Endangered Birds Got the Beach



Most of us normal, average people would like to have a beach of our own where we can lie down and savor the sun all day. What will make it better than somebody else buying it for you and allowing you to use the beach for free? Apparently, you have to be an endangered species first before you can get someone to buy you a whole stretch of beach to lay egg on.

Meet the Maleo birds, these endangered birds got their own stretch of Indonesian beach to their name, complete with bodyguards to protect their eggs from human scavengers and hungry poachers. Maleo birds are considered endangered since they are very rare. These endangered species are also a native of Indonesia; unfortunately, their eggs have become a popular delicacy around the Sulawesi, an island in Indonesia. This situation had brought down the number of live Maleo birds threatening to extinct them.

An adult Maleo bird will lay her only egg and bury it in the warm sand or soil; after that she will just leave and fly away making the egg exposed to scavengers. If the egg is lucky, it will hatch and live on its own but usually that is not the case. The beach that has been awarded to the Maleo birds is the common hatching ground of Maleo birds in the area.

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When it’s Labeled “Biodegradable”



If you are a chronic label reader, chances are you stumbled upon biodegradable signs and logos. Labels are important for conscious consumers because these are their main reference for the things they buy. This is also why some government agencies regulate the usage of logos in labels. It is done to eliminate unsubstantial, misleading and deceptive use of logos in labels. But of course, rules often come with many loopholes which manufacturers never fail to see.

Biodegradable by definition means that a certain substance should be able to break down when biological activity is applied and will not leave any residue at all. For the European Union, a biodegradable material should break down into water, carbon dioxide and organic matter within six months. However, unscrupulous manufacturers applied the term to all substance that breaks no matter how long it will take or how harmful these toxins may be.

As of the moment, there is no independent, official organization handling biodegradable claims. So far, the FTC or Federal Trade Commission released guidelines for biodegradable claims which state that the product should break down or decompose within reasonably short period of time but they acknowledged that the substance may not decompose under different situation.

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What is Deforestation



Deforestation is something that “we” humans are responsible for, it is the logging of trees in forested areas. Each day, trees are sold as a product are used, cleared used for grazing land by humans. Deforestation is largely unknown and there are no consequences amongst the people damaging the planet in this matter.

It has been known that forests disappear naturally by extensive climate change, fires, hurricanes or any other disturbances that are not caused by people. However, even when these horrible events occur, we never prevent them, nor do we help change what has been done. This topic has been the key focus for scientist to debate; it is a rising issue, which needs to be looked at more.

Amongst the many vastly growing forests, some like a jungle in Southern Mexico were burned for agriculture. Because we are doing this, and we are the ones responsible for this issue, we don’t stop. Every day we contribute to Global Warming, we are changing our water cycle among the planet, the removal of trees does not always increase the erosion rates of soil, and deforestation also results in declines in biodiversity. Forests support biodiversity, providing habitats for wildlife. However, these majestic jungles, forest, and land filled with so much biodiversity are being killed.

This unintelligent thing we have been doing for years has become a domino effect. We are the one’s doing this to our own land, therefore it ultimately has been contributing to Global Warming, our water, soil, and animal life. Soon scientist may say it’s too late to prevent something that has already been done.

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European Union votes to ban toxic farm pesticides



The European Union has voted to ban toxic farm pesticides earlier this week.  This move tightens the use of pesticides in agriculture and prohibits the use of 22 chemicals.

The legislation aims to control crop spraying especially in areas near schools and hospitals.  The ban also aims to curb the use of toxic chemicals, some of them said to be carcinogenic.

Critics of the act say that worsening economic conditions and the current recession will push food prices up.  Farming lobbyists warn the public that the move will make winter harvest vegetables scarce and could wipe out British carrots. The National Farmers Union and the Soil Association argue that these pesticides are needed to maintain crop yield which will threaten food production and availability.

Environment friendly groups however, welcomed the legislation saying that the move will protect not only the environment but also heath.  Pesticide ban especially those considered harmful to the environment and detrimental to human health are a welcome respite for health conscious and pro-environment groups.  The ban they say will help the soil and environment recover after years of treatment.

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Pollution in Manila, Philippines



It is said that pollution in Manila is already reaching its peak and in the process, it is becoming fatally harmful already to the people who lives in the Philippines. There have been recorded 5,000 deaths in Manila annually because of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Manila has been cited by the World Health Organization as one of the most polluted places in the world, with cousins from Mexico, China and India. All of which, points to smog.

Smog is there when factories are operating and constructions are at work but that is only 20% of the problem because the biggest trespasser would be the smoke that the cars are emitting, 80%.

Aside from health problems, there is the greenhouse effect that causes climate change, and climate change is definitely bad.

Serious steps were taken and people from all over the world are willing to help Manila to lessen the pollution even for a bit.

Makati City, the business central of Manila recently launched electric-powered jeepney headed by its city mayor. The government is pushing Philippines to switch to the much eco-friendly alternative fuels, all though, pushing means a little nudge, not shove. They even implemented a “no smoking” on public places in Manila but it didn’t quite panned out.

Colorado State’s team offered a plan to reduce pollution in Manila by replacing engines of the well-loved mode of transportation in the country, the tricycles, only we still have to wait for it because it is not yet introduced in the Philippines.

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