It is reported that in Horsholm, Denmark, about 80% of the heat and 20% of the electricity comes from burning of trash in incinerators. The new kind of cleaner incinerators (waste-to-energy plants) convert local thrash into heat and electricity. The exhaust is filtered and toxins such as mercury and dioxins are not allowed in the plant discharges. Cost reduction, cutting carbon dioxide gas emission, and saving of fossil fuel. Across Europe there are about 400 such plants. The emissions from the plant are well below the current EU’s standards for air and water discharges.
This garbage “disposal with benefits” proposition for waste management should be considered worldwide, particularly in small towns.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
World Water Day
World Water Day is being celebrated today to focus on the importance of well planned, sustainable management of fresh water resources. Everyone knows that every drop of water counts, but everyone takes it for granted and knowingly or unknowingly wastes water in our day-to-day activities. It is observed that in Indian cities, water scarcity is caused by poor management practices. Lot of water is lost in the water distribution network due to poor quality pipings, theft of water encouraged by corrupt municipal officials, etc.
On an average, about 40 liters of water is required by a person for drinking and sanitation and more than a billion people still lack access to fresh water supply around the world.
We must ensure that the water bodies are not polluted by untreated waste water discharges by the industries. Rainwater harvesting, recycling and use of sewage water for gardening and other non-drinking purposes, desalination of sea water and most importantly the prevention of flow of surface water into the sea are some of the “should be done” to conserve and augment the water supply to meet the impending water crisis world-wide.
Connecting the rivers - northern Indian rivers like Ganges with the water-starved southern rivers would have solved the water scarcity in southern part of India during summer months. In addition, this would have given a boost to the agriculture in some of the states to considerable extent.
On an average, about 40 liters of water is required by a person for drinking and sanitation and more than a billion people still lack access to fresh water supply around the world.
We must ensure that the water bodies are not polluted by untreated waste water discharges by the industries. Rainwater harvesting, recycling and use of sewage water for gardening and other non-drinking purposes, desalination of sea water and most importantly the prevention of flow of surface water into the sea are some of the “should be done” to conserve and augment the water supply to meet the impending water crisis world-wide.
Connecting the rivers - northern Indian rivers like Ganges with the water-starved southern rivers would have solved the water scarcity in southern part of India during summer months. In addition, this would have given a boost to the agriculture in some of the states to considerable extent.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Ground water pollution and water purifiers
It is reported that 33% of ground water of India is not fit to drink due to pollution. The pollutants are iron, fluoride, salinity and arsenic and the concentrations exceed the tolerance levels prescribed by the authorities. The ground water is one of the major sources of drinking water and the Indian government promised to provide safe drinking water to all by 2012.
Now, how the domestic water purifiers sold in the market at high costs is going to purify the water with pollution at such high levels. The high-pitch advertisements by the companies should clarify the limitations of such systems. In fact, the companies should replace the old models with the latest models at a considerable discount.
Thus, the consumers get a latest model meeting WHO drinking water standards. The consumers have a right to know whether using the old models they are compromising on the quality of water. If not, there is no issue.
Now, how the domestic water purifiers sold in the market at high costs is going to purify the water with pollution at such high levels. The high-pitch advertisements by the companies should clarify the limitations of such systems. In fact, the companies should replace the old models with the latest models at a considerable discount.
Thus, the consumers get a latest model meeting WHO drinking water standards. The consumers have a right to know whether using the old models they are compromising on the quality of water. If not, there is no issue.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Crazy to think human activity impacts climate
This title is reproduced from the excerpts from the interview of leading US atmospheric physicist S. Fred Singer by the Indian leading DNA Money. This supports fully the observations made by "icareforyou" consistently in his blogg: http://icareforyou2007.blogspot.com.
For the benefit of my fellow-forum members I reproduce some of the statements made by Prof. Singer.
1. The contribution from humans for the climate change in 20th century is only minute compared to natural causes.
2. Blaming only the CO2 for global warming is not justified when there are other much stronger greenhouse gases such as water vapour and methane are present in the environment. Data does not support IPCC views.
3. The Sun (solar activity), changes in the earth’s orbit and continental drift are responsible for the climate changes we are witnessing today. About 18 cm rise in sea level per century is the norm over 3,000 years.
4. Any drastic control on industrialization will make energy very expensive and affordable only by the rich.
"icareforyou" again emphasizes that industrial developments in developing countries should not be curtailed just on the sake of emission cuts. The climate change seen today is not reversible just by controlling the CO2 emission.
However, there is a need for developing cheaper and cleaner energy sources. Also, global efforts should be made to control emissions of other and much stronger GHGs such as: natural gases, methane, ethanol, N2O and CF4.
For the benefit of my fellow-forum members I reproduce some of the statements made by Prof. Singer.
1. The contribution from humans for the climate change in 20th century is only minute compared to natural causes.
2. Blaming only the CO2 for global warming is not justified when there are other much stronger greenhouse gases such as water vapour and methane are present in the environment. Data does not support IPCC views.
3. The Sun (solar activity), changes in the earth’s orbit and continental drift are responsible for the climate changes we are witnessing today. About 18 cm rise in sea level per century is the norm over 3,000 years.
4. Any drastic control on industrialization will make energy very expensive and affordable only by the rich.
"icareforyou" again emphasizes that industrial developments in developing countries should not be curtailed just on the sake of emission cuts. The climate change seen today is not reversible just by controlling the CO2 emission.
However, there is a need for developing cheaper and cleaner energy sources. Also, global efforts should be made to control emissions of other and much stronger GHGs such as: natural gases, methane, ethanol, N2O and CF4.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Fraud reported in stem cell banks
Stem cells are the building blocks of life. Researchers are confident that the stem cell research will lead to treatments to wide variety of diseases and disorders such as: bone loss, broken bones, brain damage due to oxygen starvation, severe burns, cancer (some forms), diabetes, heart disease, hepatitis, incomplete bladder control, Huntington's, leukemia, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries, stroke, etc, etc.. However, as it looks, the studies are in laboratory scale. Human trials in large numbers are required to employ the same as a routine mode of treatment. The cost of an effective stem cell treatment is going to cost a few lakh of rupees and the so-called embryonic stem cells require the destruction of embryo/fetus.
The ensuing public debate has prompted authorities around the world to seek regulatory frameworks and highlighted the fact that stem cell research represents a social and ethical challenge. Misuse of the unused embryos is matter of great concern. In US, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee provides the necessary guidelines for the research. They address the many ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues that are of concern to the public, and the scientific community. Finally, it may not come through at all beyond clinical trial stage. Millions of patients are going to be benefited by the research if it is accepted for use beyond the trial stage.
The stem cell banks are mushrooming world-wide. These banks offer to store stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborns for use later in life when illness strikes. However, there are a lot of uncertainties in this banking system. To begin with, the storage facilities need very low temperatures and maintaining such low temperature over large time periods (24x365x a few decades) can not be guaranteed. This seems to be an uncertain and unnecessary insurance. The cost involved is tremendously high. The banks are playing with the emotions of parents and persuading the parents to bank the umbilical cord stem cells. Already frauds are being reported in some countries in stem cell banking.
Governments should warn the public against such activities. Strict regulation is necessary to monitor the stem cell research and the working of such banking systems.
The ensuing public debate has prompted authorities around the world to seek regulatory frameworks and highlighted the fact that stem cell research represents a social and ethical challenge. Misuse of the unused embryos is matter of great concern. In US, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Advisory Committee provides the necessary guidelines for the research. They address the many ethical, legal, scientific, and policy issues that are of concern to the public, and the scientific community. Finally, it may not come through at all beyond clinical trial stage. Millions of patients are going to be benefited by the research if it is accepted for use beyond the trial stage.
The stem cell banks are mushrooming world-wide. These banks offer to store stem cells from the umbilical cords of newborns for use later in life when illness strikes. However, there are a lot of uncertainties in this banking system. To begin with, the storage facilities need very low temperatures and maintaining such low temperature over large time periods (24x365x a few decades) can not be guaranteed. This seems to be an uncertain and unnecessary insurance. The cost involved is tremendously high. The banks are playing with the emotions of parents and persuading the parents to bank the umbilical cord stem cells. Already frauds are being reported in some countries in stem cell banking.
Governments should warn the public against such activities. Strict regulation is necessary to monitor the stem cell research and the working of such banking systems.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Indian Schools – Common curriculum; Single CET
Some may that the common syllabus closes options students have today to choose a board of their choice depending upon the children’s capabilities to cope up with the requirements and demands of different boards. But in the long run, a common syllabus for mathematics and science, and common CET for medical and engineering are worth much more for the students in terms of getting fair and equitable deals in admissions for higher and professional education.
The only worry is the corruption prevailing in the country in the education and Indian Administrative set ups. Appropriate committees of upright and sincere officers and educationists should be formed to implement and manage such an important decision. Periodic updating the syllabus, providing infrastructure support in semi-rural and rural areas and transparency in conducting the examinations in all India levels are some of the issues to be looked in to by the authorities. The reform steps are in right direction if implemented impartially.
The only worry is the corruption prevailing in the country in the education and Indian Administrative set ups. Appropriate committees of upright and sincere officers and educationists should be formed to implement and manage such an important decision. Periodic updating the syllabus, providing infrastructure support in semi-rural and rural areas and transparency in conducting the examinations in all India levels are some of the issues to be looked in to by the authorities. The reform steps are in right direction if implemented impartially.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
UN claim of rising temperature wrong
It is also said that the Chairman of IPCC cooked up facts to corner grants. It is also reported that The Energy and Resources institute (TERI) headed by the Chairman received over 310,000 pounds grants from Carnegie Corporation of NEW York and from European Union. With regard to the UN claim of global warming, new research casts doubt on the UN climate data, suggesting that the world may not be warming at all as stated. The IPCC wrongly linked the warming to floods.
In Indian scenario, it is reported that the year 2009 has been the hottest year ever recorded in India. The long-term annual average temperature was 0.913 degree C in 2009 as compared to 0.514 degree C in 1998. The coastal regions recorded the most increase. It is difficult to say that the temperature rise is due to human activities alone. In the global scenario, of the 12 hottest years in the century, 11 have been in the past 2 decades. Probably, rate of rise in temperature has marginally increased over the last two decades.
However, the blunders committed by the IPCC do not change the overall global picture of some small rise in the average global temperature. Concerted efforts are required in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the power sector. Fossil fuel plants should be phased out slowly and concerted efforts should be made to develop renewable energy resources, like wind and solar and environmentally clean nuclear power.
In Indian scenario, it is reported that the year 2009 has been the hottest year ever recorded in India. The long-term annual average temperature was 0.913 degree C in 2009 as compared to 0.514 degree C in 1998. The coastal regions recorded the most increase. It is difficult to say that the temperature rise is due to human activities alone. In the global scenario, of the 12 hottest years in the century, 11 have been in the past 2 decades. Probably, rate of rise in temperature has marginally increased over the last two decades.
However, the blunders committed by the IPCC do not change the overall global picture of some small rise in the average global temperature. Concerted efforts are required in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the power sector. Fossil fuel plants should be phased out slowly and concerted efforts should be made to develop renewable energy resources, like wind and solar and environmentally clean nuclear power.
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