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.

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The Green Effect: Help Some Environmentalist Get $20,000 in Funding

Green Effect is a venture of Sun Chips and National Geographic. The aim of the program is to give $20,000 to an environmentalist to serve as funding for a vote-winning environmental project. The whole thing is intended to promote community green movements. Green Effect had asked Americans to submit unique ideas that would contribute to efforts in saving the earth. Over 2,500 ideas were received by the organizers.

Now, there are ten finalists who are revealed on July 7, 2009. Through votes, people can help determine one who's deserving to get the $20,000 and help make the planet a better place to live in. The judges (Edward Norton [he's been going green, lately], Jayni Chase, Boyd Matson, Phaedra Ellis Lamkins, and Dave Haft) will then choose four more who will also receive the same prize money. Once the winners are chosen, they would then all have the chance to present their ideas in Washington D.C. and be featured in National Geographic Magazine.

Lake Baikal Environmentalist Awarded Eco Prize

Lake Baikal (left) is a very geologically important lake in Siberia. It is the oldest and deepest in the world with indigenous species living in it's environs like the Omul fish. It is 1.5 kilometers deep and regularly belches out methane, a greenhouse gas that creates what are called ice rings kilometers across that are visible from space.

Lake Baikal faces threats from a number of industries, primarily mining and fishing (left). But there is another threat and it takes the form of a uranium enrichment plant. Environmentalist Marina Rikhvanova has campaigned for the stoppage of the construction of the factory. She believes that the radioactive material involved will eventually be released into the lake in an accident that will be waiting to happen once the facility is up and running.

Rikhvanova's efforts have earned her the Goldman Environmental Prize and has raised awareness on the plight of the lake which is technically protected by a UNESCO declaration. It's officially a World Heritage Site.

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Biodegradable Plastic Products May Help Ease the Landfill Problem

Plastics are useful, but they comprise much of the waste that end up in landfills. Plastics are non-biodegradable and when they do disintegrate in time, they produce toxic byproducts. So it's a good thing that researchers are now making plastics that degrade.

Biodegradable plastics can be made from plant material that naturally decompose. For example, cornstarch-based eating utensils are now being sold to backpackers and campers. Other products use molasses and other sugars. The Coca-Cola company, for example, has released a plastic bottle made of such natural ingredients to allow it to degrade in time or when exposed to certain environmental factors.

Other plastics integrate a biodegradable compound called PLGA, which allows plastic products to degrade in seawater in as fast as twenty days. Polymer researcher Robson Storey says that it's science project that will make plastics more sustainable, especially when used in the sea. Currently, there is a law against plastics being disposed on in the sea, but this new plastic may require it to be rewritten.



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Environmental Awareness Is One Thing... True Action Is Another

Well, there was Earth Day and lots of activities were launched. Some were actually earth-serving, but some may have been just self-serving, capitalizing on the interest people have about the environment and how to preserve it. But whether truly dedicated to the cause or not, most of the activities, such as the switching off of lights, served more to promote environmental awareness rather than action. For the most part, they only reached people who were already educated enough to know better. Those who did not have access to media and the news were likely unaffected because they did not know what it was all about in the first place.

The result was that those people who weren't reached by such environmental campaigns and news still continued on with their unacceptable behavior towards the environment, which can be as basic as littering (left pic from Graphic Reflections). It was also likely that a big percentage of the people who were exposed to such campaigns and were educated enough to know better, likely did nothing, content with letting those in public office to do what they were paid to do.

It's been almost 20 years since people first saw green and began movements for a better earth with sustainable industries that produced less environmental impact. But in that span of time, we can only name a few significant changes in the way we use technology and live our lives that really matter (e.g., alternative sources of energy, energy-efficient homes, and laws limiting emissions). But if you look around, you will see that a lot still needs to be done, and this is in both developing and advanced nations (e.g., chemical contamination of groundwater, vehicular greenhouse gas emissions, and non-sustainable landfills).

