Green Products

A number of very useful gadgets and devices that will help the user to save on their energy uses are available on the market these days. From the common 'energy saving lightbulbs' all the way to 'water powered alarm clocks'. Of course, some of the items are simple gadgets that will not really save you much, but are just a sneak peak at possible future products, a lot of the products available, are just handy and environmentally friendly presents (although, I wouldn't advise giving the lightbulbs to anyone, unless they are particularly fanatical).



A particular favourite gadget of mine is the 'efergy smart meter'. Though this device does not save energy, it is highly useful in allowing the user to see how much energy I use. Obviously, some people will not want to see how much they use (they get the fear), but most likely, they are the ones that need them.

Obama Sworn in

History is made as Barack Obama is sworn in as the first African-American President of America, perhaps the most powerful country in the world (for the time being at least, won't be long before China take that role).

Obama won the hearts of the voters with his political views and agendas...though it probably helped that George Bush and his team lost the confidence of Americans during his time as President. Now we will see if Obama can fulfill his promises and make the big move into a greener America. with millions of dollars promised to be spent on renewable energy and hybrid cars. The Future is bright for America.

For more info on Mr. Obamas policies, have a look at his personal website (not personal as in a blog type thing, a professional personal one....I know, I was disappointed too). http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy

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Glaciers are Melting

Reports in the Guardian Newspaper have suggested that come 40 years time, the majority of the glaciers will be gone. A subject that has been highly covered on TV and in adverts and seen by the general public to be one of the main problems that will be caused by climate change.

“The total mass left in the glaciers is now thought to be at the lowest level for "thousands of years". (Telegraph, 2009)
Thousands of people worldwide depend on melt water from glaciers, and if as suggested they all melt, a huge water shortage will ensue. It has been suggested to me that the next major war that will ravage the planet, will not be over resources such as oil, nor will it be over religion. The fundamental resource that every single human being needs to survive is water. And with increased temperatures, and water usage, fighting will occur to control what is available.

Switching to 30 (as Ariel adverts tell you to do) may not now be enough. Drastic changes are needed!


Source - http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jan/19/glacier-rising-sea-levels

Light Pollution - new problems found

The BBC announced last Friday that a group of researchers have found a new form of light pollution. Which is quite a shock to me, as I was unaware there was more than one type of light, but, you know what they say. ‘You learn something new everyday’.

The news that ‘polarised’ light can also affect the lifestyles of wildlife (and no, they haven’t all moved to an area of upper class Oxford to get away from it all) has come as a shock to researchers and environmentalists across the UK. The main forms of this light pollution are from roads, glass buildings and water.

Not everybody seems to think it is a bad idea, in fact, some have already suggested using the light as a method of culling troublesome insects. Dr Robertson, one of the Co-Authors for the study said
“You may be able to create massive polarised light traps to crash bark beetle populations."


sourced - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7821298.stm

Heathrow and its Third Runway!

Problem after problem is unveiled and it seems that for every effort made to conserve the planet we live on, a new problem arises.

One of the major debates in the country at the moment, second to the ever popular “Who should win Celebrity Big Brother?” is the plans for the 3rd runway at Heathrow. Greenpeace activists have been battling one of Labours most recent attempts to expand aviation. Having secured a plot of land within the area chosen for the runway, Greenpeace have attempted to sabotage the efforts of the Government in the highly criticised plan.

With promises that the new runway will only be used for the most environmentally friendly planes and would not be excessively used until the green targets are achievable, the new runway shows promise of bettering our economy without having an adverse effect on the Environment. However, the government clearly think that these small promises are going to quieten those of us who know better. The suggestion that only “green planes” will be allowed to use the new runway is perfectly plausible, and I salute the Government and British Aviation in their almost flawless plan. However, I am curious to know where it is the planes that are not “green” will be used…Oh, that’s right, the other Runways and airports, how very environmentally friendly. Shifting the “bad” and “nasty” planes onto the other runways will mean that no improvement in the air quality around Heathrow will be found. All these strange decisions by our beloved leaders are starting to make me think come next election; Labour will be struggling for votes.