Green Options

Others have been saying it for a while now, but former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev has put it most eloquently: there’s no fixing the economic crisis without also taking into account our environmental crises.

“This financial turmoil, which will heavily affect the real economy, was absolutely predictable, and it is only one aspect of the wider crisis of all the current development systems,” Gorbachev told the Inter Press Service (IPS) this week. “In fact, there are connected simultaneous crises that are rapidly emerging. These relate to energy, water, food, demography, climate change and the ecosystem devastation.”

A UK commissioned report stated Tuesday that wealthy countries should pay tropical nations billions of dollars annually to save their forests.

Ever the dabbler in architectural criticism, The Prince of Wales has criticized the green building industry for relying on eco-gadgets like wind turbines and solar panels while ignoring inefficient buildings.

Scientists in Australia have discovered antibodies in the blood of sharks that could potentially prove effective in battling cancer.

It has been discovered that the antibodies (molecules that fight disease) in sharks are extremely resilient and researchers hope that this quality can be isolated to help slow the spread of  cancer, malaria, and other human diseases.

The Australian team discovered that shark antibodies were tough and able to survive in both very acidic and very alkaline settings.  This is important as it means that a “shark pill” would still be effective within the very acidic environment of the human stomach.

The Soleckshaw, a new solar powered, motorized version of India’s humble rickshaw, has been unveiled this month in Delhi, and is being touted as a solution to traffic jams, pollution woes, and backbreaking human labor.

Logging its first miles in Delhi, the soleckshaw can be pedaled normally or powered by a 36-volt solar battery. Developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, (CSIR) the new solar-powered taxis have hit the streets for a test drive.  The soleckshaws include FM radios and the ability to power up cell phones while driving.  The battery allows the taxi to travel 15 km per hour (9.3 mph) for up to 42 miles.

CSIR director Sinha said:  “In the age of global warming, the soleckshaw, with improvements, can be successfully developed as competition for all the petrol and diesel run small cars.”

There are about 8 million rickshaw drivers in India. It is hoped that the new, solar power rickshaws will enhance the vehicle’s image, and allow it to become an even more favorable mode of transportation.  It is thought that the new powered rickshaws will attract an entirely new middle class clientele.

EU energy ministers meeting in Luxembourg gave final approval to an EU-wide ban on incandescent light bulbs. The switch to energy-saving bulbs was approved in advance of a meeting of European heads of state, held next week.

The US Congress and Senate have both approved a nuclear deal between the US and India. The deal ends a 30-year ban on sales to India of nuclear technology and fuel.

A day after the second presidential debate, John McCain and Sarah Palin sat down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity to discuss, among other things, energy policy. In the interview, Mccain said Gov. Palin was “…probably one of the most foremost experts in this nation on energy issues.” While Palin may have some exposure to the politics and business of oil and gas in her home state of Alaska, I struggle with the idea that she should be considered a foremost [...]

The French government announced today that it has earmarked a massive €400 million ($549 million) in state support for the development of electric and hybrid cars.

On the heels of our first RG&B debate poll conducted to gauge public opinion on the first and only vice-presidential debate, we’ve decided to follow up with a poll for the top of the ticket.

Hundreds of penguins have been jet-lifted to their native home in the Southern Atlantic Ocean, after washing up lost and tired on the beaches of Northern Brazil.

At least 1,000 penguins this year to date, have washed up on Brazilian beaches.  Though it is normal for penguins to travel North from their South Atlantic home in search of food, it is rare that they swim all the way to northern states of Brazil, and authorities are amazed that the penguins just keep coming.

Some experts have offered that because the migration of penguins is closely related to their food supply, this unusual journey suggests that something has gone awry with their normal fish stocks.