Our Oceans Are Un-Owned, Un-Explored, Un-Protected - Updates from TED Oceans Mission Blue Conference

The Ted Oceans' Mission Blue Conference in the Galapagos is under full swing, and there are some big concepts being discussed among the attendees and speakers. The mission of the conference is to try to further Sylvia Earl's TED wish of expanding our marine protected areas. But that requires all eyes on the oceans, and when we focus our attention, we find that there are three main issues: ownership, exploration, and protection. Overall, it seems to be a fair amount of bad news with some glimmers of hope. 

The Oceans have been decimated. Even the seemingly bountiful not so recent past doesn't compare to how incredibly diverse and jam packed with life the ocean used to be. So, in short, it's worse than we even think it is due to our baseline perceptions having been lowered. For example, it's worse than tuna being down 90% since 1950, as the 1950's population was already much lower than it used to be. See TED speaker Daniel Pauly

The Oceans are un-owned, therefore hard to regulate.Almost 2/3 of the oceans are outside of national regulations and therefore most anything can happen, and does. In addition, this takes out of sight and out of mind to a new level as most of the oceans are very far away and very deep. What happens far out to sea and way below the surface, stays far out to sea and way below the surface... See TED speaker Kristina Gjerde from IUCN for more.

Marine Protected Areas are tiny but proven to work. Sadly we only have circa 1% of our oceans protected. That said, these are shown to work well environmentally, economically and socially. The main challenge is how to scale this up quickly. We are spending circa 35 billion in fishing subsidies (many towards destructive fishing practices) while it is estimated it would cost only 16 billion to protect 20% of the oceans. See TED speaker Enric Sala for more. And more info on why MPAs work.

We know surprisingly little about our oceans.They are huge, unexplored and contain a plethora of unstudied species. The well known hammerhead shark to name one. The good news is that with tagging a la topp.org and tagagiant.org, we are starting to gather really compelling data and with increased funding, could accelerate this easily. See TED speaker Barbara Block's work for more.

The oceans are headed in the wrong direction quickly but we have some great tools to reverse this trend. All we need is the will to make it happen.

Article courtesy of TreeHugger.com, Graham Hill, New York, NY, Travel & Nature

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh To Construct Nation’s First-Of-Its-Kind Biodigester

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh has received approval from the Oshkosh Common Council to build the first dry fermentation anaerobic biodigesters in the nation, which will convert yard and food waste into fuel. The project will be partially funded with a grant of $232,587 from Wisconsin Focus on Energy and a $500,000 grant from the federal government.

The renewable energy facility will include heat and power generators, which will produce up to 5 percent of the campus’s electricity and heating needs. The biodigester needs 6,000 tons of organic biowaste per year to provide 400 kilowatt output. The majority of the waste will be provided by campus and community sources with the remainder being supplied from other area partners. The plant will be located on Dempsey Trail, adjacent to the Witzel Avenue Campus Service Center, with construction beginning late this spring.

“A dry fermentation anaerobic digester is very different in design from the wet digesters that run on manure or sewage,” said Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services Tom Sonnleitner. “The process is essentially to move composting indoors. The facility will have air filters to remove any adverse smells, and the plant will be located in the part of the city that currently is home to the municipal sewage treatment plant and the city composting site. Our goal is to provide a living laboratory of renewable energy infrastructure for our students, faculty, staff and community.”

The project is a collaborative effort with the UW Oshkosh Foundation, which has purchased the land.

“The UW Oshkosh Foundation is pleased to partner with the University to advance these kinds of projects,” said Arthur H. Rathjen, president of the Foundation. “Sustainability is core to the University’s mission, so we are more than happy to provide support.”

UW Oshkosh is working with BIOFerm Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Viessmann Corporation of Allendorf, Germany, where this technology is in full operation at many sites. Additional funding is being sought from investors interested in new tax incentives for green energy projects.

“A biodigester will let us use a large, untapped and local source of renewable energy,” said Director of Sustainability Mike Lizotte.

Because a dry digester can use waste from food, agriculture and yards, the fuel is currently available for the cost of shipping. And unlike the wet digesters used for manure, the plant will not produce wastewater that needs to be treated or disposed. 

“Constructing such a facility on our campus takes us another step closer to energy independence,” Lizotte said.

In addition to the action of the Common Council on Tuesday, Feb. 23, the Oshkosh Plan Commission approved plans for the biodigester Feb. 16.

For more information on the University’s sustainability efforts, visit www.uwosh.edu/sustainability.

Article courtesy of By UW Today

New "Volcano" Biomass Plant Runs on Palm Kernel Shells

There is a new green power plant that may be coming to Stockton-on-Tees, England, that sounds fantastic – and looks amazing, too.

