Climate scientists in the US say police inaction has left them defenceless by in the face of a torrent of death threats and hate mail, leaving them fearing for their lives and one to contemplate arming himself with a handgun.The scientists say the threats have increased since the furore over leaked emails from the University of East Anglia began last November, and a sample of the hate mail sent in recent months and seen by the Guardian reveals the scale and vitriolic tone of the abuse.The scientists revealed they have been told to "go gargle razor blades" and have been described as "Nazi climate murderers".
Climate scientists in the US say police inaction has left them defenceless by in the face of a torrent of death threats and hate mail, leaving them fearing for their lives and one to contemplate arming himself with a handgun.
The scientists say the threats have increased since the furore over leaked emails from the University of East Anglia began last November, and a sample of the hate mail sent in recent months and seen by the Guardian reveals the scale and vitriolic tone of the abuse.
The scientists revealed they have been told to "go gargle razor blades" and have been described as "Nazi climate murderers".
How dead is the Gulf of Mexico? It is perhaps the most important question of the BP oil spill -- but scientists don't appear close to answering it despite a historically vast effort. In the 2 1/2 months since the spill began, the gulf has been examined by an armada of researchers -- from federal agencies, universities and nonprofit groups. They have brought back vivid snapshots of a sea under stress: sharks and other deep-water fish suddenly appearing near shore, oil-soaked marshes turning deathly brown, clouds of oil swirling in deep water. But, with key gaps remaining in their data, there is wide disagreement about the big picture. Some researchers have concluded that the gulf is being spared an ecological disaster. Others think ecosystems that were already in trouble before the spill are now being pushed toward a brink.
How dead is the Gulf of Mexico?
It is perhaps the most important question of the BP oil spill -- but scientists don't appear close to answering it despite a historically vast effort.
In the 2 1/2 months since the spill began, the gulf has been examined by an armada of researchers -- from federal agencies, universities and nonprofit groups. They have brought back vivid snapshots of a sea under stress: sharks and other deep-water fish suddenly appearing near shore, oil-soaked marshes turning deathly brown, clouds of oil swirling in deep water.
But, with key gaps remaining in their data, there is wide disagreement about the big picture. Some researchers have concluded that the gulf is being spared an ecological disaster. Others think ecosystems that were already in trouble before the spill are now being pushed toward a brink.
After a nine-year legal battle, indigenous tribes have secured native title rights over a vast tract of ocean north of Australia.It is the largest native title sea claim in the country's history - covering 40,000 square kilometres of ocean - and formally recognises the Torres Strait islanders' spiritual ties to the sea.The Torres Strait sits between Australia's northern tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea, and consists of more than 250 islands, most of which are recognised as part of the Australian state of Queensland.
After a nine-year legal battle, indigenous tribes have secured native title rights over a vast tract of ocean north of Australia.
It is the largest native title sea claim in the country's history - covering 40,000 square kilometres of ocean - and formally recognises the Torres Strait islanders' spiritual ties to the sea.
The Torres Strait sits between Australia's northern tip of Cape York and Papua New Guinea, and consists of more than 250 islands, most of which are recognised as part of the Australian state of Queensland.
The world is heading for an average temperature rise of nearly 4C (7F), according to analysis of national pledges from around the globe. Such a rise would bring a high risk of major extinctions, threats to food supplies and the near-total collapse of the huge Greenland ice sheet.More than 100 heads of state agreed in Copenhagen last December to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C-2C (2.7-3.6F) above the long-term average before the industrial revolution, which kickstarted a massive global increase in the greenhouse gases blamed for warming the planet and triggering climate change.
The world is heading for an average temperature rise of nearly 4C (7F), according to analysis of national pledges from around the globe. Such a rise would bring a high risk of major extinctions, threats to food supplies and the near-total collapse of the huge Greenland ice sheet.
More than 100 heads of state agreed in Copenhagen last December to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C-2C (2.7-3.6F) above the long-term average before the industrial revolution, which kickstarted a massive global increase in the greenhouse gases blamed for warming the planet and triggering climate change.
BP is holding talks with the Kuwait Investment Office about taking a much larger stake of the oil company in an effort to ward off a takeover by a foreign rival, as well as raising additional funds.The Middle East sovereign wealth fund is a significant shareholder, with a 1.75% stake, but BP would like it to increase its share, perhaps to as much as 10%.The move would raise valuable cash, about £6bn, that BP needs to cope with the mounting liabilities from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which some estimate could eventually reach $70bn (£58bn).
BP is holding talks with the Kuwait Investment Office about taking a much larger stake of the oil company in an effort to ward off a takeover by a foreign rival, as well as raising additional funds.
The Middle East sovereign wealth fund is a significant shareholder, with a 1.75% stake, but BP would like it to increase its share, perhaps to as much as 10%.
The move would raise valuable cash, about £6bn, that BP needs to cope with the mounting liabilities from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which some estimate could eventually reach $70bn (£58bn).
Cuba has been forced to cut its tobacco harvest in response to a fall in demand for its famous Cuban cigars. This year's harvest of tobacco leaves is down 14% on last year, according to one of the country's state-run newspapers, Guerrillero. "There was a reduction in planting due to limitations on resources caused by the economic crisis," the report said. Sales of Cuban cigars fell by 8% last year, while production has fallen even further.
