Climate change has been a much talked about subject in royal circles since Prince Charles started to use his position to push it up the agenda.

But a new royal has entered the debate, and Monaco’s Prince Albert recently joined Prince Charles at his innovative Poundbury village in Dorset.

The significance that it was Charles’ 58th birthday wasn’t overlooked by a Monaco travel guide, YourMonaco.com

‘Since Albert came to power he has made the environment his number one priority. And just as Prince Charles has become known for his views on everything from architecture to climate change, so has Prince Albert. Of course Albert’s position isn’t as important as Charles’ as future King of England, but where he can he tries to champion the environmental cause’.

In April 2006 Prince Albert made a trip to the North Pole to highlight the issue of global warming, and since then has taken part in other initiatives to try and push the environment up the political agenda of fellow world leaders, including involving Monaco more at the United Nations and for the first time calculating the tax haven’s GDP, which will allow Monaco to commit money towards developing countries.

‘As soon as he came to power he signed Monaco up to the Kyoto Treaty designed to cut the world’s greenhouse emissions’, add http://www.yourmonaco.com, ‘and he has established his own foundation to promote better understanding of the issues of the rise in sea levels and quality of water’.

With the threat of rising sea levels, it’s easy to see that Monaco could be affected as it sits on the shores of the Mediterranean. The world’s second smallest country, and the best known tax haven, Monaco has in the past increased her size by reclaiming land from the sea, resulting in area where the district of Fontvieille now stands, and one of the best known Monaco hotels, the Columbus, is situated.

But there is a danger that by championing the environmental cause that Prince Albert could turn off his people before he turns off the warming of the planet.

‘Monaco is home to the world’s wealthy’, say the travel guide, ‘And it’s a place of fun. The Monaco Grand Prix, the casino and the fact that it’s the most sought after tax haven in Europe might not sit comfortably with heavy politics. Happily the environment is an issue that has moved from the fringe to mainstream, and is something that nearly everyone is concerned about. Luckily for Prince Albert he has identified himself with an issue that is just as important to the tax exiles and Business people who bring their money to Monaco as it is to everyone else. In the past Prince Charles has been slightly ridiculed with his views on the environment and organic farming, but now with hindsight a lot of people think he was ahead of his time.’

Referring to Monaco’s tax haven status YourMonaco.com add ‘Prince Albert needs to be careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Monaco is to start asking businesses in strict confidentiality for Finance figures so Monaco can do more at the United Nations and on environmental issues. If he looks down from his palace and sees the wealth surrounding him he might be tempted to tap into it for environmental causes as he believes in it in such a genuine and sincere way. There have been press reports of some of his staff leaving, and if true it can only be hoped that it wasn’t over fiscal matters. From the European royal families on environment issues we would view Charles as the king, and hopefully Albert will be the prince!’.

Monte Carlo Map

Prince Albert’s father, Prince Rainier, was Europe’s longest reigning Monarch until his death in April 2005. Known affectionately as the ‘builder prince’ he transformed Monaco into the world’s favourite tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix became one of the best known annual sporting events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a country known throughout the world for money and glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only added to its legendary status.

Albert has continued in his father’s footsteps with a plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and like his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille the Monaco map will change again.

In keeping with his stance on the environment, it is thought that a successful bid to build the island will need to be seen to be environmentally friendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings than some parts of Monaco have endured to create more living space.

Monte Carlo has long been associated with glamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956 when Prince Albert’s father married his mother, US actress Grace Kelly.

Speculation was rife earlier this year that Prince Albert would be announcing his own engagement to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

‘Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene front’, comment YourMonaco, ‘Monaco is all about glitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise announcement will be made soon. But it’s possible that Albert is more interested in environmental affairs than affairs of the heart’.

Monaco has been making the news recently as Monaco real estate prices have escalated, and are on a level with London and New York.

Even the cheapest studios are edging towards the million Euro level according to Monaco property specialists Tribune Properties at http://www.monacoproperty.net

‘Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in the UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly over the last twelve months,’ they say, ‘and it’s not the weather in Monaco that’s drawing buyers, but the income tax free status of being a resident, and the security that goes with living in Monaco. There’s one policeman for every one hundred residents and has to be the safest country to live in Europe’.

The 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, the possibility of a royal engagement and Prince Albert’s continuing campaign for the environment make the year ahead an exciting one for residents and visitors to Monaco alike.

