BEIJING CLOSES FILLING STATIONS

HOSTING THE OLYMPICS: IT’S A GAS GAS GAS

Beijing will close 144 gas stations and 9 oil depots as part an effort to improve air quality in the Chinese capital, just in time for this summer’s Olympics. Air quality is a big worry for organizers of the Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee has warned that some events could be postponed if pollution levels rise too far. Beijing, the host city, is considered one of the most polluted cities on Earth.

All oil depots and gas stations in the city have until the end of May to comply with vapor recovery rules, which are intended to guarantee air quality during the Olympics. Vapor recovery is used during the refueling of gasoline storage tanks to reduce hydrocarbon emissions: a specially designed nozzle is installed on gas pumps to collect vapors from the vehicle's gas tank and return them to the station's underground storage tank. More than 1,000 filling stations will have new nozzles installed at the pumps. The upgrades are expected to cost US$70,000 per station.

In addition to the gas station closures, many cars are expected to be ordered off the road during the games, and Chinese authorities have already started closing down factories. Work on city construction sites will be suspended from May onward, and thousands, maybe millions of Chinese workers will be given vacation time in an effort to reduce traffic congestion.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. China Daily – article
2. Forbes – article
3. The Toronto Star – article
4. BBC News – article and photo

EARTH HOUR UPDATE

LIGHTS OUT AT 8 P.M., MARCH 29, 2008

With one month to go, 30 million people are set to participate in Earth Hour 2008. At 8 pm on March 29, people around the globe will shut off their lights and power down their televisions to raise awareness of global warming. Read my original posting for more info.

During last year's Earth Hour, 2.2 million people in Sydney, Australia powered-down for one hour. This year, at least 24 cities have signed up, representing as many as 30 million people. In addition, over 56,000 people have registered on Earth Hour’s website, and over 3,000 businesses.

During last year's Sydney event, restaurants used candles and lights were turned off in homes and major landmarks, including the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. This year, other iconic buildings to be plunged into darkness will include San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Chicago's Sears Tower, and the 553-metre CN Tower in Toronto.

Cities participating include Sydney, Copenhagen, Manila, Suva, Chicago, Tel Aviv, Christchurch, Toronto, Odense, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Canberra, Atlanta, San Francisco, Bangkok, Ottawa, Dublin, Vancouver, Montreal, Pheonix, and others. Of course you don’t have to live in one of these cities to participate in this unique event: click here to sign up for Earth Hour 2008.

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Reuters – article
2. Earth Hour - website

U.S. PELICANS UN-ENDANGERED

BROWN PELICANS BACK ON U.S. BEACHES

The brown pelican, once on the brink of extinction, has become so abundant that after 40 years it may finally be removed from the endangered species list.

Pelicans almost completely vanished in the United States in the 1960s because of DDT contamination from poisoned fish. DDT was banned in the U.S in 1972, and the pelican was put on the endangered species list. It was taken off the list in ‘85 along the Atlantic Coast, but remains endangered in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, California, Washington and Oregon. Under government supervision, the brown pelican has made a strong comeback, and this month the U.S. Interior Department announced a proposal to remove brown pelicans from the national endangered species list.

Today more than 70,000 breeding pairs of pelicans live in California and Baja California, and total numbers have surged to about 620,000 along the West Coast, the Gulf Coast, and in Latin and South America. Even without the Endangered Species Act, pelicans enjoy wide protection. The Channel Islands, a primary nesting ground, are a national park, and Mexico has created reserves along the Gulf of California, where the vast majority breed.

Unlike the controversial decision to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list, government and conservationists agree that the pelicans are no longer threatened with extinction, either in the foreseeable future or in the long term, and should be de-listed.

Shoutout to pelicans everywhere.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Associated Press – article
2. Los Angeles Times – article and photo

KIRIBATI’S OCEAN PARADISE

TINY PACIFIC ISLAND CREATES

WORLD’S LARGEST MARINE RESERVE

The tiny Pacific islands nation of Kiribati declared the world's largest marine protected area last week — a California-sized ocean wilderness that includes pristine reefs and coral atolls teeming with fish and birds.

The Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) lies about halfway between Hawaii and Fiji and will conserve one of the Earth's last intact oceanic coral archipelago ecosystems. More than 120 species of coral and 520 species of fish live in the area. The protected zone also has some of the most important sea bird nesting sites in the Pacific, plus large fish populations and sea turtles.

Kiribati is an impoverished coral atoll nation of about 95,000 people. It's total land area covers 717 square kilometers, spread across 33 coral atolls. Its people are increasingly concerned about coastal erosion caused by rising seas in a nation no more than five meters above sea level. Besides destroying causeways and seawalls, rising waters have begun to topple coconut palms grown along the shoreline that are crucial to islanders' survival. The government stands to lose about US$3 million in fishing revenue with the creation of the reserve, but is hoping to recoup some of the losses by boosting tourism, which now accounts for 20 percent of the country’s GDP.

