LARGEST OIL LEAKAGE LOSSES IS ECOSYSTEM

Modified by: Hermawan
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Gulf of Mexico oil disaster seems to cost far more than just a cleanup and compensation for lost revenue collected immediately after the destruction of ecosystems, says a leading expert said, Tuesday. In an interview conducted in conjunction with the issuance of UN reports about the relationship between business and biodiversity, an economist Pavan Sukhdev told BP emphasize the need for catastrophic sea change in the way of "natural capital", which become the foundation of human well-being measured and assessed.

"No visibility of economic issues on biodiversity and ecosystem services - clean water, fresh water, oceans are healthy, fertile soils, stable climate - must be dealt with seriously," Sukhdev said in a telephone conversation from London. "We must move into the community where public and private property is recognized as important. However, today how many people understand the` natural capital 'as a comparison of financial capital? " Part of the problem is not knowing how to appreciate everything that has long been presumed to exist in unlimited quantities. "We can not manage what we do not measure, and we did not measure the value of the benefits of nature or the price of losing all that," said Sukhdev, lead author of the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TTEB) for Business report.

But residents of the country and global industry that led to the amount not later than nine billion people in the middle of this century has created a tremendous strain. Each year, the 3,000 largest companies in the world of environmental damage with a value of 2.2 trillion U.S. dollars (1.75 trillion euros), said Sukhdev. He cited a company statement released immediately and prepared by consultants TruCost, based in England. "No company or individual CEO is to blame. They mengikutip path created for them, the company can deliver all of their costs to society," he said.
BP oil leak, which has issued as many as 60,000 barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico every day, has emerged as a case study on how to protect valuable natural assets. If the Government requires an ongoing "holistic economic assessment" before drilling is allowed, the potential liability might have prompted BP to conduct a more stringent security measures, he said. When it appears, "We just think about all this after a problem occurs, then hurried and pontan-skelter" said Sukhdev. He refers to the result of the Exxon Valdez, a supertanker ships littering the once pristine area of Alaska, Prince William Sound, with 11 million gallons of oil. BP oil wells had been spewing the same amount every four or five days since 20 April, according to U.S. government estimates.

Setting the price on the value of the affected ecosystems are also changing the estimate of losses. "But what about the economic costs from loss of use - loss of ekopariwisata, fish stocks, which is the future for industry losses, not usually caught fish in the area," said Sukhdev. Oil was also able to kill hundreds of square kilometers of mangrove forests along the coast, which is a habitat for marine species of commercial and holder of a devastating storm. Even thousands of yacht owners may have legitimate claims. "Many people have invested in a cruise ship, including berthing costs, for people to take care of it. When the time comes to use it or rent it, they can not do that - it was the loss of utilization. Did anyone consider that?"

The crisis of the collapse of these ecosystems will be addressed only when the value of natural services is fully reflected in decision-making business and politics, said Sukhdev. "We're half way to the development of equipment. Make people understand that these devices do exist and must be used, we are in a position three to five on a scale count of 10," he said. "Regarding the actual implementation - between zero and two," said Sukhdev as journalists reported the French news agency AFP, Marlowe Hood. TEEB report, which was supported by the United Nations Environment Programme, launched by the European Commission in 2007, after the G8 and the countries emerging major eknonomi calling for a global study on the economic and biodiversity. Full study of it will be disclosed at the end of this year, the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan. (C003/T010)
Reference: http://www.antaranews.com

POPULATION GROWTH: THE BIGGEST THREAT TO ENVIRONMENTAL

Modified by: Hermawan

“We must alert and organise the world’s people to pressure world leaders to take specific steps to solve the two root causes of our environmental crises – exploding population growth and wasteful consumption of irreplaceable resources. Overconsumption and overpopulation underlie every environmental problem we face today.”
Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Human population is the greatest threat of environmental problems in Indonesia and even the world. Everyone needs energy, land and huge resources to survive. If the population survive on an ideal level, then the balance between the environment and regeneration of the population can be achieved. But the reality is the population growing faster than the ability of the earth and our environment to improve existing resources and ultimately the ability of the earth will be exceeded and the impact on the low quality of human life.

With high population growth rate, then the amount of food demand also increased when the land is very limited. To meet the needs of food, then clearcut the forest began to increase the amount of agricultural land are also food for human ends. Conversion of forests to agricultural land can cause erosion. In addition, chemicals used as fertilizers also reduce soil fertility. With the deforestation and erosion, the ability of soil to absorb water was reduced thereby increasing flood risk and hazard level.

