- As Environmental Briefs was going to press, scientists were continuing to review available data on the potential health effects of phthalate plasticizers in soft vinyl toys. However, both the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and a European scientific group recently supported the continued safe use of phthalates in these toys. The CPSC report released in December refused some calls for a ban or recall on phthalate-containing toys, citing the lack of evidence of any imminent risk to children. "Few, if any, children are at risk from (phthalates) because the children don't ingest enough of the chemical to rise to a harmful level," said CPSC Commissioner Ann Brown. "In fact, it doesn't even come close." More information on this developing issue can be obtained at www.vinyltoys.com.
EnVIronmental Briefs, December 1998
3.16.2004
3.15.2004
Indoor Agents, Not Plasticizers, Linked to Asthma
- A new study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies of Science discredits earlier claims that linked plasticizers in products like vinyl flooring and wallcovering to childhood asthma. Researchers found instead that cockroaches, cat dander and dust mites definitely make asthma worse, while other agents such as secondhand tobacco smoke aggravate symptoms in small children. They also found that exposure to dogs, mold and fungi and cold viruses exacerbate symptoms. Researchers placed plasticizers in the study's lowest category, saying they could find "inadequate or insufficient evidence" of a link. An earlier study had suggested a relationship between vinyl flooring and wallcovering and bronchial obstruction in children, but was criticized for not measuring exposure to other agents that are proven allergens, including those listed in this study. On the other hand, the research emphasizes that intensive cleaning may help alleviate asthma symptoms, suggesting a clear benefit to the use of vinyl flooring and wallcovering because they can be easily cleaned and do not trap dust and pet hair.
EnVIronmental Briefs, May 2000
EnVIronmental Briefs, May 2000
3.05.2004
Ohio EPA Police Blotter - Div. of Haz Waste reached a settlement with Kautex Inc.
Ohio EPA reached a settlement with Kautex Inc. for violations of
hazardous waste regulations and issued an administrative consent order
on March 3, 2004. The violations occurred at the company's facility
located at 474 South Nelson Avenue, Wilmington, Ohio. The settlement
includes a $77,550 civil penalty, of which $55,000 will be deposited
into the state's hazardous waste clean-up fund. In lieu of payment the
remaining $22,550 of the civil penalty settlement, Kautex will implement
a supplemental environmental project (SEP). You can view the consent
order on-line here
Thank you Eric Hendrickson. The above consent order link sends you to the
official notice of violation the company received. It reads as a good list of
things one ought not to do.
hazardous waste regulations and issued an administrative consent order
on March 3, 2004. The violations occurred at the company's facility
located at 474 South Nelson Avenue, Wilmington, Ohio. The settlement
includes a $77,550 civil penalty, of which $55,000 will be deposited
into the state's hazardous waste clean-up fund. In lieu of payment the
remaining $22,550 of the civil penalty settlement, Kautex will implement
a supplemental environmental project (SEP). You can view the consent
order on-line here
Thank you Eric Hendrickson. The above consent order link sends you to the
official notice of violation the company received. It reads as a good list of
things one ought not to do.
3.04.2004
What Is My Definition of Sustainability?
I was asked the question recently and quite honestly I choked. Not because I don't know what it is or how to define it, but because I like bits and pieces of so many different definitions and I attempted to reconstruct my definition on the spot. So to answer the question more formerly rather than in the middle of a heated discourse, I present to
you all -> the components of my idea of sustainability.
At first I liked the following:
Sustainability (as defined by first by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 and just recently adopted by the City of Seatle) -
"meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
This definition seems to confirm the foundational idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology upon the environments ability to meet both present and future needs.
But as many people have pointed out, we choose the wrong word to build a
movement about. Or did we? Well maybe. Its debatable but here's the thing...
Take into account the movements current momentum, and I feel that
if all we want is sustainability were not aiming high enough.
The best way I can depict this is to relay an old analogy I have heard
over and over again over the years (so its impossible to give
credit where credit is due). It goes like this:
What about a marriage or long term relationship.... if all you want for
that is to be 'sustainable', many feel something is wrong with your
outlook (and your significant other will probably agree [I polled my
wife to confirm this and she agreed]) !!
So based on that analogy, we need a new word. Now people say "Beyond
Sustainability" a lot, and call 2 conferences in 2 years that also. But if 98% of the
universe cant even spell the word, should we build upon the term or deconstruct, put it aside
and aim towards a better term?
more later.... . . . . .
you all -> the components of my idea of sustainability.
At first I liked the following:
Sustainability (as defined by first by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 and just recently adopted by the City of Seatle) -
"meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
This definition seems to confirm the foundational idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology upon the environments ability to meet both present and future needs.
But as many people have pointed out, we choose the wrong word to build a
movement about. Or did we? Well maybe. Its debatable but here's the thing...
Take into account the movements current momentum, and I feel that
if all we want is sustainability were not aiming high enough.
The best way I can depict this is to relay an old analogy I have heard
over and over again over the years (so its impossible to give
credit where credit is due). It goes like this:
What about a marriage or long term relationship.... if all you want for
that is to be 'sustainable', many feel something is wrong with your
outlook (and your significant other will probably agree [I polled my
wife to confirm this and she agreed]) !!
So based on that analogy, we need a new word. Now people say "Beyond
Sustainability" a lot, and call 2 conferences in 2 years that also. But if 98% of the
universe cant even spell the word, should we build upon the term or deconstruct, put it aside
and aim towards a better term?
more later.... . . . . .
The G8 in Evian, France.
What's happening in Geneva - the "City of Peace?"
Thank you's go out to CM at BSI for the great photo essay linkages.
Thank you's go out to CM at BSI for the great photo essay linkages.
2.24.2004
Extra! Extra! Newsprint is compostable.
Dear Umbra,
Two questions: Does the colored ink in newspapers still contain
chemicals bad for a compost pile? Also, what about the colored ink
printed on cardboard boxes? I want to have a safe compost pile to use in
a garden.
Anonymous
Dearest Mysterious Reader,
Some readers may find gardening questions in February a bit jarring. By
choosing to answer this one, I'm taunting those of you who don't live in
the Pacific Northwest. True, we may be moistly imprisoned under an
unrelenting steely sky, daylight may be a dim memory, and mildew may be
our constant companion, but at least we can consider composting in
February. Ahh, compost. So helpful in relieving seasonal affective
disorder.
Extra! Extra! Newsprint is compostable.
Pigments combine with a "vehicle" and a "binder" to create specific
inks for various printing projects. The pigment and the vehicle are the
bad boys. Paper composting and mulching is haunted by the specter of the
heavy metals used as pigment in commercial inks in the past. For years,
the vehicle was petroleum-based, but the industry is slowly switching
over to soy- or vegetable-based inks. However, inks labeled "soy-based"
are still permitted (and likely) to contain some amount of petroleum.
Pigments themselves still contain heavy metals such as zinc and copper,
although overall amounts of heavy metals have been reduced. Although
toxins are present in quite small amounts, all the sources I consulted
agreed that contemporary printed newsprint, including colored newsprint,
and cardboard boxes are safe for garden use. Glossy inserts, shiny ink
of any sort, magazines, and colored paper do not make appropriate
compost or mulch materials, due to a higher prevalence of toxics within
the paper and ink, and likelihood of "de-inking" (ink sliding off the
paper into your garden).
One further thing: If you're gardening in an urban or suburban area,
ink is a drop in the contamination bucket. It's far more likely that
your soil will be contaminated by other sources, such as lead paint,
pavement runoff, or car exhaust that washes from building walls into the
soil. Get your soil tested for heavy metals before food gardening and
avoid food gardening within 10 feet of a building. What is toxic is
often invisible to the eye.
Bariumly,
Umbra
We at Greenspieler really like Umbra. Thank you Umbra once again for imparting us with your wisdom!
Two questions: Does the colored ink in newspapers still contain
chemicals bad for a compost pile? Also, what about the colored ink
printed on cardboard boxes? I want to have a safe compost pile to use in
a garden.
Anonymous
Dearest Mysterious Reader,
Some readers may find gardening questions in February a bit jarring. By
choosing to answer this one, I'm taunting those of you who don't live in
the Pacific Northwest. True, we may be moistly imprisoned under an
unrelenting steely sky, daylight may be a dim memory, and mildew may be
our constant companion, but at least we can consider composting in
February. Ahh, compost. So helpful in relieving seasonal affective
disorder.
