Wednesday, July 30. 2008Artic Ice Melt
An ice chunk 18 square kilometers (seven square miles) across broke off a Canadian ice shelf in the Arctic recently. The ice sheet broke away last week from the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf off Ellesmere Island about 500 miles from the North Pole. The polar north is once again experiencing a rapid ice retreat this year, in addition to the 4.13 million sq km (1.59 million sq miles) of sea-ice that retreated in 2007.
Dramatic changes are occurring in the region, affecting the ice both in the open ocean and the ice, which is attached to the coast. Many scientists believe that the Artic will have ice-free summers in 2013, which is earlier than previously predicted. Thursday, July 10. 2008Global Warming Linked to Huge Fogbank in Canada?
While global warming is a major issue around the globe resulting in food shortages and pollution causing health problems, along with severe weather, let’s look at a global warming issue in a less serious nature.
I live in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. As I am writing this article I have not seen the sun for four straight days. Here is the striking contrast; inside the city of Saint John, which sits on the Bay of Fundy, there has been a huge fog bank that has sat here for the better part of the past two weeks. Inside the city the temperature has hovered around 15C/58 F in the middle of the day. Yes, this is July! 50 miles inland the temperature has been between 28C/82F and 32 C/90 F midday in sunshine. The fog is formed when warm, humid air moves off the land and over the cold Fundy waters. As the air cools, it condenses to form millions of microscopic water droplets in the air. The Bay of Fundy is among the foggiest areas of the world, especially during the summer. In Saint John fog occurs on more than one quarter of the days of the year and 36% of the time in July according to data from Environment Canada. The waters of the North Atlantic Ocean are cold - seldom exceeding 8C/46 F, even during the summer .The Bay of Fundy takes in this chilled volume twice a day through currents from the North Atlantic maintaining a relatively constant water temperature. It is like liquid ice in fact. Saint John, New Brunswick is officially Canada's second-most foggy city. Ironically there was a huge cruise ship in the city yesterday and no one could even see it in the harbor! As the North American summers will get more hot and humid due to global warming, areas along the Bay of Fundy will get more persistent fog. Some people love the fog and cool temperatures, but I am one that will be spending more time inland in the future. Monday, June 30. 2008Arctic Oil Rush?
Some people predict that about a quarter of oil and gas to be discovered in the world in the coming decades might be found in the arctic basin region. The current center of activity in this great arctic gold rush is the Barents Sea off the coast of Russia - where experts say there could be as much as the equivalent of half a trillion barrels of oil.
The paradox here is that global warming is melting much of the ice in the arctic region. Melting ice means that drilling for this oil will be much easier. More human arctic activity could spell an environmental catastrophe killing off many species and further hastening the melting of the polar ice shelf. A Canadian climate scientist recently stated that the North Pole might be ice-free this summer for the first time in history. Wednesday, June 25. 2008
Global Energy Demand Predicted to Grow Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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The United States government predicted today that despite persistently high oil prices, global energy demand will grow by 50 per cent over the next two decades with continued heavy reliance on environmentally problematic fossil fuels, especially coal and oil.
“Fossil fuels ... are expected to continue supplying much of the energy used worldwide,” the Energy Information Administration report stated, in spite of the growth of renewable energy sources, especially wind and biofuels. The world's demand for liquid fuels – mostly oil – will continue to grow to 113 million barrels a day by 2030, nearly a third more than is consumed today. The expected growth in energy demand is especially dramatic in developing countries, such as China and India, which are expected to have continued strong economic growth over the next two decades. Thursday, June 19. 2008US Explores Offshore Oil Drilling
The US government wants to overturn a 26-year ban on offshore oil drilling in the U.S., and open a part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for petroleum exploration. The U.S. has an estimated 3% of global petroleum reserves, but consumes close to a quarter of the world's oil. Offshore territories and public lands like the ANWR that don't allow drilling may contain up to 75 billion barrels of oil, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Although it sounds like a lot, it's not enough to make a significant impact in a world where global oil demand is expected to rise 30% by 2030, to nearly 120 million barrels a day. Also, offshore drilling is rather expensive and would only be feasible if the price of oil remained high.
