Ivory has gone on sale in Namibia, when seven tonnes of ivory were put up for auction. This is the first of several auctions in which 108 tonnes of ivory is expected to be sold, and that is the equivalent to the ivory tusks of 10,000 dead elephants. Most of the buyers are from the Far East.
Wildlife groups claim that the sale of the ivory will encourage poaching. It was poaching which reduced the elephant population to about 600,000 from about 5,000,000 in the 1930’s. Poaching was banned in 1989, but before then the poachers were killing about 200 elephants per week.
It is feared that there is insufficient checks in importing countries for this ivory and that illegal ivory could be smuggled in with this official sale ivory. Also if it encourages a demand for ivory, there is the genuine worry that some people will take up poaching to provide the new ivory.
China and Japan are the two countries which have been approved as trading partners for this ivory. They are also the main markets for illegal ivory. Considering that elephant poaching has not been eliminated, many see the sale of ivory as highly irresponsible.
The authorized sales are to be held in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The elephant populations in these sates are relatively stable. But that does not mean that these elephant populations are safe.
The money from the sale is supposed to be going to elephant conservation programs to help the elephants. Part of the money will go to those communities who live at the edge of the elephant ranges as they do not benefit from tourism.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered species (CITES) felt that sufficient precautions were in place to prevent any criminality. They argued that a previous sale of ivory in 1999 did not boost poaching. It also brought in $5 million to help elephants in South Africa.
Several groups are involved in the monitoring of the sales and its transport and import. They feel that it can be done safely.
The real worry about this is that it can resurrect the poaching of elephant ivory. Southern Africa did not suffer as badly with poaching as did other parts of Africa. West Africa had a far more serious problem. It may be possible to monitor ivory sales in Southern African states, but can the same guarantee be made in West Africa, or any other part of Africa?
The number of dead elephants is rising as is the price of ivory. There may be a link, and there is some evidence to suggest that it is. Ivory auctions are pandering to the demand for ivory, if that source for ivory is cut off, and the demand for ivory increases, that will encourage poaching.
There has to be a solution which decreases the value of ivory, helps save the elephant and give some help to those communities who could turn to poaching.
Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Monday, 27 October 2008
Arctic Ice Cap Melting in Winter
The Arctic ice cap melts in the summer but then refreezes in the winter. Not now. Not according to the latest research carried out by Dr Katherine Giles, of the Center for Polar Observation and Modeling, which is based at the University of London. They have found that it is taking longer for the ice cap to refreeze in winter.
They have found that the ice cap is thinning at an alarming rate, both in the winter as well as the summer. In 2007, the North West Passage was opened to shipping for the first time in 30 years, but as winter approached it took longer for the North West Passage to refreeze. When it did they found that the ice cap thickness was down by 10-19%. For the last five years the ice cap has narrowed, but it was a slow downtrend, however, this trend has started to accelerate.
The cause for this thinning is a major cause for concern. If winter temperatures are stable then the cause has to be a rise in the temperature of the water, or a change in ocean circulation. In other words warmer water is now flowing under the ice.
If warmer water is flowing under the Arctic it means it will melt much faster then we had previously bargained for. The ice cap may not be around ten years from now.
The research measured sea ice thickness between 2002 and 2008, and was carried out by satellites. They focused on the period between October and March and over half the Arctic ice cap was measured. Their work has confirmed the findings of Professor Wadhams, Professor of Ocean Physics at Cambridge University.
Since 1976 Wadhams has been using submarines and echo soundings to measure the thickness of the ice. He found that the ice had thinned by 15% between 1976 and 1987. His last survey in March 2007 found that the winter ice was now 50% of the 1976 thickness. He feels that the ice has been thinning for so long that it is now collapsing.
Every winter the ice cap should expand to about 5.8 square miles, before it shrinks to about 2.7 square miles in summer. However, in 2007 the sun shone far longer than normal and the water temperature rose by 4.3C above average. It had also lost, by September, some 1.1 square miles extra. This does not sound a lot, however, 1.1 square miles of the Arctic Ice cap is about 12 times the total areas of Great Britain.
One explanation is because the ice is white it reflects sunlight, but when the sunlight hits the sea it absorbs the sunlight. As a result the sea starts to warm up and this melts more ice.
What ever the explanation, whatever the science, or despite what we think causes this shrinking and thinning. We have to accept that it is happening, and we have to accept emergency measures to get it put right. When it is gone, it will be too late.
They have found that the ice cap is thinning at an alarming rate, both in the winter as well as the summer. In 2007, the North West Passage was opened to shipping for the first time in 30 years, but as winter approached it took longer for the North West Passage to refreeze. When it did they found that the ice cap thickness was down by 10-19%. For the last five years the ice cap has narrowed, but it was a slow downtrend, however, this trend has started to accelerate.
The cause for this thinning is a major cause for concern. If winter temperatures are stable then the cause has to be a rise in the temperature of the water, or a change in ocean circulation. In other words warmer water is now flowing under the ice.
