EaRtH WaRrIoR

Look at the world around us - the world we live in.

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it."



Animals hold ecological, commercial and aesthetic/recreational value. Endangered species must be protected and saved so that future generations can experience their presence and value. Unfortunately, numerous species of wildlife are now on the brink of extinction. Man has only himself to blame for this sad state of affairs. Through his negligence, he has allowed many species of wildlife to perish or disappear into oblivion.

Within the last century, population growth and industrial development have increased by leaps and bounds. In the name of development, man has bull-dozed forests to make way for cities and industries and driven animals from their natural habitants. Like pollution off the coast of Florida is killing the coral reefs along the Florida Keys, which serve as habitat for hundreds of species of fish. Commercial fish species have begun to decline, causing a threat to the multi-million dollar tourism industry, which depends on the quality of the environment.


Hunting by poachers has become more rampant because of the high demand for wildlife products that fetch lucrative returns. These include the horns of the rhinos, elephant tusks, alligator skins and the coats of the cheetah and the snow leopard. While prehistoric men hunted for food, modern man hunts for spot. As a result of his bloodthirsty needs, man has been responsible for leading many species to the brink of extinction.

Wildlife meat is considered a delicacy. Wildlife meat like the flying fox, python, deer are sold at restaurants and eateries. Commercial and recreational salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest provides 60,000 jobs and $1 billion annually in personal income. Freshwater mussels which are harvested, cut into beads, and used to stimulate pearl construction in oysters form the basis of a thriving industry. Unfortunately, 43% of the freshwater mussel species in North America are currently endangered or extinct.


In 1961, WWF has worked toward the protection of endangered species. For more than 30 years, the Endangered Species Act also helped prevent the extinction of our nation's wildlife treasures including beloved symbols of America such as the bald eagle, the Florida manatee and the California condor.


Nowadays, many nations have laws offering protection to conservation species: for example, forbidding hunting, restricting land development or creating preserves. Internationally, 199 countries have signed an accord agreeing to create Biodiversity Action Plans to protect endangered and other threatened species.


The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has calculated the percentage of endangered species as 40 percent of all organisms based on the sample of species that have been evaluated through 2006. The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that endangered species not living. Many factors are taken into account when assessing the conservation status of a species; not simply the number remaining, but the overall increase or decrease in the population over time, breeding success rates, known threats, and so on.

The IUCN categories include:



  • Extinct: Examples: Javan Tiger, Dodo, Passenger Pigeon, and Dusky Seaside Sparrow etc.
  • Critically endangered: faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future. Examples: Mountain Gorilla, Arakan Forest Turtle, Darwin’s Fox, and Vaquita Philippine Eagle etc.
  • Endangered: faces a very high risk of extinction in the near future. Examples: Dhole, Blue Whale, Giant Panda, and Snow Leopard etc.
  • Vulnerable: faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term. Examples: Polar Bear, African Golden Cat, Komodo dragon, and Golden hamster etc.
  • Conservation dependent: The following animals are not severely threatened, but must depend on conservation programs. Examples: Spotted Hyena, Leopard Shark, Black Caiman, and Killer whale etc.
  • Near threatened: may be considered threatened in the near future. Examples: Blue-billed Duck




Another way to help preserve endangered species is to create a new professional society dedicated to ecological ethics. This could help ecologists make ethical decisions in their research and management of biodiversity. Also, creating more awareness on environmental ethics can help encourage species preservation. One example of a federal mandated conservation zone is the Northwest Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, the largest marine protected area in the world. The monument is essential to the preservation of underwater communities and overfished regions. Only researchers working in the area are permitted to fish, no corals may be removed, and the Department of Homeland Security will enforce restrictions on vessels passing through the waters via satellite imaging.

Captive breeding is the process of breeding rare or endangered species in human controlled environments with restricted settings, such as wildlife preserves, zoos and other conservation facilities. It is supposed to stabilize the population of the species so it is no longer at risk for disappearing. This technique has been used with success for many species for some time. However, captive breeding techniques are usually difficult to implement for highly mobile species like some migratory birds (e.g. cranes) and fishes (e.g. Hilsa). Additionally, if the captive breeding population is too small, inbreeding may occur due to a reduced gene pool; this may lead to the population lacking immunity to diseases.

