http://www.enn.com/energy/article/47327
France is the world's most dependent country on nuclear power. It has a bold plan to reduce its huge dependency. By 2020, it plans to cut back 75% of energy produced by nuclear, to 50% nuclear energy. So where will this electricity com from, Narnia? France plans to invest in renewables. Wind in particular looks appealing to the French government. A poll was conducted and found that the majority of the French population favors the transition to renewables. Hopefully France can be a model to others how a major country and transfer from a nonrenewable, waste economy to a efficient renewable economy.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Forty-Four Years of Earth Day
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/23/upshot/forty-four-years-of-earth-day.html?ref=earth
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, much has changed since its first celebration. Alhtough we still face problems such as climate change, overpopulation and rising sea levels, much as been improved. For example, smog levels aren't as bad a forty four years ago. The reason is due to the fact that cars are more fuel efficient nowadays. Although much more could be done, like taking more trucks on the road and use civil disobedience against th oil companies roadblocks to fuel efficiency, the situation has improved. Fossil fuel per captia has decreased in America. Consumption has gone up, however so has the population and it has used less per captia. Rivers dont burn anymore, we recyle and endangered species have come back. We have many major challenges to go, however if we can take politics out of the equation and just act, there can be a substainable future.
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, much has changed since its first celebration. Alhtough we still face problems such as climate change, overpopulation and rising sea levels, much as been improved. For example, smog levels aren't as bad a forty four years ago. The reason is due to the fact that cars are more fuel efficient nowadays. Although much more could be done, like taking more trucks on the road and use civil disobedience against th oil companies roadblocks to fuel efficiency, the situation has improved. Fossil fuel per captia has decreased in America. Consumption has gone up, however so has the population and it has used less per captia. Rivers dont burn anymore, we recyle and endangered species have come back. We have many major challenges to go, however if we can take politics out of the equation and just act, there can be a substainable future.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
NSIDC, NASA say Arctic melt season lengthening, ocean rapidly warming
http://climate.nasa.gov/news/1058
Grave news from the Artic. Global temperatures are already hammering the ice caps. Now with each passing decade, the melting season is an additional five days. Sea ice is also becoming thinner due to rising temperatures. The last seven Septembers have been the warmest on record for the Artic. In some areas, the melting season has increased from 6 to 11 days. Due to more rocks being exposed to the sun, the rocks are warming up and adding to the melting of the icecaps. At this current rate, there might not be any ice in the poles in the near future.
Grave news from the Artic. Global temperatures are already hammering the ice caps. Now with each passing decade, the melting season is an additional five days. Sea ice is also becoming thinner due to rising temperatures. The last seven Septembers have been the warmest on record for the Artic. In some areas, the melting season has increased from 6 to 11 days. Due to more rocks being exposed to the sun, the rocks are warming up and adding to the melting of the icecaps. At this current rate, there might not be any ice in the poles in the near future.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Meeting climate targets may require reducing diet of meat and dairy
http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/47236
Climate change is predicted to raise the temperature of earth ny 2 degrees C. The main factors are deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. Hoever, what if I told you that eating more vegetables and less meat would assit in reducing CO2 admissions. Nitrous Oxide and Methane are two greenhouse gases more potent than CO2, and if these problems aren't fixed then their levels could doube by 2070. By eating more meat, there's a higher demand for cows, meaning more methane. Beef and lamb are the largest CO2 admmissioners. It looks like that the Bigmac is not only bad for your health, but also for your climate.
Climate change is predicted to raise the temperature of earth ny 2 degrees C. The main factors are deforestation and burning of fossil fuels. Hoever, what if I told you that eating more vegetables and less meat would assit in reducing CO2 admissions. Nitrous Oxide and Methane are two greenhouse gases more potent than CO2, and if these problems aren't fixed then their levels could doube by 2070. By eating more meat, there's a higher demand for cows, meaning more methane. Beef and lamb are the largest CO2 admmissioners. It looks like that the Bigmac is not only bad for your health, but also for your climate.
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Ebola outbreak in Guinea may spread to Liberia
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/03/24/ebola-outbreak-may-spread-to-liberia/6835825/
An outbreak of the highly deadly Ebola virus has been spotted in the west African country of Guinea, resulting in the death of 59 people so far. Sources state that it might soon spread to neighboring Liberia. Ebola is so deadly because it liquefies your internal organs, and if that doesn't kill you, then you will drown in your own blood. Ebola is similar to the HIV virus. It is an ancient retro virus that is originally found in monkeys. Since monkeys are consumed in Africa, the disease has spread to humans. This is the first time in 20 years that Ebola has been reported in west Africa. There isn't a cure or vaccine for Ebola, with mortality rates at 90%. Health officials are desperately trying to contain Ebola.
An outbreak of the highly deadly Ebola virus has been spotted in the west African country of Guinea, resulting in the death of 59 people so far. Sources state that it might soon spread to neighboring Liberia. Ebola is so deadly because it liquefies your internal organs, and if that doesn't kill you, then you will drown in your own blood. Ebola is similar to the HIV virus. It is an ancient retro virus that is originally found in monkeys. Since monkeys are consumed in Africa, the disease has spread to humans. This is the first time in 20 years that Ebola has been reported in west Africa. There isn't a cure or vaccine for Ebola, with mortality rates at 90%. Health officials are desperately trying to contain Ebola.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
5,000,000 gallons of raw sewage spills into Valley Forge Park creek
http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9470771
In Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 5 million gallons of raw sewage was released from a broken sewer line. It has split into the local creek and crews are still working to repair the rupture. There are relatively few people in the area, the only concern is for the wildlife. Sewer breaks have become more common, this is the 3rd one in two years. It might be an outdated system that needs to be repaired or replaced. The authorities are saying that the 45 year old system might have to be replaced. The route near the sewer line will most likely be closed for the next two days.
In Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 5 million gallons of raw sewage was released from a broken sewer line. It has split into the local creek and crews are still working to repair the rupture. There are relatively few people in the area, the only concern is for the wildlife. Sewer breaks have become more common, this is the 3rd one in two years. It might be an outdated system that needs to be repaired or replaced. The authorities are saying that the 45 year old system might have to be replaced. The route near the sewer line will most likely be closed for the next two days.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Coal Firm to Pay Record Penalty and Spend Millions on Water Cleanup in 5 States
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/06/us/coal-firm-to-pay-record-penalty-and-spend-millions-on-water-cleanup-in-5-states.html?_r=0
One of the nation's largest coal firms, Alpha Natural Resources, is about to pay one of the largest pollution fines in american history. It will pay $200 million to reduce pollution in mines in 5 states; Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. It will also pay $27.5 million for 6,000 violations of the Clean Water Act, the largest in its history. The udpated equipment should prevent about 36 million pounds of waste from getting into the enviroment. Many of these large energy companies have been under pressure since the chemical spill in West Virginia and the coal ash spill in North Carolinia. Its just that these companies should be paying higher fines, since they make billions of dollars a year. This is a start for prosecuting people who tear down mountains.
One of the nation's largest coal firms, Alpha Natural Resources, is about to pay one of the largest pollution fines in american history. It will pay $200 million to reduce pollution in mines in 5 states; Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. It will also pay $27.5 million for 6,000 violations of the Clean Water Act, the largest in its history. The udpated equipment should prevent about 36 million pounds of waste from getting into the enviroment. Many of these large energy companies have been under pressure since the chemical spill in West Virginia and the coal ash spill in North Carolinia. Its just that these companies should be paying higher fines, since they make billions of dollars a year. This is a start for prosecuting people who tear down mountains.
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