Wednesday, 13 May 2009
www.proplax.com
Una opcion en el mercado de envases alternativos amigables con el ambiente es el plastico oxo biodegradable. La empresa de Proplax es su mayor distruibidor en el pais. Los envases son hechos de plastico y mantiene sus mismas caracteristicas a diferencia que con el tiempo los envases desaparecen. A continuacion les dejo leer un poco de informacion de la pagina web de ellos, si quieren mas los invito a visitarla.
"Es la primera vez que se habla de degradar o transformar el plástico en un corto plazo, reduciendo así el impacto ambiental que causa. La tecnología oxobiodegradable desintegra el plástico y lo reincorpora al suelo...
Una vez finalizado el proceso el resultado es: humedad, dióxido de carbono en una mínima cantidad y una biomasa que es atacada por microorganismos que la devuelven al suelo. Los productos con d2w (después de cumplir con su vida útil programada) se fragmentan lentamente liberando cantidades mínimas de dióxido de carbono, agua (humedad) y biomasa. Esta última es reincorporada al suelo por el proceso de biodegradación a través de bacterias o microorganismos que se nutren de ella.Durante el proceso de biodegradación, el plástico llega a constituir una fuente de alimento para esos microorganismos.Las cantidades mínimas de CO2 no tienen efecto invernadero o calentamiento global porque al ser liberadas tan lentamente se permite que el carbono se fije al suelo como nutrientes para este.
La vida útil del plástico oxo biodegradable es determinada en la formulación por la cantidad y tipo de aditivo a utilizar.
Los envases oxo-biodegradables son totalmente seguros, no presentan ninguna diferencia con respecto a los envases normales en cuanto a contaminación. Contienen los alimentos de forma segura."
gracias!
y de nuevo cualquier informacion adicional a este tema: salselena@yahoo.com
Si las companias no tienen iniciativa nosotros como consumidores debemos...
Trabajo en una oficina con 4 personas mas. De esta oficina se hacen pedidos diarios a los restaurantes que ofrecen el servicio de "express". Todas las semanas sacamos por lo menos una bolsa tamano jardinera llena de basura no biodegradable, de plasticos y estereofon. Somos tan pocos en la oficina y producimos tanta basura que me hace preguntarme: cuales son las demensiones totales de este pais en cuanto a este tipo de basura? y ahora mundiales?
Lo peor de todo es que esta basura en innecesaria, ahora hay opciones que son ambientalmente mas amigables, pero porque no se usan? Asi que decidi que estoy en la mejor pocision de todas para tratar de hacer un cambio.. la del consumidor. Ahora estoy haciendo investigaciones de alternativas y escribiendo una carta pidiendola a los restaurantes de por favor cambiar y usar envases mas saludables. El link que adjunte es sobre un articulo de como la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica y la compania de quesos de Monteverde ya esta haciendo este tipo de cambios en su campus, ayudemos a que otros sigan en sus pasos. Cualquier pregunta, sugerencia o idea por favor de referirse a mi correo Salselena@yahoo.com con el titulo de envases biodegradables info. Ademas en poco tiempo iremos publicando informacion sobre los productos amigables.
http://unaweb.una.ac.cr/hoyenelcampus2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=193&Itemid=39http://trashingmyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/02/monteverdizacin.html
gracias!
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Amazon Increasingly Oily
By Milagros Salazar for Tierrameriga.org
Oil and natural gas exploration permits are multiplying in the Amazon region, especially in its most remote and biodiverse corners, say researchers.
Oil and natural gas exploration permits are multiplying in the Amazon region, especially in its most remote and biodiverse corners, say researchers.
LIMA, Aug 25 (Tierramérica).- More than 180 oil and natural gas fields extend across the western Amazon, shared by five South American countries and threatening biodiversity and indigenous lands, states a study by U.S.-based organizations.
Peru is the most worrisome case: 72 percent of its jungle territory overlaps with plans for exploiting fossil fuels, says the report "Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples", published Aug. 13 by the open-access online scientific journal PloS ONE.
Blocks for oil and gas extraction cover an area of more than 688,000 square kilometers in the Amazon regions of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil, and there are at least 35 multinational companies operating them, according to the researchers, who come from Duke University in North Carolina and the non-governmental organizations Save America's Forests and Land Is Life.
Read the entire post at: http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=eng&idnews=2835
Monday, 18 August 2008
Plastic soup
A “plastic soup” of waste floating in the Pacific Ocean is growing at an alarming rate and now covers an area twice the size of the continental United States, scientists have said.
The vast expanse of debris – in effect the world’s largest rubbish dump – is held in place by swirling underwater currents. This drifting “soup” stretches from about 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast, across the northern Pacific, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan.
The vast expanse of debris – in effect the world’s largest rubbish dump – is held in place by swirling underwater currents. This drifting “soup” stretches from about 500 nautical miles off the Californian coast, across the northern Pacific, past Hawaii and almost as far as Japan.
Charles Moore, an American oceanographer who discovered the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” or “trash vortex”, believes that about 100 million tons of flotsam are circulating in the region. Marcus Eriksen, a research director of the US-based Algalita Marine Research Foundation, which Mr Moore founded, said yesterday: “The original idea that people had was that it was an island of plastic garbage that you could almost walk on. It is not quite like that. It is almost like a plastic soup.”
Curtis Ebbesmeyer, an oceanographer and leading authority on flotsam, has tracked the build-up of plastics in the seas for more than 15 years and compares the trash vortex to a living entity: “It moves around like a big animal without a leash.” When that animal comes close to land, as it does at the Hawaiian archipelago, the results are dramatic. “The garbage patch barfs, and you get a beach covered with this confetti of plastic,” he added.
Historically, rubbish that ends up in oceanic gyres has biodegraded. But modern plastics are so durable that objects half-a-century old have been found in the north Pacific dump.Mr Moore said that because the sea of rubbish is translucent and lies just below the water’s surface, it is not detectable in satellite photographs. “You only see it from the bows of ships,” he said.
According to the UN Environment Programme, plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. Syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food.
We have stopping throw garbage in streets, rivers and oceans. Think about that!
According to the UN Environment Programme, plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds every year, as well as more than 100,000 marine mammals. Syringes, cigarette lighters and toothbrushes have been found inside the stomachs of dead seabirds, which mistake them for food.
We have stopping throw garbage in streets, rivers and oceans. Think about that!
(This post is part of one published in 5 February 2008 in the british newspaper The Independent.)