In North America, we are addicted to oil. We would go to every corner of the earth if we could find oil. What will be the impact on the environment if this ban is overturned? As well, in the United States this year, oil is a pawn on the political landscape. This is a much more serious issue than to be used as an election ploy. We must find alternative sources of energy. We cannot depend on oil, because it is a limited resource. The time has come to change to hybrid vehicles, solar and wind power and other methods to offset the environmental damage and the dependence on oil. Monday, June 16. 2008Honda rolls out Fuel Cell Car
Honda's new zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell car rolled off a Japanese production line today and is headed to southern California. The FCX Clarity, which runs on hydrogen and electricity, emits only water and none of the gases believed to contribute to global warming. It is also two times more energy efficient than a gas-electric hybrid and three times that of a standard gasoline-powered car, the company says. Hydrogen, instead of petroleum, fills its tank. Electricity, instead of internal combustion, moves it forward. Hydrogen fuel-cell cars are rare and new. They are also very expensive to make and there are hardly any hydrogen stations to support them
This type of car is certainly not feasible at the moment, but considering our dependence on oil and the cost of gas this is a technology worth taking note of. If these types of vehicles were mass produced and cheaper to manufacture, it would help the environment and send notice to big oil companies that are making record profits while many people and businesses are struggling to survive the cost of filling their vehicles. Monday, June 9. 2008
Severe Weather and Heat Wave hit US Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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Severe storms with heavy rains, high winds and powerful lightning swept across the American Midwest to the East Coast this past weekend, flooding towns from Iowa to Michigan, and leaving at least eight people dead. Indiana was declared a flood disaster area after more than 10 inches fell in two days. As well, the northeastern United States is under an early summer heat wave with temperatures expected to climb up to 100 in some places with humidex levels even higher. Electricity use in the northeast will peak as a result of the high temperatures and the high use of air conditioners.
We are certainly seeing more frequent storms, whether it is tornadoes, wind and floods. Also extreme temperatures seem to be frequent across the North American continent. We can not ignore the warnings of global warming and climate change and the impact it will have. Monday, June 2. 2008
Soaring Food Prices could Trigger a ... Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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Soaring food prices could trigger a global catastrophe, with the world's poor unable to feed their families, human rights activists said today. The warning came as world leaders arrived in Rome for a U.N. summit to tackle a food crisis that is pushing 100 million people into hunger, triggering food protests and could intensify violence in war zones. Poor harvests, low stocks and rising demand, especially from India and China, caused huge food price increases over the last few years, fueling protests, strikes and violence in Africa, Asia and Latin America. A combination of high oil prices, urbanization, flawed trade policies, production of bio-feuls and other factors have caused food prices to escalate around the world. These factors have provoked protests and riots in Africa and Asia in recent months and left aid organizations that feed the poor struggling. Close to a billion people on the planet live on a dollar a day and it is estimated that close to 15,000 children die daily due to food shortage related issues in third world countries. Hunger campaigners have targeted the recent rise in bio-fuels -- usually the conversion of food crops into energy -- as one of the main reasons for the rising food prices and say the summit should declare a ban on arable land being switched to biofuel production.
Tuesday, May 27. 2008
G8 Issues Statement on Global Warming Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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Global warming is damaging the earth more quickly than previously thought and escalating oil prices threaten to speed the growth in greenhouse gas emissions, scientists and activists told environment ministers from industrialized nations last week in Kobe, Japan. The rising price of oil can encourage the use of cheaper coal, a much dirtier fuel.