Cuba has been forced to cut its tobacco harvest in response to a fall in demand for its famous Cuban cigars.
This year's harvest of tobacco leaves is down 14% on last year, according to one of the country's state-run newspapers, Guerrillero.
"There was a reduction in planting due to limitations on resources caused by the economic crisis," the report said.
Sales of Cuban cigars fell by 8% last year, while production has fallen even further.
TALLAHASSEE -- In the immediate aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP publicly touted its expert oil clean-up response, but it quietly girded for a legal fight that could soon embroil hundreds of attorneys, span five states and last more than a decade. BP swiftly signed up experts who otherwise would work for plaintiffs. It shopped for top-notch legal teams. It presented volunteers, fishermen and potential workers with waivers, hoping they would sign away some of their right to sue. Recently, BP announced it would create a $20 billion victim-assistance fund, which could reduce court challenges. Robert J. McKee , an attorney with the Fort Lauderdale firm of Krupnick Campbell Malone, was surprised by how quickly BP hired scientists and laboratories specializing in the collection and analysis of air, sea, marsh and beach samples -- evidence that's crucial to proving damages in pollution cases. Five days after the April 20 blowout, McKee said, he tried to hire a scientist who's assisted him in an ongoing 16-year environmental lawsuit in Ecuador involving Dupont .
TALLAHASSEE -- In the immediate aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP publicly touted its expert oil clean-up response, but it quietly girded for a legal fight that could soon embroil hundreds of attorneys, span five states and last more than a decade.
BP swiftly signed up experts who otherwise would work for plaintiffs. It shopped for top-notch legal teams. It presented volunteers, fishermen and potential workers with waivers, hoping they would sign away some of their right to sue.
Recently, BP announced it would create a $20 billion victim-assistance fund, which could reduce court challenges.
Robert J. McKee , an attorney with the Fort Lauderdale firm of Krupnick Campbell Malone, was surprised by how quickly BP hired scientists and laboratories specializing in the collection and analysis of air, sea, marsh and beach samples -- evidence that's crucial to proving damages in pollution cases.
Five days after the April 20 blowout, McKee said, he tried to hire a scientist who's assisted him in an ongoing 16-year environmental lawsuit in Ecuador involving Dupont .
and people dare to criticise BP about their supposed inability to build in safety precautions! tut tut... ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
Mobile phones, computers, TVs - we like them but where do they go when we are finished with them? In the worst case they can be dismantled by hand for scrap by children in developing countries. This can expose them to potentially fatal chemicals. New legislation aims to toughen existing rules on collection and treatment so that within six years 85% of all waste will be recovered and treated. Environment Committee MEPs backed the proposals on 22 June. This type of waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU (over 8 million tonnes and growing) and poses a series of challenges such as health problems if the waste is not properly treated and a loss of raw materials if there is no recycling.Rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz of the centre right European People's Party told us, "we lose a lot of raw material because a lot of electronic waste is illegally shipped out of Europe. For example, 1 million mobiles contain: 250 kg silver, 24 kg gold, 9 kg palladium, and 9 tonnes of copper".
This type of waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU (over 8 million tonnes and growing) and poses a series of challenges such as health problems if the waste is not properly treated and a loss of raw materials if there is no recycling.
Rapporteur Karl-Heinz Florenz of the centre right European People's Party told us, "we lose a lot of raw material because a lot of electronic waste is illegally shipped out of Europe. For example, 1 million mobiles contain: 250 kg silver, 24 kg gold, 9 kg palladium, and 9 tonnes of copper".
The three energy saving measures are:A regulation on Tyre Labelling to promote fuel efficiencyAn update of the Energy Performance of Buildings DirectiveChanges to the Energy Labelling DirectiveParliament has approved the draft regulation on tyre labelling (25 November 2009), the energy performance of buildings directive (18 May 2010) and the Energy Labelling Directive (19 May 2010).
Parliament has approved the draft regulation on tyre labelling (25 November 2009), the energy performance of buildings directive (18 May 2010) and the Energy Labelling Directive (19 May 2010).
Researchers from the University of Texas in Austin and the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis have discovered a process that can be used to increase the conversion efficiency of solar cells up to 66%. The process transfers hot electrons from quantum dots to an electron acceptor. In typical semiconductor solar cells, photons with energies above the semiconductor's bandgap generate hot electrons, and much of the energy from the hot electrons is lost through heat before it can be captured and used for electricity. This new process uses quantum dots to slow down the cooling process of hot electrons and then captures and transfers them. This allows the addition of energy that is currently lost as heat in conventional solar cells.
The process transfers hot electrons from quantum dots to an electron acceptor. In typical semiconductor solar cells, photons with energies above the semiconductor's bandgap generate hot electrons, and much of the energy from the hot electrons is lost through heat before it can be captured and used for electricity.
This new process uses quantum dots to slow down the cooling process of hot electrons and then captures and transfers them. This allows the addition of energy that is currently lost as heat in conventional solar cells.
