World of Change
Inspired by our 10th anniversary, the Earth Observatory has pulled together a special series of NASA satellite images documenting how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—has changed during the previous decadEarth would not be the planet that it is without its biosphere, the sum of its life. This series of images illustrates the variations in the average productivity of the global biosphere from In the early 1980s, scientists began to realize that CFCs were creating a thin spot—a hole—in the ozone layer over Antarctica every spring. This series of satellite images shows the ozone hole on the day of its maximum depth each year from 1979 through 2008.1999 to 2008.The state of Rondônia in western Brazil is one of the most deforested parts of the Amazon. This series shows deforestation on the frontier in the northwestern part of the state between 2000 and 2008.Because of differences in geography and climate, Antarctica sea ice extent is larger than the Arctic’s in winter and smaller in summer. Since 1979, Antarctica’s sea ice has increased slightly, but year-to-year fluctuations are large.
A massive irrigation project in the Kyzylkum Desert of central Asia has devastated the Aral Sea over the past 50 years. These images show the continued decline of the Southern Aral Sea in the past decade, as well as the first steps of recovery in the Northern Aral Sea in recent years.
NASA satellites have monitored Arctic sea ice since 1978. Starting in 2002, they observed a sharp decline in sea ice extent.
Drought struck southern Utah in the early twenty-first century. The drought’s effects were easily seen in the fluctuating water levels of Lake Powell.
In the years following the Persian Gulf War, Iraqi residents began reclaiming the country’s nearly decimated Mesopotamian marshes. This series of images documents the transformation of the fabled landscape between 2000 and 2009.
Over the span of 11 years, the Sun's activity waxes and wanes as magnetic field lines that are wound and tangled inside the Sun periodically break through to the surface. This series of images shows sunspots and UV brightness generated by solar magnetic activity from 1999-2009
To expand the possibilities for beachfront tourist development, Dubai, part of the United Arab Emirates, undertook a massive engineering project to create hundreds of artificial islands along its Persian Gulf coastline.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Angola: Environment Deputy Minister Suggests New Sources of Energy
The deputy minister of Environment, Mota Liz, on Wednesday warned that Angola should identify other sources of energy for the population, mainly for those ones in rural areas, if it wants to continue lessening the desertification phenomenon.
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The official, who said so in an ceremony to commemorate the World Day of Fighting Against Desertification and Drought, considered as worrying the situation in the country, mainly in the southern area, in which, he said, there is an excessive exploration of trees for wood and coal production, besides the destruction of plants for agricultural purposes.
He reminded that the cutting of trees for coal and wood production have an important meaning to desertification, suggesting, thus, the need for
replenishing forests with trees, in an intensive way, to avoid the spreading of deserts in Angola.
"If we have no response to give, like other sources of energy and the rational exploration of mineral resources, we might stimulate this tendency instead of contradicting it", he said.
Mota Liz reminded the fact that there is a growing absence of trees from Namibia desert to Angola's central Benguela Province.
GA_googleFillSlot( "AllAfrica_Story_InsetA" );
The official, who said so in an ceremony to commemorate the World Day of Fighting Against Desertification and Drought, considered as worrying the situation in the country, mainly in the southern area, in which, he said, there is an excessive exploration of trees for wood and coal production, besides the destruction of plants for agricultural purposes.
He reminded that the cutting of trees for coal and wood production have an important meaning to desertification, suggesting, thus, the need for
replenishing forests with trees, in an intensive way, to avoid the spreading of deserts in Angola.
"If we have no response to give, like other sources of energy and the rational exploration of mineral resources, we might stimulate this tendency instead of contradicting it", he said.
Mota Liz reminded the fact that there is a growing absence of trees from Namibia desert to Angola's central Benguela Province.
Environment: Indian Prez appeals for conserving natural resources
On the World Environment Day, Indian President Pratibha Patil has called for greater efforts at ecologically sustainable development. International community, she told an audience which assembled at Rashtrapati Bhavan to witness the Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskaar (IGPP) awards, is currently engaged in the process of negotiations on climate change. It is a challenging issue. Eradication of poverty and the imperatives of economic and social development are equally important. One is not to the exclusion of the other. The over-riding priority for developing countries is sustainable development and environment.
Underlining that the campaign demands financial resources and technology transfer, the Indian President said developed and developing countries should work together and come up with cost effective technological innovations.
