Wellness for Peace: Climate Change

Beijing: GMZ Energy Secures $14 Million in Series C Funding to Produce New Class of Renewable Technologies

2012-01-03T15:26:00.000-08:00

GMZ Energy Secures $14 Million in Series C Funding to Produce New Class of Renewable Technologies; Closes Oversubscribed Financing Round - MarketWatch: "GMZ Energy, a leader in thermoelectric materials and systems and a GE ecomagination Challenge winner, today announced it secured $14 million in Series C financing. The new investment was led by Mitsui Ventures and includes I2BF Global Ventures, Energy Technology Ventures (a joint venture of GE, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and BP Alternative Energy. With the new funding, GMZ will expand its engineering and go-to-market capabilities as the company moves into production of a new class of renewable technologies."

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Italy: Wellness Tip: Skipping dessert and having an after-dinner coffee is good for your memory & thinner waist

2012-01-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

How to get better memory, thinner waist - Hindustan Times: "For the study, it was decided to focus on a protein called CREB1 that is known to be important to memory and learning. While conducting experiments on mice, researcher Giovambattista Pani showed that cutting calories boosted learning if the animals could still make CREB1. Besides, he also showed that cutting calories boosts the amount of the protein made in the brain. It was also found the animals' calorie count was only cut by 25 to 30 percent but in human terms, this equates to about 600 calories a day."

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Australia: Widespread beach erosion leaves surf clubs in deep water

2012-01-02T15:42:00.000-08:00

Widespread beach erosion leaves surf clubs in deep water | smh.com.au: "The Old Bar Surf Club sits closer to the water than the school and Mr Jones guesses he has three to five years before the threat becomes an emergency. Old Bar is not the only NSW surf club nearly in deep water. While for most clubs rising sea levels and storm intensities due to climate change remain distant fears, at least six other NSW clubs are already confronting these threats. Clubs including Cudgen Headland, Copacabana, Killcare, Thirroul, Bulli and Stockton have reportedly suffered erosion and been forced to consider sea walls, sand replenishment, rebuilding or, as a last resort, relocation. Surf Life Saving Australia published a report in November, using data from Geoscience Australia and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, that placed 63 per cent of surf life saving clubs in ''zones of potential instability''. ''We know there are a number of clubs which right now are at risk of being washed into the sea if a major storm event was to wash into the coast,'' said Norm Farmer, the head of strategic development at Surf Life Saving Australia"

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Renewable Energy: Vestas to supply turbines for new wind farms in Poland, Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Sweden & Pakistan

2012-01-02T15:11:00.000-08:00

- Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism: "Vestas is also continuing to expand its operations outside Europe, and ended 2011 announcing its first order in Pakistan. The order is for a total capacity of 50.4 MW, consisting of 28 units of the V90-1.8 MW wind turbines for a wind power project in Nooriabad in the Jimphir region of the country. Delivery of the turbines is scheduled to start in the first half of 2012 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012. The order has been placed by Zorlu Energy Pakistan Ltd., which is a 100 per cent owned subsidiary of the Turkish Zorlu Enerji Electricity Generation Inc. In 2006, the company signed an agreement with the Alternative Energy Development Board of the Government of Pakistan to build the first wind power plant in Pakistan for a total capacity of 56.4 MW. The first phase of the project comprising 6 MW has been in operation since 2009 and the second phase comprising the 50.4 MW will be delivered by Vestas."

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Tip: Businesses are encouraging Employee Wellness by holding contests, health screenings, and providing other incentives to help employees get healthy

2012-01-01T14:09:00.000-08:00

Inspiring employee healthy lifestyles with employer incentives - phillyBurbs.com : Money: newage industries, fitness, health insurance, health, health incentives: "Employee wellness programs typically include an online health risk assessment and on-site medical screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index and cholesterol. The programs, while voluntary, can offer financial benefits, including lower insurance premiums, gift cards and employer contributions to health savings accounts."

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Canada's climate change plan 'farce,' says Stephane Dion

2012-01-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

Canada's climate change plan 'farce,' says Stephane Dion: "Q: How do you get climate change back on the political agenda?
A: Many initiatives should be taken by business people, scientists, activists, ordinary citizens . . . and journalists! But regarding the current state of federal politics, in a nutshell, the opposition should co-operate to at least keep the government accountable toward its own objective: 17-per-cent reduction for 2020. Environment Canada itself said some months ago that only 25 per cent of the target would be reached with the current policies and regulations."

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Tip: When Off-Balanced, Slow Down, Stay Grounded, Breath Deeply & Go Back to Healthy Living

2011-12-29T19:04:00.000-08:00

Linda Novick O'Keefe: Giving Back and Getting Balanced: "Medical conditions caused by unhealthy living habits are largely to blame for the predicted drop in life expectancy. An astonishing 75% of health care costs in the United States are spent on chronic health conditions. That translates to 130 million Americans swallowing, injecting, inhaling, infusing, spraying or patting on prescription medication every month. Healthcare services that focus on preventative interventions and healthy living will play a key role in the effort to turn around this disconcerting prognosis and get us back on track."

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US: As Climate Change Worsens, Scientists Feel Increasing Pressure to Speak Out

2011-12-29T18:48:00.000-08:00

As Climate Change Worsens, Scientists Feel Increasing Pressure to Speak Out | InsideClimate News: "Factors contributing to climate change are moving faster than predicted and pushing us toward planetary conditions unlike any humans have ever known—this was one of the salient themes to emerge from this month's meeting of the American Geophysical Union, the world's largest gathering of earth and space scientists. Some scientists think we've already crossed that boundary and are, as Jonathan Foley, director of the University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment, said, "in a very different world than we have ever seen before.""

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Tip: Stop Obesity by Supporting "Better Quality Maternal-Child Relationships

2011-12-28T19:13:00.000-08:00

Teen Obesity Tied to Early Childhood Bond with Mom | Kids' Attachment to Parents & Stress Responses | MyHealthNewsDaily.com: "The researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,000 children from nine states who had taken part in the Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, which is a long-term study of children born in 1991. Kids were considered to be obese teenagers if at age 15 their body mass index (BMI) was among the highest 5 percent of children. The researchers had assessed the bonds between the children and their mothers when the kids were 15-months old, 2-years old and 3-years old by watching 15-minute play sessions, and also observing the children's reactions to being briefly separated from their mothers. The findings showed that the lower the quality of the relationship in terms of the child's emotional security and the mother's sensitivity, the higher the risk that a child would be obese at age 15 years.

"

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Canada: "Can be a Clean-Energy Superpower"

2011-12-28T17:35:00.000-08:00

"One of those key solutions will surely include Environment Canada's proposed electricity regulations scheduled to come out in 2012. These regulations will mean that coal-fired electrical generation plants will have to meet a strict performance standard based on parity with the emissions performance of high-efficiency natural gas generation. This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality for Canadians. The regulations will mean the gradual phase out of traditional coal-fired electricity generation and will have a significant impact on reducing electricity emissions from coal and other sources. This is expected to result in a projected de-cline in the absolute level of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation by 31 megatonnes between 2005 and 2020. This one step alone will position Canada as a leader in reducing CO2 emissions with real action, not just wishful thinking."
(see full article by clicking link Shaw: Canada can be a clean-energy superpower)
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Tip: Gardening offers Healthy Exercise and Keeps the Gardener & the Environment Healthy

2011-12-28T00:56:00.000-08:00

ANN LOVEJOY | Healthy garden, healthier gardener » Kitsap Sun: "Gardening offers healthy exercise to people of all ages and ability levels. If you are strong and fit, you can enjoy double digging your vegetable beds and hauling blown down branches out of the woods. If gentle exercise suits you best, get out the rake. Raking leaves is splendid exercise, involving all the body's major muscle groups (arms and legs, back and shoulders, belly and butt). Best of all, steady raking builds strength as it burns off holiday calories. While winter is not a great time to muck about in the garden beds, it is a terrific time to do a bit of tidying and some leisurely pruning. Wet soil compacts easily, so stay out of the beds as much as possible. Do, however, continue to weed, pull ivy, cut down holly and Scotch broom, and dig out thistles. You'll be stretching to prune a high branch, bending to pull weeds, lifting sacks of compost, and pushing the wheelbarrow. Doing so, you'll be getting the same kind of resistance training people pay big bucks for at the gym. You'll be building stronger joints and healthier bones for free!"

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US: Newt Gingrich: Nancy Pelosi Climate Change Ad Is 'Dumbest Thing I've Done In The Last 4 Years'

2011-12-28T00:43:00.000-08:00

Newt Gingrich: Nancy Pelosi Climate Change Ad Is 'Dumbest Thing I've Done In The Last 4 Years': "Gingrich's primary rivals continue to batter him over the decision, despite his repeated attempts to brush away the imagery of appearing in an ad campaign spearheaded by Al Gore and co-starring a vocal Democrat who was, at the time, preparing to push a cap-and-trade agenda. On Tuesday, Mitt Romney's press secretary, Andrea Saul, appeared on MSNBC and referred to the ad while slamming Gingrich as a "desperate candidate trying to revive his failing campaign." Earlier this month, Romney also used the commercial as evidence that Gingrich was an "extraordinarily unreliable leader in the conservative world.""

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Fighting Obesity Tip: Know your waist size is one of the more important ways to measure your health

2011-12-21T18:08:00.000-08:00

<i>Dr. John:</i> Corn-syrup hazards, Nutcracker Syndrome, healthy-weight range | 9news.com: "BMI has certain limitations that can limit how accurate it is. It can overestimate body fat in those with muscular builds and underestimate body fat in older persons or those that have lost some muscle mass. A new measurement known as the BAI, Body Adiposity Index, is proving to be more accurate but is also a little more difficult to use. This method not only uses your height and weight but also adds your waist measurement into the equation to give you your overall body fat. And since we know your waist size is one of the more important ways to measure your health, this method seems to give a better idea of where you stand. To measure your own BAI you can go to http://www.intmath.com/functions-and-graphs/bmi-bai-comparison.php."

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UK: Solar subsidy changes could deal 'fatal blow' to industry

2011-12-21T17:34:00.000-08:00

BBC News - Solar subsidy changes could deal 'fatal blow' to industry: "Government plans include restricting access to solar subsidies to houses meeting energy efficiency standards. Thousands of solar industry jobs could be at risk, the committees warn. On Thursday, a group of companies and environmental groups won a legal judgement against one of the changes. Central to their campaign was the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (Decc) plan to halve abruptly the level of feed-in tariff (FiT) that small-scale solar installations attract, from 43p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 21p."

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Hydroelectric Dam: The height of the water behind the dam is the relevant height for the potential energy calculation

2011-12-21T17:30:00.000-08:00

How Much Dam Energy Can We Get? By Tom Murphy: "Hydroelectric dams exploit storage of gravitational potential energy. A mass, m, raised a height, h against gravity, g = 10 m/s², is given a potential energy E = mgh. The result will be in Joules if the input is expressed in meters, kilograms, and seconds (MKS, or SI units). Water has a density of ρ = 1000 kg/m³, so if we know how many cubic meters of water flow through the dam each second (F), the power available to the dam will be P = ηρFgh. We have inserted η to represent the efficiency of the dam—usually around 90% (η≈0.90)."

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Philippines: Disaster foretold 3 years ago, , but was dismissed by lawmakers as "too alarmist"

2011-12-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

Philippine disaster foretold 3 years ago - Yahoo!: "Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, chief executive of the World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF), said Monday (December 19) the events in Northern Mindanao over the weekend mirrored the prediction. "It was an exact fit," Tan said.
Environmentalists said a simulation of the effects of extreme weather events from climate change such as saltwater intrusion, sea level rise and intense tropical cyclones, showed that major Philippine cities, including Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, were at risk of massive flooding.
The simulation of the effects of extreme weather phenomena was drafted in 2009 by the Philippine Imperative for Climate Change (PICC), WWF and Filipino scientists.
"At best, this might provide a very rough indicator of areas that may be more vulnerable to sea level rise, storm surge, saltwater intrusion or a combination thereof," the group's presentation said."

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Philippines: Senators urge improvement of disaster plan - Yahoo!

2011-12-19T05:28:00.000-08:00

Senators urge improvement of disaster plan - Yahoo!: "Senator Edgardo Angara pointed out that the national weather bureau may have incorrectly estimated the amount of rainfall from “Sendong” (international name “Washi”).

Reports from a joint weather monitoring mission of U.S. and Japan saw rain falling at around 50 mm per hour while Pagasa estimated only 10-25 mm per hour of rainfall.

"Clearly, we still need to improve our disaster management and risk reduction systems," Angara said. "Government must push for concerted effort not only in improving our forecasting technologies but also in seeking the help of other nations, whenever we lack the infrastructure and expertise.""

