Fishing restrictions bring better catches, says study

Quarter 4 Article 5

Fishing restrictions bring better catches, says study

From: Naomi Antony, Science and Development Network, More from this Affiliate
Published May 25, 2010 09:13 AM

http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/41359

Miller chapters 1, 9

Area covered are designated fishing areas all over the world

Closing fishing areas and regulating the use offishing gear can result in more profitable catches that boost fishermen's incomes. Fishing close to an area with fishery closures led to larger catches of fish with a higher market value. And the ban on seine nets also increased fishermen's income, the study found. Fishermen are fishing right outside the designated areas and are basically working the system.

I think that this is not good for the fishing areas. This is somewhat defeating the purpose of the designated areas. They are missing the point which is that if they do not slow down the rate at which they fish they will depleat all the fish for generations to come.

seine nets-A seine is a large fishing net that hangs vertically in the water by attaching weights along the bottom edge and floats along the top. Boats equipped for seine fishing are called seiners.

Key Countries Partner to Reduce Deforestation Emissions

Quarter 4 Article 4

Key Countries Partner to Reduce Deforestation Emissions

From: Thomas Miner, Sustainable Life Media, More from this Affiliate
Published June 1, 2010 09:30 AM

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/41383

Chapters Miller 1,25

Area covered-forests throughout all over the world regarding deforestation

At the Oslo climate and Forest Conference in Norway on Friday, over 50 developed and developing countries signed a "Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation" (REDD) partnership, committing to spend over $4 billion in the next three years to reduce emissions from deforestation activities.

I think this is what the developing countries need to attempt and slow down the rate of deforestation. It will not be easy to inforce in massive forests like in Brazil but this is needed to stop or slow down the incredibly fast pace of deforestation.

degradation-is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystemsand the extinction of wildlife

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Quarter 4 Article 3

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

Jeffrey Sindone
Forum Media

http://www.newsinfusion.com/philips/

Miller chapters- 1, 17

Area covered-everywhere light bulbs are sold

Now unveiled a 12 watt EnduraLED light bulb, the industry’s first LED replacement for a 60 watt incandescent light bulb. Consumers will now have an LED alternative to the most commonly used incandescent bulb, which will deliver up to 80% energy savings and last 25 times longer than its century-old predecessor.

I think that these LED light bulbs are jst another step in the right direction and this can save millions of dollars of energy a year if this becomes a hit and catchs on quick.

LED- he LED is based on the semiconductor diode. When a diode is forward biased (switched on), electrons are able to recombine with holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electro luminescence and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy gap of the semiconductor.

WIND POWER COMPLICATIONS WITH RADAR

Quarter 4 Article 2

WIND POWER COMPLICATIONS WITH RADAR

Andy Soos. ENN. April 16, 2010.

http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/41228

Miller Chapter: 1, 17.

Area Covered: Regional (Eastern Oregon)

Construction of an 845 megawatt wind farm (the largest wind farm to be in the United States) is being halted by the U.S. Airforce. The reason for this is the wind turbines generate energy producing a false image on the Airforce's doppler image. This has delayed the project greatly and constructors are concerned that if the project does not start soon, they will lose government stimulus dollars and it will never get done. In a 2003 study, the British Department of Trade and Industry stated that there are hardware or software mitagation that can be implemented to solve this problem. For now the Obama administration is working with the Pentagon to get the project underway.

This article shows you have to be very selective on where you put a wind farm. Not only do you need substantial wind annually, easy access to the power grid, and somewhere where bird populations won't be hurt, but now you have to look out for Air Force bases.

The Doppler effect- is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave.

COLORADO LAW WILL RETIRE OR RETROFIT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Quarter 4 Article 1

COLORADO LAW WILL RETIRE OR RETROFIT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS

Sustainablebusiness.com, Matter Network

April 24, 2010

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/41253

Area Covered: Regional (Colorado)

Miller Chapter: 1, 19, 20, 18, 16, 17, 25.

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed a bill into law that will sharply reduce emissions from the states coal-fired power plants. The Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act will have the state cut back it emissions while creating new green jobs. Working with Xcel energy, Colorado will cut out 900 megawatts of coal fired energy and replace it with natural gas and renewable energy. Governor Ritter stated that the bill will serve as a paradigm for the nation to see that creating new jobs and having a greener economy is possible.

I think Colorado is doing a great job in leading the way for other states to see that going green isn't that hard. This is the type of spark our country needs to realize the magnitude of climate change and how we have to save our planet before it is to late.

Xcel- public utility company that provides electric and natural gas

Government May Support Nuclear Power's Comeback

Quarter 3 Article 8

Government May Support Nuclear Power's Comeback

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125798306&ft=1&f=1007

by CHRISTOPHER JOYCE

April 13, 2010

This article relates to the miller text book because this deals with renewable energy, being nuclear power.