Kiribati hopes to establish the 410,500-square-kilometer area as a protected zone by the end of this year. It has already applied to have the reserve listed as a World Heritage Site. Shoutout to Kiribati for protecting its resources, and the world's resources, despite the costs.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Reuters U.K. – article
2. International Herald Tribune – article
3. Telegraph.co.uk – article and photos

PERU PERUSES ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

RENEWABLE POWER = PERUVIAN POWER

Wind and solar power hard at work in Peru.

The Peruvian government has announced a portfolio of 35 renewable energy projects. Though alternative energy has been slow to catch on in Peru, the government wants to take advantage of the country’s rich solar and wind potential, in an effort to diversify away from oil dependency and fight climate change.

One of the proposed projects could make Peru a major exporter of “clean” energy: a hydropower plant located in the Amazon with the potential to generate over 7,500 megawatts per year. Peru uses only 350 megawatts per year.

Fifteen of the proposed projects are for hydropower. Other projects include wind, geothermic, solar and tidal power, as well as the development of a national solar map. The solar map would chart levels of solar radiation across Peru, and would guide the location of solar panels. The government predicts that at some sites, one solar panel could generate as much energy as 15 panels in other sites. The price tag for all 35 projects is expected to be US$35 billion over 15 years.

Peru currently depends on oil for 56 percent of its energy, with more than half of it’s oil imported from other countries. The government plans on replacing much of the imported oil with Peruvian natural gas, and increasing the country’s use of renewable energy from 27 percent to 33 percent. The goal is to reduce the use of oil to 25 per cent of 2004 levels by 2011.

A law on renewable energy aiming to provide funding for research and development was proposed to Peru’s congress on February 1, and should be passed before the end of the month. Shoutout to the government of Peru for jumping on the alternative energy bandwagon.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. latinamericanpress – article
2. SciDevNet – article
3. hotStocked.com - article

CONGO, RWANDA, UGANDA PROTECT GORILLAS

JOINT EFFORT TO SAVE ENDANGERED GORILLAS

For the first time, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have launched a joint effort to protect the mountain gorillas that roam between the three nations. Mountain gorillas are considered one of the world's most endangered species.

The volcanic Virunga mountains that straddle Rwanda, Uganda and Congo are home to the gorillas. An estimated 380 mountain gorillas – more than half of the world's population – live in the Virunga national park and surrounding region. More than 300 also live in southwest Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest reserve, which is included in the conservation effort. Wars, poaching and spreading human settlements have become grave threats to these great apes.

Gorilla numbers across the region fell to a low of 370 in the 1980s. But renewed conservation efforts, along with the gorillas' growing value as tourist attractions (visitors pay as much as $500 a day for tracking permits), have seen numbers recover. Bwindi has seen a 12 percent population growth over the last decade.

The tri-country, 10-year conservation project will focus on greater security and ways of discouraging local communities from destroying the region's forests. As part of the project, the operations of each country's national parks rangers will become integrated to safeguard the gorillas. It will also give communities a share of the money made from gorilla-trekking permits. The first four years of the project are being funded by the Dutch government at a cost of US$6 million.

As well as the mountain gorilla, there are 26 other primate species and 40 different ungulates living in the parks. Scientists estimate that 50 per cent of all bird species identified on mainland Africa are found in this region, as well as 30 per cent of mammals, 19 per cent of amphibians and 14 per cent of reptiles.

Shoutout to the governments of Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo for co-operating on this very important project. Shoutout to the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), the Office Rwandais du Tourisme et des Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN), the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), the International Gorilla Conservation Programme (IGCP), the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), and Fauna & Flora International (FFI), the agencies who put it all together. Shoutout to the park rangers who protect the gorillas every day.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Telegraph.co.uk – article
2. WWF – article
3. Planet Ark – article
4. BBC News - article

VIRGIN MAKES VIRGIN BIOFUEL FLIGHT

LONDON TO AMSTERDAM ON COCONUT OIL

This is from Thomas Wagner at The Associated Press:

Virgin Atlantic carried out the world's first flight of a commercial aircraft powered with biofuel on Sunday in an effort to show it can produce less carbon dioxide than normal jet fuels.

Some analysts praised the jumbo jet test flight from London to Amsterdam as a potentially useful experiment. But others criticized it as a publicity stunt and noted scientists are questioning the environmental benefits of biofuels.

"This breakthrough will help Virgin Atlantic to fly its planes using clean fuel sooner than expected," Sir Richard Branson, the airline's president, said before the Boeing 747 flew from London's Heathrow Airport to Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport.

He said the flight would provide "crucial knowledge that we can use to dramatically reduce our carbon footprint," he said.

Sunday's flight was partially fueled with a biofuel mixture of coconut and babassu oil in one of its four main fuel tanks. The jet carried pilots and several technicians, but no passengers.

Virgin Atlantic spokesman Paul Charles predicted this biofuel would produce much less CO2 than regular jet fuel, but said it will take weeks to analyze the data from Sunday's flight.

