Remember your school days when you used to paint pure blue rivers, lush green mountains and a clean clear sky? Things are no more the same today. The past few years have witnessed a huge spike in the levels of pollution - environmental water pollution, air pollution - just everything around us seems to be contaminated today.
It feels bad to say this but the truth is that many of us know all these facts but prefer doing nothing more than feeling sorry about the condition that we are in.
Let us take an example of environmental water pollution. What do you think its main causes are? Now, I know it is very easy for us to blame everything on the industries dumping their waste into our precious natural reservoirs. It is equally easy for us to curse the loose rules and laws to regulate all this; but tell me, as an individual are you sure you are not making this situation any worse?
Okay, let me ask you a direct question. Which water do you use for your daily consumption?
If you belong to category A of the people who are ignorant about the condition of the water being supplied to our homes, I am sure you would have been consuming tap water directly. Well, let me warn you that this water contains millions of pollutants including bacteria, virus, cysts, algae, traces of metals, lead, chlorine, pesticides and so on.
This is a worrisome fact because due to the rapid increase in environmental water pollution, it is no more safe to consume this water directly. Doing so is a wide and open invitation to multiple ailments including stomach infections, cancer and various other disorders.
If you belong to category B of the people who understand the condition of our water supply and resort to bottled water; be warned that bottled water is no safer than tap water! This is something which has already been clinically proven. Not only is this water equally unsafe but it actually worsens the pollution situation by using the most sworn enemy of environment - plastic bottles.
If you belong to any of these groups, I urge you to please give it a thought and think about having a nice and efficient purification unit installed at your home. Not only will it provide clean and pure water to you but it will also help in putting some control on empty water bottles being dumped in rivers and other water bodies and adding up further to the environmental water pollution.
You can look out for a multi block water purifier which is based on the combination techniques of carbon filtration, sub micron filtration and ion exchange. These purifiers have not only been the number one choice of people for years but are updated enough to catch all different types of impurities prevailing in water around us.
They are affordable to buy and extremely easy to maintain. So why not stop environmental water pollution right at your home and do a favor to both, your family and the society as well?
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Woods
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Bhopal gas tragedy
ETHNIC NEIGHBORS:
Agent Orange and Bhopal:
Fight for Global Environmental Justice Continues
Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds him of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce, writes
Ky-Phong Tran.A U.S. plane spraying Agent Orange
in Vietnam (above). Millions of gallons of the toxic defoliant were sprayed, with harrowing results, like children born with birth defects (left)
Agent Orange and Bhopal:
Fight for Global Environmental Justice Continues
Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds him of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce, writes
Ky-Phong Tran.A U.S. plane spraying Agent Orange
in Vietnam (above). Millions of gallons of the toxic defoliant were sprayed, with harrowing results, like children born with birth defects (left)
Bhopal
The Agent Orange campaign bears an ugly, striking resemblance to the Bhopal disaster in 1984, where a Union Carbide pesticide plant released toxic chemicals that killed over 15,000 Bhopal residents and injured another half million.Though the victims were compensated financially in an out of court settlement, the land is still infected to this day. Because of the plant’s central location and rain run-off that pollutes underground water supplies, toxics are responsible for kidney, liver, and nervous system problems among many Bhopal residents.
And in a coincidence that would be Hollywood movie-laughable if it were not true, Dow Chemical, the manufacturer of Agent Orange, is also the owner of Union Carbide.
Slash and Burn
The use of Agent Orange and the Bhopal disaster reminds me of slash-and-burn farming, where land is deforested, farmed, and then abandoned after its nutrients have been depleted and it can no longer produce.
The Union Carbide plant manufactured pesticides in India for cheap profits with shoddy regulations. After the explosion, after Bhopal could not produce, the plant was sold. Unfortunately, environmental clean-up is expensive and produces no profit for shareholders.
Vietnam was about something more than profit, it was about power. According to the Domino Theory, if Vietnam fell to Communist forces so would all of Southeast Asia. Or maybe, the dominoes were all the other colonized regions of the world that were fighting for their own self-determination.
After the Vietnam War, Vietnam was no longer useful politically or environmentally, literally de-forested by chemicals, and thus abandoned. The United States lost that battle, and again, clean up is expensive, especially for the little ‘S’ shaped country that blemished this country’s previously unbeaten war record.
Privilege in the New World
The other day, my roommate asked me if I was a Democrat or Republican. I laughed at him and told him I was neither, though I vote Democrat. I told him, elections rarely affect me. I am an English-speaking, college educated, US Citizen. I have direct access to steady work, health insurance, and a home.
I vote Democrat because their policies tend to aid people whom I am related to or those whose struggle I support: the poor, working families, the uninsured, immigrants.
It’s the same with the Agent Orange Campaign. In truth, it does not directly affect me, but somehow knowing that it could have been me contaminated with Agent Orange, that there are people who look like me, talk like me, and have the same name as I do who are suffering--I feel committed to them.
For me, what’s the point of having all this privilege if I don’t use it for something good, something bigger than me?
Sometimes, I wonder if this campaign is possible. Can the victims of Agent Orange win justice 11,000 miles away in a New York court? Can justice be had from an unjust war?
But history tells us it can happen. After decades of organizing, Japanese Americans won reparations and a national apology for internment. A few weeks after the dismissal of the Agent Orange Victims’ case, the US government paid 25 million dollars to compensate for losses after US soldiers looted a train and warehouse that contained Jewish family heirlooms that were stolen by Nazi-allied Hungarian soldiers.
I was pleased that they won, but the proximity of the cases broke my heart. To me it only confirmed that justice in this country is not just about justice, it is about influence.
As Vietnamese America grows, as it elects government officials and churns out millionaires, as it produces college graduates and white-collar professionals, I hope it can remember its own brothers and sisters across the Pacific Ocean.
I hope it can balance its ambition with its sense of community and consider people over profits.
I believe that there will be a settlement and that it will add further closure to the Vietnam War. But most of all, a settlement might make life a little bit easier for a crippled child back in Vietnam and cleanup will prevent further suffering.
It can be done because it must be done.
Seven men jailed over 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy that killed 15,000 people
The convictions are the first since the Indian disaster, when a pesticide plant run by Union Carbide leaked tons of gas.
About 4,000 died straight away and the rest succumbed over the following years.
Bhopal gas tragedy survivor and gas victims hold posters and shout anti-govenment slogans at the district court as they wait for the verdict in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Union Carbide, an American chemical company, said the leak was the result of sabotage by a disgruntled employee who was never identified. It denied that it was caused by lax safety standards or faulty plant design.
India's Central Bureau of Investigation originally accused 12 defendants: eight senior Indian company officials; Warren Anderson, the head of Union Carbide at the time of the gas leak; the company itself and two subsidiary companies.
Partially blind gas victim waits for the verdict with other victims in the premises of Bhopal court
Anderson was briefly detained immediately after the disaster, but he quickly left the country and now lives in New York.
Last July, the court issued a warrant for Anderson's arrest and ordered the Indian government to press Washington for the American's extradition.
A crowd watches as a man pastes identification labels onto dead children's foreheads, killed in the December 1984 Bhopal Gas tragedy
A woman and her child lie dead on a street on December 3, 1984, after the toxic gas leak. The acciden killed thousands and contaminated water and soil when toxic methyl isocyanate gas leaked from Union Carbide's pesticide plant.
Extradition proceedings are usually mired in a complex tangle of legal paperwork and can take years to complete.
The plant was closed after the disaster, and Union Carbide was bought by Dow Chemical Co in 2001.
The sentences, which were handed down in a local court and are likely to be appealed, came as the case crawled through India's notoriously slow and ineffective judicial system.
Survivors, relatives and rights activists gathered in the city for the verdict today but said the sentences were 'too little, too late.'
On December 3, 1984, a pesticide plant run by the subsidiary of Union Carbide leaked about 40 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air in Bhopal, central India, quickly killing about 4,000 people.
The Union Carbine plant in Bhopal, 25 years after the deadly gas leak
The lingering effects of the poison raised the death toll to about 15,000 over the next few years.Activists insist the real numbers are almost twice that, and say the company and government have failed to clean up toxic chemicals at the plant, which closed after the accident.
