Metaphorically, the atomic clock has been the measure for the potential of an atomic doomsday scenario caused by the proliferation of atomic weapons. The hands have gone beyond the 11th hour many times; paralleling world events. But now the scientific committee that determines the clocks’ positions are accounting for other world events that have the potential for similar consequences to an atomic doomsday. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists are taking stock of the threats of catosprophic nature to human society from the nano-technology, climate change, life sciences and information technology fields in order to raise their public profile. The group hopes to raise awarness of the potential dangers of new technological fields.
Monthly Archives: June 2006
Water Water Everywhere
PBS has an excellent and informative examination of the bottle water industry. I post this here because I think it is very important for people to understand what they are really drinking. It is good to know this, so we can change our lifestyles to be moresustainable.
Water is a precious resource and the coming century much of the world’s population will lack safe drinking water, and it’s important realize how destructive the bottled water industry is to the environment and our own bodies.
In 1999, The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a four-year study of the bottled water industry. The study tested more than 1,000 bottles of 103 different brands of bottled water, and while most of the tested bottled waters were determined to be of high quality, some brands were contaminated. About one-third of the water bottles tested contained synthetic organic chemicals and bacteria, and one sample contained arsenic levels that exceeded state health limits.
Bottled water is also a con:
“About 25% of the bottled water sold in the United States comes from a municipal water source.”
Work to Live, Don’t Live to Work
Workers are now leaning towards wanting more leisure time and freedom from work than more money. I really like this new attitude, because I don’t understand the appeal of being more and more stressed out from work.
“Given their choice of unconventional benefits, 33 percent of employees would select a more flexible work schedule.
Twenty-two percent would choose additional family benefits, including parental leaves and personal days, over job training (13 percent) or supplemental insurance (16 percent).
“People are more interested in having a well-balanced life,” Buchenroth said”
Randomly Generated Education
A handheld deceived used by a teacher can encourage better learning by randomly generating names to call on in class. The device was created to try to get teachers to call on girls as much as boys so all can learn equally, but an additional benefit is that it helps to keep kids focused.
Maybe it’s the fear of randomly being called upon to answer questions that keep kids focused, or perhaps the success lies in making everyone feel included.
“When teachers use a handheld computer that randomly selects which student to call on, even shy or reluctant pupils will be included in class discussions–and students pay more attention as a result, the researcher found.”
Kenya to Supply Free AIDS Drug
The president of Kenya has announced that anti-retroviral drugs will now be provided to people with no fees. This is a fantastic way to help fight AIDS, and it’s great that Kenya is continuing its fight against HIV/AIDS since they already have had so much success in the last decade.
“Mwihaki Kimura Muraguri, HIV/Aids programme manager with the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Kenya welcomed the decision as “a critical step”.
“We look forward to seeing reduced costs for treatment support such as lab tests, whose costs are still prohibitive,” he said.”