Read the full article here.

I’m not a big fan of biofuels and I have tried to avoid posting about it, but this story is too hard to ignore. Despite all the potential negative drawbacks of biofuels (and there are plenty – check out this ENN article for a taste), I am breaking my boycott on biofuel posts because this story demonstrates that it may be possible to fly commercial aircraft with low greenhouse gas emissions. At the very least, the data gathered from the flight will help inform the debate over biofuels. Shoutout to Sir Richard Branson for shelling out the Euros for this experiment.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. The Associated Press – article and photo
2. ENN - article

SCOTLAND’S EMISSIONS AMBITIONS

SCOTLAND PROPOSES WHOPPING

80% EMISSIONS CUT BY 2050

The Scottish government has announced plans for an 80% cut in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 to help prevent global warming. If passed, the Scottish Climate Change Bill will be the most ambitious climate change commitment in the world.

With this proposal, the governing Scottish National Party (SNP) has announced it’s intention for Scotland to become a world leader in climate change. All of Scotland's 32 local authorities have formally signed the Climate Change Declaration. A consultation on the proposal will run until April 23, and the government is hoping to introduce a draft bill to the Scottish parliament by autumn.

A strong proposal, but will it get watered down through the political process? Few countries have set emissions targets above 25% - the European Union, for example, has set emissions targets at only 20% by 2020. The Scottish Climate Change Bill has the potential to be an important piece of legislation, a benchmark for developed countries concerned about climate change. As concerned citizens, we can send an e-mail in support of the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

Shoutout to the Scottish government for proposing this bold legislation. Shoutout to all 32 local authorities in Scotland who have signed the declaration. Shoutout to everyone who sends an e-mail endorsing this visionary plan.

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. BBC News – article
2. The Scottish Government – press release
3. The Scottish Government – press release
4. Scotland’s Climate Change Declaration – website
5. AFP – article
6. WWF – campaign

BANGALORE IS FOR THE BIRDS

BIRD CONSERVATION SPOT

TO ATTRACT BIRDS BACK TO CITY

Bangalore, India has turned a city park into a “bird conservation spot” to increase the city’s bird numbers.

Artificial nests have been built in trees, sand bathing areas and artificial ponds have been built, and grain has been put out to entice birds back into the city. More than 200 varieties of birds have disappeared from the city, as the city has been converted into a concrete jungle with increasing air and noise pollution.

If the bird conservation spot is successful, similar spots will be built throughout the city.

Shoutout to the Forest Cell of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for building the spot, and to the bird lovers of Bangalore for making it happen.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. The Hindu – article
2. Mangalorean.Com - article

BISPHENOL A UPDATE

CANADIANS RACE TO GO BPA-FREE:

STORE SHELVES EMPTYING OF ALTERNATIVES

Earlier this month I reported on Canada’s quest to ban bisphenol A from store shelves. Like many of the good news stories I publish here, I had to dig deep to find relevant details, because feel-good environmental stories are not easy to come by in the mainstream press. I was under the impression that the bisphenol A story was buried deep in the “Science and Technology” section of a few scattered newspapers, and that the story hadn’t really reached a mass audience here in Canada. Boy, was I wrong.

This is from Carly Weeks at the Globe and Mail:

Canadian parents have been emptying store shelves and bombarding manufacturers with orders in the past week as they scramble to stock up on baby bottles made without bisphenol A, a potentially harmful and increasingly controversial chemical common in many plastics.

The overwhelming demand has resulted in shortages across the country and backlogs at many distributors, making it difficult for some parents to get their hands on BPA-free bottles.

"There's definitely been a surge in the last week or so throughout Canada," said Ron Vigdor, president of Florida-based Born Free Inc., one of the only major companies that specialize in BPA-free bottles. "We've been told a lot of shelves are empty today."

Read the full article here.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a hormone disruptor that has been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. BPA can be found in many everyday products including food cans, plastic water containers and baby bottles. Studies have shown that people can be exposed to Bisphenol A when it leaches out of these products.

BPA is currently under review by Health Canada (and other agencies around the world), but I think it’s great to see people taking action without waiting for governments to make the decision for them. In fact, why not help make Health Canada’s decision a whole lot easier: sign Toxic Nation’s petition to ban BPA

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!

NAMIBIA SAVES SAND DUNES

GOVERNMENT TAKES HARD LINE

ON OFF-ROAD HOOLIGANS,

DECLARES DUNE BELT PROTECTED AREA

Sand dunes meet the ocean at Walvis Bay, Namibia.

The dune belt between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in Namibia will be declared a protected area to safeguard the dunes from further deterioration.

Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism wants the vulnerable coastal area to be proclaimed a park, or be incorporated into the existing Namibia Naukluft Park. The National West Coast Recreation Area will also become a national park in an effort to protect the areas from further damage.

