Global Carbon Emissions Set to Hit Alarming 400 Parts Per Million Milestone

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A national disaster warning: in up to five million years, this is the first time that the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere is approximately to reach 400 parts per million (ppm).  Monday on The guardian reports, former NASA scientist James Hansen warned that levels over 350ppm would destabilize the earth’s climate, but now we have far exceeded that figure with a record-breaking weekly average of 398.5ppm recorded.  While in May 2013, researchers at the Earth Systems Research Laboratory in Hawaii expect we will hit the 400ppm milestone.



Aside from many other issues like global fraud for example there are many else the government should give attention to. According to The Guardian, the US government has been monitoring atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at the Mauna Loa station located at an elevation of 11,115 feet since 1958.  During the time when it was first ascertained, CO2 levels stayed at a manageable 316ppm, but in the past five decades population expansion coupled with the growth of industrialized nations hooked on fossil fuels and meat has saturated the atmosphere with heat-trapping gases.



“I wish it weren’t true but it looks like the world is going to blow through the 400ppm level without losing a beat. At this pace we’ll hit 450ppm within a few decades,” Ralph Keeling, a geologist with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography which operates the Hawaiian observatory, told The Guardian. It is as if it was a national disaster warning.



This “sobering milestone” should be a wake up call for governments to support clean energy and slash emissions, said Tim Lueker, an oceanographer and carbon cycle researcher with Scripps CO2 Group.

Loyal Customer Re-Ups With Eco-Safe Systems

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LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Mar 26, 2013) - Eco-Safe Systems USA, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ESFS) is pleased to announce that the management of a chain of seafood processing plants has chosen to upgrade their NSF Registered Eco-Safe Ozone Disinfection system with a new and enhanced Eco-Safe system upon the expiration of their current lease.
Michael Elliot, CEO of Eco-Safe, stated, "This client was one of our early adopters for ozone disinfection for seafood processing. Now that their first lease is expiring, they have chosen a new lease for an upgraded system with significant technological advancements."

Elliot continued, "They process over ten tons of seafood daily and distribute high-end seafood to top Sushi and Seafood restaurants across the country. They know that Eco-Safe's Ozone Disinfection System is 100% toxin and chemical-free and sanitizes their fish up to 3,100 times faster than chlorine. Their number one priority is quality. They offer their customers a product that has a longer shelf-life with much less work because there's no mixing of chemicals or washing chlorine off the fish. They operate plants in Phoenix, Las Vegas, and three California locations in Los Angeles, Hayward, and San Francisco, and all of them utilize Eco-Safe Ozone Disinfection Systems."

About Eco-Safe Systems:

Eco-Safe Systems, based in Los Angeles, is the manufacturer of patent pending water treatment and water reclamation systems. Our technologies produce ozonated water for food disinfection and water purification at significantly less maintenance cost and greater energy savings than our competitors in a completely green and organic manner. We currently offer supermarkets and restaurants a cost-effective way to safely extend the shelf-life of meat, poultry, seafood, fruits and vegetables. All Food Industry products are National Sanitation Foundation, International (NSF) Registered. Please visit us at www.ecosafeusa.com for more information.

The foregoing contains forward-looking information within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. The actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements. The company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results (expressed or implied) will not be realized.

Reef Destruction is Ecological

To die for scenic reefs in Red or the South China Sea is dying; pretty fishes and panoramic colors of soft and hard corals are now down to a complex ecology similar to tropical forest ecosystems. Compare to the microorganisms that makes the whole thing more tremendous in doing all the destruction, the predators and consumers, the producer algae and the tiny invertebrates mean nothing.

