Archive for August, 2008
The month of August was a chance for many people in Asia to witness a total lunar eclipse and the occasion for NASA’s astronomy picture of the day to focus on the phenomenon.
This gave us two magnificent pictures, including the crown of the sun, pictured left. But this month’s selection also includes photos of beautiful nebulae.
As usual with my previous posts you will find in today’s article the links to the very best photographies featured this month on the APOD. Continue reading »
Time to focus on 350
Posted by: on August 28, 2008 in Tags: Climate change
Since this is my 350th post on elrst.com, I thought it is the perfect timing to focus on the global initiative due to mitigate climate change called 350.
This number refers to the amount of carbon dioxide parts per million (PPM) we shouldn’t go over. We are currently at 387 but it is still time to reverse the trend and go back to the safe levels.
After the We and Together projects and the Défi pour la Terre, it is one more initiative. I hope all this will make people act globally on climate change mitigation. Continue reading »
The story of stuff… a mandatory video ?
Posted by: on August 27, 2008 in Tags: Environment, lifestyle, Sustainable development, Video
For the past few months, I have been reading about this video without never watching it. After a comment on La Marguerite Blog, I decided to do so.
In 20 minutes or so, I learned a lot about the true cost and life cycle of the stuff we buy year after year and how this excessive phenomenon endangers our planet and very survival.
I don’t agree with everything stated by Annie Leonard, but I believe nonetheless that it should be watched by all to better grasp the consequences of consumerism. Continue reading »
Humanitarian implications of climate change
Posted by: on August 26, 2008 in Tags: Africa, Asia, Climate change
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Care NGO published last week an interesting report on the humanitarian implications of a full scale climate change.
According to the conclusions, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia (representing populations worth of 1,587 million people) are particularly at risk from increasing climate-related phenomena.
But hope remains as the authors note, it is still time for us to prevent the worse from occurring if we tackle climate change right now. Continue reading »
The major threat of rising sea levels : the science
Posted by: on August 25, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, oceans, Sciences
Climate change will have many impacts, we have seen it throughout many articles. However, one of the main consequences didn’t get much attention here : rising sea levels.
But to the research carried out by several institutions - including the OECD and the World Bank - this may displace and even kill millions of people and cause damages worth billions euros.
In today’s article I will tackle the scientific evidence and data and the next two weeks I will present you the implications this may have worldwide. Continue reading »
A short post to announce you that Marguerite published an article I wrote specifically for her blog. This is both a great pleasure and honor to see my humble work featured there.
This occurs as her work is going up and up in the blogosphere as she begun writing for the Huffington Post. Her website was also mentioned in the Times online.
If you just arrived from her blog, please be welcome and make yourself home. My favorite themes are climate change, energy and sustainable development. Continue reading »
All cars hybrid by 2020 ?
Posted by: on August 21, 2008 in Tags: Energy, Sustainable development, transport
According to a study carried out by IBM’s Institute for Business Value - Automotive 2020: Clarity Beyond the Chaos - and quoted by EcoGeek, all cars may be hybrid by 2020.
This is reinforced by the fact that Toyota, the leading car maker and producer of the global success Prius (pictured left), has previously stated that all its models will be hybrid by this date.
But this study also forecasts several major changes such as decreasing carbon dioxide emissions per unit and the increased use of biofuels. Continue reading »
Why recycling has a really bright future
Posted by: on August 20, 2008 in Tags: Environment, Sustainable development
With the prices of raw materials and oil going up the roof, recycling becomes increasingly interesting. By reading Green with a gun I found some most interesting data on that topic.
Kyle quotes there a great article from The Times and give us as well more note worthy data and thoughts. This reminds me that I have been sorting out waste daily since I am a teen.
This simple action is one of the very basis of a more sustainable lifestyle with less waste and more respect for our planet. Continue reading »
Google invests in Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Posted by: on August 19, 2008 in Tags: Energy, renewables, USA, Video
Google is really interested in renewable energy sources. After putting millions in solar and wind energies, they are this time investing in harvesting the ground’s energy.
Focusing this time on a specific technology called Enhanced Geothermal Sytems - EGS for short - Google is putting 10.25 million USD (7 million euros) on the table.
EGS seems to be a wonderful technology to provide greenhouse gases free energy when it will be ready for full scale commercial applications. Continue reading »
This week takes place in Stockholm the world water week. This is the occasion for me to focus on this vital resource for both Nature and Mankind.
This is even more interesting as water scarcity crises are more and more frequent at a global level and as nearly half of the world population (2.6 billion people) lacks sanitation.
Even if our planet seen from space is blue thanks to water, only one percent is available to consumption. This explains well the scarcity of this resource. Continue reading »