These measures follow the ministry's failed attempts to get cooperation from illegal off-road drivers and quad bikers who continue to drive in prohibited areas, damaging the ecologically sensitive areas. The coastline is a designated important bird area, and is home to up to 770 birds per kilometer, the highest count of birds anywhere in southern Africa. The Damara Tern, a rare and specially protected species, has its breeding ground in the area. In addition, the dunes are home to unique beetles and spiders, reptiles and mammals that live mainly on the vegetation or on the slip faces.

Under the new legislation some off-road driving will still be permitted, but only in designated areas, and under stricter supervision. The legislation will be in place by June, with full implementation by the end of the year.

Shoutout to the government of Namibia for protecting its beautiful coastline from thoughtless marauders.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. allAfrica.com – article
2. OASYS Namibia (Pty) Ltd – article
3. University of Texas Libraries - map

AUSTRALIA NEXT TO AXE THE PLASTIC BAG

NO LOVE FOR PLASTIC BAGS DOWN UNDER, IS THE PLASTIC SHOPPING BAG AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

Australia wants to become the next country to rid itself of pesky plastic shopping bags, hoping to phase out plastic bags completely by the end of this year. The nation produces four billion plastic bags annually, with most of them ending up in landfill.

While there is resistance to the plan from Australian industry and retail groups, the government is sticking to its guns – and keeping its options open. Around the globe, countries and municipalities are finding ingenious ways to rid themselves of this plague of plastic, from bag taxes to outright bans. Whatever the government of Australia decides, one thing is certain: plastic shopping bags are quickly becoming a thing of the past.

¡Hasta la Victoria Siempre! takes a look at the anti-plastic bag movement around the world:

CANADA: In April, 2007, Leaf Rapids, Manitoba became the first city in Canada to ban plastic shopping bags. Tofino, British Columbia did the same in May. Huntingdon, Quebec went bag free last month. The province of Quebec is currently considering a 20 cent bag tax.

CHINA: The Chinese government announced last month that plastic shopping bags will be banned nationwide effective June 1. Businesses who defy the ban will face hefty fines and/or the seizure of property. Read our full article here.

INDIA: A number of Indian states have outlawed plastic bags. A cow found dead in the streets of New Delhi recently had some 35,000 plastic bags in its digestive system. Cows are viewed as sacred animals by most Hindus. In Mumbai, storm drains clogged with discarded shopping bags were partially to blame for disastrous floods in 2005 that killed more than 400 people. Plastic bags are now completely illegal in the city of 18 million.

IRELAND: In 2002, Ireland passed a 33 cent tax on plastic bags. Within weeks, plastic bag use dropped 94 percent. The tax is collected by the government, which uses the money to finance environmental enforcement and cleanup programs. The country is now considering a similar tax for debit machine receipts and chewing gum.

U.S.A.: In March 2007, San Francisco became the first city in North America to ban the bags.

Bangladesh, Taiwan, South Africa, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Nepal and Zanzibar have all banned the bag. In each of these countries, the main concern was unsightly — and ubiquitous — litter. South Africans have long referred to the thin white plastic bags as "national flowers."

While these countries have had success in cleaning up their plastic bags, efforts have failed in many places because of heated opposition from manufacturers and merchants, who have said a tax would be bad for business. In London, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto, proposed taxes have failed to gain political approval. Some countries, like Italy, have settled for voluntary participation.

In January almost 42 billion plastic bags were used worldwide; the figure increases by more than half a million bags every minute. Over 500 billion bags are used annually worldwide. A vast majority are not reused, ending up as waste in landfills or as litter. Because plastic bags are light and compressible, they constitute only 2 percent of landfill, but since most are not biodegradable, they will remain there for hundreds of years. Read Karen Pearce’s excellent article on the life and death of a plastic bag here.

Of course nobody needs to wait for their government to ban plastic bags before they stop using them. Alternatives are readily available, ranging from re-usable bags to biodegradable bags made from tapioca starch. Making the switch from plastic bags is a simple step to help clean up your neighborhood, to help reduce energy from the producing and recycling of bags, and to help reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.

Shoutout to Australia for getting on the global bandwagon, and to every country, province, state, and municipality who has taken measures to rid the earth of the pesky plastic bag.

Sources, resources, and discourses:

1. The Australian – article
2. The Australian - article
3. CBC – article
4. Clean Up Australia – website
5. The Montreal Gazette – article
6. The Montreal Gazette - article
7. The Toronto Star – article
8. The New York Times – article
9. Westcoaster.ca - article
10. ABC – feature article
11. inhabitat - photo

COSMETICS COMPANIES GO SHARK FREE

COSMETICS GIANTS

TO STOP USING SHARK LIVER OIL

Two cosmetic giants have agreed to stop using shark liver oil as a base for moisturizing creams and lipsticks, amid concerns over threats to the survival of some species. Over a third of European shark species are under threat of extinction.