Catalina Reyes of CoECRS. (Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies) and the University of Queensland has published her work alongside 4 colleagues, on the bacteria, fungi and algae that live in this most complex marine ecosystem. The change in this ecosystem recently is because of our overproduction. Oceans now are Cola like, the CO2 we made over the last century or two has made the sea water to feel like one. As to Catalina’s research, the acid has effects and that are clearly identifies in the micro-world of corals. She links it all up and explained, “So fish, turtles, sharks, lobsters and other reef organisms may lose their homes, threatening coral reef biodiversity and the livelihoods of tens of millions of people.” All reefs, molluscs and others are basically made up of Calcium carbonate, accepted as true to hard corals as well. Due to different reasons erosion of the reef is just a normal phenomenon but at present the erosion has become excessive that it destroys the reefs worldwide at a really disturbing rate. The well equilibrium of attrition, storm damage, predation and growth has been distorted. Today, deterioration seems to be the pattern in lieu of slow growth. And because of the acid now less and less carbonate is available. You have probably had experimented such in your school laboratory. Micro-boring organisms also eliminate the coral skeleton as usual consequently oceans ends up with no reef! Catalina found a 35% rate of erosion in the second example when computer simulation by the researchers compared current increases in carbon dioxide levels and their effects on reefs with those lesser increases which we hope to achieve by cutting emissions The dreadful effect of “doing nothing about emissions” was a doubling 100% of the erosion. Because of acidic conditions, Micro-boring organisms became much more active and seemed to have a higher temperatures and pH (acidity) that causing the destructions of more corals. A great number and the most common of all was a tiny alga that has the ability in photosynthesizing even in the low light conditions as it penetrated deep into the corals’ hearts.

Warmer Climate causes Greener Arctic

Of the 10 million square miles (26 million square kilometers) of northern vegetated lands, 34 to 41 percent showed increases in plant growth (green and blue), 3 to 5 percent decreases in plant growth (orange and red), and 51 to 62 percent no changes (yellow) over the past 30 years, new research shows.

Researchers say, elevated temperatures and a longer growing season mean some of Earth’s chilliest regions are looking increasingly green.

As reported and base from the new study, at present the plant life at northern latitudes often looks like the vegetation researchers would have observed up to 430 miles (700 kilometers) farther south in 1982.

“It’s like Winnipeg, Manitoba, moving to Minneapolis-Saint Paul in only 30 years,” study researcher Compton Tucker of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., said in a statement.

A team of university and NASA scientists including Tucker looked at 30 years’ worth of satellite and land surface data on vegetation growth from 45 degrees north latitude to the Arctic Ocean. The researchers suggest that, in this region, large patches of lush vegetation now stretch over an area about the size of the continental United States and resemble what was found 4 to 6 latitude degrees to the south in 1982.

“Higher northern latitudes are getting warmer, Arctic sea ice and the duration of snow cover are diminishing, the growing season is getting longer and plants are growing more,” climate scientist Ranga Myneni of Boston University said in a statement, adding that the changes are leading to great disruptions for the region’s ecosystems.

In the precedent several decades the Arctic has been warming more rapidly than the rest of any part of earth. An amplified greenhouse effect is largely to blame for the changes in plant life, says Myneni. In this succession, high concentrations of heat-trapping gasses drive up temperatures in the ocean and atmosphere. This warming trims down Arctic sea ice and snow cover, reason for the oceans and land surfaces in the region to be exposed this is also because the ice and snow are more reflective than darker surfaces. These surfaces soak up more heat from the sun’s rays, so further heating of the air and further reduction of sea ice and snow emerge as a consequence. Myneni warns that the cycle could get worse.

“The greenhouse effect could be further amplified in the future as soils in the north thaw, releasing potentially significant amounts of carbon dioxide and methane,” Myneni said.

Because of the rising temperatures Arctic and boreal regions could see the equivalent of a 20-degree latitude shift by the end of this century, the team found this out using climate models. The amplified greenhouse effect could have other consequences, like more forest fires, pest infestations and droughts, which cut vegetation growth, researchers say.

And the availability of water and sunlight determines where plants will thrive. “Satellite data identify areas in the boreal zone that are warmer and dryer and other areas that are warmer and wetter,” Ramakrishna Nemani of NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., explained in a statement. “Only the warmer and wetter areas support more growth.”

The researchers furthermore saw additional plant growth in the boreal zone from 1982 to 1992 than from 1992 to 2011. And they thought this could be because of the lack of water in the region during the last two decades of the study.

