Round-the-world cyclists highlight solar potential
by David Masters
A trio of British eco-campaigners have set off on a round-the-world expedition on their bicycles, to highlight the potential of solar power in the fight against climate change. Susie Wheeldon, Jamie Vining, and Iain Henderson plan to give the money raised from their 12,000 mile adventure to SolarAid, a charity that teaches poor communities in rural Africa to build and sell solar devices. They'll also be calling on the UN to give ...
In the bee world, black is the new Italian
by Alan Harten
Beekeepers have long favoured Italian honeybees since they are perceived to be more industrious, but with its population falling by about 30% in recent years, the black honeybee may be the better choice. In response, British beekeepers hope that by reintroducing the native black honeybees to hives, they may be hardier and thus useful in raising the number of bees in the country. The Co-operative Group agrees and has donated £10,000 to ...
Coke plant produces bottles made from plants
by Alan Harten
Coca-Cola has taken a step towards the ‘green’ side with their new PlantBottle, which is a plastic bottle much like the current packaging only it’s partially composed of plant compounds. The new PlantBottle is still recyclable and when compared with the typical petroleum based plastic it reduces CO2 emissions and is less dependent on a non-renewable resource. President of the World Wildlife Fund, Carter Roberts, lauded Coke for its PlantBottle, which is ...
Conference on fair trade begins
by Alan Harten
Sunday marked the beginning of a five day conference for members of the International World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO). The global economy is set to be a hot topic as members discuss the current downturn and how bankers’ indiscipline and unfair trading has been at the root of the problems. Also on the objective list is to how to proceed with careful monitoring, development, and assessment of fair trade. Chief Guest, Dr. RH ...
SNP calls for nuclear sub leak investigation
by Alan Harten
The Scottish National Party has called for an investigation into the radioactive coolant that is said to have leaked into the Firth of Clyde from nuclear submarines three times in the past five years. The SNP leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, stated that this is not one incident that can be dismissed, but is rather a compilation of many shocking failures and that if it had the power to close the ...
Big leatherback turtle colony discovered
by Alan Harten
Leatherback sea turtles may not be as endangered as scientists once thought. It was recently discovered that Gabon, West Africa has a previously unknown colony of the turtles nesting on its beaches. University of Exeter Professor Matthew Witt, who supervised the research, stated that Gabon beaches were used for nesting by the leatherback sea turtles. It was not known how many turtles lived there, but it is estimated that between 15,730 ...
It’s Belgium, it’s Thursday, it’s veggie diet day
by Alan HartenGhent, Belgium which is approximately 50km west of Brussels, has declared this Thursday to be “Veggie Day” in an effort to highlight both the health and environmental costs of consuming meat on a regular basis. The movement will hopefully influence residents to consider eating vegetarian meals once a week as opposed to meat based meals. United Nations data claims stock breeding generates 18% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The city claims that stock ...
Honeybee thieves target UK hives
by David Masters
As the UK honeybee population declines, bees have become a valuable asset, and beekeepers are now being targeted by professional thieves who sell hives on the black market. A sharp drop in Britain's bee population has seen second-hand hives that used to sell for just £30 now fetch over £200 – a statistic that has not gone unnoticed by thieves. Rustlers in the north of England recently stole 12 hives from Whitby, ...
Taller turbines produce 20% more energy
by David Masters
Extending the height of wind turbines can increase their power generation by up to 20%, a Dutch wind turbine firm has claimed. Netherlands-based Advanced Tower Systems (ATS) this week installed a taller turbine in Grevenbroich Windtest field near Cologne, Germany to test its assertion. “This is a great day for wind energy.” said Frans Brughuis, ATS managing director. “Now the pilot project can demonstrate the high cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the ATS concept." Most ...
Growth of urban slums increases ‘megadisaster’ risk
by David Masters
The rapid growth of urban slums in developing countries coupled with extreme weather linked to climate change have significantly increased the risk of 'megadisasters', a UN body warned yesterday. Nearly a billion people worldwide live in shantytowns or makeshift developments in cities vulnerable to natural disasters such as flooding, cyclones, and earthquakes, the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction said in its new 200-page report. The report, which outlines strategies to reduce the ...