In spite of the efforts put into environmental awareness and news campaigns, there is still a much-needed lack of action in order for a lot of the wrongs being done to the earth to be corrected and rectified. Arguments as to the cause of changes like global warming are also not particularly helpful, but the fact remains that the North Pole is melting and breaking apart and that the polar bears are in danger of being extinct, and that coastal villages are being swallowed by the sea. Sure there's awareness about all of these, but are people really doing something? Are the campaigns targeting the right people? Are humans content to accept the changes on the earth and just let their grandchildren deal with them?

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What Happened to the Old-Fashioned Paper Bag?

Has anyone noticed how grocery stores, supermarkets, and fast-foods are now using non-biodegradable containers and bags these days? There was a time when everybody used paper bags. Then, there was less trash to throw out and paper bags also had the appeal of being useful as wrappers, compared to plastic bags and Styrofoam containers that are usually ended up in the waste bin after having served their purpose as containers of commodities.

While useful, non-biodegradable plastic bags and Styrofoam containers only add to the tons of waste sent to landfills everyday, and we all know that landfills have limited capacities. In many countries, particularly those that do not have the advanced technology collection and recycling facilities, some plastics and Styrofoam tend to stay in the environment for quite a long time - give or take a thousand years - creating environmental eyesores, chemical byproducts, and plenty of rubbish that do harm to both plant and animal life.

Paper bags, although arguably also damaging to the environment due to the source of the material, can be brought back to being popular for the simple reason that they produce less impact on the environment and are in fact environment-friendly for the most part. Bringing them back into the public consciousness will solve a big part of the problem of having to deal with waste material that's not recycled. The fibers for the paper can also be sourced from tree farms or farm plant fibers (like from corn and other grains) that are both easy harvested and are sustainable. This way, old-growth forests aren't affected. It's just a suggestion that has widespread effects on businesses, but it's really high time to get the old-fashioned paper bag back.



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Consumer Choices Affect Our Environment

by Carey Mason

It is a well known fact that our actions affect our environment and that it is our responsibility to care for the world we live in. Many times people feel that this is a problem for corporations and government to handle, but can a single individual really make a difference?

The answer of course is "YES." A single individual can make a difference through their actions as a consumer and a recycler. Choices made when purchasing and using products do affect the environment around us. Being aware of packaging and concentration of those products can make a huge difference. The difference is being environmentally friendly.

Buying from a company that is Carbon Neutral shows a concern for the planet. One such company has been nationally recognized by Oprah, Racheal Ray, The Today Show, Good Morning America and many national publications as being environmentally conscious and carbon neutral. That company is Shaklee.

http://www.shaklee.net/carymason/prodHou

Shaklee has been around for over 52 years and has always had a major focus on caring for the earth and for people. Products such as Shaklee's well know Basic H has long been admired for it's cleaning power, while remaining biodegradable, non toxic and free of chemicals. These features of course are great for the planet, but also for the person using the product.

An example of how Basic H is good for the environment is that its super concentrated solution comes in one small bottle that would be the equivalent of 728 bottles of one nationally recognized window cleaning product. The purchase of one bottle of Basic H can effectively eliminate over 700 bottles from landfills. Think of how much money that saves consumers, buying one bottle rather than 728!

When cleaners are free of chemicals, perfumes, and toxins, they are not only ridding the home of germs and dirt, but also keeping the home free from the poisons of chemicals and toxins that are found in many common household cleaners.

Doing what is right for the environment of the planet and for the people in it is one of the best choices a consumer can make. Everyone of us has a responsibility to care for the world we live in and the choices made at home is one of the best places to start. Start now being environmentally friendly through your actions.

http://www.shaklee.net/carymason/prodHou

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Cary Mason http://mysite.verizon.net/res0ndam/goldenticket/ carysmemories@msn.com 805-518-9052

About the Author

The health of our environment is a top issue that the people of the world are dealing with today. Actions of individuals as consumers can make a difference. Consumers need to be environmentally friendly.

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Preserve the Environment - Save Our Planet

by Shania Scott

The expression "Natural Environment" generally includes all living and non-living things that exist naturally on our planet. All flora, fauna, and rock formations are included in the natural environment. Therefore, the environmentalists and wild-life activists have launched a campaign for the conservation of the natural environment and the protection of the living organisms on it. There are various environmental causes such as waste management, biodiversity and wild life protection, and the air and water pollution. The fight against pollution has gained considerable momentum especially since the high levels of pollution have resulted in various ailments and diseases in human beings.