The volcano-shaped biomass plant is going to run on the discarded palm kernel shells from an existing palm oil plantation. This means, the energy source is not only sustainable, but will not require that any farm land be repurposed in order to create the fuel. The plant will be built on the bank of a river and the shells will be transported to the plant by ship rather than land, so as not to increase local road traffic.

Excess heat that is generated by the plant will be converted into heat for local homes. The biomass plant is expected to create only 20% of the carbon emissions of a standard coal-burning power plant – and that includes the shipping of the palm shells from Malaysia.

Construction is scheduled to begin near the end of this year on the proposed green power station.

Article By: Eloah James Courtesy of Got2beGreen.com

Egypt's Growing Ecotourism Industry - Video

Ecotourism is getting a face lift in Egypt’s E, where visitors who want to experience the natural beauty of the desert without wasting local resources can head to a new crop of eco-lodges that have sprung up in response to local concerns. According to news reports, local villagers worry that too many tourists might add stress to the fragile desert environment. However, knowing that they need the tourism industry to boost the economy, they have taken proactive steps, giving visitors a way to stay in Egypt’s ancient desert in a responsible way.

Dakhla is in a remote location, deep in the western desert north of Gilf Kebir near the Siwa Oasis close to Libya. Two eco-lodges have been built here using local materials and employing local residents. One is the Desert Lodge, built on the side of a cliff with views of the village of Al Qasr and the Sahara desert. Built using local mud, the lodge runs on solar and hydropower and employs villagers from Al Qasr. Bed linens are made from 100-percent Egyptian cotton, and water is filtered, cutting down on the use of water bottles. The kitchen serves vegetables from the lodge’s own garden.

Another eco-lodge in the region is the luxurious Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary Lodge & Spa. It too was constructed using local materials and employs local residents in its operations. Condé Nast recently selected the Al Tarfa Lodge as one of the destinations in its “Best in Egypt” category. Al Tarfa was also recently featured in Identity Magazine’s special issue devoted to tourism in Egypt, in which Egyptian Tourism Minister Zoheir Garranah was quoted as saying, “We are looking forward to environmental tourism, which will provide comfort and luxury as well as protection for the environment."

Responsible tourism enterprises are also springing up elsewhere in Egypt. The Mount Sinai region gives travelers a chance to experience the ancient traditions of the Bedouin culture. A growing number of tours bring guests to the land of the Bedouin, where they learn essential desert skills such as how to find shade, firewood, and water in order to survive in the harsh heat and sun. Locals also share their skills in using fresh water in sensible and environmentally friendly ways.

With the development of such tours specifically geared toward learning about local traditions, as well as the emergence eco-lodges using local materials and employing local villagers, Egypt is well on its way to becoming a prominent eco-tourism destination.

Article by Stephanie Grace Loleng for Ethicaltraveler.org

Single-Use vs. Rechargeable

Batteries, batteries everywhere and…not a drop to drink?

Forgive the failed metaphor. The point here is that batteries, both the kind that you toss after one use (single-use batteries) and the kind you can reuse (rechargeables), are an everyday essential in countless applications. Remote controls, cordless phones, power tools, toys, handheld games, digital camera, flashlights, smoke detectors (you get the idea).

Unfortunately, with all this consumption comes a great deal of waste. Each year, Americans throw out almost 180,000 tons of batteries, with a majority of these being the single-use variety.

On the other hand, rechargeable batteries use is on the rise. In fact, the U.S. EPA estimates that more than 350 million rechargeable batteries are purchased annually in the U.S.

So, with our increasing need for portable power, which kind is the best for you? Is there a “better” battery?

Battery consumption continues to skyrocket, with hundreds of millions purchased every year. Photo: Flickr/awnisalan

All In Favor

Let’s start our debate with a few of the reasons as to why each type of battery is a good choice:

• Single-Use: Single-use batteries are produced on a greater scale than rechargeables, making them initially cheaper to purchase. They are also prevalent and widely available, making them easily accessible. Recycling opportunities for them are also increasingly available.
• Rechargeables: Able to be reused multiple times, rechargeables are thought to save consumers money over the life of each battery. Also, due to the Battery Act of 1996, providing easy ways for the public to recycle these batteries is mandated by law, and opportunities abound.

All Opposed

To be fair, we’ll briefly summarize the negatives of each type:

• Single-Use: Single-use are often considered more “wasteful,” because we consume such a large quantity of them. And this may sound redundant, but you can only use them once – increasing the need to have extra batteries around at all times in case your (insert electronic gadget here) dies.
• Rechargeables: Rechargeables are often cited as being too expensive and not offering enough “bang” for your buck. They also contain a great deal of heavy metals, meaning that if you don’t recycle them, contamination is much more likely.

What Goes Where?

The real way to solve the mystery is to ask where you’ll be using the battery, and what kind of battery works best in different gadgets. To get an expert opinion, Earth911 chatted with Call2Recycle, the only free rechargeable battery and cell phone collection program in North America.

