. Solar Energy News .




.
FROTH AND BUBBLE
Republicans accused of undermining US environment
by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) June 8, 2011

A leading voice in America's environmental movement Wednesday slammed Republicans for their "assault" on the country's public lands and water.

Bruce Babbitt, who served as interior secretary from 1993 to 2001 under then president Bill Clinton, also chastised President Barack Obama for failing to "take up the mantle of land and water conservation... in a significant way."

"It is clear to me that the House of Representatives will not only block progress, but will continue to sustain an assault on our public lands and water," Babbitt said during a speech in Washington.

"The intent is to chip away, a blow at a time, at the edifice of environmental laws and regulations, avoiding a frontal assault that would call attention to the overall objective."

Babbitt pointed to a Congress resolution in April which removed the grey wolf from the list of endangered species and a recent bill that would eliminate protections for over 16 million hectares (40 million acres) of public land.

Of the 250 million acres (100 million hectares) of public land, more than 41 million acres (16 million hectares) is leased for oil and gas exploration, said Babbitt, noting that only 9 million acres (3.6 million hectares) are protected and designated as 'wilderness' areas.

"President Obama should call upon the Congress to expand the National Wilderness Preservation System," he said, adding there should be equally strong support for "the most important places" offshore and along the US coastline.

earlier related report
British bin cameras encourage students to recycle
London (AFP) June 8, 2011 - British university students are being encouraged to change their ways and recycle through a project in which tiny cameras are fitted into bins.

Scientists at Newcastle University, in northeast England, said Wednesday that the "BinCams" had been placed in kitchen bins in five households.

The tiny sensor, attached to a camera phone, takes a picture every time the bin lid slams shut and uploads the image onto Facebook, allowing the students to monitor what they are throwing away.

The Facebook page adds an element of competition, allowing the student households to compare how their recycling efforts are going.

The project targets students because research has shown that people aged between 18 and 34 recycle less than other age groups.

Scientists said initial results indicated the experiment was a success. Early images showed pizza boxes, beer cans and other rubbish that could have been recycled, they said.

But after two weeks, the experiment showed that the bin is emptied less frequently as less rubbish is thrown away and more is recycled.

"The students said they felt like the bin was watching them and that it definitely made them think twice about what they were throwing away," said Anja Thieme, a postgraduate computer science student who is leading the project.

"By taking a photograph and uploading it to Facebook, the idea is that we create a platform for self-reflection -- a permanent reminder. It's a bit like having your conscience sat on your shoulder niggling away at you."




Related Links
Our Polluted World and Cleaning It Up

.
Get Our Free Newsletters Via Email
...
Buy Advertising Editorial Enquiries






. Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle



FROTH AND BUBBLE
Deal for EU governments to tax truckers for pollution, noise
Strasbourg (AFP) June 7, 2011
European governments will be able to hit hauliers for air and noise pollution costs after a deal struck in the European Parliament on Tuesday. Extra taxes on top of existing motorway tolls, levied through controversial data chips scanned as truckers pass checkpoints, will not be mandatory but will be used to encourage companies to invest in equipment less damaging to the environment. App ... read more


FROTH AND BUBBLE
Viable Pathway to Develop Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Industry

Winston Wong Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle Premiered at NCKU

Shell and Cosan fuelling a lower-carbon future with biofuels

New Global Website Presents Low-Carbon Solutions from Sugarcane

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Industry Helps Engineering Students Reanimate Robotic Mine Vehicles

The hand as a joystick

Guide vests robotic navigation aids for the visually impaired

Controlling robotic arms is child's play

FROTH AND BUBBLE
China wind energy firms back subsidy move: report

US claims victory in China wind energy spat

Mortenson Builds Sixth Wind Project in Golden State

GL Garrad Hassan releases update of WindFarmer 4.2

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Study compares 'distracted driving' laws

China's auto sales fall in May

BAE and Nurol clinch Malaysia vehicle deal

General Motor's China sales fall for second month

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Sea spat raises China-Vietnam tensions

US Army Base Fort George G. Meade Selects Viridity Energy

Novel geothermal technology packs a one-two punch against climate change

Old rivalries raise doubts about OPEC

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Singapore researchers invent broadband graphene polarizer

Iowa State physicists explain the long, useful lifetime of carbon-14

New form of girl's best friend is lighter than ever

2 graphene layers may be better than 1

FROTH AND BUBBLE
Study backs Australia pollution tax plans

Capstone Turbine Receives Order for Four C1000s From BPC Engineering

Mideast, energy on Russia-EU agenda

Australia says economy stronger with carbon tax

FROTH AND BUBBLE
50 percent increase in sustainably managed tropical forests

Higher density means world forests are capturing more carbon

Managing forests requires a bird's-eye view

Greenpeace says Barbie is forest vandal


Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily Express :: SpaceWar Express :: TerraDaily Express :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News
.

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2011 - Space Media Network. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement