ENVIRONMENT TOPICS
On this page we will include links to previous news items and other environment topics that have been archived
Green drive could generate jobs: Investment in the green economy and harnessing renewable energy sources (RES) could generate more than 200,000 jobs at a time that unemployment is rising and an unprecedented debt crisis is threatening the future of many traditional sectors, a new study has found (For details see July 10)Help ban illegal timber entering Europe:European institutions are deciding on legislation that would ban illegal timber, which devastates forests and enriches organized crime. But certain member states with large timber industries are blocking negotiations.(For details see June’10)
No more off-shore drilling : Before the spill in the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. President Obama and Congressional leaders were planning to ramp up offshore drilling. Now, with the spill, the politics have shifted -- and an opportunity has opened for the world’s biggest historical climate polluter to shift away from oil and towards climate-safe energy sources......(For details see May’10 )
Commercial whale hunting may re-start! A Message from AVAAZ ’The International Whaling Commission has just unveiled a proposal to legalize commercial whale hunting for the first time in 24 years (For details see May’10) ECOTEC Exhibition Greece is hosting the 3rd International ECOTEC exhibition .Bigger in size and with more participations than all previous editions, the 3rd international exhibition «ECOTEC – Environmental Technologies & Photovoltaic Systems» will run from Thursday April 22 to Sunday April 25th in the Expo Athens exhibition centre in Anthoussa Attica.
Green solution to the problem of illegal bulding : In return for paying a penalty, the homeowner will be given documents that will allow him or her to continue using this space for the next 40 years without threat of demolition or further fines. (For details see April’10).
EARTH DAY 2010 - 40th anniversary - April 22nd Earth Day is a name used for two different observances, both held worldwide annually. While some people celebrate Earth Day around the time of the vernal equinox, others observe the occasion on April 22 each year. Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth’s environment.(For details see Apr’10)
Is Europe ready for GM Foods? Alisee has alerted us to this topic. Here is an extract from an AVAAZ* email requesting support for a petition ’Let’s raise 1 million voices to put a moratorium on the introduction of GM crops into Europe and set up an independent, ethical and scientific body to research and determine the strong regulation of GM crops. Sign the petition** now and then forward it widely:’ ** (For details see Mar’10)
Earth Hour 2010 - Did you turn off for Earth Hour ? (8.30 - 9.30pm Saturday March 27th 2010) A record 126 countries and territories, over 4,000 cities, towns and municipalities and hundreds of millions of people across the globe took part in delivering a powerful action of hope for a better, healthy planet. Andy Ridley Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour said, “The response from citizens, businesses and government has been truly phenomenal. Crossing geographic, economic and cultural boundaries, it has brought together people from all over the planet to celebrate the one thing we all share – the place we live.” More information
Earth is our home - Is the new film at the ’Tholos’ , the virtual reality theatre of the Hellenic Cosmos, in Athens. Tholos
Gunilla has sent us some information about winds, to help interpret weather forecasts during this windy weather.
Wind Beaufort Knots Km/hour Miles/hour Meter/sec
Calm 0 <1 <1 <1 <1
Light airs 1 1-3 1-5.4 1-3.4 1-1.5
Light breeze 2 4-6 5.8-11.9 3.6-7.4 1.6-3.3
Gentle breeze 3 7-10 12.4-19.4 7.7-12.1 3.4-5.4
Moderate breeze 4 11-16 19.8-28.4 12.3-17.7 5.5-7.9
Fresh breeze 5 17-21 28.8-38.5 18.0-24.0 8.0-10.7
Strong breeze 6 22-27 38.8-49.6 24.2-31.0 10.8-13.8
Near gale 7 28-33 50.0-61.5 31.3-38.4 13.9-17.1
Gale 8 34-40 61.9-74.4 38.6-46.5 17.2-20.7
Strong gale 9 41-47 74.8-87.8 46.7-54.8 20.8-24.4
Storm 10 48-55 88.2-102.2 55.1-63.8 24.5-28.4
Violent Storm 11 56-62 102.6-117.3 64.1-73.3 28.5-32.6
Hurricane 12 >63 117.7-132.8 73.5-83.0 32.7-36.9
For more information on the Beaufort scale click Beaufort
Renewable energy source available locally:
There is a company in Kalamata which produces briquettes from olive kernels that can be used instead of wood either in a stove or in an open fireplace. The emission of carbon dioxide is 30% less than from wood. They cost *110 € per 1000 kg. They also supply briquettes for barbeques
If you want to know more about it, see their web page klimiscoal .Telephone 27210-69454. Email: info@klimiscoal.gr
Dimitra and Katharina Kottaridi are very friendly and are happy to answer your questions. By the way - this company won a prize last year for their eco management. Click Athens News to see an article about it - ’Greek company pips green list’
’The European award was particularly welcome given the lack of support the company has received from the Greek government most of the financial return on this green investment has been in foreign markets - the company exports its briquettes to Holland, Sweden and Japan - where consumers are more aware and keen to buy environmentally friendly products.
In order to reduce its impact on the local environment, Kottaridi said, the company has made considerable investments, including an extractor for the control and reduction of dust as well as measures to reduce noise.’
ΚΛΗΜΗΣ Πυρηνοκάρβουνο Ασβεστοποιΐα - Ασπρόχωμα, Καλαμάτα - Τηλ: +30 27210 69454
*2010 price
Study exposes water wastage
Extract from Kathimerini English edition Feb 18th....
Greece has one of the world’s most inefficient systems for managing dwindling water resources, with the irrigation of the agricultural sector largely to blame for waste, according to a report by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE), a nonprofit research group.(For details see Feb’10)
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