There are many conservation organizations working to protect endangered animals and habitats. Organizations like Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund have dedicated themselves to preserve the earth and its ecology. Many volunteers join organizations like these and work for the environment. We can find some international/local organizations like these and join them.

See more in WWF website: http://www.wwf.org.my/


All rainwater contains some level of acidity. Normal rainwater has a pH of 5.6. When the pH level of rainwater goes below 5.6, it is considered acid rain.

Acid rain is a popular term for the atmospheric deposition of acidified rain, snow, sleet, hail, acidifying gases and particles, as well as acidified fog and cloud water. The increased acidity of these depositions, primarily from the strong acids, sulfuric and nitric, is generated as a by-product of the combustion of fuels containing sulfur or nitrogen, especially fossil fuel power plants, factories, and automobiles. Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes also release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain falls because of human activities.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds may spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil.




Acid rain is mainly caused by these substances that are being released into the air, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hazardous air pollutants (HAPS), Lead, nitrogen oxides, ozone, particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The principal natural phenomena that contribute acid-producing gases to the atmosphere are emissions from volcanoes. Thus, for example, fumaroles from Laguna Caliente crater of Poas Volcano create extremely high amounts of acid rain and fog with acidity 2 of pH, clearing an area of any vegetation and frequently causing irritation to the eyes and lungs of inhabitants in nearby settlements. Nitric acid in rainwater is an important source of fixed nitrogen for plant life, and is also produced by electrical activity in the atmosphere such as lightning.





Automobiles release harmful smoke into the air, which causes acid rain. Coal power plants are one of the most polluting. The gases can be carried hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere before they are converted to acids and deposited. Factories now have taller smoke funnels. However, dispersal from these taller stacks causes pollutants to be carried farther, causing widespread ecological damage.

Acid rain has been shown to have adverse impacts on forests, freshwater's and soils, killing insect and aquatic life-forms as well as causing damage to buildings and having impacts on human health.


Acid rain makes waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. This combination makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals. Most of the fishes, frogs and insects will die when the water reaches a pH of 4.5. With a pH of 5.5, all of the bottom-dwelling bacterial decomposers will begin to die. If acid rain gets to be more of a problem, then all of the sea life will eventually be gone.

Acid rain also damages forests, especially those at higher elevations. It robs the soil of essential nutrients and releases aluminum in the soil, which makes it hard for trees to take up water. Trees' leaves and needles are also harmed by acids. The effects of acid rain, combined with other environmental stressors, leave trees and plants less able to withstand cold temperatures, insects, and disease. The pollutants may also inhibit trees' ability to reproduce. This also stunts the growth of mosses, algae, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and fungi that are needed to help the forest grow. In areas where the soil's "buffering capacity" is low, the harmful effects of acid rain are much greater.




Acid rain affects our health. Some of the most common health problems are breathing problems, nervous system problems, and lung problems. Breathing and lung problems in children and adults who have asthma and in children have been linked to acid air pollution. Everything that we eat, drink, and breathe has at one time come in contact with acid deposits.

Acid rain can decay building materials and paints. Worst of all, it can also damage buildings and historic monuments, especially those made of rocks such as limestone and marble containing large amounts of calcium carbonate. Acids in the rain react with the calcium compounds in the stones to create gypsum, which then flakes off. The effects of this are commonly seen on old gravestones, where acid rain can cause the inscriptions to become completely illegible. Acid rain also increases the oxidation rate of metals, in particular copper and bronze.

The only way to fight acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means burning fewer fossil fuels. Many governments have tried to curb emissions by cleaning up industry smokestacks and promoting alternative fuel sources.

Individuals can also help prevent acid rain by conserving energy. The less electricity people use in their homes, the fewer chemicals power plants will emit. Vehicles are also major fossil fuel users, so drivers can reduce emissions by using public transportation, carpooling, biking, or simply walking wherever possible.

But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear.

"Reduce: the amount of the Earth's resources that we use.
Reuse: Don't just bin it, could someone else make use of it?
Recycle: Can the materials be made into something new?"