Investigators say the accident occurred when water entered a sealed tank containing the highly reactive gas, causing pressure in the tank to rise too high.
The Central Bureau of Investigation said the plant had not been following proper safety procedures.
Dow says the legal case was resolved in 1989 when Union Carbide settled with the Indian government for $470million, and that all responsibility for the factory now rests with the government of the state of Madhya Pradesh, which now owns the site.
Indian court convicts 8 for 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy
 |
| A lone girl is refreshing under the late monsoon rain in the impoverished Oriya Basti Colony in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, near the former Union Carbide industrial complex, Aug. 25, 2009. When the heavy monsoon rain falls every year, the rain seeps through the buried waste of Union Carbide pollute Bhopal's underground reservoirs. Over 30.000 people are here at risk by the ongoing underground water contamination. (Photo: China Daily/CHIPP Organizing Committee) |
Former Chairman of the U.S.-based Union Carbide Corporation Warren Anderson is among the eight convicted. Warren Anderson is absconding since the tragedy. In fact, no one from Union Carbide America and Union Carbide Eastern Hong Kong ever appeared in the court here.
Besides Anderson, the other accused persons are former Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) Chairman Keshub Mahendra, former Managing Director (MD) Vijay Gokhle, ex-Vice President (VP) Kishore Kamdar, ex-Works Manager J Mukund, ex-Production Manager S. P. Choudhary, ex-Plant Superintendent K. V. Shetty, ex-Production Assistant S. I. Quershi.
Another accused R.B. Roychoudhary who was assistant works manager with UCIL at that time died during the trial.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohan P. Tiwari gave the judgement 25 years after the tragedy when the deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the Union Carbide plant on the night of Dec. 2, 1984.
According to sources, 178 prosecution witnesses deposed before the court during the trial.
All the convicted persons were held guilty under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence), 304-II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 336, 337 and 338 (gross negligence) of the Indian Penal Code.
The judge will pronounce the sentence later.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy Survivors - Including Children As Young As 6 - Beaten Up In Police Station
Bhopal: Plainclothes policemen and women and some uniformed police beat up 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy survivors and their children inside the Parliament street police station in New Delhi on Monday evening.
Sixteen-year-old Imran was belted by policemen, including Yad Ram, a uniformed policeman from the Parliament Street police station. The belting has hurt his eye, and he was taken to hospital. Other policepersons whose names are known include Suraj Bhan, Mallik (a tall, big-set cop), Mahendra (in plainclothes), and the gun-toting Yad Ram.
Bhopal gas tragedy survivors lying down covered in shrouds
Twenty-seven-year-old Vikas was set upon by 13 policemen. Irshad, 20, was also beaten up badly. The police did not spare the kids. The youngest "padayatri" (foot-marcher), 11-year-old Yasmin, 6-year-old Naghma and 24-year-old Meera More were also beaten by the police when they tried to prevent the police from dragging Rachna Dhingra, a "padayatri", into the lock-up. Seeing the girls come in aid of Rachna, plainclothesman Mahendra Singh screamed: "In Kaaliyon ke kapde fado." (Tear the clothes off these blackies). All the while, the older women were forced into police lock-up.
Since the time that they were picked up from the Prime Minister's Office, (PMO), for demonstrating in a high-security area, senior police officials have talked tough. Callers who spoke to Nand Mohan, Deputy Commissioner of Police, informed that the top cop reportedly said the Bhopalis will have to face the consequences this time. The Prime Minister's silence on the matter of demands has prompted the Bhopalis to protest in front of his house two times.
One of the Bhopal gas survivors being arrested by police
Muthukumaran, Director of Public Relations, PMO, did not know that Bhopalis were being beaten up at the Parliament street police station for a mistake of his boss, the Prime Minister. However, when intimated about it, he said: "I have heard about it. It is shameful. I have informed the authorities, and we'll see what can be done."
Die-in by covering themselves with shrouds at Indian Prime Minister's house in New Delhi on Monday being arrested by police The survivors, who arrived in New Delhi walking all the way from Bhopal, took the security guards by surprise, and staged a silent but visual protest, where the women and children lay along the entrance to Gate No. 5 that leads to the Prime Minister's Office, with shrouds covering their bodies.
Twenty fourth years after the world's worst industrial disaster killed 7,000 people, maimed thousands for life, and eventually claimed at least 15,000 more lives, the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy still await justice.
Union Carbide Corporation has washed its hands off the case, and the Government of India is not pushing too hard.
So where does that leave the victims?
All they have got to show for their endless padyatras, dharnas and hunger strikes is money from the American multinational that is not enough to even cover their medical bills.
rediff.com presents a ready reckoner to the Bhopal victims' quest for justice:
December 2-3, 1984: Methyl isocynate gas leaks from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, killing 2,000 people instantly.
December 4, 1984: The Bhopal police files its first information report.
December 7, 1984: Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson, the prime accused, and eight others are arrested. Anderson is released on bail of Rs 25,000.
December 1, 1987: The Central Bureau of Investigation files chargesheets against Anderson and 11 others including Union Carbide (USA), Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, and Union Carbide India Limited, the Indian subsidiary.
Summons are served on Anderson and Union Carbide.
July 6, 1988: The Bhopal chief judicial magistrate issues a non-bailable arrest warrant against Anderson for repeatedly ignoring summons.
February 14-15, 1989: While the issue of interim compensation is being heard before the Supreme Court, Union Carbide and the Indian government strike a deal, under which the company pays a compensation of $470 million. In return, criminal charges are withdrawn against the company.
February-March 1989: The Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghatan, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti and other concerned groups file of a number of review and writ petitions in the Supreme Court against the settlement.
October 3, 1991: The Supreme Court revokes criminal immunity granted to Union Carbide and all other accused in response to the review and writ petitions.
The court also orders the government to construct a 500-bed hospital for the victims. Union Carbide and UCIL are asked to pay money to construct the hospital and run it for eight years.
November 11, 1991: Criminal cases against all the accused are revived in the Bhopal court.
January 1, 1992: Proclamation for Anderson's appearance is published in The Washington Post.
February 1, 1992: After ignoring four court summons, Anderson is declared a fugitive. Union Carbide and UCE also are proclaimed absconders.
February 21, 1992: A chief judicial magistrate's proclamation is published in The Washington Post declaring Union Carbide an absconder and ordering it to appear before court on March 27, 1992.
April 30, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate attaches the shares and properties of UCIL held by Union Carbide.
May 22, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate commits the case to trial after separating three of the 12 accused who are proclaimed as absconders -- Anderson, Union Carbide and UCE.
October 1992: The Permanent People's Tribunal on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights holds its session in Bhopal and recommends the setting up of an International Medical Commission on Bhopal.
January 7 to 25, 1994: The IMCB is formed as 14 medical specialists from 11 countries come together to deliberate on the long-term medical care of the victims.
September 1996: The Supreme Court dilutes charges against UCIL's Indian managers, partly on grounds that culpability lies with Union Carbide.
August 1999: Union Carbide announces a merger with Dow Chemical Company.
November 1999: Several individual victims and survivors' organisations file a class action suit against Union Carbide and Anderson in a federal court in New York.
August 2000: Federal Judge John F Keenan dismisses the suit. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs appeal.
February 2001: Union Carbide merges with Dow Chemicals and Dow claims it is not responsible for a factory it didn't operate.
November 2001: US Second Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates parts of the class action suit.
May 24, 2002: The CBI requests the Bhopal magistrate to dilute the charges against Anderson, from 'culpable homicide' to 'criminal negligence.'
August 28, 2002: The magistrate reaffirms the charges and demands Anderson's extradition.
August 29, 2002: Greenpeace visits Anderson at his home and hands him an arrest warrant.
March 18, 2003: Judge Keenan again throws out the suit.
March 25, 2003: Three survivors' groups hold a press conference in Bhopal and announce that they will appeal the decision. May-June 2003: The government conveys its request for Anderson's extradition to the US.
October 18, 2003: US Congressmen file an amicus brief with the Second Circuit, Court of Appeals.