Area covered is the United States

Obama is now looking at alternative energy sources and has agreed to subsidize new nuclear power plants. But restarting the nuclear power industry — which has been treading water for 30 years — won't be easy. By many nuclear power is still viewed as a major risk for two major reasons. One would be some of the unknowns, because we haven't built here in 30 years. And they want to watch the licensing process work and they want to prove us at our word that we can replicate what's happened overseas. Another risk is that american utility companies tend to be smaller than their foreign counterparts. They don't have as much cash, so they have to borrow more. And the typical nuclear project runs about $10 billion, give or take. Overall nuclear power is a risk but is a way to solve a part of the energy crisis for america.

I think that this is good idea for the country because it does not release greenhouse gases and produces a lot of energy.

DOE- Department of Energy

Brazil farmers shown how to profit by conserving

Quarter 3 Article 7

Brazil farmers shown how to profit by conserving

http://www.enn.com/agriculture/article/41194

From: Luciana Lopez, Reuters
Published April 8, 2010 07:30 AM

This article relates to the topic of persevering ecosystems and the environment.

Are covered is Brazil

The state is Brazil's top soy producer, churning out an annual harvest of about 18 million tones. The crops have helped fuel Brazil's economic boom of recent years but they come at a price -- the clearing of more than 130,000 square km (50,000 square miles) of Amazon rain forest in the state from 1988 through 2008, to the widespread condemnation of environmental groups. So, with "save the world" emotional appeals not working, environmentalists are turning to economic arguments, stressing how preserving the world's largest forest can mean bigger profits for farmers. This plan is adding that about 132,000 hectares (326,000 acres) of preserves in several states have been or are being legalized.

I believe that this is great for Brazil because as they are developing they are destroying the rain forest at an unsustainable rate. This is exactly what Brazil needs to push them in the right direction.

hectares- is a unit of area, defined as being 10000 square metres

Forecast for Cape Wind, unsettled

Quarter 3 Article 6

Forecast for Cape Wind, unsettled

http://www.enn.com/energy/article/41176

From: Tom Doggett, Reuters
Published April 3, 2010 07:55 AM

This article relates to the miller text book because it is dealing with renewable resources.

This article covers Cape Cod and the surrounding Massachusetts Area.

A federal advisory panel urged the U.S. Interior Department to block the $1 billion wind project off Cape Cod, opposed by local business leaders and politicians but then seen as a step in the right direction regarding Obama administration's energy strategy. Cape Wind Associates LLC has proposed building 130 wind towers that would soar 440 feet above the surface of Nantucket Sound near the popular Massachusetts tourist areas of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Island. The proposed wind farms provide electricity to about 400,000 homes but within view of popular resorts. This would be the countries largest offshore wind farm.

I think that this wind farm should be in place. If built these wind turbines will provide a large amount of electricity and is a step in the right direction. If proven successful other offshore wind farms will shot up due and will make the transition to renewable resources.

Nantucket Sound-is a roughly triangular area of the Atlantic Oceanoffshore from the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

Masdar: Abu Dhabi's carbon-neutral city

Quarter 3 Article 5

Masdar: Abu Dhabi's carbon-neutral city

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8586046.stm

By Tom Heap

This article relates to the topic of conservation of energy. The purpose of designing this city is to lower emissions.

The are covered is Masdar, United Emirates.

The world's first zero-carbon city is being built in Abu Dhabi and is designed to be not only free of cars and skyscrapers but also powered by the sun. The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is the last place you would expect to learn lessons on low-carbon living, but the emerging eco-city of Masdar could teach the world. They have built the biggest solar farm in the Middle East to power the city and to offset the inevitable burning of diesel and baking of cement in construction. they have magnetic pod-cars that substitute the need for gasoline.

I think that this city is a perfect model for other cities to look at and take ideas from to create a more eco-friendly way of living.

Abu Dhabi-is the capital of, and the second largest city in the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western coast.

Quarter 3 Article 4

New Aggressive National Fuel Economy Standards Set for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regulations.htm

David A Gabel
April 1, 2010 02:05 PM

This article relates to the unit of nonrenewable energy and the unit of air pollution. This act will lower the use of oil and lower greenhouse emissions.

The area covered is the United States.

The DOT and EPA, in response to one of the Obama Administration's top priorities, have jointly established aggressive new federal rules that will significantly increase the fuel economy of all passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States. They have also established new federal rules that would for the first time ever, set national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for these vehicles.The new rules are forecast to save the average buyer of a 2016 model year car $3,000 over the lifetime of the vehicle. EPA estimates that nationally, it has the potential to conserve about 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce nearly a billion tons of GHG emissions over the lives of the vehicles.

