It seems ironic and even startling to an extent when one gets to know that the paper industry across the world produces three times more carbon emissions than aviation industry.

It might be a touch unbelievable, but if you consider the fact that thousands of acres of trees are mowed down for paper and that subsequently only adds to carbon footprint, this is not all that surprising.

In the wake of UK formation of organizations such as Shrink which are asking people to reduce their paper consumption by 50% in UK and French supremo Sarkozy following the path, it only is fair that the entire planet takes up the cause as well.

Those who often calculate the carbon footprint left over by the paper industry, forget to add in the number of trees that have been chopped down for the wood. These reduced number of trees automatically means greater pollution.

According to a survey conducted by Xerox, 45% of all paper used by employees in firms reaches the dustbin. This, along with all the junk mail that we get further adds to wastage in paper. It is easy to look past something that we consider such an integral part of our life and waste it callously while it could still cause plenty of damage to the planet.

Using paper judiciously and reducing its wastage can easily help conserve more trees and also cut down on the whole carbon footprint. Many paper plantations are already highly contentious, especially in developing nations. By not printing stuff that we do not really need and by using recycled paper as often as we can, we can indeed help cut down on the staggering figures that are in front of us today.

Remember that every time you save a sheet of paper, you are adding something meaningful to the planet.

Source: The Guardian
Image courtesy of Deibu

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Mt. Takadake is in the Aso volcano zone of Kumamoto Prefecture on the southern most island of Kyushu, one of Japan’s four main islands, but not ALL of Japan’s island.

The mountain was found snowcapped Tuesday. The Kyushu region had its first snow of the season says the Kumamoto local meteorological observatory. The snow on the 1,592 meter (5,250′) peak came one day later than average but 16 days earlier than last year.

Light rain in the Aso area turned to snow early Tuesday morning because of a stream of cold air. And this happened on Japan’s southernmost main island, you know, where it’s warmer and such. The temperature in the area stood at 3.2 C at 4:04 a.m. However, it started falling and marked minus 0.5 C at 12:32 p.m. just cold enough to snow.

Global cooling? Of course, we can’t say so from one isolated incident such as this. But, to be sure, we only hear about when it’s warmer, not when it’s cooler than usual. How about a balanced hearing, eh?

Image courtesy of morygonzalez

If you delve deeper into the world of tress and shrubs around us, then you will find more reasons as to why we need to protect the existent forest cover in the world and why we need more trees to make the planet a better place.

Till recently scientists believed that trees countered the phenomenon of global warming by just absorbing the carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. In effect, reduction of carbon emissions was their only contribution towards cooling the planet.

But a new study indicates that there is a lot more going on than meets the eye!

Trees release a chemical called Terpenes which helps form aerosols by reacting with particles in the atmosphere. These aerosols ensure that the clouds form thicker than normal.

Dominick Spracklen, of the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science at Leeds University, the brain behind the research, says that his team found this effect prevalent in boreal forests across northern regions such as Canada, Scandinavia and Russia. The release of Terpenes ensured clouds doubled in thickness some 1,000m above the forests, and could reflect an extra 5% sunlight back into space.

In fact, it is these Terpenes that give pine forests their unique aroma and scientists now believe that this effect would surely go a long way in slowing down the effects of global warming. A 5% of additional sunlight being reflected back into space is actually a huge difference and this can cause a cooling effect that can effectively combat global warming.

Any other conclusion than being good stewards to the planet and not steal its forest? We need to plant more trees. It’s a fact!

Source : The Guardian

Image courtesy of uBookworn

Well it’s actually 501 when this one gets published on the front page.

A couple of minutes ago, I just looked “inside” GP and I was pleasantly surprised to see that “You have 500 posts”. That’s our good deed. That’s how we try to be better stewards for our Planet, for the environment we spend our lives in.

It’s been more than half a year, and even though some will say that it’s not an important step, I’m here to congratulate the whole blogging team behind GP. Thanks Bill, thanks Sameer, and thanks to all those who read us (be it directly or via RSS) and to all those that commented on our articles.

GreenPacks wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for you, the one in front of the display who’s reading these words.

What will be from now on? We promise to bring you quality articles every day, and all we ask from you is to read them. Together we can do more than we do alone … See you again at 1,000.

Thank you!

Image courtesy of lucias_clay

TogetherGreen is an Audubon program funded by Toyota, that aims at helping people get involved in creating a brighter, healthier future. It’s a program that provides inspiration, leadership and opportunities that will make people aware and will persuade them to take action at home, in their communities and beyond to improve the health of our environment.

Sample projects that received funding include:

1. Engaging low-income students in middle schools to devise and implement energy saving plans (Denver, CO);
2. Constructing gardens to stem storm water overflows that carry pollutants and disease-laden sewage into homes and waterways (Pittsburgh, PA);
3. Involving the public in hands-on strategies for restoring vanishing wetlands vital to flood control (coastal Louisiana); and
4. Reducing bird fatalities caused by their attraction to the lights in high-rise buildings (Minneapolis, MN).

“Our biggest environmental problems can’t be solved unless we engage people from every ethnic, racial and economic community that makes up America and help them realize their power to make a difference in their own communities,” said Audubon President John Flicker. “These TogetherGreen Innovation Grants help local groups to engage people and to start achieving tangible conservation results at the same time”

Launched in the spring of 2008, a total of 41 projects in 24 states were selected from nationwide applicants to receive up to $1.4 million in TogetherGreen Conservation Innovation Grants, for the next five years the project will run. Many of them target inner-city and non-English speaking audiences that always seemed underserved by the environmental community.

For more info check out the press release

The UN food agency – the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), is warning of a looming food crisis in Africa. The reason – global increase in food and fuel prices. The reason – increase production in bio-fuel at the expense of food production. The reason – climate change.

Kenyan agriculture assistant minister said, “that in as much as bio-fuel continues to draw attention due to the increasing prices of fossil fuels, there is need to focus on providing access to sustainable sources of energy.”

The assistant minister also said “thousands of bags of food are lying at the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) stores and blamed the ministry of special programs for delaying its distribution to the hungry.”

“Hundreds of thousands of people are reported to be starving in a number of districts especially those in arid and semi arid regions.”

So, what should we do when we try to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels by increasing the use of bio-fuels so that we can save our environment but in the process people die for lack of food? Does anybody have an answer? – via Cri.cn

Image courtesy of martapigs

There really is a Shangri-La. It is located at the center of the “Three Parallel Rivers” and is home to the Potatso National Park and Shudu Lake, Niru Area and Bitahai Nature Reserve.

Monks, (not monkeys) squirrels, fir trees and a Tibetan Buddhist Temple can be found there as well.

Ah, Shangri-La. It’s not just a hotel chain. It’s a real place.

When are you going to paradise?

Armies can do other things besides fight wars. A military might might be used for other things that causing harm. How about we use them to clean up the environment? Seriously. That’s what’s going on in China.

Chinese Soldiers "Cleaning Up"

Chinese frontier soldiers are picking up garbage on the Red Sea Beach. The frontier soldiers pick up plastic bags and other garbage to keep the environment clean for visitors. The Chinese Red Sea is located in Panjin City, northeast China’s Liaoning Province. The mouth of the Liaohe River is covered with a read sea-blite plant.

Chinese Soldiers "Cleaning Up"

Yeah! I like this. Using soldiers to do a different kind of cleaning up. It gives cause to wonder. What if all the money in the world that is spent on military might for countries was used to clean up and protect our environment.

The US spends some $300-400 billion each year. China spends … Russia spends. Why can’t we do away with military spending and divert it to caring for our planet? Why can’t we all just get along?