March 9, 2004: The Reserve Bank of India through an affidavit confirms that it has more than Rs 1,505 crore (Rs 15.05 billion) left in the compensation fund.
March 17, 2004: The Second Court of Appeals rules that the victims are entitled to pursue claims against Union Carbide.
April, 2004: All the pre-trial hearings in New York are transferred from Judge Keenan's court to Judge Pitman's court.
July 13, 2004: The US government rejects Anderson's extradition request. The rejection is on technical grounds like non-framing of charges against him in Bhopal.
July 19, 2004: The Supreme Court orders the government to distribute the balance of compensation remaining from Union Carbide's settlement amount (Rs 1,503 crores) among the survivors whose claims are settled.
October 26, 2004: The Supreme Court approves a plan for the distribution of Rs 1,567 crores -- Rs 1,503 crores with interest accrued -- among 5.72 lakh victims.
This is not a matter about a few angry policemen. The policemen had nothing to be angry about the Bhopalis. The rot spreads far higher.
Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that 36 survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal and victims of water contamination, including 13 children and 20 women, were arrested on Monday at 3.45 p.m. (IST) in New Delhi after they staged a die-in in front of the Indian Prime Minister's Office in South Block.
Die-in by covering themselves with shrouds at Indian Prime Minister's house in New Delhi on Monday being arrested by police
According to a Press release 40 survivors staged a die-in outside the PMO in South Block on Monday.The protestors demanded that the Indian government commit to empowering the Commission on Bhopal for long term rehabilitation of the Bhopal victims and take appropriate legal actions against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.
The three organizations of Bhopal survivors leading the 111 days long campaign including today’s die-in announced the launching of a global hunger strike from tomorrow with participation from more than 18 countries. Nine survivors and their supporters will begin their indefinite fast tomorrow from 12 noon at Jantar Mantar and will be joined by Booker shortlisted author Indra Sinha who will begin "at least a weeklong fast" from France. The organizations had informed the Prime Minister of their decision to go on an indefinite fast on June 2.
The decision to undertake a hunger strike was taken after tiring of waiting for a response from the PMO regarding their demands, the organizations said. A statement partially conceding to the demands issued by the Minister of State for PMO Chavan last month made no mention of the powers, funds and the number of years the Commission on Bhopal will function and was silent on the issue of legal action against Union Carbide and Dow Chemical.Endless humanright
Twenty fourth years after the world's worst industrial disaster killed 7,000 people, maimed thousands for life, and eventually claimed at least 15,000 more lives, the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy still await justice.Union Carbide Corporation has washed its hands off the case, and the Government of India is not pushing too hard.
So where does that leave the victims?
All they have got to show for their endless padyatras, dharnas and hunger strikes is money from the American multinational that is not enough to even cover their medical bills.
rediff.com presents a ready reckoner to the Bhopal victims' quest for justice:
December 2-3, 1984: Methyl isocynate gas leaks from the Union Carbide factory in Bhopal, killing 2,000 people instantly.
December 4, 1984: The Bhopal police files its first information report.
December 7, 1984: Union Carbide Chairman Warren Anderson, the prime accused, and eight others are arrested. Anderson is released on bail of Rs 25,000.
December 1, 1987: The Central Bureau of Investigation files chargesheets against Anderson and 11 others including Union Carbide (USA), Union Carbide (Eastern) Hong Kong, and Union Carbide India Limited, the Indian subsidiary.
Summons are served on Anderson and Union Carbide.
July 6, 1988: The Bhopal chief judicial magistrate issues a non-bailable arrest warrant against Anderson for repeatedly ignoring summons.
February 14-15, 1989: While the issue of interim compensation is being heard before the Supreme Court, Union Carbide and the Indian government strike a deal, under which the company pays a compensation of $470 million. In return, criminal charges are withdrawn against the company.
February-March 1989: The Bhopal Gas Peedith Mahila Udyog Sanghatan, the Bhopal Gas Peedith Sangharsh Sahayog Samiti and other concerned groups file of a number of review and writ petitions in the Supreme Court against the settlement.
October 3, 1991: The Supreme Court revokes criminal immunity granted to Union Carbide and all other accused in response to the review and writ petitions.
The court also orders the government to construct a 500-bed hospital for the victims. Union Carbide and UCIL are asked to pay money to construct the hospital and run it for eight years.
November 11, 1991: Criminal cases against all the accused are revived in the Bhopal court.
January 1, 1992: Proclamation for Anderson's appearance is published in The Washington Post.
February 1, 1992: After ignoring four court summons, Anderson is declared a fugitive. Union Carbide and UCE also are proclaimed absconders.
February 21, 1992: A chief judicial magistrate's proclamation is published in The Washington Post declaring Union Carbide an absconder and ordering it to appear before court on March 27, 1992.
April 30, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate attaches the shares and properties of UCIL held by Union Carbide.
May 22, 1992: The chief judicial magistrate commits the case to trial after separating three of the 12 accused who are proclaimed as absconders -- Anderson, Union Carbide and UCE.
October 1992: The Permanent People's Tribunal on Industrial Hazards and Human Rights holds its session in Bhopal and recommends the setting up of an International Medical Commission on Bhopal.
January 7 to 25, 1994: The IMCB is formed as 14 medical specialists from 11 countries come together to deliberate on the long-term medical care of the victims.
September 1996: The Supreme Court dilutes charges against UCIL's Indian managers, partly on grounds that culpability lies with Union Carbide.
August 1999: Union Carbide announces a merger with Dow Chemical Company.
November 1999: Several individual victims and survivors' organisations file a class action suit against Union Carbide and Anderson in a federal court in New York.
August 2000: Federal Judge John F Keenan dismisses the suit. Lawyers acting for the plaintiffs appeal.
February 2001: Union Carbide merges with Dow Chemicals and Dow claims it is not responsible for a factory it didn't operate.
November 2001: US Second Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates parts of the class action suit.
May 24, 2002: The CBI requests the Bhopal magistrate to dilute the charges against Anderson, from 'culpable homicide' to 'criminal negligence.'
August 28, 2002: The magistrate reaffirms the charges and demands Anderson's extradition.
August 29, 2002: Greenpeace visits Anderson at his home and hands him an arrest warrant.
March 18, 2003: Judge Keenan again throws out the suit.
March 25, 2003: Three survivors' groups hold a press conference in Bhopal and announce that they will appeal the decision. May-June 2003: The government conveys its request for Anderson's extradition to the US.
October 18, 2003: US Congressmen file an amicus brief with the Second Circuit, Court of Appeals.
March 9, 2004: The Reserve Bank of India through an affidavit confirms that it has more than Rs 1,505 crore (Rs 15.05 billion) left in the compensation fund.
March 17, 2004: The Second Court of Appeals rules that the victims are entitled to pursue claims against Union Carbide.
April, 2004: All the pre-trial hearings in New York are transferred from Judge Keenan's court to Judge Pitman's court.
July 13, 2004: The US government rejects Anderson's extradition request. The rejection is on technical grounds like non-framing of charges against him in Bhopal.
July 19, 2004: The Supreme Court orders the government to distribute the balance of compensation remaining from Union Carbide's settlement amount (Rs 1,503 crores) among the survivors whose claims are settled.
October 26, 2004: The Supreme Court approves a plan for the distribution of Rs 1,567 crores -- Rs 1,503 crores with interest accrued -- among 5.72 lakh victims.
