Algae - Fuel Source

That pond scum might just save the planet.

I had no idea this is possible and that research on algae as alternative fuel source has been on going for the past 50 years. Necessity is really the mother of invention as environmental engineers from the University of Virginia are embarking on further studies on Algae as biofuel.

Algae, the ubiquitous organism that can grow almost anywhere that has water, produces oil during photosynthesis.

And there's more. According to ScienceDaily, algae can also help clean the environment:

On top of those advantages, algae — at least in theory — should grow even better when fed extra carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) and organic material like sewage. If so, algae could produce biofuel while cleaning up other problems.

It's a boost to our industrial ecologists to persist in finding ways to improve waste reduction and pollution prevention at the same time providing an alternative source of energy.

I'll leave the chemistry of algae to the scientists. For more information, check the U.Va article and this interesting site with a catchy name- Oilgae.com which has everything you need to know about algae and oil production.

New Earth Rising: Call for Submissions of Original Green Writing

Ecological Internet, the world's leading provider of environmental portals including http://www.ClimateArk.org/ and http://Forests.org/, will soon launch a new Internet e-zine entitled "New Earth Rising". The publication will be committed to biocentric thought, and promote sufficient ecological sustainability solutions to pressing global ecological crises. Today they announce they are accepting submissions for publication.

New Earth Rising will build upon years of ecological sustainability writings and actions on the web by Ecological Internet. In 1995 they introduced the world's first and longest continually running blog, and their President, Dr. Glen Barry, was the writer of the critically acclaimed and recently concluded "Earth Meanders" series of personal essays.

"I would like to appeal to our large international network -- including established and new environmental writers, scholars and activists -- for submissions. New Earth Rising will provide a unique opportunity to link what you know regarding the true extent of global ecological crises, with specific personal and social transformations necessary to achieve global ecological sustainability," explains Dr. Barry, New Earth Rising's editor.

New Earth Rising's editorial tone will strongly favor truthful ecological writings regarding global eco-crises, identifying necessary and sufficient solutions, and organizing action for their implementation. Submissions should be personal essays of 2-4 pages in length, and need not be scholarly and footnoted, but must be well-researched, informed and passionate.

The publication will be grounded in the ethics of biocentrism, deep ecology and political ecology. It will emphasize the need for ecological science and rationalism in formulating environmental public policy; examination of the seriousness of ecological and related social issues; propose necessary, sufficient and workable solutions involving global citizens,society and governments; and be skeptical regarding secular and religious ideologies.

The e-zine will initially publish bi-monthly, and also track other leading environmental writings elsewhere on the web. Initially essays will not be compensated, but will highlight the author's work to a large international audience. Please contact Dr. Barry with questions and submissions.

New Earth Rising -- http://www.NewEarthRising.org/
Biocentric thought regarding the magnitude of global
ecological crises and sufficient responses to achieve
global ecological sustainability

Contact:
Dr. Glen Barry, glenbarry@ecologicalinternet.org
+1 920 776 1075