International companies L’Oreal and Unilever have agreed to replace the compound squalene, found in shark livers, with other oils from plant sources. Squalene is widely used in cosmetics as a natural, oil-free moisturizer, and can be found in products ranging from anti-aging cream to lip gloss. Deep-sea sharks have large reserves of squalene, and intensive fishing to supply the cosmetics industry has contributed to a dramatic population declines in certain species, including the gulper and kitefin. Deep-sea sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing as they are slow-growing, long-living and produce few young.

Unilever announced plans to remove squalene from its cosmetic brands including Pond’s and Dove, with new plant-based formulations expected on shelves as early as April 2008. L’Oreal is currently completing the phase-out of shark oil, however 12 make-up formulas, including 8 lipsticks under the Shu Uemura brand name which is owned by the company, remain unaltered. Beiersdorf, LVMH, Henkel, Boots, Clarins, Sisley and La Mer, an Estée Lauder brand, also have either made the decision to stop using shark-based squalene or had a policy to never use it in the first place.

Shoutout to Unilever and L’Oreal and every other cosmetics company who has stopped using shark-liver oil in their products. Shoutout to Oceana, the international marine conservation organization, for campaigning hard to end the use of shark oil in consumer products.

TAKE ACTION

Here's what you can do: Stop using products that contain shark squalene. Stop buying products from companies that continue to manufacture products using shark oil.

Sign Oceana’s petition to help protect sharks.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Telegraph.co.uk – article and photo
2. Cosmetics and Toiletries – article
3. Oceana – press release
4. Oceana – petition to protect sharks

AUSTRALIA TURNS ON THE HEAT

QUEENSLAND WILL POWER ENTIRE TOWN

WITH SOLAR THERMAL ELECTRICITY

A sun-drenched town in north-western Australia will be fully solar-powered in two years.

Remote Cloncurry, in Queensland, has been chosen as the site for a new solar thermal power station. Cloncurry, which boasts Australia’s hottest day on record (53 degrees in the shade in 1889), will be able to generate electricity on cloudy days and at night from the station, which runs off heat stored in graphite blocks. The Queensland state government plans to build the US$6.5 million, 10-megawatt power station as part of a push to make Cloncurry one of the first towns to rely on solar power alone. The station will deliver about 30 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power the entire town of 4,500 residents. It is expected to be running by early 2010.

Solar thermal power differs from photovoltaic panels that make power directly. 8,000 mirrors will reflect sunlight onto graphite blocks. Water will be pumped through the blocks to generate steam which generates electricity via turbines. Heat stored in the graphite produces steam even after the sun goes down, allowing electricity generators to keep running at night.

Shoutout to the Queensland state government and the federal government of Australia for investing money in Australia’s greatest natural resource: sunshine.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. Reuters – article
2. news.com.au – article
3. ABC News – article and photo

U.S. PROTECTS MEXICAN OWL

COURT UPHOLDS PROTECTION

FOR ENDANGERED OWL’S HABITAT

A U.S. federal court has upheld protection of 8.6 million acres of critical habitat spread across Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado for the endangered Mexican spotted owl.

The Mexican spotted owl was listed as a threatened species in 1993, the result of timber management practices and habitat alteration. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated the critical habitat for the owl in 2004, but the designation was challenged by the Arizona Cattle Growers' Association, who alleged that the Fish and Wildlife Service’s critical habitat designation unlawfully included areas not occupied by the owls, and failed to account for the economic impact of the designation. The court rejected all the Cattle Growers’ arguments.

Critical habitat is defined as "areas of land and water with features essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species." Critical habitat provides protection for endangered species by requiring federal agencies to ensure that any projects they fund, permit, or carry out do not jeopardize the existence of endangered species or adversely modify their habitat. In the case of the Mexican spotted owl, critical habitat ensures that Forest Service logging does not drive the owl to extinction or limit their recovery.

Shoutout to The Center for Biological Diversity for intervening in court in support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to the nonprofit Western Environmental Law Center who represented them, and to the federal court for upholding the critical habitat designation. Shoutout to all who gave a hoot! (these puns are weak, I know)

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. ENN – article
2. Center for Biological Diversity – press release
3. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – website
4. Federal court ruling
5. Wikimedia Commons – photo

CHINA CLEANS UP LAKES

BEIJING GOES GREEN ON GREEN LAKES

The Chinese government has announced an ambitious plan to clean up the country’s polluted lakes. The government plans to limit pollution in China’s lakes by 2010 and return them to their original state by 2030. The plan will cost an estimated US$14.5 million in the first five years alone.

To accomplish this cleanup, China’s State Council ordered strict regulation of the release of wastewater, the closing of heavily polluting factories near lakes, the improvement of sewage treatment facilities, and strict limits on fish farms. The council also banned the use of pesticides with highly toxic residue near large lakes as well as detergents containing phosphorus.

China’s three main lakes, Tai, Chaohu and Dianchi, have all had algae blooms in recent years. Stimulated by high levels of phosphorus and other chemicals, algae has blanketed large areas of the lakes, killing fish and making the water undrinkable. An algae bloom that covered a large area of Lake Tai last spring produced a choking odor up to a mile from the lake’s shores and prevented two million people from drinking or cooking with the water.