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Philippines: With morgues full, Philippine flood victims buried

2011-12-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

With morgues full, Philippine flood victims buried - Yahoo!: ""We've had flooding before but nothing like this," Cruz, the Iligan mayor said, recalling floods in the early 1950s. "We have a good drainage system but it as simply overwhelmed. The rainfall fell heavily on the mountains and this flowed down to two of our river systems and they overflowed and swept away houses and covered the highway and residential areas."
About 143,000 people were affected in 13 southern and central provinces, including 45,000 who fled to evacuation centers. About 7,000 houses were swept away, destroyed or damaged, the Office of Civil Defense said.
An estimated 35 percent of evacuees are children, said Trevor Clark, head of UNICEF in the southern Mindanao region. Running water and hygiene were major concerns, followed by a lack of clothing, blankets and even shoes for young children, he said."

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Tip: Avoid nonsterilized tap water as precaution to Brain-eating tap water amoeba

2011-12-19T04:26:00.000-08:00

Brain-eating tap water amoeba kills at least two in Louisiana - National Human Rights | Examiner.com: "*

PRECAUTION:

> Refrain from activities in warm, untreated or poorly treated water, especially when water levels are low and temperatures are high.

> Hold the nose shut or use nose clips when swimming in warm fresh water.

> Avoid digging or stirring up underwater sediments while submerged in shallow, warm freshwater areas."

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Israel: Supports Clean Technology: Vodafone Ventures and Carmel Ventures Lead $9.2M Investment in CellEra to Bring Affordable Fuel Cells to Market

2011-12-19T04:17:00.000-08:00

Vodafone Ventures and Carmel Ventures Lead $9.2M Investment in CellEra to Bring Affordable Fuel Cells to Market - PR Newswire - sacbee.com:

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Israel: Vodafone Ventures and Carmel Ventures Lead $9.2M Investment in CellEra to Bring Affordable Fuel Cells to Market - PR Newswire - sacbee.com

2011-12-19T02:59:00.000-08:00

Vodafone Ventures and Carmel Ventures Lead $9.2M Investment in CellEra to Bring Affordable Fuel Cells to Market - PR Newswire - sacbee.com:

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Canada: We must still take climate change seriously

2011-12-19T02:55:00.000-08:00

We must still take climate change seriously:

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Tip: Food that Fight Osteoporosis: Dairy products, almonds, broccoli, spinach, canned salmon with the bones, sardines, and soy products

2011-12-15T16:13:00.000-08:00

How to Prevent Osteoporosis Page 2 | ThirdAge: "Proof positive that a sedentary lifestyle is the enemy of your bones is that when an arm or leg is in a cast, or when astronauts experience zero gravity, or when someone is bedridden, a phenomenon called skeletal unloading comes into play. If this goes on for weeks at a time, the number of bone cells plummets, the transfer into the bones of vital nutrients such as calcium and phosphorous slows down, and osteoprogenitor cells that can create new bone are not produced as rapidly. In a less dramatic but still detrimental way, your bones begin to deteriorate when you spend too much time sitting and not enough time moving."

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Tip: Things You Must Know to Prevent Osteoporosis: Calcium, Vitamin D & Exercise

2011-12-15T16:10:00.000-08:00

How to Prevent Osteoporosis | ThirdAge: "Even if osteoporosis runs in your family, there is plenty you can do to make sure your bones stay as strong as possible.

According to the Mayo Clinic, three key factors affect your bone health throughout your life:

Whether you get adequate amounts of calcium
Whether you get adequate amounts of vitamin D
Whether you exercise regularly"

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HP Enables Organizations Worldwide to Expand Data Center Resources that Supports Growth, Maximizes Efficiency & Reduces Costs

2011-12-15T15:54:00.000-08:00

HP Enables Organizations Worldwide to Expand Data Center Resources With HP POD - MarketWatch: "HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world's largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com .

(1) Based on internal HP testing. (2) Based on 2010 census reports. (3) Based on estimations by El Paso County. (4) Based on estimations by UCLA."

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California: Gov. vows to prepare Calif. for climate change

2011-12-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Gov. vows to prepare Calif. for climate change: "United Nations' top climate official on Thursday lauded California's efforts to help mitigate global warming by reducing greenhouse gases but said the state needs to more quickly adapt to the risks that extreme weather and a rising sea pose to agriculture and the coastline.

Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, joined scientists, California Gov. Jerry Brown and billionaire Sir Richard Branson at a conference at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park."

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Tip: Take Few Minutes Every Morning to Close Your Eyes, pay attention to your Heart and declare how you wish to experience the day

2011-12-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

Holidays: They're supposed to be fun - chicagotribune.com: "Most holiday stress stems from a few basic sources, Chopra said.

Being around family can trigger traumatic childhood memories for some people, prompting mood swings and depression. Others overindulge in sugar and alcohol, throwing their bodies for a loop. For many, the holidays become a subconscious competition of who can enjoy them most.

"Who's getting more presents, who has more attention, who is spending more money?" Chopra said. "We live in a society where our validation comes from the outside, and that is very difficult to overcome because people have been conditioned to care how people think of them.""

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Europe: Role of Caspian gas will increase in Europe's energy security

2011-12-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

Experts: Role of Caspian gas will increase in Europe's energy security:

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NASA: Climate Change May Bring Big Ecosystem Changes

2011-12-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

NASA - NASA - Climate Change May Bring Big Ecosystem Changes: "When faced with climate change, plant species often must "migrate" over multiple generations, as they can only survive, compete and reproduce within the range of climates to which they are evolutionarily and physiologically adapted. While Earth's plants and animals have evolved to migrate in response to seasonal environmental changes and to even larger transitions, such as the end of the last ice age, they often are not equipped to keep up with the rapidity of modern climate changes that are currently taking place. Human activities, such as agriculture and urbanization, are increasingly destroying Earth's natural habitats, and frequently block plants and animals from successfully migrating."

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Tip: Beat the Holiday Blues: B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D and fish oil are all nutrients shown to impact on mood improvement

2011-12-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

"Journaling, counselling, meditation, feeling gratitude for what is good in your life, supporting brain chemistry and balance in your body with regular meals that emphasize protein, fruit, veggies, raw nuts and seeds. B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin D and fish oil are all nutrients shown to impact on mood. Sometimes getting outside of ourselves and tuning into others can be a welcome distraction from our self." 'via Blog this' Keep your health on the front burner during the holidays - Entertainment - The Guardian:

Philadelphia: Alternative Energy Company generates hydrogen gas and heat for multiple applications requiring on-site, on-demand fuel sources

2011-12-13T13:20:00.000-08:00

"AlumiFuel Power, Inc. API ( www.alumifuelpowerinc.com ), the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based wholly owned operating subsidiary of AlumiFuel Power Corporation, is an early production stage alternative energy company that generates hydrogen gas and steam/heat through the chemical reaction of aluminum, water, and proprietary additives. This technology is ideally suited for multiple applications requiring on-site, on-demand fuel sources, serving National Security and commercial customers. API's hydrogen feeds fuel cells for portable and back-up power; fills inflatable devices such as weather balloons; can replace costly, hard-to-handle and high pressure K-Cylinders; and provides fuel for flameless heater applications. Its hydrogen/heat output is also being designed and developed to drive fuel cell-based and turbine-based undersea propulsion systems and auxiliary power systems. API has significant differentiators in performance, adaptability, safety and cost-effectiveness in its target market applications, with no external power required and no toxic chemicals or by-products." 'via Blog this'AlumiFuel Power Progress Report on Development of PBIS-2000 Well Received by U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command - MarketWatch:

US: Yale University Project on Climate Change: Survey shows Most Americans Link Bad Weather to Climate Change

2011-12-13T13:14:00.000-08:00

When asked about specific weather events, 67 percent of Americans strongly or somewhat strongly agreed that record-high temperatures in the U.S. in 2011 could be linked to climate change. Sixty-five percent said the same of the 2011 drought in Texas and Oklahoma. Sixty percent linked climate change to both the Mississippi River floods of spring 2011 and the record snowfalls in the U.S. in 2010 and 2011. Likewise, 57 percent said that Hurricane Irene, which hit the East Coast in late August, was worsened by climate change."

'via Blog this'Most Americans Link Bad Weather to Climate Change | Global Warming Perceptions & Public Opinion | Drought, Winter Storms & Hurricanes | LiveScience: "

Tip: Support Child's Healthy Emotional Development by "Containment" or setting limits on child's behavior

2011-12-12T20:27:00.000-08:00

Limit Setting as Containment of Feelings - Child In Mind - Boston.com: "In its most concrete form it refers to the importance of setting limits on your child's behavior. For example, by giving a "time out" every time your child hits, you show him that this behavior will not be tolerated. In doing so, you protect him from the intensity of his feelings by making sure that things do not get out of control. When young children are so consumed with anger and frustration that they hit, they feel out of control, and clear limits help them learn to regulate and manage these difficult emotions. "

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China and Europe: Share a Huge Potential in Energy Cooperation to meet Climate Change

2011-12-12T20:23:00.000-08:00

Deepen Cooperation to Meet the Energy Challenge | New Europe: "The combination of China’s 12th Five-Year Plan and Europe’s 2020 Strategy will create new spaces of cooperation in market, capital, technology and management. Urbanization will certainly become a new area of growth in our energy cooperation. We are confident that as both China and Europe move to meet the climate change, our complementary strength will help foster new progress in the market of low-carbon technology and new energy. We believe that a fair, just, stable and orderly international energy market mechanism serves the fundamental interest of both China and Europe. Energy cooperation is an important bond to strengthen China-EU relations. China is willing to work more closely with Europe to upgrade practical cooperation in the energy sector and to deepen China-EU relations."

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Canada: Formally pulls out of Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change

2011-12-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

Canada formally pulls out of Kyoto Protocol on climate change - The Washington Post: "“To meet the targets under Kyoto for 2012 would be the equivalent of either removing every car, truck, ATV, tractor, ambulance, police car and vehicle of every kind from Canadian roads or closing down the entire farming and agriculture sector and cutting heat to every home, office, hospital, factory and building in Canada,” Kent said. Harper’s Conservative government is reluctant to hurt Canada’s booming oil sands sector, which is the country’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gases and a reason it has reneged on its Kyoto commitments. Canada has the world’s third-largest oil reserves, more than 170 billion barrels. Daily production of 1.5 million barrels from the oil sands is expected to increase to 3.7 million in 2025. Only Saudi Arabia and Venezuela have more reserves. But critics say the enormous amount of energy and water needed in the extraction process increases greenhouse gas emissions."

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Tip: Make Decisions when Mind is Balance because Emotions influence decision-making process

2011-12-11T18:28:00.000-08:00

"Prof Aditya Murthy from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Prof Vinod Venkatraman from Fox School of Business, Temple University, Philadelphia spoke on issues related to perceptual decision making systems and cognitive control during decision making. According to Dr Vinod, complex economic decisions, whether investing money for retirement or purchasing some new electronic gadget, often involve uncertainty about the likely consequences of our choices. He demonstrated, through his studies, that certain areas of the brain contribute to the strategic control in complex decision making, exploring which can also help in understanding interaction in social contexts."

'via Blog this'‘Emotions influence decision-making process’ - The Times of India:

Australia: Turning Algae from CO2 into Fuel. CO2 is not released into atmosphere, but it's going into a renewable source

2011-12-11T18:09:00.000-08:00

"A lot of countries worldwide are facing taxation on the carbon dioxide pollution they emit, and many companies are looking to alternative companies like Algae Energy to help do something about it. "If a company is facing millions of dollars of taxation, they will think of an alternative not to face excess taxation," he said. The algae system is known as a closed loop system. A 40-foot shipping container module can be sent anywhere in the world, equipped with power and plumbing. Once algae is grown and harvested, it can be used to create oil. Another product is biomass, which can be used in burning, as in coal, and feedstock in cattle. "Even the byproducts of the unit is a sustainable solution," McConchie said. The company has been growing as fast as its algae. The company went public January 2011 in the Australian Stock Market and has recently been added to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. In the New York Stock Exchange, they are traded under Foreign Depositories.
"

'via Blog this'Turning algae from carbon dioxide into fuel: Algae is nothing more than a plant. You need water, nutrients and carbon dioxide, and that's basically what Algae Energy uses to grow its system. Headquartered in Perth, Australia, in April the company opened a research and development and analysis facility in Cumming, 2460 Industrial Park Boulevard. Tray McConchie, business manager for Algae Energy, said technology, laboratory testing and fabrication of the company's modules are done in Cumming.

China & India: Will devise a new Global System for curbing emissions of greenhouse gases and make it operational by 2020

2011-12-11T17:59:00.000-08:00

Free Markets, Carbon Tax Best Way to Fight Climate Change: View - Businessweek: "The best instrument for coordinating climate-change efforts is the price of carbon. The impact of any carbon-abatement plan -- emission quotas, cap and trade, carbon taxes -- can be measured by its effect on this price. The aim should be to equalize worldwide a gradually rising price of carbon. As a matter of practical politics, this flexibility is essential. It would allow governments to more easily tailor their climate-change policies to political and economic circumstances, altering them on the run if need be. The price of carbon would provide an international gauge of their abatement efforts, so that peer pressure could be brought to bear. For most countries, the simplest and clearest way to hit the price target would be with an outright carbon tax. The economic benefits are well known: By letting markets work, a tax achieves a given amount of emissions abatement at the lowest cost. The world needs to cap its greenhouse gas emissions, but there’s no obligation to do this in the most expensive, painful or disruptive way."