I think this act is the extra push the car manufactures and society needs to lower carbon emissions from forms of transportation.

barrels of oil- ranges from 100 -200 liters of oil

Quarter 3 Article 3
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62T06520100331

Obama opens new oil drilling offshore in climate drive

by Steve Holland

The area it covers is the gulf coasts and east coasts and Alaska.

This article relates to miller because it is taking about the drilling of oil which is a non-renewable energy that has to be extracted deep within the ground.

President Barack Obama unveiled plans on Wednesday for a limited expansion of U.S. offshore oil and gas drilling in an effort to win Republican support for new proposals to fight climate change. Opening up parts of the U.S. Atlantic coast, Alaska and possibly offshore Florida to exploration is Obama's latest effort to woo legislators needed to pass a climate bill before mid-term elections in November.Some senior Republicans in Congress called the drilling announcement a step in the right direction but said Obama did not go far enough. Environmental groups and some congressional liberals condemned the plan for endangering wildlife and coastal areas merely to give oil companies more profits.

I have mixed fillings about this one because it is stimulating the US economy and is providing jobs for Americans but there is a possibility of destroying wildlife and when burned produces greenhouse gases.

bipartisan- refers to any bill, act, resolution, or any other action of a political body in which both of the major political parties are in agreement.

Philadelphia seeks ban on natgas-drilling method

Quarter 3 Article 2

Philadelphia seeks ban on natgas-drilling method

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62P0GC20100326

Jon Hurdle
PHILADELPHIA
Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:45pm

This relates to the topc in miller that deals with nonrenewable reasources. this type of drilling can be harmful to the drinking water of the city.

Area covered would be philadelphia and the Delaware River Basin, New York and New Jersey

Philadelphia officials asked a state regulator, to ban the natural-gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing until its environmental effects, especially on drinking water, are studied. The City Council urged the Delaware River Basin Commission to deny a drilling permit to Stone Energy Corp, a Louisiana-based oil and gas company, or to any other company that wants to use the technique to extract gas in the watershed that supplies the city's drinking water.

I think this is a good idea to retrict these driling companies if they are going to enviromentaly harm the regions water supply.

Stone Energy Corporation-- is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, with additional offices in Houston, Texas and Morgantown, West Virginia.

Solar power for the poor: facts and figures

Quarter 3 Article 1
Solar power for the poor: facts and figures

http://www.scidev.net/en/features/solar-power-for-the-poor-facts-and-figures-1.html?utm_source=link&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=en_features

David J. Grimshaw and Sian Lewis
24 March 2010
This article relates to the chapter of renewable energy sources. This is a good way to capitalize on the sunny conditions of africa.
Area covered is africa

An estimated 1.5 billion people in developing countries have no access to electricity, with more than 80 per cent of these living in sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia. The problem is most acute in remote areas: 89 per cent of people in rural sub-Saharan Africa live without electricity, which is more than twice the proportion (46 per cent) in urban areas. For these people, even access to a small amount of electricity could lead to life-saving improvements in agricultural productivity, health, education, communications and access to clean water.
I think that this is a great idea for the african people because they can earn themselfs money and help bring their country out of poverty. This is also enviromentally benificall and should be done.
Pitfalls-a lightly covered and unnoticeable pit prepared as a trap for people or animals.

Quarter 2 Article 8

Radon in Homes an Invisible Danger

http://www.enn.com/energy/article/40929

Roger Greenway

January 16, 2010

Like carbon monoxide radon is an invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that kills may people every year. It is a house hold pollutant and needs to be taken with more percussion.

When radon gets into a home it can increase the resident's cancer risk. The most common way is through cracks in basement floors, walls, and sump pump sumps. In the winter, if a furnace or boiler is in the basement, the chimney can act as a depressurization device since combustion air is vented to the outdoors. Another infiltration route is through groundwater. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that can exist at dangerous levels in homes, schools and other buildings. An estimated 20,000 people die every year in the U.S. from radon-related lung cancer. The EPA is going around and spreading awareness so people are educated and know how to handle a toxic gas like this one.

I think it is great that the EPA is educating people because most people do not know how bad a chemical like this one is and how quickly it can take your life.

depressurization- to remove the air pressure from.

Quarter 2 Article 7

Trouble in Paradise (the Fishy Kind) as Introduced Tilapia Dine on Native Fish Fry

http://www.wcs.org/press/press-releases/tilapia-farming-fiji.aspx

January 12, 2010

These invasive species are doing harm to the rest of the environment because they are competing with the native species. The invasive species are usually introduced intentionally but then gets out of hand and out of control.

