Chlorophytum, Spider Plant
Chlorophytum is attractive green with white stripe variegation. This plant is indoor as well as outdoor plant.
With this purchase you will get:
Description for Chlorophytum, Spider Plant
The Spider Plant, or Chlorophytum, is possibly the most popular house plant.
One of the most interesting points of the Spider Plant is its ability to rapidly propagate itself, through us, people!
A “baby” or “pup” from the mother plant will often root with a very high success rate and within a year it s producing babies of its own to give out to your family and friends. Children love it and adults too.
They are good at purifying the air in your home and they are very easy to maintain.
Planting and care
Chlorophytum grows very well in cultivation. Its ornamental, gracefully ascending-spreading to recurved leaves in a central rosette make it so popular.
The many â€˜pups or vegetative plant-lets are usually given away by the owners and this has resulted in the species being one of the most commonly used and popular house plants throughout the world.
The white-striped cultivars are probably more often grown than the original plant. In the garden it grows best under trees or on shady embankments, especially in gardens in the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt. It is a fast grower.
In other parts of the world it can also be grown out-of-doors, but is best cultivated in Mediterranean-type gardens where frost is not too severe (parts of California and the Mediterranean).
The plant prefers partial shade, especially in hot dry climates. It should therefore be protected from full sun.
Plants should reach flowering size within a year.
Caring for Chlorophytum
- The young plants when rooted can be replanted and transplanted outdoors and used summer bedding, but when planted this way they will need protection from direct sun. Keep it well fed and pot-bound. When its stems fill the pot, and when the white, worm like rhizomes bulge over the surface, it can divided easily.
Typical uses of Chlorophytum
Ornamental use: Spider plants look best in hanging baskets or on tall stands or pedestals to show off their trailing foliage.
Their variegated leaves and graceful, fountain-like growing habit add a beautiful contrast and texture when grouped with other house plants.


Summer is the season that is filled with outside activities. Everybody is out in the sunlight enjoying the scenery. Summer is certainly also the season for accidents and insect bites. Bees attack human beings and other insects when they feel their territory is threatened.
Bees are eventful insects and are very defensive. If you happen to travel around their beehive in their territory or block their way, they will probably sting you. Although bee stings do not require medical assistance but if you are stung by several bees at a time it can be severe. Some individuals are also allergic to bee stings.
Occasionally bee stings can cause extremely severe difficulties such as anaphylaxis which is a severe allergic response. Some individuals might experience a drop in their blood pressure that can cause them to lose consciousness. Individuals who are allergic to bee sting might experience problems breathing, feeling faint, hives, rapid pulse and vomiting.
Six Treatment Tips For Bee Stings
- As with any medical disorder, the finest treatment is avoidance. The most evident way to avoid a bee sting is to understand the territorial nature of bees. Though one bee soaring around your backyard does not generally produce any threat, if you begin seeing more than two bees of the same kind in the same small region, you can be certain that you are close to their hive.
- Bees are automatically attracted by scents and other sugary smells you use can confuse bees and attract them to you.
- An additional prevention step is to shift away from the beehive or moving in the opposite path of the hive. If you are close to the hive, this will cause agitation among the bees.
- If it is a single bee sting and you are able to get rid of the stinger without damaging any venom sacs, you can clean the region with a large amount of cold water and clean it with soap.
- Given that bee stings are also toxic, causing inflammation, it should be treated cautiously. Rinse the stung region with cold water and soap. Cold water can help decrease inflammation and the soap will help prevent a bacterial virus that may occur.
- If you do not discover any severe symptom, you can do some first aids such as placing ice or an antibiotic gel. This will decrease further pain. The ice will also lessen the inflammation and burning sensation and the antibiotic gel will reduce the possibility of a bacterial virus.
Related Video On Bee Stings


Improving nutrient application improves water quality and farm profitability
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The maintenance of good quality water, whether drinking water, river water or ocean water, is in everyone’s interest. Over the last couple of decades, the sugar industry has played a significant part in attempting to address water quality concerns. So how can recommended sugar industry fertiliser practices contribute to the improvement of both water quality and farm profitability?
- CaneConnection articles


The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance has published in the Kenya Gazette the regulations establishing the Water Towers Conservation Fund. The Fund will support the restoration, conservation and sustainable management of the Mau Forests Complex and the other waters towers in Kenya in an equitable, efficient and transparent manner.
The regulations were prepared by the Interim Coordinating Secretariat, the Ministry for Finance and the Attorney-General Chambers after consultation with other relevant ministries. The establishment of the Fund is part of the Interim Coordinating Secretariat’s mandate which includes “to develop the framework for long-term measures to restore and sustainably manage the Mau Forests Complex and other water towers”.
In line with the regulations, the Office of the Prime Minister, being the ministry for the time being responsible for the coordination of the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of the Mau Forests Complex and other water towers, will operationalize and administer the Fund.
The Fund will be managed by a National Water Towers Management Committee that will comprise eight members:
- The Chairman who shall not be a public officer, appointed by virtue of his knowledge and experience in matter relating to good governance and the management of public resources;
- The Permanent Secretaries from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and Ministry of Water and Irrigation; and,
- Four other persons appointed by virtue of their knowledge and experience in matters relating to the management of public resources, financial management, restoration, sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, including forest, land and water resources and mainstreaming of poverty reduction strategies in sustainable rural development.
Kindly peruse the notice by clicking the link provided in the Mau Restoration Website
Report courtesy of the Interim Coordinating Secretariat (ICS)


S72 Solar Mobile Power Supply
Author: Source: Datetime: 2016-10-08 15:42:59
Mobile Sunshine S72 mobile power on the sun can directly use solar charging, extended mobile power life, the nominal capacity of 7200mAh lifepo4 battery pack, can support the maximum 5V / 1A charge output, can be better To meet the needs of most users of digital devices in the hands of the charge. Many people have encountered in outdoor digital equipment without the pain, a long time outdoors with a solar mobile power is necessary.
Mobile S72 mobile power fuselage comes with monocrystalline silicon solar panels, had been used for the military; body heat ABS air plastic, better than ordinary plastic heat dissipation, better protection of power. Monocrystalline silicon solar panels allow the conversion of solar light to mobile phones, PSP and other electronic equipment.
This S72 use lifepo4 batteries with BMS very safe.Move the sun S72 top of the key hole for the beautiful design, simple and stylish, usually the user can hang it on the wall, saving space, carrying out, you can wear through the rope ring in the chest, easy access at any time. Keyhole design below a black power key, it is very eye-catching, next to the design of four LED power indicator, you can press the power key to see the remaining power. This mobile power in the design of the beginning of the adoption of a lot of user recommendations for the majority of users.
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We all live underneath a huge ocean of air that is several miles deep. The pressure on our bodies is about the same as ten meters of sea water pressing down on us all the time. As you go up a mountain, the air becomes less compressed and is therefore thinner.
Boyle’s law: the pressure of a given gas is inversely proportional to its volume at a constant temperature. This relationship between pressure and volume means doubling the volume of a given mass of gas decreases its pressure by half.
The percentage of oxygen molecules is exactly the same, 21%, at any given altitude, The problem is that the concentration of all the molecules decrease since the volume increased, including the Oxygen.
So although the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere is the same, the thinner air means there is less oxygen to breathe.


Sleeping in our homes
Another factor which ranks highly is how good and sound asleep we are sleeping in our homes. The importance of sleep for health is of course great, but it also influences our performance. But what we do with the trapped air that we have in our bedroom?
Sleep better in the dark and noise-free rooms
Most of us would agree that we sleep better in the dark and noise-free rooms. A new Danish study shows that even the air quality affects the quality of sleep. The study was admittedly quite small but gave clear results.
In the survey healthy people in ages of 20-30 were sleeping in rooms with different air quality. The difference in air quality were obtained by three different degrees of ventilation:
1) closed bedroom window (almost no ventilation) – resulting in poor indoor air quality
2) bedroom window ajar – which gave good air quality
3) closed windows with mechanical ventilation, which gave good air quality
Sleeping better with good air quality provided by ventilation
In the last case of mechanical ventilation subjects were asleep fastest, were the most alert and felt better the next day.
An interesting observation was made that despite the fact that air quality was about the same in cases 2) and 3), the quality of sleep and next day´s performance was lower for those who slept with the window slightly open. The conductors of the test believed that this is likely due to the disrupted traffic and perhaps other sounds from outside.
Read more about our homes and ventilation
Read more about why do we need ventilation and the effects on our health in our homes (link here). Other important issues to consider our homes are: air we breathe (link here), moisture (read more here), pollutions (read more here) and radon (read more here).