Extra! Extra! Newsprint is compostable.
Pigments combine with a "vehicle" and a "binder" to create specific
inks for various printing projects. The pigment and the vehicle are the
bad boys. Paper composting and mulching is haunted by the specter of the
heavy metals used as pigment in commercial inks in the past. For years,
the vehicle was petroleum-based, but the industry is slowly switching
over to soy- or vegetable-based inks. However, inks labeled "soy-based"
are still permitted (and likely) to contain some amount of petroleum.
Pigments themselves still contain heavy metals such as zinc and copper,
although overall amounts of heavy metals have been reduced. Although
toxins are present in quite small amounts, all the sources I consulted
agreed that contemporary printed newsprint, including colored newsprint,
and cardboard boxes are safe for garden use. Glossy inserts, shiny ink
of any sort, magazines, and colored paper do not make appropriate
compost or mulch materials, due to a higher prevalence of toxics within
the paper and ink, and likelihood of "de-inking" (ink sliding off the
paper into your garden).
One further thing: If you're gardening in an urban or suburban area,
ink is a drop in the contamination bucket. It's far more likely that
your soil will be contaminated by other sources, such as lead paint,
pavement runoff, or car exhaust that washes from building walls into the
soil. Get your soil tested for heavy metals before food gardening and
avoid food gardening within 10 feet of a building. What is toxic is
often invisible to the eye.
Bariumly,
Umbra
We at Greenspieler really like Umbra. Thank you Umbra once again for imparting us with your wisdom!
Umbra Answers All About Fabric Softener
Dear Umbra,
With winter upon us, I'm thinking about a serious matter: fabric
softener. During the summer, I don't use any. However, with snow
looming, static cling is on my mind. Long story short, which is better:
liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets?
Allie
Shippensburg, Penn.
Dearest Allie,
Your home will be a happier, healthier place if no fabric softener
darkens your dryer. Both liquid and sheet contain a stunning amount of
notoriously toxic chemicals, which often serve to make the softener
smell pretty. Turns out fragrances are usually composed of a witch's
brew of solvents -- which explains why some folks come over all funny in
the presence of artificial scents.
Quite a few of the fabric-softener solvents, particularly if exposed to
heat, are hazardous when inhaled or when they come into contact with
skin. A less-toxic solution is to add a cup of white vinegar during the
final rinse cycle in your washing machine. I also suspect that if you
don't overdry your clothing -- that is, if you pull it out of the dryer
when it's still slightly damp to the touch -- you'll get less static.
And I'd recommend switching to all-natural fabrics such as cotton.
Warmly,
Umbra
With winter upon us, I'm thinking about a serious matter: fabric
softener. During the summer, I don't use any. However, with snow
looming, static cling is on my mind. Long story short, which is better:
liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets?
Allie
Shippensburg, Penn.
Dearest Allie,
Your home will be a happier, healthier place if no fabric softener
darkens your dryer. Both liquid and sheet contain a stunning amount of
notoriously toxic chemicals, which often serve to make the softener
smell pretty. Turns out fragrances are usually composed of a witch's
brew of solvents -- which explains why some folks come over all funny in
the presence of artificial scents.
Quite a few of the fabric-softener solvents, particularly if exposed to
heat, are hazardous when inhaled or when they come into contact with
skin. A less-toxic solution is to add a cup of white vinegar during the
final rinse cycle in your washing machine. I also suspect that if you
don't overdry your clothing -- that is, if you pull it out of the dryer
when it's still slightly damp to the touch -- you'll get less static.
And I'd recommend switching to all-natural fabrics such as cotton.
Warmly,
Umbra
2.20.2004
Farmer's take heart from Prince's stand on GM crops
Farmer's take heart from Prince's stand on GM crops
Steve Dube, The Western Mail
WELSH FARMERS last night lent their support to Prince Charles's call for a GM-free Britain.
Organic farmer Tom Latter welcomed the Prince's contribution and said it was doubly important because he had been voted Farming Personality of the Year by Farmers Weekly magazine last year.
Full Text Here!!
Steve Dube, The Western Mail
WELSH FARMERS last night lent their support to Prince Charles's call for a GM-free Britain.
Organic farmer Tom Latter welcomed the Prince's contribution and said it was doubly important because he had been voted Farming Personality of the Year by Farmers Weekly magazine last year.
Full Text Here!!
A short course in proposal writing.
Haga click aquí para el curso en Español
Introduction
The subject of this short course is proposal writing. But the proposal does not stand alone. It must be part of a process of planning and of research on, outreach to, and cultivation of potential foundation and corporate donors.
This process is grounded in the conviction that a partnership should develop between the nonprofit and the donor. When you spend a great deal of your time seeking money, it is hard to remember that it can also be difficult to give money away. In fact, the dollars contributed by a foundation or corporation have no value until they are attached to solid programs in the nonprofit sector.
This truly is an ideal partnership. The nonprofits have the ideas and the capacity to solve problems, but no dollars with which to implement them. The foundations and corporations have the financial resources but not the other resources needed to create programs. Bring the two together effectively, and the result is a dynamic collaboration.
You need to follow a step-by-step process in the search for private dollars. It takes time and persistence to succeed. After you have written a proposal, it could take as long as a year to obtain the funds needed to carry it out. And even a perfectly written proposal submitted to the right prospect might be rejected for any number of reasons.
People Power: Capturing The Body's Energy For Work On and Off Earth
People Power: Capturing The Body's Energy For Work On and Off Earth
By Erik Baard
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 07:00 am ET
28 November 2001
Covert military operations and space shuttle missions are both burdened by the fact that they rely on an inefficient, energy-wasting machine: the human body. Considering one of the biggest logistical problems planners face is getting power to equipment in remote places like Afghanistan or the moon, researchers are devoting their efforts to cut some of those losses through "energy harvesting" from the human body.
If that gives you creepy images of people wired up as batteries a la "The Matrix," stop fretting. What NASA and the Pentagon want to do is scoop up electrons from what bodies in normal activity produce: heat, motion, flexing and stretching, compression, urine, and body heat. This is quite different from other human-powered schemes that take extra exertion, like spring or dynamo flashlights and radios that are wound-up by a special handle, flashlights that are squeezed by the user to generate charge, or flywheels that store energy from a cord that is pulled.
A simple version of a piezoelectric, energy-harvesting device, these sneakers broadcast a location signal while the wearer walks.
According to the Center for Space Power and Advanced Electronics, a NASA commercial center in Alabama, the human body is on average 15% fat, capable of producing 11,000 watt hours. When the average Joe eats his daily bread, he takes in 3,300 watt hours. The charge rate is about 7kW if the waiter starts pushing you out the door after a half hour lunch, according to the Center. "Clearly the amount of energy consumed by an individual is sufficient to provide power for electronic devices if a suitable method can be found to convert a small fraction of that energy to electricity," the Center concludes in a report on the subject.
Broken into usable terms, waiting to be harvested are 81 watts from a sleeping person, 128 from a soldier standing at ease, 163 from a walking person, 407 from a briskly walking person, 1,048 from a long-distance runner, and 1,630 from a sprinter, according to the center. But of course there’s not 100% capture. Body heat, for example, can only be converted with 3% efficiency with current thermoelectric materials.
Advances in nanotechnology and materials science are causing energy needs to drop at the same time production and transfer of it is increasing. The military applications are humble still, though, aimed at small gear like personal battery chargers, medical sensors, displays, gun sights, and range finders. Boots that turn the compression of a compound into voltage have already powered a radio, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. NASA is hoping to feed a range of body monitors, electronics and mission-specific devices. In the commercial sphere, companies are racing to power simple things like watches for now, with an eye to scaling up to handheld PDAs in the future.
Some of the most promising mechanisms for passively converting human body functions into electricity are:
Piezoelectric devices: Piezoelectric substances, like some ceramics, also generate electrical energy from mechanical strain but without the need for voltage to be applied. This well-understood material is the core of "heel strike" devices that generate electricity from walking. "Generating 1-2 watts per shoe is not out of the question. A major issue that remains is the durability of these devices," Dr. Robert J. Nowak, program manager for energy harvesting at Darpa, wrote to SPACE.com. Great for soldiers, bad for astronauts: "giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon."
