global warming & the environment - "Ecology: 10 Ways To Fortify The Environment For Under $10"

America’s beautiful landscape represents the natural brilliance of a nation founded on truth, freedom, and the well-being of all its citizens.As technology progresses, America’s ecosystem has suffers the greatest toll. Automobiles, industrial parks, and consumer waste have grown in record numbers over the past twenty years. It is essential that we seek to ensure conditions favorable to the renewal of our country’s natural splendor.Here are ten ways you can fortify your local ecosystem for $10 or less:1. Don’t litter. It’s just one cigarette butt, pop can, or plastic wrapper out the window – but with over 200 million motorists in America, that can add up to a lot of litter. Repairing existing damage to the environment begins one piece of potential litter at a time.2. Recycle the basics. Many communities have recycling programs in place, yet some people find it too difficult or time consuming to make use of them. Basics such as aluminum cans or newspapers are easy to sort from the rest of the trash. To locate your community’s recycling pick-up schedule or drop-off locations, see below.3. Join the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Arbor Day Foundation promotes the preservation and growth of tress, both in national forests and residential settings. A membership is $10 and includes ten free tree seedlings sent by U.S. mail for planting in your yard or community. Donations are also accepted, used for planting trees in America’s national forests affected by fire or insect infestation. Visit the National Arbor Day Foundation web site.4. Conserve gasoline. Now more than ever, conserving gas should be an easy-to-implement method for both aiding the environment and saving money. Try running errands during a morning or afternoon stroll, or walking to your lunch spot. Not only are the health benefits significant, there is immense natural beauty to be experienced that oftentimes goes unnoticed in the car.5. Purchase ink-jet or toner refills for your printer. Instead of purchasing new printer cartridges, look for refill kits. Refilling printer cartridges can be significantly cheaper, and require less resources than new cartridges. When purchasing a new ink jet or laser printer, be sure cartridges accept biodegradable inks.6. Plant a garden. Growing your own fruits and vegetables can be a rewarding, inexpensive experience for yourself and your family. Gardening also saves money at the grocery store, offers fresher produce, and increases the nation’s food supply. If you live in an apartment, consider planting a windowsill herb garden.7. Participate in Internet banking. Internet banking (and on-line bill payment) is a great way to reduce the amount of monthly paperwork received by U.S. mail. With great progressions in on-line security, Internet banking is a safe, reliable way to review statements and make payments. A free service for many customers, visit your bank’s web site to find out if Internet banking/on-line bill payment is available.8. Install timers on outdoor lighting. Purchasing and installing timers for outdoor lighting fixtures is an effective, inexpensive way to conserve electricity. Dusk-to-dawn or motion timers will keep your lights from staying lit after daybreak. Timers are also great for indoor lighting and televisions.9. Replace furnace filters regularly. Although typically a home maintenance reminder, replacing furnace filters every six months can help maintain the efficiency of your furnace, conserving energy. Filters that aren’t changed regularly can become clogged with debris, causing your furnace to operate longer than necessary.10. Pass this list to a friend. The best way to fortify the environment is to spread of knowledge that will increase efforts to protect it. Share this helpful reminder list with a friend, or e-mail it to colleagues and friends. An increased awareness will ensure America’s future environment is healthy and strong.Jim D. Ray is a parapsychologist with a diverse background in multiple subject concentrations, including business, psychology and parapsychology, criminal justice, philosophy, education, internet technology, physics, and vocal performance arts.

the environment - "Select An Earth Friendly Product: Good For Your Health, Good For The Environment"

Our earth is everyone’s responsibility. We all want to have a healthy environment to pass on to our children, but it can often seem like eco-friendly behavior is difficult to attain. Environmentally conscious consumers will be happy to hear that more and more earth friendly product lines are being developed to make healthy living simple and convenient.Living an earth loving life is not just good for the environment in the long run, it is also good for your health immediately. The chemical products that have become so ubiquitous in our society’s day to day life are making people very sick. Research is now linking chemicals found in everyday household products to a prevalence of allergic reactions, occurrences of asthmatic attacks, and even the rise of cancer. An earth friendly product provides a healthy alternative that will work great and not make people sick.There are many harmful aspects of our homes that we have little control over. It is unfortunate, but many of us live in homes that were built in ways that are not ecologically friendly. Although many people are not aware of it, their homes are filled with pollutants in the form of paint, fabrics, and the very building materials that hold up the roof. These products emit fumes and gases that actually cause the air inside a house to be more polluted than the air outside.Although homeowners tend to start in an environmental deficit, this does not mean that they cannot make their houses healthy over time. Natural home products have been developed for all aspects of life, including home building materials, chemical free cleaning products, organic foods, natural beauty products, and environmentally friendly fabrics. By always selecting an earth friendly product, consumers can ensure that everything new entering the house will contribute to the overall good of the family’s health and the environment’s future.There is now no excuse for using chemical based products. First, it is easy to find retailers that carry natural products. Shoppers no longer have to go to specialty stores because the earth friendly product they desire is likely stocked on their local store’s shelf and can even be found online. Second, as the products gain strong fan bases, clear favorites are starting to stand out. Next time you are out shopping, look to see which products most people are reaching for. Finally, unlike before, natural products are very competitively priced, making them affordable for all budgets.

global warming & the environment - "A New Approach To Electricity Can Save Money And The Environment

Electricity used to be as simple as flicking a switch. Not any more. The markets have been liberated and the pie has been shared between 6 major suppliers - the ball is now in the customers' court. Not only that, global warming is making us think differently about the way we use energy. By partnering with an electricity supplier that understands their needs, small businesses are finding they can help the environment and save money.Electricity4Business, an electricity supplier dedicated to providing cheap energy to small and mid-sized companies, does not pretend to be a green company, but it does believe in helping businesses conserve energy. "We are not powered by windmills or solar power - there simply isn’t enough green energy produced yet. At present, the electricity we provide is made from burning fossil fuels just like everyone else's," says Graham Paul, Sales & Marketing Director of E4B. "But by encouraging our customers to cut unnecessary consumption, we can save them money and help protect the environment."So how do electricity costs mount up? Not so long ago, you could walk into a shop or small business and the only equipment you would find was a telephone, a cash register and possibly a computer. Now there are dozens of gadgets and appliances sucking up energy almost everywhere you look - printers, fax machines, air conditioning units, promotional pieces, laptop and mobile phone chargers, refrigerators, ventilators, modems and routers, coffee machines, power tools, machinery, and the list goes on and on. Many of them are never disconnected from the mains and buzz, whir and generate heat even when not in use. Now is the time to consider their cost to you, and to the environment.The good news is that there are many ways to conserve energy and not even notice it, except when you look at the bill at the end of the month. And with increasing awareness of the impact our actions have on the environment, staff may no longer dismiss the boss as a penny pinching miser for insisting on turning the lights out after work. All it takes to make a difference is a little awareness and some positive thinking.The most important way to reduce electricity consumption is to instil a culture of energy saving in your company. Typically, electricity is not so much used inefficiently as wasted, leaked and lost. Solving this problem begins by asking some simple questions about how equipment is used and maintained. Is the photocopier used often enough to justify it being on all day? Is the refrigerator door properly sealed and opened as rarely as possible? Are the computer's energy saving settings on? When was the last time that ventilator was cleaned? Why are the windows open if the heating is on?Then there is the equipment itself. Replacing 38mm (T12) fluorescent tubes with 26mm (T8) tubes uses around 8 per cent less energy, while compact fluorescent lamps use 80 per cent less energy than tungsten GLS lamps. And for office equipment, look for energy saving devices with stand-by features that bear the Energy Star logo. And if your employees are wearing T-shirts in November, remember that each extra degree can put up to 8% on your heating bill.There are many more ways of saving money on your electricity, whatever your line of business. Electricity 4 Business has compiled all the information you need to get started in a single document available for download absolutely free. The ten-page of Energy Efficiency Advice has everything on how to identify and rectify bad energy habits, where to get advice and how to claim energy related tax benefit and loans.

"The Environmental Movement Gaining Momentum"

It's a great time for those who have consistently fought to bring environmental concerns to the forefront in the news as well as in people's minds across the world.Finally, the green movement, the movement to help stop dangerous greenhouse gases from destroying the ozone layer and causing disastrous global warming, is gaining a ton of momentum thanks to the persistence of activism.The publicity this movement has received lately is astounding. First, we have Al Gore, our former Vice President, winning an Oscar (who'd a guessed it?) for a controversial yet thought provoking documentary on the iminent threat of global warming.We all know that anything that originates in Hollywood garners boatloads of media publicity, so this alone generated awareness and support where there was a relative lack thereof before, and motivated thousands if not millions out of complacency.Sure, there are critics of the documentary that say the iminence as stated by the former Vice President is overstated, but isn't it nonetheless a victory in the fight to reduce greenhouse gases through awareness?In addition to the Hollywood attention, there are organizations such as TerraPass gaining recognition and wide sponsorship for their efforts in reducing emissions from vehicles by a unique marketing strategy.TerraPass is an organization that funds research for alternative energy sources and promotes awareness about what is called your "carbon footprint", or how much you contribute to the buildup of carbon monoxide gases which destroy the earth's ozone layer and contribute to global warming.What you can do is go to their website, Terrapass.com, type in the year make and model of your vehicle, and it will calculate your contirbution based on that information.Your moneys are then donated to alternative, earth friendly, renewable energy projects such as windmill farms, which generate energy resources without damaging the environment.A simple concept, and yet it has taken off and become incredibly popular - especially in states like California, which is the leader in environmental awareness and proactive politics on environmental issues.The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is even getting into not only the promotion of green living, but he also lives by example.Two of his Hummers are now powered by alternative, earth friendly fuels, and he has signed landmark legislature which calls for the reduction of greenhouse gases by 25% - a huge endeavor - by the year 2020.The governor has indicated a strong stance in preventive measure against global warming, and has created a political culture of awareness on the subject by drawing public attention to his policies. This is great news for the green movement.You almost can't go a day without reading some sort of news about global warming nowadays, so this alone shows that it is now a public concern and of public interest, otherwise the newspapers wouldn't bother writing about it.The fact is, we all have a part in keeping our environment safe and people-friendly for thousands of years to come, and the publicity as of late has only reinforced the idea that if you aren't part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

global warming & the environment - "Plant A Billion Trees Campaign

A campaign to plant a billion new trees is being welcomed by environmentalists, but with a warning by some that in certain regions it could do more harm than good.While the campaign claims that each tree uses up 26 pounds of co2 emissions and in return produces enough oxygen for a family of four, planting the right trees is important to help the world improve her ecological and environment balance.In areas that historically have suffered from a lack of rain, and in areas where global warming could potentially produce deserts, new trees that use a lot of water could have a serious affect on their biodiversity.Eucalyptus trees can consume two thousand litres of water a day, and planting new ones in Africa would be a catalyst to disaster, and local campaigners for planting trees are urged to consider their area needs and decide carefully before deciding on which type of tree to plant.As well as individuals planting a tree, it is hoped that businesses will do the same and encourage employees to do the same, with government and civil servants also being asked to take active participation to reach the target of a billion trees by the end of this year.The patron of the campaign is Prince Albert of Monaco. Prince Albert has been campaigning for the environment since becoming Monaco's Sovereign two years ago, and one of his first acts was to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Previously, along with Australia and the USA, Monaco was one of a handful of countries not to ratify the treaty.MonacoPrince Albert's father, Prince Rainier, was Europe's longest reigning Monarch until his death in April 2005. Known affectionately as the 'builder prince' he transformed Monaco into the world's favourite tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix became one of the best known annual sporting events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a country known throughout the world for money and glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only added to its legendary status.Albert has continued in his father's footsteps with a plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and like his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille the map of Monaco will change again.In keeping with his stance on the environment, it is thought that a successful bid to build the island will need to be seen to be environmentally friendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings than some parts of Monaco have endured to create more living space.Monte Carlo has long been associated with glamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956 when Prince Albert's father married his mother, US actress Grace Kelly.Speculation was rife earlier this year that Prince Albert would be announcing his own engagement to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.'Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene front', comment a Monaco travel guide, 'Monaco is all about glitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise announcement will be made soon. But it's possible that Albert is more interested in environmental affairs than affairs of the heart'.Monaco has been making the news recently as Monte Carlo real estate prices have escalated, and are on a level with London and New York.Even the cheapest studios are edging towards the million Euro level according to Monaco estate agents.'Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in the UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly over the last twelve months,' they say, 'and it's not the weather in Monte Carlo that's drawing buyers, but the income tax free status of being a resident, and the security that goes with living in Monaco. There's one policeman for every one hundred residents and has to be the safest country to live in Europe'.

global warming & the environment - "Harmful Effects of Deforestation"

