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

Growing and still Growing

Population growth can be linked to the world's pollution problems. Managing one's carbon footprint is already a big deal what more adding a set of footprints everyday. Although conservation, environmental protection and awareness are regularly being discussed, the developments accomplished can be easily eroded if the population isn't managed.

People consume power and as population increases, the amount of energy consumed also increases. Overpopulation can be linked to the oil crisis. The biggest consumers of oil are the most populated countries. "Yes, we eat oil," according to a blogger from sustainablog.

Focusing on consumption over population and vice versa is not a solution to the problem. Managing both, experts say, is what the world needs. Clearly however, environmental-awareness efforts are partly solving the earth's problems.

According to GIM(Growth is Madness),

Here too, cleaner technologies will be an essential part of the solution. Moreover, the specter of climate change has brought about a new level of public awareness of the role of per capita energy use. We can hope this will slow rising energy consumption levels, at least somewhat. Clearly, though, it is imperative that we address our population growth as well if we are to have any hope of achieving ecological sustainability in the future.

There are more than 6 Billion people on the planet. Based on studies, the number will increase to 9 Billion. Of all the proposed solutions, education seems to be the most feasible one. A UN report affirms this in one of its recommendations: "The higher payoff to schooling in urban than rural areas is a key factor in inducing the migration of the better educated. In countries where economic growth has been moderate or strong, urban returns to schooling have been maintained, profoundly influencing decisions about investing on children’s schooling and family size.(85)" Well-managed urbanization, according to the report can alleviate the problems on poverty as well as population.

The rich source of knowledge and information shared on the Web on the population issue is an indicator of the need to provide the world with enough references on the matter. Education starts with the spreading of information. Education, it seems, is a good solution.

Bicycle Qs

How often do you ride a bicycle? This question from Mother Earth News propels this post.
I had to spend minutes to recall the last time I rode a bike. The answer: 2 months ago for leisure.

The question really makes sense. With the rising petrol prices, it's time people rethink their means of transportation. Riding bicycles is one of the best ways to reduce one's carbon footprint and to get a good exercise.

Guilt strikes me everyday. I drive to work and consume around a gallon (close to 4 liters). I catch myself checking the gauge and calculating how much money I lose as my fuel evaporates.

And I don't have much of a choice. Public transportation is not an alternative where I live and with the distance of the office from home, so is riding a bike.

I envy those who can choose. Those whose offices are minutes away from their homes or better yet those whose offices are in their homes!

Ride that bicycle.

Do you have one? In case you don't, here are other questions on how to choose a bike:

So, why do you want to ride — to exercise, commute to work, run errands or just for leisure? Where do you want to ride — potholed city streets, open roads, gravel bike trails, maybe a mix of environments? Finally, how do you like to ride — in an upright position, leisurely paced or always leaning forward, in race mode wherever you go?

(from Mother Earth News)