Ecosystems are only as strong as they are balanced. Change one element and change the entire ecosystem, for better or worse. An ecosystem is defined as a community of living organisms that include plants, animals and microbes in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment. In order to remain successful, all of these components must remain in balance, with each element having a role to play in the maintenance of the ecosystem. Ecosystems can be as small as a puddle of water or as large as the entire Earth. It all depends upon your perspective.

An ecosystem is the most fundamental example of the law of supply and demand. Consider that no environment or community can indefinitely sustain organisms if there are not enough resources such as food, water, shelter and the capacity for waste removal to accommodate everyone. We see this play out in the animal and plant kingdoms when ecosystems are altered in some way and species become endangered or extinct. Sometimes this happens through natural biodiversity and sometimes it is helped along by other outside or invasive influences, such as humans.

From the time of the first human being, we have become as much a part of the planetary ecosystem as any other animal. However, in growing and multiplying, humans have impacted every smaller ecosystem in the world, and not always in a favorable way. Economic development, pollution, and introduction of nonnative species into an area, whether intentional or otherwise, have all been instrumental in altering ecosystems around the world. Depletion of nonrenewable natural resources, such as coal and petroleum, and overuse of renewable resources threaten even human existence over time.

Fortunately, industries such as timber harvesting and global fisheries have begun to recognize the need for sustainable practices and have initiated practices meant to allow sustainable resources time to renew themselves. Around the United States, interest in simpler living and smaller homes, sometimes called the small house or tiny house movement, is gaining momentum. We are beginning to realize that Earth is the only planet we have and we need to take care of it.

Wide scale adoption of renewable energy technologies offers a formidable solution to cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the negative impacts of fuel price volatility. The latter is very important in light of the current global economic climate. With increased technological advancement in the industry, energy efficient and affordable renewable solutions are bound to be developed that will ultimately replace, or complement, traditional fossil sources.

In a race to create green economies, industrial heavy weights are investing heavily in large-scale renewable energy projects. Case in point; Germany is currently on a record breaking clean energy transition, thanks to a 30GW wind farm based on the gusty coast stretching between the Baltic seas and the Alps. This green power accounts for about 40 percent of the entire country’s electricity production capacity. In retrospective this is equivalent to about forty nuclear reactors. This further reinforces the notion that it is possible to run a modern economy on green energy.

Nevertheless, despite the proven benefits having a green economy, most countries are retracting from earlier commitments made in international environmental conferences (like COP) to invest more in green technology and research. This is partly attributed to the convulsing global economy that demands resources be redirected for more pressing issues like employment creation. However, there seems to be a clear orchestrated strategy to wipe-out the gains already made in promoting clean energy solutions at the altar of economy recovering propaganda. In order to safe guard the environment from man’s perilous ways, the media and other relevant non-state actors should be vigilant and exert pressure to governments to fulfill their commitments on greenhouse emission cuts and provide support to bolster the growth of the clean energy industry.

It’s no surprise that after 10 years of green meeting experience, the 2011 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held in Toronto has proved to be the most sustainable to date.

Today, we are excited to share our 10th Anniversary Greenbuild Event Sustainability Report, the culmination of a decade of tremendous growth, learning and success.

In 2011, we set an unprecedented goal of 90% waste diversion at the conference, which we were ecstatic to exceed by diverting 95% of conference waste from landfills. We successfully eliminated ground shuttles between hotels and the convention center and encouraged walking. We also “walked the talk” by busing 35% of USGBC staff attendees to Toronto from our headquarters in Washington, DC, and walking or utilizing public transportation on-site. We rigorously vetted the sourcing of our show materials, merchandise and food and beverages, and worked to measure and report our efforts and impact with more detail and transparency than ever before.

You can read more about Greenbuild’s 2011 sustainability story in the report. It’s a document that we hope will catapult green meetings into the mainstream, and we hope the unprecedented comprehensiveness of this report will allow it to serve as a guide for the meeting industry on its path to more sustainable practices.

