2020 - The Japanese Dream!

Japan is one of the countries that more consumes energy, mostly fossil energies. The consequences of being one of the most developed countries in the world are not easy to face. The price to pay for that amount of energy is too high.

This morning I read on the newspaper an article about a Japanese megalomaniac Project. Which consists, basically, in send an enormous central of photovoltaic panels to the space, where the production of electric energy would be five times more than in the Earth.

But how to send energy from the space to Earth? The scientists are thinking to use microwaves to transport energy through the space. It’s a very expensive project, and is not easy to make it possible. But it would make Japan even more developed, and the energy prices would be the lowest in the world.

Source: João Nunes in Domingo, November 15 2009

Survival of the fittest… or the luckier? - Redux

Yesterday I wrote about the use of water in dry areas of the world for all daily-life purposes. Among them was agriculture. I’d like revive the line of thought I left you with yesterday. This time to focus mainly on the resources used to create farms. Yes, farms in dry lands. 

“Fossil water also enables crops to be grown in the desert to provide food for local populations.” A curious and ingenious system is used: farms gain a circular shape due to being irrigated around a central pivot. Growing crop is not only easier, but it’s also cheaper (within the otherwise average costs. Growing food in these areas is still very expensive). Dozens of these fields are constructed next to each other; bringing short-lived hope to farmers that can spend money to grow food where otherwise would have been impossible or unprofitable. 

Circular crop farms in Kansas

Again: short-lived. This circular system is used all over the world (such as the central U.S.A.) but in remote areas as this “there’s a heavy price to pay: fossil water is a non-renewable resource. In Saudi Arabia, the dream of industrial farming has faded.” All the money invested goes to waste, as more fossil water deposits are misused and overused, leaving investors bankrupt and, “as if on a parchment map, the light spots on this patchwork show abandoned plots. The irrigation equipment is still there, the energy to pump water also, but the fossil water reserves are severely depleted.” 

Quotations from the 2009 documentary, HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

Carbon capture and storage

Thermoelectric energy is a process that involves the burning of coal, a fossil fuel, in order to produce electricity. Like all the other burning related energy fabrications, this procedure creates a significant amount of carbon dioxide that, when released into the air, helps warming the Earth. Nonetheless there is a solution for this problem. If carbon dioxide can be captured before being released into air and imprisoned somewhere safe, it’s feasible to reduce C02 emissions and consequently C02 concentrations.

Scientists and engineers are starting to implement an adjustment to the production of energy through burning coal called carbon capture and storage or geological carbon sequestration. Basically, it consists in capturing the carbon dioxide and keeping it underground indefinitely. This idea was born due to the recollection of fossil fuels’ origins, that is, carbon has always existed beneath the surface, and therefore it’s certain that it is safe to storage carbon dioxide where carbon has existed before.

A more detailed explanation of the process is the following:

1. Coal is burned using oxygen instead of air;

2. From this combustion result the energy prospected and gases made up with steam and a high concentration of carbon dioxide.

3. Steam is released to the air whereas compressed and purified carbon dioxide is transported underneath the surface through pipes.

4. There it fills up the pours of sandstone or other suitable rock and is trapped.

Carbon capture and storage as already been practiced by and oil platform owned by Statoil since 1996, so no one can rebottle carbon sequestration saying that it’s not known how safe it is. This innovating solution can’t be named as the solution against all our problems but should be thought and be considered as one of many fronts to make use against the perils of climatic changes.

If you want to know more and are a little more patient, the following link will be of great use. It is a lecture on carbon sequestration given in the University of Berkeley.

 

Rainforest2Reef: A caring organization of the world

Tropical forests contain enormous amounts of carbon and when they are slashed and burned (if you want to know more about slash and burn please read João’s post Cold-Hearted Arsonists) they are released to the air and increase the carbon dioxide concentration, thus augmenting global warming. Presently, the destruction of rainforests is the main cause of carbon dioxide emissions in the planet. However horrific this fact alone is, tropical forests obliteration also devastates millions of different species’ habitats which may lead to their extinction. So, with all this in mind, you must struggle against the killing of a essential part of the planet.