Sopa de plastico
La mancha de basura del Pacífico ya dobla la superficie de EEUU y crece a un ritmo vertiginoso26-03-08, La mancha de basura del Pacífico, una gigantesca "sopa de plástico" con un tamaño dos veces el territorio de EEUU, crece a pasos agigantados, según denuncia del científico que la descubrió. Se trata "de un problema que tiene que ver con la globalización de los productos" porque "todo está empaquetado en plástico y faltan infraestructuras para poder reciclar estos materiales. Charles Moore, oceanógrafo estadounidense y creador de la Fundación de Investigación Marina Algalita, dijo en una entrevista con EFE que "nadie puede limpiarla y la mancha sigue aumentado". En las costas de Japón, los científicos han descubierto que cada dos o tres años el número de partículas de plástico en el agua se multiplica por diez, explicó Moore. "En el área que nosotros estudiamos encontramos ahora tres veces más partículas que hace diez años", dijo el científico, que descubrió casualmente la mancha en 1997 durante un crucero entre Los Ángeles y Hawai. Esta gigantesca superficie de basura, que Moore prefiere llamar "sopa de plástico", está formada por pequeñas partículas de plástico, unas cien millones de toneladas de desperdicios, según los cálculos de Moore. La "sopa" se extiende frente a la costa californiana, rodea Hawai y llega hasta Japón. El principal problema es que "no se puede limpiar porque hay demasiada distancia entre sus partes" y el área total es inmensa. "Hemos encontrado partículas de plástico incluso a 10 y 30 metros bajo la superficie". En este enorme basurero flotan todo tipo de objetos "como cepillos de dientes, envases de champú, plumas estilográficas". Sin embargo, la mayoría del plástico que acaba en el mar se quiebra en pequeños pedazos por efecto del sol y se mezcla con el agua y el plancton. Los efectos de esta mezcla son devastadores para el hábitat marino. "Toda la cadena alimenticia se ve afectada", señaló Moore. Los trozos de plástico más grandes "pueden parecer además cualquier tipo de comida, como calamar o huevas de pescado". "Hay animales como el albatros o la tortuga marina que están comiendo mucho plástico", lamentó Moore. "Hemos encontrado plástico incluso en el estómago de ballenas y delfines", dijo. Tampoco está limitado sólo al Océano Pacífico, ya que hay vertederos similares, aunque más pequeños, en casi todos los mares del mundo. "En cada océano hay sistemas de alta presión que contribuyen a que se acumulen los desechos", dijo Moore, que afirma que se trata de "un problema mundial". El fundador de Algalita pide a gobiernos, grupos medioambientales y "a todo el público" que "entiendan que cuando desechan un pedazo de plástico va a acabar llegando de alguna forma al mar y que no va a estar allí uno o dos años, sino siglos". Considera que son necesarias "más opciones para que la gente pueda reciclar" y que la industria debe crear maneras de recolectar el plástico inservible. Aunque Moore no cree que sea factible eliminar por completo esta gigantesca sopa plástica, hay algunos esfuerzos locales que sí pueden dar fruto. En el norte del archipiélago de Hawai, por ejemplo, se están utilizando redes para limpiar el océano antes de que las partículas de plástico dañen los arrecifes hawaianos. "Es sólo una pequeña parte, pero una parte que hace mucho daño a los corales, las focas tropicales y las tortugas, por ejemplo", dijo Moore, que explicó que las tareas de limpieza son complicadas porque sólo pueden trabajar con buen tiempo y las olas y el viento "hunden toda la basura bajo el agua". http://www.ecoportal.net/ Fuente: EFE
Wednesday, 27 February 2008
"monteverdización"
26/02/2008 11:30 AM
Periodista
La empresa Monteverde sacó al mercado los primeros productos con envases biodegradables . Estos son el queso crema light y queso crema tradicional como parte de un proceso que ha llamado “monteverdización” para ayudar al planeta a disminuir el impacto por contaminación de plástico.
Esto se logra gracias a una alianza que firmó con la empresa nacional Proplax , fabricante de productos plástico y con Milenio Tres S.A. que es la firma que representa a D2w en Centroamérica, una novedosa tecnología basada en el sistema de exo-biodegradación , el cual permite que los plásticos se desintegren y se reincorporen al medio ambiente, sin efecto invernadero ni calentamiento global.
Así en lugar de los 400 años que dura un plástico corriente en desintegrarse este tarda apenas cinco años.
Este tipo de recipientes desaparecen en cualquier lugar donde se encuentren y también son reutilizables y reciclables, con lo cual no requiere que los consumidores intervengan con alguna acción o tratamiento especial.
Los otros biodegradables desarrollados hasta ahora debían ser depositados en ambientes controlados, con alto contenido de microorganismos.
De hecho, esta semana el director ejecutivo de la empresa Symphony Environmental , que desarrolló la tecnología D2w , Michael Laurier, estará de visita en el país para impartir una charla sobre cómo se logra el proceso de exobiodegradación en los recipientes plásticos que la empresa fabrica.
En Costa Rica este producto es apenas conocido porque fue incorporado el año pasado en los primeros productos de plásticos. Symphony Environmental espera crecer en la región y a la fecha registra 15 empresas certificadas con capacidad para producir esta tecnología .
Una vez que finaliza la vida útil de los envases y gracias a la tecnología d2w se inicia un proceso de rompimiento de los enlaces químicos de carbono propios del plástico. Los tiempos de degradación varían según agentes externos tales como aire, temperatura, presión y manipulación de los envases, humedad, calor y radiación solar.
Al final del proceso, el 100% del plástico se desintegra y los únicos residuos son agua, mínimas cantidades de dióxido de carbono (CO2) y una biomasa que -fácilmente digerida por microorganismos tales como hongos y bacterias- se desintegra como cualquier otro desecho orgánico. El CO2, al desprenderse lentamente, permite que el carbono se fije al suelo como nutriente, sin causar efecto invernadero.
Saturday, 16 February 2008
picking up garbage in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Just wanted to share this photo of volunteers picking up garbage in Saint Vincent. We should all take time once in a while to do this. Maybe we only have time to pick up a little, but we can help, one wrapper at a time.
report from Maputo
So after a few days of traveling we finally made it to Maputo, capital of Mozambique. When we arrive they tell us we can't go through because there is a big manifestation in which people are burning down buses, taxis, basically anything with wheels. We were stuck were we were, which was 2 blocks away from the riots, where also people were being killed.People were very angry, in this country which most of the times is very peacefull, because they raised the prices of public transportation by %25, a lot considering many people couldn't afford it the way it was. Of course this was directly influenced by the decisions of the developed countries.
Anyways this made me reflect on the little the rest of the world hears or knows about things happening in Africa. I think we should all make an effort to try and open un people's interest for the things happening all around the world and not only in the houses of rich people.
take care!
Selena
Sunday, 22 July 2007
And so the Golden Toad starts a story.
The Golden Toad has become a story well known to some people. Its name almost mythical and so is its history. It was discovered in 1966 in Costa Rica in the forest of Monteverde, at that time being an abundant species, but has not been seen since 1989.
Having grown up in a country (Costa Rica) where we have witnessed the way several species have disappeared it is impossible for me to sit and not wonder about the reasons why these beings have become extinct.