Human beings always have been and probably always will be to some extent dependent on forests. Trees were their habitat, their environment, their source of food and their protection from enemies. Forests are very important to man, and other organisms, and one of the biggest problems the world is facing today is the threat of totally losing the forests due to massive deforestation and suffering the harmful effects of deforestation.Deforestation can be defined as the large scale removal of forests. Deforestation occurs when forests are converted to non-forest areas for urbanization, agriculture, and other reasons without sufficient reforestation. It is the permanent destruction of forests and woodlands. At present, forests are considered among the most endangered on the planet. Everyday at least 80,000 acres of forest vanish from Earth. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations show that the rates of deforestation has not abated and has actually increased by 8.5% from 2000-2005 compared during the 1990s. FAO has approximated that about 10.4 million hectares of tropical forest have been permanently destroyed from 2000-2005 compared to 10.14 million hectares in the period of 1990-2000. The process of deforestation is often a complex pattern of progressive fragmentation of the forests. Mistakes of this sort could lead to forest destruction. Along with this destruction is the extinction of many species, heavy soil erosion, greenhouse effect, silting of rivers and dams, flooding, landslides, denuded upland, degraded watershed, and even destruction of corals along the coast. Extinction of Thousands of Species - Destruction of the forests leads to a tragic loss of biodiversity. Millions of plants and animal species are in danger of disappearing as a result of deforestation. Tropical forests are much more biologically diverse than other forest and a very serious effect of deforestation in tropical countries is the loss of biodiversity.Heavy Soil Erosion - One function of the forest is that its roots hold the soil in place. Without trees soil erosion and landslides easily happen. When heavy rains and typhoons come, soil is easily carried to lower areas especially to communities at the foot of the mountains. Greenhouse Effect - Deforestation increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The conitnued degradation of our forest heightens the threat of global warming because the trees and other plants that takes up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to be used for photosynthesis are gone. The burning of wood or its decay contributes to the release of more carbon which combines with oxygen in the atmosphere thus increasing further the levels of carbon dioxide that causes greenhouse effect. Silting of Rivers and Dams - Deforestation results in the silting of rivers sediments deposit which shortens its life span and clogs irrigation system. As a result of deforestation, the reservoir behind many dams are filled with sediments more rapidly than expected. Flooding - One major importance of forest is that they absorb water quickly in great amount during heavy rains. But due to massive deforestation there are no trees to absorb the water thus resulting to the loss of many lives.Landslides - The roots of the trees bind soil to it and to the bedroock underlying it. That is how trees prevent soil from getting eroded by natural agents like wind or water. When trees are uprooted, there will be nothing to hold the soil together thus increasing the risk for landslides which can cause seriously threaten the safety of the people and damage their properties. Denuded Upland - After several harvests of the forest the cleared land is no longer suitable for planting trees. It has become a desert. The transformation of a forest to a semi-desert condition is called desertification.Degraded Watershed - When forest mountains are denuded, watersheds are degraded and this leads to the loss of sustained water supplies for lowland communities. This is because trees affect the hydrological cycle. They can change the amount of water in the soil, groundwater, and in the atmosphere. Destruction of Corals along the Coast - Coral areas are degraded and coral reefs are affected by siltation. As a result of deforestation there is an increase of flooding during the rainy seasons and decreased stream flow in dry seasons. The forest provides us with many products and important services. It stops soil erosion, refreshes the air, and protect us from typhoons and other calamities. But if rampant deforestation is not controlled it will result to several problems. In one way or another, the denuded forests will back fire and people will certainly lose to the harmful effects of deforestation.

global warming & the environment - "Saving the environment; every little steps count"

Saving energy and the overall environment is a topic that has gained public attention more recently. People are realizing that at the rate we are using earth's valuable resources, we will face serious shortage in a near future.Water is the first resource we have been wasting in the past. We have to be aware that everyday, people worldwide are dying from lack of drinkable water. Yet, in our "civilized" countries, we let purified water go to waste in many ways daily.Small steps a person can take to limit her consumption of water is: only wash the dishes or do the laundry when there is a full load to be done, do not let tap water run for long periods while brushing one's teeth. Other obvious drinkable water savings would be not to use sprinklers on rainy days or using a broom to sweep one's carport instead of the garden hose.Another valuable earth's resource we have been wasting is electricity. Again, in many developing countries, electricity could save hundreds of lives. Yet, we are openly wasting this valuable resource in western countries. Small steps that can be taken to limit the quantity of electricity consumed daily are: close all lights that are not being used, do not put the air conditioning on (or a heating system) if windows are opened, wash clothes that do not require special care with cold water instead of hot water.Forests and trees have also been overused by man and wasted in more ways than can be counted. Recycling paper is the very first step in limiting paper (and trees) waste. I have personally contacted all the magazines with which I am not subscribed and asked them to send me these hundreds of paper I did not read and wasted. It took time and patience but eventually, I evaluate I must have saved an entire small forest by that little step alone. Writing on both sides of paper is also a very good way to diminish one's consumption of paper and thus limiting deforestation.Quality air is also a resource we have wasted to the worst degree. By overusing cars and toxic emissions which affected the ozone layers, we have wasted our most valuable resource: the air we breathe. Small steps that can be taken are exactly this: taking small steps instead of using the car for any small trip to the corner store. In taking such action as walking to get to near places, a person will also gain physical benefits and enjoy a better health condition.Saving oxygen and the quality of the air that we breathe also means taking a strong stand and pressuring governments in place to adopt and apply strict rules and regulations to limit pollution and toxic gas emissions.Another valuable resource that we have been shamefully wasting is the wildlife. Many animals are now on the endangered species list or, worst, have disappeared because of man's careless actions. Reading and keeping up to date on the most recent developments and again taking action to limit the damages caused to animals are small steps a person can take to start making a difference.