Wastewater from fish farms has become another serious problem, and the State Council ordered all fish farms to be removed from the three main lakes by the end of this year, and fish farms elsewhere are to be limited to designated areas. The water cleanup effort will also include the lake behind the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River.

Shoutout to the government of China for taking decisive action, and for jumping in with both feet.

Sources, resources, discourses:

1. The New York Times – article and photo
2. BBC News - article

WELCOME TO GREEN CITY, UAE

"NO CARBON CITY" UNDER CONSTRUCTION

IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Masdar City, United Arab Emirates - a green city in the desert.

Abu Dhabi has begun construction of the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste car-free city.

Masdar City will cost US$22 billion and be home to 50,000 people and 1,500 businesses. It will be powered mostly by solar energy, and residents will travel in emission-free pods running on magnetic tracks. The city will also make use of traditional Gulf architecture to create low-energy buildings, with natural air conditioning from wind towers. Water will be provided through a solar-powered desalination plant. The city will use a quarter of the power required for a similar-sized city, and 60% less water.

The United Arab Emirates, the world’s fifth largest exporter of oil, currently has one of the world’s highest per capita carbon footprints. Masdar City forms part of Abu Dhabi’s $15 billion five year plan to develop clean energy technologies in an effort to diversify from dwindling oil wealth. As part of the plan, Abu Dhabi will become home to the world's largest hydrogen power plant.

There is also a financial payoff: Masdar City is expected to create 70,000 new jobs and boost the UAE's GDP by 2 per cent. By implementing clean energy technologies, the city will save the equivalent of more than $2 billion in oil over the next 25 years.

Masdar City is expected to be completed by 2016. Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan presided over a ground-breaking ceremony on Saturday. Giant shoutout to the UAE, and to the tens of thousands of people who will work hard to build this amazing city of the future.

Sources, resources, discourses:

BBC News – article and photo
Gulfnews.com - article
Times Online - article
news.com.au – article
Khaleej Times Online - article

LIGHTS OUT FOR INCANDESCENT BULBS

IRELAND, PHILIPPINES, AUSTRALIA,
CANADA, U.S.A. TO BAN THE BULB

Ireland has become the first country in Europe to ban the incandescent bulb. Sale of the traditional bulb will end by the beginning of next year, in favor of low-energy alternatives. The switch to energy-efficient bulbs will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 700,000 tonnes per year and shave 185 million euros (US$269.3 million) per year off householders' electricity bills. Ireland currently uses more energy for lighting homes than anywhere else in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Philippines has become the first country in Asia to ban the bulb, phasing out incandescents by 2010. The ban will reduce the Philippines' annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2.2 million tonnes.

Australia, the first country in the world to announce a ban, will be bulb free by 2009-2010. Canada will ban the bulb by 2012, the United States by 2014.

Industry is also jumping on the bulb bandwagon (or is that banned-wagon?). Philips, the world’s largest lighting manufacturer, says it will stop making incandescent bulbs by 2016.

WHY CHANGE BULBS?

First of all, traditional bulbs are old. The incandescent light bulb is based on a design invented in the 19th century by Thomas Edison. Less than 10 percent of the energy used by an incandescent lightbulb generates visible light; 90 percent is wasted as heat. Most of this energy is generated by fossil fuels, which causes CO2 emissions leading to climate change. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) use 5 times less energy than incandescents, which means far less CO2 pollution. CFLs, therefore, are better for the climate.

CFLs are also more cost-effective than regular bulbs. While CFLs cost more at the hardware store, they last far longer than an incandescent, and therefore save money in the long run. CFLs last between 6 and 15 years, while an incandescent usually lasts only one.

If the entire world banned the incandescent bulb in favor of energy-efficient bulbs, this simple step would permit the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants, sharply cutting worldwide carbon emissions. For the United States alone, this bulb switch could shut down 80 coal-fired plants. The European Union could shut down 25 more.

TAKE ACTION:

First, switch to CFLs if you haven’t already. Save yourself some cash while saving the world.

Next, join Greenpeace’s 7-step global energy efficiency campaign.

Shoutout to Australia for lighting the way. Shoutout to Ireland and the Philippines for showing leadership and acting quickly. Shoutout to Canada, the U.S.A. and Philips for getting on board. Shoutout to everyone who has already made the switch.

¡VIVA LA REVOLUCIÓN!

Sources, resources, and discourses:

1. EU Business – article
2. Reuters UK - article
3. Tech Digest – article and photo
4. The Associated Press - article
5. Greenpeace – article
6. Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government – press release
7. Natural Resources Canada – press release
8. Earth Policy Institute – article
9. BBC News – article
10. The Sydney Morning Herald - article
11. Greenpeace – light bulb Q&A

NORWAY’S HIDDEN SEED VAULT

SECRET VAULT BURIED IN ARCTIC ICE

MAY ONE DAY SAVE THE WORLD

The “Doomsday Vault” sounds like a plot device from a bad Hollywood movie:

a secret bunker hidden deep beneath a remote mountain, designed to save mankind from Armageddon…

only this vault is real, and it goes into operation on February 26.