Urine-based fuel cell: Yes, you can turn pee into power and not just by turning a turbine after a few beers. First subject urea to enzymatic hydrolysis to make carbon dioxide and ammonia, and then oxidize the ammonia to nitrogen and water. But the center notes that "one problem with the system is the need for alkaline conditions that may require transport of sodium hydroxide, a hazardous compound. Also, to achieve power generation in the range of 0.5 - 1W, a system to concentrate the breakdown products of urea, such as reverse osmosis, will be necessary." But for astronauts and soldiers on the run, "one attractive feature of this fuel cell concept is the production of water as a by-product of the system."
Inertial energy scavenging: You can own a piece of this technology already – some Seiko watches are powered by a weight that swings as you move, driving a tiny generator. No one expects to generate much electricity from these systems, but deployed in each element needing electricity they could do the trick in concert. Also, while gravity is absent in space, inertia is not.
People Power: Capturing The Body's Energy For Work On and Off Earth (cont.)
Electromagnetic generator: Large muscular groups (especially legs) can generate electricity by simple motions against gravity and small direct current permanent magnet motors. But the center cautions, "there is little or no efforts within the scientific community to design efficient small generators of the type needed for harvesting of human energy."
Thermoelectric materials: These materials convert body heat into electricity by using combinations of materials (metals or today, new ceramics) that are poor thermal conductors and good electrical conductors. When two of them at different temperatures come into contact, electrons migrate, charging a battery or creating usable current through something called the Seebeck Effect. The trouble is that you need great temperature differences to get significant energy, and "on Earth most places are pretty close to body temperature," notes Dr. Henry Brandhurst, director of the center. And what about in the cold depths of space? For the inner solar system at least, photovoltaic panels seem like a better bet, he says.
A simple version of a piezoelectric, energy-harvesting device, these sneakers broadcast a location signal while the wearer walks. Image courtesy the IEEE. Click to enlarge.
But that skepticism hasn’t slowed down efforts at NASA to improve the technology, and one company is already pushing it as an off-the-shelf product. Applied Digital Solutions is unveiling "Thermo Life." The company is "working closely with a watch manufacturer," says Keith Bolton, the chief technology officer. Already the technology has proven itself capable of keeping analog watches ticking, he reports.
And Dr. Rama Venkatasubramanian of the Research Triangle Institute reported in Nature this month a breakthrough in new materials that could double or triple the output of thermoelectric generators.
Electrostrictive polymers: These materials create charge when stretched after voltage is induced through them. No prototype has been made, and there are concerns about how quickly this material might wear out. But it does dovetail nicely with NASA’s conception of the spacesuit of the future, which will be skin tight to maintain mechanical pressure on blood systems in place of the ambient Earth air pressure replicated in "puffy" suits today.
Electrostatic force arrays: (Also called Integrated Force Arrays) A cousin of electrostrictive polymers, this is a new technology. It’s expensive and untested in power generating applications, or for simple durability.
Thank you w3.space.com , click here for full text @ site
By Erik Baard
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 07:00 am ET
28 November 2001
Covert military operations and space shuttle missions are both burdened by the fact that they rely on an inefficient, energy-wasting machine: the human body. Considering one of the biggest logistical problems planners face is getting power to equipment in remote places like Afghanistan or the moon, researchers are devoting their efforts to cut some of those losses through "energy harvesting" from the human body.
If that gives you creepy images of people wired up as batteries a la "The Matrix," stop fretting. What NASA and the Pentagon want to do is scoop up electrons from what bodies in normal activity produce: heat, motion, flexing and stretching, compression, urine, and body heat. This is quite different from other human-powered schemes that take extra exertion, like spring or dynamo flashlights and radios that are wound-up by a special handle, flashlights that are squeezed by the user to generate charge, or flywheels that store energy from a cord that is pulled.
A simple version of a piezoelectric, energy-harvesting device, these sneakers broadcast a location signal while the wearer walks.
According to the Center for Space Power and Advanced Electronics, a NASA commercial center in Alabama, the human body is on average 15% fat, capable of producing 11,000 watt hours. When the average Joe eats his daily bread, he takes in 3,300 watt hours. The charge rate is about 7kW if the waiter starts pushing you out the door after a half hour lunch, according to the Center. "Clearly the amount of energy consumed by an individual is sufficient to provide power for electronic devices if a suitable method can be found to convert a small fraction of that energy to electricity," the Center concludes in a report on the subject.
Broken into usable terms, waiting to be harvested are 81 watts from a sleeping person, 128 from a soldier standing at ease, 163 from a walking person, 407 from a briskly walking person, 1,048 from a long-distance runner, and 1,630 from a sprinter, according to the center. But of course there’s not 100% capture. Body heat, for example, can only be converted with 3% efficiency with current thermoelectric materials.
Advances in nanotechnology and materials science are causing energy needs to drop at the same time production and transfer of it is increasing. The military applications are humble still, though, aimed at small gear like personal battery chargers, medical sensors, displays, gun sights, and range finders. Boots that turn the compression of a compound into voltage have already powered a radio, according to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. NASA is hoping to feed a range of body monitors, electronics and mission-specific devices. In the commercial sphere, companies are racing to power simple things like watches for now, with an eye to scaling up to handheld PDAs in the future.
Some of the most promising mechanisms for passively converting human body functions into electricity are:
Piezoelectric devices: Piezoelectric substances, like some ceramics, also generate electrical energy from mechanical strain but without the need for voltage to be applied. This well-understood material is the core of "heel strike" devices that generate electricity from walking. "Generating 1-2 watts per shoe is not out of the question. A major issue that remains is the durability of these devices," Dr. Robert J. Nowak, program manager for energy harvesting at Darpa, wrote to SPACE.com. Great for soldiers, bad for astronauts: "giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon."
Urine-based fuel cell: Yes, you can turn pee into power and not just by turning a turbine after a few beers. First subject urea to enzymatic hydrolysis to make carbon dioxide and ammonia, and then oxidize the ammonia to nitrogen and water. But the center notes that "one problem with the system is the need for alkaline conditions that may require transport of sodium hydroxide, a hazardous compound. Also, to achieve power generation in the range of 0.5 - 1W, a system to concentrate the breakdown products of urea, such as reverse osmosis, will be necessary." But for astronauts and soldiers on the run, "one attractive feature of this fuel cell concept is the production of water as a by-product of the system."
Inertial energy scavenging: You can own a piece of this technology already – some Seiko watches are powered by a weight that swings as you move, driving a tiny generator. No one expects to generate much electricity from these systems, but deployed in each element needing electricity they could do the trick in concert. Also, while gravity is absent in space, inertia is not.
People Power: Capturing The Body's Energy For Work On and Off Earth (cont.)
Electromagnetic generator: Large muscular groups (especially legs) can generate electricity by simple motions against gravity and small direct current permanent magnet motors. But the center cautions, "there is little or no efforts within the scientific community to design efficient small generators of the type needed for harvesting of human energy."
Thermoelectric materials: These materials convert body heat into electricity by using combinations of materials (metals or today, new ceramics) that are poor thermal conductors and good electrical conductors. When two of them at different temperatures come into contact, electrons migrate, charging a battery or creating usable current through something called the Seebeck Effect. The trouble is that you need great temperature differences to get significant energy, and "on Earth most places are pretty close to body temperature," notes Dr. Henry Brandhurst, director of the center. And what about in the cold depths of space? For the inner solar system at least, photovoltaic panels seem like a better bet, he says.
A simple version of a piezoelectric, energy-harvesting device, these sneakers broadcast a location signal while the wearer walks. Image courtesy the IEEE. Click to enlarge.
But that skepticism hasn’t slowed down efforts at NASA to improve the technology, and one company is already pushing it as an off-the-shelf product. Applied Digital Solutions is unveiling "Thermo Life." The company is "working closely with a watch manufacturer," says Keith Bolton, the chief technology officer. Already the technology has proven itself capable of keeping analog watches ticking, he reports.
And Dr. Rama Venkatasubramanian of the Research Triangle Institute reported in Nature this month a breakthrough in new materials that could double or triple the output of thermoelectric generators.
Electrostrictive polymers: These materials create charge when stretched after voltage is induced through them. No prototype has been made, and there are concerns about how quickly this material might wear out. But it does dovetail nicely with NASA’s conception of the spacesuit of the future, which will be skin tight to maintain mechanical pressure on blood systems in place of the ambient Earth air pressure replicated in "puffy" suits today.