Many of us grew in rural areas where we could play in rivers, climb trees and had lots of contact with nature, and most of us have seen that same nature being destroyed, by pollution, over population and mass growth of tourism, hotels, international real estate. For us it is sad to see how the beauties that we once treasured so much are coming in to second place when it comes to economy and wealth. We have seen the species suffer and migrate, and when unable to do this, have massive drops in their population.
It is hard to ignore the massive changes in our weather, the fact the 10 years ago we had millions of beatles coming out in May, and now we only have a few each month, all confused when they are supposed to come out of the ground due to weather variations. It is hard to ignore that we lack all those butterfly clouds we used to have, and so many less birds, so many less colors in the sky.
I guess many people are not aware of the consequences of what they do or simply don't care. In my country I think it is very hard to ignore since the facts are almost punching us in the face. It is frustrating to know that this is happening because we are allowing it to occur.
In other countries I guess so much is destroyed or deprived of life, of nature, that people are incapable of appreciating it's beauty, and I'm aware of this by looking at how the gardens are shrinking and how the houses are growing, at how many people enclose themselves in their rock cold cement lives and do not go out to appreciate the freshness of a cool breath of fresh air.
I wonder what we can do to let the people know the importance of life, of growth, of beings other than humans. How can we restart that spark of interest for people to go to the wilderness, to fight for beauty? How can we convince people that an ideal vacation is not to go to an artificial resort, but a place that was created by nature during hundreds of years? And how do we fight the odds and try to save it, and us?
Having grown up in a country (Costa Rica) where we have witnessed the way several species have disappeared it is impossible for me to sit and not wonder about the reasons why these beings have become extinct.
Many of us grew in rural areas where we could play in rivers, climb trees and had lots of contact with nature, and most of us have seen that same nature being destroyed, by pollution, over population and mass growth of tourism, hotels, international real estate. For us it is sad to see how the beauties that we once treasured so much are coming in to second place when it comes to economy and wealth. We have seen the species suffer and migrate, and when unable to do this, have massive drops in their population.
It is hard to ignore the massive changes in our weather, the fact the 10 years ago we had millions of beatles coming out in May, and now we only have a few each month, all confused when they are supposed to come out of the ground due to weather variations. It is hard to ignore that we lack all those butterfly clouds we used to have, and so many less birds, so many less colors in the sky.
I guess many people are not aware of the consequences of what they do or simply don't care. In my country I think it is very hard to ignore since the facts are almost punching us in the face. It is frustrating to know that this is happening because we are allowing it to occur.
In other countries I guess so much is destroyed or deprived of life, of nature, that people are incapable of appreciating it's beauty, and I'm aware of this by looking at how the gardens are shrinking and how the houses are growing, at how many people enclose themselves in their rock cold cement lives and do not go out to appreciate the freshness of a cool breath of fresh air.
I wonder what we can do to let the people know the importance of life, of growth, of beings other than humans. How can we restart that spark of interest for people to go to the wilderness, to fight for beauty? How can we convince people that an ideal vacation is not to go to an artificial resort, but a place that was created by nature during hundreds of years? And how do we fight the odds and try to save it, and us?
Tuesday, 5 June 2007
Represas hidroeléctricas son yacimientos de gas
Mario Osava - IPS/IFEJ
Los gases invernadero de las represas hidroeléctricas pueden capturarse para generar más energía y evitar que agraven el cambio climático, según científicos brasileños.
RÍO DE JANEIRO, 4 jun (Tierramérica).- La hidroelectricidad es más sucia de lo que se creía, pues sus embalses en áreas tropicales, especialmente si son forestales, emiten muchos gases de efecto invernadero por la descomposición de material orgánico. Pero este mal puede ser benéfico y ampliar la energía generada.
Algunas centrales amazónicas admiten una capacidad de generación agregada de 27 a 53 por ciento, aprovechando el metano que escapa del agua que pasa por las turbinas y vertederos, aseguró Fernando Ramos, basado en un estudio que realizó con dos de sus colegas del Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciales (INPE) de Brasil en las represas de Balbina, Samuel y Tucuruí.
Pero lo que propone su grupo es extraer el metano del fondo de las represas, donde es mayor la concentración de ese gas.
Click en el link para ver la nota completa: http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=esp&idnews=163
Click en el link para escuchar audio: http://www.tierramerica.net/radio/mp3/tierra320.mp3
Gracias a www.terramerica.com por brindar la información.
Emigración bendice reserva de biosfera
Diego Cevallos - IPS/IFEJ
La mexicana Reserva de Sierra Gorda encarna la paradoja de la emigración de los pobres: la naturaleza se beneficia con menos población, y las remesas son el principal ingreso de los que se quedaron.
SIERRA GORDA, México, 4 jun (Tierramérica).- La presión sobre los recursos y la biodiversidad de la mexicana Reserva de la Biosfera de Sierra Gorda se redujo por la emigración a Estados Unidos de la mitad de sus habitantes, unas 50 mil personas. Así lo reconocen las autoridades del lugar, que abarca 384 mil hectáreas en el centro-oriental estado de Querétaro. Aquí conviven ecosistemas desérticos, semitropicales y de baja montaña, hábitat de especies únicas y aún no estudiadas.
Con la emigración bajó la actividad agrícola, el pastoreo y la tala de árboles. Pero también cambió parte del paisaje por las remesas de dinero que envían los emigrantes a sus familias y que constituyen el principal ingreso de los habitantes: nuevas y llamativas viviendas hechas de concreto y una creciente presencia de camionetas de alto cilindraje y placas estadounidenses que, según los habitantes, son el objeto más preciado por muchos lugareños jóvenes.
El último dato de densidad demográfica, de 25 habitantes por kilómetro cuadrado, es de 2000 y no contempla la mayor hemorragia de jóvenes.
Quienes se quedaron usan muy poca leña, y su principal fuente energética es el gas en bombonas. En cambio, hay varios basurales saturados en diferentes municipios. Las autoridades aseguran que a fines de año estarán en funciones varios rellenos sanitarios y que se recolecta para reciclaje más de 70 por ciento del plástico y del cartón.
"Los que se quedan en Sierra Gorda son esa masa crítica que hace alcancía aquí (con las remesas enviadas por sus familiares), reforestando, recogiendo carbono y protegiendo manantiales. Para otros no es una opción frente a la locura de volverse gringos", dice en una entrevista Martha Ruiz, directora de la reserva.
Click al link para ver la nota completa: http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=esp&idnews=162
Click en el link para escuchar audio: http://www.tierramerica.net/radio/mp3/tierra320.mp3
Gracias a www.terramerica.info por brindar la información.
La mexicana Reserva de Sierra Gorda encarna la paradoja de la emigración de los pobres: la naturaleza se beneficia con menos población, y las remesas son el principal ingreso de los que se quedaron.
