Biodiesel

http://www.globalstewards.org/biodiesel.htm

Article 5

Biodiesel is fuel made from natural, renewable sources, such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats which are hydrocarbons, for use in a diesel engine. Fresh soybean oil is most commonly used. It has physical properties very similar to petroleum-derived diesel fuel. Using biodiesel in a conventional diesel engine substantially reduces emissions of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulfates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrated polycyclic aromtic hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.

Some vehicle manufacturers are positive about the use of biodiesel, citing lower engine wear as one of the fuel's benefits. Biodiesel is a better solvent than standard diesel, as it 'cleans' the engine, removing deposits in the fuel lines. However, this may cause blockages in the fuel injectors if an engine has been previously run on petroleum diesel for years. For this reason, car manufacturers recommend that the fuel filter be changed a few months after switching to biodiesel.

Biodiesel generated by organic plants is better since can prevent air pollution and soil pollution caused by pesticides. It using virgin soybean or other oils would create new jobs and increased income for farmers. However, this also causes higher food prices globally. Nevertheless, the price of biodiesel is cheaper than petroleum derived diesel in most country such as US and Germany.

Usage and production of biodiesel is increasing rapidly. Fuel stations are beginning to make biodiesel available to consumers, and a growing number of transport fleets use it as an additive in their fuel. However, this beneficial alternative still not adopt in Malaysia. This should be advanced to vehicle's owners since fuel price increase recently.

Curbing Coal Emissions Alone Might Avert Climate Danger

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080910160757.htm

Article 4

CO2 is a common greenhouse gas which contribute to global warming. It highly generates from burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The atmospheric CO2 might be kept below harmful level if burning of coal can be reduce in the next few decades. The researcher shows that when fossil fuels running out, atmospheric CO2 might be increase since there are huge amount of coal left. It means that coal is generate more CO2 and cause global warming more significant than fossil fuels. Therefore, reducing in emission of coal is critical to avoid climate change due to coal is much more plentiful then oil and gas. Coal is the largest source of fuel for the generation of electricity world-wide, as well as the largest world-wide source of CO2 emissions. In terms of carbon dioxide emissions, coal is slightly ahead of petroleum and about double that of natural gas.

The researcher suggests the that a dangerous level of global warming may occur if CO₂ exceeds a concentration of about 450 ppm. That is a 61 percent increase from the pre-industrial level of 280 ppm, but only 17 percent more than the current level. Most indicate that CO2 highly generate from industrial and transportation which using fossil fuel. Now we are trying alternatives to substitute fossil fuel since it near its end of production. Thus, we are using other materials rather than fossil fuel to prevent lack of fossil fuel in the future. That's why fossil fuel may not contribute to the 17 percent remain to reach dangerous level. The problem is burning of coal, it is an alternative power generation due to its abundance amount on earth and price.

Coal is primarily used as a solid fuel to produce electricity and heat through combustion. World coal consumption is about 6.2 billion tons annually, of which about 75 percent is used for the production of electricity. China produced 2.38 billion tons in 2006 and India produced about 447.3 million tons in 2006. 68.7 percent of China's electricity comes from coal. The USA consumes about 1.053 billion tons of coal each year, using 90% of it for generation of electricity. The world in total produced 6.19 billion tons of coal in 2006.

The purpose to prevent and control of global warming might achieved by a phase-out of carbon dioxide emissions from coal within the next few decades. Nevertheless, there are various factors contribute to global warming as well. Therefore, we should consider the other factors to obtain more efficient effect.

Poorly Managed Fishing

http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/what_we_do/marine/problems/problems_fishing/index.cfm

Article 3

Over three quarters of our planet are covered by the oceans. Their biodiversity contain over 80 percent of all life on earth, mostly unexplored. Millions of people worldwide are depending on the oceans for their daily livelihoods. More and more all this is endangered because of ignorance and a global lack of management.

Overfishing occurs when fish are caught faster than they can reproduce. Many marine scientists now believe that overfishing is the biggest human impact on the world's oceans. This can occur in any body of water from a pond to the oceans. Ultimately overfishing may lead to resource depletion induced by subsidized fishing, low biological growth rates and critical low biomass levels. Particularly, overfishing of sharks has led to the upset of entire marine ecosystems.The ability of the fisheries to naturally recover also depends on whether the conditions of the ecosystems are suitable for population growth. Dramatic changes in species composition may establish other equilibrium energy flows that involve other species compositions than had been present before (ecosystem shift).

The article shows the percentage of fisheries fully-exploited, over-exploited, depleted or recovery from depletion. Consequently, we are losing species as well as entire ecosystems. As a result the overall ecological unity of our oceans are under stress and at risk of collapse. Besides, we are in risk of losing a valuable food source many depend upon for social, economical or dietary reasons.