Bhopal gas tragedy: 25 years on, scars refuse to heal
Activists and victims of the Bhopal gas disaster participate in a torch procession towards the abandoned Union Carbide factory on the eve of 25th anniversary of the disaster, in Bhopal on Wednesday. Residents have called repeatedly for Michigan-based Dow Chemical to mount a thorough cleanup. They say the toxic waste in and around the plant -- estimated at 350 tons and never properly treated -- continues to kill crops, pollute groundwater and cause cancer, birth defects, neurological damage, chaotic menstrual cycles and mental illness. AP
The judgement in the Bhopal gas tragedy after 26 years is like rubbing salt in the still raw wounds of the poor and hapless men, women and children. Most of the affected were poor and could not afford to fight their cases against the powrful multi-national company, corrupt babus, inefficient and deliberately indifferent prosecution and dormant judiciary I do not know where are all those NGOs who cry hoarse on the death of an anti-national, criminal and smuggler Sohrabuddin and the pro-active judiciary. Nobody has done anything for the 20,000/- innocent victims of criminal apathy of the UCIL and the Govt of India and Govt of MP. More than a lakh people are suffering like hell not a single soul stirs. Who has pocketed $470/- million paid by the UCIL. How and why this sum was arrived at? Who were the people who negotiated a settlement with the UCIL? Why and how the interests of the poor were bartered or surrendered? Why the relief was not provided to the next of kin of those killed and those who suffered the consequences of the gas leak? The condition of the survivors is heart rending. What has the govt. of India done to rehabilitate the victims and their kins. How and why the charges were watered down to a lesser and less severe provisions of the IPC. The role of the CBI also needs immediate investigation. How and why the case was allowed to hang for 25 years? If this is justice tell me what can be more unjust and unfair. It seems the conscience of all those connected with the investigation, prosecution and rehabilitation has either died or has been bartered for some extraneous considerations. Billions of rupees are being spent on useless babus and netas why cant' we spend a fraction on the rehabilitation of the affected poor.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Environmental
Earth-Friendly Tips to Help You Live a Little Greener
We all want to live a little greener, but many of us believe it is too time-consuming and expensive. The following ten tips will give you a little more know-how on ways you can make your life a more Earth-Friendly without much effort and by SAVING money as opposed to spending it.
1. Start Recycling - Call your local recycling plant to find out exactly what they will accept and not accept. Then, dedicate bins to different kids of materials - blue for glass, red for aluminum, green for paper. Have your kids spread the word to family and friends! Most recycling places will pay you for your "trash" so your kids can make a bit of money!
2. Get Rid of Paper - Lose the paper filing system. Use electronic storage instead of paper files to save paper and space.
3. Use Natural Light - Open the blinds in your home instead of turning on lamps to reduce energy consumption. Guess what, it also cuts down on your electricity bill!
4. Pick Up Litter - Spend an afternoon picking up litter in your community, park or at your local beach. This helps the eco-system and teaches our kids not to litter.
5. Buy In Bulk - Purchase items in bulk when possible to reduce packaging waste. Also, you will find that bulk items are cheaper per net oz. than regular sized items.
6. Start a Compost Pile - Recycle organic waste by creating a compost pile. It will not only reduce landfill waste, but it also creates nutrient-rich soil for your garden!
7. Hit The Lights - Remember to turn lights off when you leave a room to conserve energy. In fact, switch all your bulbs to less wattage. You won't notice the difference, but your electricity bill will!
Quick, easy, and will make a huge difference!
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Kelli_Miller
The Significance of Waste Oil Treatment in Protecting the Environment
The worldwide demand for oil also brings up demand for transportation of this material to different countries. Transport is carried out via road, pipeline, and sea; and transportation of oil brings forth risk of spill which in turn endangers the environment. Much of the oil is being carried by tankers, and this poses a constant hazard to marine and coastal ecosystems, which as we know have already suffered from oil spills in the past. Spills that occur offshore can reach the shores by the action of winds and ocean currents, posing immense environmental implications.
It is important to learn how to control waste oil generation and how to properly dispose of oil waste since it cannot be processed by the environment the way it processes any organic matter. For companies that handle oil procurement and transportation, the necessity for waste management is imperative and is considered a top priority. Oil plants, for instance should have reliable contingency plans and these must encompass sufficient waste management provisions, so that in the instant that an accident occurs such plans are put into action. Immediate action will reduce cost through effective containment and treatment before the environmental contamination spreads to a wider area.
There are various programs to deal with the known risk and the actual spill, from reduction of waste production to recycling of waste and proper disposal of waste oil. Control of the amount of waste generated is perhaps the ideal plan. Urgent cleanup operation during a spill must be carried out, and it involves containment and collection of oil and oil-contaminated rubble and waste. Depending on the kind of waste recovered, it may undergo segregation, treatment, recycling, and disposal. Ideally, plants should have a separate waste stream and storage system for each kind of waste generated for instant segregation. Properly segregated waste is easier to process for both recycling and disposal.
Another concern is minimizing of the amount of waste generated to reduce cost in recycling and disposal as well as mitigate environmental impact. This can be carried out by locating the potential impact sites. Clearing out of debris and garbage at the impact sites minimizes the amount of waste to be treated. As mentioned earlier, segregation of waste streams is vital in order for different types of waste to be instantly separated, since separation of mixed waste is extremely difficult. Waste containment areas should be waterproof or have cover to prevent seepage of rainwater since water in the waste containments would demand further effort in waste treatment.
Crude oil is an indispensable natural resource used in various industries. At the same time, it is a serious environmental contaminant posing concern for environmental conservation organizations all over the world. Improper disposal of oil waste can lead to serious litigations as there are laws passed to protect the environment from wanton destruction propagated by oil spills due to improper containment of oil and sometimes recklessness. Prevention of contamination is so much better than devising containment and dispersal measures.
The objective of waste oil treatment is to process oil waste, so it can be recycled or transformed into something usable or be disposed of properly if it renders unusable. All the efforts encompassed in waste oil treatment are to prevent waste from entering environmental systems, furthermore destroying flora and fauna that get exposed to it. For instance, maritime oil spills can endanger marine conditions and risk the lives of marine organisms. At the same time, even discarding used cooking oil into sinks is also not recommended. Hence, whether you are looking at a worldwide or domestic scale, oil waste disposal and treatment are two imperative measures that should be done in accordance to the legislation not because we want to avert criminal offenses but because we want to take care of the environment.
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Why Recycling is So Important For the Environment
If you're not convinced that you should recycle, and think that there's nothing wrong with throwing all your rubbish in the bin, then here's why you should recycle.
1. If you recycle, there will be less rubbish going into your main bin. Everything from food scraps and clothing, to glass and plastic can be recycled, and turned into new and useful products.
2. Even if you're not keen on the idea of taking your waste to recycling centres, you can have your recyclable waste picked up you're your doorstep in many places.
3. As less waste is being thrown away, much less is going to landfill. This means that less land is needed, and less harmful methane gas is released into the air.
4. There is less reliance on natural resources such as wood, as fewer trees are needed for paper and cardboard products, and fewer trees need to be cut down. This means that deforestation can be reduced.
5. You might be creative, and be able to make use of some of the things that you would normally throw away. Perhaps your children will want cardboard cereal boxes, and kitchen roll tubes to make things with, or maybe you'll use bottles for lamps or vases. You might want to make compost from your food scraps, or use newspaper to help insulate your home.
6. Other people might want some of the items that you don't want. You might have upgraded your computer, or bought a new TV, or your children might have outgrown their clothes. Instead of throwing them away, why not see if anyone else want them? This can help you dramatically reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill.
7. Using recycled waste, such as paper and aluminium can dramatically reduce the amount of energy needed to produce new products. It's reckoned that it takes just 5% of the energy to make things from recycled aluminium, compared to making from new aluminium. Savings like this can help manufacturers to make significant savings which can be passed on to consumers.
8. As less energy is needed to produce products, and less waste is taken to landfill, the amount of pollution is reduced too. Less pollution is obviously better form the environment.
9. Carbon footprints can be reduced too, as there is less reliance on products from abroad. People making their own compost might enjoy growing their own vegetables. Companies might not need to import raw materials as they can use the plastic, glass or paper that has been recycled.
10. As products can be used again, and not left to rot in landfill sites, recycling helps to save money for producers and consumers alike. Products can be cheaper as they not only use less packaging but the packaging they do use is made from recycled products. The finished products might not have to travel as far, and when the good s have expired or reached the end of their natural life, they can be recycled again.
Now you know why recycling is so important for the environment, are you recycling as much as you could be?
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The Negative Effects of Global Warming
Global warming is already changing the world around us in ways that researchers can measure and quantify. Such changes will become more and more evident with each passing decade. Although cutting greenhouse gas emissions in order to minimize future climate change must be our top priority, we must also prepare to respond to impacts that our past emissions now make inevitable. People everywhere need to understand how climate change is going to affect them and what they can do to cope.