Referring to theme for the World Environment Day this year, “Your Planet needs you – Unite to respond to climate change”, President Patil said she said that the new theme is a reminder of the need for collective efforts to tackle the threats from climate change. ‘This challenge impacts each one of us in our habitats and affects our way of life’.
She quoted a ‘shloka’ from Varaha Purana to drive home the message that as long as there are mountains and green forests on Earth, till then we and our future generations will survive and live happily.
President presented Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskaar (IGPP) to eminent to organizations and individuals who made a major impact in the protection of environment. For the year 2006, Bongaigaon Refinery and Petro-chemicals Limited, Assam and 130 Infantry Battalion (TA), Ecological, Uttrakhand were the joint recipients of the award in organization category. Dr. J. Raghav Rao from Chennai, Tamil Nadu and S. Annapurna from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh received the award in the individual category.
IGPP Awards for the year 2007 went to BAIF Institute of Rural Development, Tiptur, Karnataka and Antyoday Nirbal Durbal Shoshit Mahila Evam Bal Kalyan Samiti, Luknow, Uttar Pradesh in the organization category.
Afzal Khatri and Nusrat Khatri from Mumbai jointly and Dr. Rachna Gaur, Rajsamand, Rajasthan got award in individual category.
The Young Environmentalist of the Year 2009 Award went to Master Aviral Saxena, a Class X student of Jawaharlal Nehru School, Bhopal. He received Rs. 10,000 in cash, a trophy, a certificate, a medal and a scroll. The selection was made on the basis of National Level Written Quiz Competition held on April 22 to mark the ‘Earth Day’.
New flora and fauna have been ‘discovered’ last year. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have published these findings. Copies of ‘Animal Discoveries – 2008’ and ‘Plant Discoveries – 2008’ have been presented to President Patil.
The ZSI’s scientists have discovered 37 new species where one each is from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Two scientists outside ZSI have also contributed to new species and one new record of sea spider from India. Scientist from BSI and other institutions discovered three genera, 108 species, fourteen sub-species, twelve varieties and one forma as new to science. Twenty-Four species and three varieties have been discovered as new records for Indian flora.
Underlining that the campaign demands financial resources and technology transfer, the Indian President said developed and developing countries should work together and come up with cost effective technological innovations.
Referring to theme for the World Environment Day this year, “Your Planet needs you – Unite to respond to climate change”, President Patil said she said that the new theme is a reminder of the need for collective efforts to tackle the threats from climate change. ‘This challenge impacts each one of us in our habitats and affects our way of life’.
She quoted a ‘shloka’ from Varaha Purana to drive home the message that as long as there are mountains and green forests on Earth, till then we and our future generations will survive and live happily.
President presented Indira Gandhi Paryavaran Puraskaar (IGPP) to eminent to organizations and individuals who made a major impact in the protection of environment. For the year 2006, Bongaigaon Refinery and Petro-chemicals Limited, Assam and 130 Infantry Battalion (TA), Ecological, Uttrakhand were the joint recipients of the award in organization category. Dr. J. Raghav Rao from Chennai, Tamil Nadu and S. Annapurna from Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh received the award in the individual category.
IGPP Awards for the year 2007 went to BAIF Institute of Rural Development, Tiptur, Karnataka and Antyoday Nirbal Durbal Shoshit Mahila Evam Bal Kalyan Samiti, Luknow, Uttar Pradesh in the organization category.
Afzal Khatri and Nusrat Khatri from Mumbai jointly and Dr. Rachna Gaur, Rajsamand, Rajasthan got award in individual category.
The Young Environmentalist of the Year 2009 Award went to Master Aviral Saxena, a Class X student of Jawaharlal Nehru School, Bhopal. He received Rs. 10,000 in cash, a trophy, a certificate, a medal and a scroll. The selection was made on the basis of National Level Written Quiz Competition held on April 22 to mark the ‘Earth Day’.
New flora and fauna have been ‘discovered’ last year. Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have published these findings. Copies of ‘Animal Discoveries – 2008’ and ‘Plant Discoveries – 2008’ have been presented to President Patil.
The ZSI’s scientists have discovered 37 new species where one each is from Nepal and Sri Lanka. Two scientists outside ZSI have also contributed to new species and one new record of sea spider from India. Scientist from BSI and other institutions discovered three genera, 108 species, fourteen sub-species, twelve varieties and one forma as new to science. Twenty-Four species and three varieties have been discovered as new records for Indian flora.
