Gaines County Park

This past weekend, I traveled to the Gaines County Park located in Seminole, Texas. Seminole is around twenty miles from the New Mexico border. The traveling time from Austin to Gaines County Park is around six and a half hours. The park offers an oasis in the middle of a flat, treeless land. The other parts of the county around the park only have green vegetation where farmers water their fields of cotton or peanuts. On the park grounds, there is an eighteen hole golf course, along with several places to hook up recreational vehicles for camping. Within the park are several camping spots with picnic tables, small grills, and running water. Bathrooms including showers are only a couple hundred yards from the furthest camping spot. Camping in this park is a little more comfortable than many parks. It is a perfect camp for someone who does not like to “rough” it.

 

(Image by Author)

Gaines County Park

People come to the park for various activities, ranging from spending the weekend in their recreational vehicle or just coming to the park for the day. Activities include simply enjoying the outdoors and cooking at a camp area, or playing a round of golf. Gaines County Park is relatively large in size, and contains some of the only trees in the area. The trees offer plenty of shade. This is especially appreciated by visitors because it is not uncommon for temperatures in the Texas Panhandle to reach over 100 degrees. Most of the grass around the park is green from the watering of neighboring trees. The greenery helps the visitors feel cooler even on the hottest of days and makes the park very nice. In the Panhandle, the wind blows constantly and it is hot wind in the summer. Trees around the park block the excess winds, allowing just a cool, calm breeze.

Gaines County Park is a great place to spend a weekend or just the day. It offers a delightful camping experience without giving up too many comforts. A person camping at the park would never have to go a day without a shower. People who are seeking a more rugged camping experience may want to go to a different park. For those wanting a more mellow experience, Gaines County Park is a nice place to stay, with many of the comforts of home.

Place Post: Colbert Ranch

 Colbert Ranch

I recently visited this small family owned ranch called Colbert Ranch in Bertram, Texas, which is about an hour from campus if you don’t get lost. This place offers horseback riding throughout the hill country on this beautiful land that hugs the South San Gabriel River.

My friend and I got lost getting there because we went from the busy crowded traffic filled freeways of Austin, to open road highways that don’t have the big signs of which exit is which like we are so accustomed to. We were looking for small “Farm to Market” roads that had small signs you have to really look out for. For instance we were looking for “S FM 1174” which is the road you can find Colbert Ranch on. We passed it up probably 5 times. Shows what happens when you get taken out of the city, you suddenly become directionally challenged.

We finally found it in this gated area and pull up to a neat and nice looking ranch, where the horse’s heads were peaking out of their stables. From the moment I stepped out of the car and onto the dirt and breathed in the air, I could tell it was going to be such a great and relaxing day away from the city! We signed our life away before we got started with the insurance waiver and then got hooked up with our horse for the day. My horses name was Rocky. Colbert Ranch is considered a “retirement home” for horses. Which simply means the horses they have are older more experienced horses that have had work before the ranch. Like all of us they each had their stories of where they came from and what they did, my horse for instance carried in the U.S. flag at rodeos year round, he was also part of what they call a drill team, which is kind of like synchronized swimming, but with horses doing different movements together, which is also performed at the rodeo.

We got started on the hour and a half ride through the hill country of the Colbert Ranch and I couldn’t help but notice how open and free it seemed, no roads, just small pathways where the horses would go through their daily tours. It was nice being in the country and seeing trees and open land. We passed by the San Gabriel River on our trail where  the horses stopped and drank from. However, the river was very low and dry looking from the drought. Our tour guide told us there are many spiders and snakes around in the area. In fact on the trail we saw two huge spider webs that went across the trail we were following. Whenever someone would see it they would yell and you would have to move so you wouldn’t run straight into it. I didn’t get the memo on one of them and ended up breaking the web. Another interesting thing we encountered was this plant that the Indians that settled on the land long ago used for tooth aches to numb the mouth. I can’t remember the name, but it smelled good and minty and there were thorns on them so they would take those off first and then chew on them. No one tried it though; we just took her word for it.

Being out in nature was such a great time, and experiencing it through riding an actual animal such as a horse made my time there even better. I would absolutely recommend Colbert Ranch to anyone who likes horseback riding and would want to experience the hill country in a different way. 