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Tip: Stop the Stigma Habit & Help Everyone Achieved Balanced Mental Health

2011-12-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

Stigma removes minorities from various avenues of competition. "It is associated with unemployment, low earnings, lack of housing, diminished self-esteem, weak social support, new disorders or repeat episodes of existing problems, etc. Stigma can be instrumental or institutional causing resource limitations and unsupportive policies. To the perpetrators, stigma plays functions of reducing prevalence of “undesirable” behaviours and thus providing a means of social control, enhancing personal or group self-esteem and alleviating discomfort and anxiety on the part of the “normal”. Stop stigma today."

'via Blog this'Stop stigma in mental health:

Solar Experiment:"We need 0.05% of the land to capture adequate sunlight (the entire Earth) in 4.5 hours (1.25 hours) to satisfy our needs for a year"

2011-12-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

"Catching energy from the Sun is pretty simple. Sit in the sun on a cool day and benefit from its warmth. Situate your house so that south-facing windows can swallow sunlight and offset (or obviate) conventional sources of heat. Use thermal collectors for domestic hot water and/or interior heating. Stick a PV panel outside and it will generate electricity provided it is not placed face-down. Concentrate sunlight to heat a fluid and/or create steam for electricity production in a heat engine (possibly combined with thermal storage). Lots of options, when the sun shines."

'via Blog this'Solar vs. Wind - Who Wins? at Oil Price:

Of the 1370 W/m² incident on the upper atmosphere from the Sun, 30% is reflected straight away without pausing long enough to say hello. About 20% is absorbed in the atmosphere and clouds, and 50% gets absorbed at ground level. Note that 7% of the energy budget goes into conduction and rising air (separate phenomena; the latter relating to wind). Virtually no heat is able to conduct through the thick atmosphere, so really this figure is all about convection, or moving air. For comparison, the energy consumption (conversion) rate of the human race is about 13 TW (13 trillion Watts), which works out to an average of about 2,000 W per person on the globe (Americans are 10 kW). We can also divide by the area of the globe to get a power density of 0.025 W per square meter, or 0.09 W/m² if we just count land area.

If 50% of the incoming solar radiation makes its way to the ground, then we have about 700 W/m² for the average terrestrial square meter facing the Sun. But the Sun puts this onto the projected ?R² area of the Earth (the disk of the Earth as seen from the Sun), while the actual 3-D globe has an area of 4?R². So we must divide by four to get the flux per unit area of actual terra firma, yielding 170 W/m². We can think of this factor of four as being made up of a factor of two for day and night, plus a factor of two because the Sun is not overhead all the time, resulting in a loss of intensity per square meter at the ground. A panel tilted to the site latitude can compensate for some of the slanted-sun-angle loss (for high latitudes, the ground always suffers from this geometric dilution, even at “high” noon), so that the ½ factor becomes 2/?, or 0.64, representing a global 30% boost over horizontal panels. In this scheme, we get 220 W/m² for our latitude-tilted panel (nearly independent of latitude, weather notwithstanding). The tilted panels will require more land to avoid self-shadowing, so that the amount of land area needed is stuck with the pre-adjusted value of 170 W/m².

Note how much bigger the solar potential is than our demand of 0.09 W/m² of land area. This implies that we need only 0.05% of the land to capture adequate sunlight, or that enough sunlight strikes land (the entire Earth) in 4.5 hours (1.25 hours) to satisfy our needs for a year. That’s a powerful resource!

But once we factor in efficiency—say 10% for simplicity and conservatism—we need ten times the land area computed above. Still, it’s a pittance. I have used the following graphic before to illustrate how much land would be occupied by solar photovoltaics (PV) at 8% efficiency to produce 18 TW of electrical output (note that about half of the 13 TW consumption today is lost in heat engines, so 18 TW of electricity more than satisfies our current demand)

Durban Climate Change Conference: More than 120 Countries now Support a Timetable towards a Legally Binding Agreement

2011-12-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

"The world is within reach of a new deal to stop global warming", said Chris Huhne, the UK’s Energy and Climate Change Secretary. That obviously puts a substantial amount of pressure on countries that are not signed up to our vision and a number of them are beginning to back it and you saw that today with the US coming up and saying it’s in favour of a road map,” he said. “A comprehensive global agreement is not beyond our reach,” he said. “We can achieve when we display flexibility and the will to compromise. If we continue to choose co-operation over conflict, we can show that all nations are indeed united by a common ambition: to protect our planet and our people from the dangers of climate change.” The EU want a deal in place by 2015 but sources close to the talks say the date could be pushed back and emissions are unlikely to start coming down before 2020. Joseph Alcamo, the UN Environment programme chief scientist, pointed out that emissions need to peak within the decade or the world will be “locked in” to dangerous global warming."

'via Blog this'Durban Climate Change conference: world close to deal on global warming - Telegraph:

Tip: EXERCISE regularly, Physical inactivity, a risk factor for death from heart disease & stroke

2011-12-07T19:06:00.000-08:00

"Researchers said changes in BMI might have a significant effect on death risk in obese people. A healthy score is between 18 and 25; overweight is 25 to less than 30; obese is 30 and over. Many people don’t realize they are actually obese or near that mark.

In Indiana, the obesity level just went over 30 percent (30.2 percent). Another third is overweight. So, we have a long way to go. But, hopefully, some of these people are at least exercising regularly so they are lessening their chances of dying an early death."

'via Blog this'Good news for overweight exercisers! | Fit For Life blog | The Indianapolis Star | IndyStar.com:

Carbon War Room: Solutions to Energy Problems have to come from New Technologies

2011-12-07T17:58:00.000-08:00

"Business titan Sir Richard Branson, philanthropist extraordinaire, Chairman of Virgin Air, and an early investor in the green energy sector, has taken a lead role in the global search for biofuels for use in the airline industry. Appearing on MSNBC earlier this week, Mr. Branson laid out the rationale for investment in the green energy sector, and his long term commitment to the effort through the creation of the Carbon War Room. The Carbon War Room is a global, independent non-profit that brings together complementary NGO's, entrepreneurs, corporate entrepreneurs, financiers, and the climate change community to focus on gigaton-scale, market-based solutions to climate change."

'via Blog this'VG Energy Highlighted in Branson's "Carbon War Room" Jet Fuel Initiative - MarketWatch:

Update: Fishing Industry on Climate Change: Success happens when there is right mix of fishing regulations to rebuild depleted ecosystems

2011-12-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

"Participants in Durban could offer a significant boost to fishing communities by committing to facilitate good resource governance and build adaptive capacity. Specifically, this means nurturing the social organization, assets, and learning that will provide a basis for adaptation. It also means that aid and fisheries contract money need to be fair, reflect the value of the fish, and promote social capacity development and improved ecosystems management. Additionally, most developed countries have failed to meet their international commitments of contributing just 0.7 percent of their Gross National Product (GNP) to international aid. New commitments to support the Green Climate Fund—created in part to help developing countries cope with climate change—also appear to be soft and need to be a higher priority. Honoring these commitments is necessary to move beyond disaster relief and toward the proactive assistance that will help both people and ecosystems successfully confront the growing threat of a warming planet."

'via Blog this'Global Fishing Communities Putting the Heat on Climate Change Talks – News Watch:

Montana: Biofuel: Camelina has potential to create jobs, reduce dependency on fossil fuels & decrease carbon emissions

2011-12-06T15:44:00.000-08:00

"Camelina has a number of advantages over its competitors, including using far less water, thus allowing it to be grown on marginal land, thereby not taking food acreage out of production. Furthermore camelina has a relatively short growing season of 80 to 100 days, requires no special equipment to harvest, and the silage remaining after processing can be fed to livestock and poultry, with the added side benefit of increasing their omega-3 production. Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture has given camelina production a major shot in the arm by selecting 40 counties in Montana for a pilot program of federally backed camelina crop insurance. The counties covered are Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Lewis and Clark, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux and Yellowstone."

'via Blog this'U.S. Biofuel Camelina Production Set to Soar at Oil Price:

Tip: Cure the root of Addiction by Understanding & Finding Ways to Manage Stress

2011-12-06T15:40:00.000-08:00

We have chemical and hormonal changes to deal with stress. A well know chemical is the stress hormone cortisol which is increased and it leads to an increase of another chemical, adrenaline. The body gears up immediately in the face of stressful stimuli. It goes to our energy stores, and releases glucose and insulin so that our muscles have the energy to deal with the stress. These body chemicals are sustained at high rates to compensate for the stress, and as such, they can impact the body adversely over time. Additionally, the choices we make to handle this stress can influence how those stress hormones affect us. Drugs like alcohol, nicotine and cocaine, and also high-fat, high-calorie comfort foods, are powerful modifiers of the stress system. They will change our stress pathways and affect the way your body is able to control our stress response. And so, after a period of bingeing, our body’s stress response system eventually wears out. However, folks will continue to take those drugs and alcohol to compensate a weakened system. This is often what we see in addiction."

'via Blog this'Healthy Living: Holiday Stress - WABI TV5:Does that mean we cannot revitalize our stress responses such as the adrenals? In fact, our body is forgiving and they can recover when we take away those toxins. What is not clear is how long that process takes. The problem, though, is that while your adrenals are still recovering, you are more likely to be stressed. And stress affects abstinence and increases chances of a relapse. So then we are caught in a vicious cycle of quickly degenerating health because both the stress and the substances are working together to wear down our body systems and our stress axis, our liver, kidney, heart, blood pressure. All this can also lead to certain types of cancer. We don’t really know which comes first, but we do know that these are all complex multi-factoral diseases. That means they don’t have one single factor that leads to the disease state. And there are factors that can make a person even more vulnerable to stress-related diseases and addiction: early trauma suffered in childhood, cumulative adversity, socio-economic status, education and also things like genetics and personality traits.

Durban, South Africa: Bishop's call to view the issue as a moral imperative

2011-12-06T14:50:00.000-08:00

Putting Planet First in Climate Change Talks | Africa | English: ""Climate change is a moral issue and it must be met by the moral principles of justice, equity, compassion, love. And that we’ve got to really realize, that we’ve got to put the wellbeing of the planet and people before our financial considerations,” said retired Anglican Bishop Geoff Davies, coordinator of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute."

'via Blog this'

Tip: You have to take time for yourself, at least an hour a day, that's the key. If you won't make it a priority, it won't be a priority.

2011-12-05T14:58:00.000-08:00

"A year ago, Bob Pearson was full of excuses. He didn't have time to work out. He didn't know how to prepare the right foods. Just the thought of trying to be healthier was overwhelming. “There are a million excuses,” the Hampshire resident says. “A year ago, I was 300 pounds, and I was just miserable.”"'via Blog this'New body, new life for Fittest Loser contestants -There are no more excuses now. Since winning the 2011 Fittest Loser Challenge sponsored by the Daily Herald, Pearson has taken control of his health. DailyHerald.com:

Update: World's Leading Clean Technology Manufacturer of Microturbine Energy Systems, Capstone, extends OEM agreement for GE's Heat Recovery Solutions

2011-12-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

"The original agreement has been extended through January 2016. In addition, GE will provide parts support to Capstone through 2020. Capstone has seen significant interest in the Clean Cycle generator, both with Capstone's microturbine and in other waste heat applications. The addition of Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to the California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) means that qualifying California utility customers can receive up to a $1,250/kW rebate to help reduce the cost of installing the Capstone waste heat application.
The SGIP was modified by a California Public Utilities Commission decision that made Organic Rankine Cycle/Waste Heat-to-Power systems eligible for the SGIP along with a list of other greenhouse gas-reducing technologies, including microturbines. Capstone has received several orders for the Clean Cycle product and began shipping units more than 18 months ago."

'via Blog this'Capstone Extends Agreement With GE; Products Eligible for Incentive Under California Self-Generation Incentive Program - MarketWatch:

Update: Canada, Japan and Russia all announced last year their rejection of Kyoto's second commitment period, starting in 2013

2011-12-05T13:38:00.000-08:00

While "China's top climate negotiator Xie Zenhua, in his first meeting with reporters, said China wanted to ensure all previous commitments by the industrial countries were met before entering into the next phase. If that happened, he said, China could discuss a post-2020 deal. "The framework, I think, should be a legally binding one, or some documents to that effect." But Xie set several "preconditions," including an extension of the Kyoto commitments for industrial countries, honoring commitments on immediate and long-term financial aid to poor countries, and delivery on promises of new technologies to develop low-carbon economies. U.S. envoy Todd Stern said the United States has no objection to a post-2020 treaty, as long as it treats everyone the same. Countries must accept "obligations and commitments that have the same legal force," Stern said."

