Heidelberg launches Eco Friendly Ink Systems
by Grant Draper
Heidelberg has strived to deliver high end printing presses and digital technology, year on year, and have now shown their interest in the environment. Heidelberg will be exhibiting at the German based drupa 2008, which is the host to the world’s largest printing and graphic arts exhibition. It will be here that Heidelberg will launch its InkStar, the InkLine automated ink supply system, which are manufactured from recycled materials. Heidelberg will develop ...
Japanese Greenpeace activists Arrested
by Grant Draper
Two activists have been arrested by Japanese police, for apparently stealing a box of whale meat, which led to exposing the government-sponsored whaling programme. A box of whale meat from a whaling ship was shipped to a private address, later to be used as evidence, proving the general corruption on the matter and exposing the scandal by passing the evidence to the Public Prosecutor in Tokyo, of which no investigation was ...
Car Sharing
by Grant Draper
Two related records were smashed last week, with oil on its latest high at $140 a barrel, and the UK’s car sharing community acquiring its 250,000th member. Liftshare are marketing the benefits of car sharing to the UK community, and the UK is seeing the pressure, resorting to walking, chopping in the 4x4 for a Mini, or trying to drive more eco friendly. Liftshare thrives on the fact that fuel prices are ...
California to slash Carbon Emmissions
by Grant Draper
California has released its plans to cut carbon emissions to the level it was in 1990, which was about 30 per cent below current conditions. The system features a carbon capping scheme, where companies will have to cap emissions, or buy credits from greener competitors, which will allow them to exceed limits. The emissions development in California is of great significance, as its the boldest step any US state or city has ...
Naturalists can spot one penguin in a crowd
by Alan Harten
Boffins from Bristol University have come up with a new technological innovation that allows for the tracking of individual penguins from a distance, avoiding the need to get close to them and disrupt their natural activities. The new surveillance system can accurately identify the birds from a afar; this in turn means that the penguins do not have to suffer the stress of being captured and electronically tagged to enable naturalists ...
Government promises tenfold increase in renewables
by David Masters
The UK Government has announced that the UK's renewable energy production will increase tenfold by 2020. Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Business Secretary John Hutton launched the plans yesterday on London's South Bank. The tenfold increase is necessary if the UK is to hit European Union renewable energy targets. Brown also highlighted the other benefits, including cutting back on carbon emissions, and reducing dependency on fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal. £100 ...
Flood report: Government must act now
by David Masters
A new report published this week by Sir Michael Pitt highlights the need for urgent action if the UK is to avoid future disasters similar to last summer's widespread flooding. The Pitt Review, which was commissioned by the government, makes 92 recommendations to be carried out within the next two years. Focusing on the need to manage the effects of climate change now and into the future, the review says that Parliament ...
Japan stands firm over whaling
by Alan Harten
Despite the ban on commercial whaling hunts, Japan continues to hunt marine mammals on a large scale and in addition whales are under increased pressure from marine pollution, regular fishing and climate change. Japan has been pressing for years to end the 1986 ban on commercial whaling. Most of the 80 IWC participating countries agreed to the ban, given the threats to whales. Japan, however, found a loophole in the ...
Expert panel derides eco-town proposals
by David MastersA panel of experts appointed by the government to assess the viability of its eco-town proposals has ruled that just two or three of the towns have the potential to be eco-friendly, whilst the majority are ordinary housing estates in the countryside with a green label attached. The twelve experts on the panel said that although there was 'much to admire' in many of the fifteen proposals, there is also 'a ...
The Whales Vs the US Navy
by Alan Harten
The United States Supreme Court has decided to take on the case of Defenders of Wildlife v. Chertoff, No. 07-1180. This could also be known as the whales Vs the US navy. The disputes between the big mammals and the mighty US military superpower has been ongoing for some time, and centers around the US navy’s use of sonar while training in the Pacific, off southern California. The white house claims that ...