If warmer water is flowing under the Arctic it means it will melt much faster then we had previously bargained for. The ice cap may not be around ten years from now.
The research measured sea ice thickness between 2002 and 2008, and was carried out by satellites. They focused on the period between October and March and over half the Arctic ice cap was measured. Their work has confirmed the findings of Professor Wadhams, Professor of Ocean Physics at Cambridge University.
Since 1976 Wadhams has been using submarines and echo soundings to measure the thickness of the ice. He found that the ice had thinned by 15% between 1976 and 1987. His last survey in March 2007 found that the winter ice was now 50% of the 1976 thickness. He feels that the ice has been thinning for so long that it is now collapsing.
Every winter the ice cap should expand to about 5.8 square miles, before it shrinks to about 2.7 square miles in summer. However, in 2007 the sun shone far longer than normal and the water temperature rose by 4.3C above average. It had also lost, by September, some 1.1 square miles extra. This does not sound a lot, however, 1.1 square miles of the Arctic Ice cap is about 12 times the total areas of Great Britain.
One explanation is because the ice is white it reflects sunlight, but when the sunlight hits the sea it absorbs the sunlight. As a result the sea starts to warm up and this melts more ice.
What ever the explanation, whatever the science, or despite what we think causes this shrinking and thinning. We have to accept that it is happening, and we have to accept emergency measures to get it put right. When it is gone, it will be too late.
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Nuclear Power has no Bright Future.
The recent dramatic rise in oil prices has encouraged most governments to back energy polices which do not include oil. Most countries have signed up to policies which will cut carbon emissions. To achieve both of these goals they are turning to nuclear energy.
The European Union was unable to agree to a timetable to manage climate change because they could not agree on costs and the type of acceptable alternative fuels. MaCain is promising 40 new nuclear power plants by 2030, while Barack Obama has concluded that they can not achieve their climate change goals, unless they include nuclear power. The French are already committed to nuclear power.
But where is all the uranium ore going to come from to fuel these power stations? Geologists think that only 5.5 million metric tones can be mined economically. While the International Atomic Energy Agency argues that the nuclear power stations in use today use 70,000 metric tons a year. That is without any increase in nuclear power.
If we really wanted to use nuclear powered electricity for all of our energy needs, could it really be done quickly? Not only would we have to build plants to replace the existing nuclear plants, we would also have to replace all existing fossil fuel plants, as well as build extra nuclear power plants to allow us independence from oil.
Figures for the amount of plants we will need vary, but we are looking at increasing energy production by at least 17 times its present output! That could account for at least 1,000,000 tons of uranium ore each year! All our known reserves would be used up within 5 years. Geologists think there is about 35 million tons of uranium ore, much of it uneconomical to mine. That would last only about 30 years.
If the aim is to replace all fossil fuels with nuclear energy, how would this be possible after the uranium has run out?
If nuclear power was be introduced on a step by step basis there would still be a problem. The G8 countries have agreed to cut carbon emissions by 50% and this is to be achieved by 2050. Nuclear power will take up the slack. If they are to produce the energy needed the uranium would run out by 2050. All this will do is buy use 42 years!
Mining is usually done on an ad hoc basis. We don’t try to mine everything, we feed it into the system as and when we need it. While large areas of the planet have yet to be explored for uranium. So there might be some large stocks out there. Often we find that there is more of a mineral than we expect to find. Look at how many new gas fields we have discovered.
But until we know how much is out there, how can we base an alternative energy plan around nuclear power? Building nuclear power stations are very expensive, and just consider how many we will have to build. Can we really depend upon a nuclear powered solution based upon the stocks of uranium that we know about?
What if those new stocks are in countries we have blacklisted? What if it is to be found in Syria, North Korea or Iran? There is also the possibility that those stocks are in areas we can not mine.
We are going to have to depend upon our ability to recover uranium from the spent uranium fuels themselves. However, a report by the International Atomic Energy found that in 2004 two thirds of all uranium used was being mined, and not recycled. A large part of the remainder came from army stock piles. We are going to have recycle about a million tons a year if we really want to convert to nuclear energy. This is going to be a huge task and at what financial cost?
One solution put forward is to use breeder reactors. They tend to create more nuclear fuel than they use. In America some breeder reactors were introduced but they stopped in the 1990s. Only a few are in use in the world today. The real technology to make these breeder reactors is simply not in existence yet. We still have to get it up and running. Also they can be used to make nuclear weapons and they would be controversial.
At best nuclear power could only be used as part of the solution, and even then as part of a short term solution. Unless we find more uranium it can not be the solution to our energy needs. Unless we stop and think this through we are going to be facing the same energy shortages we face now. All we are doing is putting it off for another few decades at best.
The European Union was unable to agree to a timetable to manage climate change because they could not agree on costs and the type of acceptable alternative fuels. MaCain is promising 40 new nuclear power plants by 2030, while Barack Obama has concluded that they can not achieve their climate change goals, unless they include nuclear power. The French are already committed to nuclear power.