Environmentalists from different parts of the world have come together to save the earth. They realize that water and other resources on earth are limited and it is essential to manage them well. Various political parties in different countries fight for environmental causes. In the US, the Green Party has become extremely popular because of its efforts in this area. It was only after Ralph Nader ran for president when the Green party gained prominence in the domestic political scene. You can support this party by wearing Green Party shirts in various designs and styles. This party should do reasonably well in the next presidential elections.

As an environmentalist, I have worked hard for these noble causes as well. I definitely agree with the idea of wearing items of clothing to promote the various green causes. I select many of these excellent T-shirts from reliable sites like cafepress.com.

About the Author

Cafepress has got a wide range of T-Shirts with social messeges printed on them. Some of the cool sayings on these environment T-Shirts include "Have you hugged a tree today," "Reduce. Reuse. Recycle;" and "She's a planet not a trash can." These Oil T-Shirts could also express views on the alarming rise of oil prices worldwide.

Kyle Massey of "Zoey 101" on saving the planet, as interviewed by brother Chris Massey

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Save Money with Eco Friendly Driving

by Paul McIndoe

The credit crunch and fuel prices have rarely been out of the news recently. When you combine this with the stark environmental warnings regarding CO2 emissions, it puts motorists under more pressure, both in terms of finance and conscience.

Clearly it's just not practical for everyone to use public transport on a daily basis, so when you have to use your own car or a work vehicle, there are a number of steps you can make to your driving style that can help the environment and your wallet at the same time.

Eco-friendly driving is a term that's been used more frequently in recent years. It covers a whole range of different aspects that are easy to implement into your daily journeys. The first of these is driving at a more even speed. Every day on the roads you'll see people in urban areas accelerating harshly only to be stopped in their tracks by a set of traffic lights around the corner or a vehicle that's obeying the limit. This rapid burst of speed of course means that they have to use their brakes more fiercely than normal too. Driving in this way only ever really achieves two things: wasting fuel and wearing down your car's controls.

Driving at a consistent and even speed whenever possible results in less CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere as well as preserving your fuel and brake components. By planning ahead and anticipating both the conditions and other road users, you can tailor your speed accordingly and also be in a position to brake more evenly and progressively rather than slamming them on at the last available moment.

There are other simple eco-friendly driving habits you can adopt, such as ensuring you're in the correct gear for your speed, changing into neutral when you've stopped at traffic lights - even switching off your engine if you're in a jam, and it's clear you won't be moving for a few minutes. Other things like driving with weight in the boot that you don't need to be carrying, poorly inflated tyres, and even having the radio on when you're not even listening to it will all increase your fuel consumption and the more you use, the more your emissions will be.

Another area where you can make a significant environmental impact is by switching fuels. Regardless of what fuel your vehicle uses just now, you can have it converted to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG and petrol. By using LPG you will cut down your emissions considerably and without affecting the performance and miles per gallon rate. Changing your vehicle to one with a smaller engine, can also help with emissions and put a smile on your face when buying road tax or getting a car insurance quote.

These are just some of the key areas where you can improve your driving, help the environment and save yourself money too. By implementing these small steps, you can bring about a lot of positive changes.

About the Author

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

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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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Say No to Paper or Plastic- Go Green!

by Suzanne Macguire

Environmental degradation is one of the greatest causes of concern spearing up its head these days. A little cooperation on our part can work wonders to save the environment. Cooperation can begin at individual level by ensuring that the articles of daily use are environmental-friendly. Research suggests that almost 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed and discarded annually worldwide! This is alarming indeed as plastic bags are not biodegradable- they break up into smaller toxic particles, contaminating both soil and water. So the next time the clerk at your favorite grocery store asks whether you prefer paper or plastic, give an environmental-friendly answer by choosing "neither".

