Eco Lesbo Vego

So what did we talk about this week? What has been happening in the world?

Eco Lesbo Vego

We discussed:

• Telecommuting, and how working from home and global business can reduce your carbon emissions.
• Ways to reduce your summer cooling costs – especially important in the light of increasing heat waves due to global warming.
• Yankee Elv’s latest creations – earrings made from computer circuitry, a great way to reuse your e-waste!
• Why it’s so important to recycle mobile phones.

I also posted a vegan recipe – Spicy Bean Chili Stew. It’s tasty and hot, like the weather – but it’s a one pot meal that doesn’t require standing over the hot stove for ages. Add in some cornbread and have a tasty vegan meal this week.

Environmental News from Australia and Around the World

Antarctica is feeling the heat, just like every other part of the world, due to global warming. Although it seems bizarre to me that this is news (I just assumed global warming was, you know… global), apparently some people thought that only the coastal areas of Antarctica were melting. I’m trying really hard not to be sarcastic about the fact that this is news. What is interesting is that some parts of Antarctica are melting more rapidly – and Australia will bear the brunt of the ensuing impact, due to proximity, especially the southern states. I hope our local government is taking this into account with their town planning – it’s possible that as a northern state, Queensland could expect a rapid spike in Tasmanian migration. O_o

South Korean researchers have developed a way to produce biofuels from seaweed. Biofuels, while natural and renewable, are not a favourite of mine due to the amount of land and food crops used to create them. These crops could be used for fuel. For this reason, I think the seaweed biofuel is a potentially good idea… but what will the impact on the ocean be? Doesn’t seaweed capture carbon and release oxygen? How will this affect the fish and other ocean life – will they still be able to breathe? Does anyone know anything more about this?

Obama has put a stop to all of the last minute legislation Bush was trying to push through before his Texan village got back its idiot. That’s a pretty good of Obama actually – the laws Bush was trying to push through included lots of stuff that could impact the environment. Stuff like:

• New fuel rules for car manufacturers
• New rules for the disposal of bio-waste and emissions from farms
• Power plant restrictions and allowances (such as exemptions from installing pollution controls)
• New rules on genetically engineered everything (except humans)
• Uranium mining permits near the Grand Canyon
• The removal of grey wolves from the endangered species list.

Biofuels are now being investigated as a serious alternative to rocket fuel. The rocket scientists figure that eventually we’ll run out of oil-based fuel, so they’re looking for something to replace it. Job security, perhaps? Eco-friendly job security is the way to go, for sure, but who cares why they’re doing it – just that they are. It’s true, I’m a bit of a space nut. I watch Star Trek, Firefly, Alien and the Matrix (I know the latter isn’t space, but it’s sci fi and they have ships so it kinda blurs the boundaries). I honestly believe there is someone else out there. Logically, it just doesn’t make sense that there isn’t. When I had a desktop, I even had it linked to SETI. So the fact that we may soon have an eco-friendly way of exploring the final frontier tickles my fancy. Keep in mind that biofuels aren’t as great as some people make them out to be though (see above). Oh well, maybe one day we’ll achieve warp. Surely anti-matter plasma is a cleaner way to fly? (Yup, I just lost a bunch of readers who now think I’m nutty.)

Hotels are reducing their complimentary offerings in an effort to reduce waste. This includes fruit variety at breakfast, having guests order breakfast rather than holding a buffet, not including complimentary lotion, shower caps and sewing kits in the rooms and eliminating free coffee and bikkies. Some folks are complaining, but I think it’s a great idea. I never use those things anyway, and you’re more likely to get what you want for breakfast if you order anyway (I always sleep in so I’m left with cornflakes, stale muffins and bananas, which I hate). Now all we have to do is get them to offer vegan and vegetarian options to reduce their environmental impact even more!

The internet is buggering up the world with massive amounts of carbon emissions. That sucks. One new Google server alone, currently under construction, will need a 103 megawatt powerline in three years, enough to power 82,000 homes. That really sucks. The good news is, lots of internet businesses are researching alternative power sources, like solar and wind power. And frankly, I think the internet, even with all it’s carbon emissions, is still doing more good than harm. That’s not a hard statistic, just my opinion, but think of all the paper that’s not being printed and the travel that’s not occurring thanks to telecommuting. Tell me the last time you even thought about buying a set of encyclopedias. I think going with renewable power sources is essential though. Is there anything we can do, as consumers to encourage that? Aside from using Blackle?

Australian researchers want to fertilise the ocean off the east coast of Australia, hoping to dramatically increase the growth of plankton and thus achieve the Prime Minister’s carbon reduction targets for 2020. Some talking points:

• It’s not that hard to reach the targets the old fashioned way because they are appallingly low.
• Fertilisation could lead to increases in other species, as well as plankton (like algae).
• Plankton may actually absorb heat to the point where it accelerates global warming, rather than contributes to its reduction.
• Increased plankton could lead to altered migration patterns, and who knows what impact that could have?

I just think it’s a bit short-sighted.

Of course, there’s lots of other news, but that’s all I have time for today! Did I miss anything particularly important? Leave a comment and let me know.