Archive for February, 2009
New pages about orangutans
I have just added new content about orangutans that you may find interesting if you love wildlife.
You can now find some new articles on the orangutan in general, orangutan intelligence and orangutan conservation.
I have always wanted to write about these animals, and finally did it. They are just so beautiful, and there is so much intelligence in their eyes. It is just impossible to stay indifferent to them!
The Bornean species is now classified as endangered, and the Sumatran species – as critically endangered. I am very concerned about their well-being, but do hope that we can really do something to help protect them from potential disappearance.
Feel free to leave your comments here!
Irina
Add comment February 18, 2009
Green Investment & Smart Grid
Every time I hear an energy-related news involving Google in one way or another, I feel happy.
Google is the only corporation that I have real respect for. They have probably done more for the advancement of renewable energy than the whole Bush administration during their 8 miserable years.
Today I heard the news that they are now entering a business of “smart grid” which is part of the electricity system. I refer to the article by World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Google will be trying to develop “ways to control the demand for electric power as an alternative to building more power plants.” Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it?
Smart grid is a new type of green investment the development of which will hopefully lead to the reduction in, and “smarter” ways of energy consumption (specifically, electricity consumption).
The concept of smart grid is something I have been really fascinated by.
Here is an excerpt from the article:
”Smart grid” is a new buzz phrase in the electricity business, encompassing a variety of approaches that involve more communication between utility operators and components of the grid, including transformers, power lines, customer meters and even home appliances like dishwashers.
”They’ve been putting a chip in your dishwasher for a long time that would allow you to run it any time you want,” said Rick Sergel, chief executive of the North American Electric Reliability Corp., an industry group that sets operating standards for the grid.
If the utility could ”talk” to the dishwasher, it might tell the machine to run at 2 a.m. and not 2 p.m., or it might tell the homeowner how much money would be saved by running the dishwasher at a different hour.
”It provides an opportunity to create dancing partners that will help the system balance itself,” he said.
Obviously, there is now a lot more hope for green investment with the Obama administration in the White House.
2 comments February 11, 2009
Well, when rich countries log their ancient forests …
… is there any hope for the forests of less wealthy countries?
I am following rainforest conservation campaigns led by Rainforest Portal, and they have just sent us details of how the government of Finland is allowing the logging of old-growth forests.
I always had high respect for Nordic countries (and still do!) but this really gets on my nerves.
Not that Finland is so poor that it HAS to do it to keep their people fed! It’s a complete hypocrisy.
I really have no words for this situation.
Please go to Rainforest Portal and sign up for their campaigns as well.
Thanks in advance!
Add comment February 10, 2009
Does global warming have anything to do with the British snowfalls?
These snowfalls that we are now experiencing in Britain do make you wonder about the climate patterns throughout the world.
On the one hand, Australia is experiencing an extreme heat wave which is now suspected to have contributed to the wildfires as well.
On the other hand, Britain is experiencing an extreme cold weather event, with snow heavily falling all over the country and disrupting tons of services.
Snow in our garden today
(Well, at least for me. I live in the west of Scotland and because of heavy snow I could not drive my son to his granny today, and he was very disappointed! But at least we made a lovely snowman instead 
, so no worries. )
I am now trying to compare climates of the countries that I am familiar with.
I am originally from Turkmenistan (ex-Soviet country to the south of Russia). So I am not quite familiar with the historical weather in Britain.
I asked my husband and he told me that it is not that unusual to have snow in this country but the period of the year when it happens has moved (forward). He said, it used to snow more around Christmas time but now it’s February … .
I suspect that it is not only the change in timing but in the intensity and amount of snowfall here as well.
I also remember reading about snow falling in Moscow in June (which apparently occurs every 25 – 30 years). Obviously, not the kind of snow you’d expect in winter but still …
As for Turkmenistan (my relatives till living there are telling me), then the weather has also changed there.
My mom tells me it can be quite warm during the new year period, and unusually cold during other times of the year when it should normally not be that cold.
Now, you don’t want to know the summer weather in Turkmenistan.
Apparently, during the last several summers it has become so hot that people don’t even remember having such hot summers before (I certainly don’t though I do remember generally hot summers).
The Turkmen summer temperature may now easily reach above 50 – 55 °C (122 °F) and above. I remember the temperature being 40 – 45 °C (104 – 113 °F) but not more.
It is a safety hazard to be outside in this temperature so everyone stays at home and tries to keep themselves cool any way they can (I remember our conditioners getting disconnected all the time because of the electricity supply failure during peak times).
Any way, when I was preparing my global warming effects article, I wrote about predictions of extreme weather events such as unusually severe heat waves, cold winters as well as changes in timings of different weather related events etc.
It is sort of developing in front of my eyes now …
We really need to try to do something about it, asap.
If you want, you can learn more about what is global warming on my site here.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Welcome to my blog
I am planning to use this blogging facility to present my own thoughts and opinions on a number of issues which are of particular interest to me, including (but not limited to, of course) rainforest conservation, pollution, global warming and green investments.
I welcome your participation & comments!
Irina
Add comment February 6, 2009