SIERRA GORDA, México, 4 jun (Tierramérica).- La presión sobre los recursos y la biodiversidad de la mexicana Reserva de la Biosfera de Sierra Gorda se redujo por la emigración a Estados Unidos de la mitad de sus habitantes, unas 50 mil personas. Así lo reconocen las autoridades del lugar, que abarca 384 mil hectáreas en el centro-oriental estado de Querétaro. Aquí conviven ecosistemas desérticos, semitropicales y de baja montaña, hábitat de especies únicas y aún no estudiadas.
Con la emigración bajó la actividad agrícola, el pastoreo y la tala de árboles. Pero también cambió parte del paisaje por las remesas de dinero que envían los emigrantes a sus familias y que constituyen el principal ingreso de los habitantes: nuevas y llamativas viviendas hechas de concreto y una creciente presencia de camionetas de alto cilindraje y placas estadounidenses que, según los habitantes, son el objeto más preciado por muchos lugareños jóvenes.
El último dato de densidad demográfica, de 25 habitantes por kilómetro cuadrado, es de 2000 y no contempla la mayor hemorragia de jóvenes.
Quienes se quedaron usan muy poca leña, y su principal fuente energética es el gas en bombonas. En cambio, hay varios basurales saturados en diferentes municipios. Las autoridades aseguran que a fines de año estarán en funciones varios rellenos sanitarios y que se recolecta para reciclaje más de 70 por ciento del plástico y del cartón.
"Los que se quedan en Sierra Gorda son esa masa crítica que hace alcancía aquí (con las remesas enviadas por sus familiares), reforestando, recogiendo carbono y protegiendo manantiales. Para otros no es una opción frente a la locura de volverse gringos", dice en una entrevista Martha Ruiz, directora de la reserva.
Click al link para ver la nota completa: http://www.tierramerica.info/nota.php?lang=esp&idnews=162
Click en el link para escuchar audio: http://www.tierramerica.net/radio/mp3/tierra320.mp3
Gracias a www.terramerica.info por brindar la información.
Monday, 4 June 2007
Any thoughts on this? Please listen the podcast before commenting
http://podcastdownload.npr.org/anon.npr-podcasts/podcast/1025/10608276/npr_10608276.mp3
Morning Edition, May 31, 2007 · NASA administrator Michael Griffin defends the space agency's programs, including plans for a permanent moon base and manned missions to Mars. He also says that while NASA studies climate change, the agency has no authorization to "take actions to affect climate change in either one way or another."
The following are excerpts from Griffin's conversation with Steve Inskeep, edited for clarity:
It has been mentioned that NASA is not spending as much money as it could to study climate change — global warming — from space. Are you concerned about global warming?
I'm aware that global warming exists. I understand that the bulk of scientific evidence accumulated supports the claim that we've had about a one degree centigrade rise in temperature over the last century to within an accuracy of 20 percent. I'm also aware of recent findings that appear to have nailed down — pretty well nailed down the conclusion that much of that is manmade. Whether that is a longterm concern or not, I can't say.
Do you have any doubt that this is a problem that mankind has to wrestle with?
I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change. First of all, I don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown. And second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.
Is that thinking that informs you as you put together the budget? That something is happening, that it's worth studying, but you're not sure that you want to be battling it as an army might battle an enemy?
Nowhere in NASA's authorization, which of course governs what we do, is there anything at all telling us that we should take actions to affect climate change in either one way or another. We study global climate change, that is in our authorization, we think we do it rather well. I'm proud of that, but NASA is not an agency chartered to, quote, battle climate change.
Thanks to: National Public Radio for the information.
There's a response to the inquiries made by NASA administrator Michael Griffin in the same podcast. Jim Hansen makes an interesting analysis of Michael Griffin's comments.
Morning Edition, May 31, 2007 · NASA administrator Michael Griffin defends the space agency's programs, including plans for a permanent moon base and manned missions to Mars. He also says that while NASA studies climate change, the agency has no authorization to "take actions to affect climate change in either one way or another."
The following are excerpts from Griffin's conversation with Steve Inskeep, edited for clarity:
It has been mentioned that NASA is not spending as much money as it could to study climate change — global warming — from space. Are you concerned about global warming?
I'm aware that global warming exists. I understand that the bulk of scientific evidence accumulated supports the claim that we've had about a one degree centigrade rise in temperature over the last century to within an accuracy of 20 percent. I'm also aware of recent findings that appear to have nailed down — pretty well nailed down the conclusion that much of that is manmade. Whether that is a longterm concern or not, I can't say.
Do you have any doubt that this is a problem that mankind has to wrestle with?
I have no doubt that … a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with. To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change. First of all, I don't think it's within the power of human beings to assure that the climate does not change, as millions of years of history have shown. And second of all, I guess I would ask which human beings — where and when — are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.
Is that thinking that informs you as you put together the budget? That something is happening, that it's worth studying, but you're not sure that you want to be battling it as an army might battle an enemy?
Nowhere in NASA's authorization, which of course governs what we do, is there anything at all telling us that we should take actions to affect climate change in either one way or another. We study global climate change, that is in our authorization, we think we do it rather well. I'm proud of that, but NASA is not an agency chartered to, quote, battle climate change.
Thanks to: National Public Radio for the information.
There's a response to the inquiries made by NASA administrator Michael Griffin in the same podcast. Jim Hansen makes an interesting analysis of Michael Griffin's comments.
Wednesday, 30 May 2007
Photo: Selena Avendaño This Gallery exhibits photographic images of the Costarrican environment and, secondarily, of the Mesoamerican too, with the purpose of fomenting the knowledge and affection for our nature and also for the spaces with human presence. The exhibited images can be used by the visitors of this site freely or paying for them if the author reclaims economical benefits. In this second case, the Gallery will serve as intermediary between the potential buyer and the owner of the image.
http://www.galeriaambientalista.una.ac.cr
Thursday, 10 May 2007
Help save the glaciers!!!
All over the world people are talking about global warming and about how dangerous it is if the glaciers start melting. In Chile they want to destroy two icebergs for mining. It is in the San Felix valley where these two glaciers feed some of the cleanest rivers. Under the glaciers there are some mines of gold, silver and others. In order to get to them the glaciers must be destroyed, something never seen before. The name of the project is PASCUA LAMA. The name of the company is Barrick Gold, and one of its associates is Bush senior. This is their web site http://www.barrick.com/. The government in Chile has already accepted the project, it just hasn’t gone through because the farmers have opposed, and need our help. The plan is will not only destroy the glaciers, but by doing so the are stopping the flow of fresh water and contaminating with chemicals other waterways in a way that they will never be able to be used again for humans. All the money will go overseas to the multinational company. The farmers have not been able to get across through the TV or radio, so please let’s help them out through here. Send this message to all your friends and ask them to sign it, putting numbers next to each name, and copying and pasting. Each person number 200 please send it to noapascualama@ yahoo.ca,noapascualama@ yahoo.ca and they will send it to the chilenean government. We ask the government not to authorize the destruction of the glaciers, nor of the rivers of the San Felix valley.Thank you for your attention, please copy and paste on an e-mail.
