Century, especially for countries in Southeast Asia. This is partly due to its reliance on agriculture and its rich natural resources, as well as the fact that millions of its people—around 563 million—live along coastlines that measure 173,251 kilometers long. These people will be exposed to rising sea levels.

A projected 30-centimeter rise in sea level in the Philippines by 2045 will affect 2,000 hectares and about 500,000 people. If sea level in the country will rise by 100 cm by 2080, this will inundate over 5,000 hectares of the Manila Bay coastal area and affect over 2.5 million people.

“Sea-level rise in combination with land subsidence due to overexploitation of groundwater will definitely move the coastline inland in many key cities in Indonesia and the Philippines, with an associated higher risk of floods,” the report stated.

The study covers three main areas that serve as the basis for formulating climate change policies for Southeast Asia: impact assessment, adaptation analysis, and mitigation analysis. Impact assessment looks at how Southeast Asian countries have been and will be affected by climate change, individually and collectively.

Three simple steps

2011-01-22T00:53:00.000-08:00

“Save energy by switching off and unplugging all electrical appliances when you leave your resort room;

“Reduce waste by bringing your own bag when you go out, and say no to plastic bags, straws and sachets;

“Walk more, to enjoy the beach and lessen air pollution.”

These are three simple steps that Greenpeace is asking holiday-goers bound for the resort island of Boracay (or any other destination, for that matter) to take when they go to the island for a vacation.

Local Boracay-based groups, including Boracay Foundation Inc., and Boracay Yuppies, have thrown their support behind the “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” campaign. In addition, Seair will be announcing the three simple steps on their flights starting tomorrow (Holy Monday) to April 12, Easter Sunday, Holy Week being the height of the busiest season on the island. Resorts as well as the local boat cooperative will be displaying project posters telling tourists what they can do to help protect the island’s fragile environment.

Meanwhile, local TV cable stations Paradise Cable and Kalibo Cable will be airing videos of Richard Gutierrez and Angel Aquino enjoining visitors to help make Boracay a greener destination.

According to Greenpeace press materials, “Save the Climate, Save Boracay” is the first project of its kind in the Philippines. It was launched last June during the “Quit Coal, Save the Climate” Philippine tour of the Greenpeace ship M.Y. Rainbow Warrior.

In a manifesto signed by all the stakeholders of Boracay’s tourism industry, the signatories promised to include energy efficiency measures and the promotion of renewable energy use as part of the environmental
management plans for the island.

* * *
In particular, the manifesto mentions the need for energy efficient measures in the construction or expansion of establishments, the provision of regular energy audits, “skillshares” and workshops for establishments to ensure the continuation and replication of successful practices in the areas of energy and water conservation, as well as ecological waste management. To carry out these measures, Greenpeace has been conducting forums and dialogues with the island’s resorts and tourism organizations since the project’s inception.

Aside from tapping tourism organizations, the project also counts on the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Tourism, the local government of Malay, Aklan, Task Force Boracay, Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Boracay (PCCI-Boracay), and the Boracay Association of Resorts, Restaurants & Independent Allies (BARRIA). The initiative is made possible through a grant from the Foundation for the Philippine Environment.

What drew my attention to the project was the “three simple steps” suggested by Greenpeace. They are indeed simple, easy to follow and eminently doable. Greenpeace doesn’t require tourists to go out of their way and engage in “special” activities to help clean up or protect Boracay’s environment. All Greenpeace asks is for visitors to think about their activities while on the island, and leave as small a “footprint” as possible while they go about enjoying themselves.

* * *
I think the “three simple steps” are wonderfully workable in other vacation destinations as well, be they beach resorts, mountain hideaways or any quiet, hidden spot far from the hustle of the city.

In beaches and wooded areas, I would suggest that vacationers use extra reusable bags to carry their trash as well, so that they leave the beach or clear it as they found it, bringing their disposables to population centers where they could be disposed of properly, recycled or reduced to compost.

I could never understand how beach-goers, for one, could descend on a pristine stretch of beach and have no compunctions about littering their surroundings with food wrappers and discards, fruit peels and seafood shells, empty bottles (which pose a danger to those coming after them), empty soda cans, and soiled disposable diapers (I swear I saw some during one visit).

