Friday July 25th, 2008
Best of the Web...
Leaf-cutter ants test theories about the Amazon's biodiversity
No one knows for certain how many insect species reside in the Amazon. One oft-quoted estimate is 30 million, but the actual number could be significantly lower or higher than this. Either way, biologists have long wondered why the richness of insect diversity in the Americas' tropical forests is exponentially higher than temperate forests. Three popular hypotheses have emerged—the theory of refugia, the marine incursion hypothesis, and the riverine barrier hypothesis. To test these theories a group of scientists, headed by Dr. Scott Solomon, studied three species of leaf-cutter ant species from the Amazon.
Electric cars, greener fuels can reduce Australia's dependence on foreign oil
Australia can reduce its dependence on foreign oil through renewable energy and a shift towards electric cars powered by solar and wind power, argues a report published today by Australia's National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA).
Secret power plan would devastate Sarawak's rainforest with 12 new hydropower plants
Environmentalists have called on the Malaysian government to develop a comprehensive energy policy, following the discovery of secret plans to build a network of power plants across interior Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Fertilizer prices increase 235% over past year
Fertilizer prices continue to surge according to data released by the World Bank.
Brazil to send more police into the Amazon to fight illegal logging
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed two decrees Tuesday to rein in illegal forest clearing in the Amazon, reports the Associated Press (AP).
Friday Freebies: Positively Green
A twice-weekly sharing of eco-shwag.
Want to read the new eco-magazine Positively Green? I talked about it here — and have two copies to give away.
Comment or email by Sunday to get into the drawing, which’ll happen Monday. US addresses only.
Categories: Best of the Web..., Syndicated Green Blog Feeds
Hello {{ALL}}
Forum: Introduce Yourself
Posted By: inquistiveone7
Post Time: 07-25-08 at 09:56 AM
Categories: Best of the Web..., Natural Health and Nutrition Blog Feed
Hi form Australia :)
Forum: Introduce Yourself
Posted By: Ruin
Post Time: 07-25-08 at 08:39 AM
Categories: Best of the Web..., Natural Health and Nutrition Blog Feed
Meet the Bloggers
By Kate Sheppard
Brave New Films is starting a Web series called "Meet the Bloggers," where Internet commentators get to ask questions of political types. It's like "Meet the Press," but with better questions from folks who spend all day in the weeds on this stuff.
The series launched last week, and today's episode features Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) being questioned by bloggers Kevin Grandia of DeSmogBlog, Nico Pitney of The Huffington Post, and Matt Stoller of OpenLeft. The topic is the energy crisis and the proposal to lift the ban on offshore drilling. Viewers can submit questions for the guests here. The show airs online at 1 p.m. EST today, and can be viewed live below:
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
Browse an archive of science advice to Congress
Nonpartisan science advice in the US Congress? A newly opened online archive shows that it was possible -- and stimulates a call to re-open the Office of Technology Assessment as an advisor to Congress. The OTA's archive of 700+ scientific...
Categories: Best of the Web..., Technology Blog Feed
L. Ron Bolt denies AGW thrice (today)
L. Ron Bolt bashes his pulpit, berating anyone who prints politically on climate change:
Global warming believer Tim Colebatch in The Age today tries to bat away an inconvenient truth - that the world hasn’t actually warmed for a decade. But more fervent than informed, he simply proves he doesn’t understand the argument, and probably doesn’t want to.
AS THE Liberal Party turns into a Wadardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07900339523864136167noreply@blogger.com
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
'Green' jobs expand Michigan worker retraining
When Joseph Houle lost his job at a Petoskey factory in late 2006, he decided to retrain to be a police officer.
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
The Mercury Prize Announces Its Shortlist
The Nationwide Mercury Prize, Europe's Number One Arts Prize, according to their website, just announced the shortlist of twelve British artists eligible for this year's prize. Alternative rock stalwarts, Radiohead, made the cut for their groundbreaking In Rainbows, one of 2007's most blogged about records. So did the unusual pairing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for the surprisingly successful, Raising Sand, but a host of newcomers are also in the running.
Categories: Best of the Web..., Natural Health and Nutrition Blog Feed
Jewelry Boxes from Recycled Materials
Reclaim to Fame creates custom jewelry boxes out of recycled golf cart parts, plumber’s pipe and various hardware and found items. In a commitment to the environment, this Florida artist crafts his creations from at least 80% from recycled materials.
Prices vary from $45.00 to $225 at Reclaim to Fame’s Etsy Shop
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
Renova Energy PLC Files for Bankruptcy
Wyoming Business Report writes that Renova Energy PLC filed for Chapter 11 bankrupty on June 20th. Renova’s Chairman said problems began when the cost of a proposed 20 Mgy ethanol plant in Idaho rose from $45M to $60M. Construction on the plant is currently suspended.
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Investing
Deserts of Gold - The Remake
The Guardian had a good article a couple of years ago about CSP in North Africa supplying power to Europe which I dubbed "Deserts of Gold".