Flooding
Scientists have documented climate induced changes in some 100 physical and 450 biological processes. In the Russian Arctic, higher temperatures are melting the permafrost, causing the foundations of five story apartment buildings to slump. Worldwide, the rain, when it falls, is often more intense. Floods and storms are more severe, and heat waves are becoming more extreme. Rivers freeze later in the winter and melt earlier. Trees flower earlier in spring, insects emerge faster and birds lay eggs sooner. Glaciers are melting. The global mean sea level is rising.
Temperature Changes
Throughout geologic time the average global temperature has usually varied by 5°C over intervals of millions of years. Now scientists believe that the temperature of the earth's surface - which has already risen by 0.6°C since the late 1800s - is likely to rise by another 1.4 to 5.8°C during the course of the 21st century. Temperature rose by 0.74°C ±0.18°C over the period 1906-2005. The rate of warming over the last 50 years of that period was almost double that for the period as a whole (0.13°C ±0.03°C per decade, versus 0.07°C ± 0.02°C per decade).
Green House Effects
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases have the ability to warm the earth by a actor of about 33 °C (59 °F). The major greenhouse gases are water vapor, which causes about 36-70 percent of the greenhouse effect; carbon dioxide, which causes 9-26 percent; methane, which causes 4-9 percent; and ozone, which causes 3-7 percent. Anthropogenic activities constantly increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere with fatal implication. Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, to levels considerably higher than at any time during the last 650,000 years.
Environmental
Global warming is expected to cause changes in the overall distribution and intensity of events, such as changes to the frequency and intensity of heavy precipitation. Other expected effects include glacial retreat, Arctic shrinkage, and worldwide sea level rise. Some effects on both the natural environment and human life are, at least in part, already being attributed to global warming. Water scarcity in some regions and increased precipitation in others, changes in mountain snowpack, and some adverse health effects from warmer temperatures are other expected impacts.
Social and economic effects of global warming may be made worse by increase in population densities in affected areas. Temperate regions are thought to experience some benefits, such as fewer cold-related sicknesses and deaths.
Another anticipated effects include sea level rise of 0.18 to 0.59 meters in 2090-2100 relative to 1980-1999, new trade routes resulting from arctic shrinkage, less frequent and but intense hurricanes and extreme weather activities, thinning of the ozone layer, changes in agriculture yields, changes in the types and number of climate-dependent disease vectors.
Also expected is decrease in ocean surface pH. Presently, there has been a decrease from 8.25 near the beginning of the industrial era to 8.14 by 2004, and is projected to decrease by a further.
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Global Warming - 5 Easy Ways You Can Make a Real Difference
When you hear the news about global warming, do you feel overwhelmed and hopeless? If so, start doing these 5 actions and know that you will be helping to reverse the global warming trend.
1. Drive less.
We know that auto emissions contribute to global warming, and you can reduce your impact by driving less. Here are some ways:
* Walk or ride a bike for short trips.
* Combine errands to reduce the number of trips you make.
* Take public transportation when possible.
* Car pool with others for work, meetings, and the like.
2. Eat less meat, especially beef.
How does this reduce global warming? Scientists report that livestock production actually has a bigger impact on global warming than automobile emissions. This includes all the factors including methane from livestock waste, petroleum used for feed production and transportation of the meat products, and the like.
By eating less meet, especially beef, you will reduce the demand for livestock production and divert resources toward more environmentally-friendly foods. And you will probably be making yourself healthier in the process.
3. Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
This is an inexpensive step that can start paying dividends not only in global warming, but in reducing your electric bill. Fluorescent bulbs have been drastically improved in recent years so that the quality of light no longer has the blue, cold tint of first generation fluorescent bulbs.
4. Adjust your thermostat.
Changing your thermostat settings by even 2 or 3 degrees can make a significant change in how much energy you are using. If you lower your setting in the winter, you can easily adjust to the change by putting on a sweater or an extra layer of clothing. In the summer, you can increase your AC setting by 2 or 3 degrees and use a fan to keep you feeling just as cool as you did at your previous setting.
5. Join with others and educate yourself.
Joining with others is a key to staying focused and inspired, and to learn more about how to make a difference. No matter how much or how little you understand about environmental issues, you will find others who are interested in sharing their knowledge and working together. There are organizations in every community that are bringing people together to address environmental problems.
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Aviation and the Environment - The Future of Flight and Fuel
Was it only last fall that people were chanting "drill, baby, drill!", and declaring everyone from the government to your grandmother must "go green!"? Remember $8.00 a gallon 100LL and paying for pillows and blankets on US commercial flights?
Given the furor over global warming and energy prices, how is it possible that an aviation bio-fuel revolution is quietly proceeding with so little fuss and fanfare?
Here's a taste of what has been going on, pretty much under the radar of mainstream media in the aviation bio-fuel revolution. January, 2009 a Japan Airlines (JAL) airliner completed a 1.5 hour demo flight from Tokyo's Haneda Airport powered by a combination of camelina, jatrophe and algae.
In December, 2008 Air New Zealand flew two hours on a 50/50 mix of jatropha biodiesel and standard A1 jet fuel.
In November, 2008 a plane flew from Reno, Nevada to Leesburg Florida, flying the first 1776 miles on 100% bio-diesel and the remaining 710 miles on a 50/50 mix of bio-diesel and standard jet fuel.
In October, 2008 Aviation Magazine published a story on the Department of Defense and the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) claims of a 100% renewable jet fuel capable of replacing JP-8.
In August, 2008 an F-15 Strike Eagle flew out of Robins Air Force Base in Georgia on a 50/50 mixture of JP-8 and a natural gas based synthetic fuel.
Why the apparent disinterest by the media on this tangible progress toward effective bio-fuel for aviation?
Some say the amount of land set aside for growing bio-fuel crops may be contributing to a world wide food shortage. Others are concerned that bio-fuel production may actually increase global warming. It could be as simple as short term memory loss. Finding alternative fuel sources which seemed critically important with gas at the pump at $4.00 a gallon, is all but forgotten now that prices have come down.
This crisis will pass, and fuel prices will go back up. So those of us with a stake in the future of aviation need to pay attention and press forward. Will bio-fuel be the ultimate answer? No one really knows yet, but many are touting camelina, jatropha, algae and celulosic ethanol.
Camelina, for instance, may combat rising emissions while adding to food production and crop yields. It has actually been shown to be an excellent rotational crop, boosting the yield of subsequent crops such as wheat by up to 15%. It can be grown on marginal land, needs very little water and is viable in cold regions such as Montana and Canada and Europe. It is estimated bio-diesel made from camelina could be sold for around $2.00 per gallon, compared to $3.00 per gallon for soy or corn based ethanol.
According to a spokesman for JAL, who used a mixture of bio-fuel and jet fuel for their groundbreaking demonstration flight in January, "the bio-fuel was a combination of three second-generation bio-fuel feedstocks which do not compete with natural food or water sources and do not contribute to deforestation practices."
Turning to personal craft, Pipistrel, a Slovenian aircraft company, is working on a two-passenger electric aircraft. The Taurus Electro is said to be capable of climbing to 6,000 feet, traveling 1,000 miles in a day with a lithium-polymer battery which takes about as long to recharge as a cell phone.
With graduations of aerospace engineers down 57% in the US since 1990 the US may be taking a back seat to Europe and Asia in making air travel more sustainable in the coming years. Never the less, the future of innovation in aviation is going strong and it's looking pretty green from here.
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bev_Porter
Pollution by Cars - Why Green Cars Are So Important For Our Survival
Pollution by cars is a major issue for most of modern-day societies. The pollution in air is comprised of many environmental attributes. It contains carbon monoxide, nitrates, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead, secondhand tobacco smoke and particulate matter. Particulate matter, also known as particle pollution, is comprised of liquid and solid particles in the air. It is produced from road dust, tire fragmentation, vehicle emissions, power generation and industrial combustion, smelting and other metal processing, construction and demolition activities, residential wood burning, windblown soil, pollens, molds, forest fires, volcanic emissions and sea spray. These particles vary significantly in size, composition and origin.
