Cement companies in Japan are getting in on cutting down on CO2 emissions and hope to help their counterparts in China and India do the same. The Japan Cement Association is taking the lead by sending engineers to China and India to produce estimates for how much CO2 can be decreased.

Japanese cement makers are working with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to publish on the Internet ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at cement plants for free, and some of them are :

1. power-efficient pulverizers
2. mechanisms for recycling waste heat from baking furnaces
3. using the recycled heat to generate power and heat up raw materials

And some quick facts -

• Japan produces 70 million tons of cement annually, the 6th largest producer of CO2 among Japan’s industries.
• China and India together make up about 50% of the world’s cement output.
• Some 5,000+ cement companies in China produce 1.1+ billion tons of cement.
• Some 500+ Indian companies produce 150 million tons.

If these guys can save some gas, it’ll make a difference. And, for once, Japan is leading.

Source: Nikkei (!sub required) – Image courtesy of ykanazawa1999

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Hundreds of Swans that normally migrate from the cold Arctic to the warmer locations in England each year have decided that there is no necessity to go all the way across to UK on a 1,864 kilometer trip as the Siberian winter is still not as cold as it should be.

Wildlife experts were expecting 300 migrating Bewick's swans to have arrived by late October

23,000 swans that visit different parts of Europe in the winter have not yet started their migratory flight back to places like Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre in UK because the winters this time around in Siberia are simply not cold enough to force them to take the long journey.

Scientists across the globe view this as another effect of the Global Warming phenomenon, which is the reason for warmer winters in Siberia.

The birds normally move out to various places in Europe seeking out shelter by following an in-built biological pattern that is apparently triggered by temperature changes. With global warming keeping Siberia warmer than usual, the birds do not feel a necessity to move out as yet.

Apart from disappointing bird lovers across Europe, this new development could mean that within the next few years, the swans would forget their intuitive migratory patterns that are passed on genetically. If a cold Siberian winter strikes them at that point, they might just not know what to do.

Temperatures have been rising dramatically in the Arctic during the last decade and while some dismiss it as an over-reaction, there surely can be no accusations made that the Swans are a part of the conspiracy theory as well! – via The Independent

Images by BARRY BATCHELOR/PA and josefuteimu

One look at the spectacular pictures that are captured in the depths of the Crystal Cave of Giants, 1,000 ft below the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico and you will be left dumbfound to describe this amazing wonder hidden deep in the heart of the planet.

The scene is very similar to a scene from the flick “The Core”, where a set of scientists stumble upon an amazing crystal mine miles below earth’s surface. The difference though is that this cave is not that deep down and there have been no tragedies in here so far like in the movie. But the visual magnificence of the 170 giant, luminous obelisks is unmatched even by Hollywood.

It’s a breathtaking visual delight, uncovered by two brothers drilling in the Naica Lead and Silver mine. The caves were found at a depth of over 1000 feet deep into the crust and it takes a twenty minute drive into the mines to get to the entrance of these shining beacons in Mother Nature’s secluded abode.

The crystal caves though are no structures of cool ice as they are made out of calcium silicates and other minerals which have been formed by gentle cooling of magma around 6000 years back. The temperatures in here can reach steamy 112F, with a humidity of 90-100 per cent.

If you are planning a trek into these beautiful depths, then a backpack with ice-cooled air is a must. For now though, it is sealed to prevent people from nabbing away the beautiful treasure. Wonder if this is the actual home of Superman… Could be!

Image by Carsten Peter @ NationaGeographic – via DailyMail

I probably should have studied harder when I was in science class, but I seem to remember that all plants thrive on CO2. Even so, Ota Florticulture Auction Co., which is Japan’s largest flower wholesaler, is planning to market a series of arrangements made up of potted plants that gobble up large amounts of CO2.

There’s always someone wanting to capitalize on the green movement, why not a flower company, too? Ota will market carbon offset plants for homes and offices that come in pots that combine six kinds of plants such as the orchids and cacti, even at night and the company says each plant arrangement will trap 4-10kg of CO2 gas each year.