Thanx to Areln Cordero for the info.
Ayudemos a salvar los glaciares!!!
El ¡¡humano-absurdo!!... por un lado: se están derritiendo los glaciares y los cientificos del mundo no saben como pararlo... y por el otro CHILE aprueba proyecto para ¡¡destruir los glaciares!!!.... ¿?En el valle de San Félix, el agua más pura en Chile corre por ríos alimentados por 2 glaciares, donde existe el más precioso recurso (agua). Grandísimos depósitos de oro, plata y otros minerales han sido encontrados bajos los glaciares.Para llegar hasta ellos será necesario quebrar y destruir los glaciares -algo nunca concebido en la historia del mundo- y hacer 2 grandísimos huecos, cada uno tan grande como una montaña, uno para la extracción y otro para el deshecho de la mina. El proyecto se llama PASCUA LAMA. La compañía se llama Barrick Gold. La operación esta siendo planeada por una multinacional de la cual es miembro George Bush padre.http://www.barrick.com/ El gobierno Chileno ha aprobado el proyecto para que empiece este año. La Única razón por la cual no ha empezado aún, es porque los campesinos han obtenido un aplazamiento. Si destruyen los glaciares, no solamente destruirán la fuente de un agua especialmente pura, pero contaminarán permanentemente los 2 ríos de tal forma que nunca volverán a ser aptos para consumo por humanos o animales debido al uso de cianuro y ácidosulfúrico en el proceso de extracción.Hasta el último gramo de oro será enviado a la multinacional en el extranjero y ni uno le quedará ala gente a quien le pertenece esta tierra. A ellos solo les quedará el agua envenenada y las enfermedades consiguientes. Los campesinos llevan bastante tiempo peleando por su tierra, pero no han podido recurrir ala TV por una prohibición del Ministerio del Interior. Su única esperanza para frenar este proyecto es obtener ayuda de la justicia internacional. El mundo debe enterarse de lo que esta pasando en Chile . El lugar por donde empezar a cambiar el mundo es nuestro lugar. Circula este mensaje entre tus amigos de esta forma:Por favor copie este texto y péguenlo a un mensaje nuevo, añadiendo su firma y enviándolo a todas las personas en su archivo de direcciones, con copia oculta (CCO).Se ruega a la persona numero 200 que reciba este mensaje mandarlo a noapascualama@ yahoo.ca,noapascualama@ yahoo.ca para que sea remitido algobierno Chileno.No a la mina abierta Pascua Lama en la cordillera andina sobre la Frontera entre Chile-Argentina.Pedimos al gobierno Chileno que no autorice el proyecto Pascua Lamapara proteger la totalidad de 2 glaciares, la pureza del agua de los valles de San Félix y El Tránsito, lacalidad de la tierra cultivable en la Región deAtacama y la calidad de vida de la gente afectada dela Región.
Muchas gracias por su atención.
Thanks to Arlen Cordero for the info.
Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Since February 19, when the season start, 131 females have nest in Gandoca. We are protecting 243 nest, 63 of this nest are in a hatchery. The first nest just hatch...
Help us to protect sea turtles in Gandoca and Cahuita Beaches.
The adoption kit will be a great gift in any occasion!
Check our web page.
http://www.latinamericanseaturtles.org/http://adoptions.latinamericanseaturtles.org/index.php?language=en
*****
Thanks for the info Gabriela Negro!
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Sanemos heridas- Healing the wounds
Ayudemos a curar las heridas que le hemos hecho a nuestro planeta. Son los pequeños cambios los que verdaderamente que hacen gran diferencia, y nunca subestimes el significado de un esfuerzo por más mínimo que sea.
"Pensé que les gustaría saber de Avaaz.org, una nueva red de activistas que a logrado presionar a varios políticos a actuar contra el cambio climático. Avaaz.org tuvo éxito hace poco, cuando mas de 100,000 personas de 181 países lograron convencer a la Canciller alemana, Angela Merkel para que haga del cambio climático una prioridad en la agenda de la cumbre del G8 este próximo mes de Junio. Esto es genial, pero queda mucho por hacer. Pensé que les gustaría ayudar a Avaaz a juntar el máximo numero de firmas para que cuando llegue la cumbre del G8, los gobiernos que más contaminan se vean obligados a actuar. Por favor, visita su pagina web:
http://www.avaaz.org/es/climate_action_g8/tf.php".
http://www.avaaz.org/es/climate_action_g8/tf.php".
A small effort goes a long way, let us never underestimate the power of trying.
Avaaz.org has been trying to presure international politicians to act against pollution and climate change (caused by humans). Finally the organization has influenced German politician Angela Merkel to talk and try to make this issue top priority in the G8 summit. You can help out by signing an online petition and getting the word out. Please visit their web page:
http://www.avaaz.org/es/climate_action_g8/tf.php
Selena Avendaño L. Salselena@yahoo.com
Avaaz.org has been trying to presure international politicians to act against pollution and climate change (caused by humans). Finally the organization has influenced German politician Angela Merkel to talk and try to make this issue top priority in the G8 summit. You can help out by signing an online petition and getting the word out. Please visit their web page:
http://www.avaaz.org/es/climate_action_g8/tf.php
Selena Avendaño L. Salselena@yahoo.com
Sunday, 25 March 2007
Monday, 19 March 2007
Para proteger nuestras ballenas!
La pretensión que tienen Japón, Noruega e Islandia, y la campaña que han realizado a su favor, la cual pide la apertura de la cacería de ballenas en la próxima reunión de la Comisión Ballenera Internacional (CBI) a realizarse en mayo 2007.
Necesitamos que Costa Rica se ponga al día con sus cuotas en la CBI para que pueda participar.Solicitar al gobierno costarricense que vote en contra de la cacería de ballenas.Coalición Costarricense por las Ballenas Apoyemos el voto de Costa Rica en contra de la caza de Ballenas en la CBI y que el voto sea permanente a partir del 2007 con una firma es esta página. http://www.porlasballenas.com/cont/firmas/index.htm
Necesitamos que Costa Rica se ponga al día con sus cuotas en la CBI para que pueda participar.Solicitar al gobierno costarricense que vote en contra de la cacería de ballenas.Coalición Costarricense por las Ballenas Apoyemos el voto de Costa Rica en contra de la caza de Ballenas en la CBI y que el voto sea permanente a partir del 2007 con una firma es esta página. http://www.porlasballenas.com/cont/firmas/index.htm
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
CAMPAÑA POR LOS CETÁCEOSHoy les transcribimos un vínculo a un video muy triste,sobre la matanza cruel de delfines en una isla de Japón:
http://www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin
Favor accesar esta dirección para enviar una carta de presión con su firma,al primer ministro del Japón:
http://www.petitiononline.com/golfinho/
________________________________
APREFLOFAS Asociación Preservacionista deFlora y Fauna Silvestre.
www.preserveplanet.org
Apartado Postal # 917-2150,
San José, COSTA RICA.