INVITATION OF NOMINATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL AWARDS FOR
Nominations are invited for the National Awards for Prevention of Pollution and the
Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology for the year 2008-2009 in the
following identified categories of highly polluting industries, of industries which have
made a significant and measurable contribution towards development or use of clean
technologies, products or practices that prevent pollution and find innovative solution to
environmental problems:-
Large Scale industries:
1 Sugar 2 Fertilizer 3 Cement 4 Fermentation and Distillery 5 Aluminium 6 Petrochemicals
7 Thermal Power 8 Caustic Soda 9 Oil Refinery 10 Sulphuric Acid 11
Tanneries 12 Copper Smelting 13 Zinc Smelting 14 Iron and Steel 15 Pulp and Paper 16
Dye and Dye Intermediates 17 Pesticides 18 Pharmaceuticals.
Small Scale Industries:
1. Tanneries 2 Pulp and Paper 3 Dye and Dye Intermediates 4 Pesticides 5
Pharmaceuticals.
Nature of Awards:
The National Awards for Prevention of Pollution will be bestowed on 23 industries (18
large scale and 5 small scale industries), one each for the above mentioned categories of
industries based upon their performance during the financial year 2008-2009. The Rajiv
Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology is given to the one which is the best
among these industries, particularly from the angle of adoption of the clean technology.
The Awards comprise a Cash Award of Rupees one lakh in addition to a silver Trophy
and a Citation.
ELIGIBILITY:
The industrial units belonging to the above mentioned categories of industries which
meet the prescribed standards would be eligible for nomination for the aforesaid Awards.
For details please refer to this Ministry’s website http://envfor.nic.in or contact the
undersigned or Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi or Chairman of
the respective State Pollution Control Board.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS:
Any past awardees of National Environmental Awards e.g. Indira Gandhi Paryavaran
Puraskar(IGPP) etc. or any organization connected with the industry and commerce, such
as, Industrial or Commercial Associations or Industrial Promotion Corporations, State
Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees may nominate any industrial unit
from the categories of Industries given above for the Awards along with an application
from the industry concerned, in the prescribed Proforma duly filled in, as given below:-
1. Name and address of the industrial unit, 2. Name and address of the proposer
(person/organization), 3. Category of the industrial unit (large/small scale), 4. Details of
previous awards received, if any, 5. Significant contribution made by the industrial unit (a
brief write up on the specific contribution on innovative clean technology, sustainability,
broader users or target groups etc.):
Self-nominations will not be considered.
The nominations duly certified by the proposer should be sent in duplicate to
Additional Director (Dr. R.K.Suri),
Control of Pollution Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
(Telephone No. 011-24361668 email: rk_suri@yahoo.co.uk)
The last date for receipt of nominations is 31st August, 2009.
Rajiv Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology for the year 2008-2009 in the
following identified categories of highly polluting industries, of industries which have
made a significant and measurable contribution towards development or use of clean
technologies, products or practices that prevent pollution and find innovative solution to
environmental problems:-
Large Scale industries:
1 Sugar 2 Fertilizer 3 Cement 4 Fermentation and Distillery 5 Aluminium 6 Petrochemicals
7 Thermal Power 8 Caustic Soda 9 Oil Refinery 10 Sulphuric Acid 11
Tanneries 12 Copper Smelting 13 Zinc Smelting 14 Iron and Steel 15 Pulp and Paper 16
Dye and Dye Intermediates 17 Pesticides 18 Pharmaceuticals.
Small Scale Industries:
1. Tanneries 2 Pulp and Paper 3 Dye and Dye Intermediates 4 Pesticides 5
Pharmaceuticals.
Nature of Awards:
The National Awards for Prevention of Pollution will be bestowed on 23 industries (18
large scale and 5 small scale industries), one each for the above mentioned categories of
industries based upon their performance during the financial year 2008-2009. The Rajiv
Gandhi Environment Award for Clean Technology is given to the one which is the best
among these industries, particularly from the angle of adoption of the clean technology.
The Awards comprise a Cash Award of Rupees one lakh in addition to a silver Trophy
and a Citation.
ELIGIBILITY:
The industrial units belonging to the above mentioned categories of industries which
meet the prescribed standards would be eligible for nomination for the aforesaid Awards.
