The Valuable Individual (413 words)
How can we, as individuals, participate in waste management?Because some of us are so overwhelmed with Earth’s problems, wefeel that our contributions have no real consequence in the end.For others, social barriers can be an issue. A lady we once knewconfessed that she did not want to be seen buying used items orbeing concerned with power use. She was worried people would seeher as cheap – a scrooge – when the family was so affluent. Yet,she was very careful to be seen with recycling bins out on thecurb on pick-up day, because that was thought to be the thing todo socially. Now is a good time to put an end to these negativethoughts and feelings of false pride. Waste reduction is notabout ego - it is about the health of the planet and of ournation.
Communities would be wise to look at Nova Scotia’s wastereduction success and try to emulate it in their area. With thehighest waste reduction rates in Canada, Nova Scotia has reducedlandfill contributions by 46% - saving about $31 million peryear - simply by making the most of the organic and recyclablematerials. Curbside recycling service (Blue Box) is available to99% of its residents and 76% now enjoy curbside organic service(a.k.a. Green Box).
With better management of organic and recyclable waste, we willfind we do not have to put the trash out as often because theodors and volume are greatly decreased. As a fiscal incentive,many garbage collection companies offer discounts to homes withreduced waste.
We can also help the waste management industry run moreefficiently. For instance, when only full garbage bags and Blueor Green boxes are put out on the curb, the garbage truck doesnot have to stop as often and burn fossil fuels inefficientlywhile idling. (Incidentally, vehicle idling is responsible for3% of the air pollution problem.) Similarly, by collapsing boxesbefore recycling we are ensuring that space is used moreefficiently, thereby reducing the number of bins needed fortransporting materials.
Recycling, alone, has a huge impact on the environment. A studyof a 100-unit apartment building practicing maximum recyclingfound it would save 21.93 thirty-foot trees, 26.86 cubic yardsof landfill space, 8,389 kilowatts of electricity, and 77.4pounds of air pollution in just one year!
So you see, these seemingly small choices and efforts towardswaste management really do make a difference.
About the author:-- Written by Dave and Lillian Brummet based on the concept ofthier new book Trash Talk. The book offers useful solutions forthe individual to reduce waste and better manage resources. Aguide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on theenvironment. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit)
Electricity from Trash
Capturing methane from rotting garbage will help reduce climate change due to greenhouse gases.
Waste Management is creating electricity from rotting garbage at 100 of its landfills, and plans more such projects. This is a double win, as the methane gas produced by the garbage has a 21 times worse greenhouse gas effect than carbon dioxide. But now it can be captured to create energy rather than being emitted into the atmosphere.
Read more: Electricity from trash
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Astrologer Fails to Predict Cyclone
It wouldn't be important that an astrologer failed to predict the Myanmar cyclone if astrology weren't important there.
Continuing on the theme of what can and cannot be predicted, the weather is the next logical topic and evidently a noted Burmese astrologer has publicly apologized for his failure to predict Cyclone Nargis. But in a country like Myanmar where they take astrology seriously, evidently the citizenry depends on their astrologers for this kind of thing:
Read more: Astrologer is sorry for failure to predict cyclone
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Climate Analysis
From a post on calculating CO2 impacts correctly.
?m using this as an example of the kind of armchair analysis I would love to see more consumers and voters do on their own when faced with any buying or voting decision that has significant energy and/or environmental implications. Does this candidate?s claim make sense? How much money can I save by adjusting my thermostat a couple of degree or car pooling? How much CO2 can I avoid by signing up for 100% green electricity?
Read more: Analysis, done right
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Angelo's Is Back
Angelo's Restaurant in St. Marks was swept away by Hurricane Dennis.
Angelo?s was washed away by Hurricane Dennis in 2005 and just recently reopened this winter. It?s a beautiful place, lovely view and great food, but not the place to grab a quick and cheap bite to eat. We had enjoyable meal, though, sitting on the deck and watching the boats and birds over the bay.
Read more: Saint Marks Lighthouse
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Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
A look at whether products can achieve carbon neutrality.
The big question is where do you draw the line and say that this company is carbon neutral/negative and this one is not when they all rely heavily on carbon positive support?
Read more: Is Carbon Neutrality Actually Possible?
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Review: The End Of Suburbia
Will climate change force us to re-think suburban development?