Mount Bonnell: Rejuvenation Tourist Location

Mount Bonnell is a beautiful park looming 800 feet over the city of Austin overlooking the breathtaking Lake Austin and the surrounding hills.

Image source: Google Images

This is the view of the northern half of Lake Austin from Mount Bonnell. This scenic tourist attraction is one of the most relaxing  and peaceful places in Austin. Mount Bonnell has been a tourist attraction right since the 1850's.  I chose Mount Bonnell as my ideal place since it is a great stress buster for all college students in my view. A personal account of one such incidence. After a stressful day at school, after a test, or if  i am ever feeling exhausted or tired, riding a bike or driving up to Mount Bonnell and watching the sunset whilst staring at the breathtaking view of the Lake and the hills surrounding the place freshens me up and detoxifies me overall. Star gazing is another great stress buster that could be done at this place.

This ideal location has all kinds of visitors, right from hikers, to campers, to students coming for a tour, to tourists from all over. Often i have even noticed bible studies being held here at this historic landmark. Various activities are going on here all day. This is one of the reasons why Mt. Bonnell is Austins oldest tourist attractions. 

Image Source: http://www.austinparks.org/apfweb/park.php?parkId=287

The various groups that come here for discussion , bible studies etc sit at the viewing platform or the pavilion as seen in the picture above and engage in their activities. This pavilion sits at the top of the mountain and offers sweeping views of  Downtown Austin and west into the Hillcountry. This famous place also serves as a great picnic spot in the 1850's as well as for some people/students now. 

Mount Bonnell is mainly meant for relaxation purposes and  most importantly to capture the great moments midst the wonderful, scenic views of mother nature. Other small things i noticed when i went there were similar descriptions of the tranquil environment as i mentioned a couple of lines above. There was also a small group of high school students who made a small bonfire at night whilst they sat around it and ate marshmallows, while having fun talking and playing games. 

This  environmentally friendly place should most definitely be visited by all students especially college students. If you ever want to take a small break, or even work out this would be the ideal location. 

Another interesting thing i noticed was there is a small trail that starts at the stairs and goes right up till the summit of Mount Bonnell midst breathtaking and spectacular view is another factor that draws a lot of people to this location. This hike is not particularly difficult but the initial stairs are a bit of a workout since the initial part of the trail accounts for 190 feet of elevation ground that is encountered. Although this trail here is short to the top, at times may be a little difficult to climb mainly because some of the steps are man made and some are naturally made. 

Image Source: http://www.austinexplorer.com/Locations/ShowLocation.aspx?LocationID=1791

This image shows us the man-made and the natural steps as a part of the trail to the summit. 

Another interesting fact i noticed was that different parts of Mount Bonnell offers different views of the different parts of the city of Austin. From the southern point of this mountain one gets the view of the southern part of Lake Austin. 

After  a few visits, i would recommend everyone to visit Mount Bonnell at-least once and enjoy the breath taking beauty of what nature has to offer us and what this "American Environment" actually is and means to us. This places defines the environment and physically allows us to rejuvenate .

Place Post: Zilker Hillside Theater

Image courtesy of:  http://www.zilker.org/thehill.html

I chose Zilker Hillside Theater as my place post being as I had never been there before but was always accustomed to hearing about Zilker Park from friends and other students. I am also interested in theater and was extremely excited to relate such an experience with nature. The theater carries popularity amongst the residents and visitors as there have been shows performed since 1969. Roughly an hour away from the school campus by bus Zilker Theater is located opposite of Zilker Park. I arrived Zilker Hillside Theater roughly at 11am on a Saturday which I learnt later on was probably not the best idea as there were a very few number of people around the area maybe because there was no shade and the weather was extremely hot, making me wonder how uncomfortable people would be if they had o watch a show at that time period. Most had come to swim in the pool and the theater was basically empty, upon further investigation I realized that the play ‘The Sound of Music’ was scheduled for later on in the evening at 8pm. Instead of focusing solely on that section I decided to look around the larger area. Extremely close to the theater was a parking lot which came as a major interest to me because of how it would interfere with the audience whilst they were watching their show, it was a stark reminder that I wasn’t as close to nature as I would have liked.  I also noticed that when people were not there, the location was filled with a number of birds. Right next to the parking lot were a bunch of benches and areas for hanging out as well as a little stand for people to buy drinks. The atmosphere around the area was extremely ambient; most people came with family and friends and proceeded to the pool slightly below the ground level of the theater whilst others sat on the benches caught up in conversations whilst eating. Compared to the environment in Zilker Park where there were numbers of people running around and luckily  for me a Quidditch tournament, biking or with their dogs this was much more quiet, reserved and hidden. 

