Showing posts with label earth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label earth. Show all posts
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
350.org: Because the world needs to know
What does the number 350 mean?
350 is the most important number in the world—it's what scientists say
is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Two years ago, after leading climatologists observed rapid ice melt in the
Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of
studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million.
Arctic and other frightening signs of climate change, they issued a series of
studies showing that the planet faced both human and natural disaster if atmospheric
concentrations of CO2 remained above 350 parts per million.
Everyone from Al Gore to the U.N.’s top climate scientist has now embraced this goal
as necessary for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Now the trick
is getting our leaders to pay attention and craft policies that will put the world on track
to get to 350.
as necessary for stabilizing the planet and preventing complete disaster. Now the trick
is getting our leaders to pay attention and craft policies that will put the world on track
to get to 350.
Is 350 scientifically possible?
Right now, mostly because we’ve burned so much fossil fuel, the atmospheric
concentration of CO2 is 390 ppm—that’s way too high, and it’s why ice is melting,
drought is spreading, forests are dying. To bring that number down, the first task is to
stop putting more carbon into the atmosphere. That means a very fast transition to sun
and wind and other renewable forms of power. If we can stop pouring more carbon
into the atmosphere, then forests and oceans will slowly suck some of it out of the air and
return us to safe levels.
concentration of CO2 is 390 ppm—that’s way too high, and it’s why ice is melting,
drought is spreading, forests are dying. To bring that number down, the first task is to
stop putting more carbon into the atmosphere. That means a very fast transition to sun
and wind and other renewable forms of power. If we can stop pouring more carbon
into the atmosphere, then forests and oceans will slowly suck some of it out of the air and
return us to safe levels.
Is 350 politically possible?
It’s very hard. It means switching off fossil fuel much more quickly than governments
and corporations have been planning. But we can change that--if we mobilize the world
to swift and bold climate action, and shift the world to a clean energy future.
and corporations have been planning. But we can change that--if we mobilize the world
to swift and bold climate action, and shift the world to a clean energy future.
Fish Farms: Underwater Factories
Taken From http://www.fishinghurts.com/fishFarms.asp - Click to learn more ...
"Conditions on aquafarms are so horrendous that on some farms, 40 percent of the fish may die before farmers can kill and package them for food."
Fish farming, or “aquaculture,” has become a billion-dollar industry, and more than 30 percent of all the sea animals consumed each year are now raised on these “farms.” The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization reports that the aquaculture industry is growing three times faster than land-based animal agriculture, and fish farms will surely become even more prevalent as our natural fisheries become exhausted.
Aquafarms can be based on land or in the ocean. Land-based farms raise thousands of fish in ponds, pools, or concrete tanks. Ocean-based aquafarms are situated close to shorelines, and fish in these farms are packed into net or mesh cages. All fish farms are rife with pollution, disease, and suffering, regardless of their location.
Aquafarms squander resources—it can take 5 pounds of wild-caught fish to produce just 1 pound of farmed fish—and pollute the environment with tons of fish feces, antibiotic-laden fish feed, and diseased fish carcasses.
Fish on aquafarms spend their entire lives in cramped, filthy enclosures, and many suffer from parasitic infections, diseases, and debilitating injuries. Conditions on some farms are so horrendous that 40 percent of the fish may die before farmers can kill and package them for food. In short, fish farms bring suffering and ecological devastation everywhere they go.
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