The detritus speaks not only of the deplorable sanitary habits of the vacationers, but also of their utter disrespect for nature and bad manners — who do they expect will clean up after them?

In fact, I would suggest that local government officials of beach locales hand every group an extra trash bag to take with them and then require each group to deposit these trash bags with the local trash authority for proper disposal.

* * *
Sadly, leisure-seekers often arrive at their destinations expecting they could leave all civilized behavior behind.

There’s an expectation that they can leave behind all the politically-correct, environmentally-sound practices they adopt in the everyday world, now that they have resort personnel or hotel staffers to follow their bidding.

But as the Greenpeace project in Boracay shows, even while in “paradise,” people are still expected to care about their surroundings. In fact, it is precisely because you’re in paradise, enjoying an environment of beauty and serenity that you should take extra pains to preserve that environment and work for its protection and sustainability.

And as the “three simple steps” show, such measures don’t even have to be heroic or superhuman. It’s a simple matter of turning off appliances when you don’t need them, carrying a reusable bag around to cut down on the need for plastic (and avoid littering), and walking around and using your own energy as much as possible.

Perhaps the coming Holy Week will provide all of us enough time and leisure to reflect on just what is expected of us when it comes to doing our share to save Mother Earth.

Save Mother Earth, Act now its not too late... Time to bring back the cleanliness, Save our environment...

Southern Africa on alert for flash floods

2011-01-22T00:03:00.000-08:00

GENEVA (AFP) – Virtually every country in southern Africa is on alert for potentially disastrous flooding, the United Nations said on Friday, as exceptionally heavy rainfall was forecast to continue into March.

"We fear flash floods. It's rather common in the region and this time we are seeing heavier rainfall than in previous years," said Elisabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

"Five countries are on alert for flooding -- Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia, -- and South Africa will now declare a disaster."

"All neighbouring countries including Madagascar are on alert," she told journalists.

In South Africa flooding and storms have left 40 dead and forced 6,000 people to flee their homes so far, according to the UN, with reports of damage or casualties in Lesotho, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Angola and Swaziland.

Two of the biggest rivers in the region, the Zambezi and Okavango, are at about twice their normal levels early in the rainy season.

"We could have an extremely major disaster if prevention measures are not stepped up over the next six weeks," Byrs said.

The UN warned of the risk of increased cholera -- which is endemic in some countries -- and malaria in any major flood, as well as the danger of widespread destruction of crops in southern Africa's 'bread basket'.

Regional forecasts have predicted "normal to above normal" rainfall across the area in January to March.

Relief workers fear a repeat of the kind of disaster that struck Mozambique in 2000, when devastating downpours caused massive floods that killed 800 people.

Bad air cuts visibility in Hong Kong, raising death rates

2011-01-20T22:47:00.000-08:00

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Visibility in Hong Kong has deteriorated so sharply over the last 50 years because of air pollution that variations in levels can even be used to predict mortality rates, health experts warned on Wednesday.

Visibility is now 12.6 km (7.8 miles) on an average day, well below that of cities such as Paris, Berlin, Auckland and Vancouver, where visibility stands at 20 to 25 km or beyond.

Using government data, researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that the number of hazy days when visibility fell to below 8 km shot up to 54 in 2007 from 6.6 in 1968.

For every 6.5-km reduction in visibility, there was a corresponding 1.13 percent increase in the number of non-accidental deaths from such causes as heart and respiratory diseases.

These additional deaths worked out to a total of 1,200 per year between 2007 and 2010, the experts told a news conference.

"Loss of visibility is a direct measure of serious harm to health. Loss of visibility kills people," said Anthony Hedley, Honorary Professor at the School of Public Health.

Professor Lam Tai-hing, director of the School of Public Health, said: "The less you can see, the greater the harm. It is very important to believe in your eyes because at the moment, the government is still using outdated air quality objectives.

"Based on that, people are being told today's air quality is good or acceptable when in fact, if you follow the World Health Organization's air quality guidelines, it is very bad indeed."

Poor visibility was due to the concentration of pollutants such as respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen dioxide, Hedley said.

While the amount of particulates in places like Vancouver and Auckland measured between 10 to 12 micrograms per cubic meter of air, Hong Kong had 80 micrograms per cubic meter.