Luckily, there are organizations which know what tropical forests represent to the global well-being and fight for it. Organizations like Rainforest2Reef, a non-profitable group that cares deeply for the survival of rainforests, in particular the Selva Maya forest” (…) the second largest rainforest in the Americas (…).” (Cheri Sugal, Executive Director of Rainforest2Reef). This forest stretches along parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Protecting some of this area is the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. This wild-life sanctuary has about 750.000 hectares and holds about 60.000 species of plants and animals.

A local Native American people called ejidos owns large areas of the Selva Maya. For some of them, the only way to make a living is to sell their land to logging and slash and burn agriculture corporations. The newest threat is the proposal of ethanol companies to convert territory outside and even inside the reserve into corn production fields. This would tear apart the Selva Maya rainforest so Rainforest2Reef came up with a solution, they would pay the ejidos 2, 5 times what they’d receive from selling to others. They have also been working with them to find a more profitable way to collect from their lands without damaging the ecosystem and also teaching the young about the importance of forests. Now, they have been measuring the quantity of carbon so they can, in the future and according to market developments in the U.S.A. sell the carbon off-sets they have secured to companies. As a result of these business measures they are building a trust-fund along with Conservation International, so that they can finance land protection forever.

All of the world should follow the example of this modest association and put in the efforts for the preservation of the world’s resources. We have to try and make the best we can with what we can and without damaging the others.

http://www.quantumshift.tv/v/1221506699/

Let's help that undefended animals!

Someone asked me to put here some ways we can help the endangered species, and that's what I'm doing. Like I told you, or tried to tell, people like us (with no power in our society) can't do much in this area, however we can always make something. We can help them, conserving their habitats, creating more habitats (specially those that are in lower number), following the three R rule (Recycle, Reduce, Reuse), controling the species, joining to an organisation and finally try to make our voice heard. And more specifically:

- Protect the animals and create national parks, to maintain the contact between the animals and the humans low;

- Visit national parks and talk to the ranger about how are the animals protected and how you can improve that;

- When you visit a national park, make sure you follow the rules of the park in order to maintain the good life quality of the animals;

- Take care of the lands near your house by removing weeds and planting local native species in their place. Join yourself to one group or create one with your family and friends. This will make the animals return to their natural habitats;

- Make organic composts in your garden, it eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers which are harmful to animals and humans. Don't use harmful chemicals;

- Save energy and water;

- Buy organic fruits and vegetables;

- Many species expand because birds transport the seeds by the world;

- Join yourself to an organisation that helps the nature;

- Talk with your family and friends about these problems and encourage them to help the nature;

- Write articles or letters about these problems to newspapers and magazines;

The youngest people, have to listen and learn about the problems that we are facing daily, in order to know how to exceed them in the future. I think that's the only way to fight for a better world. To increase in them the will of helping they should draw pictures, write sentences and to research about this.

I hope to have helped you and I hope that in the future you will use these solutions.

Sources: http://www.endangeredspecie.com/Ways_To_Help.htmhttp://gallery.wvca.us/albums/Streambank-Restoration-and-Riparian-Planting-Completed-in-Sleepy-Creek/Participants_planting_trees.jpg http://www.nps.gov/fost/forkids/images/NPS.junior_ranger.gif

Soil needs attention

The lack of attention to soil destruction is illustrated not only in the limited protection laws across the EU, but also in the scarcity of data. Soil is a non-renewable resource and needs to be managed sustainably. Only 10% of all human food doesn't come from the soil and it maintains the water and the ecosystem stable and most importantly it slows down the climate changes.

Erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, salinisation, landslides, contamination, sealing… Soil degradation is becoming more frequent, with negative effects on human health, natural ecosystems and climate change.

There are some areas of EU policies that protect the soil (air pollution, the marine environment, waste prevention and recycling, natural resources, the urban environment and pesticides) .But as these policies have other objectives and other scopes of action, they are insufficient to ensure an reasonable level of protection for all soil in Europe(and the world).