Roger Munns
http://www.articlesbase.com/causes-and-organizations-articles/prince-of-the-environment-chills-his-palace-86467.html

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These Days global warming is a very hot topic and little wonder, seeing as the earth grows hotter with each passing year.

For a long time now the effect of man’s industrialization and technological progress has quietly yet continuously eked away at the delicate balance of the planet’s atmosphere and ecosystem, but within the last 30 or so years the pace of this damage has markedly accelerated!

DOWNPLAYING GLOBAL WARMING

In much the same way that big tobacco once vehemently denied the association between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, for the longest time a number of multi-billion-dollar-a-year industries have also been questioning the existence of global warming and misleading the public about its reality.

In fact the Bush II years have been particular devastating to Environmental Protection Rights, yet staggeringly lucrative for those who would profit from the loss of such protection.

In what can best be described as an orgy-fest of self-congratulatory backslapping, many a heavyweight lobbyist for industries such as oil, coal, mining, logging, aviation and auto manufacturers have left the Bush Whitehouse grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat because they’d gotten firm assurance that pesky Environmental laws would never get in the way of business as usual!

An example of how the Bush II Administration misled the public into believing they were truly concerned about protecting the environment was the sneaky way in which they enacted laws such as The Clean Skies Act.

The Clean Skies Act introduced in February 2003 apparently appears to strengthen already existent environmental laws such as The Clean Air Act but which in reality actually weakened and undermined them.

The Clean Skies Act gave pollutant industries a lot of leeway allowing them to spew an additional 42 million more tons of pollution into the atmosphere and raised caps on greenhouse gas emissions.

Soon after Bush II came to power the situation got so bad, that after decades of effective service, two of the most senior enforcement officials in the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) resigned citing an agency that was pursuing contrary goals to that of actually protecting the environment.

Former US vice president Al Gore is no stranger to these tactics. As perhaps the most widely recognizable face in the fight against global warming he has been scoffed at and ridiculed by the same individuals who would have us believe global warming is nothing more than a myth!

Recently in 2007 several scientists have gone on public record citing claims of a gestapo-like environment of intimidation to produce figures and reports that belied the true extent of global warming!

CAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING

The unprecedented super-accelerated rate of global warming happening today is due to the amount of greenhouse gases being spewed into the atmosphere.

The most notorious greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide (CO2) because it so happens to be the biggest single contributing factor to global warming (CO2 comprises more than 75% of all greenhouse gases). So what’s spewing all that CO2 in the air? Simply put–mankind and his toys!

Some of the biggest greenhouse gas pollutants include automobiles; electricity production; planes; shipping and the various manufacturing industries dotted all over the globe.

Science OF GLOBAL WARMING

This article is intentionally not an in-depth treatise of the process of global warming, but having said that, here’s a brief explanation:

The rays from the sun are comprised of shortwave solar radiation which pass through the atmosphere and are then absorbed by the earth thereby warming it. Part of that absorbed energy is reflected back to the atmosphere as long wave infrared radiation which is mostly trapped by the greenhouse gases. This trapped heat ensures that the earth is approximately warmer by 33 degrees Celsius than it would otherwise be.

This trapped heat is actually good for us, for were it not for those greenhouse gases and other constituents in the atmosphere that trap heat, the earth would be as cold as Mars which has for all intents and purpose no atmosphere to speak of.

Over the past century the earth has gotten warmer by approximately 0.7 degrees Celsius. This may not seem like much until you consider that the difference between the average earth temperature of today and another ice age is a mere 5 degrees Celsius!

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Drought! Flooding! Disease! Hurricanes! Starvation! Unbearable Heat!
Any of these words seem to you to be appearing much more often in the news than before?

Do you remember the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed more than 200,000 people? Remember hurricane Katrina that claimed more than 2,000 lives? These are the better documented horror stories. The less well documented global-warming related stories are often dismissively written off as ethnic conflicts in a region (Africa) where supposedly little else can be expected.

CATASTROPHIC ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING

1. Larsen B Ice Shelf: In 2002, a 500 billion ton chunk of ice that was 220m thick and covering a surface area of 3,250 sq km disintegrated in 35 days! What was especially alarming was that the experts expected this ice shelf to still be around for the next 100 years even after factoring in current global warming trends.