Teléfono: (506) 240-6087.
Fax:(506) 236-3210
http://by114fd.bay114.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=947EF646-AD6B-4225-A349-6DB2A190BADE&start=0&len=6884&src=&type=x&to=apreflofas@preserveplanet.org&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=002a4971b3be935141f6436fe8ae47281877aef7812540bcf154d434e9d078f2
stereonauta@gmail.com
http://www.glumbert.com/media/dolphin
Favor accesar esta dirección para enviar una carta de presión con su firma,al primer ministro del Japón:
http://www.petitiononline.com/golfinho/
________________________________
APREFLOFAS Asociación Preservacionista deFlora y Fauna Silvestre.
www.preserveplanet.org
Apartado Postal # 917-2150,
San José, COSTA RICA.
Teléfono: (506) 240-6087.
Fax:(506) 236-3210
http://by114fd.bay114.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/compose?mailto=1&msg=947EF646-AD6B-4225-A349-6DB2A190BADE&start=0&len=6884&src=&type=x&to=apreflofas@preserveplanet.org&cc=&bcc=&subject=&body=&curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=002a4971b3be935141f6436fe8ae47281877aef7812540bcf154d434e9d078f2
stereonauta@gmail.com
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Recolector de basura detrás de un mercado en el Valle Central, sonriendo a una joven que pasa por allí saludándoles. La recolección de basura es un trabajo honorable...
Waste collector behind a market in the Central Valley, smiling at a young woman that strolls by greeting them. Garbage collection is a honorable job...
Waste collector behind a market in the Central Valley, smiling at a young woman that strolls by greeting them. Garbage collection is a honorable job...
Parque central de Heredia. Parque ejemplar en el Valle Central, uno de los contados parques en los cuales se pueden encontrar funcionarios constantemente recorriendo las áreas verdes buscando limpiar este bello centro de congregación que ha visto pasar generaciones de Heredianos y visitantes.
Heredia's central park. A park which has set an example in the Central Valley. one of the few parks in which you will see municipality employees combing the areas in search of garbage. This point of congregation has seen many generations of "Florences" (Heredia is considered the 'City of the Flowers', for it's beauty and the beautiful daughters of a resident, in the early 20th century, who's last name was Flores) and visitors pass by and enjoy peace and tranquility in the middle of the city of Heredia.
Heredia's central park. A park which has set an example in the Central Valley. one of the few parks in which you will see municipality employees combing the areas in search of garbage. This point of congregation has seen many generations of "Florences" (Heredia is considered the 'City of the Flowers', for it's beauty and the beautiful daughters of a resident, in the early 20th century, who's last name was Flores) and visitors pass by and enjoy peace and tranquility in the middle of the city of Heredia.
The sign says "Our children disserve to play in clean parks, let's help protect them."
Thursday, 8 March 2007
This is amazing!
Giraffe Dies After Journey to Africa Mía
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff aroberson@ticotimes.net
Contrary to earlier reports from Africa Mía, a wildlife park in the northwestern Guanacaste province (Costa Rica), all of the animals that arrived there Tuesday from the United States are not well, tour director Diana Hernández told The Tico Times yesterday.
One of the reserve's six new giraffes died Tuesday afternoon because of stress it endured during the four-day journey from its previous home at a zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Africa Mía in the town of Bagaces, near Liberia.
The animal “was already in very serious condition when it got off the plane,” at Liberia's Daniel Oduber International Airport, Hernández said.
Along with 27 other animals including camels, zebras and several species of antelope, the giraffe left Cincinnati Friday and traveled by land to Miami, Florida, where their crates were loaded onto a 747 jet for Liberia.
“The problem was the transport and all the time they had to be in cages,” she said. “We had been told there could be losses.”
The other animals are all in good health and now roaming free around the 100 hectares of Africa Mía, a private park that opened in March 2006.
Luis Diego Marín, president of the Association for the Preservation of Wild Flora and Fauna (APREFLOFAS), called the giraffe's death “sad” but said he wasn't surprised.
“Zoos are always going to have these kinds of problems. That's why we don't approve of keeping wild animals out of their native habitats,” Marín said, adding that Africa Mía is a “great zoo” compared to Simón Bolívar National Zoo in San José, which APREFLOFAS has repeatedly denounced for what it calls unfit conditions and high rate of animal deaths (TT, Jan. 28, 2005).
“Obviously, transporting an animal like a giraffe is very complicated, and this will happen more if they (Africa Mía) bring more animals here,” he said.
Nevertheless, Marín said his group does not plan to speak out or take legal action against Africa Mía because the reserve obtained all the permits necessary from the Ministry of Energy and Environment (MINAE).
By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff aroberson@ticotimes.net
Contrary to earlier reports from Africa Mía, a wildlife park in the northwestern Guanacaste province (Costa Rica), all of the animals that arrived there Tuesday from the United States are not well, tour director Diana Hernández told The Tico Times yesterday.
One of the reserve's six new giraffes died Tuesday afternoon because of stress it endured during the four-day journey from its previous home at a zoo in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Africa Mía in the town of Bagaces, near Liberia.
The animal “was already in very serious condition when it got off the plane,” at Liberia's Daniel Oduber International Airport, Hernández said.
Along with 27 other animals including camels, zebras and several species of antelope, the giraffe left Cincinnati Friday and traveled by land to Miami, Florida, where their crates were loaded onto a 747 jet for Liberia.
“The problem was the transport and all the time they had to be in cages,” she said. “We had been told there could be losses.”
The other animals are all in good health and now roaming free around the 100 hectares of Africa Mía, a private park that opened in March 2006.
Luis Diego Marín, president of the Association for the Preservation of Wild Flora and Fauna (APREFLOFAS), called the giraffe's death “sad” but said he wasn't surprised.
“Zoos are always going to have these kinds of problems. That's why we don't approve of keeping wild animals out of their native habitats,” Marín said, adding that Africa Mía is a “great zoo” compared to Simón Bolívar National Zoo in San José, which APREFLOFAS has repeatedly denounced for what it calls unfit conditions and high rate of animal deaths (TT, Jan. 28, 2005).
“Obviously, transporting an animal like a giraffe is very complicated, and this will happen more if they (Africa Mía) bring more animals here,” he said.
Nevertheless, Marín said his group does not plan to speak out or take legal action against Africa Mía because the reserve obtained all the permits necessary from the Ministry of Energy and Environment (MINAE).
