| ecology |
europe's politicians continue to destroy cod stocks for politics and profit
This report is light weight, butis the best I have so far
found on this latest European political sell-out.
“The 25 fisheries ministers of the European Union have rejected
a plan to close areas of the North Sea to cod fishing. And for the fifth
year running they have ignored scientists' pleas to stop cod fishing in
the North Sea entirely, instead allowing a catch for 2005 of 27,300 tonnes,
the same as 2004.
“ "You really have to ask if the ministers are serious about
saving the cod," says Charlotte Mogensen, a marine biologist working
with WWF, the Worldwide Fund for Nature, in Brussels, Belgium. Scientists
fear that without drastic action, cod might disappear in the North Sea as
it did in the 1990s off Newfoundland."
Those making most fuss against the necessary cuts were
apparently the UK and France, with most others keeping their heads down with
the exception of the Baltic states .
In case of you are unaware, reducing days of fishing does
not tend to reduce the devastation because of an arms race for more efficient
killing vessels ensues, and because of much cheating. Conservation zones are
vital.
for a general survey, read
The
end of the line 
related
material
The tragedy of the commons, short briefing document
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#euro_fish311204 |
advertising
disclaimer
advertising
disclaimer
advertising
disclaimer |
destroyer
toad invasion now closing in on darwin
“Cane toads were first introduced into Queensland in 1935, to control
beetles that were ravaging the sugar harvest. But the toads found other
invertebrates more to their taste, and have since competed vigorously with
native insectivores. They have also defeated most of their predators; the
bulging poison glands behind their eyes mean that a first encounter with
a cane toad is often the last.”
—
“ Another project in the same area will examine the toads' appetite
for invertebrates. One of Shine's undergraduate students, Matt Greenlees,
has built a series of small metal enclosures in which he plans to put toads,
to see how much damage they inflict on populations of insects and other
invertebrates. Once the toads have colonized the Fogg Dam area, he will
clear the enclosures and maintain them as toad-free habitats.”
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#canetoad_invasion211204 |
growing
moves to declare ocean reserves
you should be informed –
“One-third of the world's oceans should be declared protected areas
to stop the wholesale slaughter of fish species, an influential group of
scientists said on Tuesday."
—
“ Around the world there's evidence that creating marine reserves
-- areas where fishing is not allowed -- leads to a several fold increase
in the size and number of fish, shellfish and other animals," commission
chairman Tom Blundell said.
“A third of the Great Barrier Reef is closed to fishing and countries
like New Zealand and South Africa have plans to designate between 10 and
20 percent of their marine environment as reserves," he added.
“But they were the exception, leaving only a minuscule fraction of
the world's oceans protected from the depredations of commercial fishing.
“The commission said the move was affordable, citing figures that
suggested closing 30 percent of the world's oceans would cost up to 7.5
billion pounds ($14.5 billion) a year compared to the 16 billion pounds
spent subsidising commercial fishing."
—
“ The commission, though, said single-species conservation programmes
were no longer enough.”
related material
The
end of the line
The tragedy
of the commons, short briefing document
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#fishing_responsibly |
| green
ratings - energy efficiency in buildings 
A useful summary item, recommended reading.
“There are many ways to reduce a building's environmental impact.
Consider the 48-storey Condé Nast Building at 4 Times Square in New
York, for example, which was designed by Fox & Fowle Architects. It
was one of the first examples in which green-architecture principles were
applied to a large urban office building, and informed the drawing up of
the LEED points system, since it uses almost every energy-saving technique
imaginable.
“Special glass allows daylight in to reduce the need for interior
lighting, keeps heat and ultraviolet rays out, and minimises heat loss in
winter. Two natural-gas-powered fuel cells provide 400 kilowatts of power,
enough to provide all the electricity needed at night, and 5% of the building's
needs during the day. The hot-water exhaust produced by the fuel cells is
used to help heat the building and provide hot water. The heating and cooling
systems, located on the roof, are gas-powered rather than electric, which
reduces energy losses associated with electrical power transmission. Photovoltaic
panels on the building's exterior provide up to an additional 15 kilowatts
of power. Inside the building, motion sensors control fans and switch off
lights in seldom-occupied areas such as stairwells. Exit signs are illuminated
by low-power light-emitting diodes. The result is that the building's energy
consumption is 35-40% lower than that of a comparable conventional building.”
—
“ Going green saves money by reducing long-term energy costs: a survey
of 99 green buildings in America found that on average, they use 30% less
energy than comparable conventional buildings. So any additional building
costs can be recovered quickly: according to the USGBC, the 2% increase
in construction costs required to achieve a LEED gold rating typically pays
for itself in lower running costs within two years. The traditional approach
of trying to minimise construction costs, by contrast, can lead to higher
energy bills and wasted materials.”
I think the few small illustrations are also useful.
In my view, there should be an illustration of the
Avax building. I have located a so-so one, along with some notes, on page
8 of this
PDF document. There is also a photo that does
not show much useful here.
related material
lowering
environmental cost of building construction, wood, steel or concrete?
conservation
standards in the usa
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#green_ratings |
| fears
for water and food supplies in asia as planet warms
An attentive scan is recommended.
The most populated area of the planet is estimated to be
under increasing pressure:
“ [...] rapid melting of glaciers poses a major threat to the Indian
Subcontinent, Southeast Asia and parts of China.