But where is all the uranium ore going to come from to fuel these power stations? Geologists think that only 5.5 million metric tones can be mined economically. While the International Atomic Energy Agency argues that the nuclear power stations in use today use 70,000 metric tons a year. That is without any increase in nuclear power.
If we really wanted to use nuclear powered electricity for all of our energy needs, could it really be done quickly? Not only would we have to build plants to replace the existing nuclear plants, we would also have to replace all existing fossil fuel plants, as well as build extra nuclear power plants to allow us independence from oil.
Figures for the amount of plants we will need vary, but we are looking at increasing energy production by at least 17 times its present output! That could account for at least 1,000,000 tons of uranium ore each year! All our known reserves would be used up within 5 years. Geologists think there is about 35 million tons of uranium ore, much of it uneconomical to mine. That would last only about 30 years.
If the aim is to replace all fossil fuels with nuclear energy, how would this be possible after the uranium has run out?
If nuclear power was be introduced on a step by step basis there would still be a problem. The G8 countries have agreed to cut carbon emissions by 50% and this is to be achieved by 2050. Nuclear power will take up the slack. If they are to produce the energy needed the uranium would run out by 2050. All this will do is buy use 42 years!
Mining is usually done on an ad hoc basis. We don’t try to mine everything, we feed it into the system as and when we need it. While large areas of the planet have yet to be explored for uranium. So there might be some large stocks out there. Often we find that there is more of a mineral than we expect to find. Look at how many new gas fields we have discovered.
But until we know how much is out there, how can we base an alternative energy plan around nuclear power? Building nuclear power stations are very expensive, and just consider how many we will have to build. Can we really depend upon a nuclear powered solution based upon the stocks of uranium that we know about?
What if those new stocks are in countries we have blacklisted? What if it is to be found in Syria, North Korea or Iran? There is also the possibility that those stocks are in areas we can not mine.
We are going to have to depend upon our ability to recover uranium from the spent uranium fuels themselves. However, a report by the International Atomic Energy found that in 2004 two thirds of all uranium used was being mined, and not recycled. A large part of the remainder came from army stock piles. We are going to have recycle about a million tons a year if we really want to convert to nuclear energy. This is going to be a huge task and at what financial cost?
One solution put forward is to use breeder reactors. They tend to create more nuclear fuel than they use. In America some breeder reactors were introduced but they stopped in the 1990s. Only a few are in use in the world today. The real technology to make these breeder reactors is simply not in existence yet. We still have to get it up and running. Also they can be used to make nuclear weapons and they would be controversial.
At best nuclear power could only be used as part of the solution, and even then as part of a short term solution. Unless we find more uranium it can not be the solution to our energy needs. Unless we stop and think this through we are going to be facing the same energy shortages we face now. All we are doing is putting it off for another few decades at best.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Teaching Tigers How to Swim.
Tigers live on the land, they like to hunt other animals, and they like to sleep a lot. Even a young tiger can reach 14 stone in weight, and if you get swiped by one of their paws, you are not going to get up again in a hurry. But don't tell the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, as they have decided a bit bonding between the animals and trainers is long over due.
They have started a policy of encouraging the trainers and the animals to start swimming with each other. Cats are not noted for their love of water. Any one who has ever had a pet moggie, and then to bath the beast, knows exactly what an ordeal it can be.
Tigers, however, love the water. They like a good swim. In that way they are different to the other big cats. They have modified webbing between their toes, and that allows their feet to work like flippers. It also makes them superior swimmers.
Not every one would feel comfortable getting any where near a tiger. Even tigers in captivity can be known to be cantankerous and bad tempered. But at the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, the trainers have been with the animals for some time and that encourages some trust between the trainer and the tiger.
It was thought that many of the animals needed more exercise, and swimming was one method of overcoming that problem. But why does a tiger need that exercise in the first place? In the wild the tiger could roam wherever it wanted and its natural lifestyle would keep it reasonably fit and healthy.
To see a tiger swimming may be a great sight, it also shows the level we have reduced these great cats to.
They have started a policy of encouraging the trainers and the animals to start swimming with each other. Cats are not noted for their love of water. Any one who has ever had a pet moggie, and then to bath the beast, knows exactly what an ordeal it can be.
Tigers, however, love the water. They like a good swim. In that way they are different to the other big cats. They have modified webbing between their toes, and that allows their feet to work like flippers. It also makes them superior swimmers.
Not every one would feel comfortable getting any where near a tiger. Even tigers in captivity can be known to be cantankerous and bad tempered. But at the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, the trainers have been with the animals for some time and that encourages some trust between the trainer and the tiger.
It was thought that many of the animals needed more exercise, and swimming was one method of overcoming that problem. But why does a tiger need that exercise in the first place? In the wild the tiger could roam wherever it wanted and its natural lifestyle would keep it reasonably fit and healthy.
To see a tiger swimming may be a great sight, it also shows the level we have reduced these great cats to.