"The higher the pollutant concentrations, the lower the visibility," Hedley said, adding that even short exposure to such pollutants was particularly dangerous for those suffering from underlying heart or lung illnesses.
"Air pollutants increase the stickiness of elements in the blood ... With increased stickiness, blood cells stick together, they form a clot. If you form a clot, you may obstruct a vessel and if the vessel is in the heart or the head, you get a heart attack or a stroke," Hedley said.
"In people who are susceptible, such as those with diabetes, they begin to experience serious degradation to their health, they will become sick and may have a shorter life expectancy."

New climate data shows warming world: WMO

2011-01-20T22:42:00.000-08:00

GENEVA (Reuters) – Last year tied for the hottest year on record, confirming a long-term warming trend which will continue unless greenhouse gas emissions are cut, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.

The first 10 years of the millennium proved to be the hottest decade since records began in the 19th century, it said.

"The main signal is that the warming trend continues and is being strengthened year after year," WMO Secretary-General Michel Jarraud told a news conference.

"The trend, unfortunately, will continue for a number of years but the amplitude will depend on the amount of greenhouse gases released," the Frenchman added. "It will depend on action taken to minimize the release of greenhouse gases."

Jarraud said the latest data should convince doubters about the growing evidence for man-made climate change. "If they look at it in an unbiased way, it should convince them, or hopefully a few of them, that the skeptical position is untenable."

2010 was also marked by further melting of Arctic ice -- in December its extent was at its lowest on record, the WMO said -- and by extreme weather, including Russia's heatwave and devastating floods in Pakistan.
Rising temperatures, already about 0.8 degree Celsius above pre-industrial times, mean the world will struggle to limit warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, a target agreed by almost 200 nations at U.N. talks last month in Mexico.

Many experts see 2C as a threshold for dangerous climate change, like more heatwaves, droughts, floods and rising seas.

"We have to act very fast and strongly" to limit emissions, said Bob Ward, of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
He noted that many skeptics say global warming has stopped because of no new records since 1998, when temperatures were boosted by a strong El Nino event that warms the Pacific.

"But they cannot explain away the fact that nine of the 10 warmest years have occurred since 2000," he said.

"Data received by the WMO show no statistically significant difference between global temperatures in 2010,
2005 and 1998," the United Nations body, which compiles its ranking from data provided by British and U.S. agencies, said in a statement.

Data from British institutes on Wednesday showed last year was the world's second warmest behind 1998, while the other two main groups tracking global warming, based in the United States, said 2010 was tied for the hottest on record.

Over the 10 years from 2001 to 2010, global temperatures have averaged 0.45 degrees Celsius (0.83 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1961-1990 average and are the highest ever recorded for a 10-year period since climate records began, WMO said.

The difference between the three hottest years was less than the margin of uncertainty in comparing the data, according to WMO, whose assessment is based on climate data from land-based weather and climate stations, ships, buoys and satellites.

The fight against global warming suffered a setback in the wake of the financial crisis, slowing funding for renewable energy projects and knocking momentum from international efforts to agree a climate deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol in 2013.

Japanese carmakers in push for hydrogen vehicles

2011-01-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

TOKYO (AFP) - – Japan's top three automakers Toyota, Honda and Nissan have united with Japanese energy firms in a push to commercialise greener hydrogen fuel cell cars and build a network of fuelling stations.

Along with 10 Japanese energy groups including natural gas refiners and distributors, the companies are aiming to build 100 filling stations by 2015 in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka and Fukuoka, the companies said in a statement Thursday.

The automakers are making a renewed push behind Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs), which covert hydrogen into electricity and emit nothing more harmful than water vapour.

The companies say that the creation of a hydrogen supply infrastructure network is crucial as manufacturers work to reduce the production cost of hydrogen-powered vehicles in order to make them commercially viable.

"Japanese automakers are continuing to drastically reduce the cost of manufacturing such systems and are aiming to launch FCVs in the Japanese market -- mainly in the country's four major metropolitan areas -- in 2015," they said.

"With an aim to significantly reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by the transportation sector, automakers and hydrogen fuel suppliers will work together to expand the introduction of FCVs and develop the hydrogen supply network throughout Japan."

The companies did not say how much they planned to invest in the project.