Overloaded and busy streets of the USA contribute much to the deterioration of the air pollution issue. Carbon monoxide is a biggest constituent of air pollution. It is highly toxic, odorless and colorless gas. It is connected with incineration reaction in cars and other vehicles same with cigarette smoke. Carbon monoxide is dangerous due to the fact that when our body consumes it, the level of oxygen diminishes. Higher ranges of carbon monoxide is a danger to one's life. Minimal levels of CO if inhaled by the body in a long extent of time will still cause respiratory sickness. Too much exposure may lead to harmful health issues.
When you go out on streets, you see large trucks blowing out too much murky smoke. Analysis depict that there is a very huge negative impact caused by pollution from cars and other air pollutants.
A study clarifies that a personÃs exposure to toxic constituents of air pollution may differ as much within one city as across different cities. After surveying 5000 human beings for eight years, the analysts also observed that exposure to traffic-allied air pollutants was extremely linked to mortality than were city-wide background levels. For instance, those who lived near a busy road were more probable to die of a cardiovascular event.
Some examinations had approximated that citizens living in the most polluted US cities could drop 1.8 to 3.1 years because of exposure to constant air pollution. This has showed the way to conclude that:
Temporary exposure to increased ranges of particle pollution is linked with a greater danger of death due to a cardiovascular event.
Hospital admittance for various cardiovascular and pulmonary issues heightens in reply to greater concentration of particle pollution. Extended exposure to higher levels of particle pollution is a factor in dropping total life expectancy by a few years. These facts are really indicating us what future awaits Americans if this scenario carries on. Indeed, a demand to normalize pollution by cars is needed not only for the well-being of the present time, but for the times ahead.
http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Shaye_Michaels
Environmental-Issues
Whole House Water Treatment - The Benefits to Your Family
If you are looking to provide clean, filtered water to every tap throughout your home, then you need a whole house water treatment system.
The fact is that despite municipal water treatment, residues of harmful substances such as chlorine, lead, prescription drugs, toxic heavy metals, organic and inorganic compounds, herbicides/pesticides etc remain in our tap water.
Now over the short term, when we drink glasses of water, those contaminants may not cause any adverse effect on our health. But many scientists theorize that over the long term, ingesting those contaminants via glasses of water could negatively affect health.
Take chlorine for example - one of the substances that a whole house water treatment system can remove. Chlorine has been used for decades as a way to kill micro-organisms in tap water and yet chlorine itself can be very harmful.
Chlorine has been linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Also chlorine by-products have been linked to cancer and other harmful conditions. So, it makes sense to reduce or eliminate this substance from your tap water.
Some whole house water treatment systems can only remove chlorine and sediment and soften water. Others can remove a wider range of contaminants such as iron, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) in addition to chlorine and sediment.
Alternatively, to get rid of contaminants, you could get a point of use water filter that can fit on your counter top or under the counter. These are smaller devices that can only provide filtered water to one tap.
On the other hand, whole house water treatment filters can provide filtered water to every tap throughout the home. Even washing machines and dish washers can be connected to this device.
The trick is to know how to spot a quality filtration system. There are so many on the market; you need to have a discerning eye for quality.
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Surgeon
Water Purifier From Research Has Discovered What is Floating in Your Water - Take Action Now
The current trend is to try to lead everyone to the purchase and installation of a home water purifier from research conducted by the Ralph Nader Research Institute and other organizations that have uncovered tens of thousands of toxic and carcinogenic contaminants in our reservoirs. There isn't anyplace where the water supply hasn't been compromised, and everyone needs to take steps to ensure themselves pure drinking water.
Decade upon decade of chemical dumping, improper chemical disposal, faulty containment, and the overuse of pesticides and herbicides have left our groundwater system a complete mess. Research has shown that our reservoir system is at a point where people may be ingesting as many as five to nine chemical agents each time that they draw a glass of water from their tap. That is pretty darn scary if you ask me.
There is reason to seriously consider making an investment in a high quality home water purifier from research that indicates there are well over two thousand individual carcinogens floating around in our reservoirs. The chlorine that we used to keep the spread of waterborne diseases under control alone has been long suspected as being the major cause of the 40% increase in cancer during the last century.
Back when chlorine was first introduced as a disinfectant, the rate of cancer was roughly 1 out of every 50 people. Now it stands at 1 out of every 3 people all together who can expect to develop the disease! Although there are undoubtedly other factors involved, the daily consumption of carcinogens in drinking water in all likelihood plays a pivotal role in why so many are developing this dreaded ailment.
The need for a home water purifier from research with statistics like that should definitely be obvious to you. You can prevent the flow of toxic and carcinogenic chemical agents by installing a system that features an activated carbon filter, which removes chlorine and a long list of other chemicals. Your system should also feature a sub micron filter and ion exchange for the removal of chlorine resistant pathogens and toxic metals.
There are more than 10,000 documents available that conclude you need a home water purifier from research that indicates things are only going to get worse. In order to protect the health of your loved ones, I suggest you seriously consider purchasing a purifying system right away.
Decade upon decade of chemical dumping, improper chemical disposal, faulty containment, and the overuse of pesticides and herbicides have left our groundwater system a complete mess. Research has shown that our reservoir system is at a point where people may be ingesting as many as five to nine chemical agents each time that they draw a glass of water from their tap. That is pretty darn scary if you ask me.
There is reason to seriously consider making an investment in a high quality home water purifier from research that indicates there are well over two thousand individual carcinogens floating around in our reservoirs. The chlorine that we used to keep the spread of waterborne diseases under control alone has been long suspected as being the major cause of the 40% increase in cancer during the last century.
Back when chlorine was first introduced as a disinfectant, the rate of cancer was roughly 1 out of every 50 people. Now it stands at 1 out of every 3 people all together who can expect to develop the disease! Although there are undoubtedly other factors involved, the daily consumption of carcinogens in drinking water in all likelihood plays a pivotal role in why so many are developing this dreaded ailment.
The need for a home water purifier from research with statistics like that should definitely be obvious to you. You can prevent the flow of toxic and carcinogenic chemical agents by installing a system that features an activated carbon filter, which removes chlorine and a long list of other chemicals. Your system should also feature a sub micron filter and ion exchange for the removal of chlorine resistant pathogens and toxic metals.
There are more than 10,000 documents available that conclude you need a home water purifier from research that indicates things are only going to get worse. In order to protect the health of your loved ones, I suggest you seriously consider purchasing a purifying system right away.
Climate change glossary
A
Adaptation Action that helps cope with the effects of climate change – for example construction of barriers to protect against rising sea levels, or conversion to crops capable of surviving high temperatures and drought.
Adaptation fund A fund for projects and programmes that help developing countries cope with the adverse effects of climate change. It is financed by a share of proceeds from emission-reduction programmes such as the Clean Development Mechanism.
Annex I countries The industrialised countries (and countries in transition to a market economy) which took on obligations to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Their combined emissions, averaged out during the 2008-2012 period, should be 5.2% below 1990 levels.
Annex II Countries which have a special obligation under the Kyoto Protocol to provide financial resources and transfer technology to developing countries. This group is a sub-section of the Annex I countries, excluding those that, in 1992, were in transition from centrally planned to a free market economy.
Anthropogenic climate change Man-made climate change – climate change caused by human activity as opposed to natural processes.
Aosis The Alliance of Small Island States comprises 42 island and coastal states mostly in the Pacific and Caribbean. Members of Aosis are some of the countries likely to be hit hardest by global warming. The very existence of low-lying islands, such as the Maldives and some of the Bahamas, is threatened by rising waters.
AR4 The Fourth Assessment Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published in 2007. The report assessed and summarised the climate change situation worldwide. It concluded that it was at least 90% likely that the increase of the global average temperature since the mid-20th Century was mainly due to man’s activity.
Atmospheric aerosols Microscopic particles suspended in the lower atmosphere that reflect sunlight back to space. These generally have a cooling affect on the planet and can mask global warming. They play a key role in the formation of clouds, fog, precipitation and ozone depletion in the atmosphere.