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Red Squirrels Fight Back!
The native British squirrel is facing extinction at the hands of its American cousin the grey squirrel. The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain about 1876, and since then it has colonized all of England and Wales. Where ever the grey squirrel goes, the red squirrel is wiped out. The red squirrel is now confined to Scotland and the borders.
The grey squirrel carries the squirrel pox virus and it is immune to the disease. However the red squirrel is not immune to the squirrel pox. Research has shown that the geographical spread of the disease and the spread of the grey squirrel is the same.
Eight red squirrels have now been found which have developed a natural immunity to the disease. And for the first time there is now hope that the red squirrel will not become extinct.
Researchers have been collecting dead red squirrels found in the wild. Some 508 were found and eight were found to be immune to the squirrel pox. It was found that they had died from other causes.
Now scientists want to find out how widespread this immunity is. They are hoping that the squirrel has found immunity to the squirrel pox, in the same way that rabbits developed immunity to myxomatosis. It is also hoped that if the red squirrel can’t develop a natural immunity, these 8 red squirrels could provide an antidote to the squirrel pox, and that antidote could be developed within 10 years.
The red squirrel has almost disappeared from most of England and Wales. There is an isolated pocket of them on the Isle of Wight. It is thought that only about 15,000, out of a total population of 140,000 are left in England. The majority of them now populate Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In contrast there is an estimated 2.5 million grey squirrels in Britain. Unless the beleaguered red squirrel can develop some type of immunity, they will be extinct within 25 years.
The red squirrel was once a popular image of childhood. From Tufty, a road safety advert, to Beatrice Potter and Rupert the Bear, the red squirrel is part of our consciousness. To lose the red squirrel is not only unthinkable, it would be unbearable.
The grey squirrel carries the squirrel pox virus and it is immune to the disease. However the red squirrel is not immune to the squirrel pox. Research has shown that the geographical spread of the disease and the spread of the grey squirrel is the same.
Eight red squirrels have now been found which have developed a natural immunity to the disease. And for the first time there is now hope that the red squirrel will not become extinct.
Researchers have been collecting dead red squirrels found in the wild. Some 508 were found and eight were found to be immune to the squirrel pox. It was found that they had died from other causes.
Now scientists want to find out how widespread this immunity is. They are hoping that the squirrel has found immunity to the squirrel pox, in the same way that rabbits developed immunity to myxomatosis. It is also hoped that if the red squirrel can’t develop a natural immunity, these 8 red squirrels could provide an antidote to the squirrel pox, and that antidote could be developed within 10 years.
The red squirrel has almost disappeared from most of England and Wales. There is an isolated pocket of them on the Isle of Wight. It is thought that only about 15,000, out of a total population of 140,000 are left in England. The majority of them now populate Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In contrast there is an estimated 2.5 million grey squirrels in Britain. Unless the beleaguered red squirrel can develop some type of immunity, they will be extinct within 25 years.
The red squirrel was once a popular image of childhood. From Tufty, a road safety advert, to Beatrice Potter and Rupert the Bear, the red squirrel is part of our consciousness. To lose the red squirrel is not only unthinkable, it would be unbearable.
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Euro Split on Carbon Emissions.
The European Union had committed itself to a 20% cut in Carbon Emissions by 2020, and in the face of the deepening financial crisis that decision has been reneged upon. Italy and several east European countries could not accept the proposals and insisted upon their right to veto the proposal.
There is more at stake here than national economies. The European Union had gained some credibility within the international world for its commitment. It now questions how Europe will be able to negotiate with any new regime in America which is committed to cutting emissions.
The French wanted the 27 European Union countries to commit themselves by December, and tried to get agreement on that date. The reduction package also caused some criticism as they consisted of a series of draft laws which dictate how these proposals were to be introduced. To make maters worse the European Parliament loses its mandate in July and an agreement has to be reached by then.
An added problem is that the presidency of the European Union is passes to the Czech Republic in January. The government of the Czech Republic is made up of a coalition, and that coalition is divided by the issue of climate change.
Remarkably, Silvio Berlusconi claimed, that as he was not in office when the agreement was made, therefore, he was not bound by the decision. The European Union has been divided over several issues, but it was always accepted that one government was bound by any previous government’s decisions within the Union. Berlusconi argued that they did not need to go forward by themselves and that they could afford to wait. His gripe was that the reforms would cripple Italian industry. Nor is he a man who likes to be pushed into a corner, and he reacted very strongly against the French for trying to pressurize him into making a decision.
Poland, with support from Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia were able to weaken the text of the summit conclusions which had stressed the need for a conclusion by December. They also took the view that they could not support a policy decided upon before they were elected to office.
Part of the problem for Poland is that they still have coal powered power stations, where France have more nuclear power stations. They claim that they are being asked to close down their power stations, but nobody is telling the French to close down their nuclear power stations
The British accused their fellow members of wriggling out of decisions they agreed upon last year. They are expecting an agreement in December and felt that there could be no going back. In Britain the reforms are to be written into the Climate Change Bill. They have taken the position that climate change is too important to be hindered by the financial crisis.