In Western Europe, Fukushima’s power reactor disaster has produced a loud round of anti-nuclear power reactions. Germany says it will phase out atomic power by 2022, and the Swiss insist they will shutter their reactor fleet by 2034. Earlier this month, the Italian public rebuked Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s nuclear plans with an overwhelming approval of a binding, national anti-nuclear referendum and Finland’s new coalition government just signalled the end of any further nuclear construction by appointing a Green to be environment minister. Even in France, the Socialists—a major political force—are now courting the French Green Party, which is demanding a French power reactor close out by 2040. Add to this previously planned reactor decommissionings and the prospects for any net European nuclear-power expansion in the next two decades does not look good.
The question now is, what implications, if any, will these actions have for energy policy in Europe and beyond? The trick will be not to prejudge what they might be.
Atomic power’s supporters, of course, insist that if nuclear power is not allowed to expand further, electricity prices will soar. Europe, they warn, will only become more dependent on Russian gas and rely more on French and Eastern European nuclear power, and green house gas emissions will increase. Europe will be deprived of critical base-load electricity, they insist. Industrial production will decline.
Some of this sounds reasonable but to what extent each prediction is true (if at all) is pretty unclear. Indeed, the more nuclear power’s supporters denigrate their European opponents, the more the dare to unplug nuclear in 10 to 20 years gains in value as an experiment to see just who is right.
There is certainly plenty to learn.
Will Western Europe become dangerously dependent upon Russian natural gas? Natural gas burns relatively cleanly (emitting half the carbon of most types of coal), is vastly more efficient for heating, and is far more affordable than petroleum for anything but cars and trucks. Not surprisingly, France, Italy, and Spain all have long-term gas contracts with Algeria. However, these contracts were cut when gas prices were tied to the high price of oil. Natural gas is so abundant now, though, gas spot market prices are far lower than oil, so indexing the price to oil, as these long-term contracts do, no longer makes sense. Will they be renegotiated? If so, when?
As for unconventional gas, Poland has discovered plenty. The Russians, eager for political control, want to develop it. Will Poland let them or might others take the lead?
France, with a vast surplus of nuclear electrical capacity, encourages its citizens to mop up this excess by heating their homes inefficiently with electricity. Meanwhile, France imports expensive natural gas to take care of spikes in electrical demand that nuclear can’t supply. Compounding this energy weirdness, the French have banned domestic unconventional gas exploration for “environmental” reasons. Is this the model Europe will follow or will domestic fracking be allowed?
Very close to Europe, massive amounts of unconventional gas have been discovered off Israel’s shores that the U.S. Geological Survey describes as being “bigger than anything we have assessed in the US.” Natural gas’s low price currently has stymied development of these reserves. When might rising European demand change that?
Then there is the matter of integrating and modernizing Europe’s electrical distribution system. Germany is pushing this to reduce the number of generating stations needed to keep the current grid from collapsing and to accommodate more intermittent renewables like wind and solar. How feasible is this?
Finally, there are the renewable technologies themselves. Will their declining costs (currently tracking a kind of Moore’s Law) make them deployable without subsidies? If so, when?
The short answer is that we don’t know but are sure to find out well before the last power reactor is switched off in one to two decades. During the interim, nuclear power’s supporters have plenty to keep themselves busy, starting with safety.
Fukushima, it turns out, was not just a natural disaster. Emergency preparedness and management cocked up. Safety backup and electrical supply systems failed and the earthquake – not just the Tsunami – triggered much of this. Certainly, if the world’s leading nuclear regulators in the U.S., Europe, and Japan pull their punch or coddle the industry, they risk clearing the way for another Fukushima.


If you are new to bonsai, you may have some pretty understandable questions, such as “how long can a bonsai go without water?”
After all, the art of bonsai is pretty complex and delicate, so it’s essential to be aware of such crucial factors to get the ideal tree.
Because many different species can become bonsai trees, there is no universal amount of time a bonsai tree can go without water.
However, the average time a tree can survive without water is two weeks.
But, you should know that several other factors can affect how often you should water your bonsai.
In this article, we’ll look at different elements, like species and environment, that can help you decide when you’ll need to water your bonsai.
How Long Can a Bonsai Go Without Water?
First of all, you should know that there is no such thing as a “bonsai” species of tree.
There are actually many different species that can become bonsai trees.
Naturally, this means there is no universal constant as to how often you’ll need to water a bonsai tree.
After all, different trees have different needs.
And the species of the bonsai tree in question may determine how often you need to water it, more so than any other factor.
Yet, of course, many species that have become popular as bonsai trees have done so because they are easy to take care of and do not require constant attention.
Thus, most species of tree that people use for bonsai can go without water for roughly two weeks.
If conditions around the tree are absolutely ideal, they might be able to live without water for three weeks.
But, you should definitely research the particular type of tree you are using as a bonsai and check how often you’ll need to water it.
That’s the best way to ensure you get an accurate idea of how often to water your bonsai.
How to Tell When to Water Your Bonsai
Unfortunately, taking care of trees is not an exact science.
You just don’t have a nifty little meter or clock that tells you the exact time you’ll need to water a tree.
So, you often have to make an educated guess.
That being the case, there are ways for you to make an informed guess as to when your bonsai needs water, and you can usually do that by feeling the soil.
Thus, if you are unsure if it is time to water your bonsai, stick your finger into the soil, about half an inch deep.
This soil should be fairly moist.
If the soil at that depth is dry, it’s probably a good time to water your bonsai.
However, it’s essential to remember that this is a general rule of thumb and may not be the most accurate way to judge when you should water your bonsai.
Still, this method can be pretty useful in determining when your tree needs a drink.
Home Conditions Make a Difference
How long your bonsai can survive between waterings depends a lot on the conditions the bonsai tree has to put up within your house.
As you may imagine, if your home is full of hot, dry air, you may need to water the bonsai rather frequently.
So, generally speaking, you don’t want the humidity in the surrounding environment to be too low.
And some parts of your home may be more humid than others, so try to pick a relatively humid spot for your bonsai tree.
How Often Should You Water a Bonsai for Optimum Health?
Earlier, I said that a bonsai could go without water for two weeks on average and even three in some cases.
But just because that’s how long a bonsai can go without water does not mean that’s how long you should actually wait to water it under normal circumstances.
Your bonsai may survive without water for two or three weeks, but you typically still want to water it every four to seven days if you want the tree to be healthy and not have any problems.
You certainly wouldn’t want to water it only once every two weeks, or the tree could start to look sickly.
Overall, bonsai trees need regular water to stay healthy and strong.
Below are some of the most common bonsai species and some guidelines about when you should water them.
Ficus bonsais prefer moist soil, so you should check its dirt every day to ensure the top layer is still damp.
Overall, you should never allow the soil of a ficus bonsai to get any more than slightly dry.
Normally, you’ll need to water a juniper bonsai every two or three days.
However, if you live in a particularly wet climate, you may only need to water it once a week.
Japanese Maple Bonsai
In the first month after planting, you should water your Japanese maple every two or three days.
Yet, after a month, you will only need to water it once a week or more often if the soil gets dry.
Many species of trees can be bonsais, meaning you may need to water different bonsai trees at different rates.
Therefore, you should research the needs of the particular species of tree you own.
Yet, generally speaking, a bonsai tree can survive for up to two weeks without water before it starts suffering adverse effects.
However, if the environment the tree exists in is particularly suitable for the tree, it may be able to go as long as three weeks without water.
You should strive to water your bonsai about every four to seven days, though, to ensure the plant stays healthy and beautiful.
Table of Contents


WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
Portable solar panels are more compact solar panels, or foldable panels, which are easier to install and can be brought with you wherever you go. They convert sunlight into electricity or heat like typical solar panels, with each panel being divided up into smaller cells made of thin layers of silicon. Even the biggest portable solar panel can be carried in a car.
Portable solar panel kits usually come with things like a cable, storage case, stand, solar charge controller, inverter, and a battery. Because of its portability, it is a great option for having a power device on the go.
Portable & Foldable Solar Panels
ROCKSOLAR's portable and foldable solar panels are the perfect solution for those seeking convenient access to renewable energy on-the-go. Designed with both portability and efficiency in mind, these panels are lightweight and compact, making them easy to transport and store. Whether you're camping, hiking, or traveling off the grid, ROCKSOLAR's panels provide a reliable source of clean energy to power your devices and appliances. With ROCKSOLAR, you can enjoy the freedom and convenience of solar energy wherever you go.
Ultra-thin Flexible Solar Panels
ROCKSOLAR's Ultra-thin Flexible Solar Panels are innovative and versatile solar panels designed for easy integration into a range of applications. With a thickness of just a few millimeters, these panels are incredibly lightweight and flexible, making them ideal for use in curved or uneven surfaces where traditional rigid panels cannot be used. They are also durable and weather-resistant, able to withstand harsh environmental conditions. These solar panels are highly efficient and can produce power even in low light conditions.
Rigid Solar Panels
ROCKSOLAR's Rigid Solar Panels are high-performance solar panels that provide reliable and efficient power for a variety of applications. They are constructed using high-quality materials, making them durable and long-lasting. They are designed to be mounted onto a fixed surface, such as a rooftop, and can withstand extreme weather conditions, including high winds and heavy snow loads. ROCKSOLAR's Rigid Solar Panels are highly efficient, converting sunlight into electricity at a high rate, and are available in a range of sizes and power outputs to suit various needs.
HOW TO CHOOSE A GOOD SOLAR PANEL
ROCKSOLAR CA offers a great selection of portable solar panels, but you should go over these key features to make sure you’re choosing the right kit for your needs.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels
The charging efficiency can reach up to 24% when made with monocrystalline solar cells and equipped with adjustable stands. Make the most of solar energy.
Unlimited Power Supply
ROCKSOLAR power stations can store solar energy at fast speeds, and charge your gear with high efficiency no matter where you are.
Simple Plug & Play Procedure
You can pair your solar panels with a power station easily so you can be online while off-the-grid.
ROCKSOLAR solar panels are designed for portability with their foldable design feature and easy, lightweight carry case.
Even when you factor in the manufacturing process of solar panels, the emissions generated
can be up to 25 times less than the same amount of energy from fossil fuels. This makes the technology extremely beneficial and eco-friendly.
Compare & Buy
ROCKSOLAR 150W 12V Rigid Solar Panel
ROCKSOLAR 100W 12V Rigid Solar Panel
ROCKSOLAR 50W 12V Rigid Solar Panel
ROCKSOLAR 30W 12V Flexible Solar Panel
ROCKSOLAR 15W 12V Flexible Solar Panel
|44.09 x 26.38 x 1.18 inches
|29.92 x 26.38 x 1.18 inches
|26.38 x 16.14 x 0.98 inches
|21.26 x 13.78 x 0.78 inches
|11.81 x 13.78 x 0.78 inches
|150W Rigid Solar Panel, MC4 Connectors
|100W Rigid Solar Panel, MC4 Connectors
|50W Rigid Solar Panel, MC4 Connectors
|30W Solar Panel, Charging Adapters, Suction Cup, MC4 Connector
|15W Solar Panel, Charging Adapters, Suction Cup, MC4 Connector
Where can I use ROCKSOLAR Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel?
Our ROCKSOLAR Flexible Solar Panel can be used in a wide range of applications: RV, Field Work Charging, Camping, Off-Grid Setups, Marine & Boats, Irregular surfaces and so much more!
Where can I use ROCKSOLAR Foldable Solar Panel Portable?
You can use it for camping trips, outdoor photography, fishing trips, hiking excursions, and more.
Is it thin and flexible?
Yes, our ROCKSOLAR 100W 12V Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel is thin and flexible.
Does this product has power storage?
This product doesn't have a power storage function. The charging effect will be different based on different sunlight angles, sunlight radiance, and the actual demands of the device on the charging current.
Is this product waterproof?
Yes, this product is Weather resistant and laminated with glass-faced monocrystalline silicon allowing this panel to operate in the least optimal situations. Bypass Diodes to reduce power drop from shadows. IP65 Rating. Operating temperature: -20 ~ +50