'via Blog this'Negotiations begin at climate conference – USATODAY.com:

Tip: Secure the heart of that special person we seek, and to make a difference in some way – to matter and bring value to the relationship

2011-12-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

"A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the way we express love and care for one another, from the time we are infants and throughout our lives, directly affects the health and physical structure of our brains and nervous systems. Certain actions, ones that convey emotional messages of kindness, caring and love, can affect positive changes on partners and their relationship by releasing certain hormones, such as oxytocin, which amps up the love-connection pathways of the brain. Oxytocin is a hormone that is released by the pituitary gland and stimulates the release of other chemical hormones in the heart."

'via Blog this'20 Ways to Amp Up The Love (Boost Oxytocin Naturally) In Your Couple Relationship | Neuroscience and Relationships:

Renewable Energy: China is another good outlet, having recently announced that it will double its spending on clean energy

2011-12-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

"The renewable energy market segment is seeing strong growth and the lowering of entry costs in many cases. But start up renewable energy companies are finding funding tough to come across with debt crises raising its head worldwide and major funding going towards web 2.0 tech companies. Whether its alternative energy, clean energy or green energy, long shots in the renewable energy market can come from anywhere. Start ups here are as abundant as in the IT market segments, with good cause too. Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually and solar production growth has averaged 40% per year since 2000. Add to that ,from 2007 through 2010, fed subsidies jumped from $5 billion to over $14 billion and 2010 entire investment into renewables was over $200 billion. An emerging company like Sunbelt International (SUNB), has eyed up both solar and wind power with expertise and quality products in both. The company looks to pass on economic savings, received through a manufacturing plant in China, to its clients. "

'via Blog this'The Friday Clean Energy Report: Sunbelt International Inc. (OTCBB:SUNB):

Update: Middle East: Extremely vulnerable to effects of climate change including severe droughts, water shortages, and flooding in coastal areas

2011-12-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

Climate change: Why COP17 matters for the Middle East | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt: "The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) published a report last year entitled Mapping of Climate Change Threats and Human Development Impacts in the Arab Region. It revealed that with hotter, drier and less predictable climates, the amount of water running into the region's streams and rivers is set to fall by 20 to 30 percent by 2050. Expected consequences include food insecurity and more-rapid desertification, the report says. Since the region is home to six of the world's ten most water-scarce countries, the consequences could be far-reaching. Its citizens currently have access to an average of 1000 cubic meters of water a year, a figure seven times below the world average, and the figure is expected to shrink to 460 cubic meters by 2025. According to a report released last week by the World Meteorological Organization (IMO), all indicators point to an expected 20 percent decrease in the water resources of the Ethiopian Plateau, with a corresponding reduction in Nile water flowing to downstream countries. The report estimates an annual reduction of more than 11 billion cubic meters in Egypt and Sudan alone due to the effects of climate change."

'via Blog this'

Tip: Help kids get fit. School should consider having salad bar to promote Healthy Eating and urge kids to Avoid chips and soda

2011-12-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

"Some doctors and public health officials have questioned how valuable body mass index is as a predictor of an individual child's overall fitness. Yet studies have shown in general that people with more body fat or greater body mass tend to have more long-term health risks. The test requires students to perform different activities and perform at a certain level, which varies by age, height, weight and gender. To be considered fit, for example, a 5-foot-6, 150-pound, 15-year-old ninth-grade boy would need to run a mile in nine minutes, perform at least 16 pushups, and do at least 24 sit-ups, among other requirements."

'via Blog this'Study finds one-third of children are too plump:

Update: If not stop, additional Coal-Fired Power Plants Projects will emit CO2 equivalent to CO2 emitted since the beginning of industrialization

2011-12-01T16:01:00.000-08:00

""In Europe over 100 new coal-fired power plants are in a planning stage or under construction," according to the report. "Last year, 173 coal-fired power plants were approved for construction in India -- that is one power plant every two days." "All told, India has enough plants in the pipeline to expand its coal-fired capacity by 600% over the next two decades. "In China, two new coal plants are being completed per week," it says. "If China's carbon usage keeps up this pace, the country's CO2 emissions in 2030 will equal the entire world's CO2 production today." South Africa is singled out in the report as the 11th largest CO2 emitter worldwide, with particular attention devoted to Eskom's new coal-fired power plants Medupi and Kusile. "Eskom's newest projects are gargantuan," the report said. "The Medupi and Kusile power plants, 4 800MW each, will be six times as big as typical coal-fired power plants in Germany and will produce estimated emissions of over 60-million metric tonnes of CO2 annually." "It is estimated that some 40 new coal mines will be needed to supply both plants with fuel," says the report."

'via Blog this'Dirty energy financiers shamed - Newspaper - Mail & Guardian Online:

Update: Scientists studying grey wolves in Yellowstone national park have developed a method to predict how animals will respond to Climate Change

2011-12-01T15:43:00.000-08:00

""We now have the tools to determine how wolves would react to climate change," said Tim Coulson, a professor of life sciences at Imperial College London, who led the study. "With any luck, in the future we can apply the methods developed from the wolves down to small mites or to large herbivores." The study used data that is already routinely collected on radio-collared wolves to get a glimpse of some basic responses to a changing environment – population numbers, genetics, body size, and the timing of key events in the wolf life cycle, such as when they first have pups. It also took account of changing genetics in the wolves' coats. Unlike in Europe, the grey wolves of Yellowstone actually have black or grey coats. Research scientists from the US department of the interior, Utah State University and the University of California travelled over the park by helicopter, tracking wolf packs. They shot the wolves from the air with darts, before descending to weigh them and take blood samples. The scientists collected more than a decade's worth of data from the 280 wolves living in the park."

'via Blog this'Climate change insight gleaned from Yellowstone wolves | Environment | The Guardian:

Tip: Eat plenty of fish and don’t play violent video games if you want to keep your brain healthy

2011-11-30T19:40:00.000-08:00

"A diet that includes at least one serving of baked or broiled fish a week significantly reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease later in life, according to one study. And young men who play violent video games damage parts of their brains that help them control their emotions, learn, organize, plan and problem-solve, according to the other. In the first study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh compared the diets of 260 healthy men and women with brain scans. The 163 patients who ate fish every week were at almost five times less risk of contracting Alzheimer’s or dementia ten years later, Dr. Cyrus Raji said."

'via Blog this'Eat fish, limit violent video games for healthy brain, studies show - Chicago Sun-Times: The second study, carried out by researchers at Indiana University, found that young men aged 18-29 who played a violent video game for 10 hours over the course of a week had reduced activity in parts of their brain that allow them to control their emotions and aggressive behavior.

Update: Total and Amyris Partner to Produce Renewable Fuels & Jet Fuels Worldwide

2011-11-30T19:36:00.000-08:00

Total and Amyris have agreed to expand their ongoing research and development collaboration to accelerate the deployment of Biofene(R) and develop renewable diesel based on this molecule produced from plant sugars. The ambitious R&D program, launched in 2010 and managed jointly by researchers from both companies, aims to develop the necessary stages to bring the next generation renewable fuels to market at commercial scale. Total has committed to contribute $105 million in funding for an existing $180 million program. In addition, Total and Amyris have agreed to form a 50-50 joint venture company that will have exclusive rights to produce and market renewable diesel and jet fuel worldwide, as well as non-exclusive rights to other renewable products such as drilling fluids, solvents, polymers and specific biolubricants. The venture aims to begin operations in the first quarter of 2012. "The creation of the joint venture and the implementation of the new renewable diesel R&D program are two more major steps forward for Total, which is aiming to become a key supplier in renewable fuels," commented Philippe Boisseau, President of Gas & Power at Total."

'via Blog this Total and Amyris Partner to Produce Renewable Fuels - MarketWatch: "

Update: The world is looking to the United States—and China—for leadership on Climate Change issue

2011-11-30T19:27:00.000-08:00

"In extensive multi-country surveys covering a majority of the world’s population, majorities in almost every nation surveyed believe that global warming is a threat or a problem. Globally, the percentage of respondents holding this view is an overwhelming 84 percent. In the United States, the figure has declined slightly in recent years but remains a robust 70 percent (according to a 2010 Pew poll). Moreover, solid majorities in most countries—including the United States—believe that climate change is related to human activity and that, if it is left unchecked, they will be negatively affected by it in their lifetimes."

'via Blog this'Stewart M. Patrick: The Internationalist » Public More Willing than Politicians to Address Climate Change:At Durban, nations should not that 93 percent of Chinese citizens consider climate change a “serious” problem according to a 2009 WPO poll—and use it as a bargaining chip to encourage China to accept responsibility for addressing climate change. (read more, click link above)

Tip: Sleep very well to cure emotional pain (New Study: Overnight Therapy, REM sleep heals)

2011-11-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

"MRI scans performed during REM sleep revealed that brain activity fell in the amygdala—the emotion-processing part of the brain—possibly allowing the more rational prefrontal cortex to soften the images' impact. (See an interactive brain map.) In addition, recordings of the subjects' electrical brain activity during sleep made with electroencephalograms showed a decrease in the levels of brain chemicals linked to stress. When people experience an emotional event, stress chemicals are released to flag and prioritize that event, essentially reminding the brain to work through it during sleep, according to Walker, whose study appeared November 23 in the journal Current Biology. "Somewhere between the initial event and the later point of recollecting, the brain has performed an elegant trick of divorcing emotions from memory, so it's no longer itself emotional," Walker said."

'via Blog this'Why Do We Dream? To Ease Painful Memories, Study Hints:

Alternative Energy: A new way of life and a new generation of wealth

2011-11-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

"Because while natural gas will likely be our main source of power generation for decades to come, wind, solar, and geothermal will also be getting a bigger piece of that pie. And while we'll suck every last ounce of oil from anywhere we can economically produce it, we are actively developing alternative modes of transportation right now that will either require less oil or no oil at all. From natural gas trucks and buses to more efficient internal combustion engines to electric cars, this is happening right now. And this is our opportunity to make a choice...
Either embrace it and profit from it, or miscalculate the enormity of the change that is about to take place — much in the way the former Michigan Savings Bank president did when he insisted the automobile was nothing more than a novelty. When it comes to energy in the 21st century, the only novelty or fad is the outdated and delusional mentality that the world is not transitioning its energy economy to one that will rely less and less on finite resources." Jeff Siegel, Editor, Energy and Capital

'via Blog this'Alternative Energy Warnings:

United States: Agreed to take its emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020

2011-11-29T18:30:00.000-08:00

"Added together, all of the nations' proposed cuts — if successful — would lead to about 5.8 degrees F (3.2 degrees C) warming by the year 2100, a significant distance from the target of 3.6 degree F, according to calculations by the independent science-based project Climate Action Tracker. These voluntary commitments to reduce emissions are a "very, very positive sign," said Niklas Höhne, director of energy and climate policy for the independent research and consulting company Ecofys, one of the organizations behind Climate Action Tracker."

'via Blog this'Durban climate change talks: Experts see warmer world as inevitable - CSMonitor.com:

Tip: Avoid Playing Violent Games. New Brain Study reveals Emotion decreases after playing

2011-11-28T17:36:00.000-08:00

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), scientists were able to document altered brain responses after video game play. What's more, some of those changes were still present a week later. "We found that functioning has been changed in the brain by violent video games," said Dr. Yang Wang, an assistant research professor in the department of radiology and imaging sciences at Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. "We found that activation [of an area of the brain that controls emotion] is decreased after playing violent video games.""

'via Blog this'Violent Video Games May Alter Brain Function: Study - US News and World Report:

China: Top Nation in Total Clean Energy Investments

2011-11-28T17:08:00.000-08:00

"Third Way cites data from Ernst and Young showing for the first time, in 2010, China beat the United States in terms of its attractiveness for renewable energy investment, receiving 20% of total global clean energy investment in 2010, compared with the 19% drawn by the United States. Just 7 years ago China had only 3% of the total, while the United States drew 20% of investment. Furthermore, China attracted US$54.4bn in clean energy financing in 2010, a 39% increase over 2009 and equal to the entire amount of clean energy investment worldwide in 2004. Similar financing in the United States stagnated last year at US$34.4bn, approximately equal to 2007 levels.

Leading innovations. In the realm of innovation, China is expected to lead the world in overall number of patents filed in 2011, surpassing the United States and Japan for the first time. China ranks second in the estimated number of people engaged in scientific and engineering research and development."

'via Blog this'Renewable Energy Focus - China passes US in clean energy investment:

Climate change is "a matter of life and death", South African President Jacob Zuma

2011-11-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

But, "Canada will not make further cuts in its greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol, and may begin formally withdrawing next month. Though not a surprise, the news will anger poor countries that say the rich are reneging on pledges made 14 years ago when the protocol was signed. They see the protocol as the only way to make emission cuts legally binding. Also on the first day of the UN climate summit in South Africa, the UK was criticised over support for tar sands. In the main conference hall, delegates heard South African President Jacob Zuma call for meaningful progress. "For most people in the developing world and Africa, climate change is a matter of life and death," he said. "In these talks, states, parties will need to look beyond their national interests to find a global solution for the common good and benefit of all humanity.""