Tuesday, 6 March 2007
Río Celeste
Esta es una de las maravillas que se dan naturalmente en Costa Rica. Agua celeste, pura y bella. Sin embargo no faltó quien decidiera dejar su marca, un recuerdo de lo frágil que es este lugar. Plato plástico, blanco, frío inerte. Hay personas que son incapaces de apreciar lo fabuloso de la naturaleza sin la intervención de ellos, seres egoístas.This is one of the natural wonders of Costa Rica. Light blue water, beautiful. However there was someone who decided to leave mark behind, a remembrance of how fragile this place is. Plastic plate, white, cold, dead. There are people who are incapable of appreciating how fabulous nature is without their intervention, selfish.
Salselena@yahoo.com
Saturday, 24 February 2007
¡Sería una hermosa escena si el payaso estuviese allí recogiendo su basura!It would be a wonderful scene if the clown where in there picking up his trash!
stereonauta@gmail.com
Fruta Prohibida | Forbbiden Fruit
¿Así que esta es la forma en que adornamos los árboles de nuestros pueblos? Llamemos esta la nueva fruta prohibida, el que está destruyendo nuestro paraíso. ¿Por qué llenar nuestros árboles de latas y de basura? Sea como sea este imagen encontrada en Heredia centro es muy representativa de una problematica que hay que tratar de solucionar, el mal menejo de los desechos. No quiero recolectar latas de Coca Cola de los árboles, quiero frutas, quiero vida.So this is the new way we decorate our trees? Let's call this the new forbbiden fruit, the one that is destroying our Garden of Eden. Why trash our trees with cans and waste? Anyways, this foto, taken in Heredia represents a problem that needs to be solved and seen with utmost importance. I don't want to collect cans from trees, I want fruit, I want life.
Salselena@yahoo.com
Tuesday, 20 February 2007
Plaza de La Cultura
Plaza de La Cultura - Avenida Central, San Jose - Costa Rica
La basura espera ser recolectada. Un hombre busca algún tipo de deshecho que le pueda servir en algo. Esta escena es cada día más y más común en San Jose, a la población parece ya no molestarle y hoy en día obvia la realidad apuntando dedos a los demás en vez de tomar cartas en el asunto.
Central Avenue - Culture Plaza, smack center of San Jose, garbage waiting to be collected. A man looks for some kind of left over or artifact that might be of use to him. This sight is starting to be a very common sight in San Jose, people don't really seem to mind it anymore, they pay no attention to reality and decide to point their fingers at others instead of taking action.
La basura espera ser recolectada. Un hombre busca algún tipo de deshecho que le pueda servir en algo. Esta escena es cada día más y más común en San Jose, a la población parece ya no molestarle y hoy en día obvia la realidad apuntando dedos a los demás en vez de tomar cartas en el asunto.
Central Avenue - Culture Plaza, smack center of San Jose, garbage waiting to be collected. A man looks for some kind of left over or artifact that might be of use to him. This sight is starting to be a very common sight in San Jose, people don't really seem to mind it anymore, they pay no attention to reality and decide to point their fingers at others instead of taking action.
Saturday, 17 February 2007
Heredia por media calle. Media limpia, media sucia.
Heredia por media calle. Media limpia, media sucia. Los que crecimos en Heredia estamos orgullosos de haber crecido en una provincia bastante rural, donde no hay que viajar muy lejos para ir a las pozas, las montañas o el bosque. Sin embargo hemos ido cambiando los cafetales y los árboles por centros comerciales, pavimento y basura. En lugar de ir a buscar el aire fresco vamos a buscar comida chatarra en los “food courts”, y en vez de salir a correr y a nadar vamos a pasearnos por los pasillos de las tiendas. Nuestro nuevo orgullo esta en el crecimiento masivo de la zona y hemos ido enterrando nuestros recuerdos con cemento y piedrilla.El cambio con nuestro entorno se observa también en como tratamos nuestra naturaleza. Por ejemplo, la basura. Sí hay mas recursos para irla recogiendo, pero a la misma vez hay menos cuidados a la hora de irla tirando. Solo basta ir por las calles y ver botellas, plásticos y hasta papel higiénico usado tirado por el centro de la ciudad. Esto se ve todos los días, y todos los días la Municipalidad y otros hacen un esfuerzo por recogerla, sin dar abasto, así que vamos, nada cuesta buscar un basurero, o cargar una bolsita hasta desecharlo en un lugar apropiado. No todo se soluciona con dinero y el desarrollo no debe de igualar suciedad ni construcción masiva.
No hace falta que el olor que identifique nuestra cuidad sea el de la suciedad del rió que pasa cerca de la Universidad Nacional y Plaza Heredia, ni que en lo rieles se descubran los sobros de nuestra alimentación. No queremos que Heredia sea “basura por media calle”. Y si esto se esta dando en el centro, donde todos nos reunimos solo hace falta pensar un poco y darnos cuenta en las consecuencias de lo que hacemos también en las afueras del pueblo. Si en el Parque Central se ve en la fuente botellitas de plástico flotando, en los ríos se ve aun más y las consecuencias son aún más graves.
A la hora de tirar esos papelitos de confite deberíamos de pensar en las consecuencias que esto tiene en nuestro entorno y en nuestro medio ambiente. El esfuerzo al cambio debe de venir de todos nosotros.
Selena Avendaño L. - salselena@yahoo.com
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Amenaza a nuestro medio ambiente? / Threat on our natural environment?
http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=990
http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=7120
Dos artículos sobre algunos de los posibles efectos de varias decisiones que se están tomando en la actualidad que pueden ser una amenaza al ecosistema costarricense.
These are a couple articles referring to some of the possible effects of some decisions currently being taken that could mean a threat to Costa Rica's ecosystem.
Extracto de la revista: Bilaterals.org
http://www.bilaterals.org/article.php3?id_article=7120
Dos artículos sobre algunos de los posibles efectos de varias decisiones que se están tomando en la actualidad que pueden ser una amenaza al ecosistema costarricense.
These are a couple articles referring to some of the possible effects of some decisions currently being taken that could mean a threat to Costa Rica's ecosystem.
Extracto de la revista: Bilaterals.org
Monday, 12 February 2007
An Inconvenient Truth
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7302352
Por favor, tomen unos minutos de su día para escuchar esta presentación hecha por la reportera Terry Gross para la National Public Radio (Radio Pública Nacional). Entrevista hecha al ex-vicepresidente Al Gore sobre su galardonado documental "An Inconvenient Truth". Entrevista que fue lanzada al aire en Mayo del 2006. Nunca es tarde para informarse...
Pelase take a few minutes to listen to this podcast. Former Vice President Al Gore has been on the forefront of warning against global warming for many years. His critically acclaimed documentary on the subject, An Inconvenient Truth, is up for Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature and Music Written for a Motion Picture. This interview originally aired on May 30, 2006. Thanks to National Public Rradio for the feed.
