This report from News.com.au caught our attention because 2,000 movies in a single disc is quite a lot of data. It will surely have an impact on the resources we use to make DVDs. In summary, researchers from the Swineburn University of Technology have found a way, using nanotechnology, to add 2 more dimensions to the 3 already in use in the thin space of a disc.
Does the new technology means we would be using less of the plastic discs (thus less resources and energy to make them) and reduce their recycling/landfill issues or will it encourage increased storage of superfluous data?
I was sifting through Treasure Nature’s Google Analytics data earlier today and I noticed the number of searches related to global warming. These are the keywords or key phrases people use to reach TN’s articles on global warming:
prevention of global warming
why global warming is fake
global warming is fake
global warming prevention
facts about global warming not being true
global warming fake
global warming is so fake
Read here why the cry “Global warming is fake!” doesn’t ring true.
They kind of represent the visitors TN get for global warming searches. More people seems to be looking for articles affirming that there is no global warming rather than articles on how to prevent it.
Know 10 ways to prevent global warming.
Does this mean that only a few believe that global warming is real? What do you think?
Kids and the youth are the future and the earth day slogan for 2009 reflects it: The Green Generation. Earth Day organizers thought it wise to go where it matters most since what we do for nature now will affect future generations.
Earth Day is celebrated around the world every April 22 and started out as a nationwide grassroots effort in the United States to bring attention to the plight of the environment. It has come a long way since its inception by flower children as it is the only event that is celebrated simultaneously around the world by people of all color and faith. However, it’s getting some serious competition from Earth Hour.
Check out the website for Earth Day and the diversity of celebrations planned for the event this year or organize one in your locality. We can also make our own Earth Day banner. The image shown at the bottom was made by Virginia Beach campaigners. We can also support the Earth Day Network by purchasing the 2009 Earth Day poster and Earth Day t-shirts from their site.
Earth Hour sucks! Kidding. 
Kids love it. Those we know, at least. Here are a few of what we can do to make it fun for the little ones:
1. Go outside, seek out constellations like Orion and his belt, and tell stories about them.
2. Enjoy a nice organic candle light dinner.
3. Gather around lamps or candles for some nature tales.
4. Make hand shadows to entertain the kids. Get hand shadowgraphy inspiration here.
5. Spin a bottle and spend an hour singing and reciting poems and rhymes.
Got some fun activities you want to share? 
BTW, this year’s Earth Hour is on the 28th of March 2009 from 8:30 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
Water composes 55% to 78% of the human body depending on body size (Wikipedia). Water makes up around 80% of our brain. Water is essential to life.
Unfortunately, water is also one of the most abused natural resource we have. Let us help bring this to the attention of everybody with the observance of World Water Day. This year’s theme is the waters that cross borders and link us together. The Nile river and it’s headwaters, for instance, enriches the lives of four (4) nations as it flows to the Mediterranean sea.
We can send eCards to family and friends on this day or download campaign materials.
Wikipedia states that Forestry is the art and science of managing forests, tree plantations, and related natural resources. People often visualize gargantuan logging equipment clearing huge swaths of forest to feed our ever increasing need for wood-based products. This is only a small portion of the careers in forestry available to those who want to work with nature.
There are Foresters who are involved with sustainable forestry, making sure that our forest resources (not only trees) meet the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing those of the future’s. An almost impossible task without help from the general public. It is in this group that me and my buddies proudly belong to.
Well, there were these scientists who met in 1971 and decided that people should know the importance of forests in our lives and the applied science that makes it possible for us to enjoy the benefits coming from them. They declared that there should be a World Forestry Day, which we are going to observe this March 21. Yep, it isn’t as exciting as having a new iPhone or MacBook nor as fun as celebrating Paddy’s Day but let’s take a look around, I’ll bet there’s something in the vicinity that came from forests. Even the oxygen that we breathe, most of them little molecules came from large stands of trees.
So what can we do to help celebrate World Forestry Day? The usual suggestion is pay a visit to the nearest forest and enjoy its freshness and beauty. Except that there’s not much of them left and a lot of folks don’t have easy access to one. Anyways, we need more than a few people visiting forests. We need people spreading the word. We need young guns to replenish the ranks of the old guard.
I once remembered a college teacher of ours asking us why we we choose the field of Forestry instead of more lucrative careers. Being young and idealistic, we were resentful of her for poking her nose into our affairs. But she was right, the future of Forestry doesn’t look bright. It’s not only the forests that are in danger of getting wiped out, the people who dedicate their lives working to save them are dying off too. My buddies and I, we often talk of who are we going to pass the torch to when our bones become too brittle, our knees too painful.
Even then, we find it hard to encourage kids to follow our trail. Sure there are Foresters and Forestry technicians who found a comfortable niche but, for the most part, it’s a lot of hard work with low pay, not to mention the dangers inherent to the profession. The decision must come from the heart. But we do get to celebrate World Forestry Day once a year. :chuckle:
Vote Earth! That’s going to be our war cry for Earth Hour this year. Observed since 2007 every last Saturday of March, this year’s Earth Hour will be at 8:30-9:30 P.M. on March 28, 2009. Now is the time to get some fun activities planned.
For Earth Hour countries and cities participating in 2009, check out the global map at EarthHour.org. Earth Hour posters can be downloaded from VoteEarth2009.org. Bloggers can get badges here and toolkits here.
Care to share what you are planning to do on Earth Hour?
For some of us, it’s that time of the year again when we ask “when does daylight saving time end?” even when it hasn’t even started yet . It’s probably the only disliked idea that came from Benjamin Franklin, who thought of Daylight Saving Time (DST) or Summer Time originally. Dislike might even be a weak word for it since Google searches has smatterings of “abolish daylight saving time” and “demonstrations against daylight saving time.” Demonstrations… :chuckle:.
One of the rationale used for implementing DST is energy conservation. We are supposed to save energy from being less inside our homes and therefore using less appliances and consuming less electricity. Daylight Saving Time had some backing from a U.S. Department of Transportation research done in the ’70s that cited a small but significant (1%) savings in energy consumption… if all goes well.
Problem is, not all researches point that way. In Indiana, U.S.A., the government expected a $7 million saving in energy usage when they switched all counties to DST last 2005. However. over a course of 3 years, scientists studied energy cosumption in the state and found that Indiana actually spent 48.6 million more due to DST (Source: WebExhibits.org). Of course, the bill came with the acompanying increase in emissions.
A report by the California Energy Commission, which can be downloaded here, also concluded that there is only a minuscule amount in energy savings when the state switched to DST.
By the way, DST in the U.S. starts on the second Sunday of March. That’s March 8 for 2009 and March 14 in 2010. It ends on the first Sunday of November.
What do you think? Does DST really lessen the individual homeowner’s electric bills?
Some fire protection associations and government agencies suggest that we change the batteries on smoke detectors when we change our clock’s time to DST. To make sure we save electricity, why not change our remaining incandescent lamps tp CFLs as well?
Popular posts