The ministers, from the Group of Eight countries, gathered in the Japanese city of Kobe for a three-day conference dominated by the struggle with the worsening effects of climate change. Environmentalists urged quick action to curb the effects of the rise in world temperatures, which scientists say threaten to drive species to extinction, worsen floods and droughts, and thwart economic development. The G8 is made up of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States. The Group of Eight environment ministers called Monday in a statement for rich nations to take the lead in a global effort to at least halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Monday, May 26. 2008
Large Cracks Appearing in Arctic ice Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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The Artic is experiencing vast ices melt from the retreat of the glaciers, to the melting of the sea. The fate of the vast ice blocks is seen as a key indicator of climate change. When ice shelves break apart, they drift offshore into the ocean as "ice islands", transforming the geography of coastlines. US scientists predict that northern polar waters could be ice-free in summers within the next decade. Temperatures in the artic region have risen noticeably during the past few decades. The Arctic climate varies naturally, but the researchers conclude that human-induced global warming is partially responsible. They warn the shrinkage could lead to even faster melting in coming years. The melting may also contribute to even higher arctic temperatures in the future.
Some scientists are concerned that melting Arctic sea ice will dump enough freshwater into the North Atlantic to interfere with sea currents. They believe that the thawing of sea ice covering the Arctic could disturb or even halt large currents in the Atlantic Ocean, which are responsible for warmer airflows. This would actually result in lower temperatures for some areas, particularly Europe and the eastern part of North America. There would be more rain and snow in these regions. Retreating ice cover exposes more of the ocean surface, allowing more moisture to evaporate into the atmosphere and leading to more precipitation. More violent storms are also more likely as a result of the melting artic ice. Thursday, May 22. 2008Newspaper made from Wheat
The latest edition of Canadian Geographic magazine is published on paper made from wheat straw waste. The June edition, produced by Ottawa-based Dollco Printing, is believed to be the first North American magazine printed on wheat straw paper. The paper is comprised of 20 per cent wheat straw, 40 per cent recycled fiber content and 40 per cent wood pulp. This magazine edition uses close to 60 per cent less trees. The paper, known as the Wheat Sheet, shows that high-quality magazine-grade paper can be made from fibres besides wood pulp, which is the only fibre that pulp and paper mills in Canada currently use. Around the world, deforestation is a major issue because it reduces biodiversity, affects water and soil quality, and contributes to climate change. Although the rate of deforestation in Canada is quite low compared to some countries, it still makes sense to try and reduce it where possible. This is one way that one company is trying to make a difference.
Wednesday, May 21. 2008Oil Prices at Another Record High
Oil prices jumped to a new record above $132 (U.S.) a barrel today after the US government reported that supplies of crude oil and gasoline fell unexpectedly last week. Gasoline inventories also fell and took the market by surprise. Gasoline inventories also fell which pushed prices at the pump higher. A gallon of regular gas rose overnight to a new record above $3.80 a gallon. In Canada the average price of gasoline is just shy of $1.30 a litre. In the past year, crude oil prices have more than doubled, pushing retail gas prices higher.
Wednesday, May 21. 2008
Ethanol from Garbage | Cellostic Ethanol Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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A Canadian company is one of the first companies in the world to take garbage from municipal waste in turn it into gas. Enerkem’s facility in Quebec will use garbage and convert it into cellostic ethanol. The new technology converts biomass forestry by-products, such as wood chips and non-compostable trash into ethanol. This type of ethanol is produced from stuff that no one wants. This is the type of ethanol that is not produced from food crops. It is estimated that there is enough of this type of garbage in Canadian landfills that can power 3 million cars per year.
In theory this is a positive step. There has been much debate over the use of ethanol to power our cars, especially when food crops are used to do so. This technology not only reuses waste that Canadians dispose of everyday, but lessons our dependence on oil. Tuesday, May 20. 2008
Gas Prices and Rising Cost of Food ... Posted by NexPlan Recycling
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It seems that the high gas prices and rising food prices are hitting the most vulnerable in our society, especially the elderly and the poor, and the volunteer organizations that are trying to assist them. With the rising food and gas prices it leaves less money for the middle class to donate to these worthy causes. Also, the price of gas and food certainly impacts financial decisions for organizations like Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels, and other great organizations are faced with some hard choices these days. They often feed a lot of people who are disabled or otherwise cannot get out of the home due to medical conditions or other reasons.
