www.allabouthappylife.com

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Climate Change Causing Extinction of Bird Species + Lobster and Shrimp

Climate Change Pushing Bird Species 'Towards Extinction:'

Birds that depend upon the Ocean for survival:

  • Are Most VULERNABLE
  • 67 Species
  • Whether endangered now or less threathened are being affected by Climate Change

"Birds are excellent indicators of the health of our environment, and right now they are telling us an important story about climate change," said Kenneth Rosenberg.

Puffin

Albatrosses


Central American Shrimp, Lobster Fast Disappearing

Illegal Fishing & Climate is Decimating Shrimp and Lobster Population

  • Pollution
  • Warmer Waters
  • Decreasing Rainfall - Results in Less Nutrients (Feed On)
  • Illegal Fishing (50% of Central American Fishing Goes Undeclared/Reported)

References:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100312/ts_alt_afp/environmentclimateusbirds;_ylt=AmiwO4PjQBWBKXslu61xycxpl88F;_ylu=X3oDMTMxZWhqNXU5BGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDMxMi9lbnZpcm9ubWVudGNsaW1hdGV1c2JpcmRzBHBvcwM0MARzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNjbGltYXRlY2hhbmc-

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100312/sc_afp/centrampanamaenvironmentfish;_ylt=AkWEL.ZTl0e3oRNflGqzxShpl88F;_ylu=X3oDMTM0aDdmdGxyBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDMxMi9jZW50cmFtcGFuYW1hZW52aXJvbm1lbnRmaXNoBHBvcwMzNwRzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNjZW50cmFsYW1lcmk-

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Solar Power Could Provide 10% of US Energy: Report


They are saying by 2030, Electricity from Solar Power will make up 10% of the total, from a 0.1% from today's standings.

Planning to install 10 Million Solar Panels across the U.S. over the next decade.

"At a time when we spend 350 billion dollars importing oil from Saudi Arabia and other countries every year, the United States must move away from foreign oil to energy independence," Sanders told a press conference Tuesday.

Reference:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100310/sc_afp/uscongresspoliticssolarenergy

Monday, March 8, 2010

Growing Low-Oxygen Zones in Oceans Worry Scientists

An article from Yahoo, posted Today.

"Lower levels of oxygen in the Earth's oceans, particularly off the United States' Pacific Northwest coast, could be another sign of fundamental changes linked to global climate change, scientists say."

Not sure whether its a Trend or a Phenomenon like the Methane occurring in the Arctic.

@yahoo.com

The reference link contains the full story.

Reference:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100307/sc_mcclatchy/3444187

Friday, March 5, 2010

9. 24 Hour Item Count + Calories






x3 Protein Shakes = 450 Calories x 3 = 1350 Calories
PB Sandwich = 325 Calories
Rice = 200 Calories
Eggs Sandwich = 240 Calories
Total Calories 2115








8. ECHO Trip

ECHO - Educational Concerns For Hunger Organization


Cool Climate Crops

Grains

  • Zizania - Wild Rice
  • Fagopyrum - Buckwheat

Herbs

  • Aloe Vera
  • Allium - Garlic

Oil

  • Carthamus - Safflower

    Some other Innovative Techniques

Dryland Farming Techniques
http://www.echotech.org/technical/technotes/DrylandF.pdf
Tropical Agriculture
http://www.echotech.org/technical/technotes/BETropAg.PDF
Sand Water Filter
http://www.echotech.org/technical/technotes/sandwatr.pdf
Drum Type Cookstove
http://www.echotech.org/technical/technotes/Drum%20Cookstove.pdf

Urban Gardening - Rooftop Gardening

  • Shallow Bed Gardens - 3-6" deep, soil or lightweight material and soil.
  • Tire Gardens - less potential damage to roof, and portable.
  • Wick Gardens - consists of synthetic cloth laid over a flat area of the garden with a 5 gallon watering buckey placed on the wick, to even distribute the water.
  • Shallow Pool Garden - shallow pool of water one half to one inch deep. Usually a sheet of plastic of the desired size is formed into a pool by laying sticks under each of the sides.

Hybrid Gardens

  • Eave Trough Garden - easy method for making a striking wall of flowers
  • Wading Pool Garden - inexpensive plastic wading pool

What can be found that is Organic near US. Just a SMALL sample.