Electrostatic force arrays: (Also called Integrated Force Arrays) A cousin of electrostrictive polymers, this is a new technology. It’s expensive and untested in power generating applications, or for simple durability.
Thank you w3.space.com , click here for full text @ site
1.30.2004
Ohio lakefront at risk due to pending legislation. Enjoy shore access? Better listen up and read about House Bill 218. Thanks toEcocitycleveland.org for the story.
KeySpan To Maintain Aquarium Fuel Cell.Business Wires
BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-
KeySpan (NYSE: KSE) has been selected to maintain and service the PC25C(TM) fuel cell power plant installed by the New York Power Authority at the New York Aquarium, in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
The PC25(TM) is a 200-kilowatt natural-gas-powered fuel cell manufactured by UTC Fuel Cells, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Two such PC25s provide electric power for the NASDAQ sign's home, the Durst Organization flagship at Four Times Square, also known as the Conde Nast building. The building is a 48-story office tower, located on Broadway between 42nd Street and 43rd Street, in Manhattan.
"Fuel cells are extremely reliable, efficient, and clean, and will play an increasingly large role in meeting America's energy needs," said Robert B. Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation. "KeySpan is particularly well-positioned to take advantage of this growing market. KeySpan has compiled an impressive track record in maintaining and servicing PC25 fuel cells in the New York metropolitan area, and enjoys a terrific relationship with UTC, the principal manufacturer of commercial fuel cells in North America."
Full Text: Right Here, Right Now.
BROOKLYN, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-
KeySpan (NYSE: KSE) has been selected to maintain and service the PC25C(TM) fuel cell power plant installed by the New York Power Authority at the New York Aquarium, in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
The PC25(TM) is a 200-kilowatt natural-gas-powered fuel cell manufactured by UTC Fuel Cells, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Two such PC25s provide electric power for the NASDAQ sign's home, the Durst Organization flagship at Four Times Square, also known as the Conde Nast building. The building is a 48-story office tower, located on Broadway between 42nd Street and 43rd Street, in Manhattan.
"Fuel cells are extremely reliable, efficient, and clean, and will play an increasingly large role in meeting America's energy needs," said Robert B. Catell, Chairman and CEO of KeySpan Corporation. "KeySpan is particularly well-positioned to take advantage of this growing market. KeySpan has compiled an impressive track record in maintaining and servicing PC25 fuel cells in the New York metropolitan area, and enjoys a terrific relationship with UTC, the principal manufacturer of commercial fuel cells in North America."
Full Text: Right Here, Right Now.
Sustainable retail markets: Forestry companies must prove their wood is harvested to certain environ
Sustainable retail markets: Forestry companies must prove their wood is
harvested to certain environmental standards
The Gazette, 24 January 2004 -
Home Depot claims to be the world's largest home-improvement retailer.
So it's not surprising that environmental groups targeted the company,
demanding to know if wood in Home Depot's aisles came from responsibly
managed forests. "We were accused at some points of being the largest
destroyer of the world's forests," said Ron Jarvis, vice-president for
lumber merchandising for Atlanta-based Home Depot. The retailer had a
moment of reckoning in the late-1990s, when it realized it didn't know
where its wood was coming from, he said.
Two years after that, Home Depot adopted a purchasing policy aimed at
buying wood from sustainable forests.
With $58.2 billion U.S. in total sales in fiscal 2002, Home Depot
carries a lot of clout.
For forest companies worldwide, the pressure is on to provide proof
their wood is harvested to certain environmental standards.
Certification of those standards through outside audits is becoming an
inescapable cost of doing business in global markets. It is also
becoming an integral part of overall corporate image management.
Bruce McIntyre heads the sustainable solutions practice for Canada of
consulting and auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Aside from advising forestry companies on strategic issues, PWC
performs certification audits, although it doesn't do both for the same
companies.
"The real benefit (of certification) is market access, for example, as
a preferred supplier," McIntyre said. "More and more customers have
purchasing policies."
For publicly owned forestry companies though, making the expensive
investment in certification is a balancing act.
"Shareholder returns are important, so the question for management is
to balance the costs vs. the benefits," McIntyre said.
The choice of standard is equally loaded. Companies must pick a
standard that suits their operations from a technical point of view. But
since they are competing for the public's "environmental vote," as
McIntyre puts it, they must also pick a standard that is recognized and
effectively marketed.
There are several global forestry certification standards, but three
predominate in North America.
The CSA standard was developed by the Canadian Standards Association.
Its defining feature is public involvement in land-use questions. The
vast majority of harvesting in Canada takes place on public land. The
American Forest & Paper Association developed the SFI standard. Some
observers say it is most appropriate in the U.S., where most working
forests are privately owned.
The FSC standard was instituted by the Forest Stewardship Council, a
diverse global group made up of environmentalists, the timber trade,
labour groups, professional foresters and indigenous peoples. The FSC
standard puts a lot of emphasis on environmental and social issues.
There is overlap between the standards - most deal with biodiversity,
forest regeneration, soil and water quality and protection of wildlife.
In January 2002, the Forest Products Association of Canada announced
that its members, 30 of the country's largest producers of pulp, paper
and wood products, would have to adhere to one of the three standards by
the end of 2006. FPAC estimates that its members control about 75 per
cent of the managed forests in Canada.
Jean-Pierre Martel, vice-president for sustainability for FPAC, said
the cost of certification will be about $100 million over five years for
FPAC members. The cost of the initial and continuing audits account for
the smaller portion of the price tag, McIntyre said.
The bigger chunk consists of items like staff time and changing
marketing programs.
Martel agrees certification is being driven by environmental groups and
customers, from construction companies to retailers.
"About 80 per cent of production in Canada is exported, so
certification is a question of access to markets," said Martel.
FPAC plays up its member-companies' move to embrace certification, but
some countries, in particular Sweden, already certify most of their
forest practices, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Steven Price,
director of forests and trade for the Canadian branch of the World
Wildlife Fund, applauds FPAC's commitment to certification. FSC is not
the most widely used of the three standards in Canada in terms of area
(CSA ranks first, SFI second), but it is the fastest growing, according
to Price. And, for the WWF, the gold standard of certification is FSC.
The organization prefers FSC because a broad range of stakeholders sets
its standards, it has performance goals vs. merely process goals and it
emphasizes protecting forests, Price said.
While forestry companies have not been able to count on price premiums
for certified products, contrary to what had been predicted, Price sees
wide-ranging benefits to certification. Market share and avoiding
boycotts are just two. Other benefits include employee motivation. "Your
employees don't want to be seen as bad guys ruining the forest," Price
said.
With the rigorous FSC standard gaining ground and industry consulting
environmentalists, Price sees a turning point in the making. "The
forestry industry has a chance to take a huge step forward if they meet
these standards," he said
Thank you Lexis Nexus and WBCSD
harvested to certain environmental standards
The Gazette, 24 January 2004 -
Home Depot claims to be the world's largest home-improvement retailer.
So it's not surprising that environmental groups targeted the company,
demanding to know if wood in Home Depot's aisles came from responsibly
managed forests. "We were accused at some points of being the largest
destroyer of the world's forests," said Ron Jarvis, vice-president for
lumber merchandising for Atlanta-based Home Depot. The retailer had a
moment of reckoning in the late-1990s, when it realized it didn't know
where its wood was coming from, he said.
Two years after that, Home Depot adopted a purchasing policy aimed at
buying wood from sustainable forests.
With $58.2 billion U.S. in total sales in fiscal 2002, Home Depot
carries a lot of clout.
For forest companies worldwide, the pressure is on to provide proof
their wood is harvested to certain environmental standards.
Certification of those standards through outside audits is becoming an
inescapable cost of doing business in global markets. It is also
becoming an integral part of overall corporate image management.
Bruce McIntyre heads the sustainable solutions practice for Canada of
consulting and auditing firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
Aside from advising forestry companies on strategic issues, PWC
performs certification audits, although it doesn't do both for the same
companies.
"The real benefit (of certification) is market access, for example, as
a preferred supplier," McIntyre said. "More and more customers have
purchasing policies."
For publicly owned forestry companies though, making the expensive
investment in certification is a balancing act.