It is just not that organization that is suffering, almost of all of them are reporting less donations and help in some form or another. Local food banks and other charities are also feeling the crunch. It would seem that if the working class has to pay more for food, gas and other necessities then it would only be reasonable to assume they would have less money to donate to these causes as well. People who are on fixed incomes are having trouble affording the cost of oil to heat their homes in the winter; this is especially troublesome for seniors who just do not have the tolerance or ability to handle the cold like someone younger. Add to that the cost of food and it is easy to see that we have a huge issue to deal with. For example, a United States government agency predicts that by the second half of 2008, 28 million people in the US will be using government food stamps to buy essential groceries, the highest level since the food assistance programme was introduced in the 1960s. To sum it up, high gas prices and higher costs in general will have a much deeper impact than just at the pumps or your pocket book. Many people rely on these services and need them for their survival. There are many charitable organizations that have websites and could gladly use donations. We must all be aware of the issues facing us in North America. Monday, May 19. 2008Governments addicted to gasoline
In 2008, taxes in Canada represented on average 35% of the pump price. Taxes include a Federal Excise Tax of 10.0¢ for Regular, 4.0¢ for Diesel and Provincial Tax. According to 2005 statistics the Government of Canada raised about $5 billion per year from excise taxes on fuel, consisting of $4 billion from the gasoline excise tax and $1 billion from the excise tax on diesel and aviation fuel. While the GST is not reported on a commodity-by-commodity basis, GST revenues from gasoline and diesel fuel are estimated to be about $2 billion per year. Collectively, the provinces and territories raise about $7.8 billion per year from excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel. To summarize this, about one third of the price of a liter of gasoline at the pump is tax. A sixty dollar fill up translates into twenty dollars in the government coffers.
In the US, for the first quarter of 2008, the average state gasoline tax was 28.6 cents per gallon, plus 18.4 cents per gallon federal tax making the total 47 cents per gallon. For diesel, the average state tax is 29.2 cents per gallon plus an additional 24.4 cents per gallon federal tax making the total 53.6 cents per gallon. That is around 15%. We also realize now that the current American government is heavily influenced by the oil industry. North American governments don’t seem to be doing enough to promote and encourage developing hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Currently, there is not much of a choice as the type of vehicles available to us in the North American market. The majority, whether fuel efficient or not, are powered by gasoline. Without gasoline, billions of dollars would be lost in tax revenue. |
CategoriesRecent EntriesGlobal Warming Leads to 150,000 Deaths Every Year
Saturday, April 12 2008 China to Raise the cost Fertilizer Export Tax by 100% Thursday, April 17 2008 Large Cracks Appearing in Arctic ice Monday, May 26 2008 Tobacco | Smoking effects on the Environment Tuesday, April 29 2008 DISPOSABLE SOCIETY Monday, April 14 2008 Air pollution affects many parts of the global ecosystem Wednesday, April 2 2008 Geothermal Power | Geothermal Energy Tuesday, April 1 2008 Global Warming..Don't be fooled ! Saturday, April 12 2008 Artic Ice Melt Wednesday, July 30 2008 Why is gasoline demand and price going up? Friday, April 25 2008 Newspaper made from Wheat Thursday, May 22 2008 G8 Issues Statement on Global Warming Tuesday, May 27 2008 Hydro Power | Hydraulic Power Tuesday, April 1 2008 U.S. Food Crisis Saturday, May 10 2008 Effects of the automobile on our environment Wednesday, April 23 2008 QuicksearchBlog Administration |