Princeton film festival explores broad range of environmental issues

Sometimes the best way to educate is to entertain; this has proven true by Princeton Public Library for the seventh straight year. Last weekend was the start of the annual Princeton Environmental Film Festival, the festival features more than 30 films that explore environmental sustainability from a wide range of perspectives. The film series will run from now through Feb. 10, with 13 days of free films for 2013. “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Who Killed the Electric Car?” pave the way to the annual festival. Curator Susan Conlon says the library was inspired to create the film festival after the overwhelming success of two environmentally themed films. “The festival is a way to bring these kinds of films to the community; to explore new ideas and become aware of different perspectives,” Conlon says. “There are often more than two sides to an issue, and these films really make you expand your thinking.” It isn’t just the quantity of the film yet the quality as well, Conlon stresses that while the majority of the films address environmental matters, every film was primarily selected not just because it addressed a specific issue, but because it was a well-made, entertaining film. As diverse as the films may be, Conlon notes that they are all linked by a common theme. This year’s films explore a wide range of topics and present perspectives from literally around the world. “We’re looking at making that connection between the natural and the built environment and what’s important to us about the places where we live our lives, whether it’s a beautiful coast, a city, polar ice or even a prison,” Conlon says. The festival will begin and end by two thought-provoking and intriguing films. “You’ve Been Trumped,” a film about mogul Donald Trump’s attempts to convert one of Scotland’s last areas of coastal wilderness into a golf resort and local residents’ crusade to “trump” his efforts and prevent construction was the first film to roll in the opening of the festival. The festival wrap up on Feb. 10 with “The Island President,” the story of Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed and his attempts to prevent his country from disappearing into the sea. The film features music by Radiohead. With all pride and gratitude the festival is proud to announce the screening of two Academy Award contenders. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is a nominee for best picture featuring the youngest-ever best actress nominee Quvenzhané Wallis. “Chasing Ice,” a haunting look at glacial erosion, is nominated for best original song. Casey Coleman, associate producer of “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” is scheduled to participate in a post-screening Q&A session. Academy Award nominated films mentioned are among the films to be screened Further films to be screened include “Detropia,” a look at life in the struggling city of Detroit; “The House I Live In,” Eugene Jarecki’s examination of America’s war on drugs, and “An Original DUCKumentary,” which follows the life of a family of ducks and is narrated by actor Paul Giamatti. “I’m Carolyn Parker: The Good, the Mad and the Beautiful” by director Jonathan Demme records one New Orleans woman’s struggle to find normality in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After the screening the discussion with Parker’s daughter will take place. The hosting question-and-answer sessions is just one of the much awaited event, the festival also features shows geared toward children and numerous panel discussions about environmental issues. One of the panels will address an issue close to those who have chosen to make this region their home, as it examines how climate change will factor into the development of coastal communities, especially in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Filmmaker Ben Kalina has an upcoming film “Shored Up,” about protecting and preserving the coastline in the light of rising sea levels. He will also act as one of the panels. Kalina says he had always wanted to create a film about barrier islands and the effects of rising seas. He was three years into the project when Sandy hit. “We were just about done, but once Sandy happened the entire structure of the film had to change dramatically,” Kalina says. “Sandy is now woven into the fabric of the film.” “The film is about getting people to step back and recognize the situation we’ve grown into. After Sandy, you don’t really have to explain what could happen anymore,” Kalina adds. “I’m not trying to answer the question of how we should move forward. But film can be very provocative and I hope ours provokes discussion.” The influence of Sandy on the film festival according to Conlon is it reveals that in addition to providing a sense of place, the films all share another common theme. “One lesson I think you’ll take away from all of the films is that people are really resilient,” Conlon says. “There’s something positive and reassuring about that.”