So, we as humans must fully realize that capacity of the earth where we live is very limited. Therefore, if the population continues to increase without being limited, it is not possible, environmental conditions will continue to decline.
Reference: wartawarga.gunadarma.ac.id

What Does It Mean To Be Green?

By: Lisa Smith

When people hear the term "green investing", they often dismiss everything that follows as "tree hugger stuff". After all, investing is about making money and not being too concerned about the environmental impact companies have in making it. However, there has been a shift in both the board rooms of major corporations and the portfolios of investors, toward getting more "green", only now they're not talking about money.

Green investing involves putting money into companies that actively promote environmental responsibility. In a way, it turns some of the traditional criteria used for investing upside down. But will green investing actually put any green in your wallet? In this article, we'll take a look at green investing from both sides of the argument. (The term "green investing" is subjective. Find out how this impacts green investors in Forget Green Stocks, "Green" Will Do.)

The Old Ways
The traditional economic approach toward the world's environment is largely centered on generating a profit. Trees are made to be cut down and sold, land is made to be developed, and animals (when they are considered at all) are either raised to sell or (in the case of rare fish, birds, amphibians, etc) are treated as impediments to deforestation and land development. Most credible experts agree that this approach to the environment has contributed to a host of environmental problems, including global warming, pollution, the extinction of some animal species, deforestation and drought.

The New Ways
The major environmental concerns that have arisen as a result of economic development are now gaining attention and have generated a host of concern. They have also generated a heightened awareness of the importance of the environment. As a result, businesses are either seeking to operate in environmentally friendly ways or seeking to solve some of the problems that industry creates for the natural world. And we're not just talking about companies that sell hemp T-shirts or biodegradable pots made from cow dung - even major corporations (and major polluters) are jumping on board. (For more on this movement, read For Companies, Green Is The New Black.)

Environmentally Friendly Operations
While operating in an environmentally friendly manner is a new way of doing business for most firms, some of the biggest names in business are giving it a try. Although many of them still have a long way to go, Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX), Nike (NYSE: NKE), General Electric (NYSE: GE) and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) are a few examples of companies that are far ahead of their competitors in terms of the way they operate. Many of these companies track and measure their impact on global warming, have set goals for the reduction of energy use and provide easy-to-access information about their efforts to address environmental issues. (For related reading, see Go Green With Socially Responsible Investing.)

Seeking to Solve Problems
If this shift in corporate and investor focus seems odd, consider that solving the world's environmental problems is big business. Efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels have spawned a host of enterprises ranging from wind farms to alternative fuels - and these aren't pie-in-the-sky efforts. For example, in 2007, legendary oil man T. Boone Pickens launched a bid to build one of the biggest wind farms in the United States. Energy giant General Electric also participates in the design and manufacture of wind turbines, while other major energy companies have partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop clean coal technologies. Toyota (NYSE: TM) and other big companies are already selling hybrid cars, and most major auto manufacturers are racing to develop the next generation of fuel technology, with ideas ranging from engines that deliver dramatically increased gas mileage to hydrogen fuel cells that forgo gasoline altogether. (For more on these kinds of companies, see Top 10 Green Industries.)

Other companies are reclaiming brown field (abandoned or underutilized) industrial sites, designing energy efficient appliances, creating new products from recycled materials, engaging in sustainable farming practices, and developing methods to reduce air pollution. These companies are all looking for ways to solve problems, operate in more environmentally friendly ways and run profitable enterprises. (To learn more, see Clean Or Green Technology Investing.)

The Roots of Green
The concept of green investing is an outgrowth of the socially responsible investing movement. Socially responsible investors often seek to avoid investing in companies that produce products such as alcohol, tobacco and firearms; green investors seek to put their money into supporting companies that protect the environment. While the movement has taken awhile to generate momentum, the outlook looks bright as concern about energy and the environment continue to mount. (To learn more, read Socially Responsible Mutual Funds.)

Supporting Green
If you are ready to go green, investing in companies that engage in environmentally friendly practices is the easiest and most obvious way to show your support. Not only do you get to feel good about your investment, but you also get to make a profit if the enterprise is successful. Less obvious, but not to be overlooked, is the opportunity to vote with your dollars in other ways.

In addition to buying stock in environmentally friendly companies or companies engaged in efforts to solve environmental problems, you can also purchase their products. You'll get to enjoy the products themselves and every dollar you spend will help to support your investment. In a similar fashion, if you identify companies that operate in ways that are detrimental to the environment, you can choose to keep their stocks out of your portfolio and their products out of your home.