Due to global warming, pollution, deforestation, and a limited supply of natural resources, people are becoming more aware of the importance of protecting the environment.



The 3 Rs in solid waste management generally refer to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. However, in Europe, the waste hierarchy has 5 steps: reduce, reuse, recycle, recovery, and disposal. Waste in the environment affects the air, water, land, animals, plants, and humans. One way people are doing their part to protect the environment is adopting the Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Waste Program. The aim of this program is to extract the maximum practical benefits from products and to generate the minimum amount of waste.

Reduce

Reduce means finding way to decrease or lessen the amount of waste by increasing the efficiency of resource use and extending the useful life of products. Incorporates common sense ideas like turning off the lights, rain barrels, and taking shorter showers, but also plays a part in Composting/ Grass-cycling (transportation energy is reduced), low-flow toilets, and programmable thermostats. Reduce car use by riding your bicycle, carpooling with friends, walking, or taking the bus. Composting is a great way to dispose of kitchen waste. It is healthy for the soil and less waste will go into the landfill.

Buy products that do not require a lot of energy and resources to manufacture which contain environmentally friendly packaging. Avoid disposable or “use once only” items but use the more durable goods, ex. plates, glasses, cutlery, napkins, towels, handkerchiefs, and, cloth diapers, instead of the disposal types. Purchasing what is necessary and in sufficient quantity but not in excess for the family use. Use rechargeable batteries. Reducing will help with conservation efforts and decrease landfill waste and energy use. Reducing results in less pollution and a cleaner environment. It also helps conserve natural resources.

Reuse

Reuse means finding way to use “recyclable resources” form used items again, as products or parts, after giving them proper treatment instead that throwing them away. Reusing methods include repairing damaged items, donating items to a worthy cause, or finding another way to use them. Use cloth grocery bags instead of plastic bags and silverware and dishes instead of plastic utensils and plates because they can be used repeatedly. Another way to reuse is to hire a junk removal service. Except for hazardous materials, junk removal companies will come and remove just about any type of waste. This includes furniture, appliances, electronics, and construction refuse. Many junk removal businesses donate items to charities, repair items, and recycle.

Recycle

Recycle means taking “recyclable resources” as raw materials to make new products. This process involves making new products out of old products. This means potential landfill waste becomes a new product. You can protect the environment by buying products with a high content of post-consumer material.

Recycled products include: paper towels, toilet paper, paper bags, beverage bottles and cans, milk cartons, and much more. Most products have the recycle label on the package. Many towns and cities

have recycling programs. Junk removal companies are very aware of the public concern for the environment so they make reusing and recycling a big part of their business. You will feel good knowing that not all of the junk you are getting rid of will end up in a land fill.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle in Japan

Japan has embarked on continuous development of a legislative structure geared towards 3Rs, with the emphasis moving to the “front of pipe” or preventative, rather than “end of pipe” solutions to its waste problem. The development of a “Recycling Oriented Economic System” has created new policies and legislation aimed at overcoming the country’s severe landfill shortage. Japan is revising from a sole focus on hazardous substances management to new phases of greening, especially in the home appliance and electronic sectors. The 3R Project is to be completed in three phases:

  • Phase 1: Elimination of hazardous chemical substances
  • Phase 2: Recycling
  • Phase 3: Green new product development

Many important regulations regarding recycling have been enacted to ensure the proper management and enforcement of waste disposal. These laws are listed below:
  • Law for the Promotion of Effective Utilization of Resources
  • Container and Packaging Recycling Law
  • Home Appliance Recycling Law
  • Construction Material Recycling Law
  • Food Recycling Law
  • End-of-Life Vehicles Recycling Law

3R was initiated by G8 Sea Island Summit 2004 based on the proposal of Japanese Government, and officially launched at the 3R Ministerial Conference held in Tokyo, 2005. At the conference, 20 countries and international organizations discussed the importance of 3R in the context of sustainable development, agreed to promote 3R within each country, regional and global level, and decided how to promote 3R.