B
Bali action plan A plan drawn up at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, in December 2007, forming part of the Bali roadmap. The action plan established a working group to define a long-term global goal for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and a “shared vision for long-term co-operative action” in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology.
Bali roadmap A plan drawn up at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, in December 2007, to pave the way for an agreement at Copenhagen in 2009 on further efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol. The roadmap gave deadlines to two working groups, one working on the Bali action plan, and another discussing proposed emission reductions by Annex I countries after 2012.
Baseline for cuts The year against which countries measure their target decrease of emissions. The Kyoto Protocol uses a baseline year of 1990. Some countries prefer to use later baselines. Climate change legislation in the United States, for example, uses a 2005 baseline.
Biofuel A fuel derived from renewable, biological sources, including crops such as maize and sugar cane, and some forms of waste.
Black carbon The soot that results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass (wood, animal dung, etc.). It is the most potent climate-warming aerosol. Unlike greenhouse gases, which trap infrared radiation that is already in the Earth’s atmosphere, these particles absorb all wavelengths of sunlight and then re-emit this energy as infrared radiation.
Boxer-Kerry bill The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, now in the US Senate, also known as Waxman-Markey from 2007-2009 as it passed through the House of Representatives. This bill aims to reduce emissions by about 20% from a 2005 baseline by 2020. The bill would create a US-wide carbon market, which in time would link up with other carbon markets, like the EU Emission Trading Scheme. The bill is not expected to get Senate approval until 2010.
Business as usual A scenario used for projections of future emissions assuming no action, or no new action, is taken to mitigate the problem. Some countries are pledging not to reduce their emissions but to make reductions compared to a business as usual scenario. Their emissions, therefore, would increase but less than they would have done.
C
Cap and trade An emission trading scheme whereby businesses or countries can buy or sell allowances to emit greenhouse gases via an exchange. The volume of allowances issued adds up to the limit, or cap, imposed by the authorities.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) The collection and transport of concentrated carbon dioxide gas from large emission sources, such as power plants. The gases are then injected into deep underground reservoirs. Carbon capture is sometimes referred to as geological sequestration.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon dioxide is a gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. It occurs naturally and is also a by-product of human activities such as burning fossil fuels. It is the principal greenhouse gas produced by human activity.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent Six greenhouse gases are limited by the Kyoto Protocol and each has a different global warming potential. The overall warming effect of this cocktail of gases is often expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent – the amount of CO2 that would cause the same amount of warming.
Carbon footprint The amount of carbon emitted by an individual or organisation in a given period of time, or the amount of carbon emitted during the manufacture of a product.
Carbon intensity A unit of measure. The amount of carbon emitted by a country per unit of Gross Domestic Product.
Carbon leakage A term used to refer to the problem whereby industry relocates to countries where emission regimes are weaker, or non-existent.
Carbon neutral A process where there is no net release of CO2. For example, growing biomass takes CO2 out of the atmosphere, while burning it releases the gas again. The process would be carbon neutral if the amount taken out and the amount released were identical. A company or country can also achieve carbon neutrality by means of carbon offsetting.
Carbon offsetting A way of compensating for emissions of CO2 by participating in, or funding, efforts to take CO2 out of the atmosphere. Offsetting often involves paying another party, somewhere else, to save emissions equivalent to those produced by your activity.
Carbon sequestration The process of storing carbon dioxide. This can happen naturally, as growing trees and plants turn CO2 into biomass (wood, leaves, and so on). It can also refer to the capture and storage of CO2 produced by industry. See Carbon capture and storage.
Carbon sink Any process, activity or mechanism that removes carbon from the atmosphere. The biggest carbon sinks are the world’s oceans and forests, which absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere.
Certified Emission Reduction (CER) A greenhouse gas trading credit, under the UN Clean Development Mechanism programme. A CER may be earned by participating in emission reduction programmes – installing green technology, or planting forests – in developing countries. Each CER is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide.
CFCs The short name for chlorofluorocarbons – a family of gases that have contributed to stratospheric ozone depletion, but which are also potent greenhouse gases. Emissions of CFCs around the developed world are being phased out due to an international control agreement, the 1989 Montreal Protocol.
Clean coal technology Technology that enables coal to be burned without emitting CO2. Some systems currently being developed remove the CO2 before combustion, others remove it afterwards. Clean coal technology is unlikely to be widely available for at least a decade.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) A programme that enables developed countries or companies to earn credits by investing in greenhouse gas emission reduction or removal projects in developing countries. These credits can be used to offset emissions and bring the country or company below its mandatory target.
Climate change A pattern of change affecting global or regional climate, as measured by yardsticks such as average temperature and rainfall, or an alteration in frequency of extreme weather conditions. This variation may be caused by both natural processes and human activity. Global warming is one aspect of climate change.
CO2 See carbon dioxide.
Commitment period The time frame given to parties to the Kyoto Protocol to meet their emission reduction commitments. The first Kyoto commitment period runs from 2008-2012, during which industrialised countries are required collectively to reduce emissions to a level 5% below 1990 levels. Some countries would like the Copenhagen conference to prolong the effective life of the Kyoto Protocol by agreeing explicitly on a second commitment period.
COP15 The official title of the Copenhagen conference, which takes place from 7-18 December 2009. Alternatively, it can be called the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Country in transition Broadly speaking, any ex-Soviet bloc state. At the time the Kyoto Protocol was adopted in 1997, these countries were on the path from a Communist planned economy to a market economy. Many of them would now be categorised as market economies. Countries in transition to a market economy are grouped with industrialised countries in Annex I of the Kyoto Protocol, so they have emission reduction commitments to meet in the 2008-2012 period. In some cases their industrial base collapsed to such a degree in the early 1990s that they will have no difficulty meeting these commitments.
D
Dangerous climate change A term referring to severe climate change that will have a negative effect on societies, economies, and the environment as a whole. The phrase was introduced by the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which aims to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system.
Deforestation The permanent removal of standing forests that can lead to significant levels of carbon dioxide emissions.
E
Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) A scheme set up to allow the trading of emissions permits between business and/or countries as part of a cap and trade approach to limiting greenhouse gas emissions. The best-developed example is the EU’s trading scheme, launched in 2005. See Cap and trade.
EU Burden-sharing agreement A political agreement that was reached to help the EU reach its emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol (a reduction of 8% during the period 2008-2012, on average, compared with 1990 levels). The 1998 agreement divided the burden unequally amongst member states, taking into account national conditions, including greenhouse gas emissions at the time, the opportunity for reducing them, and countries’ levels of economic development.
F
Feedback loop In a feedback loop, rising temperatures on the Earth change the environment in ways that affect the rate of warming. Feedback loops can be positive (adding to the rate of warming), or negative (reducing it). The melting of Arctic ice provides an example of a positive feedback process. As the ice on the surface of the Arctic Ocean melts away, there is a smaller area of white ice to reflect the Sun’s heat back into space and more open, dark water to absorb it. The less ice there is, the more the water heats up, and the faster the remaining ice melts.
Flexible mechanism Instruments that help countries and companies meet emission reduction targets by paying others to reduce emissions for them. The mechanism in widest use is emissions trading, where companies or countries buy and sell permits to pollute. The Kyoto Protocol establishes two flexible mechanisms enabling rich countries to fund emission reduction projects in developing countries – Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
Fossil fuels Natural resources, such as coal, oil and natural gas, containing hydrocarbons. These fuels are formed in the Earth over millions of years and produce carbon dioxide when burnt.
G
Geological sequestration The injection of carbon dioxide into underground geological formations. When CO2 is injected into declining oil fields it can help to recover more of the oil.
Global average temperature The mean surface temperature of the Earth measured from three main sources: satellites, monthly readings from a network of over 3,000 surface temperature observation stations and sea surface temperature measurements taken mainly from the fleet of merchant ships, naval ships and data buoys.
Global energy budget The balance between the Earth’s incoming and outgoing energy. The current global climate system must adjust to rising greenhouse gas levels and, in the very long term, the Earth must get rid of energy at the same rate at which it receives energy from the sun.