We FINALLY Know Why Melbourne's Spring Has SUCKED So Much!
It’s been one of the toughest springs to get through in Melbourne, and it seems we finally know the reason.
While Spring always triggers high winds in Melbourne, this October has been particularly blustery.
In the last month alone, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued 50 severe weather warnings amid Melbourne’s seventh storm.
Usually, according to senior climatologist Kevin Smith, we only get ‘about three’ storms during October.
But it was so bad this year, and it was our worst since ‘2009. So it's certainly been a bit windier than normal [in Victoria]. Spring in itself is a naturally variable period because you transition from winter to summer.
"So you are going to get extremes."
The reason why? Something you may never have heard of called the Indian Ocean Dipole. The Dipole is the name for the changing ocean temperatures that affect our weather, and at the moment, it is experiencing it’s strongest negative in 50 years.
That is also why spring has felt like winter.
"All these things are affecting us," Mr Smith said.
"Everything is happening at once."
However, there is some good news, with the wild weather set to calm as soon as the mercury beings to climb.
"We'll be back to more normal conditions soon, and January rainfall will be more average," Smith said.


Written by Philip Lymbery
Saturday, February 27th is International Polar Bear Day. A day to celebrate these magnificent animals whose plight has drawn the world’s attention to the threat of climate change.
Two years ago, in February 2019, the Russian archipelago of Novaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean experienced a mass invasion of polar bears. According to reports, as many as 52 polar bears were searching garbage and entering buildings in search of food. Adults and youngsters jostled for what edible pickings they could find amongst the bags, rags and plastic bottles strewn around. They got into dumpsters and even buildings where they were filmed making their way past children’s pushchairs parked in a residential hallway. Extra fences were erected around schools and other buildings to keep the hungry visitors out. Special patrols were mounted with cars and dogs to shoo them back to where they came from.
Commenting on the Novaya Zemlya polar bear invasion, WWF Russia said, the “number of human and predator encounters in the Arctic is increasing. The main reason is the decline of the sea ice area due to the changing climate. In the absence of ice cover, animals are forced to go ashore in search of food. And settlements with spontaneous waste deposits are the most attractive places.”
These real-world examples of accelerating climate change are increasingly catching the eye of those in positions of power; the question is whether they are prepared to do what’s necessary to save the future for people, polar bears and the rest of life on this planet?
Time is Running Out
“We are the last generation that can prevent irreparable damage to our planet,” Former General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés (Ecuador) told world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in March 2019. She went on to stress that there was only a decade left to avert catastrophe from climate change. Garcés described the issue as one of “intergenerational justice,” one that would have a profound effect on future generations.
Garcés was pointing to the latest global assessment by scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC report found that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions, including in energy, transport and land. The latter – land – being shorthand for agriculture. Going just half a degree higher could mean drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.
To many, the link between those dump-invading polar bears and the rearing of pigs, chickens and cows for food is far from obvious; however, drawing those links – and doing something about them – will be critical if we are to stave off the worst effects of climate change.
Food is responsible for 21–37 per cent of total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. In agriculture, the biggest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is farmed animals. Globally, the production of animal products is responsible for up to 78 per cent of all agricultural emissions.
As it is, the farmed animals sector produces more direct greenhouse gas emissions than the entirety of human transport.
In many a climate discussion, cows are cited as a big problem because of the methane they emit; factory farmed pigs and chickens on the other hand are wrongly overlooked.
Industrial pigs and poultry may not be emitting large quantities of methane directly in the same way as ruminant animals. However, their rearing still produces serious emissions. Carbon dioxide is released from the intensively managed soils needed to grow their feed. Added to this, intensive pig and poultry rearing also involves feeding soya from deforested farmland in South America, a major source of carbon, into the atmosphere. To get a sense of proportion here, scientists suggest that up to two-thirds of arable land globally is feeding factory farmed pigs, chickens and cattle, as well as biofuel-powered vehicles.
Growing feed for factory farmed animals is also causing substantial emissions of nitrous oxide – the most aggressive greenhouse gas – from fertilizers. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and it also depletes the ozone layer.
The world’s governments gathered in Paris in December 2015 to strike an historic deal to limit global warming within the 2-degree Centigrade temperature rise deemed by scientists to be the ‘safe’ maximum level. Even at this level, scientists believe we doom about a third or more of all land-based species of plants and animals to extinction.
For decades, polar bears have been the icon of many a campaign to curb climate change; yet still their numbers dwindle. Polar bears sit on top of the world on rapidly shrinking ice packs. As the world warms, they have nowhere left to go. Today, they number about 26,000. Scientists estimate that by the end of the century, polar bears will be all but extinct.
Pigs and poultry on the other hand continue to increase, their numbers already running into tens of billions, mostly living miserable lives on factory farms. As their numbers swell, so too does the burden of cropland to feed them and the consequent release of carbon into the atmosphere.
As the stakes ramp up and the consequences become ever more obvious, normally deadpan scientists are making statements that become ever-more shrill. One such assessment predicts a future “far more dangerous” than currently believed: “The scale of the threats to the biosphere and all its lifeforms—including humanity—is in fact so great that it is difficult to grasp for even well-informed experts.”
With the clock ticking fast, polar bears are increasingly seen as bellwether for not just animals high up in the remote Arctic, but also the wellbeing of generations of people to come.
In deciding what kind of future we create for polar bears, pigs and people, the question of food and how it gets produced could well be a defining one.


Sustainable development is a phrase you hear a lot these days. It refers to a way of doing things that meet the needs of people right now in a way that doesn’t compromise the planet for future generations. There’s a whole UN report on it here.
Sustainable water projects generally have two elements — the “technology” of clean water delivery, which can be as simple as building a well, and education, so people know how to avoid polluting their water system.
Here are four amazing water sustainability projects that are making a difference:
1) Water For People
Established in 1991, Water For People was developed out of the American Water Works Association and has projects in Latin America, Africa and India.
Their project in Tiraque, Bolivia, is helping to provide clean water to local communities. In Uchuchi Kancha, a community within Tiraque, that has meant a gravity-fed water system that reaches each of the 63 families in the community.
Water For People also have a rather helpful online reporting portal so you can track the progress on each of their projects.
2) Clear Cambodia
In Cambodia, large numbers of the rural population don’t have access to safe drinking water. Clear Cambodia works with rural populations to install water purification technology such as BioSand Filters in households and villages.
A BioSand Filter looks like a tall box and works by filtering dirty water through sand, gravel and a ‘biofilm’ layer to remove solid particles and unseen bacteria. It’s an effective and relatively cheap solution for cleaning contaminated water and is used by poverty-stricken communities all over the world.
Over the last few years, Clear Cambodia has installed more than 150,000 of these filters in households around the country.
3) One Drop
Founded by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté in 2007, One Drop uses an approach it calls the “ABC of sustainability” – that’s (A) providing access to clean water, (B) facilitating behavioral change, and (C) providing capital in the form of microloans and training for investment.
Its India project won a UN Water Best Practices Award in 2015 for its community mobilisation and education work. The project included innovative ideas to get its message across, including the production of a Bollywood-style movie.
4) Water Wise Coffee Project
Well, of course we had to put Water Wise in here too! It’s a great project that is helping coffee farmers around the world clean up their local water supplies.
Processing coffee can produce a great deal of waste that is often allowed to get into local rivers. The Water Wise projects helps coffee wet mills to avoid this problem by separating the coffee and turning it into compost, and cleaning the waste water using natural Vetiver grass.
You can learn more about the Water Wise Coffee Project here.


Suttons Tankers has won a five-year contract with AdBlue producer Yara for the customer delivery of the company’s Air1-branded bulk AdBlue. Part of the global Suttons Group, the company will transport the clear non-toxic liquid across the country from sites in Scunthorpe, Immingham, Tilbury, Widnes and Gretna. AdBlue is a diesel exhaust fluid used in vehicles with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to reduce harmful gases being released into the atmosphere. Commented Suttons Tankers MD Michael Cundy: “We already have […]
Delivery management company Whistl has acquired Devon-based fulfilment and contact centre firm Clientbase for an undisclosed sum.
UPS said it was working hard to mitigate an increase in ‘cash on delivery’ (CoD) transactions taking place when goods are delivered, after concerns were raised about drivers’ safety.