  • Apple Sauce
  • Lettus/Romaine/Spinach/Arugula Salad
  • Oats
  • Tomatoes/Sweet Peas/black Beans/Kidney Beans/Pinto Beans
  • Eggs/Milk/Soy Milk
  • Apple Juice/Grape Juice/Lemonade
  • Bath Tissue/Napkins/Paper Towels

7. Ecological Footprint

http://www.myfootprint.org/en/your_results/?id=973842

Ecological Footprint Quiz by Redefining Progress

Take the Quiz. Click Above.
The areas I need improvements are in Carbon Footprint and Foodprint. However, I still remain under the WORLD average.
Example:
  • Eat less Meat, Eat more Vegetables
  • Plant a Garden - Hard to Due at an apartment
  • More Organic
  • Carpool
  • Unplug Electronics
  • Insulate Water Heater

Thursday, March 4, 2010

6. Methane Bubbles in Arctic Seas Stir Warming Fears


Arctic Sea Ice loss 1979 to 2007

Methane Bubbles in Arctic Seas Stir Warming Fears

by Alister Doyle, Evironmental Correspondent on March 4th 2010

"Current methane concentrations in the Arctic are the highest 400,000 years."

"Subsea permafrost is losing its ability to be an impermeable cap"

Natalia Shakova (Scientist)

Total of 5,000 Sites where Methane is being released from, and some is said to be coming from the seabed. Until releasing discovered, the sea floor was considered a barrier preventing the methane from escaping.

GLOBAL WARMING

Martin Heimann (Biochemist) claims that the 8 million tonnes of Methane being released is "negligible" compared to the 440 million tonnes in Global EMISSIONS. He states, "These leaks could have been occurring all the time."

Shakova states "urgent need" to watch over the Arctic since "Methane" is the second most common greenhouse gas. Also if monitoring is done, we can see if it was a steady event or a freak event.

Other Articles on the Issue:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100304/sc_afp/usenvironmentclimatewarming;_ylt=Asbk.m8oHsbbk_NqXfuW2i9pl88F;_ylu=X3oDMTMyODBvNWp0BGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDEwMDMwNC91c2Vudmlyb25tZW50Y2xpbWF0ZXdhcm1pbmcEcG9zAzQEc2VjA3luX3BhZ2luYXRlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDaHVnZW1ldGhhbmVs

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100304/ap_on_sc/us_sci_climate_methane;_ylt=ArJmDFiG4KrPoZPYVtpNki5pl88F;_ylu=X3oDMTJzNHFkZTk4BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMzA0L3VzX3NjaV9jbGltYXRlX21ldGhhbmUEcG9zAzcEc2VjA3luX3BhZ2luYXRlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDbWV0aGFuZXNlZW5h

References:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100304/sc_nm/us_climate_methane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQ21p93JZc

5. The Out-Door LOG

How much does one spend in the outdoors? For many it a very small percentage. Why such a small percentage?

  • The AVG. person spends 49 HOURS a week sleeping, which is 2940 MINUTES.
  • The AVG. person spends 40 HOURS a week working, which is 2400 MINUTES.
  • This TOTAL ABOVE is 53% of an AVG. person's Weekly Time Spent.

  • Now ADD School + School Related Work
  • The AVG. student spends 12 HOURS a week in school, which is 720 MINUTES.
  • The AVG. time spent per outside classroom for class is 2 Hrs x 12 = 24 HOURS, which is
    1440 MINUTES.

  • NEW TOTAL = 125 HOURS, which is 7500 MINUTES.
  • 74.4% of a Working Students TIME.
  • LEAVING 43 HOURS for Personal Time, which is 2580 MINUTES. (25.6%)'

Let's take a break-down of my DAILY out-door Activites for a WEEK.


Monday:
240 M. - Resting by the Poolside on the water in Sunny Palm Beach Gardens
Tuesday:
120 M. - Tennis
Wednesday:
120 M. - Tennis
Thursday:
185 M. - Tennis
90 M. - Poolside
Friday:
NONE
Saturday:
300 M. - Working on Garden of Eden
Sunday:
360 M. - Resting by the Poolside on the water in Sunny Palm Beach Gardens

1415 M. = 14% Out-Door-Activities

4. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

The Importance of Wetlands

Wetlands PROTECT Water Quality:

Trapping Sediments & Retaining Excess Nutrients/Pollutants

  • Sediments/Nutrients/Chemicals - from "Runoffs"
  • Can cause Algae Bloom



CSS Biodiversity:

"Wetlands provide the food chain with a remarkable amount of support because they offer an abundant supply of food and water and a wide variety of ecological niches."

  • (The Green Lane)

Corkscrew is home to over 149 Species.

http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Wildlife/WildlifeChecklist.pdf

Mirco-Organisms - Plants

http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/Wildlife/OrchidList.pdf

Checklists above for the two categories.

Preserving the Watershed from:

  • Floods
  • Droughts
  • Runoffs

References:

  1. http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/functions.html
  2. http://www.qc.ec.gc.ca/faune/atlasterreshumides/html/role_e.html


Pictures taken at Corkscrew