Meet the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, named after the archipelago in Norway where it is located. The vault is hidden in a mountain deep in the Arctic permafrost near the village of Longyearbyen, built by the government of Norway and funded by Rome-based Global Crop Diversity Trust for the benefit of all mankind.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault’s purpose is ensuring that the genetic diversity of the world’s food crops is preserved for future generations. The vault is designed to store duplicates of seeds from seed collections from around the world, bolstering global food security in case of natural or manmade catastrophe. More than 200,000 crop varieties will be represented. The first seed collection will go into the vault on February 26, with regular contributions until the vault contains seeds of most of the world’s crops.

The seeds at Svalbard Global Seed Vault will be stored at –18 degrees Celsius in specially designed, five-ply aluminum foil packages inside sealed boxes stored on high shelves inside the vault. The low temperature and limited access to oxygen will ensure low metabolic activity and delay aging.

The loss of biological diversity is currently one of the greatest challenges facing the environment. Biodiversity is critical in building crop resistance to pests and diseases, and enabling cultivation in harsh conditions like drought, salinity and flooding - all of which will likely increase with global climate change, particularly in poor countries.

Shoutout to the government of Norway and Global Crop Diversity Trust for building the world's largest seed library, and to all countries participating in this global venture by donating local crop seeds. Dr. Strangelove would approve.

Sources, resources, and discourses:

1. IRIN – article
2. Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food - webpage

ELEPHANTS ON THE RISE IN KENYA

KENYA'S ELEPHANT POPULATION RECOVERING

Elephant populations are on the rise in Kenya, thanks to successful anti-poaching measures, stronger park security, and a ban on the illegal ivory trade.

A survey conducted by the Kenya Wildlife Service estimates that the elephant population has grown over 4% in the last three years. In Tsavo National Park, the second largest national park in Africa, elephant populations increased from 10,397 to 11,696, representing about one third of Kenya’s total elephant population.

Elephant populations have been gradually recovering over the past 20 years. In 1974 Kenya’s elephant population was estimated at 35,000 animals. By 1988 it had dropped to 5,000, due mostly to ivory poaching. A global ban on ivory trade was effected in 1989, and today Kenya’s elephant population is estimated at 30,000.

The elephant survey is conducted every three years, since elephants give birth every four years. The census involved 11 light aircraft and about 70 conservationists and volunteers who covered Tsavo West National Park and the outlying areas of Tsavo East, Mkomazi in Tanzania, Chyullu Hills and private ranges in Taita Taveta. A jumbo-sized shoutout to everyone involved.

Sources, resources, and discourses:

Daily Nation – article
PR-inside.com - article
International Herald Tribune – article
Wikimedia Commons - photo

GERMAN SHIP SAILS A GIANT KITE

GERMANY LOOKS AHEAD TO THE AGE OF SAIL

The world's first commercial ship powered in part by a giant kite is concluding its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. The 10,000-tonne MS Beluga SkySails left Germany on Jan. 22 for Venezuela, but its computer-guided kite system was fully deployed only after it reached favorable trade winds near the Azores. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Venezuela today.

The SkySails towing kite system bears little resemblance to canvas sails on conventional sailing ships. Instead of support from a mast, boom and rope, the SkySails is tied to the bow by a single line. The 160-square meter kite, which flies up to 300 meters above the water, carves figure-eight patterns in the air, reaching speeds four times higher than the prevailing wind, which dramatically increases its pulling power.

SkySails estimates that by using the towing kite system, a ship’s average annual fuel costs can be reduced by 10 to 35%, depending on the prevailing wind conditions. Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can be cut by up to 50%. On its first trans-Atlantic voyage, the MS Beluga has recorded a 10 to 15% reduction in oil consumption, which amounts to a savings of about $1,000 to $1,500 a day.

The MS Beluga's journey comes more than a century after the world's commercial sailing fleet was replaced by coal-burning steamships. SkySails hopes for a similar revolution, and believes the kites could be used aboard 60 per cent of the world's commercial fleet. The world's 90,000 merchant ships emit 800 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year – about 5 per cent of the world's total.

Shoutout to the crew of the MS Beluga for making history, and to SkySails for looking into the future by looking back at the past. Godspeed, Beluga! And go fly a kite!

Sources, resources and discourses:

1. The Globe and Mail – article
2. Telegraph – article
3. SkySails - website

CANADIAN STORES PULL TOXIC BOTTLES

CANUCK RETAIL CHAIN

DUMPS POLYCARBONATE BOTTLES

Canada's largest outdoor-goods chain has pulled water bottles and food containers made of polycarbonate plastic from its shelves over worries about the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), which has been linked to cancer and reproductive problems. Vancouver-based Mountain Equipment Co-op is the first major Canadian retailer to stop selling products that contain BPA. U.S.-based outdoor gear company Patagonia and baby bottle manufacturer Whole Foods Markets have also dropped products containing BPA.