Por favor, tomen unos minutos de su día para escuchar esta presentación hecha por la reportera Terry Gross para la National Public Radio (Radio Pública Nacional). Entrevista hecha al ex-vicepresidente Al Gore sobre su galardonado documental "An Inconvenient Truth". Entrevista que fue lanzada al aire en Mayo del 2006. Nunca es tarde para informarse...
Pelase take a few minutes to listen to this podcast. Former Vice President Al Gore has been on the forefront of warning against global warming for many years. His critically acclaimed documentary on the subject, An Inconvenient Truth, is up for Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature and Music Written for a Motion Picture. This interview originally aired on May 30, 2006. Thanks to National Public Rradio for the feed.
Sunday, 11 February 2007
Invitación / Invitation
Le damos la bienvenida a cualquier comentario, fotografía, o información en las experiencias que han tenido con este tipo de temática. Si ven un río bonito crecido en basura, déjanos saber, si van caminando en el bosque y encuentran un pedazo de vidrio, bueno todo esto nos gustaría tenerlo. Nuestro propósito es el de informar a las personas sobre lo que esta pasando, así que si sienten que tienen algo que aportar, por favor! háganlo!
See a beautiful river going plastic, let us know, if you’re walking through the forest come upon some garbage, pull out your cell phone and take a photo, write a note and send us the attachment. Our purpose is to inform people of what’s really going on, so if you feel like lending a hand, you’re more than welcome to do so!
We welcome any comments, photos, or any information on experiences you’ve had with similar issues. Who hasn’t strolled upon garbage on the streets, fast food junk, all kinds of wrappers, cans, glass or even medical products, let’s step up and let’s call these companies attention. Feel free to participate.
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Laguna de hule
Selena Avendaño - salselena@yahoo.com
Basura que encontramos al caminar hacia la laguna. El paisaje increíble y lleno de vida, pero a cada dos pasos hay un recordatorio de lo frágil que es la naturaleza. Bolsas plásticas, pañales desechables, latas de atún y sin número de artefactos artificiales. De camino fuimos recogiendo un poco y pensando en cómo podemos aportar un poco para el cambio.
Por cierto, agarren una bolsa, empiecen a ayudar!
This is some of the garbage we found walking towards the Laguna de Hule (rubber lagoon, in the background). There is an amazing view, full of life, however every so often there was a little reminder of how fragil this nature is. Plastic bags, disposable dipers, tuna cans and countless artificial objects. On our way we started picking some trash up and wondering what we could do to help change this. By the way, grab a bag and start helping! Wherever you are.
Some facts: Paper
* To produce each week's Sunday newspapers, 500,000 trees must be cut down.
*Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
* If all our newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!
* If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year.
* During World War II when raw materials were scarce, 33% of all paper was recycled. After the war, this number decreased sharply.
* If you had a 15-year-old tree and made it into paper grocery bags, you'd get about 700 of them. A supermarket could use all of them in under an hour! This means in one year, one supermarket goes through 60,500,000 paper bags! Imagine how many supermarkets there are in the U.S.!!!
* The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!
* The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.
* When you smell a dump, what you're actually smelling is the paper in the dump!
* Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.
* Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper a year; about 680 pounds per person.
* The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail.
* In 1993, U.S. paper recovery saved more than 90,000,000 cubic yards of landfill space.
* In 1993, nearly 36,000,000 tons of paper were recoverd in the U.S.--twice as much in 1980.
* 27% of the newspapers produced in America are recycled.
* Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!
* The 17 trees saved (above) can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.
* The construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper is 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.
*Recycling a single run of the Sunday New York Times would save 75,000 trees.
* If all our newspaper was recycled, we could save about 250,000,000 trees each year!
* If every American recycled just one-tenth of their newspapers, we would save about 25,000,000 trees a year.
* During World War II when raw materials were scarce, 33% of all paper was recycled. After the war, this number decreased sharply.
* If you had a 15-year-old tree and made it into paper grocery bags, you'd get about 700 of them. A supermarket could use all of them in under an hour! This means in one year, one supermarket goes through 60,500,000 paper bags! Imagine how many supermarkets there are in the U.S.!!!
* The average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!
* The amount of wood and paper we throw away each year is enough to heat 50,000,000 homes for 20 years.
* When you smell a dump, what you're actually smelling is the paper in the dump!
* Approximately 1 billion trees worth of paper are thrown away every year in the U.S.
* Americans use 85,000,000 tons of paper a year; about 680 pounds per person.
* The average household throws away 13,000 separate pieces of paper each year. Most is packaging and junk mail.
* In 1993, U.S. paper recovery saved more than 90,000,000 cubic yards of landfill space.
* In 1993, nearly 36,000,000 tons of paper were recoverd in the U.S.--twice as much in 1980.
* 27% of the newspapers produced in America are recycled.
* Each ton (2000 pounds) of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution!
* The 17 trees saved (above) can absorb a total of 250 pounds of carbon dioxide from the air each year. Burning that same ton of paper would create 1500 pounds of carbon dioxide.
* The construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper is 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.
Some facts: Glass
* Every month, we throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper. All of these jars are recyclable!
* The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than when a new bottle is made from raw materials.
* A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.
* Mining and transporting raw materials for glass produces about 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted for half of the raw materials, the waste is cut by more than 80%.
* The energy saved from recycling one glass bottle can run a 100-watt light bulb for four hours. It also causes 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than when a new bottle is made from raw materials.
* A modern glass bottle would take 4000 years or more to decompose -- and even longer if it's in the landfill.
* Mining and transporting raw materials for glass produces about 385 pounds of waste for every ton of glass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted for half of the raw materials, the waste is cut by more than 80%.
Some facts: Metals
* Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours -- or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.
* 350,000 aluminum cans are produced every minute!
* More aluminum goes into beverage cans than any other product.
* Once an aluminum can is recycled, it can be part of a new can within six weeks.
* Because so many of them are recycled, aluminum cans account for less than 1% of the total U.S. waste stream, according to EPA estimates.
* During the time it takes you to read this sentence, 50,000 12-ounce aluminum cans are made. * An aluminum can that is thrown away will still be a can 500 years from now!
* There is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can can be recycled.
* Aluminum can manufacturers have been making cans lighter -- in 1972 each pound of aluminum produced 22 cans; today it yields 29 cans.
* We use over 80,000,000,000 aluminum pop cans every year.
* At one time, aluminum was more valuable than gold!
* A 60-watt light bulb can be run for over a day on the amount of energy saved by recycling 1 pound of steel. In one year in the United States, the recycling of steel saves enough energy to heat and light 18,000,000 homes!
* Every ton of recycled steel saves 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,000 of coal, and 40 pounds of limestone.
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