Source: http://www.investopedia.com

Environment Friendly Home Business

By: Mark Styranka

Whether a person is conservative or liberal, young or old, male or female the message is the same. No matter where they live, how much money they have, education, social status, you name it, most people agree. Albeit for different reasons, people are becoming more environmentally aware. "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" is becoming a common household and business phrase. These three "R"s will help to save the planet but there is an added benefit to your home business.

When we started applying these to our home business we achieve amazing results. With regard to paper, we print or copy only what is absolutely necessary and then we use both sides of the paper. We provide our customers electronic information and only supply paper copies when requested (and may even charge a fee for this). We reuse paper that we receive that is only printed on one side, for notes or message taking. When we do buy paper, it is 100% recycled for only about one dollar more per ream. We recycle our paper and printer cartridges as well. Because of all these things, we contribute less to landfills and to destruction of forests and very importantly, our costs for paper and printer ink is way down. We have seen no negative consequences by taking all these steps.

To save electricity, we have replaced our light bulbs with florescent ones. They cost more initially, but our electricity costs are reduced and they last six times longer. We have a power bar on all of our electronic equipment and we turn the power bar off at night or when they otherwise won't be used for an extended period of time. This saves electric costs and I personally like the idea of having my internet modem and wireless network unavailable to hackers when I'm not using the equipment.

To save on heating and cooling, we have accepted that the temperature may not be ideal and that we can change what we are wearing (great benefit of a home business!) to become more comfortable. So the temperature range set on our thermostat is set a bit higher or lower than we used to depending on the season.

Our utilities bills continually show that we use less power or natural gas than in the same month of the preceding year and this is our goal. There is more that can be done but these simple steps described here will:
1. Help you save money on paper, ink, electricity and natural gas,
2. Impress your customers if you advertise that you are environmentally friendly,
3. Contribute less to landfills, and
4. Help to preserve the environment for future generations.

Efficient and effective use of resources should be a goal of every business. It does not cost more money to be environmentally friendly, contrary to popular belief. If we focus on efficient and effective use of nature's resources then the result has to be a positive one. One person and one business can make a difference, one person and one business at a time.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Recycled Printing, Your Opportunity to Safe Guard the Environment

By: Ungira Pandit

Our generation is learning its lesson and paying the price with the effects of global warming creeping up on us. 12.5 million tonnes of paper are consumed by the UK population and a devastating 4.7 million tonnes of that paper ends up in landfills. Almost 80% of the original forests and trees on the globe have been cut down and degraded. Once mature trees are cut down, it is pitiful to convince ourselves that we are replacing the logged trees with saplings which will take years to take their full fledged form. Using recycled paper for printing is the best way to prevent this industry from taking a toll on the environment. Recycled printing is the process of recovering waste paper to make new paper which will be used for printing. The waste paper is broken down into singular fibres that are blended together to create new paper. The types of waste paper required for created recycled printing paper are old newspaper, corrugated paper, high grade paper, de-inked pulped substitutes and mixed paper.

Recycled printing paper has a variety of benefits for you and your company. It is cost effective, eco-friendly and has an appealing natural quality. Some types of recycled paper further delve into their natural attributes by included crushed petals, and grass to the fibre blend and incorporate vegetable and flower based inks. Because of the natural quality of recycled paper, it is often used for printing greeting cards, business cards, wedding cards and much more.
The process of blending broken fibres together gives recycled printing paper a softer attribute than virgin paper and does not falter in quality. Virgin paper refers to new tree fibres that have never been used for making paper. Recycled printing paper has an enhanced opacity available in different textures, weights and colours. Recycled printing paper should contain at least a minimum of 30% post consumer waste to be considered as recycled. It used to be that people shied away from recycled paper due to its drab and grey toned colours. This was caused by the ink in used paper blending into the fibres while they were being broken down to make new paper. Now there are de-inking processes available to accomplish white recycled printing paper. This procedure also cleans the fibre pulp by removing unwanted fillers, clays and fibre fragments. Recycled printing paper requires less water as well as energy. In fact, 50% less energy is used when recycled printing paper is produced. Approximately 1 tonne of recycled paper prevents 1.32 tonnes of carbon emissions from entering our atmosphere. The reduction of carbon emissions, logging, water consumption and energy all have a positive impact on our environment, making recycled printing paper an ideal source for businesses. It is a social and environmental responsibility of you and your enterprise to used recycled printing paper. Utilizing recycled paper reduces waste in landfills and also the strain on our forest resources. Take an initiative to save trees and preserve the environment while running your business. Utilizing recycled printing paper reflects a prestigious environmentally conscious image for you and your company.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Our Environment, Global Warming, And How You Can Help!