Bisphenol A is a synthetic chemical compound used in a wide range of consumer items, including water bottles, baby bottles, and the linings of food cans, including most major brands of infant formula. BPA is a hormone disruptor, and low-dose BPA exposure has been linked to permanent changes to genital tract, increase prostate weight, decline in testosterone, breast and prostate cells predisposed to cancer, and hyperactivity. Studies show that BPA can leach into food if heated or scrubbed. Manufacturers say the products are not dangerous, citing studies from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that containers manufactured from polycarbonate do not pose a health risk to humans.

Health Canada is conducting an assessment of bisphenol A and expects to issue a final report in 2009. Norway and the European Union are also reviewing the product. Japanese manufacturers voluntarily stopped making products using polycarbonate plastic six years ago.

There are plenty of alternatives to using polycarbonate plastic. First, avoid food and beverage containers that contain BPA - containers marked with the recycling symbol #7. Or better yet, avoid plastics altogether and switch to glass or stainless steel containers.

Finally, take action: sign Toxic Nation’s petition to ban BPA.

Sources, resources and discourses:

1. The Globe and Mail – article
2. ENN –article
3. ENN – article
4. Wikipedia – “Bisphenol A”
5. Environmental Defence – webpage
6. Toxic Nation – petition to ban bisphenol A

JANUARY MEDALS OF HONOR

TOP VICTORIES OF THE REVOLUTION,

JANUARY 2008

Every day is a good news day here at ¡Hasta La Victoria Siempre!, but it is still worthwhile to stop and reflect on some of the victories that have been fought and won throughout the month. And so, dear reader, I submit my Medals of Honor: the top three good news stories of the month.

January was a particularly good month for the Revolution. I had a hard time picking just three top stories. I admit that this is a completely arbitrary list - how can you rate the worth of hydrogen boats over endangered vultures, for example – but I have made my decision based on the overall impact the story might have on the planet in general. You can click on the headings to read the original story.

As usual, any comments are welcome.
- Nigel

1. ISRAEL GOES ELECTRIC

What do you do when you’re a tiny, oil-poor country surrounded by oil-rich neighbors who don’t like you, and the price of gas is at an all-time high? If you’re Israel, you invest a load of money in electric cars.

This is an important story because of the big-name players involved: Israel and Renault-Nissan. Israel is a technologically advanced country with a population of over 7 million people, an economic powerhouse, and perhaps the most progressive country in the Middle East. Renault-Nissan is an alliance between two of the world’s largest auto manufacturers. In other words, there is a lot at stake – over $200 million dollars in seed money, a cross-country network of 500,000 battery charge stations, and as many as 50,000 new jobs, for starters.

In a world where reducing reliance on oil is more political posturing than reality, Israel and Renault-Nissan have raised the bar by promising an electric alternative to gasoline engines that would eliminate carbon and noise emissions… within three years. Kind of makes all those other greenhouse emissions targets look like a joke, doesn’t it? This story is proof that meaningful change can happen if government and industry work together to find solutions.

2. CHINA BANS PLASTIC SHOPPING BAGS

In the grand scheme of ecological collapse, the plastic shopping bag may seem a trivial player. The entire nation of China with its 1 billion citizens, however, is not. And so when the government of China suddenly announced that it was banning all plastic shopping bags by June 1 due to pollution and energy concerns, the world paid attention.

The lowly plastic shopping bag, it seems, has become a symbol of the environmental apocalypse. More than 500 billion get tossed every year, choking our landfills and clogging our gutters. From San Francisco to Sydney, communities are beginning to shake off their plastic shackles in favor of reusable alternatives. But nowhere has it been done as effectively and as dramatically as in China, where companies still manufacturing plastic bags will face heavy fines or seizure of goods and property.

Keep your eyes peeled for more news about the war on plastic shopping bags over the next couple of weeks, exclusively on ¡Hasta La Victoria Siempre!.

3. TOTAL PAYS FOR FRANCE’S WORST OIL SPILL

Oil companies are so big and so rich and have so much influence that sometimes it seems like they are above the law. In fact, sometimes they are. But the courts of France showed South African oil giant Total who was boss this month when they ordered Total to pay $285 million dollars in compensation for a 1999 oil spill. The spill, France’s worst ever, dumped 230,000 tons of crude oil and polluted 320 kms of French coast, killing tens of thousands of seabirds. The money was ordered to be paid to over a hundred civil parties, mostly associations involved in the cleanup and ecology groups.

Despite the large payout, the victory is largely symbolic. The $285 million dollars will barely make a dent in Total’s bottom line, but the decision sends a clear message that industry will be held accountable for damaging the environment and ignoring safety concerns.