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Showing posts from March, 2008

FACTS THEY DON'T ADVERTISE

It seems impossible that a gallon of gasoline, which weighs about 6.3 pounds, could produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. However, most of the weight of the CO2 doesn't come from the gasoline itself, but the oxygen in the air. When gasoline burns, the carbon and hydrogen separate. The hydrogen combines with oxygen to form water (H2O), and carbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2). A carbon atom has a weight of 12, and each oxygen atom has a weight of 16, giving each single molecule of CO2 an atomic weight of 44 (12 from carbon and 32 from oxygen). Therefore, to calculate the amount of CO2 produced from a gallon of gasoline, the weight of the carbon in the gasoline is multiplied by 44/12 or 3.7. Since gasoline is about 87% carbon and 13% hydrogen by weight, the carbon in a gallon of gasoline weighs 5.5 pounds (6.3 lbs. x .87). We can then multiply the weight of the carbon (5.5 pounds) by 3.7, which equals 20 pounds of CO2! ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

solar powered car

solar powered car on display at earth hour celebration at nathan phillips square toronto,saturday,march 29-2008.

SYDNEY-BEFORE-AND-AFTER

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.......THE . . .EARTH ...HOUR . . .CAN . . BE. . COMPARED . . IN . .THESE . . . PHOTOS . . .NOTICE . . .THE . .REFLECTION . .OF. . .LIGHT . . IN . .SYDNEY . .HARBOUR . . .AND . .ALSO . .NOTICE . . . THAT . .THERE . . IS . . STILL . . .WORK . .TO . .BE . .DONE . .TO . .GET . .THE . .REMAINING . . .LIGHTS . .TO . .GO . .OUT. . . .HAPPY . . EARTH . .HOUR.

HAPPY-EARTH-HOUR

. . . . HAPPY . . . .EARTH . . . HOUR . . . TO . . .ALL . . THE . .PEOPLES . . OF . .THE . .WORLD . . . .8PM . .TO. . .9PM . . . . MARCH . . 29 . . .2008 . . . .ONE . . .HOUR . .OF . . DARKNESS . . .. .IS . .A . .SMALL . . .STEP . . .ON . .THE . .ROAD . . OF . .UNDERSTANDING . . .THE . . .BIGGER . . PICTURE . . OF . .GLOBAL . ..CLIMATE . .CHANGE

LIGHTS OUT

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. . . . . .IN . .ORDER . .TO . .CREATE . .AWARENESS . . .OF . .THE . .PROBLEM . .OF . .CLIMATE . .CHANGE . . AND . .OUR . .EXCESSIVE . .USE . .OF . . .ENERGY . . . .CITIES . .FROM . .AROUND . .THE . .WORLD . . .WILL . .BE . .TURNING . .OUT . .THE . .LIGHTS. .ON . .MARCH . . 29 . . .2008 . . IN . .THEIR . .RESPECTIVE . .TIME . .ZONES . .AT . .8 . .PM. . . . . . .WHAT . .ABOUT . . .YOU . . ? . .? . .AND . .YOU . . . . .MY . . .LIGHTS . .WILL . .BE . .TURNED . .OFF.

(GAL)GAS=CO2(POUNDS)=HOW(?)

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EXPLAIN POUNDS OF CO2 PER GALLON OF GAS. I get a lot of questions like this: "Can burning 1 gallon of gasoline really release almost 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2)? That does not make sense. Does the carbon dioxide really weigh 20 pounds? Can you weigh it? How can this be true?" First of all, yes, this is true. My genius PhD chemist friend Maria promised to share with me the calculations that demonstrate how this works. I am going to share these with you and then explain them in simple English so your head does not explode (unless you are an AP Chemistry student in high school and then you might want to calculate the numbers yourself JUST FOR FUN). From Maria (note that a "Mole", abbreviated as mol, is a unit of molecular measurement): Here is a calculation that I did for gasoline... Answer: Energy Information Administration (EIA) stated that 1 gal (3.78 L) of gasoline (density = 0.70 g/mL and approximate composition C8H18) gives 8 kg (18 lbs) of CO2. Combustion

earth hour video

big box store chicago ?

