Sinking Lands - Disputes Overshadow Looming Crisis

The island of New Moore (also called South Talpatti island) in the Sunderbans in the Bay of Bengal is now completely underwater. Uninhabited, it's just one of many others that may not welcome the next century above the water. New Moore island was claimed by both Bangladesh and India for the past thirty years and there has been no resolution in the dispute with both parties staunch on their claim. But now that the island is underwater, there's nothing more to claim.

The sinking of New Moore island (left, where it used to be) is blamed on global warming. Current measurements place the rising of sea level in the Bay of Bengal at .2 inches every year. Until the year 2000, the rate was only at .12 inches per year. Researchers at the School of Oceanographic Studies at Jadavpur University in Calcutta say that the rise is alarming because Bangladesh is one of the countries seen to be harshly affected by the rising bay in the next fifty years when the local sea level reaches 1 meter. When that time is reached, scientists predict that 18% of the country's coastal area will be submerged, affecting 20 million people.  

Other countries and territories will of course also be affected and the number of people worldwide who will lose their homes will definitely rise; there's the Maldives (left) - a vacationer's paradise, the city of Rotterdam - which is a few meters below sea level, Maputo - the capital of Mozambique, and the Philippines - with over 7,100 islands. There are many more all over the globe and even now, the encroachment of the sea into human habitats is creating a lot of pressure on governments already struggling with population management, resources, and territorial claims. 

In the Philippines, there are the disputed Spratley Islands (left), some of which are claimed by other Asian countries like China. If sea levels will indeed rise one meter in fifty years, these islands will probably be underwater and all the effort and resources put into claiming and guarding them will have been for nothing (unless they start anew claiming territorial responsibility). But then that would still not help. It would be better if they pool resources to provide a solution to the impending problem of relocating people who will lose their homes and livelihood when the sea claims them. 

Back in the Bay of Bengal, other islands (left; encircled, top) are expected to go underwater soon. Some of them are still disputed territories but are inhabited, unlike New Moore. In spite of the warnings made by the scientific community, it seems that the disputes take precedent over the impending problem of relocation when the sea claims the islands. Of course, there's the even larger problem of millions of people once coastal towns and cities of Bangladesh become submerged.  

It would seem far-fetched, but the governments of countries like Bangladesh, India, The Maldives, and the Philippines, must already have laid down plans on what to do when rising sea levels bring problems to coastal areas. Let's hope that the scientists are wrong, but what if they are right? It seems  the world is headed to more flooding based on what's been observed and measured. 

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Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change Awareness Effort Follows Through with 350.org

After Blog Action Day 2009, the organizers and the bloggers who participated in making October 15, 2009 a successful day for environmentalists worldwide are now taking another step in helping to create awareness in mitigating global warming by reducing the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Thus far, the worldwide recession has already lessened the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, but a direct effort is what is needed.

The aim, which will be discussed in the meeting of world leaders in Copenhagen in December this year for a new global climate treaty, is to lower the level of C02 in the air to just 350 parts per million gallons in the earth's atmosphere. This is what it would take for climate to become manageable and not lead to global warming which will cause unwanted global changes such as higher sea levels resulting from ice melting from the polar caps.

In anticipation of the Copenhagen climate event, 350.org was organized and marks October 24, 2009 as the International Day of Climate Action. Those who wish to participate in this worldwide undertaking can proceed to the 350.org website where they can start an "Action" or join one that's close to their area. They can then upload pictures and other media of their local event to show the world. Local events will appear on a map where the details may be viewed.



Join the No Impact Project, starting on October 19, 2009 and show the world what you're doing to lessen your carbon footprint!

Cow Dung Can Cool the Planet and Give Energy As Well

There are cows practically everywhere. Cows are an everyday source of meat and milk for people but not everything that comes out of it is appreciated by many. Take for instance cow dung. A lot of people would want to stay clear of it for obvious reasons. But the truth is that cow dung is really a good resource as good as milk. The reason is because cow dung burns well and long when dry. In fact, it's used by many cultures in cooking food. When cow dung burns, methane, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere, supposedly contributing to global warming.