Japanese companies, especially the larger firms, appear to have responded positively to the new policy, legislative and business framework. Many companies have acknowledged that improved environmental performance is part of a firms responsibility and recognized the mutual benefits of Eco-efficiency (environment and economy). A number of companies have established “end of pipe” environmental technology businesses. There has been substantial investment and development of home appliances and office equipment recycling infrastructure. Additionally, many Japanese companies in these sectors are placing more focus on green product development by setting challenging goals over the next 5-10 years.




Reducing, reusing, and recycling helps lessen our impact on the environment and benefits the community. The success of the 3 Rs will mean less waste is produced and thus less demand for landfill space. By participating in the 3R program, you will feel good knowing that you are doing your part to leave a healthier planet for your children.

“This time let's go beyond the light switch!”





The 100-day countdown to Earth Hour 2011 has begun.

Earth Hour is about turning off the lights for one hour. It is a global event organized by WWF (World Wildlife Fund). WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and build a future where people live in harmony with nature. It hopes to bring community together to acknowledge the importance of reducing consumption of earth’s natural resources.

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbor Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.





On 27 March, Earth Hour 2010 became the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off. People across the world from all walks of life turned off their lights and came together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Earth Hour 2011 will take place on Saturday 26 March at 8.30pm (local time). This Earth Hour we want you to go beyond the hour, so after the lights go back on think about what else you can do to make a difference.

Earth Hour will be carried out in practical ways moving forward, as cities and landmarks apply the core principle of turning off the lights to their everyday routine. In Chicago, BOMA (Building Owners and Management Association) developed lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution, and reduce the carbon footprint of downtown buildings. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota will now start powering down each night around 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

Turning off the lights on March 26 is just a step to recognize that mother earth needs our help. Together we can protect earth’s precious resources by conserving, developing, and spreading the word. Flipping the switch for one hour on Saturday will be your vote for mother earth.

Official Website of the Earth Hour 2011:
Join us at http://www.earthhour.org/










NEWater (Chinese: 新生水) is the brand name given to reclaimed water produced by Singapore's Public Utilities Board. More specifically, it is treated wastewater (sewage) that has been purified using dual-membrane (via microfiltration and reverse osmosis) and ultraviolet technologies, in addition to conventional water treatment processes. The water is potable and is consumed by humans, but is mostly used for industry requiring high purity water.

The Singapore Water Reclamation Study (NEWater Study) was initiated in 1998 as a joint initiative between the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). The aim of this study was to determine if NEWater was a viable source of raw water for Singapore's needs. NEWater and desalination were explored as means to reduce reliance on water importation.


NEWater is the product from a multiple barrier water reclamation process:

  1. The first barrier is the conventional wastewater treatment process whereby the used water is treated in the Water Reclamation Plants.
  2. The second barrier, and first stage of the NEWater production process, uses microfiltration/ ultrafiltration to filter out suspended solids, colloidal particles, disease-causing bacteria, some viruses and protozoan cysts. The filtered water that goes through the membrane contains only dissolved salts and organic molecules.
  3. The third barrier, and second stage of the NEWater production process, utilizes reverse osmosis (RO). In RO, a semi-permeable membrane filters out undesirable contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, nitrate, chloride, sulphate, disinfection by-products, aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides that cannot pass through the membrane. Hence, NEWater is free from viruses and bacteria and contains very low levels of salts and organic matter. At this stage, the water is already of potable quality.
  4. The fourth barrier, and third stage of the NEWater production process, acts as safety precaution. UV disinfection is used to ensure that all organisms are inactivated and the purity of the product water guaranteed. With the addition of some alkaline chemicals to restore the pH balance, the NEWater is ready for use.




NEWater could be mixed and blended with reservoir water and then undergo conventional water treatment to produce drinking water (a procedure known as Planned Indirect Potable Use or Planned IPU).

Planned IPU as a source of water supply is not new. It has been practiced in several parts of the United States for more than 20 years. At Water Factory 21, Orange County Water District, Southern California, high quality water reclaimed from treated used water has been injected into ground water since 1976. Water reclamation is a growing trend in the U.S. and around the world. In the U.S., there are several other water reclamation projects that are now being planned or under construction. In fact, many cities along major rivers in the world like River Rhine, Mississippi River, Yangtze River and Mekong River have also been practicing unplanned indirect portable use of reclaimed water, with upstream water users discharging treated used water into a water source that serves as a water supply for a downstream user.