For details please refer to this Ministry’s website http://envfor.nic.in or contact the
undersigned or Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi or Chairman of
the respective State Pollution Control Board.
PROCEDURE FOR SUBMISSION OF NOMINATIONS:
Any past awardees of National Environmental Awards e.g. Indira Gandhi Paryavaran
Puraskar(IGPP) etc. or any organization connected with the industry and commerce, such
as, Industrial or Commercial Associations or Industrial Promotion Corporations, State
Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees may nominate any industrial unit
from the categories of Industries given above for the Awards along with an application
from the industry concerned, in the prescribed Proforma duly filled in, as given below:-
1. Name and address of the industrial unit, 2. Name and address of the proposer
(person/organization), 3. Category of the industrial unit (large/small scale), 4. Details of
previous awards received, if any, 5. Significant contribution made by the industrial unit (a
brief write up on the specific contribution on innovative clean technology, sustainability,
broader users or target groups etc.):
Self-nominations will not be considered.
The nominations duly certified by the proposer should be sent in duplicate to
Additional Director (Dr. R.K.Suri),
Control of Pollution Division,
Ministry of Environment & Forests, Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
(Telephone No. 011-24361668 email: rk_suri@yahoo.co.uk)
The last date for receipt of nominations is 31st August, 2009.
CHE Partner Spotlight: A Small Dose of Empowerment
The hardest part of being a neurotoxicologist – someone who studies the effects of toxins on the brain – is not the studying-the-brain part. At least, not for longtime CHE Partner Steven G. Gilbert, PhD, DABT, Director and Founder of the Seattle, WA-based Institute of Neurotoxicology and Neurological Disorders (INND) and Managing Editor of Toxipedia.org. For Dr. Gilbert, the hard part is figuring out how to manage his time.No longer active in research, he works on different ways to explain to the public what is already known about how environmental toxins affect our health. For example, in 2006, he created Toxipedia, a Web-based encyclopedia of toxicology that uses modified open-source wiki technology to make information more freely available. He writes and publishes papers (most recently, a book review in Environmental Health Perspectives). He is working on the second edition of his book, A Small Dose of Toxicology: The Health Effects of Common Chemicals (Informa HealthCare, 2004). “There are a million things to do,” he said in a telephone interview, explaining his ongoing struggle with time management. “What’s the most effective way to use your time? If you really want to change what’s going on, what’s the best way to do that?”
I N D I A : A D D R E S S I N G ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN THE POWER SECTOR
In India, coal is abundant and still
considered to be the cheapest fuel to
generate power. However, the wide
use of coal raises concerns over the
environmental impact. In particular,
the burning of coal pollutes the air
and contributes to greenhouse gas
emissions; while the accumulation of
ash at power stations makes land inappropriate
for other uses and endangers
both ground and surface water. Also,
when more coal is burned, more must
be produced, which in turn degrades
more land, displaces population,
destroys forest cover, depletes more
water resources, and causes more
water pollution.
The Government of India recognized
the need for an independent assessment
of the environmental consequences
of coal burning in power
plants and asked the World Bank and
ESMAP to look into the issue, in
consultation with all affected groups
and people.
ESMAP's Work
In 1996, with funding from the
Department for International
Development (DFID) of the United
Kingdom, ESMAP, launched a far
reaching examination of environmental
issues in the power sector. The
objective was to develop a decisionmaking
tool, which would enable
government officials and institutions
in India to evaluate alternative
options for power development. The
activity ended in June 1998, and the
results are now being disseminated to
several states.
The work started with an initial questionnaire
and a series of seminars and
workshops in Delhi, to encourage the
participation and interest of a wide
audience. One workshop, for Indian
and international technicians, discussed
the modeling tools available to
help in the analysis. Another involved
non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) who were invited to voice
their views and to nominate their representatives
to attend subsequent
workshops for the duration of the
study. These preliminary workshops
were followed by a major Inception
Seminar in July, 1996, attended by
key decisionmakers from the Indian
ministries and from the industry.
The decision-making tool was developed
through two state-level case studies,
supplemented by a set of special
studies. The case studies were done in
the states of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and
Bihar. The special studies provided
generic data and covered: demand-side
management; interfuel substitution
considered to be the cheapest fuel to
generate power. However, the wide
use of coal raises concerns over the
environmental impact. In particular,
the burning of coal pollutes the air
and contributes to greenhouse gas
emissions; while the accumulation of
ash at power stations makes land inappropriate
for other uses and endangers
both ground and surface water. Also,
when more coal is burned, more must
be produced, which in turn degrades
more land, displaces population,
destroys forest cover, depletes more
water resources, and causes more
water pollution.