Most of our sustainability objectives focus on reducing the negative impact Greenbuild has on the host city and the planet; but when it comes to improving communities, we strive to harness Greenbuild’s energy to increase our positive impact and leave long-lasting legacies.

In 2011, Greenbuild left a positive social impact on two communities—Toronto, our Greenbuild host city, as well as Port au Prince, Haiti. In Toronto, we worked with local organizations to support two projects that explore and celebrate the theme of teaching children about urban food. In Haiti, we sourced Greenbuild t-shirts and conference bags to support the local economy. Greenbuild attendees were also inspired to support USGBC’s Project Haiti Orphanage and Children’s Center through an auction to win a Gibson guitar signed by Maroon 5.

UFO Sightings- Are They Real or Not?

Never does a year go by without reports being made of UFO sightings in various corners of the world. Even through the actual sightings appear to be fewer than they were during the 20th Century, they are still remarkably high. Scientists, especially those working for the organization known as National UFO Reporting Centre, report that close to five thousand sightings are reported every year. It is claimed that close to 95% of all these sightings can be explained scientifically, while the rest are indeed some sort of mystery for which there lacks any meaningful explanation.

After taking all these into consideration, it is safe to say that there are close to two hundred and fifty or more UFO sightings that cannot be explained adequately. Secondly, this number could be quite high bearing in mind the fact that some go without being reported. It could be argued that there are people in all corners of the world who lack the time to report any unidentified flying objects to the right authorities. It is hard to keep tabs on all newspapers all over the world where such incidences may be reported even in this age where the Internet has become the major conduit for all types of information.

Some of the UFO sightings have been attributed to nothing more than strange weather occurrences while others are the work of military activities. It has been established that quite a good number of these sightings are nothing more than hoaxes, and are the work of people interested in pulling out some sort of prank. However, it is crucial that we remember that most of the people who report these sightings tend to be normal guys whenever they get interviewed. These sightings are quite challenging for ordinary people to describe in full other than being strange looking than anything known to them.

There will never be a shortage of people who believe that UFO sightings are nothing more than hoaxes or the work of some overzealous minds. However, the fact that more than two hundred sightings are reported every year and there is no adequate explanation for them lends credence to the belief that some of these might actually be real. Some people choose to discount the reports of UFO sightings because of religious reasons, while others are more driven by fear of the unknown more than anything else. Other people attribute these sightings as the secret projects of some rich governments.
 

The Desert region covers approximately 20% of the earth. It is a dry region with little rainfall and a very delicate ecosystem. The vegetation and wildlife have adapted to the dry environment. This habitat which is a very important part of the earth’s ecosystem is in grave danger. We are in jeopardy of losing the wildlife and plant system which has created their own unique way of surviving in such inhabitable circumstances.
Global warming has had a greater effect in the desert then in other areas around the globe. There has been a O.2 to O.8% percent increase in temperature in the past 30 years. The global increase has only been 0.45 degrees in the same amount of time. Reduced rainfall will ultimately cause soil reduction and the vegetation being unable to sustain itself. The wildlife will decrease as well, having nothing to live off of or live in.

A hot water heater can be responsible for an average of thirty percent of a household’s utility cost. It is estimated, depending on location, that yearly cost to heat water for a family of four can run between $200-$500. Each gallon of water that is heated places an additional 0.26 cubic liters of CO2 into the atmosphere. With an average sixty gallon tank, 15.6 cubic liters of CO2 are released each time the water reheats! Converting to a more efficient model of heating water can be costly and time consuming. However, there are several steps you can take to reduce your cost and help the environment.

One of the quickest and cheapest ways to reduce your bill and emissions is to lower your maximum water temperature. Your owner’s manual for your heater will have detailed instructions on how to do this, or a handyman can perform this task for a nominal fee. Second, buy an insulated blanket to prevent heat loss around the water heater. It is also easy to reduce water consumption by installing aerators or low volume faucets/shower heads. Lastly, reduce the amount of time you spend in the shower-five minutes can mean an additional 20 gallons of water with a low efficiency shower head!