CLEVELAND — Almost everything about her lifestyle screams sustainability. From growing her own food to keeping cardboard for the local church. Ellen Kirtner-LaFleur takes her carbon footprint seriously.
"These are our fall crops that we're getting ready to put in,” said Kirtner-LaFleur while pointing to her garden.
This Cleveland resident recycled everything she could until she found out the city of Cleveland’s recycling contract ran out and it wasn’t renewed.
"It was like a big surprise to read about,” she said.
When Ellen learned everything she was trying to recycle all of her cans, plastics, papers ended up in a landfill, Ellen was furious so she did something about it.
"The goal is to bring neighbors together and then to keep materials out of the landfill,” she said.
Ellen started a website called Westside Trash Connectors.
The concept is simple, something that could have been recycled goes to a neighbor who needs it and stays out of the trash.
"I have one friend who is a gardener and she collects yogurt cups all year so she can start her plants, her seedlings in them,” said Ellen. "The idea of having one central location for all those requests to come through I think will hopefully be really helpful.”
"There are all of these environmental impacts but then there’s just impacts to people feeling disempowered,” said Bridget Flynn.
Flynn is the sustainability manager at Oberlin College, a place well-known for reducing its carbon footprint.
Flynn says counteracting the impacts of the overwhelming amounts of waste we produce takes people like Ellen and so much more.
"There are individual actions but then there’s city’s and county’s who take responsibility for hauling your waste and recycling or putting the contracts in place to be able to do those kinds of things and then there’s another level of the actual recycling centers and then there’s another level of our manufacturers and another level of just our society and our economy,” said Flynn.
The City of Cleveland tells News 5 it’s still working to get a new contract. In the meantime, Ellen will keep turning one neighbor's trash into another’s recycled treasure.
"To the extent that we can really be kind to our environment and hope it lasts a little longer I think it's really important,” said Ellen.
This story is part of A Better Land, an ongoing series that investigates Northeast Ohio's deep-seated systemic problems. Additionally, it puts a spotlight on the community heroes fighting for positive change in Cleveland and throughout the region. If you have an idea for A Better Land story, tell us here.


Simply click a reference and enjoy.
Meet Your Mentor
Mentor Robert Campbell takes visiting Professor Vasant Wagh (Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University in Nanded, India) to the 16 to One Gold Mine Museum located in Allegany, California. [PART I] VIDEO
Defining Our Issues and Engaging the Public
Links to Water Management Strategies and Ideas
Unbundling Water Rights: A Blueprint for Development of Robust Water Allocation Systems in the Western United States, Michael Young, September 2015, Duke Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. PDF
Sharing Groundwater: A Robust Framework and Implementation Roadmap for Sustainable Groundwater Management in California, Mike Young and Bryce McAteer, January 2017, Duke Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions PDF
The Water Values podcasts is a very informative source of interviews discussing an abundance of water topics. David McGimpsey, podcast host, is an attorney working with water utilities. His passion for the topic of water has developed into producing very educational podcasts with experts around the country. Topics include water and energy utility companies, water experts, economists, water managers, attorneys, scientists, regulators and water journalists, to name a few.
A Sampler of Living Water programming short segments, "Water is a Many Splendor'ed Thing"
Water is a Many Splendor'ed Thing is intended for broadcast on Living Water® web radio and terrestrial radio. Its’ primary purpose is to support the listener in learning how the public is vulnerable to the water issue, what relationships in the water issue are active and the value system of the community and stakeholders. The public facilitation program drives which specific segment is broadcasted during a particular broadcast week. Over 251 segments from all around the world have been produced to date.
A Changing Climate
Changes in our climate present an opportunity for each of us to enhance our capacity to adapt, collaborate with each other, become more resourceful and make life decisions based on a knowledge-base generated for water, energy, food, health and finance. Stephen Baker has interviewed many scientists, farmers, water professionals and private citizens impacted by the recent drought. He encourages the listener to seriously take steps to develop resiliency in their lives. VIDEO
The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), has more than 7,800 members in the U.S. and abroad, organized into 36 regional Sections. The Institute adheres to the principles of professional responsibility and public service and is the only international organization that certifies the competence and ethical conduct of geological scientists in all branches of the science with members employed in industry, government, and academia. AIPG emphasizes competence, integrity and ethics. AIPG is an advocate for the profession and communicates regularly to federal and state legislators and agencies on matters pertaining to the geosciences.
NGWA is a community of groundwater professionals working together to advance groundwater knowledge and the success of our members through education and outreach; advocacy; cooperation and information exchange; and enhancement of professional practices.


Control banding (CB) is a useful approach to evaluate and control the risk of exposure to nanomaterials (NM) due to uncertainty surrounding their toxicity and challenges associated with their measurement. Four CB tools specifically developed for NMs (NanoSafer, Stoffenmanager-Nano, NanoTool, and the Precautionary matrix) have been evaluated for their changes to differences in hazard and exposure input data. The hazard and exposure classification were also compared with experimental data. The tools provided different hazard and emission/exposure outputs when compared with each other and with experimental data. For some of the tools the information required to estimate the hazard is not always available in the Safety Data Sheet and it requires expert judgement. The tools have the potential to be valuable starting points to assess areas of high priority, although outputs should be interpreted with care. Further work should be done to improve their estimates, especially the inclusion of modifiers that account for the effectiveness of the ventilation and the effect of high temperatures during the process.
|Date made available||17 Jun 2016|
- Control banding


|Short-term competition for ammonium and nitrate in tallgrass prairie
|Year of Publication
|Dell, CJ, Rice, CW
|Soil Science Society of America Journal
The availability of N limits productivity in tallgrass prairie. Spring burning is common because it results in greater plant productivity despite reducing net N mineralization. To better explain how burning affects inorganic N availability in tallgrass prairie, the partitioning of 15N among plant and soil pools was measured in June and August 1994. Approximately 2.5 μg N g−1 soil was injected as either NH4 or NO3 to a depth of 15 cm within cores in burned and unburned prairie. Cores were removed from the field 6 d after injection, and 15N recovery in plant and soil N pools was determined. No more than 14% of the applied 15N remained in inorganic form 6 d after application. The largest portion of the applied 15N (35–80%) was recovered in the soil organic nitrogen pool (No). Burning significantly increased the immobilization of both NH4 and NO3 within No, and microbial biomass accounted for ≥50% of the 15N recovered in No Accumulation of 15N in plants accounted for ≤35% of the applied 15N with a majority recovered from roots. Burning had little effect on 15N recovery in plants; however, 15N accumulations in roots were significantly greater when NO3 was used. Results indicate that immobilization within soil organic matter (SOM) controls the availability of both NH4 and NO3 to plants. Increased immobilization in soils with burning probably results largely from increased microbial N demand resulting from greater litter inputs with wider C to N ratios. Further research is needed to determine if abiotic mechanisms for N immobilization also significantly influence N availability in prairie soils.


that it focuses on being friendly to the environment. Eco-friendly products are everywhere, and the term itself gets thrown around too much. It’s on things like sheet sets and sandwich bags. Since we use the phrase often, it might be hard to understand why you want environmentally-friendly products and lifestyles. Many times, it’s easy to get misled by companies that use the term and don’t really mean it.
The Official Definition
Eco-friendly means that something is not harmful to the environment. When we focus on products, this suggests that all aspects of the item are environmentally-friendly and safe. This includes packaging and production. For a product to be labeled as such, the packaging has to explain why it’s environmentally responsible. Otherwise, it might not actually be safe, depending on how it’s used. Typically, this is called greenwashing when marketing claims are misleading.
Companies need to think about being sustainable. This includes evaluating products, focusing on environmental impact, reducing the use of natural resources, and reducing energy consumption. It’s often better to improve a current product than it is to create a new one. The issue is that everything produced has a negative impact on the Earth, even if you’re being eco-conscious. Water usage, product waste, and energy usage are all part of this. Sustainability means that you’re doing what you can to be friendly to the Earth.
What You Can Do
If your goal is to buy eco-friendly products, you already want to do your part to help the planet. There are various ways to go green at home. These include:
- Shopping local
- Buying plastic-free items
- Recycling plastic waste
- Using products with a 100% recycled emblem
- Utilizing reusable bags
- Lowering water usage by turning off the shower faucet while you wash your hair and body
- Stop using plastic waste for products (this is primarily for businesses, but you can choose not to buy things made of plastic when possible)
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint
There are countless ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. These include:
Make sure that you drive less whenever you can. Also, drive efficiently by not applying the brakes too hard or gunning it.
Choose to purchase organic foods from a local business. Whenever you forego dairy and meat, you are reducing your footprint by about 8 pounds a day. Eat a plant-based diet whenever you can. If you really like meat/dairy products, consider picking one day where you go meat-free. Produce is easier to transport when it’s grown and locally sourced. Plus, it tastes even better.
Shop locally to get the foods you require. These businesses use less fuel to transport the items to the store. This environmental feat ensures that you can have fresh food in your home and help the planet, as well.
Your own bag
Use your own bag when shopping. Choose a business that allows this, which helps you both go green and reduce the amount of plastic and paper waste you see. This is very friendly for the environment and makes you more eco-conscious.
Get rid of junk
Get rid of unwanted junk around your house. These materials could be reusable. It’s great when you can clean up your space and find a way to reduce pollution. Remember, there’s less pollution required to recycle items like plastic bottles, paper products, and plastic bag waste. When they’re recycled, you help to create a more sustainable planet that’s eco-conscious and environmental-friendly.
Buy in bulk.
This is an eco-conscious way to get what you need and use less packaging material.
Wash clothes in cold water
It takes more energy to produce hot water, and it often doesn’t help make the clothes cleaner or look better. You can reduce your carbon dioxide usage by about 500 pounds each year when cold water is used. This is good for the environment. Be friendly to the world, and do what you can to protect it.
Consider dumpster rental
We are always available, based on the time and date you require us. When you are doing some home improvements to install new things, you’re bound to have old materials you no longer need. People often throw them in landfills, but they could be made into a new item through recycling. When you choose us, we go through everything and make sure there aren’t any recyclable things inside.
Choose appropriate cleanup services
such as those from EZ Cleanup. Since we’re local, we use less energy to get to your house. We’ve always made sure that the area was cleaned up efficiently. Plus, we’re an eco-conscious company that focuses on your needs. Junk removal is our specialty!
What Does Zero Waste Mean?
This term focuses on a set of principles that prevents wastage and encourages appropriate life cycle designs. That way, every product out there can be reused effectively. This is a great way to be eco-conscious because the ultimate goal is that no trash is sent to incinerators, the ocean, or landfills.
Why Should I Buy Products Made of Recycled Materials?
Look for products that say they’re made partially or completely from recycled materials. This is highly eco-conscious, but these things are still reliable, high-quality, and dependable.
Are Organic Foods and Products Earth-Friendly?
Typically, yes, organic products and foods are eco-conscious because they take fewer resources to create. If you like eating healthy, buying natural is the best option to choose.
Why Is Plastic So Bad for the Environment?
Typically, plastic is bad when it pollutes the land and waterways. It threatens animals and plants, which includes humans. Though it’s never going to be considered friendly for the environment, you can recycle it once you’re done with it.
Which Products Aren’t Eco-Conscious or Friendly to the Environment?
A good idea is to know which products aren’t considered friendly to the environment. These can include disposable plates, cups, and silverware, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and so much more.
When it comes to going green, there are plenty of ways that you can positively impact the Earth at home. At EZ Cleanup, we do our part by making sure that Junk Removal in Philadelphia is taken care of promptly. We go through the items you’ve gotten rid of and see which ones can be recycled. Then, we send them to the right place. Our company is devoted to helping the planet in various ways.