PUB has received a report from the Panel of Experts studying the suitability of NEWater as a source of water to supplement our water supply. The Panel of Experts concluded that NEWater is consistently of high quality and well within the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Standards, and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Drinking Water Guidelines. The Panel has endorsed NEWater as a safe and sustainable source of water and has supported its indirect potable use in Singapore through storing and mixing with the water in their reservoirs.

At present, the total capacity of the three factories is about 20 million US gallons per day (75,700 m³/day). About 6% of this is used for indirect portable use, which contributes 1% of Singapore's potable water requirements of 300 million US gallons per day (13 m³/s). The rest of NEWater is used at wafer fabrication plants and other non-potable applications in manufacturing processes as well as air-con cooling towers in commercial buildings would free large amount of potable water for other potable purposes. NEWater is currently able to meet 30% of Singapore's water requirements.


Every year, 1,500 cubic kilometers of wastewater are produced globally. While waste and wastewater can be reused productively for energy and irrigation, it usually is not. In developing countries 80 percent of all waste is being discharged untreated, because of lack of regulations and resources. And population and industrial growth add new sources of pollution and increased demand for clean water to the equation. Human and environmental health, drinking and agricultural water supplies for the present and future are at stake, still water pollution rarely warrants mention as a pressing issue.

World Water Day is held annually on March 22 since 1993 when the United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 as World Day for Water.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended in Agenda 21 at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Observance began in 1993 and has grown significantly ever since.

The UN and its member nations devote this day to focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Each year, one of various UN agencies involved in water issues takes the lead in promoting and coordinating international activities for World Water Day. Since its inception in 2003, UN has been highlights a specific aspect of freshwater, messages and lead UN agency for the World Day for Water.

In addition to the UN member states, a number of NGOs promoting clean water and sustainable aquatic habitats have used World Day for Water as a time to focus public attention on the critical water issues of our era. Every three years since 1997, for instance, the World Water Council has drawn thousands to participate in its World Water Forum during the week of World Day for Water. Participating agencies and NGOs have highlighted issues such as a billion people being without access to safe water for drinking and the role of gender in family access to safe water. In 2003, 2006 and 2009, the UN World Water Development Report was launched on the occasion of the World Water Day. The fourth Report is expected to be released around March 22, 2012.

In the previous year (2010), UN-Water dedicated World Water Day 2010 to the theme of water quality, reflecting its importance alongside quantity of the resource in water management. The World Water Day 2010 campaign was envisaged to raise awareness about sustaining healthy ecosystems and human well-being through addressing the increasing water quality challenges in water management and to raise the profile of water quality by encouraging governments, organizations, communities, and individuals around the world to actively engage in proactively addressing water quality e.g. in pollution prevention, clean up and restoration.

You can now start preparing actions for World Water Day 2011. This year theme, Water for cities: responding to the urban challenge, aims to spotlight and encourage governments, organizations, communities, and individuals to focus on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialization and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water management.

Official Website of the World Water Day 2011:
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/mainindex.html




"If you are thinking 1 year ahead, sow seeds.
If you are thinking 10 years ahead, plant a tree.
If you are thinking 100 years ahead, educate the people.”


Norman Myers, in his book, The Primary Source, writes that "tropical rainforests are the Earth’s oldest continuous ecosystems.” Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 1750 – 2000 mm (68-78 inches). Many of the world's rainforests are associated with the location of the monsoon through, also known as the intertropical convergence zone. The largest rainforests are found in the Amazon Basin of South America.

A total of 40 to 75% of all species on the world's habitats are indigenous to the rainforests. It has been estimated that many millions of species of plants, insects, and microorganisms are still undiscovered. Tropical rainforests have been called the "jewels of the Earth", and the "world's largest pharmacy", because over one quarter of natural medicines have been discovered there. Rainforests are also responsible for 28% of the world's oxygen turn over, often misunderstood as oxygen production, processing it through photosynthesis from carbon dioxide and storing it as carbon through biosequestration. What’s truly amazing, however, is that while the tropical rainforests cover just 2% of the Earth's land surface, they are home to two-thirds of all the living species on the planet.

