Evidence of Global Warming

If you’re not sure how much of an effect global warming has on our planet, or even on the area where you live, this article will definitely help. There is significant evidence of global warming all around us, and the signs that you can recognize will help you to make informed decisions about how you and your family can conserve the earth’s energy resources.

One of the most obvious effects of global warming is the extreme weather changes people all over the world have been experiencing. There have been heat waves in various parts of the world, and these phases of extreme heat have lasted well into the traditional winter months in some cases. 1998 was the warmest year on earth since the 1880s, and temperatures are continuing to increase, as we are well into the 21st century. Not only does this mean that the overall weather will be warmer for longer periods of time, but the likelihood of floods and droughts is much higher. Floods can occur if large bodies of ice, or glaciers, are melted due to the extreme heat—these melted glaciers will then begin to overflow into the bodies of water that already exist and the earth will not be able to hold all of the excess water efficiently. Droughts will and have occurred in parts of the world due to global warming as well, since the warm weather gives too much sunlight to plants and animals. Without water, humans, plants and animals suffer from dehydration.

More evidence of global warming is in the large presence of greenhouse gases. Natural greenhouse gases include methane and carbon dioxide, and these gases are harmful to humans if ingested in large amounts. Carbon dioxide is necessary for plants to survive and plants are able to convert this gas into oxygen, which is vital for human life. However, plants need the right climate to grow in, along with adequate water, which is why trying to fight global warming is so important. Fossil fuel production is the main cause of the methane increase, so in order to reduce the amount of methane in the atmosphere, alternate forms of energy should be used.

The spread of tropical diseases is more evidence of global warming. Extreme heat makes it easy for bacteria to spread and for viruses to last longer in the air and in humans. Diseases such as dengue fever, which is common in the South Pacific islands, is a direct result of global warming, as is the spread of yellow fever. These diseases can be fatal, especially if not treated properly and immediately.

Learning more about how to put an end to the effects of global warming is extremely important, and there is so much you can do to help. For more information on how you can conserve energy and do your part to reduce the evidence of global warming, visit www.livegreen.org or www.ecobridge.org to get practical tips on how to use less electricity and preserve the components of the ozone layer.

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Biodiesel is “bio”, because it is made from organic matter. Usually, oil-rich plants such as rapa and corn are grown and harvested. Their oil is combined with alcohol to make biodiesel. Because its production process is relatively fast, biodiesel is considered a renewable fuel.

Renewable fuels are good. As environmental awareness grows, the demand for renewable fuels, including biodiesel, increases. The Europeans, especially, have a voracious appetite for biodiesel. This is good, right? Biodiesel will help save the environment.

However, consider the ramifications of such skyrocketing demand. Since the Europeans took a liking to biodiesel, beautiful, vast forests in Indonesia have been cut down. Farmers fetch a very good price for their palm trees, as these trees contain palm oil, which is commonly used in biodiesel manufacture. Tempted by more profit, farmers cut down neighbouring trees, to increase their agricultural space.

Natural ecosystems are completely ruined. However, the environmental destruction aside, farmers previously growing food crops are switching to palm trees. Why grow rice when palm trees sell for five times more?

This idea of switching to a more profitable product is timeless and classic. Basic economic theory dictates that the supply of product A is influenced by the price of related product B. As the price of product B increases, producers of A become enamoured with the possibility of greater profit. Supply of A declines.

What happens when supply decreases? The item becomes valued, cherished. Its price consequently shoots through the roof. It is for this reason that gold and diamond are so expensive.

When farmers switch from food to palm trees, the supply of food decreases. Hence, the price of food increases. The increasing use of biodiesel and other biofuels have been linked to soaring food prices worldwide.

Let’s examine the ProAlcool program in Brazil. Since 1975, the Brazilian government has been encouraging the use of ethanol, a biofuel. Ethanol, like biodiesel, is also produced from certain crops, such as sugar cane. As incentives for ethanol production, the government gave tax breaks to farmers who grew sugar cane.