"Shareholder returns are important, so the question for management is
to balance the costs vs. the benefits," McIntyre said.
The choice of standard is equally loaded. Companies must pick a
standard that suits their operations from a technical point of view. But
since they are competing for the public's "environmental vote," as
McIntyre puts it, they must also pick a standard that is recognized and
effectively marketed.
There are several global forestry certification standards, but three
predominate in North America.
The CSA standard was developed by the Canadian Standards Association.
Its defining feature is public involvement in land-use questions. The
vast majority of harvesting in Canada takes place on public land. The
American Forest & Paper Association developed the SFI standard. Some
observers say it is most appropriate in the U.S., where most working
forests are privately owned.
The FSC standard was instituted by the Forest Stewardship Council, a
diverse global group made up of environmentalists, the timber trade,
labour groups, professional foresters and indigenous peoples. The FSC
standard puts a lot of emphasis on environmental and social issues.
There is overlap between the standards - most deal with biodiversity,
forest regeneration, soil and water quality and protection of wildlife.
In January 2002, the Forest Products Association of Canada announced
that its members, 30 of the country's largest producers of pulp, paper
and wood products, would have to adhere to one of the three standards by
the end of 2006. FPAC estimates that its members control about 75 per
cent of the managed forests in Canada.
Jean-Pierre Martel, vice-president for sustainability for FPAC, said
the cost of certification will be about $100 million over five years for
FPAC members. The cost of the initial and continuing audits account for
the smaller portion of the price tag, McIntyre said.
The bigger chunk consists of items like staff time and changing
marketing programs.
Martel agrees certification is being driven by environmental groups and
customers, from construction companies to retailers.
"About 80 per cent of production in Canada is exported, so
certification is a question of access to markets," said Martel.
FPAC plays up its member-companies' move to embrace certification, but
some countries, in particular Sweden, already certify most of their
forest practices, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Steven Price,
director of forests and trade for the Canadian branch of the World
Wildlife Fund, applauds FPAC's commitment to certification. FSC is not
the most widely used of the three standards in Canada in terms of area
(CSA ranks first, SFI second), but it is the fastest growing, according
to Price. And, for the WWF, the gold standard of certification is FSC.
The organization prefers FSC because a broad range of stakeholders sets
its standards, it has performance goals vs. merely process goals and it
emphasizes protecting forests, Price said.
While forestry companies have not been able to count on price premiums
for certified products, contrary to what had been predicted, Price sees
wide-ranging benefits to certification. Market share and avoiding
boycotts are just two. Other benefits include employee motivation. "Your
employees don't want to be seen as bad guys ruining the forest," Price
said.
With the rigorous FSC standard gaining ground and industry consulting
environmentalists, Price sees a turning point in the making. "The
forestry industry has a chance to take a huge step forward if they meet
these standards," he said
Thank you Lexis Nexus and WBCSD
Environment: Action Plan to Reconcile Green and Industrial Concerns
Environment: Action Plan to Reconcile Green and Industrial Concerns
European Report, 28 January 2004 - Boosting economic growth without
playing havoc with the environment is not a lost cause: one strategy is
to develop and promote greener technologies. This is the thrust of a
European Commission proposal to launch an Environmental Technologies
Action Plan (ETAP).
Due to be officially unveiled in a Commission Communication issued on
January 28, the 10-point plan is divided into three major categories.
The planned measures range from market research, to creating suitable
market conditions and acting on a global scale. The action plan is
expected to require a budget of some Euro 23.676 million over the
2004-2008 period: 1.58 million for DG Environment-related schemes and
22.096 million for those emanating from DG Research. It is scheduled to
be presented to the March 25/26 EU Summit in Brussels, as part of the
debate on meeting the Lisbon Strategy targets and the application of the
European Sustainable Development Strategy agreed on during the
Gothenburg Summit in Sweden in June 2001.
Environmental technologies include all technologies whose use is less
environmentally harmful than relevant alternatives. They encompass
technologies and processes to manage pollution (e.g. air pollution
control, waste management), less polluting and less resource-intensive
products and services and ways to manage resources more efficiently
(e.g. water supply, energy-saving technologies). Thus defined, they
pervade all economic activities and sectors, where they often cut costs
and improve competitiveness by reducing energy and resource consumption,
and so generate fewer emissions and less waste. This Environmental
Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) therefore aims to harness their full
potential to reduce pressures on our natural resources, improve the
quality of life of European citizens and stimulate economic growth. It
is based on the recognition that encouraging the choice of advanced
environmental technologies in all investment and purchasing decisions
will go some way towards realising this potential, thus widening their
market and reducing their cost.
EU's global responsibility.
The EU also shares responsibility for the global environment because,
just as the resources it uses are not limited to those from Europe, nor
are its negative environmental impacts. The European Commission stresses
how Europe has shown leadership in international policies for
sustainable development, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the ten-year
framework of programmes for sustainable production and consumption
established at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Well targeted, Europe's potential for innovation can help develop
technologies that other countries may need to develop their economies,
while reducing environmental degradation. Other countries are also
developing these technologies, says the Commission and maintaining EU
leadership will require increased effort but will, in turn, consolidate
its strong position to argue for serious efforts by other countries to
provide a continued drive for sustainable development.
thank you world buisness council for sustainable development (WBCSD) -
full story @
http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&DocId=3802
European Report, 28 January 2004 - Boosting economic growth without
playing havoc with the environment is not a lost cause: one strategy is
to develop and promote greener technologies. This is the thrust of a
European Commission proposal to launch an Environmental Technologies
Action Plan (ETAP).
Due to be officially unveiled in a Commission Communication issued on
January 28, the 10-point plan is divided into three major categories.
The planned measures range from market research, to creating suitable
market conditions and acting on a global scale. The action plan is
expected to require a budget of some Euro 23.676 million over the
2004-2008 period: 1.58 million for DG Environment-related schemes and
22.096 million for those emanating from DG Research. It is scheduled to
be presented to the March 25/26 EU Summit in Brussels, as part of the
debate on meeting the Lisbon Strategy targets and the application of the
European Sustainable Development Strategy agreed on during the
Gothenburg Summit in Sweden in June 2001.
Environmental technologies include all technologies whose use is less
environmentally harmful than relevant alternatives. They encompass
technologies and processes to manage pollution (e.g. air pollution
control, waste management), less polluting and less resource-intensive
products and services and ways to manage resources more efficiently
(e.g. water supply, energy-saving technologies). Thus defined, they
pervade all economic activities and sectors, where they often cut costs
and improve competitiveness by reducing energy and resource consumption,
and so generate fewer emissions and less waste. This Environmental
Technologies Action Plan (ETAP) therefore aims to harness their full
potential to reduce pressures on our natural resources, improve the
quality of life of European citizens and stimulate economic growth. It
is based on the recognition that encouraging the choice of advanced
environmental technologies in all investment and purchasing decisions
will go some way towards realising this potential, thus widening their
market and reducing their cost.
EU's global responsibility.
The EU also shares responsibility for the global environment because,
just as the resources it uses are not limited to those from Europe, nor
are its negative environmental impacts. The European Commission stresses
how Europe has shown leadership in international policies for
sustainable development, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the ten-year
framework of programmes for sustainable production and consumption
established at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Well targeted, Europe's potential for innovation can help develop
technologies that other countries may need to develop their economies,
while reducing environmental degradation. Other countries are also
developing these technologies, says the Commission and maintaining EU
leadership will require increased effort but will, in turn, consolidate
its strong position to argue for serious efforts by other countries to
provide a continued drive for sustainable development.
