South Block

A Sheffield Hallam University student has developed an eco-friendly bicycle.  The cheapest mode of transportation- A Cardboard Bicycle.  Interestingly, this 21-year old student has developed an ultimate green machine using cardboard, which is the cheapest material to build a mode of transportation.  The industrial packaging cardboard costs around £3 for making the frame work and the total cost in putting the wheels and chain would come out to be £15. Hence, the eco-friendly bicycle may sell for as little as £15.  The advantage behind this is of course it is eco-friendly and for such a low valve it would be an attractive proposition for occasional cyclists and would become a less of the target for the thieves.

What many people do not know is that most their household products are made from recycled material. It is difficult to tell of these items, as in a way they are brand new and are very clean and hygienic. The way to indicate if a product is recycled is by the recycle sign, which is on every item that is recycled. The recycling process goes round and round in a circle and when you have used that particular item, it can be then used again for recycling again, which helps keeping the Earth clean and green. The logo for recycling can slightly vary according to the type of product or the material of product.

When it comes to recycling not many people know what it is and what the procedure is. Well let me explain, a recycling bin is a container which holds many items of recycling, which are collected by companies that deal with recycling items. There are many items which can be recycled which include, paper, clothes, plastic, tins, glass and many other items. When you give your products for recycling there are different recycling bins for different items, which make it easier for those items to be recycled. This products are taken by the companies, and are used to be remade for something else.

This year of 2008 is going to be one of the hottest years since 1850. This heat which is increasing by the year shows that it is being caused by global warming and it will increase even more until people do something about it, which can help in reducing the heat effect. This year according to reports can be the hottest year it has been so far, so it is as important to protect yourself from the heat. So far the hottest years have been 1995, 1997, 1998 and then 2000. Let’s see how hot it will be this year and hope that something is done about the global warming.

The ozone layer of the Earth is something which filters out the UV rays. The ozone layer it found on the upper part of the atmosphere, but the ozone layer which is found at ground level is actually full of pollution. Although the sun maybe loved by many people and helps people in getting tans, it in fact can be as harmful in getting cancer. The ozone layer plays a vital part in out lives as it can absorb the UV rays which can be very harmful. So therefore it is important that the ozone layer remains and helps in absorbing the bad chemicals.

The damage of coral reefs is mainly because of the human population, who in fact damage the reefs which are under the sea. The coral reefs are structures, which are made by small animals by the name of coral polyps. There are many people who do fishing, swimming and other activities, which all add up to damaged the coral reefs. What many people do not know is that coral reefs in fact are a valuable form of protection for the coastlines, and in fact protect the coastlines from high seas. Not only this but they also help in medicines for many kinds of diseases and play a part for tourism.

Scientists from the University of California have developed an idea of slowing the process of global warming. Apparently according to the scientists of the university they think that growing more reflective plants will increase the quantity of sunlight reflected back from land. The shinier the plants or crops the more the daytime temperatures will be reduced, as much as 1.9 Celsius, which is equivalent to 3.4 F. Rather than other methods, this method is much more feasible, but there is not a lot of detailed information about this method, until further research is done by the scientists.

One of the most threatening issue of environmental pollution is the deforestation. Take the example of Amazon. Recently Brazil has banned the sale of farm products from illegally deforested areas in the Amazon Reacting to increasing Amazonian deforestation in recent months. It should be noted deforestation rates (search) do not include rainforest diminishment caused by industrial first time logging and other activities that may leave some trees, but effectively destroy ancient rainforest ecosystems and release much of their carbon.Policies announced included imposing fines for buying or trading illegally produced beef and soy, sending in seven hundred more troops, and establishing a land registry. The Brazilian government has recently been trumpeting 50% reductions in deforestation over the past two years. However, these decreases appear to have been more a result of declines in agricultural markets than any fundamental reduction in deforestation, and as markets recover deforestation and climate change soars.

Global warming is one of the most threatening concern to the universe. One of the most breath-taking examples of the effects of global warming is the way our glaciers are getting extinct. Along with glaciers we not only are going to see glaciers only in pictures, but we will miss all water creatures and polar bears and other animals……who are able to survive only because of this extreme climatic condition. Perhaps the most dramatic glacier withdrawal has been in the Alps, where it has occurred in full view of residents, tourists and scientists. In 1989, there was a huge etching of the Rhone glacier in the Kanton of Valais, Switzerland, when the ice filled the valley right to the tiny crossroads of Gletsch. In 2001 the glacier was nearly out of sight, 2.5 km distant and 450 M higher.

As I was driving towards my office my colleague who was sitting next to me asked me slow down. She wanted to buy some grocery from the shop round the corner. I saw smoke coming out from a nearby tree. To my horror a man had collected some fallen leaves around the trunk of the tree and lit fire to it. I got down and went up to the man who was the resident of the house in front of the tree. I posed as an environmentalist and told him to put off the fire immediately. Seeing my firm attitude he believed me to be one and really did put off the fire.