Eco-Friendly Cars for Reducing Global Warming



The recent crisis in global economies has made several industries revise their production plans. For the advocates of environmentalism, this depression has brought good news as the European Union (EU) has pressed on auto-makers to produce eco-friendly (green) cars. The EU policy of replacing traditional cars with energy-efficient green cars primarily aims at cutting the vehicular emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, by as much a one-fifth of the existing amount of emission, by the year 2012. The production of green cars will also help sustain the auto industry without losing business.

The sharp fall in the purchase of cars has not only affected the European auto industry but also the car-manufacturers in the United States where lawmakers are asking auto-manufacturers to raise the mileage of an average car from 35 miles per gallon of fuel to 50 miles per gallon. Given the fact that vehicular emissions are the second major source of greenhouse gases in America, the US government is keen on replacing gasoline cars with electric cars.

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What is Eco Tourism?



One of the most abused word in the tourism industry.

For some ecotourism would be associated with adventure sports in the forests, others may see it as nature-based trip where they would endlessly take pictures with the lush scenery, still for some environmentalist, ecotourism would mean cleaning up the environment and be stewards of God’s creation.

For the International Ecotourism Society, Ecotourism is a responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.
Moreover, the Australian Commission on National Ecotourism Strategy tag Ecotourism as a  “nature-based tourism that involves education and interpretation of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable.”
But above every known definition in the world it was Martha Honey who defined ecotourism well in her book “Ecotourism and Sustainable Development.” Honey provided seven defining points for readers and researchers alike to understand a common definition of what ecotourism is.
First of all, ecotourism usually involves traveling to remote natural destination and by going there the tourists should minimize the impact of them visiting by adhering to environmental policies to limit the damage that our ecosystem might incur if the tourists misbehave.
While on an ecotourism trip, the participants should develop environmental awareness and interest on what they are seeing. It is also by opening their eyes in the sorry state of our ailing environment that we could raise funds to assist these conservation areas and other projects.
Also while we are there, one should be repetitively reminded that they should respect local culture and understand that they are in a remote area where there are small and isolated communities that have had little experience interacting with foreigners. A responsible ecotourist should learn beforehand the local customs, dress codes and other social norms so as we would not intrude on the community unless either invited or as part of a well organized tour.

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What is sustainable living?



Sustainable living is living life while reducing the impact our lives has on our planet.  Sounds complicated? Simply put, to live with in sustainability is to exist in this planet without disturbing the delicate balance our lives has on the environment.

The recent issues regarding global warming point to human beings as one of the culprits as to why our planet is deteriorating.  We have more cars, take more resources from the earth, and create more garbage than all the other living organisms in this planet.

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Greenery Bridges the Health Gap Between the Rich and the Poor



Greenery is central to eco-friendly communities and its role in improving health continues to be supported by scientific research. The latest evidence, corroborating the role of greenery in maintaining public health, comes from a study published in the renowned British medical journal The Lancet. It concludes that green spaces not only reduce blood pressure and stress levels, preventing heart diseases and stroke, but also bridge the gap between the health condition of the poor and that of the more well-off members of society.

The research has been conducted by Dr. Richard Mitchell (Glasgow University) and Dr. Frank Popham of (University of St Andrews). They analyzed the records of over 366, 000 people, who passed away between 2001 and 2005, concluding that even a little area covered with greenery plays a significant healing role in the health of the population that lives nearby. This finding is important in that it counters the mainstream belief that social class is the major determinant of health – rich people being privileged with better health due to their higher socio-economic profile.

For both health professionals and the general public, the health-friendly effects of green spaces denote a new hope of living longer and happier life without any demand for wealth. Local councils can bring about a notable improvement in people’s health by introducing more greenery in the locality. From health’s viewpoint, poor people can get the same share in life as do the rich. What is needed is more volunteering for increasing the greenery in one’s area. Previous studies have proved the positive role of roadside trees in improving health in urban areas. The recent findings strengthen the belief in the environmental-friendly practice of plantation – an activity that literally promotes life against the threat of diseases.

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