The Government of India recognized
the need for an independent assessment
of the environmental consequences
of coal burning in power
plants and asked the World Bank and
ESMAP to look into the issue, in
consultation with all affected groups
and people.
ESMAP's Work
In 1996, with funding from the
Department for International
Development (DFID) of the United
Kingdom, ESMAP, launched a far
reaching examination of environmental
issues in the power sector. The
objective was to develop a decisionmaking
tool, which would enable
government officials and institutions
in India to evaluate alternative
options for power development. The
activity ended in June 1998, and the
results are now being disseminated to
several states.
The work started with an initial questionnaire
and a series of seminars and
workshops in Delhi, to encourage the
participation and interest of a wide
audience. One workshop, for Indian
and international technicians, discussed
the modeling tools available to
help in the analysis. Another involved
non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) who were invited to voice
their views and to nominate their representatives
to attend subsequent
workshops for the duration of the
study. These preliminary workshops
were followed by a major Inception
Seminar in July, 1996, attended by
key decisionmakers from the Indian
ministries and from the industry.
The decision-making tool was developed
through two state-level case studies,
supplemented by a set of special
studies. The case studies were done in
the states of Andhra Pradesh (AP) and
Bihar. The special studies provided
generic data and covered: demand-side
management; interfuel substitution
Environmental Issues in India
Mismanagement and overuse of India’s once abundant forests has resulted in desertification, contamination, and soil depletion throughout the sub-continent. This has serious repercussions for the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of Indians that live off the land. In Rajasthan alone, it is approximated that nearly five million tribal people (as of 2004) rely on the collection of forest produce as their only source of income or nourishment. Without continual access to forest products such as fruit, honey, or firewood these communities experience debilitating hunger and are reduced to extreme poverty.
Drought is having severe consequences for the people Rajasthan who’ve endured chronic shortages of water. In 2003, one fifth of the villages in Rajasthan reported they had no access to a reliable water source and approximately half relied on a single source for the entire area. This impacts availability of safe drinking water, the success of the livestock population, and basic food security. Without water, health and agricultural productivity, Rajasthani people are forced to struggle for their survival.
Numerous NGOs in Rajasthan focus on environmental issues as they are extremely pressing concerns for this region. FSD works with NGOs that have been enormously effective in protecting natural resources and minimizing the effects of drought. For example in 2006, an FSD intern, Elizabeth Thys, worked with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) to build a Rain Water Harvesting System. This water tank improved the quality and accessibility of drinking water for approximately 150 people in a rural area of Rajasthan.
Other FSD partner organizations frequently conduct research projects on topics such as soil stabilization, organic farming, erosion prevention, and protection and management of forested lands. These organizations search for feasible solutions to environmental problems and then provide the local community with the necessary funding and infrastructure. Aid from environmental organizations has become an invaluable way for the poor to improve the condition of their local environment, directly affecting the quality of their livelihood.
Drought is having severe consequences for the people Rajasthan who’ve endured chronic shortages of water. In 2003, one fifth of the villages in Rajasthan reported they had no access to a reliable water source and approximately half relied on a single source for the entire area. This impacts availability of safe drinking water, the success of the livestock population, and basic food security. Without water, health and agricultural productivity, Rajasthani people are forced to struggle for their survival.
Numerous NGOs in Rajasthan focus on environmental issues as they are extremely pressing concerns for this region. FSD works with NGOs that have been enormously effective in protecting natural resources and minimizing the effects of drought. For example in 2006, an FSD intern, Elizabeth Thys, worked with the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) to build a Rain Water Harvesting System. This water tank improved the quality and accessibility of drinking water for approximately 150 people in a rural area of Rajasthan.
Other FSD partner organizations frequently conduct research projects on topics such as soil stabilization, organic farming, erosion prevention, and protection and management of forested lands. These organizations search for feasible solutions to environmental problems and then provide the local community with the necessary funding and infrastructure. Aid from environmental organizations has become an invaluable way for the poor to improve the condition of their local environment, directly affecting the quality of their livelihood.
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