Throughout Autumn and over the next few months is the best time to help your garden wildlife before the winter and freezing temperatures kick in. There are a number of ways you can help the wildlife in your garden, such as by providing a large variety of nutritional food, fresh un-frozen water and lots of warm, safe habitats. There will be all sorts of species that will visit your garden for either a place to hibernate for the winter, a place to roost for the night or food and water. It is also important that you provide all these things through the winter and most of them, all year round.
Things to help in the Autumn time.
In Autumn time when the leaves have fallen onto the ground and gardens are starting to look untidy most people tend to tidy their garden but often take this to the extreme. By doing this, they are removing most of the shelter for wildlife and leaving lots of overwintering species homeless. To help the wildlife, a good idea is to leave all the tidying up until the end of the winter which can make your garden more attractive.
Autumn is also a good and easy season to make changes to your garden for the year to come. Take the opportunity to add new wildlife features to your garden like a pond, log piles and native plants and hedges.
As well as providing habitats for a host of overwintering residents, a good wildlife garden will attract flocks of birds. When the weather is very harsh and there is less food available in the countryside, our gardens become even more important for our feathered friends. Also, feeding birds through out the winter is important because it increases their breeding success the following year.
One way you can start preparing now is by removing any old, broken nest boxes, cleaning and fixing them then returning them as some birds will conserve heat by roosting in them communally over night. This is especially common with smaller bird species like wrens.
Another way of helping bird species such as black birds and thrushes like song thrushes and mistle thrushes is by spreading fallen leaves over flowerbeds. This provides a brilliant foraging habitat. Also, avoid cutting hedges until the end of winter as these provide valuable shelter for birds and give them more time to eat the berries left over from the summer.
When winter progresses, birds will become more dependent on the food you put out. Make sure the feeders and tables are clean and hygienic, you can do this by soaking them in sterilizing fluid and get into the routine of washing them regularly as they will be using feeders more frequently and if the feeders and tables are left and become very unhygienic they can cause the birds to get different diseases and make them become ill. Water is also very important for the birds as there isn’t as much available especially when it freezes. A way you can make the water you put out in your garden frost free is by pouring some warm water into a dish, standing the dish on at least three bricks and creating room underneath to put lit candles so the heat from the candles stops it freezing over.
There is a wide range of different food you can offer to your birds but some good ones which offer a meal to all different species are black sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, peanuts, fat balls, live foods, cheese and coconut. Some which you should NOT offer are porridge oats, salted or dry roasted peanuts, cooking fats, polyunsaturated fats, milk, dessicated coconut and moldy and stale food. There are lots of online recipes were you can make you own food for the garden birds too.
The two main things that should be provided to the hedgehogs that visit your garden are food and water, and shelter for when they hibernate or for when they rest through out the day as they are nocturnal species.
You can provide shelter for hedgehogs by having an untouched area in your garden which is cosy and sheltered. If you haven’t got an area like this, you can leave a small corner in your garden to overgrow or if you wanted to really help our hedgehogs out you could look at building or buying a hedgehog house.
There are lots of different foods which you can supply to our spikey friends which visit our gardens but there are lots of foods you shouldn’t give to them. For example, you should never give them any dairy products as they are lactose intolerant. Foods which are safe for them to have though are dog or cat food, sultanas, small pieces of fruit, cooked potato, cooked chicken, raw mince and what I find with the hedgehogs which visit my garden is that their favorite is dried meal worms. Or if you prefer food which is specially designed for hedgehogs you could try SpikesWorld food. Food and liquids which you should NOT give to the hedgehogs are milk, bread, tinned cat or dog food with jelly or gravy, fish flavored cat food, avocados, grapes, raisins, nuts, seeds and chocolate. Also, remember to provide water for hedgehogs and on cold nights you can use the same method as when giving the birds water.
Insects, newts and frogs.
The main thing you can do to help the mini-beasts, frogs and newts in your garden is by providing shelter.
Some butterfly species like small tortoiseshells and peacock butterflies hide in shed corners during the winter to stay warm and hibernate. Try to avoid disturbing them.
Dragonfly larvae stays active even in midwinter so always remember to clean your pond with care as they are ferocious predators!
Another thing you can do is leave dry plant stems standing in your garden as all kinds of insects will crawl inside to spend the winter. Lady birds will also cluster on the dead plant stems.
Toads and newts like to spend the cold winter months in greenhouses or under pots or piles of bricks. Frogs are more likely to be seen in piles of leaf litter, while some males will hide at the bottom of ponds.
This shows how important it is to leave your garden alone during in the winter months as you don’t know what will be hibernation or sheltering from the cold weather.


Essay on The Effect of Deforestation to Human Lives
Length: 6 Pages 1449 Words
Deforestation is increasing as a global concern. In recent years deforestation has risen to dangerous levels. This reason is mainly due to the fact that most people have no idea what deforestation is. This lack of education has caused many changes in the global economy. The concerns no longer center on deforestation but in the effects it will have in our environment in the future. This issue has sparked national attention. It has caused a chain of recent plans and policies to be introduced. Also it has brought us together as a nation to fight a common problem.
Deforestation is the clearing the land of forest or trees. Many people do not even know that this problem exists, although it may be occurring right in their own neighborhoods. The causes of deforestation are broad. It used to be thought that the lumber industry was much to blame, when in fact the industry is very low. Most of the land was used for various other reasons such as building and agricultural expansion. The land is used for growing crops and livestock grazing. In many cases the "Slash and Burn" method is used. This is where the farmers cut down and burn forests to get to the land that is feasible for farming. Most of the tropical soils are very poor in nutrients and can only support crops for a few years. When the soil has been exhausted it is either abandoned or turned over for livestock grazing.
The effects of deforestation on the environment are numerous. The reduction of forests upsets the entire ecological cycle. The forests are home to a number of plants and animals. When a forest is cut down, the whole cycle suffers. Most of all the forests act as a carbon "sink". That is they help to take in carbon, a green house gas, and offset its effect on the atmosphere. Also trees and plants on a forest can help to supply an alternative source of fossil fuels. Tree planting is also good for urban development....
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Reservations open for Dungeness refuge volunteer training
By Peninsula Daily News staff
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UPDATE — Olympic National Park, Carlsborg company to move threatened Enchanted Valley Chalet by start of September (four photos)
IF YOU MISSED THIS: Like something from 'Star Trek" — what is that strange-looking vessel? (UPDATED)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge near Sequim will conduct its annual new volunteer training at the Sequim Prairie Grange Hall, 290 MacLeay Road, from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, April 12.
Lunch will be provided from noon to 1 p.m., when the refuge will host its annual refrehser course for current volunteers until
Primary duties include greeting visitors and providing information about the refuge’s trails and wildlife.
Additional opportunities include wildlife surveys, invasive-species mitigation, maintenance, trail roving, beach cleanup and administration.
For more information and to reserve space at the training, phone 360-457-8451 or send an email to email@example.com.
Last modified: March 03. 2013 3:31AM


Images of terrestrial orchids found in the Czech Republic, and other European countries. Jan Gaisler. Czech Republic.
Images and other information about orchids found in the state of Florida. Prem Subrahmanyam. Florida, United States.
Instructions on how to propagate and grow hardy orchids in a European climate. Anders R. Johnsen, Denmark.
A photographic record of the beautiful, and often rare, native orchids that can be found in the area. Lynden, Washington, United States.
Images of orchid species found in northern Europe. Markku Könkkölä. Finland.
Images of the native orchids found in the Lorraine region of France. Information includes flowering times, descriptions, and habitats. Anacamptis, Cephalanthera, Dactylorhiza, Epipactis, Gymnadenia, Listera, Ophrys, Orchis, and ...
European and North American native orchid information including images, descriptions, distribution maps, and field trip reports. Jean-Luc and Elisabeth. France.
Sylvia and Bill's orchid site features art and photographs. Information on raising orchids from seed in a kitchen, growing easy terrestrial orchids such as Epipactis palustris and Dactylorhizas. United Kingdom.
Many images of the the native orchids found in the Isère area in the east of France.
An interactive guide to the native orchids of Wisconsin. Descriptions and images. Jeffrey R. Hapeman. University of Wisconsin, United States.
Images of orchids in Romania and other European countries. Orchid book reviews. Rik Neirynck. Bottelare, Belgium
Native orchids of Sweden... descriptions, images, and maps. Eric Elgebrant. Sweden.


