Simon
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Everything posted by Simon
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Good Luck! I guess you will need it.. :cute:
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Ah, this reminds me about when Stockholm (capital of Sweden) introduced congestion charge. The ones that complained were the ones that lived outside of Stockholm, right-wing politicians and car-fetish people. Stockholm wanted the congestion charge because it would help improve the air, ie, their health. That was the biggest argument for it, not climate change as you might think. The rightwing politicians didn't care about the people who was living inside of Stockholm and the municipality there (Stockholm is made out of different municipality that each governs their area, it's like different states, but smaller). So they allowed the municipalities around Stockholm to vote whet ever Stockholm had right to introduce their congestion charge! See it like this, if your city wanted to build a new town centre they first had to ask permission from all the nearby cities. F*cked up, I know... After endless votings and discussions the YES side won, and now we have a congestion charge in Stockholm. Now other larger cities want to introduce congestion charge, because it works like magic, but they all face the same problems. A little side note, the congestion charge in UK costs the cars almost two thirds as much as the Swedish cars have to pay.
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PetroSun launched the world's first commercial algae-to-biofuel facility in Rio Hondo (Texas, USA) earlier this month. The facility consists of up to 1100 acres (445,15 hectares) of saltwater ponds were the company will be growing the algae. 20 of those acres will be used to produce biofuels from algae. Another 20 acres will be used to produce an experimental jet fuel. The whole facility is expected to produce around 4.4 million gallons of algal oil and around 110 million pounds of biomass per year. Gordon LeBlanc, Jr., CEO of PetroSun said that their "business model has been focused on proving the commercial feasibility of the firms' algae-to-biofuels technology during the past eighteen months." He continued by saying: "Whether we have arrived at this point in time by a superior technological approach, sheer luck or a redneck can-do attitude, the fact remains that microalgae can outperform the current feedstocks utilized for conversion to biodiesel and ethanol, yet do not impact the consumable food markets or fresh water resources." According to PetroSun they are planning on starting algae farms and algal oil extraction plants in other US states during 2008. They also have plans to expand their business to Mexico, Brazil and Australia. The above image shows the algae-to-biofuels facility in Texas. Image credit: Google Maps.
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Why is climate change not in the USA primaries?
Simon replied to mountainhiker's topic in Politics and Current Events
Yes, I understand your point and I agree with it. And here is where the shoe hurts, so to say. No one cares about those crazy hippies that have talked about climate change and our environment for ages now. But when it comes a fat (sorry!), rich, old white male from the upper class in USA and says that; "look, this is an important question". Everyone starts to react.. Rich people will always get away the easy way. And no, I dont think Tony Blair, or any leader for that matter, should be taken seriously. No one is doing enough. It's just talk talk talk talk.. At least Al Gore is trying to do something with the influential and power he has.. -
Why is climate change not in the USA primaries?
Simon replied to mountainhiker's topic in Politics and Current Events
Why is that so? -
Why is climate change not in the USA primaries?
Simon replied to mountainhiker's topic in Politics and Current Events
Thats an old story, since it was published he has installed solar panels and are offsetting all his energy.. The second link starts with this: "Correction: In this column that appeared Aug. 10 on the Forum Page, writer Peter Schweizer inaccurately stated that former vice president Al Gore receives royalties from a zinc mine on his property in Tennessee despite his environmental advocacy. He no longer does, as the mine was closed in 2003.!" -
Please, tell us about a book related to the environment, climate change etc that you've found interesting.. Please, cause I need a new book to read! ;)
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Why is climate change not in the USA primaries?
Simon replied to mountainhiker's topic in Politics and Current Events
Hmm I am not so sure really. If he ever get into politics again (you know what kind of politics I mean!) I bet it is to run for the presidency. And I also bet he has a pretty good chance to win. He has an overwhelming international support. Heck, Europe loves Al Gore (almost) more than we loved Bill Clinton. -
Will your house be solar-powered by "rose-tinted" windows in the future? At least that's what professor John Bell from the Queensland University of Technology in Australia hopes. He has worked with Dyesol, a Canberra-based company, trying to develop affordable transparent solar cells that act as both windows and energy generators in houses or commercial buildings. According to John Bell the transparent solar cells will have a "faint reddish hue" and be "completely see-through." They will also reduce carbon emissions by 50% and make "a significant difference to home and building owners' energy costs." John Bell even says the house owners would be able to generate excess energy that could be sold or stored for later use. The solar cells contain titanium dioxide coated in a dye that increases light absorption. The glass captures solar energy which can be used to power the house but can also reduce overheating of the house, reducing the need for cooling. He said that the solar-powered glass would be on the market in "a few years".
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Global warming deniers and racists go hand in hand in Norway
Simon posted a article in Business & Politics
Norway, a rich country in Scandinavia (in northern Europe) with a population of almost five million people enjoy the second highest GDP per-capita (after Luxembourg) and third highest GDP (PPP) per-capita in the world, and has maintained first place in the world in the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) for six consecutive years (2001-2006). Most of the wealth comes from large fields of natural resources such as oil and gas. Norway is the third largest exporter of oil and gas worldwide. Only Russia and Saudi Arabia export more oil than Norway. In 2006, oil and gas accounted for 58% of all the services and products exported. Ah yes, Norway is one of the few countries that are generating huge amounts of money on the continuation of global warming. While it's probably true that most people in Norway feel a bit ashamed about this fact the second largest political party (as of the 2005 parliamentary elections) in Norway, the Fremskrittspartiet (shortly translated to the "progress party"), wants to gain more votes by downplaying the severity of climate change. All the other major political parties in Norway acknowledge the severity of man-made climate change and have unanimously decided on tougher actions against climate change. So why would a sane political party go against all trustworthy scientific reports you might ask? Well, what would you expect from a conservative political party like Fremskrittspartiet. A political party that advocates free market economics and deregulation of the economy, stricter limits on immigration, closer cooperation with NATO, United States and Israel in foreign policy and less state aid to developing countries. One of Fremskrittspartiet's goals is to limit immigration to 100 people per year (Source: Dagens Nyheter 11/4/2008). They especially want to stop Muslims, illiterate and poor people from coming to Norway. The party leader Siv Jensen believes that by denying global warming the Fremskrittspartiet will attract more voters from the other political parties in Norway and might have a chance to win the coming election from the current red-green government. By educating 1000 party members to confront the "exaggerated" public and scientific opinion about climate change and to use chosen "scientists" in the election campaign Siv Jensen hopes to profile Fremskrittspartiet as the "deviant and sane voice" in Norwegian politics. -
Why is climate change not in the USA primaries?