Without the appropriate protection we will lose our bigger and better resource. Annex: The Sahara desert grows 100 kilometers per year. Between 1990 and 2000 2,8% of soil as suffered severe changes mostly by the growing of urban areas. Without the capabilities of soil the artifacts we often found, our ancestors would be lost forever and we would never know they existed(only by theories). http://www.eea.europa.eu
 

Chinese Fur Farms

In this post I will show you what I included in my presentation about endangered species. In my opinion this is more than cruel, they don't have the right to do that, there are lives that are in question and they don't care about that. The traders are so selfish that they don't feel any pain in killing the poor animals. All this because the fur is beautiful and they want to win some money, selling that. Poor animals! I started to give attention to this subject when I recieved one e-mail with one petition whose objective was to fight against this. I saw the movie and I was shocked. It's so bad that I never thought about such thing. In Chinese Fur Farms we can find foxes, minks, rabbits, and other animals. These species can be in peace now but with this trade, certainly they will be in danger of extinction too. China say that half of the fur garments were imported to USA to be sold. In this story is so much guilty China as USA, China as seller and USA as buyer. The only thing that we can do is to sign the request and to wait for someone with more power than us in our side to destroy this trade. (You don't have to see the movie because is very shocking)

Source: http://www.peta.org/feat/ChineseFurFarms/index.asp

Acid Rain

Acid rain is every rain with a PH lower than 4,5, it can happen do to the natural gases of vulcanoes and by some biological processes that happen in the swamps, sea and in the soil. But the bigger causes to this event is due to the human being. Our industries, power plants and our means of transportation pollute the air wich makes the acid rain. The water affected by that pollution can still move thousands of kilometers before it rains wich in most of the cases it doesn't rain were the pollution happens but in places were it doesn't happen, who gets punished are the "god guys". The acid rains are formed by sulfur our nitrogen. Sulfur can be form by the burning of mineral coal and oil and in a small part by vulcanoes. Nitrogen is very unresponsive and for to make it reacts it requires a lot of energy wich is caused by the using of combustion engine our by electrical discharges. Acid rain releases toxic metals that were on the ground. These metals can contaminate rivers and are inadvertently used by man, causing serious health problems, acid rain also helps to erode some of the materials used in construction, damaging some structures. The lakes may be the largest hit with the effect of acid rain because they could become fully acidified losing all it's life, it can destroy florests, and our plants in agriculture wich takes us some of our food. To prevent this from hapenning we have to use more public transportations, take the sulfur out of the products before using them, prevent industrial areas and the use of renewable energies ( wind power, solar power...). Anex: Acid rain can transform marble into plaster, it's one of the causes of Alzheimer.

http://www.explicatorium.com

http://www.toronto.ca/greenguide/

www.youtube.com

Overfishing

What’s wrong with the fishing? According to some UE numbers there are too many fishing boats, fleets and that they are twice as bigger as needed, which causes the reduction of the number of the water species. 25% of the fish stocks are overexploited, 7% are depleted, 52% are completely used and if it continues some species will be completely extinct, that only came back on us.Fish is a very important resource to our organism and to the balanced of the sea and the world. In some regions across the world the overfishing as already showed their side effects and some species disappeared from those “lands”. But not all is lost! There’s many things to be done, we can replace sea fishing by farming fish, we can reduce ours fleets size, number and capacity, laws to restrain the abusive fishing, control in the amount of sea life the ships bring, the areas they use (do to the destruction of very important sea plants and rare animals) and sanction if it breaks the limit, and you can create a blog talking about the environmental problems and solutions. Spread the Word!

http://overfishing.org/pages/what_can_I_do_to_help.php

http://www.eea.europa.eu

Survival of the fittest… or the luckier?

“We have forgotten that resources are scarce. Five hundred million humans live in the world’s desert lands, more than the combined population of Europe. They know the value of water. They know how to use it sparingly. Here they depend on wells replenished by fossil water which accumulated underground on the days when it rained in these deserts, twenty-five thousand years ago.”

They have to use this water for all their daily activities. In underdeveloped areas of the world such as this, the use of recourses is done with survival in mind: to gather all that is available. But when little is available, rivers, lakes or underground layers of water are sucked too rapidly, and soon become another portion of the dry land around it.

 River Jordan

But this frenzy-like pumping of water is not fully aimed at securing basic levels of hygiene or growing food for the population around it. If countries from these areas want to survive in the global market they need do trade with the outside world and export food that has been grown with the use of this scarce water.