Rainforests are important to the global ecosystem:

  • provide a home to many plants and animals;
  • help stabilize the world's climate;
  • protect against flood, drought, and erosion;
  • are a source for medicines and foods;
  • support tribal people; and
  • are an interesting place to visit
There are two types of rainforests, based on their location on the planet, tropical and temperate. Both are endangered ecosystems. Tropical rainforests have been called the "Earth's lungs," although it is now known that rainforests contribute little net oxygen additions to the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

A tropical rainforest is typically divided into four main layers, each with different plants and animals adapted for life in that particular area: the emergent, canopy, understory, and forest floor layers.

The emergent layer contains a small number of very large trees called emergents, which grow above the general canopy, reaching heights of 45–55 m, although on occasion a few species will grow to 70–80 m tall. They need to be able to withstand the hot temperatures and strong winds in some areas. Eagles, butterflies, bats, and certain monkeys inhabit this layer.

The canopy layer contains the majority of the largest trees, typically 30–45 m tall. The densest areas of biodiversity are found in the forest canopy, a more or less continuous cover of foliage formed by adjacent treetops. The canopy, by some estimates, is home to 50 percent of all plant species, suggesting that perhaps half of all life on Earth could be found there. Epiphytic plants attach to trunks and branches, and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on the supporting plants. A quarter of all insect species are believed to exist in the rainforest canopy.

The understory layer lies between the canopy and the forest floor. The understory is home to a number of birds, snakes, and lizards, as well as predators such as jaguars, boa constricyors, and leopards. The leaves are much larger at this level. Insect life is also abundant. Many seedlings that will grow to the canopy level are present in the understory. Only about 5% of the sunlight shining on the rainforest reaches the understory. This layer can also be called a shrub layer, although the shrub layer may also be considered a separate layer.

The forest floor, the bottom-most layer, receives only 2% of sunlight. Only plants adapted to low light can grow in this region. Away from riverbanks, swamps, and clearings where dense undergrowth is found, the forest floor is relatively clear of vegetation because of the low sunlight penetration. It also contains decaying plant and animal matter, which disappears quickly due to the warm, humid conditions promoting rapid decay. Many forms of fungi grow here which help decay the animal and plant waste.

Every year an area of rainforest the size of New Jersey is cut down and destroyed. "If present rates of destruction continue, half our remaining rainforests will be gone by the year 2025, and by 2060 there will be no rainforests remaining."


Humans are the main cause of rainforest destruction or deforestation. Humans are cutting down rainforests for many reasons, including:

  • wood for both timber and wood for making fires;
  • agriculture for both small and large farms;
  • land for poor farmers who don't have anywhere else to live;
  • grazing land for cattle; and
  • road construction




We have consulted some knowledgeable experts in the field of tropical rainforest conservation and come up with some sobering facts that will lend credence for taking immediate action to save the last remaining tropical rainforests.

Some steps for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world are to focus on "TREES":
  • Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests;
  • Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down;
  • Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment;
  • Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife; and
  • Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment.

The bad news is saving rainforests is not going to be easy. It will take the efforts of many people working together in order to ensure rainforests and their wildlife will survive for your children to appreciate and enjoy.


Biofuels have been around as long as cars have. At the start of the 20th century, Henry Ford planned to fuel his Model Ts with ethanol, and early diesel engines were shown to run on peanut oil. But discoveries of huge petroleum deposits kept gasoline and diesel cheap for decades, and biofuels were largely forgotten. However, with the recent rise in oil prices, along with growing concern about global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions, biofuels have been regaining popularity.

Gasoline and diesel are known as fossil fuels because they are made from decomposed plants and animals that have been buried in the ground for millions of years. Biofuels are similar, except that they're made from plants grown today.

Biofuels are produced from living organisms or from metabolic by-products (organic or food waste products). In order to be considered a biofuel the fuel must contain over 80 percent renewable materials. There are various ways of making biofuels, but they generally use chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants. The leftover products are then refined to produce a fuel.