'via Blog this'BBC News - Climate summit sees Canadian strike on Kyoto treaty:

DURBAN CLIMATE CONFERENCE

Summit will attempt to agree the roadmap for a future global deal on reducing carbon emissions
Developing countries are insisting rich nations pledge further emission cuts under the Kyoto Protocol
Delegates also aim to finalise some deals struck at last year's summit
These include speeding up the roll-out of clean technology to developing nations…
… and a system for managing the Green Climate Fund, scheduled to gather and distribute billions of dollars per year to developing countries
Progress may also be made on funding forest protection

Tip: Dealing w/ Loss & Grief: Awareness is important to make sure we're not stuck & we can process emotions & move forward

2011-11-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

"The experience of losing something we value is a part of life no one can escape from. Loss has many shapes and forms, it could be a relationship that comes to an end, a loved one dies, a break up comes, children leave or any other sort of transition that brings about a feeling of loss. When a feeling of loss happens, learning to cope is essential to be able to bounce back. When we lose something, we go through a period of grieving process which can generally start with denial and then go to feelings of anger, sadness and then acceptance"

'via Blog this'Roya R. Rad, MA, PsyD: 7 Steps for Dealing With Loss and Grief:

Renewable Energy: China targets for Sustainable Energy with the purpose of Environmental Safety

2011-11-27T21:01:00.000-08:00

"China's 12th five-year plan (2012-2017) has a targeted annual GDP growth rate of 7% and the development of renewable energy with an investment of $640 billion to constitute 15% of China's energy needs by the year 2020, building housing for 36 million families and the promotion of social equity and rural development. China's overall prospects are explicated given specific caveat concerning China's distinctive pragmatic and cautious approach of implementing a market system along a political control by a one party system -- its longevity and stability will be subject to conjecture.

China's successful macroeconomic management during the 2007-2009 global great recessions was marked by a rapid recovery after exports dropped by 18% causing 21 million workers to be laid off, but 98% readily found jobs as the economy bounced back up and the unemployment rate dropped to 4% with a $586 billion stimulus package directed at creating employment.

Given China's performance, it is estimated that its per capita income will converge to that of the United States by 2040. Its GDP is already second to that of the United States. China envisages a population of 1.39 by 2020"

'via Blog this'Nake M. Kamrany: China's Growing Economic Strength in the 21st Century:

Durban: COP17: Nations meet for the 17th Conference of the parties to United Nations Convention on Climate Change

2011-11-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

"Negotiators postponed until Durban the politically freighted question of whether to extend the frayed Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 agreement that requires most wealthy nations to trim their emissions while providing help to developing countries to pursue a cleaner energy path. Also still on the agenda are the structure of, and the sources of financing for, a climate adaptation and technology fund that is supposed to reach $100 billion a year by 2020.

One of the issues that is most contentious and least likely to be resolved involves the future of the Kyoto Protocol, which requires the major industrialized nations to meet targets on emissions reduction but imposes no mandates on developing countries, including emerging economic powers and sources of global greenhouse gas emissions like China, India, Brazil and South Africa."

'via Blog this'Nations Meet to Address Problems of Climate Change - NYTimes.com:

Tip: Coffee May Cut Endometrial Cancer (Nurses' Health Study - published by Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention)

2011-11-22T13:38:00.000-08:00

"The research, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, examined data from the Nurses' Health Study, one of the largest and longest-running investigations of factors that influence women's health. Out of the more than 67,000 women enrolled in the study, researchers found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee per day were linked to a 25 percent reduced risk of endometrial cancer. Women who drank two to three cups per day reduced that risk by 7 percent. "Women who regularly consumed coffee were at lower risk of endometrial cancer," said Dr. Edward Giovannucci. "Other studies had seen this association and because coffee lowers insulin levels and free estrogen levels, which are risk factors for endometrial cancer.""

'via Blog this'Coffee May Cut Endometrial Cancer Risk - ABC News:

Economic problems in Europe and elsewhere should not get in the way of a new pact to fight global warming

2011-11-22T13:05:00.000-08:00

"Delegates from nearly 200 countries meet from Monday till Dec 9 in Durban as part of marathon U.N.-led negotiations on a broader pact to curb growing greenhouse gas emissions as the world faces rising sea levels and greater weather extremes. "After the financial crisis, every country has had its problems, but these problems are just temporary," Xie Zhenhua, vice-director of the National Development and Reform Commission, told reporters on Tuesday. Officials in Beijing have suggested economic turmoil in Europe and political unrest in North Africa have pushed climate change far down the list of global priorities, overshadowing next week's talks and undermining plans to provide cash and technical support to poor nations to adapt to climate change. "Climate change isn't unimportant at this stage, but it isn't so salient, and I think it will again draw the attention of the global community in 2015 after the (new round of) scientific assessments are carried out," said Xie."

'via Blog this'China: Economic woes no excuse for climate change inaction - CSMonitor.com:

Tip: Reconnect w/ Emotions thru Deep Breathing to Cure PTSD - Intrusive Thoughts, Emotional Numbness & Hypervigilance

2011-11-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

"Science seems to be just catching up with ideas espoused by ancient practices such as yoga and meditation. "The goal of these kinds of practices is to change one's relationship to the trauma, change one's relationship to the negative emotions and intrusive thoughts that may arise as a consequence of the trauma," Davidson said. "By changing one's relationships to these disturbing emotions and thoughts, the goal is that eventually those emotions and thoughts will decrease in their intensity" "

'via Blog this'Veterans learn to use yoga and meditation exercises to reconnect with their emotions in a UW-Madison study:

Tip: Stop Toxic Relationships. Choose Genuine Love - the Emphatic Connection that encourages "Individuality of Each" as Essential to Healthy Intimacy

2011-11-20T13:47:00.000-08:00

"A couple relationship can be described as toxic when, due to intense emotional reactivity and defensive interaction patterns, it no longer promotes, and instead harms the individual mental, emotional, and physical, well-being and growth of each partner. The relationship is increasingly off balance, a factor that is affected by, and directly affects the individual inner sense of balance, health and safety of each partner.

Partners in toxic relationships tend to relate to one another as extensions of the other or themselves, in other words, as preconceived projections. As a result, their exchanges, in particular, the daily acts of giving and receiving that are essential to nourish a relationship, are often misplaced, shallow or emotionally detached, and in moments of stress or crisis, mere desperate attempts for self-protection rooted in fear."

'via Blog this'Toxic Couple Relationships – Protective Neural Patterns & Scripted Roles (1 of 3) | Neuroscience and Relationships: Though the individual patterns of each couple are as unique as the individual partners themselves, nevertheless, most toxic collusion patterns between partners tend to fall into one or more of the following toxic role scripts:

1. Pursuer Versus Avoider Role Script – Expressed VS Internalized Anger

In this script, one person openly seeks the other’s cooperation to their demands, more often, specific actions their protective neural patterns insist ‘must’ occur for them to feel safe and loved in relation to the other. In contrast, the other person, in accordance with the requirements of their own pre-conditioned circuitry, seemingly agrees to go along, and in some cases, does so to the extent that they compromise their own value system to please the other. In due time, however, when the latter notices their efforts are taken for granted rather than appreciated, they increasingly resist their partner’s demands, however, they mostly resort to using methods of expressing their internalized anger in mostly hidden, indirect ways.

For example, Partner A regards certain activities as all-important and increasingly ‘urgent,’ such as discussing an issue or doing some activity together, i.e., having more frequent sex or spending more time together, and zealously seeks to engage Partner B’s participation. Meanwhile, Partner B, who seemed willing to go along with Partner A’s plan at the start of their relationship, increasingly, performs a juggling act in which they, on the one hand, start to vehemently resist complying with Partner A’s demands while also, on the other hand – with equal or greater intensity – to avoid upsetting or angering Partner A in any way.

Whereas Partner A has no problem expressing their anger, regards it as one of their strengths, or admits to having problems with anger, Partner B typically internalizes anger, and seeks to hide or deny feeling this emotion, from themselves as well from others; when they occasionally explode with anger, they consider it rare or more evidence of ‘frustration’ rather than anger.

2. Blamer Versus Blamee Role Script - Expressed VS Internalized Disappointment

In this patterned interaction, one person openly blames the other for their own unhappiness, angry outbursts or other ways they act out, and frequently complains of the other’s seeming lack of respect or appreciation, and so on. The other person inwardly blames themselves, and lives in dread of disappointing their partner. The latter wallows in feelings of guilt and disappointment, on the one hand, at themselves for failing to make their partner feel secure enough to stop them from getting upset, and on the other hand, increasingly, they feel disappointed with their partner’s unwillingness to accept them for who they are or to recognize the intense efforts they make to meet their demands.

For example, Partner A deals with stress by compulsively reminding Partner A what they need to do to stop upsetting or angering them, noting what upsets them, listing the ways their demands or expectations have not been met. In general, Partner A blames a lot of their problems, unhappiness or angry outbursts on Partner B, and may dramatically display their disappointment whenever specified demands or expectations are not met. In the meantime, Partner B accepts blame, holds themselves responsible for causing upsets, and deals with any stress by apologizing, appeasing, and promising to do whatever it takes to change what bothers Partner A in the future.

For the most part, no one dares to hold Partner A responsible for how they treat others, and to learn to regulate their own emotions, and, as a result, Partner A has little or no understanding of their role in exacerbating emotional turmoil with themselves, their partner and the couple relationship. Meanwhile, everyone expects Partner B to take care of things to keep the peace, and Partner B holds themselves completely responsible for the emotional ups and downs of their partner, and others in the family, i.e., children; in fact, Partner B may even feel proud of their ability to put-out-fires, to act as a mediator of sorts in smoothing out issues, even ones between Partner A and other family members.

3. Doing Versus Feeling Role Script - Expressed VS Internalized Depreciation

In this scenario, one person is connected to what they want or don’t want, and what to do to get fast results, is the doer and problem solver, who likes to get things done, to make decisions, and, comparing themselves to their partner, often complains about the other’s relativeindifference, inability or lack of initiative in getting things done. The other partner seeks to fix or control the feeling states of the former, more specifically, to stop them from ever getting upset or angry.

For example, Partner A wants Partner B to take action, to complete ‘to do’ lists and produce specific results, thus, continuously evaluates Partner B’s performance against certain standards, and, mistrusting Partner B’s ability to make even minor decisions, is often certain Partner B will let them down. Meanwhile, Partner B has been anxiously hoping that, by working hard to make Partner A happy, at some point, Partner A will stop withholding caring feelings of acceptance, love or admiration, etc., express their appreciation.

As Partner A’s ability to express these emotions is often limited, increasingly Partner B doubts their ability to fix Partner A’s feelingstoward them, begins to lose hope about fixing the relationship, and increasingly does not see a reason to work so hard, considering Partner A does not appreciate their efforts. Similarly, Partner A increasingly feels frustrated by Partner B’s resistance to ‘listen’ to them, and Partner A interprets not listening as expressions of lack of respect or appreciation. Partner A may also feel inadequate in their ability to control or persuade Partner B to give them what they need. Partner B feels emotionally flooded or shut down at the first sign of a negative evaluation, disapproval or anger, feeling increasingly worried about the future of their relationship, family, etc., if they fail to meet with Partner A’s expectations.

Partner A is also increasingly frustrated that Partner B will not state their wants or take initiative in making plans to get things done; in contrast, Partner B professes not to have wants, and views this as a way they seek to feel “valued” in the relationship, by focusing on their partner’s wants rather than their own.

4. Responsible Versus Negligent Role Script - Expressed VS Internalized Disregard

In this script, one person in the relationship takes on the role of the other person’s judge and jury, and makes open accusations, demands, tells the other what to do, how to dress, what to think, etc. Feeling dependent on their partner’s approval, Partner B, at least outwardly, seeks to please, to appease or to prevent conflict – and to dismiss anything that would indicate things are not going well in their relationship or family.

For example, Partner A intensely feels they are the ‘responsible’ one, duty bound to act in accordance with high standards to fulfill duties in the area of family, children or work, etc., and may regard Partner B as less capable, perhaps with varying degrees of disregard, i.e., feeling annoyed or mistrusting them to handle certain situations, such as handling finances or children. Partner A feels it’s their responsibility to hold Partner B’s feet to the fire, and does so with regular doses of scolding, accusations, and evidence of failed performance, etc.

What Partner B fears most is disappointing or failing to meet Partner A’s expectations, yet the more they attempt to meet with their partner’s expectations, the more inadequate they feel. At some point, Partner B may resist to the point of being unwilling to take any action, rather than risk failure.