“The once mighty river Jordan is now just a trickle. Its water has flown to supermarkets all over the world in crates of fruit and vegetables. The Jordan’s fate is not unique. Across the planet one nature river in ten no longer flows into the sea for several months of the year. Deprived of the Jordan’s water, the level of the Dead Sea goes down by over one meter per year.”

Quotations from the 2009 documentary, HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

You can watch the entire picture online on its official Youtube Channel.

Unlucky Beauty

Earth, the most beautiful planet humanity has ever known. Our planet has a fantastic and unique thing, something that we all should preserve, that we all should maintain and love. It’s, in my opinion, a privilege and nobody can disagree that the green the landscapes Nature gave us are something superior, the perfection of the earth; we can see it all and feel it in front of the amazing places on Earth. But now, it seems like the importance of this amazing ‘connection’, disappeared from humanity… from each human being. We think we are the perfect animal, the superior being. And as we get more selfish we forget what allow us to live. Live is not to want more and more evolution, autonomy, development or just increasing the technology, but it’s to live the moment, and give things the relevance they deserve. Nothing deserves more importance than Earth, with all her resources, with all her complexity, her beauty, and her perfection. Humanity must look at what is really important and necessary: The Earth.

Clean Choices?!

In these days, when mankind is so dependent on energy, it is essential to seek new ways of producing energy without pollute or affect our planet. The way how we get most of our energy is polluting our planet, and exhausting his already limited resources. A dramatic shift is taking place in government energy policies, mainly in developed countries. We have many ways to produce clean energy without exhausting the resources:

- - Solar power (converting the light of the sun into electric energy using solar cells);
- - Biomass ( biological materials that contains stored solar energy that was absorbed in photosynthesis);
- - Wind Power ( made by using airflows to run wind turbines and turn on the generator that produce energy);
- - Hydropower (the use of moving water energy which the operation a various machines allow the production of energy)
- - Geothermal energy ( extracting the energy of Earth's heat).

We have more sustainable ways to produce energy, but this ones are the mainly ones. The investment in clean energies is increasing, but is not sufficient to rebalance de exploration of the planet's resources. “All we have to do is stop chilling the Earth and start looking to the sky”

Source:

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/wind-power/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy_source

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/energy-technologies/index.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropower

Quotations from the film HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

World's secret weapon against global warming

These days, the mass media is filled with information on the climatic changes, whether it’s causes, consequences or the role of Man in all of this. However accurate the media is, I believe that they should dig a bit more on the solutions for these catastrophic events.

As most people know, industries are a primary source of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, it is not so known that agriculture is also a primary source of C0₂, the principal constituent of greenhouse gases. So, if my line of thought is correct, if you reduce C0₂ emissions from agriculture, you will be fighting against global warming.

Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and make it part of their structure and eventually the soil’s too. When you till crop land, you release carbon to the atmosphere which then binds to oxygen and forms C0₂ again.

So, if you farm organically without plowing and use winter cover crops you will aid the absorption of carbon dioxide (organic farms take up 30% more C0₂ than the regular ones), the reduction of its emissions and preservation of a healthy soil. Organic farming also improves yields and quality of food, thus helping human’s health too.

In conclusion, the use of organic farm in our lives is a raw win-win situation that will help is the fight against global warming and will also gives more and better food supplies which contribute to healthier humans.

http://www.quantumshift.tv/v/1181028043/

Watch more videos like this at www.quantumshift.tv

Agriculture

Agriculture Food production consumes a lot of water. Agriculture accounts for 24% of water abstraction in Europe.

The water is returned to the water body, is normally less than one-third. And yet, the use of agricultural water is not balanced. In some regions of southern Europe, agriculture is responsible for more than 80% of water reduction. And, the uptake is further more intense in the summer, a time when there is less water available, which exacerbates the negative impacts.
The UE finances the agriculture in the meaning of reducing water abstraction and in contrast the farmers use that money for extreme irrigation, there’s not a close call on the laws against that and the farmers use that to their benefit but for that who suffers is the people in those regions .
What can be done? The price of water is the main mechanism to encourage levels of efficiency that simultaneously addresses the economic, social and environmental needs of the surrounding societies. Studies show that if prices reflect actual costs, if the extraction is monitored effectively and if the water is paid by volume, farmers will reduce irrigation and will invest in measures to improve efficiency in water consumption.
The national and Community aid can provide additional incentives to adopt techniques of water saving. With some incentives the farmers only have to do their part.