Image courtesy of  http://russellstanford.blogspot.com/2010/08/annie-at-zilker-hillside-theater.html

It did register that unlike Zilker Park where people could park around, the theater area required people to pay for parking spaces. This could be as result of the number of employees they had on ground that would have to be paid. Getting there, I noticed that there was a vast amount of healthy grass and trees despite the extremely hot weather. A lot of effort had been put into preserving the appearance of area, probably as lure for families towards nature? It also reminded me of the Lawn presentation Sherri gave in class in relation to the effort that is put into preserving the lawns. Even in the area for hanging out although the floors were cemented, a number of trees were around in a convenient manner for shade. Compared to everyday experiences this was probably the closest I had come to experience nature in Austin. It was much more peaceful and cleaner.

However, despite the picturesque environment one cannot ignore a times the blaring of horns due to the road close to the area. This experience got me thinking back again to the relationship we have with nature and the contradictions we face while trying to get closer to it. Zilker Hillside Theater is a beautiful place where people can go an relax and get a taste of nature without the constant hustle and bustle of the world but the location and reminders that we are not too far from the technological world does interrupt these experiences sometimes. The amenities that were the area to provide some sort of comfort such as the drink stand and benches were also a reminder as you would not find these things in a forest. To what extent can we say we are experiencing nature and where is this desire to do so stemming from?

Image courtesy of  http://foxhill-austin.myaptportal.com/around-town/do-not-miss-the-zilker-hillside-theatre-musical-production-of-%E2%80%9Cfootloose%E2%80%9D/

I would definitely recommend you paying a visit sometime if you haven’t been!

Greenland is Melting

Ice melt found across 97 percent of Greenland, satellites show

Very recently, NBC news reported that an unprecedented amount of ice has melted in Greenland. According to the article “Over four days, Greenland's ice sheet -- which covers 683,000 square miles -- went from 40 percent in thaw to nearly entirely in thaw.” This, to me, is very shocking and has completely changed my opinions on global warming and our emission of greenhouse gases.

                               Satellite image with 40% of Greenland covered in ice taken June 8 (left), Greenland                      

                               after rapid thawing (right).

On another note, I thought it was interesting that the article quoted a NASA employee who works at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, CA we read about in Kuletz’ Tainted Desert. The development in this “science city” could have developed technology that caused this pollution, but hopefully it can play a big part in solving our global warming problem. 

Big Companies map out Clean Water sources with questionable motives

In an article paralleling the concerns voiced in the documentary Flow, Scientific American discusses how mega-companies like Coca-Cola have started working together on a database that maps out sources of clean water. While they claim that this is an effort to allow companies to monitor and control their water usage in more ecologically responsible ways, critics believe that these maps could also be used in "water grab" bids by these high-powered companies.

More information about this story can be found here:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=maps-spark-concern-over-corporate

Highway to Alaska in Danger

With Warming, Peril Underlies Road to Alaska

This article addresses the affects the environment has had on the Alaska Canada Military Highway, also nicknamed Alcan. The road was built not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, in fear that invading Japanese could easily infiltrate Alaska and build an infrastructure there. Recently, problems have arisen concerning the highways performance and durability with the long-term affects of cold weather, as well as climate shifts. These circumstances were not predicted when the highway was built more than half a century ago, and engineers are having trouble developing solutions for such a large project in a harsh climate.

                                          

                                           A map of the Highway streching from British Columbia through north Alaska. 

I think this article is interesting, specifically because this is an example of the environment posing a ‘negative’ effect on American society. For the most part, in this class we have discussed how humans, or specifically, Americans have changed the natural environment, and what effects have been seen. This article still addresses that issue, after all we did build the highway. However, the climate is taking a toll on the highway and the effects of that are still unknown. Could a major wreck arise from these road conditions? Perhaps a trailer carrying oil could crash causing a mini-environmental disaster. How will renovations and additions to the highway affect the environment when they are completed?