The likelihood that Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will open its second store within Chicago city limits just got smaller.The city of Chicago declined a request to allow the world's largest retailer to build a store at the 50-acre Chatham Market on the South Side, a former steel plant site that the discount chain has been eyeing for at least four years.Arnold Randall, commissioner for Chicago's Department of Planning and Development, notified the project's developer, Archon Group LP, a unit of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., on Friday that he would not let the project move forward, according to a copy of the letter obtained by the Chicago Tribune. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . this news item on march 18-2008 . . .is good news . .for ...those . .people . .that oppose . . . .consumerism . .and ...urban . .sprawl(both anti -environment lifestyles)

dr david hill (q and a)

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Q. What are humankind's main problems in the twenty-first century? A. The main problem for humankind in this present century are immense, the greatest that they have ever had to address. Indeed, if we do not get our act together as a species, we run the very high risk of our extinction. I say this with a heavy heart, but where the present economic development system is inherently flawed greatly in that we are all grasping for the world's finite resources that one-day will run out. We are only now starting to appreciate that we have to have a sustainable mechanism but where again I have sadly to say that there is still little evidence that the rhetoric by our politicians and global industrialists is turning into anything but a recipe for humankind's total demise. In this respect as nations vie for the world's continually depleting resources; we are coming closer to eventual conflict through the lack of such resources. This therefore cannot be good for humankind in the lo

EARTH HOUR(2)

Let me see if I understand this: We're supposed to turn off the lights for one hour between 8 and 9 pm on March 29 , but there are plans for a huge concert at Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate the occasion slated for precisely that hour. What gives? Don't give me the bullshit about bullfrog and LED lighting and the plans to go almost completely acoustic. The show is going to require mics, trust me. The point is, it makes no sense to have the concert at exactly the hour when we're not supposed to be using up energy. Why not gather at Nathan Phillips Square under dimmed public lighting at 8 pm, celebrate together, get out the lighters for some cool visuals, pull together some singalongs - maybe even light a bonfire? And then have the eco-sensitive concert afterwards. As it's planned, organizers just look dumb. . . . . . . . . . .. . THE ABOVE COMMENTS COME FROM AN ARTICLE BY SUSAN COLE IN NOW WEEKLY MAGAZINE . .FROM . .TORONTO. . . . . . . . . . . . . ..ALTHOUGH . .I .

mayor miller

this is an open letter to mayor miller of toronto . . .canada . . .in . .your.upcoming trip . .to .china . .along with . .a dozen . .business . .people . .and . .councillors . .at . .tax . .payers . . .expense . . please bear in mind . .that . .not . .all . .trade . .is. . good . .even . though . it . .means . .more . .people . .are . .working and its . .supposedly good for the . .economy. . . .why . . do . .i . .say .. this ? . . . .because . . .i . .fear . . .it . . .will . .increase . .consumerism. . . .and consumerism . . .is . . .anti . .environment . . . when . . .people . . buy . .more . .goods . . .from . .distant . . .countries . .it . . undermines . .local . .small . .businesses . . .also . .this . . will . .contradict . . your . . credibility . . . .as . . an . . .environmental . .mayor . . .so . .for . the .sake . .of . .the . ..environment . .please . . . .cancel . . .the . .trip . .until . . its . .been . .properly . .discussed . .in . .an . .unbiased .

AMAZON FORESTS

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. . . .About 25 sawmills operate near Tailandia, and inspectors in recent weeks have found that most -- in one way or another -- violate the law. Since Feb. 25, the inspectors have levied more than $2 million in fines here, confiscated more than 8,000 cubic meters of illegal timber and destroyed more than 800 unlicensed charcoal-producing ovens. Those destroyed ovens alone would have consumed about 23,000 young trees in one month, according to average production rates. All of that represents a minuscule fraction of the deforestation in Brazil , where most of the Amazon forest is located. After three years of declining rates of deforestation, cutting has spiked sharply nationwide. The 2,700 square miles cut in the last five months of 2007 followed the clearing of 4,300 square miles during the previous 12 months, according to government figures. Demand for the illegal wood and charcoal is only one factor contributing to the cutting. Brazil's Environment Ministry places more of the bl

