Are recent disappearances of bee colonies across the US and Europe caused by mobile phones? Some scientists seem to think so. Research from Germany has shown for a long time that power lines affect bees navigational systems, now research is indicating that mobile phones may be to blame.
Hmmm,makes me wonder if I should get rid of my mobile phone..
This is amazing - satellites have been able to detect lakes hundreds of square miles across, up to 700 metres below Antarctica’s ice
I came across this idea and absolutely love it. One of the biggest issues with normal consumers using solar power are the costs and expertise required for installing and maintaining solar systems in a home. This concept by a company called Citizenrē allows people to rent solar panels for a fixed monthly rate.
Citizenre pays for, installs, owns and operates and solar installation - all you need to do is pay the fixed monthly rate which is set when you sign up for a 1, 5 or 25 year contract. This means as energy prices go up, you’ll be paying less for your electricity while reducing your greenhouse emissions at the same time.
Now all we need is this concept to work in Australia…
Due to warmer winter conditions, butterflies from Africa and the Mediterranean are making themselves at home in the Austrian Alps, one of Western Europe’s coldest region.
From the Planetark article - “We have seen some very unusual species and … we are talking about species that shouldn’t even be able to survive the winter here, which is what surprises us” said Peter Huemer, biologist at the Tyrolean State Museum.
I’ve been buying alot of fresh herbs lately for cooking (the herbs haven’t been going so well on my balcony) and searched for some tips on storing them in this hot, humid climate of Brisbane. Here’s what it boils down to:
1. Wash the herbs in cold water, trim off dead leaves and dead stems and pat them dry
2. Place the stems in a small container of water, don’t submerge the leaves
3. The cover lightly with a plastic bag or plastic wrap making sure there is a small amount of air that can get through
4. Refrigerate and change the water every day or so. You can use the old water watering your other plants
This is well worth a read, an interview on Grist with Terry Tamminen, the environmental advisor brought on board in 2003 to work with the California governor.
From the article:
“By the way, when we talk about the United States as 5 percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of its CO2 emissions … I think we’re 50 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions. Why is it that China is building 1,000 megawatts of coal-fired power plants a week? It’s to make factories to make plastic flamingos to sell in Wal-Mart. On top of that, we’re exporting our culture to them. We’re exporting this culture in our movies and our TV and our advertising, with our car companies saying it’s not enough to just have a car … go out and have an SUV just like your American counterpart.“
No more plastic pots!
Ecoforms, based in the US, supplies biodegradable pots. Apparently they can last up to 5 years and are made out of grain husks. There is also
Enviroarc, based in Australia, who use mostly bamboo pulp. Handy when you are feeling hungry too.
http://www.ecoforms.com/
At the West end markets today, I noticed how many people were driving, walking, cycling to actually reach the markets. The markets have created yet another parking problem with cars in Brisbane - Brisbane is laid out so that it is tough to get around using public transport, most people own at least one car. And the majority of cars we see these days are big people movers, vans, huge 4wds, petrol guzzling tanks on the road.
But I digress.
So what is my point? Reading an article yesterday on Grist.org, one of the biggest things we can do as individuals for the environment is not to drive a car. To walk, cycle, skip, swim whatever. Anything is better than driving a car to go places and do things.
Yet most people drive to the markets, then spend ages trying to find a damn park, then shuffle off to the markets, green bags in tow, to buy some locally produced, organic veges or hemp clothing feeling in some way that they are helping the environment. Or not feeling as the case may be.
It is the bigger things that will make the most difference.
So I ponder on this as I walk back to my huge beast of car with its leather upholstery and wood panelling.