Greenbelt in Austin

I am not the biggest fan of nature. I don't like bugs, or dog poop or the way my sinuses respond to extended periods of outdoor activity. I like exercising indoors and am one of the people that you would probably find shopping for soothing sounds in the Nature Company store in the 90s. When my friends decided a saturday morning at the greenbelt would be fun and relaxing before lunch at Tacodeli, I was less than enthused.

The greenbelt is a huge area of trees, hiking, rocks and water in austin Barton Creek. It is used for all sorts of outdoor activities from yoga to hiking, water activities and running .

I went there to meditate and try to become better friends with nature (and because my friends made me). This was mildly successful. My allergies went crazy, but I did like the feeling of being isolated as I sat down and read on the hill.

Here's what I observed:

Despite the many people visting, it is quite tranquil there. The large, green trees and sandy rocks under your feet give off a stronge prescence. There were families teaching their kids how to ride bikes on the trails and the huge boulder looking rocks on the ground were a resting place for a dog and man doing yoga. The air smelled much fresher and crisp than downtown austin and while I did notice creepy crawlers, they didn't bother me so much as the dug in and out the dirt.

I, at one point, walked up the rugged path to a mountain like part and could see super fancy, elevated homes on the right. I imagined Sandra Bullock lived in one of them and then thought the view from the houses must be insane. After daydreaming for a bit, I was interrupted by the no longer sedated dog as he began to flex and bark at me. This was scary and annoying until his owner called him down.

Because of the heat, river/water was dried up, but the place looked really cool still. I think its great that a place in a metropolitan city could be preserved like that and hope to go back there some day soon!

photo: http://www.johnhackbarth.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Greenbelt-Trail-in-Austin.jpg

Uninformed Generation X are Unconcerned About Climate Change

It's been a very hot summer not only for us here in Texas, but also for those around the world. With such high temperatures around the world, it is not surprise that global warming is to blame. However, who all is informed about global warming and who isn't might shock you. In the article on the Environmental New Network website, it has been found that individuals classified as Generation X are unaware and uninformed about global warming. The people in the Generation X age group range from 32 to 52 years of age. This is alarming, seeing as people in this age group are making law for this country, some of those laws being for the well-being of the environment. What will become of America is our lawmakers are not well educated on the facts of global warming? Hopefully, we won't have to find out.

Source: http://www.enn.com/lifestyle/article/44683

Americans Least Green- And Feel Least Guilt, Survey Suggests

According to a National Geographic article, out of the 17 countries polled for the Greendex survey, Americans nabbed the top spots for least green and least guilty. The survey asks many questions relating to the consuming habits of each person being surveyed and also asks their personal assessment if how environmental friendly they are. It an ironic twist, those who scored near the top of the list for most green also felt the most guilt. I found it quite interesting that Americans landed so low on the list considering the increase in environmental awareness and encourage recycling. I guess also due to my ignorance as to the common environmental practices in other countries. The fact of the matter is that Americans should really be much more environmentally conscious if they want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

National Geographic Article

Garner State Park

Garner State Park is one of the most geographically beautiful parks in Texas, and well worth the 3 1/2 hour drive to reach it.  It was interesting for me because most people whose families took camping trips had been to Garner before, so I got to compare my reaction to it to that of the "regulars." One thing that really surprised me was the amount of garbage in the park - on the trails, thrown off of "Old Baldy" and in the water. I imagine that's due largely to the groups of 13-16 year olds on family trips together, which was another interesting, and reassuring, aspect of the trip: camping at Garner was a popular mainstream vacation destination, rather than a niche activity just for the "campers." Though it's nice to see that people do really appreciate being outdoors, even today, it makes you wonder where we draw the line between nature and whatever else is not. Is camping 25 yards away from a convenience store with electrical hookups really experiencing nature?

Aside from the overdevelopment of the area and the almost impossible task of finding a truly private spot, the park is beautiful.  Slightly cooler than it is in Austin, so camping was perfect even this time of year.  Some great hiking, and great views all around.


So maybe I wasn't experiencing nature (by my narrower definition) at my campsite with running water 25 meters from a convenience store, but running water was nice for this trip, and I think there are also some primitive campsites available for next time I want to do a more authentic camping trip.