Obviously this institutional knowledge hasn't been passed down as the latest version of this story is far weaker and confuses solar thermal power with solar PV. Still, good to see the idea is gaining momentum - £37bn plan to power EU with the Saharan sun.
Vast farms of solar panels in the Sahara could provide clean electricity for the whole of Europe, according to EU scientists working on a plan to pool the region's renewable energy.
Harnessing the power of the desert sun is at the centre of an ambitious scheme to build a €45bn (£35.7bn) European supergrid that would allow countries across the continent to share electricity from abundant green sources such as wind energy in the UK and Denmark, and geothermal energy from Iceland and Italy.
The idea is gaining political support in Europe, with Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, recently backing the north African solar plan.
Because the sunlight is more intense, solar photovoltaic panels in north Africa could generate up to three times the electricity compared with similar panels in northern Europe.
Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission's Institute for Energy explained how electricity produced in solar farms in Africa, each generating around 50-200 megawatts of power, could be fed thousands of miles to European countries. The proposed grid would use high-voltage direct current (DC) transmission lines, which lose less energy over distance than conventional alternating current (AC) lines.
The idea of developing solar farms in the Mediterranean region and north Africa was given a boost by Sarkozy earlier this month when he highlighted solar farms in north Africa as central to the work of his newly formed Mediterranean Union.
Depending on the size of the grid, building the necessary high-voltage lines across Europe could cost up to €1bn a year every year till 2050, but Jaeger-Walden pointed out that the figure was small when compared to a recent prediction by the International Energy Agency that the world needs to invest more than $45tn (£22.5tn) in energy systems over the next 30 years.
Obviously this institutional knowledge hasn't been passed down as the latest version of this story is far weaker and confuses solar thermal power with solar PV. Still, good to see the idea is gaining momentum - £37bn plan to power EU with the Saharan sun.
Vast farms of solar panels in the Sahara could provide clean electricity for the whole of Europe, according to EU scientists working on a plan to pool the region's renewable energy.
Harnessing the power of the desert sun is at the centre of an ambitious scheme to build a €45bn (£35.7bn) European supergrid that would allow countries across the continent to share electricity from abundant green sources such as wind energy in the UK and Denmark, and geothermal energy from Iceland and Italy.
The idea is gaining political support in Europe, with Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, recently backing the north African solar plan.
Because the sunlight is more intense, solar photovoltaic panels in north Africa could generate up to three times the electricity compared with similar panels in northern Europe.
Arnulf Jaeger-Walden of the European commission's Institute for Energy explained how electricity produced in solar farms in Africa, each generating around 50-200 megawatts of power, could be fed thousands of miles to European countries. The proposed grid would use high-voltage direct current (DC) transmission lines, which lose less energy over distance than conventional alternating current (AC) lines.
The idea of developing solar farms in the Mediterranean region and north Africa was given a boost by Sarkozy earlier this month when he highlighted solar farms in north Africa as central to the work of his newly formed Mediterranean Union.
Depending on the size of the grid, building the necessary high-voltage lines across Europe could cost up to €1bn a year every year till 2050, but Jaeger-Walden pointed out that the figure was small when compared to a recent prediction by the International Energy Agency that the world needs to invest more than $45tn (£22.5tn) in energy systems over the next 30 years.
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
Recycled Assemblages - Art for Friday
Original recycled art by Cat Bishop. This artist is on her way to make 1,000 pieces of art. Her medium includes recycled billiard balls, old broken cameras, dominoes, dice, repurposed clocks and the kitchen sink. Whimsical and introspective with a shot of ‘earth friendly’ mixed in.
Pieces shown are $52.00 each at Artsy’s Etsy Shop
Categories: Best of the Web..., Green Blog Feed
HempGarden - true herbal delights
Treat your body and soul to bath and body products that are hemp-based and full of sheer goodness. Utilizing one of the most versatile and highly sustainable plants on Earth, hemp, as their core ingredient, HempGarden provides a potent range of Soothing, Stimulating and Sensual pampering products.
Choose from luxuriating hand creams and body lotions to [...]
Categories: Best of the Web...
Jack Johnson’s doing it All At Once
Ya gotta love a guy who’s a musician, singer-songwriter, surfer and surf film buff, as well as a serious advocate for cleaning up our collective environment. You can feel the hypnotic, ocean’s waves from Hawaiian-born, Jack Johnson’s laid back vibe.
What sets his band’s Green Tour apart from any other right now is the Village Green [...]
Categories: Best of the Web...
Do you have the post-BlogHer blues?
"I've got the Post BlogHer Blues," says Merlotmom. "It's like the letdown I felt after my wedding which took 8 months to plan and only a few fleeting hours to enjoy..."
In a great post, Catherine Morgan narrates an annual BlogHer tradition -- the letdown. Only this year we all got a bonus gift -- BlogHerBola, the virus. Join us as we commiserate...
Categories: Best of the Web..., Natural Health and Nutrition Blog Feed
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