So, if cow dung is supposed to contribute to climate change, how can farmers contribute to the prevention of global warming by using cow dung as fuel? The answer is to do so in a systematic and managed way that harvests the methane from the waste product to be used as fuel. Yes, methane is one of the fuels of choice of people and it's usually sourced elsewhere. Now, because of biofuel technology and techniques, cow dung can now be processed to produce the useful gas, which is stored, and not released in the atmosphere. It's one way farmers can create energy for their own farms as well as be producers for the country.

How cow urine used to make a softdrink in India.

Have fun with farm animals your own way! If you can't build a giant catapult to send them hurtling towards the other farm half-a-mile away, then you can do the next best thing, which is to buy this Cow Catapult Deluxe Set. Click here or on the image to purchase.

A Greener Home Begins in the Kitchen

by Virginia Ginsburg

Copyright (c) 2008 Virginia Ginsburg

There is a lot of information in the news today about global climate change and the challenges associated with it. The human race has always put a strain on natural resources, and for decades scientists have been concerned about the affect this has on the health of our planet, but at no time has it been the mainstream concern that it is today.

When we think of big concerns like the entire planet, it can be difficult to imagine how any single individual can make an impact, but the old adage of "think globally, act locally," has never been more appropriate. You can in fact make a difference in the world by making a few simple changes in your home to reduce your negative impact on the world.

1. Buy organic The US organic food community has been slowly building a multi-billion dollar alternative to industrial agriculture over the past three decades. In addition to some of the trail blazers, mainstream brands are also jumping on the bandwagon as they recognize consumers' demand for organic options. You can now find organic produce in most grocery stores. Remember that there are organic options for almost every item in your pantry, including staples like flour, pasta and canned goods, that can be produced without toxic pesticides.

2. Bigger packages; less packaging Whenever possible, buy products in bulk to avoid the plastic packaging that goes into most food items. The recent trend towards 100-calorie snack bags may be great for our waistlines, but it can increase the packaging of the same amount of product by 20 times. Instead, buy in bulk and repackage smaller quantities in reusable packaging. It ends up being a benefit to your wallet as well!

3. Recycle Many of the items used in the kitchen can be recycled, and it is a natural place in which to house your recycling bin. Most cities easily accept cans, bottles and paper products. Check your local recycling center for other packaging products like plastic and Styrofoam. Keep your recycling bin right next to your trash can, and always consider which bin it belongs in before automatically tossing it in the trash.

4. Use recycled products From paper towels, a staple in most kitchens, to paper napkins, paper plates and other paper-based materials, you can close the loop on your recycling efforts by choosing products made from recycled products. Recycled products are usually made up of a percentage of recycled content such as newspapers, and they work just as well as traditional products.

5. Green energy Your appliances can use a significant amount of electricity, so the next time that you are replacing them, look for the Energy Star seal, which means that the appliance has been certified to have a low rate of energy use. Also look into your lighting - if you have traditional incandescent bulbs, replace them with one of many energy saving alternatives. As with many "green" choices, you will save your wallet as well as the Earth!

6. Shopping bag savvy How much plastic do you waste every year by using shopping bags only once? You can reuse the free shopping bags that you get from the grocery store for years if you take care of them properly. When it comes to shopping bags, the options are many, and bags range from trendy to basic, from canvas to recycled plastic or even, in some cases, vintage clothing refashioned into stylish totes. Keep 5-10 in your car at all times, and, more importantly, use them!

If everyone in the U.S. took just one of these six steps, the damage that we are doing to our environment would be reduced. So think about it - what can you do today to make an impact on tomorrow?

About the Author

Virginia Ginsburg is an expert on green living and socially-conscious investing. In addition to writing about sustainable products, she runs Green Baby Gifts http://www.greenbabygiftsonline.com , which provides ready-to-go, beautiful gifts for new babies.

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