Yet more alarming still is that there’re two other MUCH, MUCH BIGGER ice masses that are exhibiting the same global warming related disintegration characteristics!

These endangered ice masses are Greenland and the West Antarctic Ice Shelf which was previously thought to be stable. Since these ice masses are land based (unlike the Larsen B Ice Shelf) if either one of them goes they could raise sea levels by 20ft apiece!

If both of them disintegrate around the same time, sea levels could rise by 40ft! Catastrophic does not adequately describe the ensuing destruction.

More than 66% of the world’s largest cities would be devastated if even just one of these ice masses disintegrated. Though many of the affected low-elevation costal areas are located in Asia, New York, Florida, San Francisco and The Netherlands are also on the list!

Perhaps this disturbing data may explain the belated, albeit grudging acknowledgement by the Bush II administration that global warming is not a myth after all and that it won’t just affect the poorer regions of the world. As things stand, experts are predicting that with current unmodified global warming trends Greenland may collapse as soon as 2050.

2. Lake Chad: Lake Chad used to be the 6th largest lake in the world but due to global warming has shrunk to 1/20th of its former size. In fact Chad the country for which it is named after is now more than 60 miles from the water’s edge!

3. New Ice Age: The northern hemisphere of the world is located above the equator and constitutes most of the world’s land mass as well as almost 90% of the world population.

Though current expert reports on global warming imply that the northern hemisphere will initially actually benefit from the temperature increase (unlike the southern hemisphere where unprecedented drought and starvation is predicted by 2020) what is little mentioned is how global warming could usher in a new Ice Age!

Some paradox, huh? Warming leading to freezing! Here’s a simplified explanation of how that comes about:

The Gulf Stream current is one of several currents that occur in the Atlantic Ocean. The particular importance of the Gulf Stream Current and its northern extension (the North Atlantic Drift which flows towards Europe) is that their warm-water flow heats up the surrounding air which in turn ensures that the temperature of the northern hemispheres does not dip precipitously.

These two currents are saline (salt) based. If a huge mass of fresh water (such as a melting body of ice the size of Greenland) was to dilute these currents, in effect that would shut down the Gulf Stream Current!

Once the Gulf Stream Current shuts down temperatures are going to drop precariously in the United States, Europe and other nations located in the northern hemisphere. When that happens those regions will deep-freeze into another Ice Age!

GLOBAL WARMING AND THE CO2 WARS

The following figures illustrate the CO2 emissions from the various regions around the globe:

USA: 30.3%
Europe: 27.7%
Russia: 13.7%
South East Asia: 12.2%
Japan: 3.7%
South America/Central America: 3.8%
Middle East: 2.6%
Africa: 2.5%
Australia: 1.1%

These figures amply illustrate how Western Europe and the United States are by far largely responsible for the effects of global warming we are seeing today.

Contrastingly the regions least responsible are the ones that will bear the brunt of those effects (initially at any rate, until such time that the process progresses to an ice age then the situation will reverse).

However, with the two mega economies of China and India expanding rapidly (each boasting a population in excess of 1 billion) soon their greenhouse gas emissions may surpass those of the U.S.

A series of meetings held in Washington in early 2007 had American legislators demanding that developing nations be held to the same greenhouse-gas-emission accountability as the developed nations! Not unexpectedly there were worldwide outcries and accusations of shameless hypocrisy leveled at the United States.

With the not unreasonable contention that they have the right to develop and advance in the same manner that both Europe and America have enjoyed over the past forty years these two looming economical giants are not about to be cowed by Washington.

Furthermore considering the suspicious manner with which the U.S. justified its invasion of Iraq, few these days are inclined to believe a word that Washington says.

Compounding this climate of distrust and suspicion are the many questionable prerogatives the U.S. claims. These include:

1. Not subscribing to the Kyoto Protocol (Treaty on Global Warming)
2. Seeking the right to pre-emptive strikes (Bush II)
3. Demanding to be exempted from The Geneva Convention (Bush II)
4. Not a participant of the World Court
5. Biggest contributor to global warming but doing the least to rectify the situation.

In a world where America demands exclusive rights to pre-emptive strikes, perhaps then it is not too far fetched to understand if India and China harbor a degree of paranoia that the U.S. may one day set its targets on them.