Countries around the world are using various kinds of biofuels. For decades, Brazil has turned sugarcane into ethanol, and some cars there can run on pure ethanol rather than as additive to fossil fuels. And biodiesel—a diesel-like fuel commonly made from palm oil—is generally available in Europe.

On the face of it, biofuels look like a great solution. Cars are a major source of atmospheric carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that causes global warming. But since plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, crops grown for biofuels should suck up about as much carbon dioxide as comes out of the tailpipes of cars that burn these fuels. And unlike underground oil reserves, biofuels are a renewable resource since we can always grow more crops to turn into fuel.

First Generation Biofuels

'First-generation biofuels' are biofuels made from sugar, starch, and vegetable oil.

Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermenting the sugar components of plant materials mostly from sugar and starch crops. The bioethanol production methods used are enzyme digestion (to release sugars from stored starches), fermentation of the sugars, distillation and drying. With advanced technology being developed, cellulosic biomass, such as trees and grasses, are also used as feedstocks for ethanol production. Ethanol can be used in petrol engines as a replacement for gasoline; it can be mixed with gasoline to any percentage. Most existing car petrol engines can run on blends of up to 15% bioethanol with petroleum/gasoline. Bioethanol is widely used in the USA and in Brazil.




Green diesel, also known as renewable diesel, is a form of diesel fuel which is derived from renewable feedstock rather than the fossil feedstock used in most diesel fuels. Green diesel feedstock can be sourced from a variety of oils including canola, algae, jatropha and salicornia in addition to tallow. Green diesel uses traditional fractional distillation to process the oils.

Biodiesel is the most common biofuel in Europe. It is produced from oils or fats using transesterification and is a liquid similar in composition to fossil/mineral diesel. Biodiesel can be used in any diesel engine when mixed with mineral diesel to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles. Pure biodiesel (B100) is the lowest emission diesel fuel.



Second Generation Biofuels

Second-generation biofuel implemented from non-food crops include waste biomass, the stalks of wheat, corn, wood, and special-energy-or-biomass crops. Second generation biofuels use biomass to liquid technology, including cellulosic biofuels. Many second generation biofuels are under development such as biomethanol, DMF, BioDME, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, mixed alcohols and wood diesel.


Third Generation Biofuels

Algae fuel, also called third generation biofuel, is a biofuel from algae. Based on laboratory experiments, it is claimed that algae can produce up to 30 times more energy per acre than land crops such as soybeans, but these yields have yet to be produced commercially. One advantage of algae fuels over most other fuel types is that they are biodegradable, and so relatively harmless to the environment if spilled.

Second and third generation biofuels are also called advanced biofuels.

Unfortunately, it's not so simple. The process of growing the crops, making fertilizers and pesticides, and processing the plants into fuel consumes a lot of energy. It's so much energy that there is debate about whether ethanol from corn actually provides more energy than is required to grow and process it. Also, because much of the energy used in production comes from coal and natural gas, biofuels don't replace as much oil as they use.

For the future, many think a better way of making biofuels will be from grasses and saplings, which contain more cellulose. Cellulose is the tough material that makes up plants' cell walls, and most of the weight of a plant is cellulose. If cellulose can be turned into biofuel, it could be more efficient than current biofuels, and emit less carbon dioxide.

"Say 'No' to Plastic Bags whenever & wherever you can…"

What's the simplest thing you can you do to save a sea turtle, stop the need for oil wars, preserve a river, protect our children's future? Bring a reusable bag to the store!

Plastic is a major toxic pollutants on earth. It contains non-biodegradable substance, composed of toxic chemicals, and most of all it pollutes our earth, air and water.

Consider the following shocking facts about plastic bags:

  • Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
  • Polyethylene is a petroleum product
  • Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
  • Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
  • Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
  • Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
  • Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled
  • It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down
  • As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and water source, and enter the food chain
  • Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting plastic bags
  • Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags.
  • Plastic bag choke landfills

One of the many ways which you can help the environment is by decline a plastic bag whenever you are offered one. Put the item straight into your own bag or let it share with something you bought earlier.