Whereas Partner A outwardly disregards the value of Partner A, Partner B increasingly expresses their resentment or disregard of their partner’s feelings, with resistance. On the one hand, Partner B wants nothing more than to win over Partner A’s admiration; on the other hand, Partner B increasingly looks down at Partner A for the way they so casually dismiss or mistreat Partner A as well as others, i.e., the children.

5. Moral Versus Immoral Role Script - Expressed VS Internalized Contempt

In a script similar to #4 above, one person takes on the role of acting superior to the other – in this case, morally superior – and the other as morally unprincipled. The former sees themselves as righteous, and in position to judge the other with displays of righteous indignation, contempt or intimidation, accordingly – believed to be necessary to improve or benefit of the other. In contrast, the other outwardly accepts that they are morally inferior in comparison, and, resisting most attempts to conform to the moral standards of the other, apart from occasional attempts to appease them, they inwardly relish resisting what they view as unnecessarily confining moral codes.

For example, Partner A adheres to high moral standards, traditional values or ethical codes at home or church, etc., and is obsessed with getting Partner B to comply with these rules of conduct, i.e., going to church, dressing more appropriately, etc. Partner A feels it’s their responsibility to convert Partner B, to save them from themselves.

Meanwhile Partner B seems to accept Partner A’s “admonishments” as their lot, however, makes little or no attempt to change, although they may go along outwardly, i.e., attending church at the request of Partner A. Inside, Partner A feels morally superior to Partner B, while Partner B, feigning humility, is torn between feeling morally defective, and paying penitence by acting undeserving, subservient, etc., on the one hand, and consciously or subconsciously, delighting in rebelling against Partner A’s demands to change who they are as persons, on the other. Increasingly, Partner B may act out their contempt for what they see as Partner A’s harsh, self-righteous stance them, in hidden ways, expressing their contempt, using resistance to let Partner A know what they think of not only the moral standards, but also Partner A’s attempts to change them.

Update: India, Bhutan, Nepal & Bangladesh signed Declaration for Wide-Ranging Collaboration on Energy, Water, Food & Biodiversity Issues

2011-11-20T13:36:00.000-08:00

"World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a leading conservation organisation, said in a statement that the deal signed at Bhutanese capital Thimphu could lead the way to similar climate adaptation plans being implemented to cover other threatened ecosystems. "The success of our initiative will not only have direct and immediate benefits for our own people, but we could be setting a worthy precedent for other countries that share similar conditions," Bhutan's Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley was quoted as saying in the statement.

The four nations reached the pact at the two-day "Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas" against the backdrop of melting glaciers, erratic weather conditions, changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures impacting the people and wildlife of the region.

Environment Secretary T Chatterjee represented India at the summit attended by high-level government officials, NGOs, leaders of civil society, and youth ambassadors from the four Eastern Himalayan nations. "The four nations broadly agreed to combine powers to increase access to 'affordable and reliable' clean energy resources and technology through a regional knowledge sharing mechanism."

'via Blog this'India inks climate change adaptation deal with neighbours - Hindustan Times:

Tip: Sweets can be deadly. Take it moderately & Incorporate Whole Foods to Increase Stamina & Improve Moods

2011-11-17T18:11:00.000-08:00

Look at this: Typical Family Eating Set-up: "Wynes and her husband Ken were balancing busy careers with the demands of raising a family. Nothing was off the menu; hotdogs, Kraft Dinner and drivethroughs all made regular appearances. The turning point came five years ago when their youngest son Chase, in Grade 3 at the time, was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). As a social worker, Wynes was familiar with the trial-and-error method of prescribing medication to children, but she decided to pursue a different approach for Chase.

"I heard kids talking about the negative side effects, saying things like 'I feel like everything's slowing down,' or 'I feel like I'm stuck in mud,'" she says.

Her maternal instinct kicked in and Wynes aggressively researched the effects of food on behaviour and moods. She discovered that certain foods can be harmful to emotions and thought processes. She eliminated foods containing simple sugars from her family's diet and incorporated whole foods proven to increase mental stamina and improve moods.

"The foods now are so manipulated that's there are not a lot of nutrients or actual food in them - it's all chemicals and fillers," she says."

'via Blog this'Treena Wynes fixes dinner:

Update: World Bank Provides Critical Support for Hydro Project Development (Alternative Energy)

2011-11-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

The World Bank's projects and operations are designed to support low-income and middle-income countries' poverty reduction strategies. Countries develop strategies around a range of reforms and investments likely to improve people's lives, and the bank strives to align its assistance with each country's priorities and harmonize its aid program with other agencies to boost aid effectiveness.

The World Bank is engaged in hydro projects in all its regions, with efforts divided into: construction of new projects, rehabilitation of existing projects, other lending and capacity building, and analytical work. As demand grows for clean, reliable and affordable energy, the role of hydropower has increased over the past decade as developing nations move to harness their resources, according to the World Bank website. This critical renewable energy resource could be instrumental in bringing light and heat to 1.6 billion people who currently lack access, the World Bank says."

'via Blog this'Banks Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project Development: "One of its most recent hydro commitments, made in June 2011, is a $648 million loan through its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to THDC India Ltd. for development of the 444 MW Vishnugad Pipalkoti project in Urrarakhand, India. The objectives of this project are to increase the supply of electricity to India's national grid through the addition of renewable, low-carbon energy and to strengthen the institutional capacity of THDC India with respect to the preparation and implementation of economically, environmentally and socially sustainable hydro projects.

With this loan, the project achieved full financial closure. Total project cost is expected to be $922 million, and it is to be completed by 2016. THDC India has a portfolio of hydro projects in Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Bhutan with aggregate capacity of 8,868 MW.

In May 2011, The World Bank provided a $640 million loan to assist with development of the 1,040 MW Upper Cisokan pumped-storage project on the Upper Cisokan River in West Java, Indonesia. The objectives of this project are to increase the peaking capacity of the power generation system in an environmentally and socially sustainable way and to strengthen the institutional capacity of developer Perusahaan Listrik Negara in hydropower planning, development and operation. Total project cost is expected to be $800 million, with PLN providing the remaining $160 million. Work on the Upper Cisokan project is to be completed in 2016.

In addition, a $15 million World Bank loan announced in March 2011 is being used to aid work being performed by Jamaica's Ministry of Energy and Mining under its Energy Security and Efficiency Enhancement Project. This work includes strengthening Jamaica's energy sector regulatory and institutional framework, mobilizing investment financing, developing energy efficiency and renewable energy potential, preparing studies, recruiting a small hydro engineer, preparing a promotion package for three hydro plants, and conducting a performance review of existing hydroelectric projects.

Update: Africa: Demands Probe into Possible Human Rights Abuses wrought by Carbon Credit Market

2011-11-17T17:36:00.000-08:00

"Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe is pushing for an investigation into alleged human rights abuses committed abroad by companies looking to tap into the emerging carbon credit market.

In a letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week, Inhofe demanded an investigation into crimes allegedly committed Africa and Latin America in the name of mitigating climate change — as sanctioned by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Inhofe’s concern stems in part from a September Oxfam International report that detailed how The New Forest Company, a firm that grows tree plantations in order to sell carbon credits, violently evicted more than 20,000 people from their homes and land in Uganda to make way for one of their forests.

“Thousands of people are suffering because they have been evicted without meaningful consultation or compensation,” wrote Oxfam International Executive Director Jeremy Hobbs."

'via Blog this'James Inhofe | Human Rights Abuse | Carbon Credit Market | The Daily Caller:

Update: Europe Bans X-Ray Full-Body Scanners Over Health Concerns

2011-11-16T17:43:00.000-08:00

The Europeans, for whom data privacy is kind of a capital-T thing and has been for a very long time, had been slow to deploy full-body scanners across the continent in part exactly because of privacy concerns. The new policy introduces a number of safeguards that will be very familiar to US travelers: no storing of the images, no looking at the images except from a different room, and no forcing passengers to walk through the machines without offering an opt-out.

And then there's the part that's glaringly different from the US. Airports that use full-body scanners will not be allowed to use x-ray devices, only millimeter-wave devices. Europe has decided that the health effects of x-ray scanners haven't been studied enough, and that they could pose "health and safety" risks to passengers."

'via Blog this'Europe Bans X-Ray Full-Body Scanners Over Health Concerns || Jaunted:

Update: China Development Bank Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project (Alternative Energy for Climate Change)

2011-11-16T17:37:00.000-08:00

"China Development Bank focuses on such areas as infrastructure development, industrial upgrading, regional coordination, and development and improvement of public welfare. Its mission is to strengthen China's competitiveness and improve the living standards of its people. In 2010, the bank issued debt securities totaling RMB850 billion (US$133.6 billion) and provided electric sector loans totaling RMB509.6 billion ($80.1 billion).

The bank has provided financial support to many power generation and transmission/distribution projects in China, including the Xiluodu and Xiangjiaba hydro projects on the Jinshajiang River."

'via Blog this'Banks Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project Development: In July 2011, the bank signed a $2 billion credit with Ecuador's government to support irrigation and hydro projects. Of this total, $680 million will be used for four hydro plants, including 21 MW Mazar-Dudas, 276 MW Minas San Francisco, 50 MW Quijos and 15 MW Villonaco. The eight-year loan has a 6.9% interest rate and two-year grace period.

And in October 2010, the bank agreed to lend more than $11 billion to China Three Gorges Corp., developer of the 22,400 MW Three Gorges project. The credit lines will come as $7.2 billion and another $4 billion over five years and will be used to develop other hydro projects, as well as to build wind farms and undertake power projects in overseas markets. As of the time of this announcement, China Development Bank had loaned CNY47.8 billion ($7.5 billion) to China Three Gorges Corp. and its affiliates.

Wellness in Education: To Improve Performance of 63,000 plus Undernourished School Children, DepEd to Pursue Feeding Program

2011-11-15T16:53:00.000-08:00

According to Education Secretary Armin Luistro, the feeding program aims to address under-nutrition and short-term hunger syndrome among public schoolchildren who do not eat breakfast and walk long distance to reach school. “This is the most vulnerable group who finds it hard to pay attention to the lessons in class because of hunger and are in danger of dropping out if no intervention is made,” Luistro explained.

The DepEd chief added that the program — which was initially implemented in Pangasinan, Bohol and Lanao del Norte — will be expanded to 15 more divisions during the school year. Based on the prevalence of under-nutrition in these divisions and the capability of school heads to manage and administer the program, the new beneficiaries are schools from the divisions of Quirino, Zambales, Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Sorsogon, Kabankalan City, Bacolod City, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Zamboanga del Norte, Davao Oriental, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Kalinga, Maguindanao, and Quezon City."

'via Blog this'DepEd to pursue feeding program | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "

Health Tip: Help Your Child Create a Healthy Body Image

2011-11-15T16:40:00.000-08:00

Discuss with your child the fact that weight gain, especially during puberty, can be a normal and healthy part of development; Don't speak negatively about weight, food, body shape and size; Encourage your child to make personal decisions about food, but offer a variety of healthy options.
Praise and compliment your child for things he or she has accomplished; Limit your child's television time, and when it is on, watch together to encourage discussion about images in the media; Be active in your child's school, promoting policies that protect against discrimination, bullying and a healthy approach toward weight; Communicate openly with your child."

'via Blog this'Health Tip: Help Your Child Create a Healthy Body Image - US News and World Report: "

Update: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Actively Supports Development of Renewable Energy Sector

2011-11-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development finances projects from central Europe to central Asia. The bank is owned by 61 countries, the EU and the European Investment Bank. The bank invests only in projects that could not otherwise attract financing on similar terms. Direct investments generally range from €5 million ($6.8 million) to €230 million ($313.1 million), and EBRD typically funds up to 35% of the total project cost.

EBRD is actively supporting the development of the renewable energy sector within its countries of operation as part of its objective to improve the environmental performance and long-term stability of the power sector."

'via Blog this'Banks Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project Development: "EBRD approved a loan of €110 million ($149.8 million) to state-owned hydropower company Hidroelectrica S.A. in May 2011 for modernization work at the 210 MW Stejaru Bicaz project in Romania. The loan will finance rehabilitation of six units at this project, on the Bistrita River in northeastern Romania, ensuring a new life cycle for the entire power plant of at least 30 years, with increased availability, efficiency and safety in operation. This is the oldest hydro project in the country. Total project cost is estimated to be €136.9 million.

In April 2011, an announcement was made that EBRD will lend Macedonia €6 million ($8.2 million) for small hydro development. Macedonian PCC Hydro DOOEL Skopje will get the loan for four plants with total capacity of 4.1 MW.

Together, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank's International Finance Corporation are providing a $115.5 million credit to Georgia-Urban Energy to co-finance the construction and operation of its 87 MW Paravani project on the Paravani River in Georgia. IFC will provide $40.5 million and EBRD will provide $52 million. The remaining $23 million will be syndicated via commercial banks. EBRD also will take $5 million in equity in Georgia-Urban Energy. Paravani will help the country reduce carbon-based generation and cut dependence on imported fuels in winter months. Total cost of the project is anticipated to be about $160 million.