China tops carbon emissions leaderboard
by David Masters
New research from the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency has revealed that China's carbon emissions are 14% higher than the USA's. China's rapidly growing economy is being driven by fossil fuels. As a result, China was responsible for the vast majority of the 3.1% increase in global carbon emissions that occurred last year. China's carbon emissions grew 8% last year, with the country's emissions now accounting for 24% of the worldwide total. China ...
International Whaling Commission meets in Chile
by Alan Harten
The latest annual conference of the IWC (International Whaling Commission) has begun in the Chilean capital of Santiago, with new calls from conservationists to increase the protection of many species of whales rather than the existing system of 'management’ of whale populations. This is the IWC’s 60th annual meeting and issues to be discussed will include yet another vote regarding the creation of the Southern Atlantic whale sanctuary and there will ...
Navman used for People’s Eco-Rally
by Alan Harten
GPS producer Navman offers its Revolve system. As part of the annual People’s Eco-Rally, celebrity enthusiasts Quentin Wilson, Lisa Rogers and Robert Llewellyn, will join members of the public to drive from Brighton to London in the greenest way they can. Promoting economical and greener driving, Navman has pledged the S90i GPS device to each of the eco-rally vehicles taking part, assisting them in arriving via the most efficient route. ...
New wind farm for Northern Ireland
by David Masters
Ireland's Electricity Supply Board (ESB) is greening up its credentials with plans to build a €40 million wind farm. The wind farm, to be built near Sixmilecross in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, is a first for the ESB, and will be constructed by ESB International (ESBI). Six giant wind turbines will generate 18 megawatts of electricity, providing power to over 10,000 homes. According to ESBI's executive director, Michael McNicholas, the wind farm ...
Glastonbury to showcase eco-friendly phone charger
by David Masters
Mobile phone network Orange have announced that they will providing an eco-friendly mobile phone charging service at this year's Glastonbury festival. Designed by Orange in conjunction with renewable energy company Gotwind, the 'recharge Pod' will be powered by a free standing wind turbine and solar panels, and will be capable of charging up to 100 mobile phones per hour. Standing at 7 metres high, the turbine is understood to be the first ...
Refugees flee conflict fuelled by climate change
by David MastersBoth the United Nations and the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management have issued warnings that climate change is forcing many people around the world to leave their homes, pushing up the global total of refugees to record levels. In the run up to World Refugee Day on 20th June, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, has reported figures showing that international refugee numbers hit 11.4 million last ...
Britain and Norway – deforestation prevention fund
by Grant Draper
Britain and Norway have joined forces to create the biggest fund to date aimed at battling deforestation. The fund, that will consist of £58m from Britain, and £50m from Norway, will be directed at projects happening in the Congo basin rainforest in central Africa, which will be monitored by satellite imaging technology. The Congo is the 2nd biggest rainforest in the world, twice the size of France, but is declining in size ...
Invisible Oyster killer
by Grant Draper
An invisible killer is threatening many businesses dealing in shellfish both on a large and small scale. Its name is Vibrio tubiashii, it’s a bacteria that destroys the likes of Oyster at the larval stage, and has been reported to affect harvests back to the 1960’s. The problem is, it seems to have made itself quite at home on the US Pacific coast, since it settled two years ago, and shows no ...
Manhattan, Car Free
by Grant Draper
Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, has announced plans to make a 7 mile stretch of Manhattan totally vehicle free for a 3 day period, after his congestion charge plans were refused. For three Saturdays in August, to be exact August 9, 16 and 23, between 7am and 1pm, a route linking Brooklyn Bridge in the south and the Upper East Side and Central Park in the north will be ...
Weather prediction technology could prevent floods
by David Masters
Following last year's summer floods the Met Office has updated its forecasting technology to give better advanced warning on heavy rainfall and storms. It will now be possible for meteorologists to issue severe weather warnings up to 3 days in advance, giving local authorities much needed extra time to install flood prevention measures. Previously, the Met Office could only accurately issue severe weather warnings up to 2 days in advance. The updated prediction ...