Anex:in Cyprus, severe water shortages in 2008 necessitated importing water using tankers.
InTurkey's abstraction for irrigation much of it drawn from illegally drilled wells,has severely reduced the surface area of the country's second largest lake, Lake Tuz.

sources: http://www.eea.europa.eu/

Special animals

Actually, many species are in danger of extinction and, as we know, animals contribute in the living of a better life. And I ask, why do we destroy their habitats? Why do we kill animals just to take their skin? They don’t deserve it, especially from us, the humans. Wherever we are, animals can make us smile. I've been to Gibraltar once and one jumped to my back and I just laughed because is unusual to have a monkey in our back. These moments are special, just because the monkey is an irrational animal. One day I saw one thing that marked me. Our tourist guide said to the monkey, “give me five” and the monkey just did it. It was awesome! I loved to see that! This is one example, there are thousands more. Another example, I usually ride my bike, I just don't do it when I can’t, because I don’t have time. Like many of my friends know I am one of many bikers in the world and what can always make the ride special are situations like these: 

 

Conclusion, not only the animals help us with the maintenance of the Earth but also make our life amusing.

(don't forget to see the videos of the links)

Source: http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/1589695/

What?! DESFORESTATION?

Since I was child, I was taught that the trees can give us the air we breathe, and therefore should not be cut wildly, but let's see the substance! Forests are very important, covering almost a third of the land of our planet, the benefits of forests:

- provide raw materials;
- protect land;
- protect water resources;
- provide clean air;
- maintain biodiversity.
 

But forests can be damaged by agricultural and urban expansion, by natural disasters, by fire, by climate changes, etc.

The rate of conversion forests to urban or agricultural land is increasing dramatically, "Forest area decreased worldwide by 0.22% per year in the period 1990-2000 and 0.18% per year between 2000 and 2005" However, campaigns for plating new forest are increasing too, nevertheless they are still being insufficient to rebalance the amount of forest on Earth. Forests affect and influence the climate change principally by regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Forests absorb the carbon from the air and store it in their leaves, their trunks, and in the soil. When the forests are damaged and destroyed the carbon is released into the atmosphere.

Biodiversity in forests is important and valuable, and in many cases this species diversity is being seriously affected by deforestation. To conserve and preserve this diversity, currently about 11% of the forest in the world is protected and designated for the conservation of biodiversity.

For all this and more, I think is absolutely essential to know the reality of deforestation that is occurring right now, and that has to be slowed down.

Source:

http://www.greenfacts.org/en/forests/index.htm#8
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Deforestation/

Role Model Cities

Having seen a lot or little information about it, we all know about places that contribute highly to a more polluted world due to lack of organization: from the “almost sewerless” streets of Lagos, Nigeria to the starless sky of Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

The second has to be noted and applaud for the efforts made to clean its air. After being selected to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, Beijing spent about US$17 billion to clean the air, and one year later, official reports are saying the 9th most populous city in the world is enjoying its best air quality this decade. 

Another city that improved a lot due to hosting the Summer Olympic Games is Barcelona (1992). It helped the city to modernize existing areas and extend the limits (very carefully thought through) opening to the see as well, by reconstructing a decaying area of the city into the Olympic Village.

Today Barcelona is the sixth-most populous urban area in the European Union and a major economic centre in the world. Today it is a role model for a lot more than organized and thought-out growth, it is also an example to follow in the use of renewable energies: “Barcelona’s municipal regulation gives it an mandatory stature: 60% of water heating in new and renewed buildings and it’s full amount in water used for pools must come from solar energy. More than 25 thousand megawatts/hour of energy are saved annually. Barcelona will have more than a hundred thousand square meters of photovoltaic panels. Residents save more than 220 thousand euros per year in electricity taxes”. 