Until you can convert to an energy efficient, low emission way of heating your water these methods will greatly reduce your utility cost. The added bonus of helping our environment is just icing on the cake.

When I planted my first native plant garden at San Francisco City College, all I was thinking about were the plants. I installed a collection of coastal prairie grasses and wildflowers in a tasteful landscaping scheme, with little signs and mulch. For some reason, the mulch kept disappearing and the signs knocked over. Early one morning I found the reason for this dishevelment. The Robin-sized California Towhee birds had removed all the mulch getting in the way of a good meal, kicking it aside with the pesky signs. A persistently blank spot in the planting scheme turned out to be a heavily used takeoff and landing spot for Sparrows, Jays, Mockingbirds and Doves.

THE TIGER SALAMANDER - ENDANGERED

by Mary Ellen Carmody

The Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation has designated 2012 as the “Year of the Lizard.” New York is home to two endangered amphibian species, the Northern Cricket Frog and the Tiger Salamander.

In New York the Tiger Salamander resides in eastern Long Island and is the largest land dwelling salamander in the world. . They are also the most wide ranging salamanders in the United States, living along the east coast of southern New York to northern Florida, west from Ohio to Minnesota and south through eastern Texas to the Gulf.

These Salamanders have been put on the New York State Endangered List because of loss of habitat from heavily developed western Long Island. Recent surveys show that there are only about 90 breeding ponds in New York State. These ponds are located in the eastern Nassau County and Suffolk County. These breeding ponds are under attack because of land development, pesticides and other contaminants.

Other dangers to the breeding ponds include introduction of predatory fish and expansion of bullfrog population which threaten reproduction. Migrating adults have been jeopardized by off–road vehicles and road construction that have cut off their route to their habitat.

In an effort to increase the species in New York State breeding ponds have been designated as Class 1 wetlands. In 1987 a five-year program was initiated to reintroduce the salamanders to an unoccupied site in Nassau County. However, this program met with limited success.

Consumerist society has separated from nature in a manner that has created a state of chaos and disorder within us. We cannot be expected to reverse the trends of globalization, environmental destruction, and loss of biodiversity if we have scarcely set foot in nature ourselves. Nor can we be expected to help our brothers across our planet reach a level of living suitable to humans if we consistently steal their resources from under their breath. We see everything as separate parts: species disappearing, heat waves causing deadly drought, indigenous peoples losing their culture; we do not connect these events together. When we comprehend that we are as much a part of the earth as fish, trees, stones and birds; that we must join together as a species if we are to save our home instead of destroying it in greedy ignorance, we will finally turn things around.
But how will we do so? It seems such an insurmountable task, does it not?
It starts with you. It starts with a word, a post, a letter, a club, a movement; it becomes a country in unison, then a continent, then the world. It starts with you, and if you don’t start it, who will? I’ve begun already but I need your help. If you don’t want to see the last tree fall, the last fish drown in oil, and cars strewn inanimate on ribbons of grey, it is YOUR responsibility to act. I can only inspire. I cannot act for you.

Our world as we know it is changing every day. Desserts cover nearly twenty-percent of the earth’s surface and this number is growing daily. Cutting down of trees to clear large portions of land for settlement and construction is posing a threat to the earth’s forests that help in attracting rainfall and transpire water through their leaves back to the atmosphere.
Global warming is a great threat to humanity whereby, human beings are producing much more carbon dioxide than plants and oceans can absorb. According to recent findings, scientists have deduced that global warming will lead to water and food shortages at very large scales. This will project starvation and spread of diseases in very many regions. Global warming is affecting the sea level whereby it could rise between 18 to 59 centimeters. This will cause flooding and swamp large portions of habitable land turning them into wastelands. Global warming will also affect many ecosystems and might lead to the extinction of millions of species. This will cause a chain reaction that will endanger all other species.
We should be pro-active in protecting and conserving our environment to avoid the adverse effects of environmental deterioration. Various activities can be done to help stop the damage to our environment, such as planting of more trees, reducing fossil fuel use and conserve water and recycle waste.

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