thank you world buisness council for sustainable development (WBCSD) -
full story @
http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&DocId=3802
1.22.2004
THE BIG APPLE OF OUR EYE
World Trade Center Reconstruction Will Set New Eco-Friendly Standard
Reconstruction of New York City's World Trade Center area -- site of
the 2001 terrorist attacks -- is set to make a green splash as one of
the largest eco-friendly building projects ever undertaken. Under
environmental guidelines expected to be released today for public
comment, new structures on the massive site (which will contain as
much commercial space as the city of Indianapolis) would have, among
other features, roofs that catch rainwater for use in toilets and in
efficient cooling systems. The guidelines would also encourage
builders to use renewable and recycled materials, recycle
construction wastes, and use cleaner fuels in construction equipment
and trucks. "We're talking about building an environmentally
sensitive city. That's never been done before," said Daniel Tishman,
chair of a construction company doing work at the site. Enviros in
the city plan to push for even higher standards than those laid out
in the guidelines.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Anthony DePalma, 20 Jan 2004
World Trade Center Reconstruction Will Set New Eco-Friendly Standard
Reconstruction of New York City's World Trade Center area -- site of
the 2001 terrorist attacks -- is set to make a green splash as one of
the largest eco-friendly building projects ever undertaken. Under
environmental guidelines expected to be released today for public
comment, new structures on the massive site (which will contain as
much commercial space as the city of Indianapolis) would have, among
other features, roofs that catch rainwater for use in toilets and in
efficient cooling systems. The guidelines would also encourage
builders to use renewable and recycled materials, recycle
construction wastes, and use cleaner fuels in construction equipment
and trucks. "We're talking about building an environmentally
sensitive city. That's never been done before," said Daniel Tishman,
chair of a construction company doing work at the site. Enviros in
the city plan to push for even higher standards than those laid out
in the guidelines.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Anthony DePalma, 20 Jan 2004
BUBBLICIOUS
Scientists Consider Funky Plans to Avert Climate Change
Plans to slow global warming once dismissed as, well, loopy need to
be taken seriously, concluded scientists at a conference on climate
change in Cambridge, U.K. The proposed schemes can be divided into
two families -- they aim either to capture greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide to prevent their buildup in the atmosphere, or to
shield the planet from solar radiation. The first category includes
plans to sprinkle the oceans with iron to absorb CO2 or bury
compressed CO2 underground. The second category -- which found more
favor with scientists -- includes more fanciful proposals such as
using thousands of bubble-making machines to create bigger, more
reflective clouds or (we kid you not) sending billions of tiny silver
balloons into the atmosphere to reflect the sun's light. When an
alien civilization reconstructs the events that led to humanity's
demise, we here at Grist hope that our balloon-bedecked planet
convinces them that, however short-sighted, we had a good sense of
humor.
straight to the source: The Boston Globe, Fred Pearce, 20 Jan 2004
Scientists Consider Funky Plans to Avert Climate Change
Plans to slow global warming once dismissed as, well, loopy need to
be taken seriously, concluded scientists at a conference on climate
change in Cambridge, U.K. The proposed schemes can be divided into
two families -- they aim either to capture greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide to prevent their buildup in the atmosphere, or to
shield the planet from solar radiation. The first category includes
plans to sprinkle the oceans with iron to absorb CO2 or bury
compressed CO2 underground. The second category -- which found more
favor with scientists -- includes more fanciful proposals such as
using thousands of bubble-making machines to create bigger, more
reflective clouds or (we kid you not) sending billions of tiny silver
balloons into the atmosphere to reflect the sun's light. When an
alien civilization reconstructs the events that led to humanity's
demise, we here at Grist hope that our balloon-bedecked planet
convinces them that, however short-sighted, we had a good sense of
humor.
straight to the source: The Boston Globe, Fred Pearce, 20 Jan 2004
THE BIG APPLE OF OUR EYE
World Trade Center Reconstruction Will Set New Eco-Friendly Standard
Reconstruction of New York City's World Trade Center area -- site of
the 2001 terrorist attacks -- is set to make a green splash as one of
the largest eco-friendly building projects ever undertaken. Under
environmental guidelines expected to be released today for public
comment, new structures on the massive site (which will contain as
much commercial space as the city of Indianapolis) would have, among
other features, roofs that catch rainwater for use in toilets and in
efficient cooling systems. The guidelines would also encourage
builders to use renewable and recycled materials, recycle
construction wastes, and use cleaner fuels in construction equipment
and trucks. "We're talking about building an environmentally
sensitive city. That's never been done before," said Daniel Tishman,
chair of a construction company doing work at the site. Enviros in
the city plan to push for even higher standards than those laid out
in the guidelines.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Anthony DePalma, 20 Jan 2004
only in Grist: The rebuilt World Trade Center complex could be a
model of sustainable building -- in Powers That Be
thank you grist!
World Trade Center Reconstruction Will Set New Eco-Friendly Standard
Reconstruction of New York City's World Trade Center area -- site of
the 2001 terrorist attacks -- is set to make a green splash as one of
the largest eco-friendly building projects ever undertaken. Under
environmental guidelines expected to be released today for public
comment, new structures on the massive site (which will contain as
much commercial space as the city of Indianapolis) would have, among
other features, roofs that catch rainwater for use in toilets and in
efficient cooling systems. The guidelines would also encourage
builders to use renewable and recycled materials, recycle
construction wastes, and use cleaner fuels in construction equipment
and trucks. "We're talking about building an environmentally
sensitive city. That's never been done before," said Daniel Tishman,
chair of a construction company doing work at the site. Enviros in
the city plan to push for even higher standards than those laid out
in the guidelines.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Anthony DePalma, 20 Jan 2004
only in Grist: The rebuilt World Trade Center complex could be a
model of sustainable building -- in Powers That Be
thank you grist!
1.14.2004
Genetically Engineered Crops Up 15 Percent
Wednesday, January 14, 2004Page A-2
Biotechnology
Genetically Engineered Crops Up 15 Percent;
China, South Africa Report Biggest Increases
A total of 167.2 million acres of genetically engineered crops were
planted around the world in 2003, an increase of roughly 15
percent from the year before, according to a report released Jan. 13 by
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, South Africa, and the United
States are the leading growers of the genetically engineered crops,
responsible for about 99 percent of the bioengineered crops grown around the
world, according to the report.
China and South Africa reported the largest increases in 2003,
with both nations planting one-third more hectares than in 2002, according
to the report. A hectare equals 2.47 acres.
In the United States, crop acreage devoted to genetically
modified crops increased 10 percent, "a result of significant gains in [the]
biotech corn area and continued growth in biotech soybeans," the report said.
About 63 percent of the world's bioengineered crops are raised in
the United States. A total of 105.7 million acres of genetically
modified soybeans, corn, and cotton were grown in the United States in
2003, the report said.
The ISAAA report said 2003 was the seventh consecutive year of
double-digit growth in the planting of such bioengineered crops
(12 DEN A-12, 01/17/03 ). The International Service for the Acquisition
of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is an industry-funded effort
that works to bolster biotechnology in developing nations, with centers
based in the Philippines, Kenya, and the United States.
Soybeans Lead Other Crops
The report, Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops:
2003, said the leading bioengineered crops worldwide are soybeans, which
increased nearly 13 percent to 102.2 million acres grown in 2003. Soybeans
were followed by genetically modified corn, which increased 25 percent
to a total of 38.3 million acres, and modified canola, which increased
20 percent for a total of 8.9 million acres.
Crops of bioengineered cotton increased 6 percent worldwide, for
a total of 9.7 million acres, the report said.
Genetically engineered versions of those crops still represent a
minorityof total crops grown worldwide, according to figures in the
report, with the exception of bioengineered soybeans, which now account for 55
percent of the global soybean crop. For corn, bioengineered versions
account for 11 percent of the global crop, while the modified canola
represents 16 percent of that global total.
The report predicts the global market value of genetically
engineered crops will increase from approximately $4.5 billion in 2004 to $5
billion or more by 2005.
The report is available at http://www.isaaa.org on the World Wide
Web.
Biotechnology
Genetically Engineered Crops Up 15 Percent;
China, South Africa Report Biggest Increases
A total of 167.2 million acres of genetically engineered crops were
planted around the world in 2003, an increase of roughly 15
percent from the year before, according to a report released Jan. 13 by
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications.
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, South Africa, and the United
States are the leading growers of the genetically engineered crops,
responsible for about 99 percent of the bioengineered crops grown around the
world, according to the report.
China and South Africa reported the largest increases in 2003,
with both nations planting one-third more hectares than in 2002, according
to the report. A hectare equals 2.47 acres.
In the United States, crop acreage devoted to genetically
modified crops increased 10 percent, "a result of significant gains in [the]
biotech corn area and continued growth in biotech soybeans," the report said.
About 63 percent of the world's bioengineered crops are raised in
the United States. A total of 105.7 million acres of genetically
modified soybeans, corn, and cotton were grown in the United States in
2003, the report said.
