The Union of Concerned Scientists have done it again with a simple, yet effective video clip detailing the problems with missile defence. See article here.
In a world where tensions among nations seem to be increasing it is important for people to realize the false realities of perceived security systems. Arguably it is better to spend all the R&D money spent on star wars to be spent on meaningful science that promotes peace, not war.
A personal friend and overall great thinker once recited that books tended to reveal themselves to people at the right time and place. Some might say coincidence, I say fortune. Book Crossing attempt to engineer that experience by seeding the luck market.
The idea is simple. Register your book online and recieve a free BC-ID (Book Crossing IDentification) and release your book into the wild. This could be your favorite coffee shop, under a tree or any place of significance. Random people discover your book, read about book crossings, re-register the book online and begin reading. Users can track the books they release and monitor the progress. Alternatively, you can “hunt” for books in your local area.
Since consumers are the best critics, book crossings are an excelent way to discover books that impacted other peoples lives. I quote from the Ray Anderson the founder of Interface who attributes his companies environmental paradigm to a chance reading of the Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken.
Energy effeciency from Biofuels such as corn-ethanol is hotly debated in the US as critics point out the massive fuel, fertilizer and water inputs required by modern agriculture. Some claim the added strain on the agricultural system will result in a net energy loss once erosion and soil fertility costs are internalized and will requiring massive chunks of productive land. Current estimates peg corn-ethanol effeciency as 1.67 units of energy output for every unit input.
Wood based Biofuels can potentially revolutionize the industry and silence the critics. The process uses water instead of chemicals as a means of extracting sugar and Willow shrubs as stock material. Wood based Biofuels have many advantages. The entire material can be utilized, (instead of just the corn kernals) trees are a low maintenance crop and harvested 6-7 times before replanting and the leftovers from the Biofuels process are still paper quality grade. Estimates claim ratios of 11-15:1 energy effeciency. For the full article log onto the GLRC: Environment Report podcast.
You have probably heard of these already, but I was suprised the computer paper was so far advaced. Click here.
When I was a kid, I used to make believe that Christmas was everyday. Going to the mall was especially joyfull since the majority of wares come pre-packaged. It didn’t take much imagination for me to believe I was in Santa’s factory surrounded by strangly wrapped Christmas presents. Now I’m grown up and I realize packaging is not a fun 1/4 second between me and a new toy, but a terrible waste that costs the Earth, especially when it comes to fast food containers and plastic bags.
Alternatives currently exist to plastic bags, but what about packaging? The company NatureWorks has developed a hard plastic made from corn thats suitable for many common packaging applications. Bio-plastics degrade by industrial processes and are ideally suited to large events where collection is assured. Perphaps future versions can be suitable for your backyard composter. The kid side of me is just hoping I can get my Christmas gifts in Organically grown, locally producted plastic packaging so I wont have to feel guilty when I grow up.