Inventor builds DIY solar motorbike
by David Masters
A motorcyclist in Arizona got so fed up waiting for bike makers to release a solar powered motorcycle that he decided to build one himself. Richard Gryzch built 'The Solar Flyer' over a period two years, and funded the project by selling a home and his other motorbikes. The bike has a top speed of 90mph and a 50 mile range – although details of how long it takes to charge on ...
UK government approves world’s largest offshore windfarm
by David Masters
The world's largest offshore windfarm is set to be built on the UK coastline at a cost of £2.2 billion, and will start producing energy by 2012. Consisting of 175 turbines spanning 90 square miles, the world's first oneGW offshore windfarm will produce enough energy to power a quarter of the homes in Greater London. The windfarm, named the London Array, will be built 12 miles off the coast of Essex and ...
Coral reef could disappear by 2100
by David Masters
The most world's most important region of coral reefs is set to disappear by the end of the century due to climate change and overfishing, the WWF has warned. Unless decisive action is taken now, the Coral Triangle in Southeast Asia will be wiped out by 2100, the WWF said in its report, launched last week at the World's Oceans Conference in Indonesia. The Coral Triangle spans the coastlines of Indonesia, the ...
Australians tying to remove Indian myna bird
by Alan Harten
Indian myna birds were brought over to Australia originally in 1862, to help destroy cane beetles which destroyed crops, but now the bird is at the root of east coast farmers’ hatred towards foreign wildlife. To combat the destruction and high costs the myna bird is causing, an estimated AS$300 million per year, 35 community groups and 30 councils will meet to discuss how to best reduce the myna birds presence ...
Free range eggs already 60% of the market
by Alan HartenThe organisation 'Compassion in World Farming' announced during its annual banquet that free range and barn shell eggs made up 61% of the total eggs sold last year. On the other hand, standard caged eggs declined by about 3.3% pushing the initiative into effect well before the government ban on battery farm eggs comes into law in 2012. Market research firm TNS stated that sales of free range eggs will continue to ...
New York set to clean up Hudson River
by Alan Harten
The Upper Hudson River in the American state of New York will finally be dredged after a ceremony to mark the start of the project was completed last Friday in Fort Edward, NY, overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States. According to an agreement reached in 2006 between General Electric and the EPA, the electric company will have to clean out the large amount of PCBs that ...
Eastern Europe to receive €15bn renewables investment
by David Masters
Renewable energy projects in Eastern Europe are set to receive an investment boost of up to €15 billion over the next two years, under plans drawn up by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD said it aims to invest €3-5 billion in renewables by 2011, and believes this will trigger additional investments of up to €10 billion. “Reducing energy wastage in eastern Europe and developing reliable new supplies ...
Sex Pistol angers NZ butter makers
by Alan Harten
John Lyndon, recognised easily as Johnny Rotten of the former Sex Pistol, is used to facing the wrath of the establishment and he may be known for many things, but lately he is best known for his advertisements throughout Britain promoting the purchase of butter from local farms instead of New Zealand. In response, the Federated Farmers association of New Zealand has invited Lyndon to come down to New Zealand to ...
Big cash injection for green US schools
by Alan Harten
The United States passed a school modernisation bill last Friday in the House of Representatives, that set aside $6.4 billion for updating school buildings to make them more energy efficient and eco friendly. The piece of legislation also aims to place money into school construction in an effort to create jobs for the needed repairs, and to help combat global warming by placing more clean energy jobs into the market. The Bill ...
Arizona considers solar powered bullet train
by David Masters
Two of America's deep south cities could one day be connected by a 220 mph solar powered bullet train. Arizona-based Solar Bullet LLC is seeking investment for the Tuscan to Phoenix rail link. The 116 mile journey between the two cities will take just 30 minutes on the bullet train. Technology development for a high speed solar powered train is still in its early stages, although engineers believe bullet trains could be running ...