Called the “Donation Meter” these recycled parking meters accept coins on behalf of the homeless supportig efforts to provide meals, job training, substance abuse counseling, housing and other programs for those in need. A total of 36 recycled meters have been placed at various locations throughout Denver.
Carbon Consumpation Labels for Consumer Products
A new labeling campaign is in development that will inform consumers about how much carbon has been used to create the product they are about to buy. This sounds like a great idea! It will let consumers make more informed choices about what to buy. It’s only happening in Britain for now, hopefully we’ll see this in the rest of the world though.
Participating companies also have to agree to cut the product’s carbon footprint over a two-year period or face being thrown out of the scheme.
The first goods bearing the label are expected to appear on shelves in April.
A Patently Good Idea
Over at Slashdot there is an interesting discussion about a not for profits wanting comapnies to give them access to the companies unused patents. Even state governments (in the USA) support this.
I think this is a great idea because having patents just sitting around stifles the economy and creative development; all the patent holders get out of this is a lack of competition.
Countless patents — including the one used to start up Kotecha’s company, Yokit — sit unused when companies decide not to develop them into products. Now, not-for-profit groups and state governments are asking companies to donate dormant patents so they can be passed to local entrepreneurs who try to build businesses out of them.
Using Google Earth to Spot Destruction
It’s easy to read about how humans are destroying the planet; it’s hard to visualize this though. Google Earth can be used to help people understand what is happening and see the damage themselves. This is good because it allows for people to better understand that things they do have an impact on the environment.
Environmental advocacy group Appalachian Voices has joined to Google to deliver a special interactive layer for Google Earth that tells the stories of over 470 mountains that have been destroyed from coal mining, and its impact on nearby ecosystems. Separately, the World Wildlife Fund has added the ability to visit its 150 project sites using Google Earth.
Remember you can reduce, reuse, and recycle. The saying is in that order for a reason.
New Leopard Spotted
I find it entertaining when researchers find something “new” that has been in front of them the entire time. It doesn’t mean that the discovery is any less important though. In this case it is a “new” breed of leopard; and the uniqueness of this animal is in it’s genes.
The new cat, now dubbed the Bornean clouded leopard and given the species name Neofelis diardi, is darker than the mainland clouded leopard, Neofelis nebulosa. It also has slightly different markings on its pelt. But the real differences between the two species are in their genes.