Tip: Dentists & Diabetes Educators Can Collaborate to Fight Diabetes & Heart Disease

2011-11-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

The epidemic rates of prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes could be decreased, and the depressingly prevalent rate of heart disease and diabetes complications could be reduced. There is a heavy burden on health-care professionals today regarding the recognition, treatment, and proactive management of a disease that has reached epidemic proportions worldwide.
'via Blog this'The Dynamic Duo - RDH:

The relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease is a two-way street!

People with diabetes are at greater risk for developing infections6,7
Periodontal disease (chronic infection) can impair diabetes control6,7
More definitive link than cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, preterm, low birth-weight infants8
Management of periodontitis can result in significant reduction in A1C9,10

A1C is a blood test that measures the weighted, average glucose level over a two to three month period, which is the life cycle of the red blood cell. It is the standard for assessing glucose control for patients with diabetes and, as of February 2010, is an acceptable test to be used for diagnosis of diabetes.

The accepted diagnosis guidelines for the American Diabetes Association follows these parameters for A1C:

5.6 and below is normal
5.7 through 6.4 is prediabetes
6.5 and above is diabetes

Update: U.N. Sec-Gen Ban Ki-moon urged World Leaders to Finalize Financing for Multibillion-Dollar Fund to Fight Effects of Climate Change

2011-11-14T15:23:00.000-08:00

"Delegates at a U.N.-sponsored climate change conference that starts Nov. 28 in Durban, South Africa, are to consider ways to raise $100 billion a year for the Green Climate Fund created last December to help countries cope with global warming.
Ban told the opening session of a climate meeting in Bangladesh's capital that the world should make a concerted effort to finance the fund. "Governments must find ways — now — to mobilize resources up to the $100 billion per annum pledged," he said. "An empty shell is not sufficient."

Representatives of about 30 nations in the Climate Vulnerable Forum are meeting for two days in Dhaka to formulate a united stand on funding for schemes to limit the damage from global warming. The countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific are also seeking action by industrialized nations to cut carbon emissions and provide technical and financial support."

'via Blog this'UN: Create fund to fight climate change – USATODAY.com:

Tip: Think of Books as Gifts for Christmas (something to cherish, nourish the mind - and be healthy)

2011-11-13T18:43:00.000-08:00

Seniors Scene > A healthy body is great, but books exercise the mind | Health & Fitness: "One man told me he hasn’t read a book in three years. Another said he doesn’t have time for reading books. I reply that I set aside a half an hour at bedtime each night to do some reading. Then I realize he is much younger than I and he and his wife have other priorities at bedtime. But I tell him once a week for reading doesn’t really seem to be too demanding even on his schedule. Maybe his wife will want to read, too. After all, they must have time to improve their minds in addition to their bodies."

'via Blog this'

Tip: Pay Attention to Healthy Decisions that You Make until it becomes a Habit (e.g. sleep on time, nourish & detox mind-body, exercise, meditate)

2011-11-13T18:37:00.000-08:00

"You can extend your ability to develop healthy habits by imagining yourself as exerting even more control over your life. Picture yourself having prioritized your lifestyle choices by having planned to give yourself enough time to get a little exercise most days of the week. Imagine what your life will look like as a result of having a regular exercise routine. Better sleep? Improved mood? Increased self-respect?"

'via Blog this'Achieving Happiness: Use smarts and stamina to better your health • Lifestyle (www.HometownAnnapolis.com - The Capital):

Update: 25 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy - Seeking Alpha

2011-11-13T18:26:00.000-08:00

25 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy - Seeking Alpha: "Alternative energy investing has surged in popularity in recent years as our world has felt the effects of basing the majority of our economy off of a finite resource. Though crude oil and other fossil fuels will last for the foreseeable future, there will come a time when our energy consumption will have to look to alternative, renewable resources. The investment thesis behind any of the several alternative energies can be thought of as a play against crude oil, or as one of a natural evolution that we will have to face sooner or later. The timeline for our fossil fuel addiction running dry varies across the board, but it is generally accepted that this issue won’t come to fruition anytime soon.

With alternative energy still a relatively immature industry by global standards, the growth opportunities this sector presents are tremendous and worth a closer look for your portfolio. Below, we outline 25 ways to invest in the various forms of renewable energy:"

'via Blog this'25 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy - Seeking Alpha: By Jared Cummans

Biofuels

Biofuels are energy forms that are derived from carbon-based organisms. There are a wealth of different options, including bioalcohols, biodiesel, green diesel, vegetable oil and many more. The International Energy Agency has stated that biofuels have the potential to displace 27% of transportation fuels by 2050, effectively slashing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.1 billion tons per year. Already, a number of countries have mandates in place that force companies to blend biofuels with gasoline, giving these various fuels high growth potential.
1. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) – The company produces a number of commodity products, namely in agriculture. While it isn’t a pure play, the company has a fair amount of their operations based in the biofuel industry.
2. Amyris Biotechnologies Inc. (AMRS) – Amyris is technically in the healthcare sector, which may make it a surprise as far as this list is concerned. But consider that it focuses on the production of a chemical called Biofene which is used in cosmetics, detergents and most importantly, diesel.
3. The Andersons, Inc. (ANDE) - Another agriculture-based firm, Anderson’s contribution to the biofuel sector comes from its significant ethanol production. ANDE has total assets of nearly $700 million and pays out a dividend yield of 1.2%.
4. BioFuel Energy Corp. (BIOF) - This company, which is based in Denver, focuses its efforts on the manufacturing and sale of ethanol. Investors should note that this is a penny stock, so it will be subject to wild volatility, and is probably only meant for active traders or those who seriously buy into its strategy.
5. Methanex Corp. (MEOH) - Methanex engages in the production and sale of methanol, a chemical which, among other things, is a popular blending agent with gasoline. Methanol is also a key component of biodiesel. MEOH pays out a handsome dividend yield of 2.6%.
Hydropower
While not as popular in the states, hydropower has established itself as a powerful renewable source around the world. Hydropower, of course, is generated by moving forms of water and is most often utilized at major dams and rivers. Though it has a long history of use in farms, hydropower is one of the least popular alternative energies. This may make it a great growth opportunity, or simply an asset class that you will want to avoid. Note that U.S. exposure to these stocks is hard to come by.
6. China Hydroelectric Corporation (CHC) - This stock engages in the acquisition, ownership and development of hydroelectric power in the People’s Republic of China. CHC has assets of just $77 million and an ADV of about 18,000.
7. Alterra Power Corp. (MGMXF.PK) - This pink sheet security focuses on renewable energies of all kinds, though it does have a significant portion of its business in hydro facilities based in British Columbia.
8. Zhaoheng Hydropower Ltd. (ZHYLF.PK) - Another pink sheet, Zhaoheng is based in China and generates its power primarily in the southern and midwestern regions of the world’s most populated country.
Nuclear
Nuclear has been in the spotlight for the majority of the year, as the Fukushima tragedy caused many to question the safety of these plants, as well as Germany to completely abandon nuclear power. But with new facilities being much safer and more efficient than the Fukushima plant, investors should feel confident that this energy source still has considerable upside potential.
9. Cameco Corp. (CCJ) - This company is one of the largest uranium producers in the world. With uranium being a key element in nuclear production, this mining stock will align very closely with the nuclear industry.
10. Market Vectors Uranium+Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR) – This ETF is designed to grant exposure to companies around the world that are engaged in some aspect of the nuclear energy business. Top holdings include Exelon Corp, Uranium One and Areva.
11. S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index Fund (NUCL) - Another ETF, this product also tracks companies in the nuclear energy business, but top holdings feature a different set of names like JGC, First Energy and NextEra Energy.
12. Global Nuclear Portfolio (PKN) - Tracking the WNA Nuclear Energy Index, this ETF features a similar investment thesis to the previous two, but again, has a different set of holdings. Top names include Toshiba, Sumitomo and Duke Energy.
13. Uranium ETF (URA) – This ETF focuses on uranium miners, so while it is not a direct play on nuclear, its underlying companies will be heavily impacted by growth in the industry.
Solar
Arguably the fastest-growing renewable energy, solar has quickly grown as an investor favorite. The industry is still relatively small, but with an average growth of 39% annually over the last decade and robust predictions for the future, solar may be on the brink of a rapid appreciation. Note that China dominates the world’s solar space, and most companies will either be based in, or have significant operations tied to the emerging market.
14. First Solar, Inc. (FSLR) – This U.S.-based firm is one of the biggest names in the solar industry, though it has been in the news lately for all of the wrong reasons. After recently losing its CEO, the future for FSLR is not as bright as some investors might like.
15. JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO) – Headquartered in China, the company is in the business of development, manufacturing and sale of photovoltaic modules. Its stock is highly liquid, trading over 5.6 million shares each day.
16. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (JKS) – Another Chinese firm, Jinko focuses more on individual components of PV modules than the entire product, giving investors a unique play on the solar space.
17. Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT) – This ETF invests in companies that, on a weighted basis, derive 90% or more of their revenues from the solar industry. Major holdings include First Solar, GT Solar and MEMC Electronic Materials.
18. Guggenheim Solar ETF (TAN) - This ETF seeks to invest in companies that are involved in the various aspects of the solar industry. Though it has similar holdings to KWT, it generally grants different weights to different firms as well as some entirely different securities.
19. Trina Solar Limited (TSL) - As a member of the semiconductor industry, Trinal Solar focuses on monocrystalline and multicrystalline PV modules and like so many other solar firms, is based in China.
20. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd. (YGE) - Yet another Chinese company, Yingli and its subsidiaries are in the business of developing, manufacturing and installing PV modules throughout the world.
Wind
Wind power is one of the most prevalent forms of alternative energy in the world, as numerous countries have taken major steps toward weening themselves off of fossil fuels. Currently, wind power amounts to just over 2% of the world’s energy supply, but at current robust growth rates, this figure is predicted to hit 8% by 2018. Like so many other forms of renewable energy, wind stocks on U.S. exchanges are hard to come by, but as this industry continues to expand, that will surely change.
21. Broadwind Energy, Inc. (BWEN) – This company, based in Chicago, has its hands in a number of different aspects of the wind industry, making it a nice all-encompassing play. Note that the stock has just $44 million in assets, though its ADV of nearly 1 million still allows for liquidity.
22. ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN) – This fund invests in stocks that have their hands in the wind industry. Those companies that are exclusively in the wind business are given a higher weighting than those with a more broad business model.
23. Iberdrola SA (IBDRY.PK) – This utilities company, based in Spain, receives a large amount of power from wind production, making it a nice indirect play. While not on any domestic exchanges, its ADV of over 32 million more than ensures its worldwide popularity.
24. PowerShares Global Wind Energy (PWND) - Another ETF, PWND also dedicates itself solely to wind power. Top holdings in this fund include China Longyuan Power, Vestas Wind and Hansen Transmissions.
25. Vestas Wind Systems A/S (VWDRY.PK) – Based in Denmark, this stock makes its way onto a number of major benchmarks in Europe. The stock has an average volume of nearly 1.9 million as it is one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world.25 Ways To Invest In Alternative Energy - Seeking Alpha:

Update: BEIJING: Scientific study found Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydro power project, has not contributed to climate change

2011-11-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

Climate research exonerates giant dam: "The study, published by the Social Sciences Academic Press under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, focused on climate change and found that the dam's environmental impact was limited to a 20 kilometre radius, the Xinhua article said. ''No direct link has been found between the dam and local severe droughts and floods in recent years, according to the report, which instead laid the blame on extreme weather conditions caused by abnormal atmospheric circulation and air temperature mainly incurred by changes in ocean temperature and snow conditions at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,'' says the article, published on Friday."

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Tip: When you treat your high blood pressure, you enhance your emotional processing & eventually you stop making people upset

2011-11-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

"Dr. Mustafa al'Absi of the University of Minnesota Medical School, who studies the relationship between high blood pressure and decreased pain sensitivity, said this study complements the body of research linking physiology to how the brain organizes emotions. "People with high blood pressure might not detect signals like pain from heart attack, or signals from people around them who may express negative or positive emotions. If you are not able to appreciate people being upset, you may continue your behavior and make them more upset," said al'Absi"

'via Blog this'High Blood Pressure Can Make You Emotion-Blind | Hypertension Linked to Inability to Detect Emotions in Others | My Health News Daily:

Update: ADB emphasizes Expansion of Renewable Energy & Using Focusing on Access to Energy as Priority for Economic Growth

2011-11-10T16:12:00.000-08:00

"Asian Development Bank focuses on delivering projects for the Asia and Pacific region that create economic and development impact. The bank had more than $17.5 billion in approved financing in 2010. Its main devices for assistance are loans, grants, technical assistance, equity investments and policy dialogue. To encourage the shift to clean and efficient energy, ADB is expanding the use of renewable energy, facilitating the introduction of new clean energy technologies, identifying and promoting cost-effective energy efficiency improvements, and giving incentives for the public and private sectors to invest in these areas. On the supply side, ADB is emphasizing the expansion of renewable energy and using focusing on access to energy as a priority for economic growth, with a focus on helping the poor and protecting the environment."