“When choosing between single-use batteries and rechargeable batteries, you should consider the value and expected life of the product the batteries will power,” said Carl Smith, president and CEO of Call2Recycle.

“For example, cell phones are used frequently over an extended period of time, recharged often, and can be expensive, so they require a rechargeable battery.”

So, what are you going to use? Is it a high-tech gadget that will need portable power on a regular basis? Then rechargeables are for you.

“Certain products increasingly depend on rechargeable batteries due to product evolution – digital cameras drain single-use batteries very quickly and as a result, many digital cameras are now sold with rechargeable batteries included.”

But what about slower drain products, such as your remote control?

“Rechargeable batteries aren’t necessary for low-cost products that don’t use much power. For example, television remote controls can sometimes last for years on a single-use battery, so it doesn’t make sense to purchase more expensive rechargeable batteries for such a low maintenance device,” added Smith.

It’s also always recommended to use single-use batteries in your smoke detectors, as rechargeables can drain much more quickly and require you to change them more often or increase the chances that the battery will be dead when you need it most.

They All End Up Somewhere

Recycling programs are available for all types of batteries. Check out our Recycling Directory to see what is available near you. Photo: Amanda Wills, Earth911.com

No matter what kind of battery you use, recycling them at their end of life is key to preventing pollution and recapturing valuable metals to be reused.

Because of their materials, these batteries may or may not be considered hazardous waste in different states. So, you should always check with your local government health, solid waste or recycling department before you consider their disposal.

According to Call2Recycle, most batteries are named for the type of metal they contain (lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, etc.). The more harmful the metal, the more likely you’ll be able to find a recycler because of state and federal laws.

Many battery retailers will also accept them for recycling. This includes both automotive and household batteries. You can also find mail-in programs that allow you to collect batteries over time and send them in all at once. You’ll want to properly prepare batteries prior to recycling; otherwise they could explode during shipping.

Once batteries are collected, any acids are drained for reuse, metals are reprocessed for recycling into new products and plastic casings are melted down and recycled into new plastics.

Through Call2Recycle’s program, retailers such as Alltel, AT&T, Best Buy, Black & Decker, DeWalt, The Home Depot, Interstate All Battery Centers, Lowe’s, Milwaukee Electrical Tool, Office Depot, Orchard Supply, Porter Cable Service Centers, RadioShack, Remington Product Company, Sears, Staples, Target, US Cellular and Verizon Wireless all offer some sort of battery recycling program.

All of the materials collected through the Call2Recycle program are recycled and used to create other types of materials, including new batteries and scrap metal. None of the material broken down from the recycling of rechargeable batteries and cell phones makes its ways into the landfills.

While nine states have passed laws banning rechargeable batteries from landfills, New York City and the state of California have passed the only laws requiring manufacturer take-back programs. This means that in four of the 10 largest cities in the U.S., you can purchase rechargeable batteries and know exactly where you can take them for recycling.

Article by Jennifer Berry Courtesy of Earth911.com http://earth911.com/blog/2010/02/01/single-use-vs-rechargeable/

Environmental Non-Profit Seeks to Honor Youth Activists & Environmentalists

Action For Nature, a San-Francisco-based non-profit, is now taking applications for the 2010 International Young Eco-Hero Awards, which honor youth ages 8 to 16 for their outstanding accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health, research and protection of the natural world.

Award recipients will receive up to $500 cash, an award certificate, and other forms of recognition. The application deadline is February 28, 2010.

Action For Nature’s mission is to encourage young people to take personal action to nurture and protect a healthy environment on which all life depends. Now in its eighth year of the International Young Eco-Hero Awards, the organization has honored 90 young people from 13 countries and 24 states in America.

Previous award winners have continued to receive other prestigious leadership, environmental and science awards, such as the Brower Youth and Intel Science awards. They’ve also taken part in local, national and international media interviews.

Alec Loorz, a 2008 award winner, has continued to educate youth and adults about global warming and has spoken to more than 20,000 people. Alec, who is now 15, is the youngest member of Al Gore’s speaking panel, and was recently asked to assist with a presentation before the U.S. Senate.

Former award winner Otana Jakpor, 16, researched air purifiers and ozone emissions and successfully advocated for change in California. Her findings resulted in the first-ever state regulation of ozone-generators. She has since been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency and has become an official spokesperson for the American Lung Association. She has also had her work published by several science journals.

For more information about the International Young Eco-Hero Awards, as well as to view the guidelines and application forms, visit Action For Nature’s Website, or by phone: (415) 513-2421.

Article courtesy of Got2BGreen.com: http://www.got2begreen.com/green-lifestyles/environmental-non-profit-seeks-to-honor-youth-activists-environmentalists/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Got2begreen+%28Got2BeGreen%29