Evidently, many farmers switched from growing food to growing ethanol material. Who wouldn’t? Consequently, a food shortage developed. Food prices rose, and families starved.

In fact, the recent 2007-2008 food crisis has been strongly linked to biodiesel and ethanol production as well. The World Bank, a leading global financial institution, blames the food crisis on subsidies for biofuels. Its study also indicates that the increasing biofuel production has caused food prices to rise 70 to 75%.

A study by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development agreed that biofuels have led to an increase in food prices. However, the OECD believes the effect of biofuel on food prices is not as high as the World Bank claimed.

Taking these ideas into account, biodiesel production and use should still be encouraged. However, instead of using fresh oil from crops, why not use recycled frying oil? A busy fast food restaurant can have 20 gallons of oil leftover at the end of the night. The oil can be filtered and purified to make biodiesel.

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• Palm Oil Biodiesel, Now With 2000% the Emissions of Fossil Fuels (treehugger.com)

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Forest Conservation

We depend on the forests for a number of resources, which is why it is so important that we do all we can to conserve the trees and plants that we still have. Forest conservation has become a worldwide concern, and if you want to know more about how you can do your part, here is some information that may help.

First, it will help to know about the types of forest conservation that is necessary for each type of forest. The places that are of great concern these days are the tropical forests, and there are several different types. The most popular type, perhaps, is the rain forest; the largest of these still remain in places like Brazil and Malaysia, but about one and a half acres are lost every second. This is due to humans using the trees and natural resources there for industrial purposes, and the pollution and air impurity also has a lot to do with why certain plants no longer grow properly in the rain forests.

It is also important to learn about forest conservation if you are planning on purchasing land or having a home built. This is another reason why trees are always being cut down, and this reduces the oxygen supply on the earth. So, as you’re planning, be sure to choose an area that will not require you to damage the ecosystem around you.

According to forest conservation experts, we lose 137 plants, insect, and animal species every day because of the damage that we are causing to the rainforest. This means that 50,000 species are permanently lost every year. This not only means that some animals are not longer in existence, but also indicates that possible cures for severe disease are lost. It has been proven that about 25 percent of Western medications are derived from plants that grow in the rainforest; however, only less than one percent of these plants have actually been tested before the medication is put on the market.

What can you do to participate in forest conservation? Doing small things like buying recycled paper to write on or use in your computer printer will help tremendously, and you can also invest in a shopping bag made of cloth so that you don’t have to ask for paper bags for your groceries each time you shop. Using recycled paper towels and toilet paper will help as well. Even recyclable building materials to will help you to do your part to preserve parts of the earth that are disappearing daily. Check out www.raintree.com to find out more about what you can to when it comes to forest conservation today.

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Household Hazardous Waste

When we think of dangerous or toxic waste products, we generally think of the products that factories produce that are harmful to the environment. But did you know that there are a number of household hazardous waste products that we use every day that could be destroying the ozone layer–and our health?

For instance, if you have just finished a home improvement project, and leave certain items like paint or glue around for a long period of time, the fumes could irritate your nasal passages, and could even cause skin irritation and breathing problems. Even things like furniture cleaners, cooking oils, or pesticides can be considered household hazardous waste, so you’ll need to be very careful when you’re disposing of these items. It is probably a good idea to place the discarded items in a separate trash bag, and drive them to your neighborhood’s trash drop-off location if possible. The longer these substances stay in your house, the more they could irritate the nervous or respiratory systems–this is especially dangerous if you have small children living in the house.

If you have leftover paint or cleaning solution that you need to dispose of, you should never pour it down the drain or into a storm sewer. This may seem like a better method than throwing the items in with the household trash (with is also dangerous), but introducing these poison substances to the city’s water system will have negative consequences in the long run. Your neighborhood may have already come up with a method for getting rid of household hazardous waste, so be sure to ask about this at your next neighborhood watch or homeowner’s association meeting.