Cancer Alley evidence mounts in Louisiana
Data gaps have allowed U.S. regulators to downplay the carcinogenic effects of the fossil fuel facilities crammed into the industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, but these gaps are starting to be filled as scientific evidence mounts showing that air pollution is linked to higher cancer rates among Black and impoverished communities, writes James Bruggers for Inside Climate News.
Is Europe the new El Dorado for LNG?
Europe’s LNG buying spree in 2022 was over four times greater than the demand shock experienced by Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, but assessing future import needs is far from straightforward, writes Anne-Sophie Corbeau for Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy.
Lipstick on a pig: Hydrogen-ready branding for new LNG infrastructure requires more scrutiny and caution
The technical and scientific foundations for the “hydrogen-ready” claims accompanying the flood of new LNG terminal project proposals in Europe and elsewhere are highly uncertain and require rigorous, transparent analysis, which has been largely lacking so far, write Ade Samuel and Rachel Fakhry for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The seven-year war against gas in the U.S. is ramping up
Since Southern California Gas Company’s massive Aliso Canyon methane blowout in 2017, the U.S.’s largest gas utility has deployed nefarious tactics to stem criticism of gas, and now its gas to hydrogen switching plans are being challenged, writes Sammy Roth in the Los Angeles Times.
Shell’s directors personally sued over “flawed” transition strategy
Two years after a Dutch court ordered Shell to slash its emissions, ClientEarth has filed a lawsuit at the High Court in England against the company’s 11 directors for what the environmental lawyers allege is their failure under the UK Companies Act to properly prepare Shell for the transition to net zero. The High Court will now decide on whether or not to proceed with ClientEarth’s suit. A new analysis by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility into the emissions target implications of both Shell and BP’s recent 2022 results has found that the companies are damaging “the credibility of existing climate transition plans.” (The Guardian, Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility)
“LNG no longer part of the long-term plan” – Pakistani energy minister: The soaring price of imports has compelled Pakistan to abandon its long-held strategy of importing LNG and building new gas plants in favor of increased reliance on domestic energy sources. Initial reporting from Reuters, citing Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, emphasized plans to increase domestic coal-fired power capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW) in the medium term, from 2310 MW currently. Citing an unnamed ministry source, Bloomberg reported that no new power plants reliant on imported coal, LNG, or fuel oil will be built over the next decade, but domestic power capacity is to be boosted via domestic solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear resources, as well as locally-mined coal. (Reuters, Bloomberg [paywall])
Mammoth terminal would balloon oversized German LNG expansion plans even further: As the first shipment of Middle Eastern LNG to Germany arrived this week in Brunsbüttel, at the country’s third newly operating import terminal, the energy and economics minister of the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania was announcing yet more plans for potentially four floating storage and regasification units — total capacity of 38 billion cubic meters (bcm) — to be sited offshore the island of Rügen, a tourist hotspot. RWE has submitted initial documents to begin a planning approval procedure for what could be two offshore platforms, operating as soon as autumn 2024, with the four FSRUs attached to them. German environment group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) said it would exhaust all legal options to stop what it described as “an unprecedented industrialization of the Baltic Sea.” Alternatives to the plans are expected to be explored owing to the potential impacts on communities and a European bird sanctuary.(energate messenger, Nordkurier [German], DUH [German], ADNOC)
Major gas plant requires an EIA, say Guyanese citizens: A decision from Guyana’s Environmental Protection Agency, exempting the proposed 300 MW gas-fired Wales power station from undergoing an environmental impact assessment, has been challenged by concerned citizens who have urged the regulator to rescind the decision by the end of this month. Represented by Guyanese lawyer Melinda Janki, the citizens have documented how the decision, taken on the basis that the Wales plant would not significantly affect the environment should it be developed near the capital Georgetown, is unlawful and a violation of the country’s Environmental Protection Act. ExxonMobil Guyana has not yet taken a final investment decision on the project, which is at least two years behind schedule, but said it began early construction work this month. (Kaieteur News, GEM.wiki, Guyana Chronicle)
Emergency measures in South Africa boost approval chances for gas powerships: Three controversial floating gas power plants, involving a 20-year, R200 billion (US$11 billion) contract, are now being tipped to be approved by the South African state as a result of new emergency measures introduced in response to the country’s acute power sector difficulties. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a state of disaster will accelerate energy projects and “limit regulatory requirements,” though the president said that environmental protections and technical standards would be maintained. While Karpowership’s proposals for the ports of Saldanha Bay, Coega, and Richards Bay await an environmental ruling next month from government minister Barbara Creecy, sources in the department of forestry and fisheries believe that approval from Creecy is inevitable given the crisis conditions. (Mail & Guardian)
Pennsylvania gas plant fire inspected only nine days later by state authorities: Pennsylvania state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has come under fire for its botched response to a fire that broke out on Christmas Day at the Revolution Cryogenic gas processing plant, operated by Energy Transfer, in Washington County. DEP staff did not visit the plant site until nine days after the incident, as confirmed by the non-profit group Environmental Integrity Project, despite an initial statement from DEP’s communications director that they had visited on December 25. No injuries resulted from the blaze, which burned out after ten hours, though staff at the plant were evacuated, and at least one family living next door also left their home for several hours. (Inside Climate News)
IEA head issues transition warning despite booming oil and gas profits: The global oil and gas industry raked in US$4 trillion in profits last year, according to Fatih Birol, the head of the International Energy Agency, a stunning rise from the average profit level of US$1.5 trillion in recent years. Nonetheless, Birol warned of longer term demand falls and the need for producer countries to reduce their reliance on hydrocarbons. “Especially the countries in the Middle East have to diversify their economies,” said Birol. “You cannot anymore run a country whose economy is 90% reliant on oil and gas revenues because oil demand will go down.” Total profits for the five western oil and gas majors — BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies — hit US$195 billion last year, 120% more than in 2021, and the highest level in the industry’s history. (Reuters, Global Witness)
“Between last year and already in 2023, the [European Union] will have distributed 600 billion euros in subsidies to its population to prevent riots in the street … Imagine if even 20% was dedicated to more infrastructure for gas,”
said Arnaud Pieton, chief executive of Technip Energies, at Baker Hughes’ annual meeting in Italy, which was replete with gas executives’ ambitions and concerns.
China: An intergovernmental agreement has been signed with Russia for the supply of 10 billion cubic meters per year of gas sourced from off the east coast of Sakhalin via the Sakhalin-Khabarovsk-Vladivostok pipeline.
Germany: The CEO of the country’s largest utility, E.ON, has said that monthly energy bills for most customers are still likely to double this year from their pre-energy crisis levels as the company has not yet passed on all the increases arising from sharply elevated purchasing prices.
Germany: Economy and Climate Minister Robert Habeck has said that the government is aiming in 2023 to auction a “huge number” of hydrogen-fired power plants and other backup capacities.
Iraq: Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein has said that discussions with U.S. companies and officials are advancing on new gas investments to help Iraq end its reliance on Iranian imports.
Japan: Under the so-called GX Basic Policy, which has received government approval, state institutions have been given expanded scope to assist private companies in the importing of LNG.
Montenegro: According to the Ministry of Finance, agreement on energy cooperation with the U.S. has been reached, including taking action on the proposed LNG terminal in the Port of Bar in partnership with American companies and with the support of American development agencies.
Netherlands: Gasunie has decided not to advance the proposed Terneuzen FSRU project but continues to look at import capacity expansion options in Rotterdam and Eemshaven.
UK: National Gas says by 2025 the 4,700 mile national gas transmission network will contain 2-5% of hydrogen, the first step to convert the network so that it is filled entirely with hydrogen by 2050.
Ukraine: Naftogaz Group has launched a survey in the region of Lviv to explore the “highly promising” possibility of producing coal-bed methane.
Venezuela: Aging infrastructure and a lack of regulations resulted in 86 oil spills and gas leaks in 2022, according to a report published by the Observatory of Political Ecology of Venezuela, up from 77 cases in 2021.
The Gas Graph
Global Energy Monitor’s Global Oil and Gas Extraction Tracker finds a potential seismic shift for gas extraction in Africa, with 84% of new pre-production fields located in recent entrants to Africa’s gas market.
NatWest gets tough on gas financing while Barclays again fails to act: Commercial bank NatWest, still 48% state-owned, has continued on its path as the UK’s most climate ambitious bank by announcing that it is stopping loans to new customers for oil and gas exploration, extraction or production projects. The Edinburgh-based institution said that from 2026 it will also refuse to renew, refinance or extend loans for upstream gas projects that the bank’s existing customers are involved in. “We want to ensure our capital is being used to support a transition while continuing to reduce the financing of harmful emissions,” chief executive Alison Rose said. “I hope this sends a strong signal that we are serious about ending the most harmful activity while financing the transition.” Meanwhile, Barclays failed to rein in any of its multi-billion dollar financing for the gas sector in a review of its oil and gas policy. The London-headquartered bank resisted pressure, aimed also at BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Deutsche Bank and Société Générale, from a group of investors — with combined assets under management of more than US$1.5 billion — who are calling on the banks to stop directly financing new oil and gas fields by the end of this year. (The Guardian, ShareAction, Reuters)
International financiers get behind big Ineos plastics project: Ineos has secured a whopping €3.5 billion (US$3.74 billion) in debt financing for a new petrochemical facility in Antwerp, Belgium, which it describes as “the most environmentally sustainable cracker in Europe.” Majority-owned and run by the UK’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ineos claims that the new cracker will have “the lowest carbon footprint of all European crackers, five times better than the worst in Europe and two times better than the best,” and that it could be powered by low-carbon hydrogen within ten years. The plant, planned to commence operations in 2026, will convert low-cost ethane — to be sourced from fracked gas production in the U.S. — into ethylene. The financing is provided by 21 international commercial banks (listed in full in an Ineos press release) and by the export credit agencies of the UK, Spain, and Italy, alongside a loan guarantee of up to €500 million from Gigarant, part of the Flemish government. (The Financial Times [paywall], Ineos)
CCS boost sought for stalled Indonesian LNG project of “national strategic importance”: Japan’s Inpex is hoping that carbon capture and storage technology can make its multi-billion dollar Abadi LNG export terminal “clean and competitive.” The previously planned floating terminal has been reconfigured to a proposed onshore two-train liquefaction project, with likely capacity of 10.5 million tonnes per annum, that the company is now aiming to get off the ground in the early 2030s. Project partner Shell has been looking to divest its 35% stake in the project since 2020 and is reported to be negotiating a sale with Indonesia’s state-owned oil company Pertamina. (Upstream)
Exxon aiming for more energy trading action: In an effort to keep up with rivals BP, Shell, and TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil is beefing up its energy and derivatives trading, according to an internal company memo seen by The Financial Times. A new business line called Global Trading will seek to enhance “expertise from across the company in global crude, products and feedstocks, natural gas, power and freight trading.” Exxon’s move follows BP and Shell’s huge profit-making from their global gas trading businesses over the past year. (The Financial Times [paywall])
Austria slides back into dependence on piped Russian gas: With an 80% gas dependence on Gazprom as of February 2022, somewhat under the radar Austria has maintained significant pipeline import flows from Russia over the last year. Contractual obligations for Austria’s 31.5% state-owned energy firm OMV are the justification, according to Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. “It is a matter of securing state assets and keeping existing contracts as long as possible,” according to Nehammer. In December, roughly 70% of Austria’s gas came from Russia, and this figure has climbed “temporarily” to 100% in recent weeks, according to OMV’s Chief Financial Officer. (EURACTIV, EURACTIV)
TotalEnergies weighing Mozambique LNG restart as latest attacks hit Cabo Delgado: Following his recent visit to Cabo Delgado province in the north of Mozambique, CEO Patrick Pouyanne is maintaining a wait-and-see approach on when work can restart on the French company’s US$20 billion export terminal. Improvements in human rights and clarity on project costs are the key considerations for Pouyanne, who told analysts during a fourth quarter results call: “I can tell you what I’ve seen from a security point of view is good. Even life is back to normal. Villages, people are back.” This week, however, the London-based mining company Gemfields has had to suspend operations and evacuate workers at an exploration camp also located in Cabo Delgado following an attack by insurgents on a nearby village. (LNG Prime, Mining.Com)
“The cost of capital for oil and gas projects has risen due to a higher perceived risk, and capital scarcity is a common phenomenon, driven by ESG … investment in oil and gas has fallen sharply. Upstream investment in 2022 was around $400 billion — less than half of the peak in 2014.”
said Amin Nasser, Saudi Aramco president and CEO, at the Saudi Capital Markets Forum 2023.
Why Carbon Capture and Storage Is Not a Net-Zero Solution for Canada’s Oil and Gas Sector, International Institute for Sustainable Development, February 9, 2023
This 19-page policy briefing discusses the wisdom of further public and private investment for CCS projects related to the oil and gas sector — there are currently five of these operating in Canada — when the technology is known to be expensive, energy intensive, and unproven at scale and has no impact on the 80% of oil and gas emissions that result from downstream use.
Changing of the Guard: The New Hubs of Gas Extraction in Africa, Global Energy Monitor, February 14, 2023
This 8-page data-based briefing assesses the continent’s new reserves, totaling more than 5 bcm of gas with potential emissions equal to almost 12 billion tons of CO2, and how production from many of these fields is facing opposition due to the potential impacts to local ecosystems and communities.
Global LNG Outlook 2023-27 — High Prices Create New Risks to Demand Growth, Institute for Environmental Economics and Financial Analysis, February 15, 2023.
This 42-page global survey anticipates short- and medium-term headwinds for LNG in key markets – Asia and Europe, respectively – and warns that predicted large volumes of new supply entering the market starting in mid-2025 could trigger a supply glut, heightening the financial and pricing risks for LNG exporters and traders.