ROBERT LOVELACE

On 15 February 2008, former chief Robert Lovelace began serving 6 months in jail for refusing to comply with a court injunction, while following Algonquin law to protect the land. The charge stems from his participation in the Ardoch Alliance protest against uranium exploration on unceded Algonquin land near Sharbot Lake, Ontario. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .his . . .crime . . .?? . . . . .preventing . . . the . .destruction . . of . . .30,000 acres . .of . . .forests . . . .and . . rivers . . .in . .the . . kingston/ottawa . . .region . . . . . . To . .get . .at ....the . .uranium . . .it . .is . .necessary . . .to .. . .remove . . .the . .blanket . . of . .trees . . .and . . replace . .it . . with . . .a . .moonlike.. . .landscape . . polluted ..completely . . .devoid . .of . . .life.

forget me not

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. . . . . . . . . I . .KNOW . .ITS THE FIRST . .DAY OF . SPRING . .TODAY . . .AND . .THERE'S . .STILL . .A. .TON . .OF . .SNOW . .ON . .THE . .GROUND . . .AND . .THE . .CLIMATE .CHANGE . .DENIERS . .ARE . .HAVING .A . .FIELD . .DAY . . ABOUT . .THEIR . .MIS-INFORMED . .THEORIES . . . .BUT. ..LEST . .WE . .FORGET . . I . .WILL . .INCLUDE . .A . .PICTURE . . .FROM . . OCTOBER 28. . .2007 .. . FROM A BACKYARD.. .GARDEN . . IN . .TORONTO,CANADA . . . NOTICE . . .THE . . AUTUMN . .LEAVES . .ON THE GROUND. . BESIDE . . THE . .STILL . .GROWING . . TOMATO . . PLANT . . I . .REST . . MY . .CASE. .. .(THAT TOMATO . ..PLANT . GREW...FOR . .ANOTHER...WEEK . .INTO . .NOVEMBER . .BEFORE . .FROST . .FINALLY KILLED . . IT)

VOTE GREEN-LIVE GREEN

. . . . . .TOMORROW . . .MARCH 17-2008 . . . .THERE ..IS . . .A . .HISTORIC . .OPPORTUNITY . . IN . .TORONTO . . . .CANADA . . . . .TO . . .VOTE . . . IN . .2 . .BY -ELECTIONS . . .FOR . . . . .GREEN . .PARTY . . . CANDIDATES . . . . .IN . . .TORONTO . . CENTER . . RIDING . . . ITS . . ..CHRIS . .TINDAL . .AND . .IN . .WILLOWDALE . . .RIDING . . .ITS . . .LOU . .CARCASOLE . . . . .DON'T . . LET . .THIS . .CHANCE . . PASS . . .BY . . . .AND . . EVEN . .IF . . .YOU . . . DON'T . . .VOTE . . . GREEN . . . .AT . . LEAST . . .LIVE . . A . .GREEN . .LIFESTYLE . . .YOUR . . .CHILDREN . ..AND . . GRANDCHILDREN . . .WILL . . THANK . . YOU.

CITY- LIFE

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. . . . . . . . . . . .NOISE AND POLLUTION . . . IS . .WHAT . .HAPPENS . .AT . . .STREET . . .LEVEL . . .IN . . .ANY . . .LARGE . . . CITY . . NOW . . . . . .LETS . .TRY . . .AND . .CHANGE . . . AND ...WITH . . A . .LITTLE . .LUCK .. .JUST . .MAYBE . .WE . .CAN . .DO . .IT.