Simon replied to mountainhiker's topic in Politics and Current Events
Alright, lets get back to some US politics Sen. Barack Obama said Wednesday he would give Al Gore, a Nobel prize winner, a major role in an Obama administration to address the problem of global warming. "Obama said he would use Gore to help forge a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions designed to lower pollution." "I would," Obama said. "Not only will I, but I will make a commitment that Al Gore will be at the table and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem. He's somebody I talk to on a regular basis. I'm already consulting with him in terms of these issues, but climate change is real. It is something we have to deal with now, not 10 years from now, not 20 years from now." You can read the whole article here: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/04/02/1...07533893#last_1 What do you think? Would Al Gore accept Obama's offer? -
The European Environment Agency's (EEA) Scientific Committee yesterday called for the suspension of EU's target to increase the share of biofuels used in transport to 10% by 2020. The committee calls for a new, "comprehensive scientific study on the environmental risks and benefits of biofuels" before any targets should be set. The committees concerns are summarised below: The European Environment Agency's Scientific Committee consists of 20 independent scientists from 15 different EEA member countries. The committee helps the EEA Management Board and the Executive Director by "providing scientific advice and delivering professional opinions on any scientific matter" that the EEA might undertake. The EEA is located in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. EEA currently consists of 27 EU member states, 3 European Economic Area members (Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), Switzerland and Turkey.
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BBC reports: Anyone from USA or NY that has some more info about this?
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Well, at least she turned down a bad and dirty energy solution.
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Coal plants will never be a part of the solution..
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Here we go! Season 4 has just started with one hell'of a good episode.
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Also, this is kind of interesting: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...5/BUT5VDFEC.DTL
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Or better: shut down the whole airport! :whistle:
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Yes but this list isn't about energy usage. It's about toxic chemicals and recycling/e-waste.
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Sure, you can say you dont care. But when the time comes and the "bad" people have taken over the politics you will realise it's too late. What if your current system got changed in some way (it could be that a racist political party got a big majority of the votes because ordinary people no longer cared)? It's a bit interesting to see the democratic process. I believe it's positive that you have two strong candidates instead of just one as the republicans only have (and they dont even seem to like him that much!). I dont see a problem with that none of the current two running candidates wont give up yet. Both have a very strong support among the voters and the actual democratic voting process is meant to go on a few more months (to August I believe?). It's better that one candidate wins in "a right way" in the end. That way I believe he, or she, will become stronger and know they have the support from their voters. What I don't like is that both Obama and Clinton uses such awful bad/disgusting methods to gain votes. This will come back and bite them hard, much harder than a long democrratic race will do. If they were friendly rivals for the job I dont think it would be so bad. But, unfortunately that is not the case.
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This image shows the corpse of an albatross that has had his gut filled with different plastic objects. Many birds and animals often mistake plastics with food and then, as you might imagine, starve to death. I've seen this picture being published on a numerous of websites. But I don't actually know who should be credited for it. It seems it comes from Algalita - the marine research foundation. Older entries: - A Picture is Worth... Car, bus or bicycle?
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Apple is now "greener" than its rival Microsoft according to the Greener Electronics Guide from Greenpeace. But both companies have still a long way to go until they can beat Samsung and Toshiba who currently leads the "green race". Greenpeace recently released its seventh version of their Greener Electronics Guide where it ranks electronic companies based on their actions against e-waste and harmful toxic chemicals. Apple has gained 0.7 points since the last update. Apple have gained more points because of new models have been introduced, mainly the new MacBook Air, that contains less toxic chemicals. But Greenpeace emphasizes their "takeback programme still needs to be global". While Sony Ericsson drops 6 places, "due to losing points on its e-waste policy and practice," Toshiba and Samsung grab the top spots. Samsung with their 7.7 "scores points well on toxic chemicals policy. Loses points for incomplete takeback practice." Toshiba who also have 7.7 points continues to improve, "especially on e-waste and recycling policy." The biggest disappointment is that Nintendo still "remains rooted to the bottom with only a tiny improvement." You can help make Nintendo score better in the next update by sending Mr Satoru Iwata a letter. Related: Nokia loses its top spot in the Greener Electronics Guide from Greenpeace
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Consider this statement: "The EPA's Energy Star efficiency criteria only consider the energy a PC uses while it's in standby mode, which means that almost all current PCs qualify as Energy Star compliant." Is that statement true or false? What about this: "Constantly shutting down and restarting your computer during the day would consume more energy than just leaving it running." Is that true or false? If you are a bit unsure you might want to check out the Sierra Club's "How Green is My PC" quiz. The quiz will ask and tell you about ten different questions related to your computers energy usage, environmental impacts etc. Thanks to Tedd Riggs for the link.
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Yeah, I was thinking about something along those lines too, thanks Trulyana!
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Well, thats impossible! You must have an opinion, everyone does. Hahaha :lol: