Category: environment

Posted on

Gas prices rising

I think that everyone who drives has realized that gas prices have been steadily rising over the last several months. The bad news is that the prices are expected to continue to rise over the next year. The cause seems to be increased demand from countries like china.

To add insult to injury, the oil companies are once again set to make record profits. This really gets my gall especially after all the money we spend cleaning up their messes. I hope our government will do something about this outrage!

Posted on

Lionfish

One of the invasive species that is causing trouble in the United States is the lionfish. The fish is native to the south pacific and the Red Sea. The species was introduced to American waters after an aquarium broke during Hurricane Andrew and some of the fish were released off the coast of Florida. The fish is raising havoc with the natural order of the reefs.

Lionfish are very aggressive and have caused problems by eating most of the natural reef dwellers. This has led to concerns that the reefs will suffer as the lionfish takes over. Some are calling for government intervention and are hoping the fish can be contained before they spread even farther.

Posted on

After the pain

Ever since the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico by the oil giant BP, there has been a lot of talk about compensation. BP has offered many people settlements with the stipulation that they will not sue the company. While many have accepted the offers, many are skeptical.

The Attorneys generals of at least four states have offered advice to those who have not accepted any offers as of yet. They are saying that it would be wise to consult a lawyer and that they could be eligible for more money. The cases will undoubtedly tie up the courts for years to come.

Posted on

Growing Mars

Scientists from around the world are working on an unusual possibility. They are saying that one day it may be possible to grow plants on other planets. One of the key planets that scientists are looking at is Mars. They say that there is plenty of evidence that there was water on the planet.

Humans who may be sent to the planet will have to find their own resources to grow the crops. Water would be a huge factor in that. Another factor would be the soil available. One idea may be to grow soilless plants. This can be done and it may be the answer to a growing population on earth that needs more food. I guess we’ll see what happens.

Posted on

Winter is coming

The cold weather is starting to set in. I think it’s officially time to say goodbye to summer and get ready for the cold. I have done a few things around the house in order to keep our fuel bills down. I checked all the windows and did some minor repairs to them to keep the heat in the house. I have also been getting everyone use to the idea of opening and closing the blinds in order to take advantage of the sun’s natural heat.

I also got us a huge load of firewood. There is nothing better than sitting by the fire on a cold winter’s night. I think I got a pretty good deal on the wood and am looking forward to having a reliable source of heat. I am ready for winter so let it come!

Posted on

The Amazon

The Amazon has been under a lot of pressure over the last several decades. Clearing of the forests for industrial use and farming have depleted the areas needed for a healthy biosphere. This has caused environmentalists to pressure several organizations to stop the logging and save this area for future generations.

Scientists say that they are finding as many as three new species every day in the rain forest. These species are important because they teach us about our world and may have benefits to the medical industry. I hope that the governments in this area will work to protect the forest and the animals within it.

Posted on

Tigers are high

The BBC reported that a television crew spotted a population of tigers that live in the remote nation of Bhutan in the Himalayas. What was most interesting was the fact that the tigers were living at such a high altitude. One female tiger was found at an altitude of 4,100 meters.

The findings have raised hopes for many conservationists that are concerned about lost habitat for the animals. Knowing that they can survive in such a habitat has raised hopes that their numbers can be raised in the wild.

Posted on

The last forest

There is great concern in the country of Poland. Poland is home to one of the last primeval forests. The problem is that some believe that illegal logging has been taking place. The giant trees have been seen lying along dirt trials waiting to be transported to the mills.

A complaint has been filed by ecologists with the European Commission. The hope to stop the logging until studies can be made. The giant forest is home to many rare species that are found nowhere else. I hope the forest can be saved.

Posted on

Keeping things Nice

The weather is always an important factor in our lives. We get used to it and usually don’t pay it a whole lot of attention. There are times though when it is important that we do. Since the hurricane season is just around the corner, I thought I would check out the old homestead and make sure everything was alright. After a brief search, I thought I had a few problems that needed addressing.

One thing I saw was that my woodpile was out in the open. I thought that getting a canvas tarp would be a good way to cover it and keep the wood dry. That would come in handy during the winter as I wouldn’t have ice all over the logs. I was also reminded of the old shed out back. The roof is leaking and I have never gotten around to fixing it. I believe that purchasing a strong silver tarp would be a good way to keep the weather out.

As I was passing the driveway, I saw that my old truck was getting a bit weathered. I figured that getting a truck tarp would be just the thing to keep it in good condition. After I was done with my inspection, I felt a lot better about being prepared for whatever weather was coming. That’s a good feeling to have!

Posted on

New species found

It’s always been amazing to me that mankind has lived on this earth for so long and we still haven’t seen everything it has to offer. Scientist using deep sea equipment has added to the list a number of species that have never before been seen. The discoveries have many people excited about the implications of the species involved.

The exploration took place off the coast of northern Indonesia. Some of the animals were discovered as much as two miles below the sea. Scientists will use the photographs taken to register the animals as new.