This view has angered the Germans who feel that it would be economically damaging to any country that introduced reforms, while others stayed out of the agreement. The Latvians wanted concessions to the newer countries of the European Union.
The countries that oppose the changes form a big enough block to stop the changes going through. However, if the European Union unanimity rule was invoked, the reforms may get it through. In this case, there just has to be a majority decision rather than all countries supporting it.
As a consequence there are a lot of negotiations to be held. Concessions and opt outs are going to be offered to get everyone on the same side. However, if countries can opt out it will undermine the overall package. We feel that this is a depressing result. If there is to be an economic decline, can’t it be combated by creating jobs in the alternative energy sector? Or is that too simple a solution?
There is more at stake here than national economies. The European Union had gained some credibility within the international world for its commitment. It now questions how Europe will be able to negotiate with any new regime in America which is committed to cutting emissions.
The French wanted the 27 European Union countries to commit themselves by December, and tried to get agreement on that date. The reduction package also caused some criticism as they consisted of a series of draft laws which dictate how these proposals were to be introduced. To make maters worse the European Parliament loses its mandate in July and an agreement has to be reached by then.
An added problem is that the presidency of the European Union is passes to the Czech Republic in January. The government of the Czech Republic is made up of a coalition, and that coalition is divided by the issue of climate change.
Remarkably, Silvio Berlusconi claimed, that as he was not in office when the agreement was made, therefore, he was not bound by the decision. The European Union has been divided over several issues, but it was always accepted that one government was bound by any previous government’s decisions within the Union. Berlusconi argued that they did not need to go forward by themselves and that they could afford to wait. His gripe was that the reforms would cripple Italian industry. Nor is he a man who likes to be pushed into a corner, and he reacted very strongly against the French for trying to pressurize him into making a decision.
Poland, with support from Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovakia were able to weaken the text of the summit conclusions which had stressed the need for a conclusion by December. They also took the view that they could not support a policy decided upon before they were elected to office.
Part of the problem for Poland is that they still have coal powered power stations, where France have more nuclear power stations. They claim that they are being asked to close down their power stations, but nobody is telling the French to close down their nuclear power stations
The British accused their fellow members of wriggling out of decisions they agreed upon last year. They are expecting an agreement in December and felt that there could be no going back. In Britain the reforms are to be written into the Climate Change Bill. They have taken the position that climate change is too important to be hindered by the financial crisis.
This view has angered the Germans who feel that it would be economically damaging to any country that introduced reforms, while others stayed out of the agreement. The Latvians wanted concessions to the newer countries of the European Union.
The countries that oppose the changes form a big enough block to stop the changes going through. However, if the European Union unanimity rule was invoked, the reforms may get it through. In this case, there just has to be a majority decision rather than all countries supporting it.
As a consequence there are a lot of negotiations to be held. Concessions and opt outs are going to be offered to get everyone on the same side. However, if countries can opt out it will undermine the overall package. We feel that this is a depressing result. If there is to be an economic decline, can’t it be combated by creating jobs in the alternative energy sector? Or is that too simple a solution?
Friday, 17 October 2008
Turning back a Japanese Invader.
Japanese Knotweed is so dangerous there is legislation banning its cultivation and movement. Even a tiny fragment can regenerate, and it can grow through concrete and tarmac. Introduced during the Victorian era, it has now colonized almost all of Britain. And once you have Japanese Knotweed it is almost impossible to shift.
Enter the unlikely hero and saviour, the Aphalara Itadori, a small sap sucking insect from Japan. Scientists from (CAPRI) the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International, are thinking of releasing it into the British countryside. The aim is to introduce the Knotweed’s natural predator to help bring it under control.
The scientists involved at CAPRI have assessed the impact of 186 species of insects and 40 fungi for their potential to curb the knotweed. The result was that the Aphalara Itadori, and one fungus, the Mycosphaerella leafspot fungus, would do the job. They also tested the Aphalara Itadori on 79 other plants to make sure they were not a threat to the local plant life.
They are now waiting for a decision by the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs to allow them to release the insect under license. But this policy does not please everyone and there are dangers involved.
The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain in the late 19th century, since then it has almost driven Britain’s natural squirrel, the red squirrel, into extinction. In Australia the cane toad was introduced in the hope that it would protect the crops from the damage done to them by the cane grub. However, the cane toad was to do untold damage because it either ate the natural wildlife, or poisoned any animal which tried to eat it.
Around the world insects have been released to control invading plants, and they have had some successes. As far as Japanese Knotweed is concerned doing nothing is not an option.
Enter the unlikely hero and saviour, the Aphalara Itadori, a small sap sucking insect from Japan. Scientists from (CAPRI) the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International, are thinking of releasing it into the British countryside. The aim is to introduce the Knotweed’s natural predator to help bring it under control.
The scientists involved at CAPRI have assessed the impact of 186 species of insects and 40 fungi for their potential to curb the knotweed. The result was that the Aphalara Itadori, and one fungus, the Mycosphaerella leafspot fungus, would do the job. They also tested the Aphalara Itadori on 79 other plants to make sure they were not a threat to the local plant life.
They are now waiting for a decision by the Department of Environment and Rural Affairs to allow them to release the insect under license. But this policy does not please everyone and there are dangers involved.
The grey squirrel was introduced into Britain in the late 19th century, since then it has almost driven Britain’s natural squirrel, the red squirrel, into extinction. In Australia the cane toad was introduced in the hope that it would protect the crops from the damage done to them by the cane grub. However, the cane toad was to do untold damage because it either ate the natural wildlife, or poisoned any animal which tried to eat it.
Around the world insects have been released to control invading plants, and they have had some successes. As far as Japanese Knotweed is concerned doing nothing is not an option.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Got the blues? Feel Depressed? Take up Laughter Yoga.
Depression can affect anyone, it is thought about 9% of the population of Britain suffers from depression. As the financial crisis hits harder, it is thought that this level will rise. We are also heading towards winter which traditionally sees an increase in depression. It is easy to see how we end up with such a problem, we seem to have no time to relax and much of daily lives are very stressful. It is estimated that 1 in 5 of us will suffer some type of depression in our lifetimes.
If you start to feel blue, or just down, and that feeling does not lift after 14 days, there is a good chance you may have depression, and you may need medical help. However, research is showing that depression can be prevented by non medical means. If your shares have just plummeted, or your bank has gone bust and you feel down in the dumps the following can help stop the blues from becoming depression.
Laughter is still one of the best cures. Even the thought of having a good laugh can help lift the spirit. This is because laughter lowers the stress hormones, while the levels of beta-endorphins- rise by about 27%. The chemicals which help to create stress are lowered while the individual laughs. This has support from Dr Lee Burke at the Loma Linda University in California. As a consequence this has encouraged some people to take up laughter yoga. At least 40,000 people in Britain swear by it.
Good weather has a positive effect on people who suffer from depression. It has been found that the sufferer needs to be outside on a warm day for 30 minutes. It is also important that the temperature is no more than 22C, if the temperature goes above that it will have the opposite effect. Should the temperature be well below 22C it will also have the opposite effect.
Physical exercise also helps. Any exercise will do, but it is important that you pick an exercise you enjoy. It does not have to strenuous; walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes will have a positive effect. Running also helps to produce brain cells and can act as an antidepressant. Doing your exercise outside is thought to be better than doing your exercise inside. One study found that 71% sufferers of depression who flew a kite for 30 minutes experienced improvements.
It is also important to get a good night’s sleep. Insomnia was thought to be a symptom of depression; however, it is now thought to precede depression. If suffering from a lack of sleep it can be an indicator that you will be prone to depression. Sleep, even short naps, can help to relax people and reduce anxiety levels. One study has found the ideal is a 15-20 minute siesta, anything longer than that will create grogginess and make the situation worse.
Finally, there are always supplements. Dr Klaus Linde, of the Centre for Complementary Medicine, Munich, has found that St John’s Wort is effective as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Prozac does the same. It was found that St John’s Wort had fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Before you go out and buy this form your local shop, make sure you have no other symptoms which would be made worse by its use. Also the extract has to be suitable 300-450mg is regarded as a maximum.
The advice seems to be, get out during your lunch hour and try to walk in a park if you can for about 30 minutes. Try to take up some exercise and make sure you have some one whom you can talk your problems over with. Get some comedy DVD’s you have enjoyed in the past and make watching them a treat. Many doctors will help you find ways of fighting depression without medication. It may not mean much, but you will not be the only one.
If you start to feel blue, or just down, and that feeling does not lift after 14 days, there is a good chance you may have depression, and you may need medical help. However, research is showing that depression can be prevented by non medical means. If your shares have just plummeted, or your bank has gone bust and you feel down in the dumps the following can help stop the blues from becoming depression.
Laughter is still one of the best cures. Even the thought of having a good laugh can help lift the spirit. This is because laughter lowers the stress hormones, while the levels of beta-endorphins- rise by about 27%. The chemicals which help to create stress are lowered while the individual laughs. This has support from Dr Lee Burke at the Loma Linda University in California. As a consequence this has encouraged some people to take up laughter yoga. At least 40,000 people in Britain swear by it.
Good weather has a positive effect on people who suffer from depression. It has been found that the sufferer needs to be outside on a warm day for 30 minutes. It is also important that the temperature is no more than 22C, if the temperature goes above that it will have the opposite effect. Should the temperature be well below 22C it will also have the opposite effect.
Physical exercise also helps. Any exercise will do, but it is important that you pick an exercise you enjoy. It does not have to strenuous; walking on a treadmill for 30 minutes will have a positive effect. Running also helps to produce brain cells and can act as an antidepressant. Doing your exercise outside is thought to be better than doing your exercise inside. One study found that 71% sufferers of depression who flew a kite for 30 minutes experienced improvements.
