Archive for November, 2007
Global Warming- What Could Business Do To Stop It
Thursday, November 15th, 2007 by Global WarmerThe greatest amount of time we’ll spend outside of the house will be at the workplace. Just as with private homes, offices and businesses could do well to analyze how they can work to reduce the impact they’re having on the environment, so as to reduce Global Warming.
In the U.S. about 30 percent of its greenhouse gases originated from the commercial and industrial sectors. This business community may therefore choose to have a valuable impact on the environment, for the good.
Because of steadily growing concern about Global Warming the business that takes a lead in decreasing its share of greenhouse gases (directly or by using less energy, which is typically fossil fuel based), will not only stand to gain support from others but will profit directly from following energy saving and cost reducing measures.
Though businesses are of varying sizes, here are certain suggestions that have already proven valuable -
- Allow some employees to work from home. Just a single day each week can save fuel.
- Energy saving lighting may be used.
- Communicating your energy reduction goals to suppliers and customers may earn their support for any ideas.
- Recycling programs may be started for food containers, paper, electronic equipment, and other assorted trash.
- Financial incentives can be provided to employees who carpool or use public transportation.
- Free parking can be arranged for people that car pool.
- Business cars may be switched with fuel efficient or hybrid cars.
- Make work hours flexible for employees who wish to car pool.
- Employees can be encouraged to suggest ways to reduce energy costs.
- Showers and lockers might be provided for people who walk, run, or ride a bicycle to work.
- Buy office supplies incorporating recycled content.
- Donate used equipment to schools or charities.
- Businesses of all sizes can create an in-house program or committee to analyze where changes can be made to reduce energy. These reports can be made weekly to chart progress.
- Recycle empty photocopier cartridges.
By following some of these ideas businesses benefit:
- They encourage a higher standard of work.
- They gain a public profile that builds customer goodwill.
- They have healthier and more active employees and less absenteeism.
- They save cash.
Employers and employees alike stand to benefit from acting to reduce bad greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere, directly or by lowering energy needs. Their efforts will not only help those in the future but also aid in forming a better work environment now.
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Greenpeace and it efforts in Global Warming
Monday, November 12th, 2007 by Global WarmerStructure of Greenpeace
The structure of Greenpeace is widespread since the organization is a global, with the headquarters of Greenpeace International in Amsterdam. Greenpeace International operates over 27 regional and national offices around the world. This allows Greenpeace International to have a presence in over 41 countries.
In most cases, Greenpeace International is mostly autonomous in the way they carry out their global campaign strategies. Local chapters of Greenpeace International work independently to carry out local missions and to work in the context of their own community. Larger national and regional offices help to support these smaller local chapters of Greenpeace International. However, local groups are also available to support larger regional offices of Greenpeace International.
Greenpeace efforts
Currently, Greenpeace International runs several projects and campaigns that fit into their priority agenda. Greenpeace International keeps a rotating set of issues, including perennial problems such as nuclear energy, over fishing, radiation, and other issues. Greenpeace International also seeks to create solutions, including creating marine reserves and searching for renewable energy. Currently, Greenpeace International is focused on addressing the most prescient environmental problems, including stopping the effects of Global Warming, preserving the world’s ancient forests, and preserving the purity of the world’s oceans.
Greenpeace International currently emphasizes peaceful direct action to bring attention to the world’s most prescient environmental problems. For example, Greenpeace International volunteers will often place themselves in prominent positions that gain media attention, such as putting themselves between a whaler and a whaler’s harpoon.
Another example of the way Greenpeace International gets its message out is to have volunteers dress up as nuclear waste barrels and infiltrate nuclear plant facilities. Recently, Greenpeace International volunteers attempted to infiltrate the G8 Summit taking place in Germany on jet skis, catching the world media’s attention in the meantime.
Currently, Greenpeace International has a list of current priorities that it has put on its agenda. The current list of Greenpeace International priorities includes a wide range of prescient policy issues. These include the issue of climate change, or Global Warming.
