The One-Straw Revolution Masanobu Fukuoka (1913-2008) was a farmer and philosopher who was born and raised on the Japanese island of Shikoku. He studied plant pathology and spent several years working as a customs inspector in Yokohama. While working there, at the age of 25, he had an inspiration that changed his life. He decided to quit his job, return to his home village and put his ideas into practice by applying them to agriculture. Over the next 65 years he worked to develop a system of natural farming that demonstrated the insight he was given as a young man, believing that it could be of great benefit to the world. He did not plow his fields, used no agricultural chemicals or prepared fertilizers, did not flood his rice fields as farmers have done in Asia for centuries, and yet his yields equaled or surpassed the most productive farms in Japan.
Environmental Biology Sequence - Ecosystems Overview Roles of Organisms Energy Flow Through Ecosystems Food Chains and Webs Pyramids - Biological Magnification The Earth Bank: A Living Building System Vertical gardening is a fun, creative way to grow plants in urban spaces! Below is just a sample of what you can create with ready-to-go planters and kits. The first few images are of GroVert Vertical Gardening Systems by Bright Green. There are two different sized panels (10 and 45), and each are planted, then hung on the wall using their included mounting bracket. The last images are of living walls made from felt pockets.
Plastic Cup Lamp Now that my university is closed for winter holidays, I finally have more free time to do all the crafty things I’ve been wanting to. One of these is a lamp made from plastic cups I’ve seen at taf, the art foundation, in the Monastiraki region in the center of Athens. When I first saw it at taf, I was amazed; I looked closely and I couldn’t believe my eyes! The object itself is so peculiar, modern and alien-like it could be in any design exhibition. With my best friend’s birthday coming up, I decided to make it myself and give it to her as a gift. Nature’s matrix: Linking agriculture, conservation and food sovereignty An important book argues that conservationists who focus on creating nature preserves are undermining their own cause. To truly protect biodiversity, environmentalists must support the global struggle of peasant farmers for human rights, land, and sustainable agriculture. NATURE’S MATRIX Linking Agriculture, Conservation and Food Sovereignty by Ivette Perfecto,John Vandermeer,and Angus Wright Earthscan, 2009 reviewed by Ian Angus
Precautionary List Home Page What is this about? It is our belief that products that are harmful to humans, animals, and the environment should not be used in our projects, and to that end, we seek to inform our clients of available alternatives so as to permit them to make informed decisions. The substances listed all have been classified by multiple regulatory entities as being detrimental to the health of humans and the environment. These lists are evolving documents that will be updated as new relevant data emerges. Rather than use products which contain these substances, we will seek out alternatives, in keeping with the precautionary principle, in an effort to be responsive to reported health effects, and thereby to protect our health and the health of future generations too. These lists are compilations of available data, and are not an endorsement of any of the referenced studies, articles, or data.
SCIENCE FOCUS: DEAD ZONES — GES DISC: Goddard Earth Sciences, Data & Information Services Center Info Home page for information about educational resources and outreach activities of the NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center The NASA Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) provides a broad variety of data to scientists around the world. In addition to the data, the GES DISC has created several different tools that enable data users to categorize, view, order, visualize, and analyze the large volume of data it holds. The primary mission of the GES DISC is to provide data to researchers, and via the expertise of the GES DISC staff, to facilitate Earth system science investigations. The data and tools at the GES DISC also provide multiple ways in which teachers and students can gain insight into the interconnected spheres of Earth’s environment – the atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things One of the most influential recent books on design and environmentalism.” —Alice Rawsthorn, The New York Times [McDonough] point[s] to a path out of the seemingly un-winnable trench war between conservation and commerce.” —James Surowiecki, The New Yorker A rare example of the ‘inspirational’ book that actually is.”
The Top 100 Green Design Firms Interest in sustainable design has been building over the past 10 years and continues to gain momentum. Further, market sectors that once looked askance at the notion of green building as an unnecessary up-front capital expense now are embracing the long-term value of energy savings promised by sustainability. However, the market for sustainable design has not yet reached the saturation point in the construction industry, so a downturn in a few key sectors can affect the overall market. 10 World’s Greenest Countries The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) is a method of measuring the performance of national governments related to environmental policies. Yale University and Columbia University release the EPI every year during the World Economic Forum, ranking 163 countries according to 25 indicators. The final mark shows how close the country is to accomplish the environmental goals. Here are the top ten green countries on the list which have made most, officially the greenest in the world. 1.