Lebanon’s Absence from CITES Convention Threatens its Natural Resources
Qatar – 22 March, 2010: For the second week, the CITES Conference continues its work in the Qatari capital, Doha. Debates on a range of proposals and amendments to add or modify the classification of animal and plant species are carried, with a view to regulating the international trade in these species, or tightening their protection. Lebanon, which had not yet joined CITES, did not have a chance to defend several threatened species that have economical importance for the country, such as the Bluefin Tuna and several types of marine species in the Mediterranean Sea.
Not attend the conference; Lebanon lost the chance of defending its right and the rights of other Arab countries. For example, Egypt desperately needed support in placing the Nile Crocodiles on Appendix II of the convention, which regulates trade in the species. Participation of the global league of activists, IndyACT, in the conference constituted partial compensation for the absence of official Lebanese presence, where the organization played a role in mobilizing European and global support for the Egyptian proposal.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Lebanon has begun the accession process to CITES, but IndyACT sensed a strong need to deepen the knowledge in this Convention. The organization has noticed some confusion regarding the purpose of CITES among Lebanon’s stakeholders, who consider it related to animal welfare. The organization is concerned that some actors might try to exploit this confusion to push the Lebanese law on animal welfare under the pretext of Lebanon is implementing CITES. CITES purpose is to regulate trade in endangered animal and plant species. Illegal trade in endangered species is the third largest illegal trade in the world after arms and drug trade. "After Lebanon's joins CITES, a new law must be put in place to implement the Convention, and this law must not be confused with a law for the ethical treatment of animals; the two are completely different matters," said Soumar Dakdouk, head of conservation campaign at IndyACT.
Despite losing the battle to preserve the Bluefin Tuna in Doha, governments were able to so far to reach agreement on the protection of other endangered species. Nevertheless, few of the most important discussions that still need to take place today (Tuesday) are on the protection of several shark species that are declining steadily.
"Discussions have been extremely heated during this conference compared to previous CITES meetings; and the reason is because many important commercial species that have been very common in the past, are now endangered", said Dakdouk. "It is clear that CITES will become one of the most important international conventions to manage the sustainable use of wildlife resources."
For more information please contact:
- Ali Fakhry, Communication Director – IndyACT; Tel- fax: +961-1-447192; Mobile: +96171421593, email: firstname.lastname@example.org


Typhoon Dujuan intensified into a Category 4 equivalent storm to the east of Taiwan this weekend. The typhoon is a major threat to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, Taiwan and eastern China early this week.
(FORECAST: Typhoon Dujuan)
Dujuan is also the latest of several typhoons this year that have provided us with stunning imagery from space, further illustrating the destructive power of tropical cyclones.
This first image in our series is from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor aboard NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite. It shows Dujuan as a 145 mph typhoon on Sunday. Dujuan's very symmetrical eye was estimated to be 60 miles wide, according to Dr. Greg Postel of The Weather Channel.
NASA's Modis Aqua satellite snapped this unique view of Dujuan on Sunday which uses the brightness temperature overlay (Band 31-Day).
An infrared satellite image of Dujuan and its large eye on Sunday.
Dujuan as viewed from Japan's Himawari-8 satellite just before sunset on Sunday.
The next two images show an up-close visible satellite view of Dujuan's eye on Sunday.
Below are two enhanced satellite images of Dujuan on Sunday. The second image shows the counterclockwise wind flow around Dujuan's eye.
Before Dujuan became a Category 4, it was photographed from the International Space Station on Friday.
PHOTOS: Typhoon Dujuan