Global dimming An observed widespread reduction in sunlight at the surface of the Earth, which varies significantly between regions. The most likely cause of global dimming is an interaction between sunlight and microscopic aerosol particles from human activities. In some regions, such as Europe, global dimming no longer occurs, thanks to clean air regulations.
Global warming The steady rise in global average temperature in recent decades, which experts believe is largely caused by man-made greenhouse gas emissions. The long-term trend continues upwards, they suggest, even though the warmest year on record, according to the UK’s Met Office, is 1998.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) A measure of a greenhouse gas’s ability to absorb heat and warm the atmosphere over a given time period. It is measured relative to a similar mass of carbon dioxide, which has a GWP of 1.0. So, for example, methane has a GWP of 25 over 100 years, the metric used in the Kyoto Protocol. It is important to know the timescale, as gases are removed from the atmosphere at different rates.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) Natural and industrial gases that trap heat from the Earth and warm the surface. The Kyoto Protocol restricts emissions of six greenhouse gases: natural (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane) and industrial (perfluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride).
Greenhouse effect The insulating effect of certain gases in the atmosphere, which allow solar radiation to warm the earth and then prevent some of the heat from escaping. See also Natural grH
Hockey stick The name given to a graph published in 1998 plotting the average temperature in the Northern hemisphere over the last 1,000 years. The line remains roughly flat until the last 100 years, when it bends sharply upwards. The graph has been cited as evidence to support the idea that global warming is a man-made phenomenon, but some scientists have challenged the data and methodology used to estimate historical temperatures. (It is also known as MBH98 after its creators, Michael E. Mann, Raymond S. Bradley and Malcolm K. Hughes.)
I
IPCC The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is a scientific body established by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical, and socio-economic work relevant to climate change, but does not carry out its own research. The IPCC was honoured with the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.
J
Joint implementation (JI) An agreement between two parties whereby one party struggling to meet its emission reductions under the Kyoto Protocol earns emission reduction units from another party’s emission removal project. The JI is a flexible and cost-efficient way of fulfilling Kyoto agreements while also encouraging foreign investment and technology transfer.
K
Kyoto Protocol A protocol attached to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which sets legally binding commitments on greenhouse gas emissions. Industrialised countries agreed to reduce their combined emissions to 5.2% below 1990 levels during the five-year period 2008-2012. It was agreed by governments at a 1997 UN conference in Kyoto, Japan, but did not legally come into force until 2005.
M
Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate A forum established in 2009 by US President Barack Obama to discuss elements of the agreement that will be negotiated at Copenhagen. Its members – Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, the UK and the US – account for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions. The forum is a modification of the Major Economies Meeting started by the former President George Bush, which was seen by some countries as an attempt to undermine UN negotiations.
Methane Methane is the second most important man-made greenhouse gas. Sources include both the natural world (wetlands, termites, wildfires) and human activity (agriculture, waste dumps, leaks from coal mining).
Mitigation Action that will reduce man-made climate change. This includes action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or absorb greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
N
Natural greenhouse effect The natural level of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, which keeps the planet about 30C warmer than it would otherwise be – essential for life as we know it. Water vapour is the most important component of the natural greenhouse effect.
Non-annex I countries The group of developing countries that have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol. They do not have binding emission reduction targets.
P
Per-capita emissions The total amount of greenhouse gas emitted by a country per unit of population.
Pre-industrial levels of carbon dioxide The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere prior to the start of the Industrial Revolution. These levels are estimated to be about 280 parts per million by volume (ppmv). The current level is around 380 ppmv.
R
REDD Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, a concept that would provide developing countries with a financial incentive to preserve forests. The Copenhagen conference is expected to finalise an international finance mechanism for the post-2012 global climate change framework.
S
Stern review A report on the economics of climate change led by Lord Nicholas Stern, a former World Bank economist. It was published on 30 October 2006 and argued that the cost of dealing with the consequences of climate change in the future would be higher than taking action to mitigate the problem now.
T
Technology transfer The process whereby technological advances are shared between different countries. Developed countries could, for example, share up-to-date renewable energy technologies with developing countries, in an effort to lower global greenhouse gas emissions.
U
UNFCCC The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is one of a series of international agreements on global environmental issues adopted at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The UNFCCC aims to prevent “dangerous” human interference with the climate system. It entered into force on 21 March 1994 and has been ratified by 192 countries.
W
Waxman-Markey bill Another name for the Boxer-Kerry bill, which aims to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions. See Boxer-Kerry bill.
Weather The state of the atmosphere with regard to temperature, cloudiness, rainfall, wind and other meteorological conditions. It is not the same as climate which is the average weather over a much longer period.
Monday, June 7, 2010
World Oceans Day
This years' theme is “Our oceans: opportunities and challenges
World Oceans Day
(WORLDWIDE, 6/8/2010) Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992.In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day.
The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans. The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere.
The theme of the inaugural observance of the World Oceans Day by the United Nations in 2009 was “Our Oceans, Our Responsibility”. The Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, in cooperation with the Department of Public Information, organized a number of events and activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 8 June 2009.World Oceans Day, “Our oceans, our responsibility”, emphasized our individual and collective duty to protect the marine environment and carefully manage its resources. Safe, healthy and productive seas and oceans are integral to human well-being, economic security and sustainable development.
This years’ observance will focus on how effectively UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) is operating as the legal framework for the oceans and seas after 15 years of its entry into force. The expert panel discussion on the theme “Our oceans: opportunities and challenges” is sponsored by the Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs.
Later in the afternoon, there will be a screening of the Disney nature feature “Oceans”, co-sponsored by the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, Office of Legal Affairs, and the Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations.
The Empire State Building in New York City will be light from white, blue to purple to signify the entirety of the oceans from the shallows to the darker depths, to mark the observance of World Oceans Day by the United Nations.
About UNCLOS
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), also called the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty, is the international agreement that resulted from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III), which took place from 1973 through 1982. The Law of the Sea Convention defines the rights and responsibilities of nations in their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources.The Convention, concluded in 1982, replaced four 1958 treaties. UNCLOS came into force in 1994, a year after Guyana became the 60th state to sign the treaty. To date, 158 countries and the European Community have joined in the Convention. However, it is now regarded as a codification of the customary international law on the issue.
While the Secretary General of the United Nations receives instruments of ratification and accession and the UN provides support for meetings of states party to the Convention, the UN has no direct operational role in the implementation of the Convention. There is, however, a role played by organizations such as the International Maritime Organization, the International Whaling Commission, and the International Seabed Authority (the latter being established by the UN Convention).
Environment Day
MANY SPECIES. ONE PLANET. ONE FUTURE.
World Environment Day is a celebration and a day of apprising people about the environment they are surrounded with. It is celebrated every year with a different theme on June 5 and is hosted by different cities. As part of the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, this year's event will be celebrated under the theme - Many Species. One Planet. One Future. The global host to the event this year is 'The Land of a Thousand Hills' - Rwanda, a country of remarkably biodiversity and one who has made vast contributions to environmental protection. India is yet to host such an event.
World Environment Day (WED) 2010 is aimed to be the biggest, most widely celebrated, global day for positive, environmental action.
Commemorated on 5 June since 1972, WED is one of the principal vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.
Through WED, we are able to give a human face to environmental issues and enable people to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.
WED is also a day for advocating partnerships among all stakeholders or perhaps, even more correctly, among all species living on this one planet and sharing a common future.
WED 2010 is aimed to be the biggest WED celebration ever and we count on you to make this happen! We call for action – organize a neighborhood clean-up, stop using plastic bags and get your community to do the same, plant a tree or better yet organize a collective tree planting effort, walk to work, start a recycling drive . . . the possibilities are endless.
Arts for the Earth
Arts for the Earth ™ is an innovative education program developed to teach sustainability and environmental education through museum and arts community networks.
The program’s goals are:
- to promote best practices in sustainability within the extensive arts and museum communities
- to work with our arts and educator networks to develop creative lesson plans that deliver environmental education through the arts
- to feature artists who have incorporated environmental themes into their works
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