There are mitigation measures that can control this problem. In order to meet the problems of overfishing, a precautionary approach and Harvest Control Rule (HCR) management principles have been introduced in the main fisheries around the world. The "United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" treaty deals with aspects of overfishing in articles 61, 62, and 65.

• Article 61 requires all coastal states to ensure that the maintenance of living resources in their exclusive economic zones is not endangered by over-exploitation. The same article addresses the maintenance or restoration of populations of species above levels at which their reproduction may become seriously threatened.
• Article 62 provides that coastal states: "shall promote the objective of optimum utilization of the living resources in the exclusive economic zone without prejudice to Article 61"
• Article 65 provides generally for the rights of, inter alia, coastal states to prohibit, limit, or regulate the exploitation of marine mammals.

In effort to solve ocean problems recommend a comprehensive, ecologically based approach to fisheries management, not just simply trying to limit catch numbers. Another possible solution is fishing quotas, so fishermen can only legally take a certain amount of fish. A more radical possibility is declaring certain areas of the sea "no-go zones" and make fishing there strictly illegal, so the fish in that area have time to recover and repopulate.

The Magnitude of Population Growth and Its Consequences

Article 2:

Environmental Preservation

http://www.populationmedia.org/issues/environmental-preservation

Population growth increasing every year, overpopulation problem had occurred in our world. The environmental consequences are less land for farming, deforestation and water shortage. High demand of food, water and land overwhelmed the supply provided. Therefore, water shortage and drought are the effects can be seen over the globe.

Furthermore, expansion of human activities are related to loss of habitat which causes extinction of flora and fauna species worldwide. It might affect the ecology system. Deforestation activities are operate fulfill land requirement by large population. Loss of forest affect the sustainability of environment to combat global warming. There are reserved forest and national park where help to protect those species facing extinction problem.

Migration from rural to urban is common today, especially developing country. Overpopulation in urban may exceed capacity of water treatment system, resulting in water pollution. Besides, overuse of land leading to soil erosion and affecting quality of environment.

Industrialization in developing country emits greenhouse gases which leads to global warming. The emissions increasing since populations are expanding rapidly. There are international agreements such as Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases emission worldwide. We are concern about this issue since it may cause rising sea level, critical whether and disruption of agriculture. Those consequences are affecting the global and harm to human. Meanwhile, energy consumption per capita increasing as the country's economic expand.

In the case mentioned above, the magnitude of population growth should be control to avoid overpopulation which bring adverse effects to the environment. Besides, low desire of living standard may reduce energy consumption and emission of greenhouse gases. Human activities are associated with environment, therefore, we should act wisely to protect our mother earth.

Seattle First U.S. City to Charge Shoppers for Paper and Plastic Bags

Article 1:

http://environment.about.com/b/2008/07/29/seattle-approves-user-fee-on-paper-and-plastic-bags-bans-foam-food-containers.htm

Disposable paper and plastic bags used for purchasing products, foods, and groceries are widely used in our daily life. There are argues related to environment with paper and plastic bags usage. Plastic bags can preventing foods from leaking onto car, in case of accident occur while on the journey from the store to home. Plastic bags are made from non-renewable petroleum resources. It can be recycled but not easily because it may be made from several plastic types. Although two plastic items may look similar, they could be made from different types of plastic resins. This makes separating plastics for recycling difficult. Besides, processing require the use of toxic chemicals and these chemicals also pollute the air. In 1986, the EPA, ranked the 20 chemicals whose producing the most hazardous waste. Five of the top six were chemicals commonly used by the plastic industry (propylene, phenol, ethylene, polystrene, and benzene). Plastic bags are high in fuel energy if they are burned and emit harmful gases which may entering the atmosphere.

Brown paper grocery bags have been around for a long time. Although they are made from trees, a renewable resource, the production of trees and manufacture of paper bags can pollute the air and water with chemicals. The environmental impacts include those associated with extracting timber and processing it into paper products. The trees are found, marked and felled in a process that involves clear-cutting, resulting in massive habitat destruction and long-term ecological damage.

Both paper and plastic bags require lots and lots of resources and energy, and proper recycling requires due diligence from both consumer and municipal waste collector or private recycling company, so there are a lot of variables that can lead to low recycling rates. By bringing reusable bags to the store, you are helping the environment in many ways. You are helping to preserve the natural resources of oil and trees which are used to produce plastic and paper bags. Besides, decrease fast growing pollution problems on city streets and waterways. Therefore, creating a safer and cleaner environment for marine life.

Seattle charge a fee on paper and plastic bags to discourage and reduce the amount of paper and plastic that end up as litter or in landfills. This is a good idea to save our planet and leads to other cities to organize similar program. The Body Shop playing the same role as need to pay RM0.50 for a paper or plastic bag during purchase. This shows a very good beginning to encourage save the planet in Malaysia. I believe there will be more program launch to concern about environmental issues.