The ISAAA report said 2003 was the seventh consecutive year of
double-digit growth in the planting of such bioengineered crops
(12 DEN A-12, 01/17/03 ). The International Service for the Acquisition
of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is an industry-funded effort
that works to bolster biotechnology in developing nations, with centers
based in the Philippines, Kenya, and the United States.
Soybeans Lead Other Crops
The report, Global Status of Commercialized Transgenic Crops:
2003, said the leading bioengineered crops worldwide are soybeans, which
increased nearly 13 percent to 102.2 million acres grown in 2003. Soybeans
were followed by genetically modified corn, which increased 25 percent
to a total of 38.3 million acres, and modified canola, which increased
20 percent for a total of 8.9 million acres.
Crops of bioengineered cotton increased 6 percent worldwide, for
a total of 9.7 million acres, the report said.
Genetically engineered versions of those crops still represent a
minorityof total crops grown worldwide, according to figures in the
report, with the exception of bioengineered soybeans, which now account for 55
percent of the global soybean crop. For corn, bioengineered versions
account for 11 percent of the global crop, while the modified canola
represents 16 percent of that global total.
The report predicts the global market value of genetically
engineered crops will increase from approximately $4.5 billion in 2004 to $5
billion or more by 2005.
The report is available at http://www.isaaa.org on the World Wide
Web.
12.13.2003
Some times we are equally fond of old news.
Shell Establishes Center for Sustainability at Rice University
HOUSTON (July 25, 2002)— The Shell Oil Company Foundation today announced the establishment of the Shell Center for Sustainability at Houston's Rice University with a $3.5 million endowment. The Center will be a hub for collaboration by experts dealing with societal and environmental issues arising as a result of economic activities. The Center will foster opportunities for improvement through new technologies, market-based incentives, and other initiatives.
"We share with Rice University a commitment to finding innovative ways to meet the world's present and future needs," said Philip Watts, chairman of the committee of managing directors of Royal Dutch/Shell. "Shell believes it has a role to play in helping address the fundamental challenges facing society today."
"We would like Shell to play its part toward solutions for today's challenges," Watts said. "We believe corporate decision-making should be a critical component of the world's journey toward a sustainable future, and the foundation of this center demonstrates Shell's commitment to play a meaningful role in promoting understanding and employment of sustainable development principles in corporate decisions."
"We are immensely grateful to the Shell Oil Company Foundation for its generous grant to establish the Shell Center for Sustainability at Rice," said Rice President Malcolm Gillis. "Rice has long been committed to interdisciplinary research and practice as a strategy for improving social, environmental and economic welfare. Shell's commitment to exploring sustainability strategies across many academic and business disciplines together with its consistent support for sustainable development worldwide provides this new center with a foundation of creative and credible leadership in the field."
This Center will be characterized by its focus on encouraging:
Collaboration across disciplines because by its nature sustainable development requires integrated solutions;
Collaboration among business leaders, academia, non-government organizations, and senior policy advisors to move constructively from conflict to consensus on a variety of social, economic, and environmental issues facing the world.
The specific objectives of the Shell Center aim to:
Create new technologies, processes, products, and market mechanisms that will advance sustainable economic growth and a sound public infrastructure;
Develop new tools in engineering, the social sciences, and the natural sciences that enhance the understanding of requirements for sustainability, help remove institutional barriers to sensible environmental and social practices, and contribute to new policy instruments for achieving sustainability;
Provide society with broadly educated environmental, technical, and natural resource experts to mold future decision-making in the private and public sectors to help assure a more sustainable future in both developed and developing nations;
Enhance the exchange of information in the public and private sectors by serving as an independent forum for open discussion and constructive dialogue on sustainable development issues and policies across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including U.S. and international business leaders, academia, NGOs, and senior policy makers;
Research issues posed by environmental and societal impacts arising from economic activities;
Develop new engineering and scientific curricula to educate a new generation of scientists who will incorporate sustainability concepts into business plans, designs, and processes;
Advance thinking around market-based mechanisms that can be deployed to enhance sustainability;
Develop linkages with other institutions and non-government organizations at a local, regional, national, and international level.
###
About Shell Oil Company Foundation
Founded in New York in 1953, the Shell Oil Company Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by donations from Shell Oil Company. Its mission is to help foster the general well being of communities where Shell people live and work, and to provide educational opportunities that prepare students and faculty to meet the needs of the workplace.
Thank You Shell US
Shell Establishes Center for Sustainability at Rice University
HOUSTON (July 25, 2002)— The Shell Oil Company Foundation today announced the establishment of the Shell Center for Sustainability at Houston's Rice University with a $3.5 million endowment. The Center will be a hub for collaboration by experts dealing with societal and environmental issues arising as a result of economic activities. The Center will foster opportunities for improvement through new technologies, market-based incentives, and other initiatives.
"We share with Rice University a commitment to finding innovative ways to meet the world's present and future needs," said Philip Watts, chairman of the committee of managing directors of Royal Dutch/Shell. "Shell believes it has a role to play in helping address the fundamental challenges facing society today."
"We would like Shell to play its part toward solutions for today's challenges," Watts said. "We believe corporate decision-making should be a critical component of the world's journey toward a sustainable future, and the foundation of this center demonstrates Shell's commitment to play a meaningful role in promoting understanding and employment of sustainable development principles in corporate decisions."
"We are immensely grateful to the Shell Oil Company Foundation for its generous grant to establish the Shell Center for Sustainability at Rice," said Rice President Malcolm Gillis. "Rice has long been committed to interdisciplinary research and practice as a strategy for improving social, environmental and economic welfare. Shell's commitment to exploring sustainability strategies across many academic and business disciplines together with its consistent support for sustainable development worldwide provides this new center with a foundation of creative and credible leadership in the field."
This Center will be characterized by its focus on encouraging:
Collaboration across disciplines because by its nature sustainable development requires integrated solutions;
Collaboration among business leaders, academia, non-government organizations, and senior policy advisors to move constructively from conflict to consensus on a variety of social, economic, and environmental issues facing the world.
The specific objectives of the Shell Center aim to:
Create new technologies, processes, products, and market mechanisms that will advance sustainable economic growth and a sound public infrastructure;
Develop new tools in engineering, the social sciences, and the natural sciences that enhance the understanding of requirements for sustainability, help remove institutional barriers to sensible environmental and social practices, and contribute to new policy instruments for achieving sustainability;
Provide society with broadly educated environmental, technical, and natural resource experts to mold future decision-making in the private and public sectors to help assure a more sustainable future in both developed and developing nations;
Enhance the exchange of information in the public and private sectors by serving as an independent forum for open discussion and constructive dialogue on sustainable development issues and policies across a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including U.S. and international business leaders, academia, NGOs, and senior policy makers;
Research issues posed by environmental and societal impacts arising from economic activities;
Develop new engineering and scientific curricula to educate a new generation of scientists who will incorporate sustainability concepts into business plans, designs, and processes;
Advance thinking around market-based mechanisms that can be deployed to enhance sustainability;
Develop linkages with other institutions and non-government organizations at a local, regional, national, and international level.
###
About Shell Oil Company Foundation
Founded in New York in 1953, the Shell Oil Company Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that is funded by donations from Shell Oil Company. Its mission is to help foster the general well being of communities where Shell people live and work, and to provide educational opportunities that prepare students and faculty to meet the needs of the workplace.
Thank You Shell US
12.05.2003
we here at the greenspieler dont usually source news from the christian science monitor.. because as a general rule... we dont understand the 'science' the christians monitor. of course that being said... we are all on the same page with the following story.
ANGLERS NOT OBTUSE
Dismayed by Enviro Policies, Some Anglers and Fishers Turn Against Bush
Put President Bush in waders or camouflage and, what with his cowboy
hat and rugged Western looks, he could easily grace the cover of
Field & Stream. Yet the hunt-and-fish crowd, normally a loyal
constituency of the Republican Party, is increasingly unhappy with
the commander in chief. The president's efforts to roll back
protections for clean water and open wild areas to industrial uses
are drawing fire from hunters and anglers, who rely on protected
areas to enjoy their chosen pastimes. Their displeasure could be a
problem for the prez in '04, given that some 34 million Americans
fish and 13 million hunt. In a startling example of their
discontentment, hundreds of gun clubs recently signed a petition
asking the Bush administration to keep Clinton-era old-growth-forest
protections in place.