While all-electric vehicles such as Nissan's Leaf or hybrids like Toyota's Prius have hogged the limelight recently, fuel cells are seen as a more powerful alternative, but expensive production and a lack of a comprehensive fuelling network has been seen as prohibitive.

Toyota, pioneer of hybrids powered by a petrol engine and an electric motor, has said it plans to launch a fuel-cell car by 2015. It is applying its hybrid technology to the vehicles, swapping the petrol engine for a fuel-cell stack.

Honda in 2008 began delivering about 200 FCX Clarity hydrogen-powered cars on lease to customers in the United States, Japan and later in Europe.

Wwater drains from the tailpipe of an hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicle. Toyota, Honda and Nissan have united with Japanese energy firms in a push to commercialise greener hydrogen fuel cell cars and build a network of fuelling stations.

PH gears up for nationwide celebration of “International Year of Forests”

2011-01-17T18:30:00.001-08:00

As the Philippines joins the world community on February 2, 2011 in New York City for the launching of 2011 as the “International Year of the Forests” (IYF) by the United Nations, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is making sure that the festivities slated are both meaningful to the majority of the Filipino people and especially to the most affected sector by forest ruin – the 25 million Filipino upland dwellers regarded as the country’s “poorest of the poor.”

This, according to DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje, who has called for the national launch of the celebration rites in partnership with some of the leading environment-advocate organizations that represent the country’s diverse ecosystems, such as the University of the Philippine, Los Banos-College of Forestry; Society of Filipino Foresters (SFF); Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA); Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation (PTFC); Yakap Kalikasan; Women’s Initiative for Society, Culture and Environment (WISE); Bantay Kalikasan, Conservation International-Philippines (CI-Philippines); Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE); World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); and the German International Cooperation (GTZ).

“The observance of the International Year of the Forest in the country not only serves as a catalyst for raising global awareness of the urgent need to protect the planet’s fragile forest resources, but more importantly, our festivities should focus on the need for reforestation and reducing gas emissions while supporting people and biodiversity for the primary benefit of Filipinos especially those in the upland areas,” said Paje.

According to Paje, the DENR will spearhead the celebration, as he directed the creation of a “National IYF Steering Committee (NISC),” to be headed by Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Director Neria Andin.

Being aware of the importance of the UN declaration, Paje bared that a presidential proclamation declaring 2011 as “the national year of forests” has already been drafted for the signing of President Benigno S. Aquino III, imploring all sectors of Philippine society to act out their important roles in protecting and conserving forest life.

Paje stressed that his agency will exploit the forthcoming event “to the hilt” to get the message across to the general public, especially those in urban centers, that “forests, like the infant’s umbillical chord that brings life-giving nutrients from the mother, are inextricably linked to the country’s voyage towards poverty eradication and food security.

“The government’s program on convergence among the DENR, Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform, will be one of the centerpiece activities of the event to stress this point,” Paje added. The convergence program seeks to reduce poverty, promote security and address climate change.

The draft also calls on the 15th Philippine Congress “to facilitate the passage” of the proposed Sustainable Forest Ecosystem Management Act which has been filed for 15 years now.

“Passing this proposed law will have ground-breaking impact on the country’s efforts to chart a vibrant future for our forests and the economic fruits that it can give the nation ,” Paje said.

He added that a national calendar of events is now undergoing fine tuning to keep the activities attuned to the four themes laid out by the United Nations Forum on Forests, namely: Forests for People, Finance for Forest Dependent Communities, Forests plus: Cross Sectoral and Cross Institutional Approach, and Forests and Green Economies.

Paje said giving life to the four themes through the country’s celebration rites of the UN declaration “puts in living colors” the need for forests to remain high on the wider development agenda both on the global and regional scale like the ASEAN and APEC poverty eradication.

Paje added that four teams have been formed for each of the four themes and will act as technical working groups for NISC whose overall task is to oversee the implementation of the lined up activities on a national scale.

These are the working groups on Forest for People with WWF as head; Finance for Forest Dependent Communities to be headed by PTFCF; Forests plus: Cross Sectoral and Cross Institutional Approach, WISE; and Forests and Green Economies, SFF.

“As such, the IYF needed to highlight forests as an important part of development and a crucial link with the many other issues being addressed at the global level,” Paje said.