The price for having someone buy a plant to do what the plant would do anyway is going to be ¥8,000-40,000 ($85-$425). Watch for the plants to come on sale by Thanksgiving. – via Nikkei (sub needed)

Images by Rosberond, cobalt123

The Miss Earth 2008 Competition is happening in Manila, where 85 beauties from around the world are declaring their campaigns for a ‘green lifestyle.’

Asia has some of their best – Miss China Zhou Yingkun, 22. Miss Macau Qian Wei Na, 22, Miss Thailand Piya Porn (her real name) Deejing, 20, Miss Singapore Ivy Leow Kian Peng, 25, Miss Philippines Karla Henry, 22, Miss Taiwan Tsai Yin Yin, 19 and Miss India Tanvi Vyas, 22.

I don’t know if you think these girls and their display of unity for a green lifestyle motivates you think green thoughts, but I sure like looking, um, thinking about it at their expense. At least they are not the PETA girls.

All images via Sina

I found five recent satellite photos of the Earth and I must admit, they’re some of the most beautiful, I’ve seen. It’s what the world looks like now from space.

Satellite photo of the Bahamas islands

Satellite photo of Guinea-Bissau

(more…)

Things are improving when it comes to electric cars, and the new Tesla Model S, the all-electric 4-door sedan is here to confirm.

Tesla Model S, the all-electric 4-door sedan

With similar specs to Tesla Roadster, the new Model S is a 5 passenger car that gets a 240 miles range with a full charge and goes from 0 to 100km/h in just 6 seconds, which is fast for an emission-free vehicle. Unlike the $109,000 Tesla Roadster, if ever built (heard rumors saying late 2010), the new Model S will only cost like $60,000.

However, there is a bad part of the story, and that’s Tesla’s refocusing that got them to lay off 25-percent of their workers and to fire their CEO. I just hope the economic downturn won’t get these guys, because they have some pretty good ideas (and designs) over there. – via UberGizmo

Prince Charles is in Tokyo urging the world to fight climate change saying that,

“Given the current turbulence in the international financial system and the immediate and damaging effect it is having on the whole world, the credit crunch is rightly a preoccupation of vast significance and importance.

But we take our eye off the ‘climate crunch’ at our peril.”

The Prince thinks that the earth’s temps could rise by more than 6C by 2100, citing UN scientists. He didn’t mention, however, that the scientists aren’t sure what the temps will be next week. Elephants could fall out of airplanes, too.

I think the climate is changing. I think that we ought to be responsible stewards of Earth. I also think that there isn’t a whole lot we can do to change the weather cycles.

It’s kind of like giving $700 billion to Neel Kashkari and expecting him to change the tide of the world’s economies. That didn’t work either.

Image courtesy of petecarr

After eight years of planning to restore the vastly damaged Giacomini Wetlands in northern California, the National Park Service managed to re-create one of the largest estuary systems in Marin County, which 60 years ago had been unthinkingly cleared out as pasture land for dairy cattle that provided milk and butter during World War II.

Took them two years of bulldozing and excavating to pull down the levees and re-direct the creeks, to bring back the “naturalness”, the wetlands today are slowly getting back to their original form with rare sightings of rays and leopard sharks – apart from other wildlife, gliding through the shallow waters.

Amazing species of animals which had been thought to be extinct and a variety of birds have been spotted in Point Reyes, and also fishes that had abandoned the waters are all gradually coming back.

“The habitat will come back. In a year, no one will know we did anything,” says Park Service hydrologist Ketcham. Sounds like a fairy tail except this one is true. We can do good, IF we want! – via LA Times

Corals at the Great Barrier Reef are soaking up carbon dioxide at new levels say researchers. As a result, the corals may (operative word) be accelerating bleaching and some might (operative word) be destroyed by 2050.

I say operative word because the actual effect is not known and the ultimate outcome is still very much everyone’s best guess. Could, maybe, might, perhaps… When the scientists say will, have been proven to, and did, I’ll listen.

Indeed, I’ll say it yet again – Let’s be good stewards of our Planet. Let’s treat Earth as if it is the only home we will ever have. Let’s be responsible. Let’s be thrifty. But, not because the climate is changing. That’s what the climate does.