Finally, this type of environment, to me is the quintessential "American environment."  You could say New York City or suburban neighborhoods or the highways of L.A. are what it really means to be in the American environment, and that's fair, but I, like people who shop at The Nature Store, have a certain vision for what I want my environment to be.  And even though mine is actually central Austin, I want to imagine sweeping panoramas of the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park and the vast plains of the panhandle when I think about the true American environment. For whatever reason, the (old) West and its landscape is what I want to associate with my environment, even though I spend more time at traffic lights than canyons.

Signs of Global Warming: Tropical Plankton in Arctic Climate

Scientists have identified tropical plankton living in the arctic ocean. This is a definitive sign of global warming, suggesting that the once frigid water is now warm enough for tropical organisms to live in. Now the question is, what will be next? Which will be the next tropical creatures to migrate to a once arctic climate? And will the creatures who have adapted to the cold be able to adapt to a warmer climate as the world rapidly warms? And finally how will the influx of traditionally warm climate creatures affect the native creatures of the arctic?

Environmental Impact of Strip Mining

(http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00461/stripm.htm)

            Strip Mining is a process that removes the entire top layer of a mountain by bulldozers and dynamite to reach the coal underneath. It used to be that miners simply dug a tunnel towards the coal deposits and mined it in that fashion. But with the growing demand for coal, they needed to find a way to mine coal more efficiently and cheaply.
            However, these mining operations are damaging our water, air, and ecological systems. The sludge that is created from these machines is a mixture of mercury, diesel, and other chemicals that can seep down far into the ground and into groundwater reservoirs. Some of the particulates that are in the soil, like arsenic and lead, are released in the air from the removal of vegetation that can cause harmful effects; not to mention the other noxious fumes given off by the machines. The soil erosion created by strip mining damages the land in that trees find it almost impossible to grow there, while the metals that are put off by the heavy equipment affect the native aquatic life there, leaving behind only a few species.
            Is this really the best way to mine for coal if we need it so badly? Shouldn't we be looking into finding more cleaner ways of mining for coal instead of using this process at every mining site?
http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/19087.aspx

FRENCH FRY FARM VS SICK RESIDENTS

Pesticide Drift, Sick Rural Residents Force Face-Off With Big Agriculture

http://static.pro-hpc.com/images/20-original.jpg

Pesticides can veer from their intended target and put people at risk in a variety ways, explained Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator for the University of Minnesota's Southwest Research and Outreach Center. Strong winds will send pesticides across great distances, and hot temperatures alone can be enough to cause pesticides to drift, said Riddle. 

From 2006 to 2009, in an effort to detect pesticides in the air they breathed, residents of central Minnesota set up air monitors on everything from back patios to school rooftops. One or more pesticides were found in 64 percent of 340 samples taken by the so-called drift catchers, according to results published by the nonprofit Pesticide Action Network in May. The most commonly detected chemical was a potato fungicide, chlorothalonil, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies as a "probable" carcinogen and "highly toxic" if inhaled. 

Chlorpyrifos, also detected in a number of samples, has been implicated in long-term health problems, including learning disabilities -- on top of known heart and breathing troubles. Just last Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced new restrictions on the use of the pesticide, including a lower limit on how much can be applied, in order "to increase protection for children and other bystanders." 

"A lot of moms are wondering why their children are having increasing allergies and asthma. They're wondering why many are having miscarriages or children born with heart defects," said Wirtz, noting how much more vulnerable a fetus or child is to pesticide exposures, compared with an adult, and how grateful she is that her 8-month-old son, Jayden, wasn't in her bedroom during last month's incident. "After all this happened, I started doing research and making connections. I don't think a lot of people realize what's happening to them."

Big Ag companies use pesticides and herbicides in alarmingly large amounts and it is not only affecting our food (which is becoming more and more genetically modified to resist said toxins) but communities near these farms. Is it really worth having our "convenient" fast food in exchange for health problems its pesticides cause? Why aren't Big Ag companies like Monsanto held accountable for poisoning our environment and people? 

 

Resources during a drought

Drought to skyrocket crop prices

In class we have mainly discussed the environment and how we have destroyed it and the effects on lower class people. This article touches upon resources and how we use them. With a the nation moving toward a greener future, crops such as corn are being used in new ways. Corn is now not only a staple to most developing countries and a valuable food here in America, it is also used to create Ethanol which is added to gasoline to help it burn cleaner. Now with this ongoing drought prices are expected to skyrocket. America is luckily insulated from most of the price increases but developing countries are not as fortunate.

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO, MISSISSIPPI?

http://blogs.discovery.com/.a/6a00d8341bf67c53ef017743716d01970d-pi

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO, MISSISSIPPI?

The mighty Mississippi River is running low and leaving cargo barges high and dry.

As of Tuesday, America's main aquatic artery was flowing at the negative 6.2 mark on the gauge in Memphis, Tennessee, according to the NOAA's RiverWatch system. The river is forecast to drop to negative 8.5 by August 8. Negative numbers mean the river is well below its average depth.

The river is nearing record lows, exposing treacherous sandbanks where river craft can run aground. The shriveled river also leaves less maneuvering room for barges to pass each other.

Docks are harder to get to now that the river is receding. Even if a ship can get to its destination unloading proves difficult since the ships now float below normal docking height.

"Captains and crews know how to navigate through waters high or low," Ingram Barge Company spokesman Keel Hunt told the AP. "In a time like this, however, it's a particular challenge because in some cases it's just very difficult to move a barge full of products."

A low river means high shipping costs. Although no stretches of the Mississippi are expected to close and  barges are managing to get through, they are being slowed down and can carry less cargo.

Higher shipping costs could contribute to the problem of increasing food bills. The drought affecting more than half of the U.S. has already pushed up corn and other food prices as crops wither in the sun.

The Mississippi River running low is causing a problem for the shippers but, more importantly for the everyday consumers. As if the economy isn't already bad enough, food prices will increase because of the difficulty to navigate through the low river. What do you all this cause this? Was it human interaction or nature just take a turn? What efforts can be made to restore the Mississippi River's normal height? 

Department of Interior to set up "Solar Hotspots" in the Tainted Desert

It appears that the Western US deserts are not the barren, useless lands that the US government though they were at the beginning of the nuclear energy projects; they are now being mapped off in order to establish massive solar energy plants that will ultimately have the capability to power up to 7 million homes. Proponents of the solar energy initiative hope that it will provide a substantial solution to the renewable energy problem, as well as creating lasting jobs in the West.

More can be read about the Hotspot setup here: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/interior-names-solar-hot-spots-out-west/?ref=earth

Ford Plant Leaks Chemicals Causing both Environmental and Financial Repercussions

In Michigan,  a Ford Motor Company was recently discovered to have been leaking two cancer causing chemicals, TCE and TCA. Both chemicals are used to take oil and grease off parts but are also extremely detrimental if they come within unprotected human contact.  An environmental consultant who came to test the plant estimated there to be about 75 million gallons of contaminated groundwater.  Although Ford claims full responsibility for this environmental hazard, estimating the cost to be around $ 57 million to clean up, shouldn't there be further consequences or safety procedures to ensure that this type of careless and potentially life threatening misstep doesn't occur in the future?  More information on this issue can be found here.

Airlines experiment with algae- and cooking-oil-powered flights

By John D. Sutter, CNN

On Tuesday, algae took a United plane from Houston to Chicago.

And on Wednesday, Alaska Airlines was scheduled to fly from Seattle to Washington D.C. - on cooking oil.

But does this signal, as Alaska Air says, "aviation's next era, where sustainable biofuels can provide a viable alternative to conventional fuel"?

Let's hope so. But maybe not.

First, some less-than-exciting details of these bio-flights:

– The Alaska Air cooking oil - think of it as grease from a McDonald's fryer, Dynamic Fuels told The Guardian - reduced CO2 emissions only by 10%, according to the airline. Meanwhile, that fuel costs six times as much as conventional jet fuel.

– These are only test fights so far - not regular practices. Alaska is running 75 bio-flights, but it's unclear that biofuels will become a large part of the company's energy portfolio. Bill Glover, Boeing's enviro guy, tells NPR that the plane-maker's "near-term target is 1% of all the aviation fuel have some bio-content by 2015."

– Which brings up the next point: These planes aren't running purely on pond scum and fry grease. The biofuels make up about 20 to 50 % of the fuel that's used to fly the planes.

I don't bring up all those negatives to sound like a grouch. It's hard to argue that experimenting with alternative fuels - especially non-food biofuels like algae and cooking oil - is inherently a bad thing for airlines and the environment.

But the supply chains for these fuels don't quite exist yet, making these demonstrations seems like just that  – demonstrations.

More on this from NPR:

Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with the Teal Group in Fairfax, Va., says real progress is at least 15 years away. "What you've got is somewhere between advanced showmanship and expensive subsidies," he says.

A CNN story from June notes that other airlines - including KLM - also are testing out non-food biofuels. Jim Rekoske, from Honeywell, the tech manufacturing company, told our reporter that what we're seeing now are "early adopters" experimenting with new ideas:

"The adoption rate for biofuels is no different to that of any other technology: You get the 'early adopters,' then those who are cautiously optimistic, who sit back and wait and see how the early adopters get on.

"And then there are the laggers, who claim it's not going to work - the ones who won't get an iPhone, because there'll be an iPhone 2 along any minute - and they always take a bit longer to convince."

Post by: John D. Sutter -- CNN Filed under: Innovation • Tech In this article Airlines clame that they may have found an alternative source to fuel Air planes with cooking oil. The article states that the alternative fuels are still undergoing test but could potentially be a new source of fuel for these planes. I see this as a major discovery, If these fuels do happen to work they could probably also be used for cars, trucks, trailers, and could decrease our need and dependency on gas and oil. With the price of gas prices as they are now I see this as a big step for our economy.

The Growth of European Offshore Wind Energy Seen as a Positive Boost for Eurozone Economy

file://localhost/Users/isabelsuarez/Desktop/medium.jpeg

In the article "European Offshore Wind Energy Continues to Grow by Leaps and Bounds"(http://www.enn.com/business/article/44705), the author David A. Gabel discusses the enormous growth of the continents Offshore Wind Energy during the first part of 2012. According to the article, the European Wind Energy Association, EWEA has reported that there are 132 new offshore wind turbines which provide an additional 523 megawatts of power. This is a 50 percent increase from the previous years 348.1 megawatts of power. The article discusses how this offshore wind energy has been positive for the Eurozone economy because it has attracted new investors, including pension funds and other "institutional and corporate investors". According to Christian Kjaer, the chief executive of the EWEA, the region of Southern Europe is in more need of investors and financial growth. The leader in the offshore wind Energy is The United Kingdom, having installed eight new mills, while Germany and Denmark follow having installed two. This article causes the reader to think about new technology such as offshore wind energy from an environmental perspective as well as a financial and economic perspective.

Reports: Workers told to underplay Fukushima radiation dosage

Under-reporting the potential impact of the Fukushima remains a valid concern according to Kyodo News (quoted in the linked NBC News article), as workers charged with cleanup of the disaster were instructed to shield their personal dosimeters from the very radiation the meters were designed to detect. Nine workers obstructed the devices with lead plates in effort to record levels of radiation below safety thresholds.

Handout / Reuters

Class discussions surrounding the film Green touched on Mississippi River factories self-reporting water contamination levels near their plants, but few would chalk up under-reporting of contaminant levels in that context to a noble ulterior motive. In the case of the Fukushima disaster, the motives for misrepresenting the extent of the contamination might not be as clear cut. Many of those that initially volunteered to assist in the cleanup were retirees aged 60 years and older.(source:Japanese seniors volunteer for Fukushima 'suicide corps' ), presumably because of the potentially longer incubation period for cancers resulting from radiation exposure in the elderly. What role does social pressure play in remaining silent over insider knowledge of environmental clean-up efforts?

Ice melt found across 97 percent of Greenland, satellites show

Nicolo E. DiGirolamo, SSAI/NASA GSFC, and Jesse Allen, NASA Earth Observatory






























In this article, NASA representatives describe their views and findings over the melting of Greenland's ice.  Their findings were so surprising that some scientists thought there had to be some type of error.  After reading that Greenland has enough ice to raise the sea levels by 23 feet (if all of its ice melted), I feel that we as humans need to reconsider our ways to prevent that from happening.


[Link to article]