Africa most vulnerable to global warming effects, U.N. says.
| OPEC chief appeals for calm over oil LONDON (Reuters) - OPEC’s Secretary General on Tuesday appealed for calm, saying the record-high crude oil price was unbearable and did not reflect any shortage of supply in the market. Abdullah al-Badri also called for measures to curb market speculation, a factor OPEC says is sending prices to unjustified levels. Oil hit a record $139.12 a barrel on Friday and was trading near $136 on Tuesday. |
| The Gyroscopic Electric Uno Bike Canadian Inventor Ben Gulak of BPG-Technologies has developed a wild new green motorcycle that uses gyro technology to stay upright on its two side-by-side wheels. Acceleration is controlled by leaning forward to go faster, and leaning back to slow down. The gyro tells the ECU how much to accelerate and that in turn delivers [.] |
| Forging African Strategies on Climate Change Adaptation Africa, the continent most vulnerable to climate change, contributes little to global greenhouse gas emissions. How will the vulnerable populations, sectors and regions cope with the consequences of climate change? African environment ministers are poised to take action, what should they do? |
| Press Release: Gov. Sanford Asks President to Protect Deep Sea Corals Off South Carolina Coast
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Photos and video available
Contact:
Tom Lalley – (202) 572-3303, tlalley@edf.org
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“This deepwater coral ecosystem constitutes a national treasure on par with Yosemite Valley and the
The governor was backed by 121 marine scientists who today released a letter calling on the president to “expand protection for these corals and commit the necessary resources to understand this important and vulnerable ecosystem.”
“It’s impossible to overstate how spectacular this area is and that’s why Governor Sanford’s action is so important and visionary,” said Dr. Doug Rader, a marine biologist with Environmental Defense Fund. “Scientists have only recently come to realize just how unusual these coral reefs are. We now know that the reefs are one of the most important areas in the world for marine life. There’s nothing else like it and it’s in our own backyard.”
The fragile nature of these slow-growing and long-lived corals makes them highly vulnerable to disturbance. Preserving these reefs – thriving since our forefathers first entered this land – will provide a safe haven that will help them adapt to the changing oceans and ensure their survival for our grandchildren and great grandchildren.
"Every time we visit the reefs we see places no human has ever seen before, and find new species," said Dr. Steve Ross, a researcher at the
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is working with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to provide partial protection for this coral ecosystem using existing authority. A monument designation would support this process and extend durable, long-lasting protections. This is an important step that will allow non-damaging fishing to continue while preserving the unique coral habitats.
“What a legacy Governor Sanford would leave if the president agrees with his request to permanently protect this magnificent system of towering corals and exotic fish,” said Nancy Vinson, program director at the Coastal Conservation League.
Many of the coral reefs lie 1,000 feet or more below the ocean’s surface. Some of the coral colonies may be more than 2,000 years old and some coral mounds may be more than one million years old.
“From a scientific point of view, we’ve struck it rich – we’ve found a treasure trove of marine biodiversity that we didn’t know existed until fairly recently,” said Dr. Lance Morgan, Chief Scientist, Marine Conservation Biology Institute. “With adequate protection, scientists will be busy for decades finding new species and unlocking the secrets of these reefs.”
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| Wind Turbine Concept Inspired by Jet Engines According to a recent article from Greentech Media, a Massachusetts aerospace company called FloDesign is working on a wind turbine concept that could potentially be at least twice as efficient as traditional rotor blade turbines, which force air around them instead of through them. It works by channeling wind into a vortex that spins [.] |
| Africa most vulnerable to global warming effects, U.N. says. Africa produces a tiny fraction of the world’s greenhouse gases but is particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming, U.N. environmental experts said Tuesday at a conference of African environment ministers here. |
| Affordable DIY Solar Heating System Mother Earth News recently featured an extensive article covering instructions on building your own small-scale solar heating system for as low as $30. The 9 page tutorial includes step by step instructions from Don R. and George Waterman of Springfield, Missouri, and is based on their experience installing the system on their 30×40 insulated [.] |
| Learn to conserve. Retiring WVU-Tech provost Charles Bayless said global warming is the biggest environmental problem facing the world today. |
| Thaw in Arctic ice could spur inland warming, study finds. If Arctic sea ice starts melting fast, polar bears and ring seals wouldn’t be the only creatures to feel it: A new study suggests that it could thaw long-frozen permafrost hundreds of miles inland. |
| McCain and Obama: Green Energy on Their Side Whether it’s John McCain or Barack Obama who moves into the Oval Office next January he’ll have have a deskfull of problems to cope with: the biggest foreign policy blunder in the nation’s history, a lackluster economy, and what appears to be a peaking of the world’s oil supply. |