Another great way to make sure that your home is not contaminated by household hazardous waste is to purchase cleaning products that are all-natural. Many times, the synthetic cleansers in bathroom and tile sprays, laundry detergents, and paints and finishing solutions can harm the environment quickly, and make children and adults very sick. If you’re using products that contain natural plant and flower oils, it is less likely that you will experience red eyes, skin rashes, or shortness of breath while cleaning or disposing of cleaning materials. Brands like Seventh Generation and Jason have great natural and organic household cleaners that you may want to try.

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Coral Reef Ecosystems

If you’re thinking about getting a fish tank for your home, or already have a few underwater pets, you may be looking for some coral reefs to make your fish’s home complete. But did you know that coral reefs are more than just decorations for your aquarium? Here is some information about coral reef ecosystems that may help you find the right tank accessories.

For coral reef ecosystems, the sun is the main source of energy. Photosynthesis, algae, and plankton also contribute to the growth of coral reefs, which helps the light energy in the coral to be converted to chemical energy. This energy is passed on in the underwater ecosystem as other sea creatures eat other plants or animals.

There are a number of coral reef ecosystems that suit a number of different animals. Sponges, which are one of the most common parts of the ecosystem house small animals like crab and shrimp, as well as a number of small fish. Sponges appear in a number of shapes and colors and can be quite beautiful. There are also sea anemones, which are closely related to corals. Clownfish and anemone fish make their homes in the tentacles of these structures, and the anemone fish even remove parasites from the sea anemone.

Coral reef ecosystems also include bryozoans. These organisms live on the outskirts of the coral reef and they cement the structure of the reef. Sea urchins, along with sea stars and cucumbers also live on the reef, and the sea star is actually a predator of coral polyps, which means that too many sea stars can damage the reef and leave behind only calcium carbonate. This breakdown in the food chain affects the population of deep sea fish in the area, and will reduce the amount of large fish and game.

There are also a number of animals that live in the coral branches. Crab and lobster make up the coral reef ecosystems as well, but these crustaceans are also predators and crush sea urchins with their claws. The coral shrimp is another protective predator that removes parasites and dead skin from the fish that live in and on the reef.

If you are planning on going deep sea diving, you may even see some small reptiles that belong to the coral reef ecosystems. Sea snakes don’t actually live on the reefs, but they live in the areas of water around the coral reef. Their fangs are very small, but the venom is potent, so it’s best to admire this animal from afar. Different types of turtles live around the coral reef as well; sea turtles live in the warm water along the Great Barrier Reef.

Now that you know a little about the animals that make up the coral reef ecosystems, you’ll know just how to decorate a new home for your fish. Enjoy!

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The change in limate is causing the sea level to rise, threatening to engulf The Maldives.

The government of the country has been drawing attention to the problem, ahead of December’s Copenhagen Climate Summit in a novel way…………..

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Environmental Economics

As global warming and climate change are becoming vital issues, more people that are becoming interested in environmental econonics. There are plenty of things that you can do to make sure that you are conserving the natural resources around you.

One of the most important things to understand when it comes to environmental economics is the concept of market failure. This is when markets don’t use the resources they have in the most effective ways.

This happens when one industry does not use natural resources for the greatest social welfare, which is evident in industries that involve the continual use of oil or gasoline. Market failure is a heated topic of discussion for a number of economists, because it has been proven that what an individual will do with a natural resource is often not what society would want that person to do to protect the resource.

For instance, a man running a gas station that is the family business will most likely sell gasoline at the highest point possible to support his family. However, this causes a strain to the possible patrons in the neighborhood, since the high prices may compromise the family budget.

Externality is another property of environmental economics that you’ll need to be aware of. This principle occurs when a person makes a choice that involves or effects other individuals that are included in the market price of the choice. For example, a large factory or corporation that produces a lot of pollution is probably not taking into account the fact that the polluted air is costing other members of society. Because of the factory, more people in the city or state will need to start driving hybrid cars to cut down on emissions, and may have to spend more money on items for their homes that will help them to ‘go green’. Again, this will affect the family budget, which will affect how consumers are able to spend their money outside of the home.

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