“Seven major rivers, including the Ganges, Indus, Brahmaputra and
the Mekong, begin in the Himalayas and the glacial meltwater during summer
months is crucial to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people downstream.
“But many of these glaciers are melting quickly and will be unable
to act as reservoirs that moderate river flows. This means less water in
the dry season and the chance for more extreme floods during the wet season.”
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#asian_pollution |
eu
destruction of african fisheries cited regarding extending bushmeat destruction
Using data from six Ghanaian nature reserves between 1970 and 1998, the
research team found a massive 76 percent fall in abundance for 41 species
of larger mammals.
Over a similar period the marine fish catch in Ghana ranged from 230,000
to 480,000 tons annually, varying by as much as 24 percent in consecutive
years. When regional fish supplies dropped, reports of bush-meat hunters
on the reserves were seen to rise. Likewise, bush meat for sale at 12 local
markets was found to increase when fish supplies fell.
Brashares says wild animals that suffered most were large carnivores such
as lions, leopards, and hyenas; primates including colobus and mona monkeys;
and several herbivores (hippos, giant hogs, and bongo antelopes).
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#african_fisheries |
death
of the glaciers
recommended reading:
“A glacier is an archivist and historian. It registers every fluctuation
of weather. It saves everything no matter how small or big, including pollen,
dust, heavy metals, bugs, and minerals. As snow becomes firn and then ice,
oxygen bubbles are trapped in the glacier, providing samples of ancient
atmosphere: carbon dioxide and methane. Records of temperatures and levels
of atmospheric gases from before industrialization can be compared with
those after -- a mere 150 years. We can now see that the steady gains in
greenhouse gases and air and water temperatures have occurred only since
the rise of our smokestack and tailpipe society.
“ A glacier is time incarnate. When we lose a glacier -- and we are
losing most of them -- we lose history, an eye into the past; we lose stories
of how living beings evolved, how weather vacillated, why plants and animals
died. The retreat and disappearance of glaciers -- there are only 160,000
left -- means we're burning libraries and damaging the planet, possibly
beyond repair. Bit by bit, glacier by glacier, rib by rib, we're living
the Fall.”
—
“[...] the albedo
effect -- the ability of ice and snow to deflect heat back into space
-- is quickly diminishing. Snow and ice are the Earth's built-in air conditioner
-- crucial to the health of the planet. Without winter's white mantle, Earth
will become a heat sponge. As heat escalates, all our sources of fresh water
will disappear.”
Also note:
“Global warming in the Arctic is happening now, warns the most comprehensive
scientific report to date. The reports concludes that the northern ice cap
is warming at twice the global rate and that this will lead to serious consequences
for the planet.” [quoted from New
Scientist.com]
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#glacier_death |
| mercedes
smart car—a summary
“The problem was, with so little car out front, there was nothing
left to crush between you and, say, an oncoming Escalade. So Smart designers
invented the Fortwo's main style and safety feature: a bulky steel cell,
visible inside and out, that frames the passenger compartment like a roll
cage and absorbs the shock of a head-on collision. What happens if some
Detroit-engineered behemoth plows into the featherweight Fortwo? I got a
pretty good idea, watching a Smart-sponsored crash test with a Mercedes
E-Class: The big sedan crumpled, and the Fortwo ricocheted. In a separate
test, by the European New Car Assessment Program, a 40-mph impact with a
concrete wall failed to dent the safety cell. They awarded the Smart a three-star
crash rating - nothing like a Volvo but better than a Ford Escort, which
weighs nearly half a ton more than the Fortwo.”
—
“ Body panels made from a hybrid of soda-bottle and CD plastic, the
panels require no paint - the color is solid all the way through and therefore
unscratchable. Interlocking parts make swapping panels easy.”
Note: 70mpg probably refers to American gallons (but the
method of calculation is not mentioned).
70 mpgUS is 84.3 mph in UK gallons,
or 18.5 miles per litre/ 30 km per litre.
related material
Transportable fuels
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#smart_car |
| keeping
the heat in during winter
Don’t pay to heat the universe:
- “United States Department of Energy (D.O.E.) statistics show that
44 percent of the average home's energy use is devoted to heating and cooling.”
- “Heat-loss through windows accounts for 10 to 25 percent of your
home heating bill.”
- “Insulate. Priority one is the roof, where rising heat tries to
escape your home. If you already have insulation, consider increasing the
amount in your attic. "It's basically adding another blanket on your
bed," Silva said. "But be sure you don't separate insulation layers
with a vapor barrier. Also, it's very, very important that the more you
insulate your attic, the more you must ventilate. The attic is a space that
you don't want to heat. Ideally, you'd want the underside of the roof to
be as cool as the outside.”
Oh, and by the way:
“On freezers that aren't frost-free, defrost the freezer before the
frost exceeds a quarter-inch thick. More frost makes the freezer work harder.”
[quote from Bluejay]
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#conservation_tips |
| increasing pressures on food supply and arable land
“ [...] Last year saw a continued decline in worldwide grain stockpiles
in spite of increasing production. Coarse grain stocks are now the lowest
in three decades, with only about a 50-day supply (70 days is considered
necessary for food security).”
—
“More food will not come from more land because, aside from fragile
lands in Brazil, there is little new land left to exploit. New technologies
will help, but we have peaked on the benefits of many of them. The green
leaf can convert only so much energy to carbohydrates and proteins.”
the web address for this article is
http://www.abelard.org/news/ecology2004-2.php#food_supply |