After all for a country that so conveniently and magically connected two totally unrelated events to one another as an excuse to pursue its ultimate goal (U.S. invasion of Iraq after 911), it is not unconceivable that the U.S. could one day claim that the greenhouse gas emissions from the Asian giants are threatening the very existence of its coastal cities and hence amount to an act of war!

For their part the Asian giants already suspiciously view Washington’s demands concerning greenhouse gases as a thinly veiled attempt to restrict their economical development.

That said, China and India are hardly Iraq! These are two countries which both boast formidable nuclear arsenals that are quite capable of reaching the U.S. Besides if the U.S. were to take any drastic action it is unlikely that the slumbering Russian bear would continue dozing for much longer.

World wars have erupted over much less and in the heated climate of today it only takes one more little spark to set everything off!

Mugambo
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/global-warminghow-it-could-spark-world-war-iii-127356.html

Success in Internet Marketing can be extremely hard to come into, but there is an easy way with really no cash involved and it is by finding a niche and building a eccommere storefront around it. So you say how do you learn how to do that? Well the only way I know of that leads you to success is to invest in Niche Blueprint 2.0 by a couple successful marketers knows as Steven Clayton and Tim Godfrey. If you would like to read a review of the product please visit this link – http://wwwcommissionblueprint2.com/niche-blueprint-20/

A social entrepreneur is someone who identifies a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to create, organise, and manage a venture to make social change. A social entrepreneur measures success based on the impact on the society. While social entrepreneurs are often non-profit groups, the aim is to advance the social and environmental goals.

Often social entrepreneurs present new ideas that are user friendly and ethical, social and environmental problems. They typically get people support to implement and make a positive impact on the society.

Role of social entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs recognises the parts of society having difficulties, solves the problem by changing the system, spreading the solution, and persuading societies. Social entrepreneurs drive to produce measurable impact to address social and environmental problems that are often deep-seated.

• To make a positive impact on society:
Social entrepreneurs are similar to Business entrepreneur in the society with a purpose for a social cause. Often, social entrepreneur need profit but emphasis is on the development of the society and in solving the problems in it. Finding the effects of social or environmental problem, finding root cause, and solving them becomes obvious to social entrepreneur.
• With focus on positive change:
Social entrepreneur focus on daunting social problems to make a positive change, further motivating common people to persuade the same. Corporate social entrepreneur can reap strategic benefits with a combination of commercial aims and social objectives.
• Rev up the social team:
While social entrepreneurs often work through nonprofits and citizen groups, many work in the private and governmental sectors. Social entrepreneurs work with local groups motivate them to pursue, and develop good solutions for their local communities as well as globally.
• In innovative and effective community building:
Distinct from business entrepreneurs who seek value in the creation of new markets, social entrepreneurs aim for value in the form of transformational change that will benefit underprivileged group of people and eventually society at large.

Social entrepreneur identifies fundamental social and Environmental problems in the ever-changing society. They guide society through these turbulent times, to help the society.

Caroline Casey
http://www.articlesbase.com/news-and-society-articles/role-of-social-entrepreneur-in-society-700947.html

Success in Internet Marketing can be extremely hard to come into, but there is an easy way with really no cash involved and it is by finding a niche and building a eccommere storefront around it. So you say how do you learn how to do that? Well the only way I know of that leads you to success is to invest in Niche Blueprint 2.0 by a couple successful marketers knows as Steven Clayton and Tim Godfrey. If you would like to read a review of the product please visit this link – http://wwwcommissionblueprint2.com/niche-blueprint-20/

In the present era the efforts to prevent earth are going on a war scale. It is undeniable that the entire world is facing the threat of environmental crises. The situation will become more adverse in the upcoming years. Some of the major problems are not confined to a particular country or continent but on a global scale. These major problems include global warming, ozone layer depletion and exhaustion of energy resources.

When it is about matching-up with the energy needs of global industries and the demand of every household then we are highly depended on non-renewable sources of energy. It is a kind of deliberation which is leading us towards an unsecured future.

Although non conventional (renewable) sources of energy are emerging as an adequate option for the traditional sources of energy but still there are lot many things to do so that their application can be expanded to a large scale.

To tackle out the problem on a global level it is significant that the renewable sources of energy can be accepted and admired by every individual. It is essential that the worth of these lately discovered sources should be understand by everyone in every part of the world and for that internet can be an exceptional source.