'via Blog this'Banks Provide Critical Support for Hydro Project Development: " In February 2011, ADB approved a loan of $57.3 million to Papua New Guinea utility PNG Power Ltd. to fund renewable energy projects, including run-of-river hydro. This loan is part of a broader Town Electrification Investment Program approved by ADB in late 2010 that will improve the power supply in provincial urban centers by replacing diesel generation with renewable energy generation. Total cost of the program is estimated to be $150 million. Projects to be implemented under the first tranche of the program include run-of-river hydro plants in the Northern Province and Autonomous Region of Bougainville, as well as a 66 kV transmission line in West New Britain that will provide access to about 1 MW of spare capacity from the 3 MW Lake Hargy hydro plant.

Sri Lanka is using a $120 million loan from ADB to expand and improve its power network, including support for renewable energy that is to add hydropower to the national grid. ADB approved the loan, along with a technical assistance grant for the Sustainable Power Sector Support Project, in January 2011. The project will help the government reduce imports of fossil fuels by providing a credit line of nearly $1.3 million to private developers for about 19 small hydro facilities and by financing the detailed engineering design of the 30 MW Moragolla hydro plant. The government of Sri Lanka will provide about $42 million, for a total project cost of $162 million. This work supports the government's goal of providing nearly 100% of households in the country with electricity by 2016.

And Himachal Pradesh Power Corp. Ltd. in India is developing four run-of-river hydroelectric projects with a total capacity of 856 MW under the $800 million Multi-Tranche Financing Facility Himachal Clean Power Development program funded by ADB. The objective of the work is to help fulfill local demand, especially energy shortages in the winter months of December to February. Outcomes of the program are to include increased production and use of clean energy in a financially sustainable manner through run-of-river hydro schemes, improved state finances from sales revenue earned from power exports, partial offset of project operation expenses due to potential revenues derived from Clean Development Mechanism carbon credit sales, and improved capacity in HPC for better planning, implementation and management of hydro plants.

One of these four projects is 450 MW Shongtong Karcham on the Satluj River, for which the developer was seeking bids in August to supply electromechanical equipment. The remaining projects are 195 MW Integrated Kashang, 100 MW Sainj and 111 MW Sawra Kuddu.

Tip: Avoid Emotional Eating & Have Healthy Body

2011-11-09T17:53:00.000-08:00

"Emotional eating is eating under the influence of the mind and not the needs of the body,” she said. “For example, when we are stressed, the mind wants the quick fix while the body’s messages will center around getting proper rest and nourishment ... Emotional eating occurs when you are out of balance — either too many negative emotions or too few positive emotions. “One of the biggest reasons we eat emotionally is we are trying to numb ourselves from feelings and emotions that are too painful to face,” she said. “And the only way to develop a healthy relationship with food and other aspects of our lives is to be willing to face and process our emotions, no matter how painful. Having been an emotional eater for a good part of my life, I work with clients to process their emotional pain so they can move beyond it and be free and live a thriving life.”"
How to lose weight and get healthy from the inside out:
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Update: The world doesn't lack the technology to tackle the problem of Climate Change — just the political will

2011-11-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

"The world is hurtling toward irreversible climate change, the International Energy Agency warns, saying that bold action must be taken in the next five years. The IEA, in its annual World Energy Outlook released Wednesday, said that the world will lose the chance to limit warming if it doesn't act now. The IEA’s members include 28 consuming nations. It was formed in response to the oil crisis in the 1970s, but since then its mandate has expanded beyond energy security to include environmental awareness. The agency prescribed what needs to be done to cap global temperature increases at two degrees above preindustrial levels and predicted the consequences if those steps aren't taken. A two-degree increase is the threshold beyond which some scientists have said catastrophic changes could be triggered. The warning came a day after Canada's Environment Minister Peter Kent acknowledged in a speech in Toronto that his government expects to face international pressure at upcoming climate change talks over its refusal to sign on for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol."

'via Blog this'Time for climate change fix running out, IEA warns - Business - CBC News:

Tip: Lower Your High Blood Pressure & Prevent Miscommunication, Poor Job Performance & Psychosocial Distress

2011-11-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

"People with hypertension have reduced pain sensitivity," says James A. McCubbin, a psychology professor at Clemson and one of the authors on the study. It turns out that it isn't just hypertensive patients and it isn't just a limited response to pain, but there may be a link between blood pressure and emotional response as well. "A friend of mine in the Netherlands did a study where they asked hypertensive patients how much stress they were under and they didn't report being under much stress, but if you asked their spouse, the spouse would say that their husband or wife was under a lot of stress," McCubbin says."

'via Blog this'High Blood Pressure May Lead To Missed Emotional Cues: Study:

Update on Climate Change & Alternative Energy: Global leaders re-think energy strategy

2011-11-08T16:59:00.000-08:00

"At the B20 Business Summit on the fringes of the G20 summit in Cannes, Dr. Fatih Birol, IEA chief economist, disclosed that based on their updated WEO, “$38 trillion of investment is required to meet projected energy demand through 2035.” The breakdown will be: $16.9 trillion for power generation; $10 trillion for oil; $9.5 trillion for natural gas; $1.1 trillion for coal; and $0.3 trillion for biofuels. Dr. Birol albeit warned that “investors in energy projects are facing a multitude of risks.” The defining factors for the energy outlook set sharp focus on: worldwide access to energy; fossil fuel subsidies and investment in energy infrastructure. Although they are jealously guarded by competitors in the technology front, it appears that the role of fossil fuels in the energy mix – primarily “Big Oil” and “King Coal” -- might still be far from over. Experts nonetheless acknowledged that the “high carbon infrastructure lock-in is making the 2-degrees centigrade climate challenge goal more challenging and expensive to meet.”"

'via Blog this'Global leaders re-think energy strategy | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online:

Tip: Healthier Body and Calmer Mind will Naturally Lead to An Optimum Self

2011-11-07T16:39:00.000-08:00

"I have learned that if you are seeking happiness in a number, you will probably be busy searching for something you cannot find when happiness actually passes you by. So sign up for that yoga class. Enlist the help of that nutritionist. Do what’s right and healthy and enjoyable for your body, mind and spirit. But do so with the awareness that living in the future will rob you of all you really need: the beauty of this unique, irreplaceable, fleeting moment. And I leave you with this – a picture of the most peaceful, most enlightened being I “know.” I wonder how he would feel about Yoga for Weight Loss. I suspect he might say lose the pain, lose the anger, lose the emotional and physical toxins, lose the self-imposed limitations and the negative self talk, lose the hatred, lose the numbness … those are the things that truly weigh us down."
Y oga for weight loss? No thanks. - Holistic Health - Medicine Blog - timesunion.com - Albany NY:
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Update: Adopting "Market Approach" & Democracy in Climate Change Solutions

2011-11-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

“Alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar, nuclear and hydroelectric are certainly part of the solution long term, but private industry must take the lead for true innovation to be a bigger part of our future energy needs. If alternative energy sources are found to be inexpensive, safe and plentiful, then American consumers will choose to purchase them. Let the markets decide which forms of energy fuel our cars, heat our homes and which ones will keep America working.”

Mitt Romney, the perennial second-place candidate, has gotten the message only half right, according to environmentalists. “The nation will also need to develop and harness alternate sources of energy such as nuclear energy, biodiesel, ethanol along with exploiting more domestic sources of oil such as Outer Continental Shelf and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.” Romney also is of the opinion that the solution to our environmental problem lies in adopting a market approach. “While solving the environmental challenges, we should also be supporting growth,’ he states."

'via Blog this'After Keystone Rally, Environmentalists Equivocate on Campaigning for Obama: "

Tip: Parents w/ Kids Emotional Workshop Now a Necessity to Build Emotionally Healthy Home

2011-11-06T15:35:00.000-08:00

The workshop will be facilitated by mental health professionals trained to address child and adolescent behaviors. Topics such as how to recognize common issues faced by children today; ways to help children express themselves appropriately; and coping skills to handle life challenges will be addressed. Trained professionals from Suncoast Mental Health Center, The Mental Health Association Walk-in Center, and Treasure Coast Community Health will lead breakout sessions for groups broken out by age (5-8, 9-12 and 13-and-over). Parents will remain in the cafeteria to hear guest presenter Dr. Raymond Dean, a Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with over 25 years of professional experience. Dr. Dean's presentation will include anger management skills to help parents manage their emotions so they can model positive behavior and support their children in managing their own emotions."
Learn how to build an emotionally healthy home » TCPalm.com (User story from MAUREEN NICOLACE): "
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Prince Charles on sustainability issues; didn't comment directly that fossil fuels & carbon emissions are causing global warming & climate change

2011-11-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

Prince Charles endorses university post on climate change - CNN.com: "The prince urged international organizations and summits "to bring together the narratives of climate change, sustainable development and economic stability -- surely the very bedrocks of national security," Charles said. "These are currently encapsulated -- although separately and distinctly -- in the forthcoming COP17 in Durban, the Rio+ 20 conference and G-20 meetings." One starting point, he said, could examine data "on energy, water, agriculture, biodiversity and climate change to compose a full picture of what is actually going on, and then to use this picture to calculate the real cost of our current use of natural capital," the prince said.
"Surely an evaluation of that cost on an on-going basis is the bare minimum we need if we are to develop effective policies that address food security, poverty and climate change, and so build properly resilient economic systems -- green economies, if you will -- that have the capacity to adapt to what will, from now on, be very rapidly changing circumstances?" the prince said."

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Tip: Don't Start to Smoke & Avoid "Gateway Sequence" - cigarettes & alcohol serve as gateway drugs before progressing to marijuana, cocaine, etc

2011-11-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Alternate orders of exposure to nicotine and cocaine were examined. The authors found that pretreatment with nicotine greatly alters the response to cocaine in terms of addiction-related behavior and synaptic plasticity (changes in synaptic strength) in the striatum, a brain region critical for addiction-related rewards. On a molecular level, nicotine also primes the response to cocaine by inhibiting the activity of an enzyme―histone deacetylase―in the striatum. This inhibition enhances cocaine’s ability to activate a gene called FosB gene, which promotes addiction. The relationship between nicotine and cocaine was found to be unidirectional: nicotine dramatically enhances the response to cocaine"
Health News - Nicotine “Primes” the Brain for Cocaine Use: The Molecular Basis of the Gateway Sequence of Drug Use for Nicotine and Cocaine: "Cigarettes and alcohol serve as gateway drugs, which people use before progressing to the use of marijuana and then to cocaine and other illicit substances; this progression is called the “gateway sequence” of drug use. An article in Science Translational Medicine by study author Denise Kandel, PhD, of the Mailman School of Public Health; and Amir Levine, MD; Eric Kandel, MD; and colleagues at Columbia University Medical Center provides the first molecular explanation for the gateway sequence.
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We should protect those areas which provide longer term refugees, where velocities are low, and where refugees from climate change may arrive

2011-11-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

When we talk about velocity of climate change, we mean the speed and direction of movement of temperature. So when temperature increases in a particular spot, anything wanting to stay at the same temperature as before needs to move to a cooler place. In an area where there is a very flat thermal landscape, or where temperatures vary little from place to place, that cooler place could be a long way away. And so velocity of climate change would be high. Where cooler places are right next door, like up a nearby mountain range or on the other side of an oceanographic boundary, life only needs to move a short distance to follow temperatures over the same time period. So, the much flatter thermal landscape in the ocean tends to increase velocities, and therefore offsets the effect of greater warming on land to bring the velocities for the two environments closer together. By a similar process, reduced seasonal changes in the ocean tend to push up estimates for seasonal shifts to values close to those for land."
New Evidence That Climate Change Threatens Marine Biodiversity - Hans Villarica - Life - The Atlantic: "
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Update: India & China, huge users of coal. Biggest jump in global warming gases.The good news is that their economies are growing rapidly, however...

2011-11-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

"The more we talk about the need to control emissions, the more they are growing," said John Reilly, co-director of MIT's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.
The world pumped about 564 million more tons (512 million metric tons) of carbon into the air in 2010 than it did in 2009. That's an increase of 6 percent. That amount of extra pollution eclipses the individual emissions of all but three countries — China, the United States and India, the world's top producers of greenhouse gases. It is a "monster" increase that is unheard of, said Gregg Marland, a professor of geology at Appalachian State University, who has helped calculate Department of Energy figures in the past. Extra pollution in China and the U.S. account for more than half the increase in emissions last year, Marland said. "It's a big jump," said Tom Boden, director of the Energy Department's Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center at Oak Ridge National Lab. "From an emissions standpoint, the global financial crisis seems to be over.""
The Associated Press: Biggest jump ever seen in global warming gases: "
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