Authorities battle floods in Indonesia

Friday has been busy for Indonesian authorities as they were working to repair a dike that collapsed amid floods that swamped the capital as the water progressively receded from the main streets of the packed city. Although Jakarta has long been prone to floods because it is a low-laying city on the sea, their situation worsen as their scale over the last ten years as infrastructure development has not kept pace with city’s growth. Worst situation is being experienced by other Asian cities like Bangkok and more especially Manila as they had been vulnerable to widespread floods in recent years. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, from the city's disaster mitigation agency, said electricity supplies had been cut to several areas to prevent electrocutions. Most deaths are because they were electrocuted or drowned. And as of yesterday, January 20, 2013, the death toll had risen to 14 after authorities pulled the three more bodies reported missing in the flooded basement of a building in central Jakarta. "Our focus now is to save more lives," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho added. Soon enough, life slowly got back to normal yet tens of thousands remained affected by the waters elsewhere in the city of 14 million people. The police and army deployed rubber boats to help evacuate or bring supplies to people, said Jakarta Police Spokesman Col. Rikwanto. Thursday after hours of rains that caused rivers and canals to burst their banks and flooded Jakarta, hundreds of soldiers used backhoes to attempt to repair a collapsed canal dike. Since 2007, this is now considered the most widespread when almost 80 died and more than half of the city as affected. And unlike 2007, Jakarta's downturn area was swamped this time around. At their peak, almost 250,000 people were affected by the floods, which covered about 30 percent of the city. Successive governments have done little to lessen the threat of flooding, the latest made worse by heavy downpours Wednesday and Thursday that added pressure to rivers already swollen by a long monsoon season. Some of the factors behind the floods are deforestation in the hills to the south of the city, chaotic planning and the rubbish that clogs the hundreds of waterways that crisscross the city. Corrupt city officials turn an eye to building violations and lack the skills and ability to build flood defenses. Indrado, a resident in Central Jakarta said, "We cannot only blame the government,” "We the people also have to support it by not littering rivers." “The floods should cause a rethink”, he further added.

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Crown Eco Management Why is natural gas better than coal boilers?

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The economic development of one country is dependent upon the ability of the authorities to set up a highly suitable, competitive and reliable electricity sector. Why is natural gas better than coal boilers?

Only when there is extreme environmental pressure or substantial reduction in loads that conversion from coal to 100% natural gas is possible.

Not until the 20th century until natural gas was used for production of energy, it was dismissed as a useless byproduct of crude oil production until then. But now natural gas accounts for 23 percent of the world’s energy consumption and still growing. The International Energy Agency predicts that the demand for natural gas will grow by approximately 44 percent through 2035.

Natural gas is the cleanest-burning conventional fuel not to mention it has been one of the most economical energy sources. It is an environmentally friendly and efficient source of energy. It produces lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than heavier hydrocarbon fuels such as coal and oil. Natural gas fuels electric power generators, heats buildings and is used as a raw material in many consumer products, such as those made of traditional plastics. However, natural gas has never been a cheaper fuel than coal.



Coal is one of the longest-used and is considered as the most abundant fossil fuels on Earth. Coal mining has been going on since then 17th century. Coal burning boilers have also been around for a long time, and while they may not always be popular, these machines have some definite advantages in terms of costs and simplicity.

Because it is the most abundant it is the cheapest form of fossil fuel to burn. But coal boilers on the other hand have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Its emissions contain sulfur combines with air to create the poison gas sulfur oxide. When this gas releases into the atmosphere, it causes polluting rain. Extracting coal from mines further damages soil and water resources, adding to the disadvantages of using coal burning boilers.

While coal prices are expected to remain stable natural gas prices are expected to increase as higher cost natural gas reserves need to be developed to meet growing demand and offset losses from depleting gas wells. On the other hand, natural gas based technologies have a capital cost advantage.

Whatever the costs may be, don’t you think it is better to use natural gas rather than the coal boilers? Even though natural gas is more costly than coal boilers it is less harmful to the environment and to human health. It is always better to take into considerations the things that are more important than money. It is not wise to be thrifty over something that in a long run would back fire on you and worst your kids. Long term effects of coal boilers are scarier than the costs in terms of money that it will bring us today. Environmental effects and health issues will sure be more costly in the future.