There are a large number of sites available on the internet which have proven themselves to be the marketplace for environmental Technologies. You can look for one such site where one can register and avail all kinds of information, recent changes, initiatives been taken throughout the world, etc.

When it is about the non traditional sources of energy then renewable energy solar wind has its own prominent place. Researchers have seen enough potential in renewable energy solar wind to meet the future needs of mankind.

There are some of the sites available on the net which are highly recognized as the websites for renewable technologies. One such site on the internet which you can look for renewable energy solar wind technologies is Enerlix.

Enerlix is a site which is highly renowned online for information, trading and communication on Environmental technologies. It is the marketplace for hydrogen, fuel cells, and renewable energies. Enerlix was once recognized by the name of Energyportal24.

Why Enerlix?

It is because of the following reasons.

Ø      Wide collection of information: besides renewable energy solar wind technology, one can also avail information about fuel cells, bio energy, hydrogen, wind power, hydropower, geothermal, cogeneration unit, energy savings, etc.

Ø      Ease of navigation:   Enerlix is a site which is highly friendly to the user. One can easily navigate the entire structure of the site (including all the sections) in no time. You are just required to register for free and you can avail all kinds of features offered by this site.

Ø      B2B marketplace: Enerlix is an international Business to business (B2B) marketplace for environmental technologies. The content area of environmental technologies also includes renewable energy solar wind technology.

Ø      Exclusive services for free! There are free tools available including efficiency calculator, reference books, eco-energy calculator, etc. In the reading section there are press releases, articles, reports to enhance your knowledge. With publishing events you can submit new worldwide events including congresses and fair trade.

Vikram Kumar
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/look-for-enerlix-for-views-on-sustainable-renewable-energy-solar-wind-technology-694435.html

Success in internet marketing can be extremely hard to come into, but there is an easy way with really no cash involved and it is by finding a niche and building a eccommere storefront around it. So you say how do you learn how to do that? Well the only way I know of that leads you to success is to invest in Niche Blueprint 2.0 by a couple successful marketers knows as Steven Clayton and Tim Godfrey. If you would like to read a review of the product please visit this link – http://wwwcommissionblueprint2.com/niche-blueprint-20/

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is increasingly taken seriously by Businesses of all kinds – and that includes freight forwarders who are responsible for organising the International movement of goods by Road, Sea or Air. Over recent years there has been growing concerns about the Environmental impact of freight transport.   

The European Commission defines CSR as ‘the willing inclusion by businesses of social and environmental concerns in their commercial activities and their relations with stakeholders.’ So businesses that are aware of their CSR are likely to look to their freight company to try to minimise the environmental impact of their freight forwarding and international freight transport.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has highlighted that some freight forwarding companies are now looking to ensure that the environmental impact of freight forwarding can be kept to a minimum. This includes helping to educate customers on ways help make freight transport more environmentally friendly. Many deep sea shipping companies operating from the Far East and Asia to Europe have recently agreed to cut the speed of their container services by 10% and some UK – Irish ferries will also be going slower, making the shipping company customers wait a little longer for their freight forwarding but reducing carbon emissions.

Another area where freight forwarding companies are looking to reduce their impact on the environment is taking away for recycling the cardboard and other packaging used to protect goods during freight forwarding. Where new warehouses and depots are being built by shipping companies, there is now more interest in developing these on previously used brown field sites rather than green field locations.

And at an infrastructure level, there is European government interest in further developing the role of both railways and inland waterways in freight transport, so as to reduce the impact on the environment as both of these modes of transport are considered to have a much lower carbon footprint than road particularly when the movement involves freight shipments that are heavy and or bulky.

By responding to growing interest in protecting the environment, the international freight industry is also able to make savings that can be passed onto freight forwarding customers, for example the savings in fuel costs as a result of investing in the latest fuel efficient vehicles or aircraft. In an era of ever increasing fuel costs these savings can form a highly significant proportion of total freight transport costs.

ICT has also made a difference to freight forwarders’ impact on the environment, with a lot of the documentation and freight transport updates now being made electronically rather than by using paper. So how far will shipping companies go as they look to become more sustainable in the future? Reducing the environmental impact of freight transport is a big challenge but one that the freight transport industry is rising to meet. In future, it is likely that the international freight industry will segment, as many other markets have already done, to include ‘green’ options for freight services, catering for the needs of those businesses that are demanding them.