Of course, no one knows what?ll happen to the suburbs we have now. Will they become the slums of the future? At least one expert in the film predicts a scarier scenario where we may not even have time to build new ?hoods with new urbanist design principles; we may just need to salvage what we have left in the face of global climate change.
Read more: Film review: The End of Suburbia
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Why Do They Hate Us?
A look at climate change and politics.
Yet another hot button topic these days is climate change and the environment. On the surface, you wouldn't think that this should be a conservative vs. liberal topic. After all, climate change is either happening or it isn't. And yet this is an issue that divides conservatives from liberals as much as any other.
Read more: Why do they hate us?
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The Perfectly Timed Vacation
Hurricane Ivan and other hurricanes have changed travel economics.
The best deals on lodging aren?t necessarily found in the hotels, but the low-rise condos. Thank Hurricane Ivan for that, she says. Many hotels were damaged by the 2004 storm, and have recently been repaired and reopened. So if you don?t mind staying in a condo, low season ? at least when it comes to saving money ? may last longer than a season. It could extend months, or longer.
Read more: 4 secrets for the perfectly timed vacation
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We Interrupt This Program
Has the federal government lost all credibility in natural disaster recovery?
Excuse me, while I open a space in the political discussion to point out something beyond the primaries on Tuesday - a powerful series of thunderstorms ripped through the Mid-South with tornadoes that killed at least 54 people and injured hundreds. They have been promised help by George W. Bush, which I can tell you as someone who lives in an area struck by hurricane Ivan in 2004 and knows what the Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Gulf Coast still looks like after Katrina and Rita in 2005, is not going to happen any time soon.
Read more: We Interrupt This Program
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Anatomy Of A Local Breaking News Story
A great behind-the-scenes look at coverage of Hurricane Wilma from the local point-of-view.
Back in 2005, when Hurricane Wilma was about to smack the Naples area, our news organization made a commitment that when it came to real-time coverage, we were not going to get beat on this story by CNN or The Weather Channel or any other news organizations.
Read more: Anatomy of a local breaking news story
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Hurricane Felix Making Landfall
Is the quote machine broken:
The Nicaragua coast is experiencing powerful winds and surge at this time, as the wrath of a catastrophic monster category 5 hurricane Felix with winds of 160mph and gusts close to 190mph moves inland over Nicaragua very close to Punta Gorda and Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Felix is the second category 5 hurricane to make landfall this year, and before Hurricane Dean a week or so ago, there were no land falling hurricanes at category 5 status for 15 years.
Read more: Hurricane Felix Making Landfall In Nicaragua
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Save The World From Your Desktop
Seven good tips to reduce climate change from the comfort of your computer.
Use GoLoco to make carpooling a whole lot easier, and do your part to reduce CO2 emissions and lessen traffic congestion.
Read more: 7 Ways to Save the World Using Your Desktop
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Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
Waiting for Hurricane Dean.
Everybody?s talking about the hurricane and now everyone?s saying that it looks like it?s going south. We?re continuing our preparations (and so is everyone else, apparently), but we?re less worried. We?re reminded that with both Hurricane Emily and Hurricane Wilma, it barely even rained in Merida. It?s good to keep in mind that what happens on one end of the Yucatan Peninsula, doesn?t necessarily effect the whole peninsula.
Read more: Dean Update - Monday, Aug 20, 11 AM
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600 Naked People On A Vanishing Glacier
Click through for pictures of the living sculpture atop the vanishing glacier.
Installation artist Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace Switzerland present a living sculpture: hundreds of naked people symbolise the vulnerability of the glaciers under climate change.
Read more: 600 naked people on a vanishing glacier
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Bad Climate Change News Was Too Optimistic
The news on iceberg meltdowns is bad.
However, China is preparing for climate change induced disasters and plans 24 hour response with food and water for any emergency. Too bad the US isn?t doing the same.
Read more: That bad news about climate change was too optimistic
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Additional Resources
Green Energy Web Host Paves The Path For Other Web Hosting
By Steven Craig, Fri Dec 9th
Many companies are interested in installing a solar or windelectric system, but not many go forth with the idea. Onecompany stands out from the crowed and that is Read more...
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Additional Resources
The Emerging Water Wars - Part I
By Sam Vaknin, Fri Dec 9th
Growing up in Israel in the 1960's, we were always urged toconserve precious water. Rainfall was rare and meager, the sunscorching, our only sweet water lake under constant threat bythe Syrians. Read more...
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