AFGHAN VOTE MISTAKE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Both the minority Conservative government and the Liberal opposition heralded the vote as a historic compromise that set aside partisan politics and advanced Canada's international interest, as they easily passed the motion by a 197-77 margin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WHEN . .IT COMES . .TO . . BUILDING . .MORE . . .AFFORDABLE . .HOUSING .. . .THE. .FEDS . . PLEAD . .POVERTY . . .BUT . . .IF . ..THEY . .ARE . .ASKED. .TO . .FUND . .A . . WAR . . . .HALFWAY . .AROUND . . .THE . .WORLD . . .THE . .SKY'S . . THE . .LIMIT . . . . .THANKS . . . .FOR . . .NOTHING . . . .LIBERALS . . .AND . . .CONSERVATIVES . . . .THE . . SOONER . .THEY . . ARE . .REPLACED . . .AS . .GOV'T . . .THE . .BETTER. . . .THIS . . .WAR . . IS . . .ALL . .ABOUT . . OIL. (the vote in parliament today extended the canadian military mission in afghanistan beyond the year 2009 )

EARTH HOUR

Earth Hour! It’s coming. March 29, 8pm. Where will you be when the lights go out?

TREES SACRIFICED

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MUCH OF THE TERRAIN IS BLANKETED IN TREES BUT UNDERNEATH THE FORESTS of the remote north of the Canadian province of Alberta are an estimated 174 billion barrels of heavy crude oil. While much of the world's attention has been focused on Iraq and what is going to happen to the country’s vast reserves of oil, the oil industry has been investing massively in the sparsely-populated region around the small city of Fort McMurray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O.K. . . .YOU . .ARE . .THE . .CEO . . .OF.. A . .MULTI-NATIONAL . .OIL COMPANY . . . .YOU . . .HAVE . .A . .CHOICE . . . SPARE . . .THE . . .TREES . IN . .THE . .FORESTS . . .OR . . . . .(?) . . .COMPLETELY, , , , ,IRREVERSIBLY . . . . . DESTROY . . . .THAT . . BLANKET . . OF . . GREEN . . .FOREST . . TO . .GET . . AT . .THE . .PRECIOUS . . .OIL . . .GUESS . . .WHAT . . . THEY'RE . . . DOING . . .IN . . . ALBERTA . . .OIL . .IS . .KING.(news excerpt from al jazeera)

TO CONSUME ?

. . . . . . OR NOT TO CONSUME ? . . . . . . THAT IS THE QUESTION . . . . . . . .OUR PRESENT DAY SO CALLED FINNANCIAL LEADERS SEEM TO THINK THAT WE SHOULD . . . . . . . . . . . .SO . . .THEY ARE . . LOWERING . .INTEREST . . RATES . . . .FOR . .THE UPTEENED . .TIME . . .SO . . THAT . .U . . AND . . I . . .CAN . . BUY . . .MORE . . .AND . .BORROW . . MORE . . . . . .ONE . . .SLIGHT . . .PROBLEM . . .WITH . .THAT . . THEORY . . . .. . . ."IT .. WILL . . DESTROY . . .THE . .ENVIRONMENT . . .AND . . US " . .IN THE PROCESS. . . . WHEN . .PEOPLE .. . BUY . . .MORE . .CARS. . .HOUSES . . .GOODS . . .ETC . . .IT . . CREATES . . .MORE . . DEMANDS . . .ON . .OUR SCARCE . .RESOURCES .. . . ..AND . .ALSO . .MORE . . .GREENHOUSE .. GASES. . .CO2 . .ETC . . . THE . .WHOLE . .IDEA . .ABOUT . . INTEREST . . RATE . . .REDUCTION . .IS . .FAULTY . . .AND . . .ANTI . .ENVIRONMENT. . . . BETTER . .TO . . .BUY . . .AND . . BORROW . . LESS . . . AND . . .ONLY . . AS .

AFTER THE STORM

. . . . . . A . . SAMPLE . . OF . . ..SNOW . . CLOGGED . . .SIDEWALKS . . . AFTER . . A . .SUBSTANSTIAL . . .SNOW . .FALL . . .THIS PAST . . . WEEKEND . . . . THIS . . .VIDEO . .IS . ..FROM . .A . .FAST . .MOVING . . BUS.

THOU SHALT NOT POLLUTE

. . . . . . .VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ITS GOOD TO SEE THAT RELIGION IS FINALLY ADAPTING TO THE TIMES.