Stephen Willis
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/freight-forwarders-and-corporate-social-responsibility-740525.html

Garbage is a complex form of dirt, since it may be recycled and act as a source for materials and money for the recycler. Waste out of control occurs when either uncollected rubbish is left to rot on the streets or a badly managed landfill causes emissions and general Health problems.

Environmentally aware citizens object to landfills not only because of the potential for pollution, but also because they permanently remove many important raw materials from further economic use. All of the energy and natural resources, such as water, that were used to process the items thrown away are also not conserved.

Landfills need to be regulated and the regulations tightly enforced. Without them very few landfill operators would look after their own local environment adequately. Environmental Protection Agencies worldwide, generally rely on the staff working for each of the states to enforce their own operating permits and federal laws.

If state agencies are not strong and persistent in insisting upon compliance, violations can worsen, multiplying negative environmental impacts exponentially. Environmental pollution of land, air, and water created by the world\’s poorly-managed landfills is enormous. In the early 21st century, alternative methods to waste disposal have been suggested and many are under construction, including recycling , converting to biodegradable products, incineration and cogeneration facilities, and sustainable development , all of which assist in reducing global pollution.

Environmental activists dislike landfills not only because of the potential for pollution, but because they permanently remove various raw materials from economic use. All of the energy and natural resources (such as water) that were used to process the items “wasted” are also not conserved. Environmental Protection Agency generally relies on the states to enforce their own operating permits and federal laws.

Recent studies have shown the efficacy of such processes; however, they are lacking the data required to enable adequate implementation at field-scale bio-reactor landfills. Research was conducted to evaluate the kinetics of in situ ammonia removal in both acclimated and un-acclimated wastes to aid in developing guidance for field-scale implementation. Recent correspondence from the Commission indicates that this is their interpretation of “closure”. This interpretation of “closure” would mean that site restoration has to be carried out in the after-care phase.

Landfill odors are produced by a variety of sources: decomposing gasses, landfill leachate, gas condensate and in-coming waste materials. Gas extraction systems require constant maintenance to insure that odor-causing leaks are promptly repaired. Landfill odors are of particular concern at the Moretown Landfill. The landfill is situated in a narrow valley that intermittently results in poor dispersion of odors. Landfill odors are primarily made up of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. These gases can be detected by the human nose at very low concentrations.

Landfill odors are controlled principally by the placement of daily cover, usually soil, at the working face. In addition, the landfill operators spray an odor neutralization agent on the waste as it is being compacted, and they distribute pellets which tend to mask or neutralize odors in parts of the facility where the problem is particularly severe.

Steve Evans
http://www.articlesbase.com/literature–articles/landfill-garbage-and-those-obnoxious-odors-672696.html

As most of us are aware, mining is one of the most environment unfriendly industries. Mining can seriously affect land, air and even water systems. The greatest challenge confronting the mining industry today is to find ways of extracting and processing mineral and metal with minimum damage to our ecosystem. The adverse environmental impacts of mining operation starts with mineral exploration, continues throughout the extraction and subsequent processing and at times persist even after the entire operations are over. Mining can cause serious land degradation, large scale denudation of forest cover, weakening of biodiversity, pollution of air, water and soil. The fall out can extend well beyond the mining area and lead to many social, economic and political disturbances. To mitigate the adverse impacts of mining and restore the mining affected areas, it is imperative to conduct proper research and find ways and means to protect the environment.

We had hitherto paid scant attention to the protection of the environment. Therefore the question of Environmental protection has today become critically important. The mining industry is seriously attempting to develop effective Technologies and new processing methods to ensure that the modern mining activities of exploration, planning, operation, and restoration are conducted in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. It is earnestly pursuing research activities oriented toward the safe and responsible use of our mineral resources.

If we take a look at the mining companies, there are several ways in which they can take steps to safeguard the environment. Mining companies would have to re-examine their own mining operations. Their impact on mining the land, the fuel that they use in running the mining equipment, and how they will restore the land once they have exhausted the mines resources.

Despite our passion for electronic goods, let us not forget that the manufacture, use, and disposal of electronic devices can incalculably harm the environment. The manufacture of electronics involves mining- often strip mining- which can adversely affect the environment as also a number of caustic chemicals that are used to make circuit boards and other electronic components. Added to this, the batteries that supply back-up power that most of our electronic gadgets run on are decidedly poisonous. Let us also not forget that the disposal of electronics can create Health hazards because of all of the heavy metals that they contain. The one solution to overcome environmental impacts of electronics is recycling of old electronics to the extent possible. Recycling almost eliminates the need for mining that otherwise has to be done to acquire the raw materials needed to manufacture new electronics. Recycling requires less energy than processing the materials that go into electronics from their raw form.