Get to the whole text Christian Science Monitor, Todd Wilkinson, 04 Dec 2003
Thank you Christian Science Monitor
ANGLERS NOT OBTUSE
Dismayed by Enviro Policies, Some Anglers and Fishers Turn Against Bush
Put President Bush in waders or camouflage and, what with his cowboy
hat and rugged Western looks, he could easily grace the cover of
Field & Stream. Yet the hunt-and-fish crowd, normally a loyal
constituency of the Republican Party, is increasingly unhappy with
the commander in chief. The president's efforts to roll back
protections for clean water and open wild areas to industrial uses
are drawing fire from hunters and anglers, who rely on protected
areas to enjoy their chosen pastimes. Their displeasure could be a
problem for the prez in '04, given that some 34 million Americans
fish and 13 million hunt. In a startling example of their
discontentment, hundreds of gun clubs recently signed a petition
asking the Bush administration to keep Clinton-era old-growth-forest
protections in place.
Get to the whole text Christian Science Monitor, Todd Wilkinson, 04 Dec 2003
Thank you Christian Science Monitor
12.03.2003
STARLINK TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION
Banned Biotech Corn Variety Still Showing Up in U.S. Food Supplies
Genetically engineered StarLink corn is still contaminating U.S. food
supplies, three years after it was pulled from the market. StarLink,
which produces its own pesticide, was approved in 1998 -- but only
for use in animal feed or industrial processes because of concerns
that it might cause severe allergic reactions in humans. In 2000,
though, it was found to have made its way into numerous consumer
products, ranging from taco shells to muffin mixes, so the U.S.
government rescinded its approval. Unfortunately, that didn't quite
do the trick. The feds continue to find traces of StarLink in corn
supplies; more than 1 percent of samples tested in the past 12 months
revealed StarLink contamination. The lingering modified genes are
bolstering fears that the U.S. government is simply not equipped to
effectively regulate and control the spread of genetically engineered
crops -- a particularly worrisome notion now that field tests are
being conducted on crops that produce vaccines, medicines, and
industrial chemicals.
Thank you Daily Grist!
full text here
Banned Biotech Corn Variety Still Showing Up in U.S. Food Supplies
Genetically engineered StarLink corn is still contaminating U.S. food
supplies, three years after it was pulled from the market. StarLink,
which produces its own pesticide, was approved in 1998 -- but only
for use in animal feed or industrial processes because of concerns
that it might cause severe allergic reactions in humans. In 2000,
though, it was found to have made its way into numerous consumer
products, ranging from taco shells to muffin mixes, so the U.S.
government rescinded its approval. Unfortunately, that didn't quite
do the trick. The feds continue to find traces of StarLink in corn
supplies; more than 1 percent of samples tested in the past 12 months
revealed StarLink contamination. The lingering modified genes are
bolstering fears that the U.S. government is simply not equipped to
effectively regulate and control the spread of genetically engineered
crops -- a particularly worrisome notion now that field tests are
being conducted on crops that produce vaccines, medicines, and
industrial chemicals.
Thank you Daily Grist!
full text here
11.25.2003
ANENOME MINE
Fluorescent Fish Will Become First Genetically Engineered Pet in U.S.
If genetically engineered food ruffles your feathers, get a load of
this: The nation's first genetically altered pet, a glow-in-the-dark
tropical zebra fish, made its public debut on Friday. Developed by a
Texas company and intended to be sold for about $5 a pop in pet
stores, the patented GloFish owe their red fluorescence to a gene
transferred from a sea anemone. The fish were originally engineered
to detect environmental toxins, but have now been licensed to be sold
as pets. A coalition of enviro groups is arguing that the fish
should be reviewed by federal regulators before being sold because
they could upset the ecological balance of waterways if people dump
out their aquariums. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
charged with regulating genetically engineered animals intended for
the food supply, but its role in relation to ornamental fish is
unclear. Meanwhile, researchers are working on other genetically
engineered pets, including an allergen-free cat.
straight to the source: New York Times, Andrew Pollack, 22 Nov 2003
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Kenneth R. Weiss, 22 Nov 2003
Fluorescent Fish Will Become First Genetically Engineered Pet in U.S.
If genetically engineered food ruffles your feathers, get a load of
this: The nation's first genetically altered pet, a glow-in-the-dark
tropical zebra fish, made its public debut on Friday. Developed by a
Texas company and intended to be sold for about $5 a pop in pet
stores, the patented GloFish owe their red fluorescence to a gene
transferred from a sea anemone. The fish were originally engineered
to detect environmental toxins, but have now been licensed to be sold
as pets. A coalition of enviro groups is arguing that the fish
should be reviewed by federal regulators before being sold because
they could upset the ecological balance of waterways if people dump
out their aquariums. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is
charged with regulating genetically engineered animals intended for
the food supply, but its role in relation to ornamental fish is
unclear. Meanwhile, researchers are working on other genetically
engineered pets, including an allergen-free cat.
straight to the source: New York Times, Andrew Pollack, 22 Nov 2003
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Kenneth R. Weiss, 22 Nov 2003
11.04.2003
HOLLOW WEENIES
EPA Won't Restrict Use of Potentially Harmful Weed Killer
Talk about scary stuff: On Oct. 31, as people across the U.S. were
getting ready to don costumes and pass out Halloween candy, the Bush
administration announced that it would not impose new restrictions on
the commonly used herbicide atrazine, which has been associated with
low sperm counts and prostate cancer in men and sex-organ deformities
in frogs. The European Union recently decided to ban atrazine, but
the U.S. EPA said on Friday that it saw no grounds for restricting
the chemical's use. The agency did announce a new plan for testing a
handful of waterways for atrazine, but that testing will be done by
the primary manufacturer of the chemical, Syngenta, a large
agribusiness company. "Instead of requiring a polluter to stop
polluting, EPA is cutting a deal with the corporation to let them off
the hook," said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Emily Green, 01 Nov 2003
EPA Won't Restrict Use of Potentially Harmful Weed Killer
Talk about scary stuff: On Oct. 31, as people across the U.S. were
getting ready to don costumes and pass out Halloween candy, the Bush
administration announced that it would not impose new restrictions on
the commonly used herbicide atrazine, which has been associated with
low sperm counts and prostate cancer in men and sex-organ deformities
in frogs. The European Union recently decided to ban atrazine, but
the U.S. EPA said on Friday that it saw no grounds for restricting
the chemical's use. The agency did announce a new plan for testing a
handful of waterways for atrazine, but that testing will be done by
the primary manufacturer of the chemical, Syngenta, a large
agribusiness company. "Instead of requiring a polluter to stop
polluting, EPA is cutting a deal with the corporation to let them off
the hook," said Erik Olson of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Emily Green, 01 Nov 2003
EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE
Bush Administration Plans to Ease Sewage-Treatment Rules
More disease-carrying microbes from doo-doo could contaminate U.S.
waterways, lakes, and coastlines if the Bush administration proceeds
with plans to loosen sewage-treatment requirements. This week, the
U.S. EPA intends to unveil a proposed rule change that would let many
communities skip a sewage-treatment step after storms cause an
increased flow of wastewater; the public will have 60 days to comment
on the proposal. Many local sewage-treatment plants don't have the
capacity to handle storm-water surges and it would cost billions to
make upgrades at these facilities. But the looser rules would lead
to more viruses and parasites in water, says Nancy Stoner of the
Natural Resources Defense Council, a group that's pushing for the
federal government to help communities boost capacity at the nation's
sewage plants.
straight to the source: USA Today, Peter Eisler, 03 Nov 2003
Bush Administration Plans to Ease Sewage-Treatment Rules
More disease-carrying microbes from doo-doo could contaminate U.S.
waterways, lakes, and coastlines if the Bush administration proceeds
with plans to loosen sewage-treatment requirements. This week, the
U.S. EPA intends to unveil a proposed rule change that would let many
communities skip a sewage-treatment step after storms cause an
increased flow of wastewater; the public will have 60 days to comment
on the proposal. Many local sewage-treatment plants don't have the
capacity to handle storm-water surges and it would cost billions to
make upgrades at these facilities. But the looser rules would lead
to more viruses and parasites in water, says Nancy Stoner of the
Natural Resources Defense Council, a group that's pushing for the
federal government to help communities boost capacity at the nation's
sewage plants.
straight to the source: USA Today, Peter Eisler, 03 Nov 2003