Countries all over the world are slowly becoming aware of the threat plastic bags present to our world. Many have enacted laws aimed to decrease the use of plastic bags, while others have, or are, planning to impose taxes on the use of plastic bags. Some businesses have stopped offering their customers plastic bags, and many communities are either considering a ban on plastic bags or have already implemented one.

Lately “No Plastic Bag” campaign has been an issue in Malaysia to create awareness among the public. In fact minority of people are practicing the habit of bringing their own recycle bag to hypermarkets or even shopping malls. Some will bring lots of recycle shopping bags and toss them into their car. While some prefer to bring a few into their shopping bag in case they wanted to make any purchases. For those customers who insisted on plastic bag, they will have to pay RM0.10 per bag, while some places are charging RM0.20 per bag and RM1.99 for reusable bag. If such a tax was introduced people would soon get used to using their own bags or swallow the small charge if they forget.


The momentum towards reducing the numbers of carrier bags has increased enormously; I have found that I am no longer regarded as weird for not wanting a carrier bag in most shops now. A great victory. All we need now is for all shop assistants to ask if you need the bag, rather than you having to say that you don't want the bag.


The only way out of the deadly and lasting danger of plastic is to cut down the use of plastic. In the meantime, every time we decline a plastic bag we are making our own little contribution to reducing material waste. Little planning’s will make big changes to save our earth or else we are really in big trouble in the near future.


Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. According to the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 20th century. Climate model projections summarized in the latest IPCC report indicate that the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the 21st century.

Most of the observed temperature increase has been caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases, which result from human activity such as the burning of fossil fuel and deforestation. Greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. If there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die.

Another thing that causes global warming is electrical pollution. When fossil fuels are burned, many pollutants are sent into the air.

Some other examples of using energy and polluting the air are:

  • Turning on a light
  • Watching T.V.
  • Listening to a stereo
  • Washing or drying clothes
  • Using a hair dryer
  • Riding in a car
  • Heating a meal in the microwave
  • Using an air conditioner
  • Using a dish washer

When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to landfills. The garbage is then sometimes burned. This sends an enormous amount of greenhouse gasses into the air and makes global warming worse. Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut down trees. Trees and other plants collect carbon dioxide (CO2), This gas, CO2, collects light and heat (radiant energy), produced by the sun, and this makes the earth warmer. Evidence for warming of the climate system includes observed increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, expansion of subtropical deserts, and rising global average sea level. Global warming is killing algae, also destroying many huge forests. Other likely effects include changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, species extinctions, and changes in agricultural yields.



































One thing people are doing to stop global warming is carpooling. This minimizes the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air by a car. Another thing that people are doing is being more careful about leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights. Now, more people are even riding buses, walking to school, and riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Planting trees and recycling also helps. As a result, less greenhouse gasses will rise into the air, and global warming will slow down.

Global dimming, a result of increasing concentrations of atmospheric aerosols that block sunlight from reaching the surface, has partially countered the effects of warming induced by greenhouse gases. These aerosols exert a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight. Radioactive forcing due to aerosols is temporally limited due to wet deposition which causes aerosols to have an atmospheric lifetime of one week. Carbon dioxide has a lifetime of a century or more, and as such, changes in aerosol concentrations will only delay climate changes due to carbon dioxide.

The government made a law called The Clean Air Act which is making many companies changes their products to decrease global warming. Part of the law says that you may not put a certain amount of pollutants in the air. Making and using hairspray, foam cups etc let out too many volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), ozone-destroying chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), and related chemicals (CO2) into the air. Now, almost all of these products have a label on them telling people what this product can do to the environment and many people.

Cars, buses, and trucks are also responsible for over 50% of dangerous chemicals let into the air. The Clean Air Act has also made car companies change some of the things inside of the cars. While cars make more than half of the world’s smog (visible pollution in the air), many things that cars need to move and heat up make even more pollution. Some things that are inside of cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles, like gasoline, pollute the air when the fuel is burned. It comes out as a chemical and when mixed in the air, forms smog.

Global warming is one of the most serious challenges facing us today. To protect the health and economic well-being of current and future generations, each individual can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.



Three “Stop Global Warming” Campaign posters

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