Greenpeace International is also seeking to help preserve the world’s oceans, including stopping bottom trawling and worldwide whaling. Greenpeace International is also seeking to stop worldwide deforestation and to save the world’s ancient forests. Greenpeace International also seeks to promote global sustainable agriculture. Greenpeace International also seeks to encourage the elimination of toxic chemicals, including many carcinogens, from the production methods.
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What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Global Warming
Thursday, November 8th, 2007 by Global WarmerEveryone understands that Earth’s climate can and does change. Over time, volcanoes and the Sun’s energy output changed the overall temperature of the Earth. Patterns recorded by researchers indicate these temperatures can go both high and low - but that in the last fifty years the tendency is to go higher and higher.
In 1988 the U.N. and the World Meteorological Organization set up the I.P.C.C. or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Recently this panel has looked over the most comprehensive data from around the world to evaluate Global Warming. Through the intervening years the conclusion was arrived at that the world’s climate had greatly changed. Warming was in an upward trend. And that the majority of the increase in the last half century was directly attributable to mankind’s activities. Their 4th and most recent report will include over twenty-five hundred scientists from 130 countries. It’ll be available in November of 2007.
It is not just the recorded temperatures and comprehensive readings of the amounts of carbon dioxide in the air that tell us that a dramatic change is taking place. The Earth itself is showing the warning signs for all to notice.
Some warning signs that our planet is undergoing a climate change include:
- Rise in sea levels and flooding of coastal regions.
- Dramatic changes in plant life, eco-systems, and animal migrations.
- Hotter sustained temperatures in above ground air.
- Long term glaciers melting and slowly disappearing.
- Increase in intensity of major storms.
- Raised temperatures in oceans.
- Polar regions changing drastically.
These principal changes are among the most obvious signs that something dramatic is taking place. As we examine each of these changes and how the effects filter down to our environment, the evidence grows that untold damage could result if action is not taken soon.
The signs that the Earth is affected can’t be treated lightly. The ongoing buildup of hot house gases is causing an effect that heats the Earth more, which in turn releases more gases. To stop Global Warming will require cooperative efforts from all nations, communities, and individuals. The requirement to reduce the methane and carbon dioxide gases emitted by fossil fuels is just the start in hopefully reestablishing a worldwide climate that is within a comfortable range of temperatures.
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Global Warming And Trash Processing
Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 by Global WarmerGarbage disposal is an important topic for our times. Gone are the times when just taking our garbage to the curb merited little thought. Landfills are being taxed more and more by greater population as well as industrial growth. And an enormous amount of greenhouse gases are emitted by the rotting trash.
For instance, according to one statistic approximately 1/5th of Canada’s output of greenhouse gases come from its landfills. This indicates the issue now facing our nations is how to deal with the volume of refuse in an effective manner that won’t cause further pollution.
Three main ways that a community manages waste include -
- Burning - This will send carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide into the air. Nitrous oxide is over three hundred times more potent than carbon dioxide, but this energy released can be captured and used.
- Landfill - The most usual method of disposal. This method will release the greatest amount of methane into the atmosphere. Methane is about 20 times more active a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but it can be used as an energy source. A few landfills have found a way to siphon off this gas and use it. Also because many items in landfills decompose incompletely the carbon dioxide contained in them will stay locked in the ground.
- Composting - While some carbon dioxide is released from decomposing organic garbage, some will not be released into the air but will remain in the soil.
The production and shipping of any product adds somewhat to the greenhouse gases that go up into the air. Successful waste handling begins when industries and businesses plan in advance to reduce wasteful packaging and search out better sources of energy in creating their product. Consumers begin by supporting companies that are following these ideals and by buying products that have been in part recycled.
Yet another way to support garbage management is to follow the adage “waste not, want not”. By efficiently using what we currently have we won’t add to the garbage piling up any quicker than we have to. It will also reduce what we buy and use.
Can Crusher for Recycling is a giffy gadget for your community.
The next option is to see what may be recycled after use. Many communities provide recycling services that accept unsoiled paper, metal, glass, and plastic. This is valuable because while producing any product takes energy and contributes to emissions, using recycled products cuts down on the energy used - just as reusing wood and paper products save more trees.
Garbage management is vital - but ultimately, for the maximum results it should be considered the responsibility of us all, and not solely that of the local government.
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