It is also important to get a good night’s sleep. Insomnia was thought to be a symptom of depression; however, it is now thought to precede depression. If suffering from a lack of sleep it can be an indicator that you will be prone to depression. Sleep, even short naps, can help to relax people and reduce anxiety levels. One study has found the ideal is a 15-20 minute siesta, anything longer than that will create grogginess and make the situation worse.
Finally, there are always supplements. Dr Klaus Linde, of the Centre for Complementary Medicine, Munich, has found that St John’s Wort is effective as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Prozac does the same. It was found that St John’s Wort had fewer side effects than conventional drugs. Before you go out and buy this form your local shop, make sure you have no other symptoms which would be made worse by its use. Also the extract has to be suitable 300-450mg is regarded as a maximum.
The advice seems to be, get out during your lunch hour and try to walk in a park if you can for about 30 minutes. Try to take up some exercise and make sure you have some one whom you can talk your problems over with. Get some comedy DVD’s you have enjoyed in the past and make watching them a treat. Many doctors will help you find ways of fighting depression without medication. It may not mean much, but you will not be the only one.
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Will the Great Barrier Reef become Extinct by 2030?
You can see the Great Barrier Reef from outer space, but the only real way to appreciate its beauty is to get up close and see it from under the water. But by doing so you are risking killing it. Global warming and tourism are the greatest threats to this wonder of nature.
Global warming kills the corals by bleaching them. When the water temperature rises to above the seasonal temperature and stays at that temperature for about six to eight weeks, the corals start to bleach. When they bleach they go very pale and start to die. To do this the water only has to rise to about 1 or 2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average
It is thought the warming water kills of the microscopic algae which gives the corals their glorious colours. The algae interacts with the coral and allows photosynthesis to occur, this in turn provides the coral with its vital nutrients.
Since 1998 mass bleaching has occurred three times, in 1998, 2002 and 2006. In 2002 almost 60% of the reef was bleached, this was twice as bad as the 1998 experience. In 2006 the Keppel Islands were badly hit when 80% of the corals were bleached and about 40% of them died.
It is often forgotten that corals are living animals and they are vital to marine ecosystems. But it is not just fish which are dependent upon them; we use them for medicines, fishing and tourism.
Future predictions about what is going to happen are hopeful. The United Nations Panel on Climate Change, for example has warned that the reef could be extinct by 2030. But at a local level a lot is being done to protect it.
The Reef can be damaged by careless tourists, or by the pollution, both petrol and waste, which they bring in their wake. The scrapping of the corals by anchors, or by divers can do considerable damage. However, it is not just the tourists who damage the Great Barrier Reef, local fisherman and marine pollution from pesticides also takes their toll.
There is not going to be a blanket ban on the use of the Great Barrier Reef, in fact the opposite is the case. Over 1 million people visit the reef every year and it is these tourists who are championing the preservation of the barrier.
Those who work on the reef have to be licensed and they have had to attend educational sessions about preserving the Barrier Reef. It is in everyone’s interest for this work, and many accept this restriction.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is working with UNESCO to monitor the quality of the water, marine pollution, fishing, tourism and coastal development. They are also trying to reduce the amount of pesticides used on the land so they will not get into the sea and damage the reef.
Development and conservation can go work together; they do not need to be in conflict. It is horrendous to think that something as old and as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef could be lost to us. Let us hope it survives.
Global warming kills the corals by bleaching them. When the water temperature rises to above the seasonal temperature and stays at that temperature for about six to eight weeks, the corals start to bleach. When they bleach they go very pale and start to die. To do this the water only has to rise to about 1 or 2 degrees Celsius above the seasonal average
It is thought the warming water kills of the microscopic algae which gives the corals their glorious colours. The algae interacts with the coral and allows photosynthesis to occur, this in turn provides the coral with its vital nutrients.
Since 1998 mass bleaching has occurred three times, in 1998, 2002 and 2006. In 2002 almost 60% of the reef was bleached, this was twice as bad as the 1998 experience. In 2006 the Keppel Islands were badly hit when 80% of the corals were bleached and about 40% of them died.
It is often forgotten that corals are living animals and they are vital to marine ecosystems. But it is not just fish which are dependent upon them; we use them for medicines, fishing and tourism.
Future predictions about what is going to happen are hopeful. The United Nations Panel on Climate Change, for example has warned that the reef could be extinct by 2030. But at a local level a lot is being done to protect it.
The Reef can be damaged by careless tourists, or by the pollution, both petrol and waste, which they bring in their wake. The scrapping of the corals by anchors, or by divers can do considerable damage. However, it is not just the tourists who damage the Great Barrier Reef, local fisherman and marine pollution from pesticides also takes their toll.
There is not going to be a blanket ban on the use of the Great Barrier Reef, in fact the opposite is the case. Over 1 million people visit the reef every year and it is these tourists who are championing the preservation of the barrier.