Yet another environmental hazard, more serious than electronics, is coal mining. Coal companies keep opening up a mountain like removing the top off an egg. Coal dust settles like pollen over the surrounding areas. Coal mining creates several billion gallons of coal slurry, which contains extremely high levels of mercury, cadmium, and nickel. Although lauded by mining companies that this is a safer, more efficient way to produce coal, this type of strip mining has evoked strong protests from environmentalists and people who reside near coal mining areas. Coal mining work can be extremely dangerous, as the numerous occupational hazards can cause critical injuries or even death. If you have been injured in a coal mining accident, you have legal rights to claim for damages.

There are other environmental concerns arising out of metal mining operations such as physical disturbances to the landscape, waste rock disposal, development of metal-bearing and acidic soils and waters and not the least public safety.

Brayan Peter
http://www.articlesbase.com/science-articles/mining-and-the-environment-particulars-689580.html

‘Turn Green’ is the mantra that seems to be enveloping the world, at present. This fact is clearly evident by the fact that now even packaging supplies are turning green. A host of various green packaging supplies and environmental friendly products have flooded the markets. Also referred as “eco friendly packaging supplies” or “Eco Products”, various packaging application goes into making these successful packaging supplies. Recently many packaging manufacturers have shown great interest in turning the packaging industry green with more environment friendly products. Even the government of countries all over the world are getting pro actively involved to to replace all non eco friendly options sooner rather than later.

The eco industry is growing rapidly and there is a huge demand to reduce the hazard Environmental impact through by providing safe and natural alternatives in order to deliver materials, processes and technology solutions. According to ETAP (Environmental Technologies Action Plan), “The global eco-industry is fore casted to be worth some €700 billion by 2010”. Following the suit, the packaging industry and manufacturers have come up with various green packaging solutions to reduce environmental jeopardy. Almost everyday, a new idea is created. Some of the recently innovated measures taken for checking harmful packaging supplies, following are some of the green characteristics that are generally adopted by the manufacturers.

• Made from recycled materials (100% or varying lesser percentages)
• Made from annually sustainable materials (ex: bamboo farms, corn, soya, cotton)
• Made from organic farmed materials (ex: organic bamboo, organic corn)
• Biodegradable materials (ex: clam shells, unbleached paper)
• Recyclable material (ex: cardboard papers, corrugated paper, glass)
• Reusable products (ex: glass bottles)

Energy efficiency, such as achieved by reduction in packaging processes, packaging systems, manufacturing process or distribution savings (ex: using plastic bottles instead of glass bottles because of reduced carbon output in the shipping of a lighter product).

The most efficient markets for the implementation of the green methodology are the cardboard boxes, compost able Food containers and biodegradable products like biodegradable bags, biodegradable trash bags, biodegradable garbage bags, biodegradable plastics, biodegradable paper, biodegradable films and biodegradable green materials.

Today, business realize that materials, systems, and processes need to be greener as the choice of caring about the impact for the environment is not only the ethical but also the future of the packaging industry. It is being realized that all the business that do not have any alternatives for greener packaging supplies and also do not incorporate environmental friendly products in their line of manufacturing, tend to lose their market share to environment friendly Business that aims to create a new generation of eco friendly alternatives and solutions.

In present scenario, the packaging supplies have been evolved in a manner that can be reused by the consumer rather than just being tossed. Upscale, longer lasting packaging like thick wall boxes, handled containers, rope handle bags, etc. can be used over and over by many consumers thus allowing a longer life span for a brand. These are some of the reasons that have earned huge recognition for greener packaging supplies in the packaging industry.

pvyas
http://www.articlesbase.com/recycling-articles/the-greener-flavor-in-packaging-supplies-704438.html

Green building concept has emerged from the need to meet high standards of energy efficiency and environmental responsibility. Focus is mainly on resources such as energy, water and materials and attains efficiency of these resources. It is said to reduce the energy bills and offer a healthier and more comfortable living environment. Reduce the effect of Environmental hazards and ease its effects on human Health and environment too. It is said that natural daylight design reduces a building’s electricity needs, and improves people’s health and productivity. Use of non-toxic materials and products will improve indoor air quality, and reduce the rate of asthma, allergy and sick building syndrome. These materials are emission-free, have low or no VOC content, and are moisture resistant to deter moulds, spores and other microbes.