Tribune News Service
Mandi, November 2
Fresh snow has hampered the traffic movement in Lahaul-Spiti, which affected the normal life in the region. Keylong has received over 20 cm snowfall, while the Baralacha La on the Manali-Leh highway has received 45 cm fresh snow.
The Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) Depot at Keylong has suspended its bus service. Travelling has become a risky affair on the internal roads of the Lahaul valley.
The Manali-Leh highway has been blocked to traffic because Baralacha La has received heavy snowfall. The BRO had restored the Manali-Leh highway on Saturday, when it was blocked because of heavy snowfall at the Baralacha La.
The district administration has stopped traffic beyond Keylong towards Leh and Udaipur. The movement of tourist vehicles has been restricted beyond the north portal of Atal Tunnel.
The Rohtang Pass also received a snowfall. As a result, the Kullu district administration has restricted the traffic movement beyond Gulaba. The fresh spell of snow has brought cheers among farmers because snow is considered as white manure. It provides moisture and maintains temperature for better production of crops.
The fresh snowfall at Rohtang and its nearby places has elated the hoteliers of Kullu-Manali, who are expecting good business in the coming days. The tourists were visiting Sissu and Keylong through Atal Tunnel and Gulaba near Manali to enjoy the snow.
Deputy Commissioner, Lahaul Spiti, Pankaj Rai told The Tribune: “Due to fresh snowfall in the Lahaul valley, the traffic movement has been restricted for the next few days. The Kunzum Pass in Spiti also received snow. As a result, traffic has been restricted beyond Losar.”
The DC stated that as soon as weather becomes suitable, the Border Roads Organisation would start snow-clearing operation on the Manali-Leh highway.
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I'm a big fan of being out and about in the wild, but after a day (or two) of hiking, stomping and sweating up the trails, you are going to be of desperate need of a shower. Yes, even if you don't think you need to, your hiking buddies will thank you for it. Personally, I know I'm a bit of a clean freak. Which is strange considering we live off the grid and water is a hard to come by resource. But I can't help it. I bathe twice a day, once when I wake up in the morning, and again once I return home after a day of work. The second one is a must do, to get the dirt, grime and grease off after working our homestead. But when I'm camping, I try to follow a similar routine. Plus, the more you shower the better you'll fight off chafing and all the other issues that plague us when we spend more than a day or two in the wild. Being clean is a good thing, and with the right approach you can still stay clean, even while you're camping.
Choose a biodegradable soap
The first step is to realize that showing in nature is vastly different to showering at home, and all of the soapy chemicals and phosphates that miraculously disappear down your drain can do massive damage to a local ecosystem. You simply can't use the same products as you do at home when you're showering in the wild. Normal soaps will offset the delicate balance in the water they're introduced to, potentially causing harmful algae blooms and wreaking havoc on the local ecosystem. You need to make sure that any soap you're using when you're in the wild is biodegradable. That way, it'll do the least possible damage if any of the chemicals happen to find their way into a local waterway or stream.
Don't introduce any soaps to the water
Which brings me to my second point. Even with a biodegradable soap, you need to do everything you can to avoid introducing the chemicals into the water. In fact, you should be about 200 feet from the nearest water source. Yes, even if you're washing your dishes, take the time to grab a bucket of water and walk back to your camp and wash it there. Don't wash it in the stream. Because biodegradable soap isn't perfect, and being this far away from the running water lets the ground act as a natural filter. Soaking up the soap and stopping the chemicals from ever reaching the water, so they can break down harmlessly. Right, now it's time for the shower.
Get your sponge bath on
The quickest and easiest way to get clean when you're in the bush is a good, old-fashioned sponge bath. I prefer these as you can heat up the water on your campfire before getting stuck into it, which is far more comfortable than jumping into a brisk mountain stream. Simply strip down, and using your soap and the water you've warmed in a pot or a cup
, use a wash cloth or your bandana to give yourself a good scrub. I usually start at the top and work down, getting a good lather up, especially on your underarms and your groin. Then scrape away as much soap as possible, and use fresh water to rinse off. It normally takes me one decent pot of water for the scrub, then two or three to completely rinse off.
Get yourself a trail shower
A trail shower is as close as you're going to get to your shower at home, as it operates with a very similar set up, except of course, you're showering in the wild. It works by filling a thick vinyl or rubber bag with water, (some hold up to 10 liters), and then setting it in the sun. The warmth from the sun is absorbed by the bag, and heats the water inside. Working on the same principle that heats the water trapped in your garden hose at home. Within an hour or two it gets nice and toasty, then all you need to do is string the camp shower up in a tree with some paracord
, and use the connected shower head to get yourself clean. One of these usually holds enough water for a quick 2 to 3-minute shower, and you will feel wonderful afterwards. Trust me. There's a reason I'm happy to carry the extra weight for this in my hiking kit. It's worth it once you get to day two, and every day after that is a blessing.
Get clean in the river
Depending on where you live the temperature of the streams and rivers may be a prohibiting factor, but bathing yourself in any natural body of water is a great way to stay clean if you're able to jump in for a dip. Just remember, you can't use soap (even biodegradable soap), when bathing in a natural water source. You risk doing too much damage to the fish and other inhabitants of the water. What you want to do instead is take the sand from the bottom and using it to give yourself a good scrub, kind of like the exfoliation treatments you will get at a fancy spa. Washing away the grime and sweat, without the need to get a good soap up. It's not quite as effective as a full-on soap scrub, but it's definitely the fastest of the three solutions, getting you refreshed and clean so you can get back on the trail fast. Showering while you're in the wild doesn't have to be a chore, the trick is to be smart. Pack biodegradable soap so you're making the least possible impact, and then go to town with either a sponge bath, a camp shower, or a trusty river scrub. You'll feel great once you're a little cleaner, and your hiking buddies will thank you too.


Pilea Baby's Tears Green - 4" Pot
Like the small drop of a baby's tear, this lovely plant features tiny leaves that cascade delicately over the side. And don't worry, we promise this plant won't make you cry because it's so dang cute, growing only six inches tall and several inches wide. And because of their compact nature and love for humidity, they do great in terrariums.
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Medium water requirement. Water just as the first few inches of soil dry out
Temperature: Average household temperature
Humidity: Slightly higher, above 65%
Pets: Generally safe for pets
*** Photographed plant accurately represents the batch


In Montreal, Quebec, volunteers are working towards edible streets. Now, residents can consume fruits and vegetables freely that grow almost in front of their doors.
With some 475 km of streets, Montreal has a huge development potential of green alleys. Aware of this state of things, the ‘Éco-Quartier Grouping’ (REQ) launched the Green Lane Project.
In the district of Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie, more specifically at Basile Patenaude Street, some people launched their green alley.
This is an educational program on the environment focused on citizen mobilization
In two days, they created a garden. More than a hundred trees were planted like blueberries, pears, corn, oyster mushrooms, among others. The most interesting part is that all local residents are invited to freely use these organic products!
In addition to fruits and vegetables, the green lane is also used to strengthen the ties of good neighborliness and also allows children to unleash their imagination to games where there is no automobile traffic.
The REQ is an educational program on the environment focused on citizen mobilization. Initiated by the City of Montreal in 1995, it provides funding to community organizations to help and inform the Montreal’s population in their environmental projects so that they take ownership of their environment. In the City of Montreal there are currently 19 ‘Éco-Quartier’ located in 14 of the 19 districts.


December 23, 2014 By John Mosig
Engineer manager Justin O’Connor told HI that the project will double smolt production from just over four to more than eight million a year.
When asked about the Ranelagh site, O’Connor explained that there will be one big new hatchery building with an area of approximately 8,000 sq. metres, which is being built next to, but independent of, the current hatchery completed in 2009. Construction has been underway since July and will be completed by June 2016.
O’Connor said the unit will recirculate 250 million litres of water a day. Water that is discharged will be stored in on-site dams and used for farm irrigation. The hatchery will be capable of taking water from the abutting Huon River but there is a preference for well water coming out of the ground at a steady 13°C.
“We prefer bore water because it has no bacteria and we have full control,” O’Connor said.
He added that the hatchery will have heat exchangers to warm the make-up water to anywhere between 10 and 16 degrees inside the recirc system.
“We’re going to grow about 25,000 tonnes of fish a year,” O’Connor said, adding that the smolts will be going out to the growout farms at 150-200 grams each.
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- Generating bioenergy in a low-discharge, land-based, saline recirculation system
- Goals for re-stocking hatcheries: Profitability, as always…


The Bureau of Land Management is hosting an all-day public tour of two wild horse long-term holding pastures in Hominy, Oklahoma, about an hour from Tulsa. The tour, which will take place on Saturday, June 4, 2011, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., will give the public an opportunity to observe wild horses roaming in a natural setting across thousands of acres.
The public must make reservations by May 20. Visitors will be shuttled to the pastures by the BLM from Tulsa; no personal vehicles will be allowed, as the pastures are on private property.
Lunch may be purchased during the tour for up to $10 per person. Attendees should wear casual clothes, comfortable shoes, and rain attire if needed. Cameras and video cameras are welcome.


The International Conference on Cultured Meat is a yearly conference that began in 2015 and is organized by Maastricht University. The International Conference on Cultured Meat offers people an opportunity to speak about cultured meat and related topics such as cell biology, cell culture, tissue engineering, food technology, meat science, and social science. The conferences uses a multidisciplinary approach that invites scientists of all fields, companies, and entrepreneurs to speak about how cultured meat can offer solutions to global problems such as global food insecurity, livestock related environmental issues, and animal welfare.
4th International Conference on Cultured Meat 2018
International Conference on Cultured Meat
Documentaries, videos and podcasts
- Cluster: Cell-based and plant-based meatA cluster of topics related to cultured meat, plant-based meat, and cellular agriculture.
- Cultured meatCultured meats are animal flesh products made from extracted animal cells that are grown in bioreactors and harvested for consumption. Cells are taken from animals such as a chickens, cows, or tuna, and grown using scaffolding and/or self-organizing constructs in bioreactors.
- Maastricht UniversityMaastricht University is a public university located in Maastricht, Netherlands that was established in 1976.
- Mosa MeatMosa Meat is a Dutch start-up company that makes and commercializes clean meat, meat made by growing animal cells directly rather than slaughtering animals.


Species: Eastern long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus bartoni)
Status: Critically Endangered (CR)
Interesting Fact: The eastern long-beaked echidna is a monotreme, so unlike most mammals it actually lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.
The eastern long-beaked echidna looks remarkably like a hedgehog with an elongated snout. Its diet consists almost entirely of earthworms. Using an excellent sense of smell, the echidna can track down prey in dense undergrowth and uses its probing snout to root them out of the leaf letter. It’s long, thin and flexible tongue is covered in a sticky secretion, and instead of teeth it has horny spines at the back of the mouth to grind up prey.
A solitary and nocturnal creature, the eastern long-nosed echidna will dig large burrows to shelter in. When threatened, the echidna can curl up into a ball, showing only spines to a potential predator. A single egg is laid into a pouch on the mothers abdomen. After hatching, the spineless young will continue to grow and develop in the pouch for 6 to 8 weeks, feeding on milk from the mother’s mammary glands.
Intensive hunting, combined with a loss of habitat has pushed the eastern long-beaked echidna into a precarious position. The key populations of this species are now restricted to the highest parts of New Guinea’s mountains. Few conservation measures are currently in place. It is, however, on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which means that international trade in this species is carefully monitored.
Discover more about the eastern long-beaked echidna on the ZSL Edge of Existance website.
Lauren Pascoe, ARKive Media Researcher