Those who work on the reef have to be licensed and they have had to attend educational sessions about preserving the Barrier Reef. It is in everyone’s interest for this work, and many accept this restriction.
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is working with UNESCO to monitor the quality of the water, marine pollution, fishing, tourism and coastal development. They are also trying to reduce the amount of pesticides used on the land so they will not get into the sea and damage the reef.
Development and conservation can go work together; they do not need to be in conflict. It is horrendous to think that something as old and as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef could be lost to us. Let us hope it survives.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
No Water, Send for the Water Witch!
California has turned to the water witch to help its struggling farmers find water. The water witch is the popular term given to those who practice the art of dowsing with a y shaped willow stick. California is experiencing a two year draught and they need all the help they can get.
It is no laughing matter as Central Valley, the heart of Californian, farming has been severely hit. It is estimated that $260, 000, 000 was lost in August alone. Some 80,000 acres have just been left because the farmers can no longer face the struggle of trying to get water.
Enter the water witches, they don’t belong to a coven, generally they don’t advertise, there is no water witch union and many operate for free. Although, many are members of the American Society of Dowsers. There is no real scientific explanation for their success, but what they do is not really magic either. It’s an old art which many now desperately need.
Many water witches have been dowsing for some time, they wait for their dowsing rod to move and in theory that’s where water will be found. In reality they have learned that the shape of the land can tell then where water will be found.
Some are highly successful. One well driller can point to all the broken drill bits and a huge waiting list to show how desperate people have become. His work with one water witch has proved to be very successful. In fact 4 out of every 5 attempts have been successful.
Critics can argue that Central Valley was once a giant inland lake so it’s hardly surprising that water is to be found under the surface. Yet many are looking for water in a specific area outside of the valley. Also sending for the water witch is a lot cheaper than sending for the water driller who would have to survey the land before they could even start drilling. This explains why the water witch is still popular and believed in. What has a farmer got to lose if the water witch’s services are free?
Contrary to popular opinion you don’t need to use a willow stick. Some have used a metal rod and worn a metal helmet, and when the rod spins up it indicates where to find the water. Many still hold to the traditional willow y shaped stick, the point being no longer than the size of a finger. The American Society of Dowsers has more than 3,000 members. Their members use pendulums, L-shaped rods, and bobbers.
Dowsing can be dangerous; the speed in which the rod twists and moves can break an arm or a finger. Generally speaking when the rod movers the water witch drops the dowsing tool. One twitch of the tool does not prove there is water underfoot. The aim is to find one twitch, then moving in an ever extended circle to find at least one more, or two more to be certain. Once these places have been marked it is then a case for the water drillers to step in and stat drilling. Even then each water witch has their own method.
What is surprising is that the term water witch is so freely used. It is great to see traditions being maintained and that modern day society has not eliminated them. However, it is surprising when we consider how important religion has become in American life. But then these are strange times.
It is no laughing matter as Central Valley, the heart of Californian, farming has been severely hit. It is estimated that $260, 000, 000 was lost in August alone. Some 80,000 acres have just been left because the farmers can no longer face the struggle of trying to get water.
Enter the water witches, they don’t belong to a coven, generally they don’t advertise, there is no water witch union and many operate for free. Although, many are members of the American Society of Dowsers. There is no real scientific explanation for their success, but what they do is not really magic either. It’s an old art which many now desperately need.
Many water witches have been dowsing for some time, they wait for their dowsing rod to move and in theory that’s where water will be found. In reality they have learned that the shape of the land can tell then where water will be found.
Some are highly successful. One well driller can point to all the broken drill bits and a huge waiting list to show how desperate people have become. His work with one water witch has proved to be very successful. In fact 4 out of every 5 attempts have been successful.
Critics can argue that Central Valley was once a giant inland lake so it’s hardly surprising that water is to be found under the surface. Yet many are looking for water in a specific area outside of the valley. Also sending for the water witch is a lot cheaper than sending for the water driller who would have to survey the land before they could even start drilling. This explains why the water witch is still popular and believed in. What has a farmer got to lose if the water witch’s services are free?
Contrary to popular opinion you don’t need to use a willow stick. Some have used a metal rod and worn a metal helmet, and when the rod spins up it indicates where to find the water. Many still hold to the traditional willow y shaped stick, the point being no longer than the size of a finger. The American Society of Dowsers has more than 3,000 members. Their members use pendulums, L-shaped rods, and bobbers.
Dowsing can be dangerous; the speed in which the rod twists and moves can break an arm or a finger. Generally speaking when the rod movers the water witch drops the dowsing tool. One twitch of the tool does not prove there is water underfoot. The aim is to find one twitch, then moving in an ever extended circle to find at least one more, or two more to be certain. Once these places have been marked it is then a case for the water drillers to step in and stat drilling. Even then each water witch has their own method.
What is surprising is that the term water witch is so freely used. It is great to see traditions being maintained and that modern day society has not eliminated them. However, it is surprising when we consider how important religion has become in American life. But then these are strange times.
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