People, in general, are under the misconception that paper bags are better than the plastic ones. But this alternative carries its own set of environmental problems. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, in 1999 the U.S. alone used 10 billion paper grocery bags- which adds up to a lot of trees! This is no good news for environmental activists who promote afforestation and tree-saving tactics.

The solution to this problem lies in the use of high quality reusable bags, emitting no residue to harm the environment during its production and can be easily reused. These bags are usually comprised of 80% post-consumer waste. Reusable grocery bags have a washable surface and are more spacious. Fashion conscious people can also take their pick of the wide range of eco-friendly bags available in soft and natural hues. These bags use natural fibers, which consume less energy during the production process. For instance, corn-based bags break down in landfills or composters in four to twelve weeks. This way the environment is kept safe of the disastrous hazards of plastic bags.

A number of eco-friendly companies have now come up with unique reusable bags- thereby acting as tools for increasing popular awareness for saving the environment from artificial hazards. These ethical alternatives can thus be a life-saving effort, not just for a few but for the multitude!

About the Author

Suzanne Macguire is an expert writer and an environmental activist, promoting the use of reusable shopping bags.

You can also find the article here http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/article.cfm?articleid=375719

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Shopping Without Shopping Bags - The Eco Friendly Alternatives

by Victor Epand

On an average, every person who goes shopping is given 280 carrier bags every year. That's almost 17,000 bags each in our lifetime, and what do we do with them all? Sadly the vast majority simply get thrown away. It takes about 20 years for a plastic bag to decompose. What were you doing twenty years ago? Did you buy something from a shop? It may well be that the shop you visited no longer exists, the items you bought long forgotten, but the plastic carrier bag is still sitting somewhere, a part of the natural environment we have created. This means that for every adult alive today there are 5,600 plastic carrier bags waiting to decompose. That's a horrible thought, and it's facts like these which can make us sit up and think about what we are doing to help or hinder this situation.

Last year, enough carrier bags were disposed of in the UK to weigh as much as 70,000 cars, and this is going on year after year. Yet all it really takes is a little thought. If each one of us spent a little extra time thinking about this problem it would be drastically reduced. Reusable carrier bags are available, and it is estimated that a cloth bag can save as much as 1,000 plastic carrier bags - or nearly four years' worth per person.

Shops pass the cost of these free carrier bags on to us as consumers, so we are paying the price in both monetary terms, and environmental terms, for our laziness and ignorance. Often we are handed our groceries in a carrier bag without so much as a thought by either the shop assistant or ourselves. I bought a chocolate bar the other day from my local supermarket, and they handed it to me in a plastic carrier bag! I took it out and handed the bag back to them; they almost seemed astonished that I wouldn't need a bag for my 'shopping'. What really got to me was that this particular chain of supermarkets is supposed to be having a drive on carrier bags, and only the day before I got given a free fridge magnet to remind me to take a reusable carrier bag with me to get my shopping to help save on unnecessary plastic ones. It seemed pretty clear that complacency and habit had overtaken any real concern for such initiatives.

The thing is, we don't see the animals in the wild chocking to death on the plastic rubbish we discard. We are blind to the oceans of plastic rubbish retched over the landscape and rotting in to the natural habitats of the creatures we are supposedly so fond of. Perhaps if these images were made more obvious we would be less complacent. I wonder how people would react if supermarkets printed pictures of animals chocking to death on plastic on the side of these carrier bags? Unlikely to ever become a popular marketing ply, but it's worth thinking about, not because other people should know better, but because we ourselves should accept that we are part of the problem.

Ironically, the supermarkets unpack the goods on their shelves from cardboard boxes, then crush and destroy these boxes, whilst handing out free plastic bags for us to repackage the good into. Using a cardboard box is much sturdier, more environmentally friendly, and can be re-used and recycled. Cloth bags can make a huge difference. Instead of 17,000 plastic bags we could easily get away with just 15 cloth bags in our lifetime. In addition to which, the cloth breaks down into harmless substances very quickly. It's worth a thought, isn't it?

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about luggage, cruises, hotels, and shopping. You will find the best marketplace for luggage, cruises, hotels, and shopping at these sites for bags, luggage, hotels, cruise, and shopping, bags, cloth bags.