SNOW MOUNTAIN

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. . . . . . . . .THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A 24 HOUR SNOW STORM . . . . . . .. . . IN . . . . . TORONTO . . . . . .CANADA. . . . . MARCH . . . 8 . . 2008

WAITING FOR TTC

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. . . . . . . . . . A.. FAVORITE . . SPORT ..IN TORONTO CANADA . .THESE . . DAYS . . WAITING FOR THE TTC (TORONTO TRANSIT COMMISSION) . . . . . .AS . . .SOMEONE . .WHO , , TRAVELS . .QUITE . . .A BIT ON PUBLIC TRANSIT . . .I . .HAVE COME TO CERTAIN . . .CONCLUSIONS . . .AND ITS NOT AT ALL COMPLEMENTARY TO THE OVERALL ... . .SYSTEM . . .IT SEEMS . .THAT THE PASSENGERS . . . HAVE TO SUFFER . . GREAT HARDSHIPS . .IN ORDER . .TO GET ..FROM POINT A . .TO .POINT B . . .FOR EXAMPLE . .IN ORDER TO GO A STRAIGHT DISTANCE OF 2 MILES . . I . .HAVE TO TAKE ONE BUS,ONE SUBWAY THEN TRANSFER TO ANOTHER SUBWAY,THEN I NEED TO TAKE A TAXI FOR THE FINAL LEG OF THE TRIP.THIS SITUATION HAPPENED LAST WEEK. .. . . .THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INSTANCE . . . IT . .HAS HAPPENED .TO . ME . .MANY TIMES. . . .IN THE ABOVE EXAMPLE . .I ENDED UP CANCELING THE EVENT.

NUCLEAR WASTE

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. . . . . . . . . . . . .THIS IS WHAT A NUCLEAR STORAGE SITE LOOKS LIKE AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .THE ABOVE PHOTO WAS TAKEN SHORTLY AFTER A LARGE EARTHQUAKE . . . . . . HIT JAPAN . . . . . . IN THE YEAR 2007. . . . . . .EVERY CASK IN THE PICTURE . . . . . . .HAS LOW LEVEL . . .RADIOACTIVITY . . . . . . . . AND WEIGHS . . . . . .TEN . .TONNES . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . ONE . . SIDENOTE: . . .THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO . . .CANADA . . . . .HAS . . .ASKED . . 4 . . DIFFERENT COMPANIES . .TO . . SUBMIT BIDS . . .TO . . .BUILD . . . . .AND . . . REFURBISH . . . .NUCLEAR . . . .POWER . .REACTORS . . .FOR . . FUTURE . . .ANTICIPATED . . . . .SUPPLY . . . .DEMANDS. . . . . . . THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE TODAY BY THE . . .ONTARIO . . .CABINET... MINISTER(PHILLIPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COST = $40,000,000,000.00 (40 BILLION) GENEROUSLY PAID FOR BY THE TAXPAYER.

FUEL GUZZLER AIRLINE

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A major airline is under fire from environmentalists for flying an aircraft across the Atlantic with only five passengers on board. The flight from Chicago to London meant that the plane, a Boeing 777, used 22,000 gallons of fuel.Friends of the Earth said it was 'obscene' to waste so much fuel flying an almost empty plane It led to American Airlines being accused of reckless behaviour by green lobby groups. The latest "eco- scandal" flight took place on February 9 after American was forced to cancel one of its four daily services from Chicago to London. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . THE ABOVE NEWS ITEM FROM HUFFINGTON POST WEBSITE MARCH 6-2008 . . . . . . . . . . . .UNBELIEVEABLE . . . . . .HOW . . . .PEOPLE . . . . .CAN . . .WASTE . . . .RESOURCES.

REST IN PEACE

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. . . . . . . THIS WAS ONCE A GREEN LIVING FOREST . . . . . . . . .. . . .WHATS NEXT . . . ? . .DUNLAP . . .OBSERVATORY . . .LANDS . . .RICHMOND . .HILL . .ONTARIO . . . . . . .SHARBOT . . .LAKE . . URANIUM . . .MINE. . . . QUINTE . .REGION . . .NEAR KINGSTON . . . . . . .OR . . .FUTURE . . .WALMART . . ..SITE . . . . .LAKESHORE . . . . DOWNTOWN . .TORONTO .