It is the use of eco friendly materials that highlights the concept of green building. Purchase eco friendly products to build a green Home or a sustainable environmental building. Enhance the energy efficiency of your building! Put to use environmental friendly technology and see how energy efficient your building can get. Passive solar design can dramatically lower down the heating and cooling costs of a building, as with high levels of insulation and energy-efficient windows. Indoor air quality is also addressed through ventilation systems and materials that control humidity and allow a building to breathe.

It usually requires a systemic attention to the full life cycle impacts of resources which is embodied in such green building and to the resource consumption and pollution emissions over the building’s complete life cycle. Green buildings are also popularly known as eco homes or sustainable buildings. It is generally agreed that green buildings are structures which are designed, sited, built, renovated and operated to energy-efficient guidelines, and that they will have a positive environmental, economic and social impact over their life cycle. Green specifications provide a good set of guidelines for the building industry, but these are still in the process of being formalised into UK regulation and many are open to interpretation. Make use of low energy appliances, energy efficient lighting and renewable energy technologies which uses solar panels and wind turbines.

In addition to addressing the above areas, a green building should provide cost savings to the builder and occupants, and meet the broader needs of the community, by using local labour, providing affordable housing, and ensuring the building is sited appropriately for community needs.

Kirthy Shetty
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/green-building-and-its-advantages-716704.html

The overall approach that the promoter and developer of a landfill should take is that of embarking on a construction project, carried out over an extended period, to build a desired landform using waste materials and incorporating appropriate Environmental protection measures.

This concept combines the following two elements in ways which are appropriate for a particular site and its waste inputs:

1. Established civil engineering practices for permanent and temporary construction, based on a predetermined design, with appropriate performance standards for the materials used.

2. Process engineering to accommodate biological, chemical and physical changes which will take place within organic wastes during the active life of the site.

The important components to be considered and then built into all landfill designs are:

• Requirements for environmental protection, in order to minimise harm to the environment and to human Health, in accordance with current legislation and the aims of sustainable development.

• Recognition of the effects of the different nature of wastes and their degradation processes on landfill gas and leachate generation, and the potential of these to change during the course of design and operation of the site.

• Use of a site-specific risk assessment, rather than prescriptive, approach to environmental protection, for each element and at each stage in the project, in order to determine the overall design and operational practices appropriate to the environmental setting of each individual landfill site.

• A holistic approach to landfill design and operation, utilising scientific and engineering skills as an integrated process from initial conception to final capping, including subsequent restoration and aftercare.

• The adoption of methods, standards and operational systems, based on best current practice, which reflect progress in techniques and improving standards.

• The underpinning of all actions by a quality approach, to ensure that the required quality is achieved in implementation, and that landfill standards match rising public expectations.

The need for cost-effectiveness in design, construction and operation of landfill sites to ensure that the appropriate level of environmental protection is achievable at an appropriate cost, is of course also essential, as is the need to comply with the local regulations imposed in respect of planning and emissions reduction and control/monitoring.

The method of landfilling is very simple. In essence the waste is deposited in layers, called lifts , within the landfill and above the liner system. As waste is deposited, it is compacted by heavy machinery to maximize the amount of refuse that can be disposed of in the landfill. Waste is not a high tech problem it is a low-tech problem.

What will make landfills better is not magic new technology, no new machines either; it is better design, better organization, better Education, both at the municipality level and the site level.

Also for a good landfill both the main emissions of landfill gas and leachate should be planned for from the start, and the facilities for both installed ahead of when they are absolutely needed, to be sure they are ready when really necessary.

Leachate can be pumped to the collection pond or flow to it by gravity. A leachate collection tank is designed to catch and isolate the contaminants that can get into the environment. All good landfills attempt contain leachate at the site and prevent its discharge to surface or groundwaters, but it is easy to leave the provision of leachate treatment too late, and the not have a facility ready for when heavy rains arrive.

Steve Evans
http://www.articlesbase.com/literature–articles/how-to-start-designing-a-landfill-711389.html