Scientists suspect that tilapia introduced to the waterways of the Fiji Islands may be gobbling up the larvae and juvenile fish of several native species of goby, fish that live in both fresh and salt water and begin their lives in island streams. The team found that streams with tilapia contained 11 fewer species of native fishes than those without; species most sensitive to introduced tilapia included the throat-spine gudgeon, the olive flathead-gudgeon, and other gobies. In general, sites where tilapia were absent had more species of native fish. Since tilapia are known to consume the larvae and juvenile fish, the researchers assume that the introduced species may be consuming the native ones as they make their way upstream and down. Absence of forest cover adjacent to streams was also correlated to fewer fish species.

Archipelago-a large group or chain of islands: the Malay Archipelago.

World warming to greener train travel

Quarter 2 Article 6

World warming to greener train Travel

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/01/10/green.trains/index.html

These bullet trains will decrease the need for air and car travel which will decrease the green house gas emissions in China. Less CO2 will be released because these trains are ran on electricity and provide a quick and convenient alternative.

Due to present global warming issues, places like China are starting to take more responsibility for their green house gas emissions. They are establishing an electric train system that will extend all across the country.

I think this is a great step in the right direction for China. They need to begin to be more consequence of the ecological footprint and this will be a great step toward the right direction for China.

Quarter 2 Article 5

Settlement Reached in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Lawsuit

http://www.enn.com/business/article/40925

Vicki Shiah , Sive Paget & Riesel, P.C., More from this Affiliate Published January 14, 2010 03:20 PM

This relates to what we are doing in class because it talks about regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

A lawsuit challenged New York State's participation in, and its rules to implement, the Regional Greenhouse gas Initiative (RGGI) have reached a settlement. A company named Consolidated Edison was being suid for there excess emissions of greenhouse gases. RGGI is an agreement among ten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states, including New York, to limit greenhouse gas emission through a cap-and-trade system. As summarized by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the agreement calls for states to cap power sector carbon emission through 2014 and then reduce emissions by 2.5 per year for the next four years, resulting in a 10 percent reduction by 2018.

Consolidated Edison- is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $33 billion in assets. The company provides a wide range of energy-related products and services to its customers through the following subsidiaries: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., a regulated utility providing electric, gas, and steam service in New York City and Westchester County New York; Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.

Quarter 2 Article 4

Debate rages over future of plug-in hybrids

http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&ObjectId=MzcwMzM

By using plug in or hybrid cars, especially in cities like LA the photochemical smog will decrease do to less greenhouse gasses being released into the air.

Hybrid car advocates have taken aim at a government study that predicts it will take decades and hundreds of billions of dollars before the vehicles reach viability. President Obama's stimulus bill set aside billions in grants to build batteries and electric cars and offered new purchasing incentives. Both the White House and the Energy Department have trumpeted electric-drive vehicles as the wave of the clean-energy future. As of now the the batteries in the plunge in cars are not as strong as they need to be, but lithium-ion technology may be the way to go.

Lithium-ion-- is a type of rechargeable battery in which the cathode (positive electrode) contains lithium. The anode (negative electrode) is generally made of a type of porous carbon. Note that the broad term 'Lithium-Ion battery' covers a wide variety of battery types with different battery chemistry mixes wherein each battery chemistry has a different set of performance, cost, and safety characteristics.

Obama Frustrated with Outcome of Copenhagen Climate Talks

Quarter 2 Article 3

Obama Frustrated with Outcome of Copenhagen Climate Talks

http://www.globalwarmingisreal.com/blog/2009/12/24/obama-frustrated-with-outcome-of-copenhagen-climate-talks/

December 24, 2009

By Thomas Schueneman

The Copenhagen Summit deals with environmental talks and attempts to reach agreements together and make the world more environmentally friendly.

Obama said this "What did occur was that at a point where there was about to be complete breakdown, and the prime minister of India was heading to the airport and the Chinese representatives were essentially skipping negotiations, and everybody’s screaming, what did happen was cooler heads prevailed." He felt it was not a success because everyone did not take it completely seriously. So that—that was an important principle, that everybody’s got to do something in order to solve this problem. But make no claims, and didn’t make any claims going in, that somehow that was going to be everything that we needed to do to solve climate change.

instantaneous - occurring, done, or completed in an instant

Rare Rinos Relocated In Effort to Keep Species Alive

Quarter 2 Article 2

Rare Rhinos Relocated In Effort to Keep Species Alive

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/

by Nick Waddhams

December 29, 2009

This relates to miller because it talks about endangered species and how conservationists are working to reintroduce a rare species back into Kenya.

Area covered--Czech Republic and Kenya

Four of the last eight known northern whites in the world, two males and two females, were shipped from a Czech zoo to Kenya, where scientists hope they will begin to breed. The rhinos were sent to Kenya in a desperate effort to save their subspecies, which was hunted to extinction by poachers in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Tarmac-- a brand of bituminous binder, similar to tarmacadam for surfacing roads