Barcelona

Quotations from National Geographic Portugal’s, O Estado do Planeta special issue. (Translated)

World at War

I hear people worrying about the possibility of a new war because of economic interests, I read everyday news about military moves from countries against others, and finally I wonder: are we humans or not?! How can’t we see we are fighting against the human race, against ourselves?! This is the real and only WORLD WAR.

We cannot pretend that we don’t know what we are doing. Maybe some people just prefer to forget how guilty they are, prefer to stay away of the consequences of humanity’s acts. But there is no place to hide, there is no escape. The only way to live is to stop the war we have created, is to start working for harmony between humans and human’s home, the Earth. There is no choice and everyone’s diligence is essential to change the misguided course of nature, to rebalance the planet. Let’s open our eyes before… the end! 

What if the world ended today because of our behavior? Would you be happy with what you have done? Did you recycle like the world asked for? Our turn out the light when you leave a room? Change the lamps for more efficient ones? “It will not make the difference” say some of you, how do you know that unless you try? Honestly at the beginning I thought the same but i started being more aware for the weather’s changes, lack of water, hunger … and I realized that I had been away, I want to make it up to you and for everyone, you know what I am talking about, it maybe happened to you as well, I doubt you covered your ears for the past days, months, years! The Governments are walking to the light more faster than I espected but without their people they are close to nothing, we need to follow them, we need to recicle, save water, invest in alternative resorces. The world needs you.

(i'm sorry but the movie is in Portuguese)

Translation: "Remember how your generation dreamed about changing the world?"
"Congratulations you have made it"
"Climate changes; the world asks for your help"

Our shiny planet

Why is the Earth getting warmer? If you look into it, the process is basically the following:

1. The Sun emits some of its radiations towards the Earth;

2. Those radiations enter the Earth’s atmosphere;

3. When those radiations (infra-red) bounce the planet’s surface they go back to space or are reflected back to the surface, due to greenhouse gases, making Earth hotter.

Therefore, there are two possible fronts to consider if we want to stop global warming:

1. Diminish the amount of greenhouse gases;

2. Diminish the amount of infra-red radiation absorbed.

Yes, that’s right. Scientists are trying to block part of sun rays, in order to lower the temperature in the atmosphere. One of the solutions proposed by the scientific community was the placement of giant mirrors surrounding the planet. That way, some sunlight wouldn’t pierce atmosphere, thus fighting against global warming. Just imagine the change it would be for someone who would go to outer space and watch Earth, not as a blue planet, but as a shining planet.

These kinds of bioengineering projects at a world-wide scale have been considered absurd, but now, with a rapidly increasing world crisis coming our way, they are starting to be considered as a possible solution. From blocking sun power with oversized mirrors to releasing iron particles in oceans to enhance algae’s carbon dioxide absorption, or even release sea spray into the air, so that clouds may gain thickness and reflect more sunlight, bio-engineering projects should be studied for they can make a difference between life and death for many human beings as well as other creatures in our planet.

We made this mess and it’s up to us to stop it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3354050/Plan-to-investigate-using-giant-mirrors-to-reverse-global-warming.html 

Cold-Hearted Arsonists

Slash and burn is a process that has been practiced all over the world for centuries. It consists in burning forests to gain space for whatever purpose, mostly to create fields for agriculture. If it wasn’t for the use of this process we, humans, would have never been able to feed ourselves as easily, but this is something that has got to stop. Slash and burn has been used more and more in areas of the globe such as South America (Amazon) or Africa, where “Madagascar has lost more than 80% of its forests”. Pollution rises, natural resources go to waste and more horrifyingly important: the loss of unique species (animal and vegetable) is irreparable. Breaking away from Africa about 165 million years ago, Madagascar has its own unique species that have been fighting against extinction ever since humans first arrived on the island, 2 thousand years ago, particularly the largest animals. “There have been five extinction waves in the planet’s history (…) the sample polling of animal populations so far suggests that we may have entered what will be the planet’s sixth great extinction wave. And this time the cause isn’t an errant asteroid or mega-volcanoes. It’s us.”

Quotations from TIME’s April 13, 2009 special environmental issue.

Image from WBUR.ORG