By: Gordon Brown

Source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/A-New-Explanation-of-Global-Warming-19650.shtml

There's no question that our planet is warming up. Average global temperatures have risen around the world in the last 100 years, especially in the past 20 years. There are many theories out there when looking for answers to this, but only two are obvious. One of those theories is the idea that the Earth naturally goes through temperature cycles during the course of its existence. Another idea is that we as humans are introducing untold amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and this is causing the planet to heat up.


Regardless of how and why Earth is warming up, it's happening, won't stop anytime soon, and may be dangerous in the long run. Maybe it's human activity or maybe it's not, nobody will be able to tell us what the exact cause is. However, what we do know is the human population most certainly contributes to the warming of the planet. The good part is we have the power to slow it down and cut our carbon dioxide output down drastically.

There are many things you can do to help our environment and cut down on your carbon footprint, all of which are reductions of energy usage at home and on the road. First and foremost, replace all the light bulbs in all your residencies to the energy-efficient bulbs. This is huge and will save you hundreds of dollars a year on your power bill, thus promoting a cleaner environment. You can also replace your old appliances with newer, energy-efficient models. The same goes for your air conditioner. These are the top 3 ways to cut your power costs at home.

There's now a 4th and big way to reduce your carbon footprint and power bill, that is, solar panels and wind turbines you can build yourself. You can find guides and manuals online that teach you about everything you need to know. The best part about this is how simple and easy it is to construct a green energy power system in your home. Not many people know about this, but it's a serious money saver when comparing DIY green energy to professional installations. They cost tens and tens of thousands of dollars. If you're interested in such projects there's a popular new site on the internet that will feed you all the information you need.

Finally, and the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is to avoid driving your vehicle! Walk, jog, roller blade, or bike everywhere and anywhere you can. Get that blood pumping and the savings of fuel and energy mount up incredibly fast. If you can apply multiple techniques described here, I guarantee your energy costs will drop drastically. Regardless of what's causing global warming, we should all be striving to do our part and cut down our carbon footprints. Whether it's turning the TV off at night or riding your bike to school, the Earth and the people inhabiting it will thank you.


http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/gordon-brown/133872.htm

Eco Friendly Tourism, St Lucia

More and more savvy travellers are doing their research and choosing ecologically and socially responsible vacation destinations. The surge of the eco-friendly holiday has made responsible tourism trendy while effecting good in the communities which offer the option. St Lucia in the Caribbean has emerged as one of the more preferred eco-friendly destinations, located as it is in the dense rainforest belt of the Caribbean archipelago and boasting a natural beauty that has garnered the attention of international publications like Condè Nast and several tourism industry award bodies.

St Lucia’s lush vegetation and tropical rain forest, which lends itself to hiking, bird watching, camping, and a whole host of nature-related activities, has long made it a favourite of those who are seeking a quieter, more environmentally friendly tourism experience. That is not to say that there isn’t a fair amount for the thrill seeker as well. St Lucia’s dramatic coast is the playground for sailing, diving, snorkelling, wind and kite surfing, all activities which guarantee maximum recreational enjoyment with minimal environmental impact.

The new environmentally conscious traveller is looking for accommodation that subscribes to an eco-friendly ethos, and St Lucia’s hotels and bed and breakfasts have responded to the demand by examining the sources of energy they employ, sustainability of growth and conscientious waste management practices, and by forging relationships with the communities that host them. This is particularly so in Soufriere, St Lucia’s former capital under the French, and breadbasket of the island.

Situated as it is in some of the most fertile land on the island, Soufriere is leading the way in insisting on low air mile produce. Hotels and restaurants are provisioned with the freshest local ingredients grown right in the heart of this remarkable town. And when a resort or restaurant grows their own produce or sources from local farmers and markets, you are guaranteed a great dining experience.

The town of Soufriere, referred to by American personality Oprah Winfrey as one of the top ten places to see before you die, is uniquely placed in its claim to eco-tourism. The coastal town which rises dramatically into some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on the island, is home to the iconic Pitons, the sulphur springs, several waterfalls and a botanical garden and constitutes an environmentally and culturally protected area as a World Heritage site. The UNESCO appointed epithet assures the visitor that certain standards are being maintained with regard to the actual upkeep of the site, and the efforts at ecological and architectural preservation and conservation.

St Lucia’s picturesque town of Soufriere is increasingly appearing on the radar of ecologically conscious travellers who want an environmentally friendly holiday with their pina coladas. (Both pineapples and coconuts are locally harvested!).


by: Fond Doux Estate
web address - http://www.fonddouxestate.com